Braves Must Ditch Bryce Elder for 2026: Why Atlanta’s Injury-Ravaged Rotation Demands Reliable Depth Over Inconsistency.vc
October 31, 2025 – Atlanta, GA – As the Atlanta Braves lick their wounds from a nightmare 2025 season defined by a rotation decimated by injuries, one name stands out as a glaring liability: Bryce Elder. The once-promising right-hander, who logged the most innings among Atlanta’s starters, finished with a dismal 5.30 ERA and epitomized the franchise’s lack of preparedness. With six starters sidelined for at least six weeks — including five on the 60-day IL — the Braves’ front office knows it’s time to turn the page on Elder and prioritize veteran depth this offseason.
Elder, 26, shuttled between the majors and Triple-A Gwinnett all year, posting a 6.52 ERA in 10 MLB starts (49.2 IP) while faring better in the minors (3.73 ERA over 17 starts). His outings were a rollercoaster: either a “surprise gem” or a quick hook after surrendering four runs by the fourth inning. Three straight losses in July alone saw him allow 18 runs, underscoring zero stability from a depth arm Atlanta desperately needs to move on from.
“There is no level of stability from a piece that the Braves need to move on from,” one insider noted. “Elder can no longer be relied on as a depth piece if the Braves are serious about playing a winning brand of baseball.”
Atlanta’s 2026 Rotation: Loaded Up Top, Perilously Thin Below
President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos has flagged the rotation as a “front-burner need” heading into the winter. The projected core looks elite on paper:
| Starter | 2025 Status | 2026 Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale | Cy Young contender before IL stint | Ace; club option exercised |
| Spencer Strider | Post-surgery ramp-up | No. 2 starter; high innings potential |
| Spencer Schwellenbach | Elbow concerns, but strong when healthy | Solid mid-rotation arm |
| Reynaldo López | Shoulder injury; zero starts | Stretch candidate or bullpen return |
| Hurston Waldrep | Impressive late-season debut | Young upside in back-end |
Yet, prospects like Grant Holmes and AJ Smith-Shawver (both elbow recoveries) can’t be counted on for depth in 2026. One more injury — and history suggests there will be — puts Elder right back in the mix. That’s unacceptable after 2025’s chaos, where the Opening Day rotation imploded within weeks, forcing bullpen games and overreliance on castoffs.
Trading Elder: A Fresh Start for All
Elder, a 2020 fifth-round pick out of Texas, flashed All-Star promise in 2023 (12-4, 3.81 ERA) but regressed sharply. At $750,000 in arbitration-eligible salary for 2026, he’s tradeable as a change-of-scenery candidate — perhaps to a rebuilding club seeking innings volume. Atlanta’s priority: flip him early to clear space and fund upgrades.
Free Agency Targets: Veteran Arms to Bulletproof the Depth
The Braves don’t need aces — they need reliable, innings-eating veterans on prove-it deals. Free agency offers options, though marquee names like Justin Verlander (42, fresh off a 2.60 ERA in his final 13 starts with San Francisco) are off the board after signing a one-year pact earlier this year. Instead, target 2-3 mid-tier arms for $5–10M total:
- Charlie Morton (Age 42): The ultimate Braves mentor; a winter return on a one-year deal adds wisdom and 150+ IP potential.
- Michael Lorenzen (Age 34): Versatile righty with a 3.81 ERA in 2025; excels in bulk outings for injury-riddled rotations.
- Colin Rea (Age 34): Steady back-end option (3.89 ERA); low-cost stability without the boom-or-bust of Elder.
Rumors also swirl of a blockbuster trade for Detroit’s Tarik Skubal to pair with Sale and Strider, but that’s a long shot costing top prospects. More realistically, Anthopoulos should echo last winter’s near-miss on Jeff Hoffman as a starter: pursue undervalued arms with upside.
The Bigger Picture: No Excuses in 2026
2025’s first losing record since 2017 wasn’t just bad luck — it exposed a roster ill-equipped for adversity. With Ronald Acuña Jr. eyeing a lifetime extension and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim as another priority, the rotation can’t be an afterthought.
Elder served as a stopgap, but his inconsistency — 50.4% groundball rate notwithstanding — doomed too many starts. For a franchise chasing October, “superior depth pieces” aren’t optional; they’re essential.
“The Braves are one injury away from putting Elder right back into the rotation. Driving home just how important it is to go out and sign additional depth.”
