The Atlanta Braves' desperation to fill innings has resulted in a number of surprise pitching additions. Both in the rotation and bullpen, the standards have never been lower for a team that simply cannot stay healthy. AJ Smith-Shawver, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Grant Holmes appear lost for the season, while Spencer Strider and Chris Sale have both had IL stints. This has resulted in Atlanta being willing to bring in any failing pitcher to attempt to figure things out.
Carlos Carrasco is the latest example of this, and even with Atlanta's low standards was still designated for assignment. The veteran has now elected free agency, attempting to find another landing spot in an attempt to breathe life back into his career. Carrasco is going to have an extremely limited market, looking at ugly numbers in the 2025 season.
The starter has a 7.09 ERA through 45.2 innings pitched this season. Even for Atlanta, there was no way to continue to justify starting the veteran. Carrasco was unable to eat innings and appeared to be tossing batting practice. With this in mind, completely moving on is the right decision for both sides. The veteran has zero chance of playing into Atlanta's plans the rest of the season or moving into the 2026 season.
Failed Braves Starter Carlos Carrasco Hits Free Agency
Atlanta's rotation will get a bit of a boost with Chris Sale's return and the surprise emergence of Hurston Waldrep. The Braves appear to have taken advantage of the lost season, finding a potential fit for the top of the rotation. If Sale can remain healthy and Strider can right the ship, Atlanta's future rotation prospects appear incredibly bright. Still, this is little comfort in the middle of a lost season.
With well over a month of the season remaining, the Braves are far out of contention and already turning their attention to the future. This speaks volumes for a highly paid roster expected to be in World Series contention. How short they have fallen of expectations helps illustrate just how aggressive Atlanta's front office must be in the 2026 offseason.
Parting ways with not only Carrasco, but every similar veteran piece brought in as an attempted Band-Aid to the lack of depth is the only way forward. Atlanta's front office must admit its mistakes and remedy the roster concerns by making aggressive moves, not content to rely on returning players, the exact mistakes that set up the misery of this season.