The Atlanta Braves have emerged as a potential landing spot for free-agent starting pitcher Kyle Gibson.
The Athletic’s Chad Jennings has linked the Braves to Gibson as part of his analysis on where remaining free agents could end up.
Adding Gibson would provide Atlanta with an extra layer of rotation depth, which could be crucial given the inevitability of injuries.
“Stability. That’s all we’re looking for here,” Jennings noted. “The Braves have been relatively quiet this offseason—aside from signing Jurickson Profar—and are banking on the returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. to elevate their ceiling. Strider, Chris Sale, and Reynaldo López headline the rotation, but securing another veteran starter could help solidify the group and offer insurance against further setbacks.”
While the Braves appear to be wrapping up their offseason moves, another addition remains possible, especially with Strider set to return early in the season.
Gibson would be a logical choice if injury protection is a priority. He provided the St. Louis Cardinals with 30 starts and nearly 170 innings in 2024, posting a 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 99 ERA+ while striking out 150 batters.
His performance is comparable to Charlie Morton’s but at a slightly lower price point—Morton is set to make about $15 million with Baltimore next season. However, Gibson’s projected $13.4 million salary is still significantly higher than that of Grant Holmes, who will earn around $800,000 in 2025.
For reference, Morton posted a 4.19 ERA over 30 starts in 2024, while Holmes recorded a 4.01 ERA across seven starts.
One consideration is that Gibson, like most of Atlanta’s rotation, is a right-hander, with Chris Sale being the only lefty. This means depth is the primary motivation behind a potential signing—an important factor, as the Braves learned the hard way last season.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether the cost justifies the additional depth.
As things stand, here are Atlanta’s current rotation options, including Strider:
- Chris Sale
- Reynaldo López
- Spencer Schwellenbach
- Spencer Strider
- Grant Holmes
- Ian Anderson
- Hurston Waldrep
- AJ Smith-Shawver
- Bryce Elder
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