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Four Areas The Atlanta Braves Can Improve Through Free Agency

By Deke Lloyd

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Billy Hamilton #9, Ozzie Albies #1 and Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves smile after scoring on a double by Josh Donaldson #20 during the 8th inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Billy Hamilton #9, Ozzie Albies #1 and Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves smile after scoring on a double by Josh Donaldson #20 during the 8th inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEP 20: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves dunks Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves with milk at the conclusion of an MLB game against the San Francisco Giants in which they clinched the N.L. East at SunTrust Park on September 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEP 20: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves dunks Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves with milk at the conclusion of an MLB game against the San Francisco Giants in which they clinched the N.L. East at SunTrust Park on September 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

1. Starting Pitching

This offseason’s free agency class boasts plenty of big names when it comes to the starting pitchers that will be available. Gerrit Cole, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Zach Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner will all be outright free agents when the season concludes. Cole and Ryu, however, will likely cost an arm and a leg to sign, a price the Braves will be unwilling to pay. Even with those two out, the Braves will have plenty of good options left on the board.

The class of starting pitchers that should be in the Braves price range will be Bumgarner, Wheeler, and Jake Odorizzi. Those three pitchers will still be looking for a big payday, the kind of money that the Braves would be willing to spend to bolster this starting rotation. With Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Mike Foltynewicz, and Sean Newcomb or Touki Toussaint, depending on who the Braves tap for their 5th pitcher in the rotation, the Braves will have room for one free agent in the upcoming season.

Another free agent that needs to be considered is Dallas Kecuhel. Keuchel will be back on the market, similar to last season, and be looking to fetch what he deems he’s worth. I’m not sure what that is, but after the half-season Keuchel had with the Braves, I would think the Braves would be willing to bring Keuchel back if the price is right.

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