Who is in the Atlanta Braves starting rotation in 2020?

Possibilities outside the organization

As I said in the first slide, I think the Atlanta Braves are a top of the rotation starter away from being one of the game’s elite teams.

Heck, even with the current rotation, which is solid, they are 30-plus games over .500 and in line to win their first playoff series in nearly 20 years.

The Braves have not been inclined to hand out long contracts in free agency, so it seems unlikely they will go that route.

However, if they choose to, there are plenty of enticing options.

Gerrit Cole, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Stephen Strasburg (if he opts out), Madison Bumgarner and current rotation member Dallas Keuchel are scheduled to hit free agency.

Cole is in line to receive one of the highest free agent pitching contracts, although maybe last offseason suggests that might not happen. Plus, the compensation for signing Cole is something the Braves will not be inclined to give up.

Ryu has had his fair share of injuries and isn’t exactly tearing things up down the closing weeks of the season. Going after Ryu seems like a risky move.

It has been reported that Strasburg is intending to opt-out of the seven-year, $175 million contract he signed after the 2016 season. He would leave $100 million on the table to do so. In the event Strasburg does opt-out, the California kid seems destined for his home state, not Atlanta. Though, I would certainly gauge his interest.

Bumgarner is not the same pitcher he was during the Giants’ World Series runs earlier in the decade, but there have been reports stating he would like to come home. But is Bumgarner really that much of an upgrade over Keuchel?

Lastly, it appears Keuchel has settled into a groove over the last three weeks and might actually make sense to bring back for two or three years. His style is unique to the game today and the Braves defense certainly enhances how he pitches.

It seems like the more likely route for the Braves to acquire a starting pitcher is the trade route.

There is a handful of starting pitchers who could be available this offseason. To some degree, I could see Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Minor, Kyle Hendricks, and Robbie Ray could be had.

Kluber and Carrasco were mentioned as trade possibilities last offseason, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t be again this offseason. Kluber broke his right forearm earlier this season, and then recently hurt his oblique, while Carrasco battled leukemia.

In 2018, Kluber was outstanding going 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA, while Carrasco was 17-10 with a 3.38 ERA.

The Indians are in a tough spot, because they are looking at a rebuild soon, but do they want to trade either of these starters when their value is at its lowest?

Minor’s name was floated at the trade deadline this year, so expect the Rangers to listen again.

A first-time All-Star, Minor is 4-4 with a 3.92 ERA since the break and I don’t know how much of an upgrade he is over some of the other options.

An intriguing name that is probably a long shot is the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks, who is 9-9 with a 3.39 ERA this season.

Jon Lester and Cole Hamels are both free agents and it has been speculated that Kris Bryant might be traded this winter, so maybe the Cubs try for a quick reset.

There are certainly some options for the Atlanta Braves to look at on the open market and I would fully expect them to do so.