One trade, one signing Braves should make

The Atlanta Braves rode a historic offense to a 104-win regular season but saw their bats go silent against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series. While they're well-positioned to win the National League East for a seventh consecutive season, the Braves need to make further improvements to feel comfortable about their World Series potential.

Here's one trade and one signing the Braves should make this offseason. 

Trade: Acquire White Sox RHP Dylan Cease

With arguably the top offensive core in MLB locked up for the better part of the next decade, the Braves can turn their full attention toward their starting rotation. Atlanta has Cy Young Award hopefuls in left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Spencer Strider leading its staff, but it could stand to gain from adding another quality arm since the rest of the rotation has concerns. RHP Charlie Morton will be entering his age-40 season, and despite being an All-Star last season, right-hander Bryce Elder is difficult to trust after posting a dreadful 5.11 second-half ERA.

Newly-minted White Sox GM Chris Getz has made it clear there "are no untouchables" on his roster and even made Cease available earlier this offseason before "pulling back" on trade talks, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. However, Heyman believes Chicago is waiting out the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes before pursuing a Cease deal further, stating there's "a good chance" the 27-year-old is on the move.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Braves were considered a finalist for Cease, and now that fellow National League powerhouse Dodgers added Shohei Ohtani, it'd be wise for GM Alex Anthopoulos to revisit a deal. Cease, who is under team control for the next two seasons, struggled mightily in 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 177 innings. However, Cease's 10.88 strikeouts per nine innings (the sixth-best in MLB) provide reason for optimism that he might be able to return to ace form. 

Signing: Ink LHP Max Fried to long-term extension 

Not all 100-win teams can improve on such a large scale as the Dodgers, which is why Atlanta has gotten creative by assuming — and flipping — bad contracts to acquire depth pieces like outfielder Jarred Kelenic and infielder David Fletcher. Since there are few areas in need of significant overhauling, it'd be an opportune time to lock up another homegrown star on a long-term deal like the Braves have become accustomed to doing.

The typically durable Fried was anything but in 2023, with three separate trips to the injured list limiting him to 14 regular starts. Nonetheless, Fried's performance wasn't hindered by the setbacks, as he posted an 8-1 record with a 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 77.2 innings while collecting 80 strikeouts.

Spotrac's calculated market value projects Fried to sign a six-year, $162.7 contract based on past comparable free-agent signings. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported last month that the Braves offered essentially the same contract as Spotrac's projection for Fried to Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola. Considering Fried has been a better pitcher than Nola when healthy, Atlanta should commit to the southpaw this winter rather than risk him raising his price with a dominant 2024 season.