Going into the 2026 season, there are questions surrounding the Atlanta Braves‘ starting rotation. Is it going to be good enough to compete with the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East?
With questions surrounding the rotation, there is still a need through free agency for another arm. The concerns for the rotation are real. They have a handful of pitchers coming off injuries, and it creates more questions than answers.
Atlanta has some free agent options to consider. One MLB writer thinks that a veteran could be a destination to Atlanta for one future Hall of Fame right-hander.
Braves Urged to Consider Signing Justin Verlander
It is hard to believe, but 42-year-old Justin Verlander intends to pitch in 2026. A future Hall of Famer, he is coming off a frustrating season with the San Francisco Giants in 2025. Despite his win/loss numbers looking gaudy, the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Verlander made 29 starts for the Giants and went just 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA in 152 innings. However, it was his work late in the season that opened some eyes and proved that he still has something left in the tank. David Schoenfield of ESPN thinks he would be a good fit for Atlanta.
“Verlander, incredibly, was 0-8 through his first 16 starts with the Giants, but he finished strong, with a 2.60 ERA over his final 13 outings, ending the season with a 4-11 record and 3.85 ERA. He started throwing a sweeper more often the final two months — a new pitch for him — and that clearly made a big difference. His four-seamer doesn’t miss bats like it once did, of course, but his slider/changeup/sweeper/curveball can still generate enough swing-and-miss to make him effective,” Schoenfield wrote.
Verlander will turn 43 in February. It is easy to see his fastball take a hit. It’s common with older pitchers. However, his off-speed pitches are still what make him effective. For a rotation with more questions than answers. Taking a swing on a veteran like Verlander makes sense for the Braves.
Justin Verlander Offers Intriguing Free Agent Option for Braves
Atlanta is banking on a trio of injured pitchers turning things around in 2026. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo López are coming off injuries. It will be a big spring training to see how they bounce back, but adding a pitcher like Verlander makes sense.
“Atlanta and San Diego make sense for either future Hall of Famer. The Braves have several pitchers coming off injuries, plus two potentially fragile starters in Chris Sale and Spencer Strider, so maybe a six-man rotation makes sense for them,” wrote Schoenfield.
Verlander isn’t going to break the bank in terms of money. He would be looking for a one-year deal at 43 years old when Opening Day comes around. Ryan Finklestein of Just Baseball predicts a one-year deal for $12 million, which is something the Braves should consider.
There are several teams still looking for pitchers. The free agent market has some good options. For Atlanta, if they have not swung big yet, they might be waiting for low-risk, high-reward options to emerge. Verlander would be one of those. It’s a risk worth taking for a rotation filled with pitchers returning from injuries.
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