The Atlanta Braves have been anything but quiet this offseason, yet one critical piece of the puzzle remains untouched: the starting rotation. That may not last much longer.
According to reports, the Braves are actively exploring upgrades to their rotation, with veteran right-handers Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito emerging as potential targets. On the surface, that might raise eyebrows; after all, Atlanta’s rotation already looks formidable. But dig deeper, and the reasoning becomes clear.
The Braves Rotation Shines – But the Risks Are Real
Right now, the Braves’ rotation reads like a who’s who of upside and elite talent. Spencer Strider is back and throwing hard, Chris Sale showed flashes of vintage dominance last season, and young arms like Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are surging into relevance. Add Reynaldo López, who impressed in his lone start in 2025, and you’ve got a starting five that most franchises would envy. Then there’s depth: Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz, and Didier Fuentes are all legitimate fill-in options. On paper, it’s a full house.
However, Sale, Schwellenbach, and López all missed substantial time in 2025. Strider, fresh off elbow surgery, was clearly working his way back. Waldrep? Promising, but just 10 games into his major league career. That’s not a stable situation; it’s a delicate house of cards, even if the cards are all aces.
Bassitt Offers Durability That Atlanta Lacks
That’s where someone like Bassitt comes in. The 35-year-old has quietly been one of the steadiest arms in baseball, eclipsing the 170-inning mark four years in a row. In 2025, he delivered a 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings, notching 166 strikeouts with just 52 walks. He’s not flashy, but he’s as reliable as they come, a workhorse capable of holding a rotation together when younger arms inevitably falter or need rest.
Giolito Comes with Risk – But the Ceiling Is Still High
Giolito, meanwhile, brings a different flavor. Though he missed the end of the 2025 season with elbow irritation, he enters 2026 healthy and motivated. His 3.46 ERA over 145 innings last season, along with 121 strikeouts, is a reminder that he still has top-of-the-rotation stuff when he’s right. For a team like Atlanta, which already has electric arms but needs more stability, Giolito could offer both depth and upside if he holds up.
For a team with championship aspirations and no illusions about how fleeting health can be, a veteran like Bassitt or Giolito isn’t just a luxury. It’s insurance. It’s foresight. And it may be the final touch that transforms a great Braves roster into a title favorite.
They’ve built the tower. Now they just need to make sure it doesn’t topple.
