Why Atlanta Won’t Shop for Pitching Depth Next Winter Either

A look at how Atlanta could field nine to twelve starters next year - and why another ace still makes sense

One of the biggest storylines of Atlanta’s offseason was President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos declining to reinforce the rotation despite legitimate injury concerns throughout the pitching staff. Those concerns have already materialized, with both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep out through at least midseason following cleanup procedures on their throwing elbows.

Despite losing two of the team’s top six starters, including budding ace Spencer Schwellenbach, Anthopoulos held firm that the Braves wouldn’t sign a depth starter simply for coverage, citing confidence in the arms already in-house.

Anthopoulos’ message this spring echoed his stance all winter: impact starters only. “We like the guys we have. The big thing for us was if we felt it was someone that we could slot in towards the top of the rotation, that’s something we would look to do.”

And heading into next offseason, there’s little reason to expect that philosophy to change. Because once you look at how many legitimate rotation options Atlanta could carry into 2027, it becomes clear why the organization continues to prioritize quality over quantity. Let’s talk about it.