Which free agent starting pitcher makes the most sense for the Braves?

With most of the Braves’ holes filled, all eyes in Atlanta are now on the starting pitching market.

“It would be great if we could add someone that maybe slots everybody down a peg in our rotation,” Alex Anthopoulos said recently. “Haven’t closed the door on that. Still open to it if it can present itself.”

Given potential financial limitations, it’s possible the Braves are monitoring the trade market more closely than free agency. That said, Atlanta hasn’t shown much hesitation early this offseason, and multiple insiders have suggested there is still money to spend. With many of the top starting pitchers still available, this could be the offseason where the Braves finally push all their chips in after the embarrassing events of last season.

Framber Valdez

Valdez entered the offseason viewed by many as the top starter on the market. He’s made 143 starts over the last five seasons, posting a 3.20 ERA, earning two All-Star selections, and helping the Astros win a World Series. It’s an eerily similar résumé to the one Max Fried had entering free agency last year, except Fried was a year younger.

There are, however, some concerns about Valdez’s clubhouse presence after an incident in which he appeared to intentionally cross up his catcher out of frustration. That’s a red flag the Braves would take seriously, as they arguably value being a good teammate as much as any organization in baseball. Still, that’s not something that should be difficult for Anthopoulos to vet. Astros GM Dana Brown previously worked under him in Atlanta.

If everything checks out, Valdez would significantly ease concerns about the Braves’ rotation in 2026 and beyond. He’s as consistent as they come, has extensive postseason experience, and has proven to be extremely durable. That’s also why he’s likely to command a massive contract, with the length of the deal potentially forcing Atlanta to pivot elsewhere.

Ranger Suárez

At this point, it feels likely Ranger Suárez will be pitching for a different team next season, and he could end up being one of the better value signings of the offseason. His stuff isn’t going to blow anyone away — his fastball averages just over 90 mph — but he features a legitimate six-pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance and induces soft contact.

Suárez has accumulated 12.1 WAR over the last four seasons, making 104 starts with a 3.59 ERA. His postseason résumé is even more impressive. Over 11 playoff appearances in that span, he owns a ridiculous 1.48 ERA. He’s not expected to land a deal anywhere near Valdez’s range, but at 30 years old, he could easily end up being the better value signing.

Zac Gallen

Gallen is the prototypical buy-low candidate. Had he hit free agency a year ago, he almost certainly would have landed a nine-figure contract. Instead, a 4.83 ERA in 2025 paired with concerning peripherals has cooled his market considerably.

The appeal is that he’s likely looking at a two- or three-year deal in the $20–25 million AAV range. If the Braves get the 2022–2023 version of Gallen at that price, it would be one of the best bargains in baseball. The downside is obvious: there’s no guarantee that version ever returns. On top of that, because he rejected a qualifying offer, signing him would cost the Braves the 26th overall pick in next year’s draft. That may be too big of a gamble given the uncertainty.

Tatsuya Imai

The Braves aren’t typically mentioned alongside Japanese free agents, but we also haven’t seen them this aggressive in free agency in quite some time. If you’re buying into a miracle scenario, this is the name.

Imai might be the best pitcher in the entire free-agent class. He posted a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings in Japan’s Pacific League this season. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel offered this breakdown of what to expect when Imai makes the jump to MLB in 2026:

“A big selling point on Imai is his cratering walk rate, going from a BB/9 of 5.1 to 4.1 to 3.6 to 2.5 over the past four seasons, punctuated by his 2025 line: 163⅔ IP and a 1.92 ERA. Imai is 5-foot-11 and throws from a lower slot, so he creates a flat plane, excellent for swings and misses at the top of the zone for his 93-97 mph four-seam fastball that hit 99 mph last season. His miss rate on the pitch wasn’t elite because he didn’t throw it at the top of the zone very often, but that’s something that can be fine-tuned in the big leagues.

Imai has an above-average splitter, but his slider is a more interesting topic. His slider doesn’t slide: It averages arm-side movement, like Trey Yesavage‘s, so it can be an effective pitch even if it’s unusual to see (especially when paired with a splitter and above-average fastball velocity, like Yesavage does). There’s some conventional wisdom that a backup slider is the best pitch in baseball (because nobody knows when a pitcher will misthrow the pitch like that), but that’s meant as a one-off, not a recurring quality to shoot for.”

Chris Bassitt

Bassitt likely represents the floor of the type of starter the Braves are looking to add. He’s more than just an innings eater, but at this stage of his career, that’s a big part of his value. He’ll be 37 next season and has made at least 31 starts in each of the last three years, posting a 3.89 ERA over that span.

Bassitt was also excellent during the Blue Jays’ postseason run this year, allowing just one run over 8.2 innings. If he’s only considering one- or two-year deals, he’d make plenty of sense for Atlanta, even if the move wouldn’t carry the same splash as some of the other names on this list.

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Photo: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire

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