When the Atlanta Braves inked veteran starter Martín Pérez last offseason to a minor league deal, very little was actually expected of the lefty. In fact, it's safe to assume that many doubted whether he would even throw major league innings for the club.
Instead, Pérez broke camp with the Braves, threw 142 innings, and had a 3.04 ERA, the second-best in the rotation. Pérez became so crucial to the Braves that his injury in late September ended up being devastating, as it turned their playoff rotation into a two-man show that might have worn the Braves thin in the NLDS.
With the 2026 offseason looking like it will officially begin sooner rather than later, we wanted to look at three starting pitchers who could be the Braves 2027 bargain bin starter.
3 bargain bin starting pitchers that could play a big role on 2027 Braves
Nestor Cortes
It's been a while since Nestor Cortes threw a major league inning. After struggling in eight MLB appearances in 2025 and spending more of the season on the injured list, Cortes missed the entire 2026 season, and only appeared in three minor league games in the Phillies organization.
Cortes fits the Pérez mold quite well, as a soft-tossing lefty with prior success in his career, but a recent downturn in his career. The soon-to-be 32-year-old could make a great buy-low reclamation project for Jeremy Hefner and the Braves.
Jordan Montgomery
Like Cortes, Montgomery is a left-handed pitcher who at one point was coveted, but a slew of injuries over the last couple of years have put his career in question. Unlike Cortes, Montgomery did actually pitch in the big leagues this past season, and performed decently well.
The 33-year-old appeared in 13 games, threw 26 innings, and had a 4.15 ERA and 3.87 FIP. Montgomery could likely receive an MLB deal, unlike Cortes, who will almost certainly have to settle for a minor league deal, but because of his recent history, could still come rather cheaply.
Zack Littell
Last offseason, Littell signed a big league deal with the Washington Nationals for $7 million and a mutual option for 2027. The Nationals no doubt hoped he could return to his 2025 Rays performance, rather than what he gave the Reds after he was traded.
Instead, he was worse with the Nationals than he was with the Reds, throwing 112.1 innings with a 4.97 ERA and 5.76 FIP. Washington released him, and he caught on with Arizona, where he was essentially unplayable. His Diamondbacks tenure lasted just 16 days.
Litttell just turned 31, however, and was a servicable starter from 2023 to 2025. Because of his disastrous 2026, he will likely have to settle for a minor league deal, which could be a no-risk add for Atlanta going into spring training, just as Martín Pérez was last season.,
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