TheAtlanta Braves were forcedto move Reynaldo Lopez to the IL this week as the right-hander is dealing with shoulder discomfort. For each of the past two seasons, injuries have defined the starter's season, as there is simply no way around the fact that Lopez has been a source of frustration. Two years ago the starter was among the league's most consistent starting options and handed the Braves a level of needed stability in the middle of the rotation.
Now, there is room to wonder whether or not the Braves would be wise to completely turn the page and look in a different direction. Lopez is guaranteed $8 million for the 2027, this is a total that could easily be viewed as a potential salary dump if the Braves want to pair it with other overpaid deals in an attempt to free up space to make one bigger addition.
Looking at the team's current roster moving on from Jurickson Profar, Mike Yastrzemski, and Lopez would free up more than enough to bring in one established star. Whether this is via trade or in free agency, it is a consideration that must be made no matter how the rest of the 2026 season plays out in Atlanta.
For Lopez, it is fair to wonder whether it is time to consider a fresh start for a player whose most memorable moment in the the past two seasons was a fight with former Atlanta outfielder Jorge Soler.
Braves Should Consider Turning the Page on Reynaldo Lopez as Injury Frustrations Continue
In the last 7.2 innings pitched, the veteran pitcher has given up 11 earned runs and been an objective liability on the mound. It has been the worst version of Lopez, and this has consistently shown up throughout the 2026 season, along with a handful of injuries dating back to last season that have left his future value very much in question.
Atlanta has a wealth of pitching options and has all the time in the world to add to the rotation in the upcoming offseason. Parting ways with such an injury-prone player makes sense, while you're giving Lopez the opportunity to find a fresh start and perhaps once again have the level of production achieved two seasons ago.
No question, this appears to have set the stage for making a change, with the bullpen having a clear path and Atlanta's rotation having extremely limited spots heading into next year, as there is a level of established clarity around the team's top current options.
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