We are now officially in the offseason phase as the Atlanta Braves season concluded on Sunday with a win over the Pirates. It was a day filled with emotions as Charlie Morton may have started the last game of his career in Atlanta.
There are a lot of things up in the air for the team. They'll have to figure out their shortstop situation, add to the bullpen, and make sure they have a healthy rotation ready to go in 2026. It will be up to the front office to see if they can solve their needs via free agency or the trade market.
Braves predicted to acquire Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray via trade this offseason
MLB expert Bob Nightengale has already predicted the Braves will trade for a veteran starter to address their need for starting pitching. The team could absolutely just run it back with the starters they have internally, but it would be wise for them to at least consider external options.
Nightengale has linked Atlanta to Cardinals starter Sonny Gray as a good fit. Gray had some trade chatter at the deadline, but he exercised his full no-trade rights and stayed in St. Louis. However, there's apparently new reporting that says Gray is open to being traded in the offseason.
Gray has had it with the Cardinals struggling to put a winning product on the field since he signed his three-year, $75 million contract in 2024. He is owed a whopping $35 million in 2026 with a $30 million club option in 2027.
The Braves should bounce back and be a winning team next season, so they check that box. However, the price tag is extremely steep for Gray, who ended the season with a 4.28 ERA over 180.2 innings with 38 walks and 201 strikeouts.
He was elite with his walk, strikeout, whiff, and chase rates in 2025. His groundball rate was also respectable. However, his struggles lie with a low 90s fastball velocity, along with a poor barrel rate and hard-hit rate. Gray had a respectable first half with a 3.50 ERA, but it ballooned on him in the second half with a 5.45 ERA. That's not encouraging for any team wanting to trade for him.
While there are plenty of positives to consider with Gray, his inconsistency for the price tag makes it hard to see the Braves trading for him. He has experience, and that would be welcome in Atlanta. We know that Alex Anthopoulos will at least consider any move; it's just a matter of whether it makes sense financially.