Atlanta, GA
What Could the Atlanta Braves Starting Rotation Look Like in 2025?
The Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation could have a bit of a different identity in 2025. Two notable arms have reached the end of their respective contracts: Max Fried and Charlie Morton.
Fried will be one of the top left-handed starters on the market. Morton could sign elsewhere too but could also call it a career. He’s 40 years old and has already some uncertainty about his plans for next season.
That leaves two open spots in the rotation to fill for next season. Let’s take a look at how this rotation could look should both Fried and Morton not return. There were some surprises before the start of 2024. It could be the same for 2025 too.
First, let’s establish who will be back.
So that leaves the rotation looking as such:
- Chris Sale
- (open)
- Spencer Schwellenbach
- Reynaldo Lopez
- (open)
Chris Sale signed an extension following his acquisition last offseason. No worries there. He’s under contract for 2025 with a club option for 2026. It’s the same deal for Reynaldo Lopez. He’s got two more years left on his deal and had a surprise all-star season. Lock him in as well.
Spencer Schwellenbach had a spectacular rookie season. He’s got plenty of club control left. He’s the third lock for the rotation.
The rotation has been set up as such because neither Schwellenbach nor Lopez is a No. 2 guy in the rotation – not the Braves rotation at least. Who could be that much better? Spencer Strider is who.
His timetable for returning from an elbow injury is ambiguous, but he should be back early next season. He’s easily the No. 2 guy after Sale once he’s back.
Let’s add Strider and here’s how four of the five rotation spots could look:
- Chris Sale
- Spencer Strider
- Spencer Schwellenbach
- Reynaldo Lopez
- (open)
So, who gets the last spot? That’s far from clear-cut. Strider was easy to add because he was hurt and would’ve been in the rotation last year had he been healthy.
There are some in-house options.
Ian Anderson spent 2024 getting back to full strength. He’s been in the rotation before. That makes him a potential candidate. Other prospects could make their case in Spring Training as well.
There’s also Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes. Both of these guys came in in emergency roles last season. Elder has been an all-star in the past but didn’t pitch well last season. Holmes looked solid in his rookie season. Even if he’s not in the rotation, he’ll play some role in 2025.
A.J. Smith-Shawver made an appearance in the regular season and started a playoff game. He’s the team’s No. 2 prospect and likely would have stuck around if he hadn’t gotten hurt. His injury is what opened the door for Schwellenbach. Perhaps they could become teammates soon.
Hurston Waldrep has an outside shot as well. He got rocked in his brief MLB appearance in 2024 but looked much better once the team’s No. 3 prospect spent more time in Triple-A.
With all the injuries that piled up last season, there is a good shot we see all of these guys at some point. There’s also the idea of a six-man rotation – but we’ll cross that bridge if the Braves actually go that route.
The Braves could also use the extra freed-up payroll from losing Fried and Morton to go out in free agency to add an arm. It’s unlikely with their in-house options, but the odds are never zero.
Some top unrestricted free-agent options that could be signed to multi-year deals include Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber and Jack Flaherty. If they want to make a one-year splash, they could phone Max Scherzer. He couldn’t stay healthy last season, but the Braves might be able to work their magic with an aging veteran.
These options would shake up the projected rotation above. But again, that bridge can be crossed should we get there.
The public is getting its first look at the two pandas that will be heading from China to Zoo Atlanta.
NBC’s Janis Mackey Frayer was able to visit female Fu Shuang and male Ping Ping before they make the nearly 8,000-mile flight. The giant pandas are both 6 years old and are headed to the United States as part of a new decade-long conservation agreement between China and the U.S.
Ping Ping’s keepers say he tends to follow them around, which is atypical behavior for a panda, but may be because of the food they have for him. Fu Shuang — which translates to “double happiness” — is playful, but nervous, and enjoys placing her chin on her paw. She also likes apples and has a penchant for finding them.
“Because we will hide pieces of apples, for example under the tree … she can find them everywhere,” panda keeper Wang Shun told Mackey Frayer, noting her “clever” behavior.
The pandas are part of an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, a renewal of panda diplomacy between America and China that began in 1972.
