The Atlanta Braves are now four years removed from their 2021 title run, and it’s time to recalibrate.
The Braves finished 76-86 in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Injury-shortened campaigns from stars like right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., starting pitcher Chris Sale, and starting pitcher Spencer Strider didn’t help, but they need more pitching depth.
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Atlanta finished just 22nd in baseball with a 4.36 team ERA this past season. Sale had a 2.58 ERA in 21 appearances and right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach notched a 3.09 ERA in 17 starts, but the rest of the rotation (minimum 10 starts) had a 3.99 ERA or higher.
Conversely, the Braves finished 13th in MLB with a .719 OPS, so that gives them something to build on. If they can maintain an above-average offense while improving the pitching, they’ll be back in the NL playoff picture next season.
Here are three moves Atlanta should make to get back on track:
Free-agent pitcher Framber Valdez. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Valdez is a free agent after eight seasons with the Houston Astros, and it would behoove the Braves to open the checkbook for him. The 32-year-old not only has a 3.36 career ERA and is a two-time All-MLB honoree, but he’s healthy.
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Schwellenbach and right-hander Grant Holmes each went down with season-ending elbow injuries last summer, so signing Valdez would take pressure off the pitching staff while those two are on the mend. Between him, Sale, Strider, and Schwellenbach, Atlanta would have four starters who have pitched to a 3.09 or lower ERA at least once over the last four seasons.
Valdez won’t be cheap, as he has a market value of six years, $199.9 million ($33.3 million average annual salary), per Spotrac. There are cheaper options, but there’s no use in penny pinching when the Los Angeles Dodgers just signed closer Edwin Diaz after winning two straight championships. This is not the time to play it safe.
Fairbanks is another pitcher on the open market after spending several years with the same club, in this case the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander has a 3.19 career ERA and notched a 2.83 ERA with 27 saves out of 32 opportunities last season. He was tied for 13th in baseball in saves.
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Fairbanks could be the setup man for Raisel Iglesias, who was tied for ninth with 29 saves out of 34 chances and notched a 3.21 ERA in 2025. They could also switch roles depending on who has the hot hand, but the point is to add depth to a pitching staff that just finished in the bottom third of MLB for team ERA.
Fairbanks has a market value of three years, $43.8 million ($14.6 million average annual salary), per Spotrac.
ESPN’s Buster Olney senses that Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos is focused on “pitching, pitching, pitching,” via ESPN Baseball Tonight. In that case, the team should triple down on pitching upgrades this winter.
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Garcia could be a buy-low candidate given that he pitched just 22 games for the Toronto Blue Jays due to injury last season and has one year left on his contract, per Spotrac. However, the 35-year-old can still get outs, as he’s pitched to a sub-4.00 ERA in three of the last four seasons. If the Blue Jays were to give him up for a non-elite prospect, there would be little downside for Atlanta.