"The Braves were linked specifically to Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito as targets for their starting pitching pursuit, which apparently remains active at this stage in the offseason. While those are by no means sexy options, they likely wouldn't require eye-watering contracts and would preserve the Braves' 2026 draft capital, as compared to Framber Valdez or Zac Gallen. Bassitt has been quite durable and consistent in the ~2.5 fWAR per (regular length) season range for seven seasons now,"
"but hasn't had a peak much higher than that and will be 37 this season. Giolito had a higher peak than Bassitt from 2019-2021, but hasn't been the same pitcher since, That said, he posted a solid back-end starter year in 2025, albeit with highly diminished strikeout stuff. Either would be solid depth options, but wouldn't bring much upside with them beyond that, though Giolito is only 31, so perhaps a renaissance could still be in the cards for him."
Atlanta pursues veteran starters Chris Bassitt and Lucas Giolito as affordable rotation options while keeping 2026 draft capital intact. Both players present low-cost, low-upside profiles relative to Framber Valdez or Zac Gallen. Bassitt has delivered approximately 2.5 fWAR per regular season across seven seasons, showing durability but lacking a high-performance peak and entering a 37-year-old season. Giolito displayed a higher peak from 2019–2021 but declined afterward; he posted a serviceable back-end starter season in 2025 with markedly reduced strikeout effectiveness and remains only 31, leaving open the possibility of a late-career resurgence. Both would provide solid depth.
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