Braves More Likely to Sign Free Agent Starter Than Make Trade, Per Report

After posting a disappointing 76-86 record in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the Atlanta Braves have been busy this offseason trying to get back on track, and adding starting pitching remains at the top of their wish list heading into the new year.

According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves have shown interest in trade targets like Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore, but a deal for either pitcher seems unlikely because Atlanta does not want to give up their top pitching prospects to get one done.

"A trade for Peralta or Gore would appear less likely than signing a free agent at a reduced price, if it comes to that with any of the remaining Valdez/Suárez/Gallen trio," Sammon and Rosenthal wrote. "The Braves are reluctant to move any of their better pitching prospects."

This means the Braves are more likely to wait for the free agent market to come down and then make a move for one of the remaining top starters instead of trading away young talent for a pitcher with just one year of control remaining.

The Braves' 2025 season was wrecked by injuries to their starting rotation, and the problem was so bad that six different starters spent at least six weeks on the injured list.

Chris Sale, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 2024, missed more than two months with fractured ribs, while Spencer Schwellenbach's season ended in late June due to a fractured elbow.

Reynaldo Lopez made just one start all year because of shoulder problems, and Spencer Strider struggled with a 4.45 ERA in his first full season back from UCL surgery.

President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has said publicly that adding a starter who could slot into their rotation and push everyone else down a spot is something the team would love to accomplish before spring training begins.

The three pitchers mentioned by Sammon and Rosenthal as potential targets for the Braves are all quality arms who could make a big impact in Atlanta.

Framber Valdez went 13-11 with a 3.66 ERA for the Astros in 2025, logging 192 innings and striking out 187 batters while showing the kind of durability the Braves desperately need.

The left-hander has been one of the most reliable workhorses in baseball over the past four seasons and would give Atlanta a proven arm near the top of their rotation.

Ranger Suárez put together another strong year for the Phillies, finishing 12-7 with a 3.20 ERA and 151 strikeouts across 157.1 innings, and his ability to pitch deep into games while limiting hard contact makes him an attractive option for any team looking to add a solid mid-rotation starter.

Zac Gallen had a tougher 2025 season with Arizona, going 13-15 with a 4.83 ERA over 192 innings, but his track record suggests he could bounce back if he lands in the right situation and the former All-Star still managed to throw 175 strikeouts despite his struggles.

The Braves have already made several moves this offseason to address other needs, including re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias, adding reliever Robert Suarez on a three-year deal, and bringing back shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year contract.

However, until they add another starter to a rotation that includes Sale, Strider, Schwellenbach, and young arms like Hurston Waldrep, there will still be questions about whether this team can compete with the Phillies atop the NL East.

With the Braves reluctant to part with top pitching prospects like Cam Caminiti and JR Ritchie, it sounds like they will be patient and wait for one of the free agent starters to sign at a price that makes sense rather than overpay in a trade for a rental arm.