On the offseason checklist all winter for Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta Braves has been to add a starter to the rotation. Here we are, just a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to North Port, and the box remains unchecked.
Sometimes waiting until the last minute can yield an unexpected bargain, but in this instance, it only seems like the Braves will pay more. They aren't the only starter-needy team out there, and with the options dwindling, it's hard to say that this is a buyer's market.
Braves' lethargy may cost them, as competition is fierce for the few remaining quality starting pitchers on the market
Let's start with how we got here. The Braves were rumored to be in on Freddy Peralta for most of the offseason, but ultimately, they were never a real player. Even if they were serious in their pursuit, they never would have been able to beat the price the New York Mets paid for the star right-hander.
That's not the worst thing in the world. With Chris Sale at the top, Atlanta doesn't necessarily need an ace, especially one that is a rental. That's part of the reason why the club wasn't a serious player for Framber Valdez, either.
But now there are only three real options left for them to consider in order to stabilize a unit that has talent, but also question marks. The trio of Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Chris Bassitt should be strongly considered by the Braves.
The problem is, they'll also be prime options for a number of teams. The Baltimore Orioles have needed a headliner for their rotation all offseason. They had Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez circled as options, yet they landed neither. A year ago, Gallen would have been an easy fit as a top-of-the-rotation starter, but now he's a guy looking for a bounce-back and to carry through the positive momentum of his last handful of starts in 2025 to rebound.
Now, though, his past track record and the dearth of other top-end options could convince Baltimore to overspend as if he were an ace, placing him outside of Atlanta's comfort zone. His former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, could be a threat to re-sign him, too, especially with Corbin Burnes recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped into the Valdez market late, and they want a veteran starter to complement their young rotation behind Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh's had trouble getting players to take their money, losing out on multiple stars and only nabbing Ryan O'Hearn from the free-agent market. Maybe that money burns a hole in their pocket and forces them to pay more than one would expect.
You can't count the San Diego Padres out, either. While they did re-sign Michael King, they lost Dylan Cease. Finances are tricky in San Diego, but A.J. Preller is always aggressive. At the end of the day, there are more suitors than there are quality starters, and the law of supply and demand says that prices are going up, not down.
That could really hurt the Braves. They would have had to pony up regardless, but if they had been more proactive, they'd have been able to land their preferred option rather than simply picking through what is left at inflated prices.