MLB Rumors: Zac Gallen’s Signing Could Pave The Way For Lucas Giolito To Atlanta
Taking the same one-year deal after turning down the Diamondbacks’ QO, Zac Gallen coming off the board could open the door for Lucas Giolito to land with the Atlanta Braves. After a 76-86 finish in 2025 and their first missed postseason since 2017, Atlanta isn’t hiding from its rotation issues. The urgency, for once, is real.
The Braves attacked the offseason with volume, adding Robert Suarez, Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubon, Martin Perez, and Jorge Mateo, while re-signing Ha-Seong Kim and Raisel Iglesias. Still, one need stands out. Another dependable starter. The top-tier arms are mostly gone, but one proven name remains.
In a February 2026 piece for FanSided, highlighted by Heavy.com, Zachary Rotman predicted Atlanta as the 31-year-old’s landing spot after Zac Gallen’s signing shifted the market.
“Gallen coming off the board entrenches Lucas Giolito as the best free agent available. I thought the Atlanta Braves made a lot of sense for Zac Gallen given their rotation needs, but since Giolito will come cheaper and won’t require paying the QO penalty, he might make even more sense for the Braves.”
Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA across 26 starts last year with the Boston Red Sox. Add that to Atlanta’s rotation, and 2026 starts looking a lot different.
Cubs Rotation Rumors: Zac Gallen Impact, Lucas Giolito Next?
With Zac Gallen off the market, the spotlight shifts to a lot of teams, including the Chicago Cubs. Do they chase one more starter or roll with what they’ve got? The rotation looks steady, but there sure are flags. Edward Cabrera and Cade Horton carry health questions, Justin Steele is returning from injury, and there’s pressure on Shōta Imanaga and Matthew Boyd to hold form.
The biggest name left is Lucas Giolito. He posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox, though the strikeout metrics dipped after UCL surgery.
Other options: Max Scherzer headlines the veteran tier, alongside Frankie Montas, Tyler Anderson, and others. Solid innings eaters. Not exactly rotation game-changers.
MLB Rumors: Zac Gallen’s Signing Could Pave The Way For Lucas Giolito To Atlanta
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