Braves Eye Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt to Bolster Rotation

The Atlanta Braves have gone after upgrades this offseason, plugging holes all over the roster. Their main goal? Bolster the starting rotation.

Even with big moves around the diamond, fans still wonder if the pitching staff is deep and durable enough. The Braves are poking around in free agency, eyeing experienced arms for support.

Two names keep popping up—Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt. They bring different strengths, but both could help a team chasing another title.

Braves Still Searching for Rotation Stability

Atlanta’s front office has checked off the bullpen, infield, and outfield. That should set them up for another playoff push.

But the rotation? Still a little shaky. Injuries and workload questions linger for several starters.

Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López, and Hurston Waldrep all come with their own question marks. The Braves want a veteran who can chew up innings and steady the group.

Neither Giolito nor Bassitt got a qualifying offer, so Atlanta wouldn’t lose a draft pick to sign them. That’s a big plus in this market.

Lucas Giolito: High Upside, High Variance

Lucas Giolito, now 31, might be the bigger swing. He missed all of 2024 with a UCL surgery but came back in 2025 for the Red Sox and flashed some of his All-Star form.

A Tale of Two Seasons

He struggled early, but something clicked after the break. Over his last 19 starts, Giolito posted a 2.51 ERA.

That run showed why people once called him one of the American League’s most dominant righties. Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

His SIERA (4.67) and FIP (3.97) tell a less rosy story. The strikeouts dropped, and he battled some elbow irritation late in the year, which isn’t ideal for a guy just off surgery.

Giolito’s always been a bit of a rollercoaster. His career 4.30 ERA drops to 4.00 if you ignore those rough early years, so maybe there’s more there than folks think.

Chris Bassitt: The Model of Reliability

If Giolito’s the gamble, Chris Bassitt is the steady hand. At 36, Bassitt’s earned a reputation as one of the game’s most reliable starters.

Consistency Over Flash

He’s made at least 30 starts and thrown 170+ innings for four straight years. That’s not easy to find these days.

In 2025, Bassitt logged 170 1/3 innings with a 3.96 ERA for Toronto and even handled a relief role in the playoffs. Of course, age is a concern.

Last season, his fastball lost a little zip, hitting a career low. But his strikeout and swinging-strike rates didn’t budge, so maybe his pitch mix and command are still doing the heavy lifting.

Financial Implications and Final Outlook

From a payroll perspective, signing either veteran would push Atlanta further into luxury-tax territory. That means higher tax payments, but not the harshest penalties or draft-pick losses.

The decision really comes down to what you value more:

 
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