Familiarity, Foundation, and Framber Valdez

"This offseason needed to be different for the Atlanta Braves. Especially compared to a year ago, the Braves not only had needs to fill but they needed to be aggressive in filling them. This is not just based on how disappointing of a year 2025 was overall. It is based on four straight years of increasingly disappointing results along with growing uncertainty of whether the current core can truly be a contender. To combat that uncertainty, urgency was needed to have a successful off-season."

"This offseason has been different for the Atlanta Braves. Already one of the most active offseasons during Alex Anthopoulos's time with the Braves, Atlanta has addressed nearly every need it had entering the offseason. The bullpen is a strength once again, shortstop is no longer a source of despair, and the offense will hopefully be more versatile and consistent. It has been a successful offseason for the Braves."

"But by no means should they be finished. Since the end of the season, Anthopoulos has remained consistent with his emphasis on adding starting pitching. Even after filling most of his needs, AA reemphasized that focus last week. And not only does he want to add to the rotation, he wants to add a difference maker. While the Braves starting rotation has plenty of quality already and needs depth more than anything,"

"That level of talent currently remains available for the Braves to pursue, either via trade or free agency. Several names could make sense, but one name seems to check many boxes that Anthopoulos would like to address with an addition to the starting rotation. That would be Framber Valdez."

The Atlanta Braves entered the offseason with urgency after four straight disappointing years and a poor 2025, prompting aggressive roster action. The team has been active under Alex Anthopoulos, addressing nearly every need: the bullpen is strengthened, shortstop is no longer a weakness, and the offense should gain versatility and consistency. Anthopoulos continues to prioritize starting pitching, seeking a difference-making front-of-the-rotation arm rather than merely depth. Adding such talent would elevate the rotation into one of baseball's best. Framber Valdez matches many of the Braves' desired traits and familiarity could make a pursuit plausible.

Read at Battery Power