ATLANTA, GA — After a brutal 2025 season that saw every single pitcher from the Opening Day rotation land on the injured list, the Atlanta Braves are facing the harsh reality that they must add at least one reliable external arm this offseason. With key internal options like AJ Smith-Shawver recovering from Tommy John surgery and others dealing with elbow issues, the need for a stable, high-upside free-agent starter is paramount.
The Braves’ strategy revolves around supplementing their promising, yet volatile, young core with a proven veteran.
The Dream Rotation: Adding an Ace Left-Hander
The core of the 2026 rotation is expected to feature Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and the breakout star Hurston Waldrep. Sale, who put up an incredible $2.58$ ERA over 125 innings (165 strikeouts) before an All-Star break injury, remains the staff ace. Waldrep, with his filthy splitter, surprised everyone with a $2.88$ ERA in 56 innings, needing only to improve his walk rate to become “unstoppable.”
The projected dream rotation for the Braves that has fans energized involves a massive Free Agency splash:
| Rank | Pitcher | Type | 2025 Key Stat | Rationale |
| 1 | Chris Sale | LHP | 2.58 ERA, 165 K | The proven Ace, contingent on health. |
| 2 | Spencer Strider | RHP | 4.45 ERA, 131 K | Expected bounce-back after post-UCL surgery struggles. |
| 3 | Ranger Suárez | LHP | Back-to-back All-Star | Elite Free Agent target to stabilize the staff. |
| 4 | Hurston Waldrep | RHP | 2.88 ERA, Filthy Splitter | Breakout young star, high strikeout potential. |
| 5 | JR Ritchie | RHP | No. 2 Prospect | High-upside prospect, returned velocity post-Tommy John. |
The Ranger Suárez Splash: Worth the Price?
The biggest move in this dream scenario is the pursuit of Philadelphia Phillies star left-hander Ranger Suárez. Suárez, a back-to-back All-Star, is the ideal candidate to slot in as the No. 3 starter, giving the Braves two “filthy left-handers” in the rotation.
- Projected Cost: Suárez is projected to earn a five-year, $125 million contract, according to Fangraphs. However, other analysts predict his market value could reach closer to six years, $164 million, reflecting his elite performance and the scarcity of top left-handed pitching.
- The Fit: Signing Suárez would allow the Braves to potentially move Reynaldo López (who dealt with a shoulder injury in 2025) to a crucial long relief role, solving two major needs with one big acquisition.
The final slot in the rotation features top prospect JR Ritchie, who regained his velocity (topping out at 97 mph) and effectiveness after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023.
This projected staff presents an abundance of talent and strikeout potential. While JR Ritchie and Spencer Strider carry high-risk elements, the stability offered by the two aces, Sale and Suárez, would solidify Atlanta’s status as a top contender, addressing the one major weakness that plagued them in 2025.
