The Braves could pursue Lucas Giolito in free agency.
The Atlanta Braves have had a respectable overall offseason. With that being said, one could argue that Atlanta needs another starting pitcher. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach will lead the rotation, but the No. 4 and No. spots have a number of possible candidates. So, should Atlanta look to sign a veteran such as Lucas Giolito?
Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen are the best starting pitchers remaining in free agency. Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer also on the open market. Valdez and Gallen will require more lucrative contracts, while Verlander and Scherzer are nearing the end of their careers. Giolito, meanwhile, would not cost as much as Valdez and Gallen, but he is also only 31 years old.
Should Braves Sign Lucas Giolito?#
Giolito is surprisingly being overlooked in free agency. A 2019 All-Star, there was a time when he was considered to be one of the better pitchers in the sport. He missed all of 2024 due to injury, however, but somewhat quietly pitched to a 3.41 ERA across 26 outings with the Red Sox in 2025.
He did deal with an elbow injury late in the '25 campaign. The injury kept him out of the playoffs. The expectation is that he will be ready for spring training in 2026, though.
Giolito's injury history is obviously something to consider. The good news is that Atlanta features starting rotation depth. In a perfect world, Giolito would stay completely healthy all season. However, if the Braves signed him and the pitcher was forced to miss some time, Atlanta would have other options.
The risk is present, but so is the reward. He is a guy who is more than capable of recording an ERA in the 3's while striking out plenty of hitters. Pitching in the middle of the Braves' starting rotation may also alleviate some pressure, as Giolito has worked as an ace in the past.
A starting four of Sale, Schwellenbach, Strider and Giolito would instantly make the Braves' rotation feel more complete. It would be another step toward helping Atlanta return to the postseason following the ball club's difficult 2025 campaign.
Will the Braves realistically sign Lucas Giolito? Only time will tell, but it is certainly something Atlanta should seriously consider pursuing ahead of the 2026 MLB season. And even if Giolito signs elsewhere, adding at least one more starter would not be a bad idea for this Braves team.