This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
ATLANTA — Any dialog relating to what the Braves ought to do to enhance their pitching workers ought to start with the understanding of Reynaldo López’s projected function for the 2026 season.
López needs to stay within the beginning rotation, and Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has stated there haven’t been any discussions about transferring the 2024 All-Star hurler to the bullpen.
Anthopoulos has additionally stated that including to the rotation is on Atlanta’s “entrance burner” this winter.
So right here’s a take a look at the projected rotation with López:
LHP Chris Sale, RHP Spencer Strider, RHP Spencer Schwellenbach, López and a attainable offseason addition.
No, I didn’t overlook Hurston Waldrep. Simply throwing out what the checklist may appear to be with each López and a attainable addition.
Waldrep’s 2025 workload (148 innings) units him up for the potential to make 30-plus begins on the huge league stage in ’26, however there’s motive to create some insurance coverage as he preps for what can be his first full huge league season.
There’s additionally motive for the Braves to guard Schwellenbach, who totaled 110 innings earlier than fracturing his proper elbow in what was going to be his first full season on the MLB stage. And there’s uncertainty surrounding López, whose late-season 2024 harm woes lingered into ’25, throughout which he made one begin earlier than having his proper shoulder surgically cleaned.
Is it extra taxing for a pitcher to finish five-plus innings twice each 12 days or to probably make six to eight one-inning appearances each two weeks? That is an argument that we’ve had going again to when John Smoltz went to the bullpen after which returned to the rotation just a few years later.
You’ll seemingly hear differing opinions when asking this query, however one factor is evident: The Braves want to maximise what’s left of the restructured three-year, $30 million deal López obtained final winter.
If López will get again to the place he was earlier than accidents restricted him to 5 wholesome begins over the ultimate two months of the 2024 season, he can be a discount starter at $14 million this yr and $8 million in 2027.
López is also a discount if he stays wholesome whereas understanding of the bullpen the subsequent two seasons.
Although no groups have been capable of entice the Braves to commerce Raisel Iglesias earlier than the July 31 Commerce Deadline, he’ll draw sturdy consideration on the free-agent market. Even when Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez each choose out as anticipated, Iglesias would arguably be the third-best reliever out there on the FA market this winter.
Yeah, Iglesias will flip 36 in January. However has the 1.25 ERA he posted over his closing 45 appearances this season positioned him to proceed making $16 million per season over the subsequent couple of years?
Ought to the Braves re-sign Iglesias and pair him with Joe Jiménez, Tyler Kinley and Pierce Johnson in the back of the ‘pen?
Or wouldn’t it make extra sense to pair López with these three veteran relievers and resolve which one matches greatest because the nearer?
Coming off a yr when payroll was decrease than it had been since 2022, followers definitely don’t need to hear that this determination may come all the way down to funds. There’s definitely motive to argue that Atlanta ought to attempt to re-sign Iglesias and add a dependable starter.
The chances of this occurring will definitely be influenced by Ha-Seong Kim’s pending determination. Kim has till 5 days after the World Sequence concludes to resolve whether or not to train his $16 million possibility for 2026.
If Kim and his agent Scott Boras decline the choice, the Braves would then enter a bidding struggle on the free-agent market. That’s not essentially an excellent factor, contemplating the Yankees can be on the lookout for a shortstop.
If Kim’s price turns into too vital, Atlanta may look elsewhere for a shortstop or roll the cube on Nick Allen once more. That’s truly not honest, as a result of you already know you’re getting Gold Glove-caliber protection from Allen. The gamble can be on Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Sean Murphy bouncing again to a stage that overcomes Allen’s offensive shortcomings.
Kim’s determination may affect the caliber of pitchers the Braves purchase this winter. However coming off this previous season, it appears protected to imagine each the rotation and bullpen can be addressed, no matter López’s projected function.
