I posted some screenshots for an outlook wrote by CBS Sports.

In my opinion I’m liking Bassitt more just because he’s been more consistent since 2019 & Giolito has had injuries in the past. Even though Giolito is like 31 & Bassitt is 37 I believe.

I also like from what I’ve read that Bassitt throws like 8 pitches or so.

16 comments

  4. Bassitt is old. He’s been consistent but age always catches up. Maybe he’s good this year but he’s around the point where diminishing returns are inevitable.

    Giolito is a bounceback candidate. Lots of potential upside but there’s also a chance he’s just not able to get it back.

    Either choice is risky but just adding another pitcher is a no-brainer. We just can’t do what we did last season.

  5. Bassitt will be reliable to take the ball every 5th day. He’s the easy choice between the two. Last 2 years have shown how valuable that is even if he’s a 1War pitcher this year.

  6. In a vacuum I say Giolito but we can’t have two guys in the rotation trying to bounce back from an elbow procedure. Factor in Sale’s questionable health and the volatility of the young guys and we could easily be in big trouble by June. So, if Bassitt is available on a cheap one year contract maybe he’s the guy.

  8. If the combo. of Sale – Strider – Schwelly – Lopez – Holmes – Waldrep (6 deep) isn’t sufficient for you based on their stretches of success for the Braves then I have to assume it is because of their injury history and your uncertainty around their health for a full 2026 season. Understandable for sure, though I’m inclined to trust the most current medical reports the team has on them. But if it is the injury history and a desire to reduce that risk then it would seem Bassitt has to be the choice between the two. Gio arguably has the higher ceiling but he is exactly what we already have … someone with a checkered injury history and so I’m not convinced he removes th concern that would lead to signing another starter in the first place. Bassitt has been a reliable innings eater for sure. I’m just unsure whether an innings eater is better than what we already have. Although sending Waldrep to AAA and pushing one of Lopez or Holmes to long relief to make room for Bassitt in the rotation are options, I’m not sure that makes our team better. Lopez and Holmes are more valuable if they can provide 130-150 innings than they are if they only provide 60-80 innings. If they can stay healthy – yes the same IF that is promoting this discussion in the first place – their performance for ATL says they are better options than Bassitt. And although I always fear regression in year 2, don’t we want to see what Waldrep can do? Where are you sticking him that still lets you see what he can do at the MLB level while Bassitt is claiming starts? And are you really going to pay Bassitt’s price tag just to then send him to the bullpen for long relief and insurance if you want to give the other guys a shot first?

  11. Massively unpopular opinion, but…

    Why pay for either when Bryce Elder has the same history of health as Bassitt and similar 2026 projections, per ZiPS? If Hefner can make Elder a bit better, [maybe by giving him a cutter](https://www.bravestoday.com/p/what-does-atlanta-do-with-bryce-elder?r=8avio&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web), then we get the same functionality without the ~$15M salary

    Lucas Giolito: 4.65 ERA/4.58 FIP

    Chris Bassitt: 4.05 ERA/4.30 FIP

    Bryce Elder: 4.38 ERA/4.10 FIP

  13. Bassitt for a year. He’s old but gets the job done. Consistent. Would be a great 5th starter option IMO. Cheap

  14. I guess I’d prefer Bassit? My opinion remains if we are not signing or trading for a top -o – rotation guy I’d prefer to give the young guys more development and call ups this year.
    Between Elder, Waldrep, Ritchie, Fuentes, and maybe something from Smith-Sharver mid year we can cover the last spots if there are injuries or bad performance. We are screwed relying on them if the top 3 get hurt or suck though ( hence getting a top guy )

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