Atlanta Braves’ Alex Anthopoulos Shares Tyler Mahle Plan Ahead of MLB Free Agency

The Atlanta Braves have plenty of reasons to keep Tyler Mahle in their pitching rotation for 2027.

Mahle made 27 starts between the San Francisco Giants and Braves in 2026, going 7-10 with a 3.99 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 149 innings. His results were much better though after the trade to Atlanta. In nine starts with the Braves, he went 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.

That turnaround made Mahle a valuable part of Atlanta's rotation down the stretch and into October. He delivered in the postseason as well, allowing just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The Braves lost the series, but Mahle gave them the kind of start they needed in a must-win game. 

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos hosted his end-of-year press conference and outlined his plan for bringing back Mahle.

Anthopoulos said he may try to sign the 32-year-old right-hander before he reaches free agency, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com on X. Atlanta used a similar approach with closer Raisel Iglesias last offseason, and Mahle's finish gives the front office a reason to consider it again.

There is a clear reason to bring him back. Atlanta cannot count on a full season from every returning starter and they need the depth.

Anthopoulos also added that Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach could return in 2027, but neither can be relied on to handle a full rotation workload across 162 games given their injury histories. The Braves need more options and established arms.

Didier Fuentes is another option, but the club will have to manage his workload carefully. Bowman reported that Fuentes will enter spring training as a starter, though Atlanta may not want him to exceed around 130 innings if he remains in the rotation.

He threw roughly 80 innings this year including the postseason, so the Braves will need to be thoughtful about how much they ask of the 21-year-old.

Mahle would not solve every rotation question, and his injury history means any new deal carries risk.

But he has already shown he can succeed in Atlanta, and the Braves would not need to spend spring training wondering if he fits. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal for 2026 with San Francisco. He could sign a similar deal, perhaps for more years this offseason, given how well he played in the second half.