Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr (Image via Getty) The Atlanta Braves are looking at veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt as a way to strengthen their starting rotation before the 2026 season. The discussion is centered on a free-agent signing, not a trade, which means Atlanta could add an experienced starter without giving up players from the current roster.Bassitt, 37, finished a three-year, $63 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2025 season and is now a free agent. Atlanta is also believed to have interest in Lucas Giolito. Neither pitcher received a qualifying offer, so the Braves would not have to surrender draft picks to complete a signing.
Expected contract and possible roster shift
Atlanta Braves’ payroll is already above the $244 million luxury-tax threshold, but the team reset its penalty level by staying under the line in 2025. A contract similar to Merrill Kelly’s two-year, $40 million agreement is viewed as a realistic range, placing Bassitt around $20 million per season with a manageable tax increase.If the Braves sign him, Bassitt would likely fit into the middle of the rotation behind Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach. No trade would follow. Hurston Waldrep could begin the year in Triple-A or move into a swing role, while Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and JR Ritchie remain depth options.
Atlanta Braves seeking reliability in an uncertain rotation
Atlanta Braves’ rotation has talent but also recent injury concerns. Sale was limited to 20 starts in 2025 because of rib-cage fractures. Spencer Strider returned from UCL surgery and posted a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts. Schwellenbach made only 17 starts due to an elbow fracture. Reynaldo Lopez and Waldrep combined for 10 starts.Bassitt is valued for consistency. Over the past six seasons, he ranks near the top of the league in both starts and innings, with a 3.57 ERA, a 22.7% strikeout rate, and a 44% ground-ball rate. In 2025, he threw 170.1 innings with a 3.96 ERA, recorded 166 strikeouts, posted a 1.33 WHIP, and added 8.2 innings of 1.04-ERA relief during Toronto’s postseason run.
What the move means for Chris Bassitt
Chris Bassitt (Image via Getty)
Atlanta offers Chris Bassitt a chance to pitch for a contender in the NL East and avoids placing ace-level expectations on him. A short-term deal also fits the timeline of a pitcher in his late 30s.Toronto is not expected to bring him back. Letting Bassitt leave would clear payroll space and prevent a long commitment to a pitcher whose average fastball dropped to 91.5 mph in 2025, the lowest of his career, even though his strikeout production remained steady.
Benefits and concerns for the Braves
The main advantages are durability, postseason experience, no draft-pick cost, and flexibility if injuries force changes in the rotation. The concerns are his age, declining velocity, the added luxury-tax cost, and the possibility that prospects such as JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes may have to wait longer for full-time roles.
Stat tables: Chris Bassitt vs. Atlanta rotation
2025 ERA and workload snapshot
PitcherTeam (2025)IPERAK/9BB/9GB%Notes Chris Bassitt TOR 170.1 3.96 8.8 2.7 44 All-Star, playoff relief Chris Sale ATL 125.2 2.58 11.9 2.1 37 Limited by injury Spencer Strider ATL 130.0 4.45 10.8 3.5 33 Post-surgery regression Spencer Schwellenbach ATL 110.2 3.09 8.7 3.2 36 Strong but limited starts Hurston Waldrep ATL 56.2 3.21 8.7 3.4 39 Nine MLB starts
Career durability metrics (2020–2025)
PitcherGSIPERAK%BB%GB% Chris Bassitt ~140+ ~1,000+ 3.57 22.7% 7.2% 44% Chris Sale ~90+ ~600+ ~3.00 30%+ 6%+ 35%+ Spencer Strider ~60+ ~400+ ~3.30 30%+ 8%+ 30%+ Spencer Schwellenbach ~40+ ~200+ ~3.10 25%+ 7%+ 35%+
Chris Bassit’s Payroll, age, and overall fit
Chris Bassitt, born in Toledo, Ohio, will pitch the entire 2026 season at 37, placing him in the same late-career group as Charlie Morton and Merrill Kelly. Atlanta’s luxury-tax payroll is projected around $258 million, roughly $14 million above the threshold, which still leaves room for a short-term addition.The Braves have enough pitching depth that Bassitt would serve as a stabilizer rather than a long-term block. Atlanta gains a dependable starter without giving up prospects. Bassitt joins a team positioned for a playoff run. Toronto gains financial flexibility.Also read: MLB trade rumors: Pittsburgh Pirates viewed as possible landing spot for $100 million Philadelphia Phillies star to get power hitter for improved rotationThe risk is tied to age and potential decline, but with Atlanta needing innings after missing on Framber Valdez, the move fits a team focused on competing now.