Braves 'biggest regret' is obvious issue Alex Anthopoulos should've addressed

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Braves 'biggest regret' is obvious issue Alex Anthopoulos should've addressed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves are starting the 2026 season off strong with an 8-5 record, but it's not something that was looking like a certainty heading into the season.

While there was plenty to like about the Braves' chances to be successful in 2026, before the season could even begin, they were dealt so many injuries to their rotation that things got a bit dire.

That's why Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report called out Alex Anthopoulos for not addressing the starting rotation this past offseason, calling it the Braves "biggest regret" despite the decent start to the year for the Braves starters.

Braves 'biggest regret' was not adding more rotation help​

"Atlanta Braves: Not signing a veteran starter," Kelly writes. "It's easy to say now with the benefit of hindsight, but Walt Weiss' rotation is already very thin, which perhaps is a problem that Alex Anthopoulos should have anticipated this past offseason."

Now, it's hard to blame Anthopoulos for the injuries to the starting rotation. Atlanta has five starters out due to injury, all for varying amounts of time.

Spencer Strider has an oblique strain, while Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both had elbow surgery this offseason. Add in the Joey Wentz torn ACL, and A.J. Smith-Shawver's continued absence from Tommy John surgery, and it's a brutal list.

More: Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar

The Braves should have added more help to the rotation this offseason, especially knowing the issues with Smith-Shawver and having a bit of time to address the rotation following the February injuries to Waldrep and Schwellenbach.

Anthopoulos should have gone out and added more rotation help this past offseason. Even though the Braves have been able to get by with their current rotation, there's no telling when their thin rotation will catch up to them.

Kelly notes the lack of a veteran pitcher addition as the Braves' biggest regret this offseason, and while Anthopoulos has gotten by so far, they're walking a thin line between being a decent rotation and one in dire need of help.

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