There's a pitcher who is perfect for the Atlanta Braves in 2024 | Bill Shanks

As we start the new calendar year, spring training is only six weeks away. We now know where Shohei Ohtani will play, and that could result in an abundant number of transactions in the new month.

The Braves have still yet to acquire a playoff starter. They’ve signed a pitcher who might start for them (Reynaldo Lopez), but they have not gotten someone who will be guaranteed to start in a playoff game in October. That was one major goal entering the offseason.

Aaron Nola was pursued, but when word leaked his interest in the Braves was serious, his Phillies’ teammates convinced him to stay in Philadelphia (that and a hefty contract). The admission of this interest by Braves’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos showed the type of pitcher the team hoped to add before the 2024 season.

And he still has to have that hope, even with the calendar flipping to the new year. Now that teams know where Ohtani is going, the dominoes could fall. Free agents who hoped Ohtani would set the market can now fall in line, while teams with pitchers to trade can set the market.

There is one pitcher who would be perfect to slot behind Max Fried and Spencer Strider, and in front of Charlie Morton and Lopez. That’s Dylan Cease, a right-hander with the White Sox who has started in 30 or more games and had 200 or more strikeouts in each of the last three seasons.

Cease is from Milton, Ga., so he’s a hometown kid. He has two years left before free agency, and even though Scott Boras is his agent, it might be worth getting him in that hometown uniform.

But what if the price is too high? The White Sox are rebuilding. The only published price they asked for was from Cincinnati, and Chicago asked the Reds for their second, third, fourth and sixth-rated prospects — three of whom are ranked in the top 70 for all of MLB prospects. That’s a huge price for a pitcher only signed for two more seasons.

The Braves do not have those sorts of prospects. Atlanta’s farm system is good, but not great, and the White Sox asking price of the Reds was all about getting great prospects who are rated highly right now.

Anthopoulos might include one of his top pitching prospects in a deal for Cease, but not two. For instance, he could relent and relinquish AJ Smith-Shawver, the top-rated prospect for the Braves, but not Hurston Waldrep, the second-rated prospect. He might want to include Vaughn Grissom and Bryce Elder, but not formulate a deal that would cripple an already suspect farm system.

Does Anthopoulos instead talk with the Astros about Framber Valdez, the Brewers about Corbin Burnes, or the Indians about Shane Bieber? Those prices could also be extreme, as the desperation for quality starting pitchers will make teams overpay.

Could he pivot to a more mid-level free agent, like Lucas Giolito, James Paxton or Michael Lorenzen? Or would that type of pitcher not be assured of being good enough to start a game in October? They might be good enough to help you get through the regular season, but October?

We saw the difference last season when Elder was an All-Star, but then he ran out of gas late in the season and then was ineffective in his lone postseason appearance. The Braves need something more guaranteed, but is that possible?

Again, teams are desperate for pitchers, quality pitchers. That’s one reason the Braves should always concentrate on drafting pitchers in the amateur draft, especially with many of the position players locked down in long-term contracts. But that won’t help now, and after last October, they almost have to count on something happening, like a blister or a strained index finger, upsetting the best-laid plans for the postseason.

Anthopoulos could have a different philosophy. Maybe if the price for a starter is too high, he focuses instead on the bullpen. He could go after free agent Josh Hader, who could compliment Raisel Iglesias and give the Braves the best bullpen in the sport. Then he could gamble Ian Anderson comes back from Tommy John surgery in late summer, or that Smith-Shawver or Waldrep spend time in Triple-A for most of the season and then be ready late in the year.

Maybe Anthopoulos signs another pitcher like Lopez, who has spent most of the last few years as a quality reliever but started his career as a starter. The Braves want to stretch Lopez out to see if he could be a decent bottom-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Can that type of pitcher relearn how to go deep in games and be a starter again?

Starting pitchers aren’t going deep in games, anyway, so maybe the best-case scenario of finding a workhorse isn’t even realistic anymore. That’s why a pitcher like Cease is so hard to find. Is it more logical to simply get innings-eaters for the middle parts of games, to go in-between starting pitchers and the late relievers?

Jakob Junis is a potential “bridge” pitcher who could fill multiple rolls. Like Lopez, he began his career as a starter but has been more of a reliever the last few years. Last season with the Giants, Junis pitched in 40 games (four starts) and had 86.0 innings, with a low-walk total (21) and good strikeout numbers (96).

Does Anthopoulos sign a pitcher like Junis, let Junis compete for a spot in the rotation, and if he doesn’t win a position then just have him be that bridge pitcher who can eat up innings when starters don’t go deep into games? Then, Anthopoulos could build up his farm system a bit more this summer and hope another starter becomes available before the trade deadline.

Teams must have two philosophies – one to get through the six-month marathon of the regular season, and then another one to do well in October. Having a starter like Elder won’t cut it in October against a hot offensive team like the Phillies, and the thought of openers in the playoffs is rather sickening.

But the high prices and universal desperation for pitching must make Anthopoulos consider his options. He’s seeking what every other team wants – quality starting pitching. Sure, a good roll of the dice is needed for October, but it certainly does help knowing the first few innings of each game can be handled by a quality starting pitcher.

Anthopoulos will take the next six weeks to figure this out. Let’s hope avoiding openers in any game played by the Braves this season is Anthopoulos’s New Year’s resolution. That and finding more pitchers who can simply be better than the opposition, especially if the price is right.

Listen to the Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on The SuperStations – 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. Email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Dylan Cease would be perfect fit for Atlanta Braves | Bill Shanks