Grading the Atlanta Braves offseason if it ended today

Don’t look now, but we’re just 19 days away from the Braves taking the field for their first Spring Training game. Atlanta was one of the most active teams this offseason, looking to upgrade a roster that fell short a year ago, ending a streak of seven straight postseason appearances.

The bullpen received the most significant boost, and the Braves also invested heavily in shortstop and the outfield. The one area that remains untouched is the rotation — a major weakness last season due largely to injuries. There’s still time for that to change, and several MLB insiders have connected Atlanta to a few remaining arms. But for now, no move has been made, and that reality has to be reflected in any honest review of the offseason.

Notable Braves Offseason Moves

• Robert Suarez 3-years, $45 million
• Raisel Iglesias 1-year, $16 million
• Mike Yastrzemski 2-years, $23 million
• Ha-Seong Kim 1-year, $20 million
• Tyler Kinley 1-year, $4.25 million
• Trade for Mauricio Dubon from Astros for Nick Allen

Alex Anthopoulos didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel with his offseason plan. The Braves did spend a good chunk of money and are set to post a franchise-record payroll in 2026, but most of these deals are short-term and low risk. The lone exception is the lucrative three-year deal for Robert Suarez, though even that’s a reasonable rate for an elite reliever with extensive closing experience.

The biggest miss so far already looks like Ha-Seong Kim. Paying $20 million was a gamble on a player who spent much of last season injured and wasn’t particularly effective when he did play. Now he’s dealing with a torn ligament in his finger that will sideline him for at least the first six weeks of the season. No one could have predicted he’d slip on ice a month after signing, but it doesn’t change the reality that it’s going to be very difficult for him to live up to that contract.

What could come back to haunt Anthopoulos yet again is the lack of urgency in addressing the rotation. This has been a blind spot throughout his tenure. Whether it’s October shortcomings or regular-season collapses like last year — when injuries exposed a lack of depth and derailed the entire campaign — his reluctance to aggressively pursue quality starters has cost Atlanta more often than not.

There’s no sugarcoating the current situation. Nearly every arm in the rotation comes with real question marks.

Chris Sale hasn’t made it through a full, healthy season in nearly a decade. Reynaldo López made just one start last year. Grant Holmes and Spencer Schwellenbach are both coming off season-ending injuries. Spencer Strider may never be the same guy after InternalBrace surgery. Bryce Elder hasn’t proven he’s a reliable major-league starter. And while the upside of Hurston Waldrep and JR Ritchie is exciting, both remain unproven.

Sure, there’s a scenario where everything breaks right and the rotation rebounds from a disastrous 2025. But banking on best-case scenarios isn’t a strategy… it’s wishful thinking.

Without adding a legitimate starting pitcher, it’s hard to grade this offseason any higher than a C-. The Braves spent heavily, but it’s fair to question how much these moves move the needle toward championship contention. Once again, they’re relying on improved health and bounce-back seasons — a bet that hasn’t paid off the last two years.

Braves Offseason Grade: C-