
Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
*PREDICTION*
Since the Atlanta Braves won the World Series back in the 2021 season, the team has underperformed its expectations. Atlanta had a strong core in place to dominate for years, but the front office seemed to take a step back in adding, and it has impacted them on the field.
The Braves still have some stars on the roster, but they need much more added to the team if they want to truly contend for a title. This organization is a proud one, and missing the playoffs as they did during the 2025 season simply isn’t acceptable.
One option for the Braves to consider could be to upgrade the starting pitching for the upcoming season. Almost every team in baseball needs help in this area, and Atlanta has the funds to make it happen.
The first way for any team to jump back into a place of contention is to address the pitching on the roster, and Atlanta could fall into this category. The team has a few quality starters already, but adding more depth to the mix could push this team over the top in the National League East.
The Braves’ ownership has signaled that they want to increase payroll this offseason, and this could help them get back to competing for World Series titles. But it remains to be seen how aggressive the Braves will be in terms of spending, or if the team would prefer to upgrade the roster via the trade market.
Either way, the Braves have to do something because it has been a tough few seasons for the fans in Atlanta. This team should be better than it’s been, and the front office likely understands this fact.
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Zac Gallen Heads to Atlanta Braves
If the Braves front office truly wants to make a splash this offseason, adding a pitcher like veteran Zac Gallen could be the way to go. Gallen is one of the better free agents on the market, and he could completely round out the starting rotation.
Putting Gallen into the rotation next to Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, and others could give the Braves one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball. Pitching was the downfall of this team last season, and it could easily be transformed into a place of strength with this signing.
Gallen could slot in as the No. 3 of this staff, giving them a feared lineup of pitchers to throw out. The veteran posted an ERA of 4.83 for the year, but his second-half was much stronger.
Once Gallen got into the rhythm of the season, his second-half numbers saw his ERA drop to 3.97, showing more of who he is as a pitcher. Arizona did offer him a qualifying offer, so the Braves would need to send the Diamondbacks a draft pick if they landed him.
However, if the front office believes that Gallen could be one of the missing pieces, it could be worth it for Atlanta. This Braves organization hasn’t been afraid to make bold moves in the past, and this could be the next one to get them back to contending.
The pairing makes a lot of sense, and Gallen could be one of the better moves that Atlanta could make this winter. If anything, the Braves’ front office should at least be seeing what it may take to land him this offseason.