Braves predicted to sign $38M veteran with injury concerns to bolster rotation with Chris Sale

Hunter Cookston

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Braves predicted to sign $38M veteran with injury concerns to bolster rotation with Chris Sale image

The Atlanta Braves have been making some noise during the offseason but have quieted down after acquiring most of the assets they targeted. Overall, it’s been a successful offseason for the Braves. However, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos knows they still want to add a starting arm if the opportunity arises.

“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said.

The Braves are aiming for a bounce-back season after missing the playoffs for the first time in a while. FanSided’s Chris Landers believes signing Lucas Giolito could be the key.

“When fully healthy, the Braves could boast quite the rotation in 2026. The problem is that, from Spencer Strider to Spencer Schwellenbach to Chris Sale to Reynaldo Lopez to Grant Holmes, it's hard to know just who will be available and for how long. Even with depth options like Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, and Joey Wentz still around, this team could use one more steady arm to help plug the gaps. Giolito profiles as just that. He also comes with injury risk — he started the 2025 season late coming back from elbow surgery, and he ended it early due to another elbow issue — and he didn't miss nearly as many bats last year as he had in the past. But another year removed from surgery should help him find his old stuff again,” Landers wrote.

While Giolito has some injury concerns, he is coming off his best stretch of baseball in years.

“In his 10 starts since June 10, Giolito is 7-1 with a 2.03 ERA. During that span, opponents are hitting.194 against him with a.579 OPS,” MLB.com’s Ian Browne wrote.

Signing Giolito would be a calculated risk for the Braves, but if he maintains the trajectory he showed at the end of last season, he could be a formidable addition for the rotation. Anthopoulos has thrived on these types of deals, where overlooked players come to Atlanta and produce at a high level.

The Braves also need rotational depth beyond 2026, which makes a move for Giolito even more significant. This is the kind of addition that will get fans excited as the season approaches.

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