Atlanta Braves: What if no ace is added?

If the Braves don’t sign or trade for a frontline starter, then it will be up to the youngsters to fill out the rotation. Which ones have the best shot?

While it would be nice for the Atlanta Braves to acquire a top of the rotation arm, it still seems like a far-fetched notion at this point in the hot stove season. That said, let’s preface the rest of this post with a couple of disclaimers:

• First, it’s early December, before the Winter Meetings, so a lot can still happen.
• At this point, the Braves don’t want to pay for Zack Greinke or part with the elite package of prospects it would take to acquire Corey Kluber.
• Alex Anthopoulos keeps things close to the vest, so nothing is out of the question.

Nothing out of the question.

However, for the sake of this exercise, let’s say the Braves don’t add anybody to the rotation and trade Julio Teheran (which seems safe to assume at this point, if only because the number of arms at the high-levels of the minors).

Mike Foltynewicz, Kevin Gausman and Sean Newcomb are locks.

Touki Toussaint is close to being a lock as well.

So there is one spot left and roughly six possibilities to fill that spot.

Let’s take a look at how things could progress from there.