Are the Atlanta Braves done making moves this offseason? It’s been a busy winter for Atlanta and its front office, as they’ve inked several players to multi-year contracts. That includes securing bullpen help with Robert Suarez and a few other low-cost relievers, and adding Mike Yastrzemski for much-needed outfield depth.
The one move the Braves haven’t pulled off is one for a starting pitcher. There are two ways that the Braves could add a starter this offseason: either via free agency, where there are still top names available and lots of innings-eater than can help a starting rotation, or by trading for an arm that has years of control left and can also eat up innings. It was recently floated by a Braves writer that Blue Jays‘ starter Jose Berrios is a ‘Wild Card’ option for Atlanta.
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Should the Braves Trade for Jose Berrios?
Jose Berrios has been a very durable starter across MLB for several years now. He earned back-to-back All-Star honors with the Minnesota Twins (208-2019), and then inked a seven-year, $131 million deal with the Blue Jays before the 2022 season.
In his time as a Blue Jays starter, he’s posted a 4.09 ERA over 138 starts. He’s averaging 31 starts per season since 2022.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman recently floated the idea that Atlanta should be in on trading for Jose Berrios:
“José Berríos: The 31-year-old, two-time All-Star has made 30-plus starts each of the past four seasons for the Blue Jays and he posted a sub 4.00 ERA in two of those seasons. He might be the odd man out as the AL champs prepare to enter 2026 with Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce in their rotation.”
The Braves have also been linked to free agent starter Chris Bassitt, who has not decided on his next MLB team.
GettyBlue Jays’ Jose Berrios.
Braves’ Rotation Outlook
The Braves don’t necessarily need a frontline starter, but Jose Berrios certainly isn’t that. He has good marks, but is prone to getting hit around a little bit. In 2022, he had a 5.23 ERA in 172 innings. He followed that up by two sub-4.00 ERA seasons (2023-2024), but posted a 4.17 ERA this past season in 166 innings, with a 4.65 FIP.
As for the Braves’ rotation outlook for 2026, Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach are the big arms on the staff, but that comes with the responsibility of being able to take the ball every fifth day, which neither has been able to do over the past two seasons. Then there are guys like Spencer Strider, Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz, and Hurston Waldrep who fill the rest of the rotation, but Berrios is certainly a better option than some of those names.
Either way, Atlanta does need to acquire a starting pitcher in some capacity this offseason. Even if it’s a veteran name like Patrick Corbin, Zack Littell, or the aforementioned Bassitt. Adding an arm that can give 150+ innings and 25+ starts will be crucial for this Braves’ 2026 squad.
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