The Atlanta Braves have some work to do this offseason to convince fans they are serious about becoming a top-five payroll in baseball. That will require them to add in a few different areas to accomplish that.
One of those areas is starting pitching, which was a nightmare for Atlanta in 2025. Their lack of depth was exposed very quickly after every member of the starting rotation landed on the IL at some point. They'll surely want to avoid that next season. As of right now, the starting rotation would consist of Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo Lopez. Those are the pitchers we know for sure have a spot reserved in 2026.
Grant Holmes could factor into the rotation if his rehab goes well for his UCL injury. But he could also be a good candidate for long relief to ease himself back into things. Hurston Waldrep also showed the team he can pitch well at the big league level, and could help make that decision easier. But that isn't guaranteed.
That leaves the Braves with one slot to really consider filling externally. MLB Trade Rumors recently released a list of the top 50 free agents for next season and predictions on where they'll land.
Braves predicted to land former Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt in free agency
The staff at MLBTR predicted Atlanta would go out and sign former Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt. This isn't the first time the Braves have been attached to the right-hander. He was considered a fit before he signed his three-year deal with Toronto.
Bassitt performed really well over those three seasons. He stayed healthy and started 30+ games every year. This was good enough for a 3.89 ERA over 541 innings with 181 walks and 520 strikeouts. Those are very respectable numbers.
Bassitt did suffer an injury in September, but he showed up for the ALCS and World Series. Bassitt pitched very well out of the bullpen over eight innings. The main problem with the prediction is that Bassitt is projected to sign a two-year, $38 million contract. That's a bit steep at a $19 million AAV for a mediocre 37-year-old pitcher.
Bassitt's fastball velocity has dropped a good bit over the years and sits in the low-90s now. He relies heavily on his sinker, cutter, and curveball to produce outs. Atlanta is a good place for a pitcher that induces ground balls, as they usually have solid infield defense.
He does feel like the kind of pitcher AA would go for since he has so much experience. However, it's a risk when the Braves already have to hope Chris Sale can stay healthy next season and given how much it seems like he would cost in terms of AAV. However, it is something fans should definitely be prepared for.
Toronto couldn't extend a qualifying offer to Bassitt, so that is one positive to look at if Atlanta takes a chance on him. There won't be any draft implications to worry about. If they are interested in Bassitt, they'd surely try to get him to sign at a much more affordable rate.