Even though the Atlanta Braves signed Raisel Iglesias already this offseason, Alex Anthopoulos has not shown any urgency to hand out the long-term deal it will take to bring an impact player to Atlanta. The Braves are expected to be in the market for a starting pitcher this winter, but after Dylan Cease landed a mega deal with the Blue Jays, signing a quality starter now feels like a much taller task.
When attempting to sign one of the top starting pitchers (Suarez, King, Valdez, and Gallen all received a qualifying offer) not only do the Braves need to commit financially, but they also have to be willing to part with the 26th pick in next year’s draft. Braves insider, Mark Bowman, spoke about the complications that come with signing a free agent with a qualifying offer attached, and why the Braves may need to pivot to the trade market to address their need in the rotation.
The Braves will have a healthy bonus pool, as they’ll have two of the first 26 picks in next summer’s MLB Draft. Compensation for Drake Baldwin winning ROY is the 26th pick. Atlanta has a 4.54% chance to get the top overall pick via next week’s lottery. https://t.co/QTg9XCMMrL
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) December 2, 2025Braves have to decide if they value the PPI pick or their current crop of top prospects
As Bowman pointed out in his latest Winter Meetings look-ahead, the Braves will likely have to decide which they value more – the PPI pick they got when Baldwin won ROY, or the prospects it would require to make a trade for a rotation piece. Alex Anthopoulos has shown willingness to part with prospects for the right player, and plenty of notable arms will be available on the trade market.
Joe Ryan and Freddy Peralta are the biggest names out there expected to be traded, but do not discount Anthopoulos pulling an unexpected Chris Sale like trade this offseason. In order to pull off a trade the Braves may need to include someone like JR Ritchie in a deal. Ritchie, Didier Fuentes, and Cam Caminiti are all pitching prospects who the organization is excited about, but should not be viewed as pitchers ready to provide value at the Major League in 2026.
It’s a decision Anthopoulos is weighing everyday, and one that will likely become more clear as the offseason continues. The winter meetings begin in less than a week, and motives around baseball generally start to become more evident upon their arrival. Hopefully, Anthopoulos is simply leaving no stone unturned, and Braves fans get that beautiful blue box before the end of the calendar year.