While the Atlanta Braves should be sellers at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, there is one notable exception. The franchise needs to work to add a starting pitcher, whether it is a part of a deal selling off veteran pieces or giving up something of note for an arm to impact the 2026 season.
Things have grown so incredibly bleak that reliever Aaron Bummer has made two starts over the last two weeks of the season. Having Bummer on the mound to set the tone for a game is never ideal. The inconsistent lefty is not going to give you length or shut down lineups at the start of a game.
It has played out in predictable fashion and left Atlanta fans anxious for the returns of Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Spencer Schwellenbach. While the trio is all expected to have a shot to get back into the rotation this season, none appear to be close to finding a way back. With this in mind, the Braves need to be willing to spend and find an innings-eater that is going to help take the pressure off the Atlanta bullpen. With the team's current rotation issues, you cannot afford a bullpen game every fifth day.
The Braves Need to Add a Starter Ahead of the Deadline
There are two ways Atlanta could look at this, with the first being searching for a viable arm that can play into the team's plans next season. While you should have a 2026 rotation of Spencer Strider, Sale, Schwellenbach, Lopez, and Grant Holmes. However, the last two seasons serve as evidence of why it is incredibly important to have depth at the position. Finding a player capable of contributing would help send a message that the team isn't giving up on its core.
Another approach would be attempting to find another arm on Bryce Elder's level, a player who has enough service time to be left on the mound to eat innings, no matter the results. If the Braves are ready to punt on the season, this is likely going to be the avenue the team chooses to explore.
Whichever choice the team makes, there isn't any debating that an addition must be made in the next weeks of the season. The bullpen already lacks depth and isn't built to sustain this type of usage. Add in the question marks you're already relying on, and it is clear that a move must be made, whether or not the Braves choose to sell.