Now that the Atlanta Braves have re-signed Raisel Iglesias to address their closer situation, the two main roster areas they need to address are shortstop and starting pitching depth. The shortstop market is a mess and the Braves may have to "settle" more than they would like there, but there are a plethora of rotation options including a few that would require a Reynaldo Lopez-like conversion.
While more common than it used to be, converting pitchers from the bullpen to the rotation is still fairly rare. It requires a pitcher to have relatively clean mechanics, some amount of command of a diverse arsenal, and ideally experience starting so the team can be confident that they can hold up to an increased workload. There aren't a ton of arms that fit that mold, but there are a couple that might be able to do it in this offseason's free agent crop.
We have already written about the potential wisdom in the Braves targeting Luke Weaver this offseason and making the switch to starting. Weaver has the pitch mix and type of stuff that could thrive in the rotation, but MLB's Mark Feinsand thinks that another potential rotation conversion candidate, Brad Keller, may actually be a better free agent fit for Atlanta.
Mark Feinsand thinks Brad Keller could be a good fit for the Braves and he may be right
It is understandable to think that connecting Atlanta to another reliever to convert to the rotation is a lazy idea. Just because the Braves did so once doesn't mean it is their preference and in Keller's case, there is reason to wonder if he will be able to sustain his power stuff beyond an inning or two especially with his relative lack of track record of recent performance.
However, there is a lot to like with Keller as a starter. His numbers in 2025 were eye-opening with very strong metrics when it comes to limiting hard contact as well as more-that-good-enough chase and whiff rates. It is hard to find starters that are uniquely good at getting a lot of ground balls and Keller is among the best in the business at doing just that. Keller is also just 30 years old which hopefully means he is still in his prime, he has made over 100 starts in the big leagues, and he is from Georgia which adds a nice marketing bonus for Atlanta.
Most importantly, most predictions have Keller commanding less than $12 million a year or less on a two or three year deal with this offseason. The potential for an absolute bargain exists here if Keller is even a No. 3 or No. 4 starter for a year or two and we know how much Alex Anthopoulos loves value. Keller would come with some substantial risk, but it is a risk worth considering if the price is right.