“Zoo Atlanta is delighted and honored to yet again be trusted as stewards of this treasured species and to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association on the continued conservation and research efforts that are the most important outcomes of this cooperation,” Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said in a statement in April.
“We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our Members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas.”
Pandas are already at zoos in Washington, D.C., and San Diego. Zoo Atlanta maintained a panda agreement with China from 1999 until 2024, when Lun Lun and Yang Yang went back to their home country, along with their two youngest cubs.
Animal behaviorist James Ayala marvels at how pandas mature.
“You see cubs and they seem so cuddly and clumsy and cute. And then they grow up into these big, majestic bears,” he told Mackey Frayer.
Fu Shuang and Ping Ping will be transported further south into a mountainous region where they will be prepped to make the trip to the U.S. It is unknown when they will leave.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Soccer fever took over The Battery Atlanta on Thursday as fans gathered outside Truist Park for a rare chance to see the FIFA World Cup trophy in person.
Children kicked soccer balls across the plaza while crowds counted down to the dramatic reveal of the iconic trophy, widely considered the most coveted prize in international sports.
The appearance marked the first public viewing of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Atlanta.
“It’s the real trophy,” said fan Abdulrahman Dwead. “Nobody is allowed to touch the actual trophy unless you won it or are the president of FIFA. So, me standing beside that cup, that’s an honor to me.”
The trophy stop carried extra significance because Atlanta is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local fans said the event gave them a deeper sense of excitement ahead of the tournament.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Melissa Richardson. “It’s something that doesn’t happen often and to be here in this moment is very important to me.”
The trophy was displayed outside the ballpark before moving inside Monument Garden during Thursday night’s Braves game, allowing ticket holders another opportunity to see the historic prize.
Organizers said the event gave thousands of fans a rare chance to experience a piece of soccer history in Atlanta.
“I’m so happy that Atlanta will host eight games,” Dwead said. “I’ve been here in Atlanta for almost 14 years and I love Atlanta so much.”
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
The Atlanta Dream are undefeated heading into their home opener and still finding ways to improve their roster.
The Dream announced Wednesday the signing of forward Amy Okonkwo to a developmental contract. It’s the latest roster move for an Atlanta team that is 2-0 and gearing up to play Sunday against the defending champion, Las Vegas Aces.
Okonkwo brings an impressive résumé despite her young career.
She most recently attended training camp with the Dallas Wings ahead of the 2026 season and appeared in eight games with Dallas during the 2025 WNBA season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. She recorded a career-high 20 points against Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025, and made history as the first undrafted player since 2000 to average 10 or more points while shooting 60 percent or better through her first two WNBA games.
Her international résumé is equally impressive. Okonkwo has earned back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket MVP honors in 2023 and 2025 while helping Nigeria’s national team capture consecutive gold medals. Collegiately, she played at USC before finishing her career at TCU, where she earned 2018 Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Okonkwo joins a 12-player roster that includes Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao, Jordin Canada, Angel Reese, Aaliyah Nye, Rhyne Howard, Madina Okot, Allisha Gray, Isobel Borlase, Indya Nivar, Sika Kone and Brionna Jones.
The signing caps a busy stretch of roster moves for Atlanta.
Earlier this month, the Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers after she was selected by the expansion Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft and subsequently waived on May 7. Nye brings championship pedigree to Atlanta, having been a member of the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces as a rookie, appearing in all 44 regular season games and finishing fourth among franchise rookies in made three-pointers with 37.
A guard out of the University of Alabama, Nye is one of the sharper shooters in the league. She finished her college career with 389 three-pointers across stops at Alabama and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. In her final season with the Crimson Tide, she earned Second Team All-SEC honors after averaging 15.2 points per game and setting the program’s single-season record with 111 made three-pointers.
To make room for Nye, the Dream waived guard Holly Winterburn, a move that came with an emotional cost. Winterburn, a Northampton, England native who went undrafted in 2025 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, said she learned she had been cut just before boarding the bus for the team’s first game of the season on May 9.
“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game,” Winterburn wrote on Instagram. “But that’s the reality of this business and I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me. I’m built for this.”
Winterburn did not stay without a job for long. The Portland Fire signed her to a developmental contract shortly after her release.
After Tuesday’s road win in Dallas, the Dream return home Sunday to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 1:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
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