Realistic Starting Pitching Options Left for Atlanta Braves
While there are still several starting pitchers available this offseason, not many are perfect fits for the Atlanta Braves and Alex Anthopoulos.
Of course, that all depends on what your evaluation is of the Atlanta Braves' current starting rotation.
In terms of 2024, the Braves will go into the season with one of the best top halves of a starting rotation in all of baseball. Spencer Strider and Max Fried could both compete for the NL Cy Young in 2024 and Charlie Morton still has his moments of dominance.
One could make the argument they don't have to acquire another frontline starter for 2024 and that the bigger need is filling out the back half of the rotation where it seems like Bryce Elder is the only sure thing -- and even he comes with some questions after a shaky end to the season.
There is also the case to be made to find a long-term solution at the top of the rotation with the likelihood that Max Fried will be gone after the upcoming season.
Frontline Starters Left
Shohei Ohtani -- If you feel extremely confident that Ohtani can pitch at a high level again after a second major injury to his elbow, then he makes a ton of sense. But his price appears to be at a level the Braves won't be comfortable with.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto -- As I wrote here, Yamamoto makes a ton of sense for the Braves because of his age. But for that same reason he makes sense for a lot of teams and, again, it feels like his contract is getting a range the Braves don't usually compete with.
Blake Snell -- There has been little talk about the reigning NL Cy Young winner. His durability concerns (only throwing more than 130 innings twice) probably keep AA from extending him any kind of long-term deal.
Jordan Montgomery -- The soon-to-be 31-year-old lefty fits the durability mold a little better and is probably the most likely fit out of this group, but he's coming off a career-year and amazing postseason which could inflate his price. There's also a good chance he's more of a mid-rotation starter going forward than a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Dylan Cease -- If the reported price on Cease is accurate, he's too expensive prospect-wise for the Braves.
Tyler Glasnow -- How much are you willing to give up for a rental player making $25 million who has yet to throw more than 130 innings in a season?
Corbin Burnes -- Would be a great fit, but the Brewers may go into the season with him as a potential contender. It might also cost AJ Smith-Shawver or Hurston Waldrep for a rental who isn't likely to sign an extension as a Scott Boras client.
Shane Bieber -- Comes with some injury concern -- as most pitchers do -- off a season that saw him take a step backward. The 28-year-old would also be a rental but perhaps with a better chance of signing an extension.
Mid-rotation Starters Left
Shota Imanaga -- Certainly some risk signing a 30-year-old pitcher who hasn't pitched in the big leagues before. We don't typically see the Braves heavily involved in Japanese players (remember Kenshin Kawakami?).
Lucas Giolito -- The end of the season hurt Giolito's market as he was having a bit of a resurgent season with the White Sox posting a 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and 9.7 K/9 in 21 starts. It might be a chance to take a shot on a former Cy Young caliber arm on a short-term deal to allow him to reset his market.
Marcus Stroman -- Nobody ever really seems to want to keep this guy around even when he pitches well for them. He's coming off a rough second half as well.
Seth Lugo -- I wrote my thoughts on him here. His underlying metrics aren't as good as his actual numbers in 2023. He'd be solid as a depth piece and someone who could fill multiple roles.
Jack Flaherty -- Similar to Giolito, he's a former Cy Young caliber pitcher who has faded but is still just 28 and perhaps looking for a short-term deal to re-establish himself in a good place like Atlanta.
Michael Wacha -- An ERA below 3.35 and a WHIP below 1.20 the past two seasons is very solid. Durability could be an issue as he hasn't thrown more than 135 innings in a season since 2017.
Mike Clevinger -- Since his rookie season in 2016, he's never finished a year with an ERA higher than 4.33. Like some of these others though, he has some durability issues having not thrown more than 132 innings since 2018.
As you can see, it's December 7 and there are still plenty of options available for the starting rotation. But those names are likely to start coming off the board quickly.
Ideally, the Braves would be able to acquire a frontline starter and a mid-rotation starter this offseason. It seems more likely it will be one or the other, and it seems even more likely that it will be someone in the mid-rotation range.
But knowing how secretive Alex Anthopoulos is, he's probably targeting someone who isn't even listed here which will shock all of us.
Who would you prefer out of this list? Let me know on social media at @ShortStopBall.
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