Braves rotation suffers yet another massive blow

A final decision on what’s next for the second-year pitcher out of Florida has yet to be determined, but like Spencer Schwellenbach, there’s a chance we don’t see Waldrep until 2027.

To say Atlanta’s rotation concerns are now dire would be an understatement. The club’s pitching depth was already a gray area coming into the season, and now they are set to be without two of their best arms for at least the first half of the season.

Waldrep was expected to compete for the final spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. With him out of the picture, Bryce Elder and Martin Perez become the frontrunners, but the real question is whether the Braves try to add another starting pitcher.

Alex Anthopoulos said earlier in the week that the club has been trying to add a “playoff starter” all offseason. That may no longer be possible with so few options remaining, but at this point, just a competent veteran innings eater would suffice. We’re still over a month away from the season starting, yet the Braves find themselves in a horrendous spot — a very familiar feeling after what happened in 2025.