Remaining starting pitchers the Braves could target in free agency

After the recent trades of MacKenzie Gore and Freddy Peralta, it’s starting to feel far less likely that the Braves will be able to acquire a starting pitcher this offseason. The trade market is drying up, and the packages it took to land those two arms were ones Alex Anthopoulos likely would have never considered.

That said, there are still a few intriguing starting pitchers available on the free-agent market, including what some would consider the top option entering the offseason in Framber Valdez.

Framber Valdez

There hasn’t been much chatter surrounding Framber Valdez’s market so far, which is surprising given his consistent track record in both the regular season and postseason. Valdez has made at least 28 starts in each of the last four seasons and hasn’t posted an ERA higher than 3.66 during that stretch, compiling a 3.21 ERA overall. He should be in line for a contract approaching — or exceeding — $200 million, but as the days pass, it’s fair to wonder if the midseason incident where he intentionally crossed up his catcher is giving teams pause.

Valdez is still going to get paid, and it’s likely a number that puts him out of the Braves’ range. Players have done far worse and still been rewarded because of elite talent. It’s hard to believe one moment he’d surely like back is enough to dramatically change how teams view him.

Zac Gallen

Gallen is another starter who hasn’t generated much buzz this offseason, though in his case it may be because the market is much cooler than expected. Had Gallen reached free agency a year earlier, he likely would have fielded multiple offers well north of nine figures. Instead, a career-worst 4.83 ERA in the final season of his twenties may have scared off more than a few teams.

There’s a legitimate concern that Gallen is beginning to decline and may never return to the Cy Young-caliber pitcher he was a few years ago. There’s also a scenario where 2025 was simply a blip on the radar. Someone will roll the dice — the only real question is how much that gamble is going to cost.

Chris Bassitt

Bassitt is a name that’s come up frequently in Braves circles, and for good reason. He fits the prototypical Alex Anthopoulos mold. The Braves’ GM has never spent big on starting pitching, often opting instead for aging veterans with proven track records who are willing to sign short-term deals.

Sometimes that approach works beautifully, as it did with Charlie Morton. Other times, it backfires, with Cole Hamels being the obvious example.

Lucas Giolito

InternalBrace surgery cost Giolito all of the 2024 season, much like it did Spencer Strider, but he managed to bounce back in 2025. Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA over 26 starts with the Red Sox before elbow soreness sidelined him for the postseason. Thankfully, surgery wasn’t required, and he’s expected to be ready for Opening Day.

The injury risk is obvious, but if Giolito can stay healthy, the upside could make him one of the better bargains on the market this offseason.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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