Braves viewed as an option to sign one of the top free agents

Jared Bloom

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Braves viewed as an option to sign one of the top free agents image

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a season that they would like to forget. They had a hard time getting things going, resulting in them finishing fourth in the division and missing the postseason. 

Injuries played a significant role in the team's struggles, but it was not just injuries alone. Some players did not play up to expectations. 

The club has turned to the offseason to fix some of its problems. They bolstered their roster by re-signing Raisel Iglesias and Ha-Seong Kim, while striking deals with Robert Suarez, Mike Yastrzemski, and Ian Hamilton. But, they likely are not done adding players yet. 

MORE: Braves' Cuban reliever named potential 'breakout candidate' for 2026

Braves viewed as an option to sign one of the top free agents 

The Braves still have a few more holes they are looking to fill. One of these holes is to bring a frontline starter to help bolster the rotation. 

Luckily for them, there are still quite a few left on the open market and some dangling in trade rumors. One top free agent that many teams have their eyes on is Framber Valdez. 

He is the top pitcher on the open market and could generate quit the contract. However, he is one player that MLB.com's Mark Feinsand believes Atlanta could land. 

"The Braves and the Giants are among other teams that have been connected to Valdez, who rejected a qualifying offer and will cost his new team draft picks."

Outside of the Braves, Feinsand also mentions that the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants are other teams to watch out for here. 

So, if Atlanta wants to seriously bolster its starting rotation, it may want to get things going sooner rather than later. If they wait too long, another team will come along and steal him away, causing them to go back to the drawing board. 

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Contributing Writer