Alex Athopoulos has addressed most of the Atlanta Braves’ roster needs already this offseason. Before the calendar flipped to 2026, Anthopoulos re-signed Ha-Seong Kim, added quality depth in Mike Yastrzemski and Mauricio Dubon, and fortified the backend of Atlanta’s bullpen with the signings of Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias. Most baseball pundits identify the rotation as the only likely area left for Anthopoulos to make additions this offseason.

The Braves have high hopes for the potential of their 2026 rotation. With Chris Sale as the anchor, and Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider exist as high upside starters behind Sale. Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Hurston Waldrep all have earned the chance to pitch their way into the rotation come spring training. Adding one more dependable starter to the mix is something many fans are clamoring for just to guard against any more injuries.

In MLB.com’s article detailing the perfect landing spots for the remaining top free agents, Atlanta was picked as the best place for a familiar starter to land in veteran right-hander Zac Gallen. This prediction should not shock Braves fans at this point in the offseason, and if Anthopoulos wants to make this a reality, he needs to hold firm in his search for value.

“I think Zac Gallen is probably the best value of any free agent on this year’s market.”

– @Russ_Dorsey1 on #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/tEwYmzUtry

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 18, 2025Atlanta listed as perfect fit for Gallen, but Braves need to remain cautious when negotiating

This isn’t the first time we have heard Gallen’s name mentioned as a possible fit for Atlanta. Gallen’s expected market certainly feels like an Anthopoulos move waiting to happen. He is a durable veteran, coming off a down season which should suppress his market. Bounce back one-year deals are in Anthopoulos’ wheelhouse, but parting with the 26th overall pick in next year’s draft because Gallen rejected the qualifying offer for a one-year deal feels farfetched.

Because of the potential loss of the PPI pick, Anthopoulos has to get long-term value with this hypothetical contract. Where that value lies with a 30 year-old pitcher coming off his worst season remains a mystery. Perhaps Anthopoulos could talk Gallen into a two or three-year deal with a club option, but then it feels like the AAV would reach uncomfortable levels.

The addition of a starting pitcher has often been boiled down to “a guy we trust to make a postseason start,” according to Anthopoulos. Gallen probably meets that criteria, but there is no guarantee the contract he would require would age well. The simple matter is Gallen, and other starters, are expected to come cheap if the Braves are going to be involved.

The cheap, and extremely risky, option for Atlanta is to roll the dice on some of the upper minor league pitching prospects they have in the system. However, we have learned this offseason that Anthopoulos does not seem interested in testing his upper minor league depth once again in 2026. Whether it is Gallen or someone else, it still feels like Anthopoulos knows the Braves need a trustworthy mid-rotation piece.