With Max Fried and Charlie Morton potentially parting ways with the Braves, Alex Anthopoulos suddenly has to add a reliable arm to the rotation, considering Spencer Strider won’t be ready for Opening Day.

As of right now, the Braves starting rotation would look something like Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach, A.J. Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep (???). Suffice to say that the club is going to add at least one notable pitcher to the group.

That’s the expectation too. Ken Rosenthal reported Tuesday on Foul Territory that he expects the Braves to sign at least one “significant” starting pitcher.

Atlanta has been connected to free agents Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, and Walker Buehler, as well as the top trade target on the market in Garrett Crochet. Jordan Montgomery and Sonny Gray are two other arms also believed to be available on the trade market.

While many Braves fans would love to have Max Fried back, which isn’t completely out of the cards with recent reports stating Atlanta is trying to re-sign the southpaw along with Charlie Morton, there are plenty of other fish in the sea, including another elite arm in Blake Snell that probably won’t require the lengthy contract Fried will.

I would generally lean toward a notable acquisition coming via trade, though. Crochet is the marquee name available, but that also means every club will insert themselves into the sweepstakes.

With other areas of the club needing addressing, Alex Anthopoulos will have to get creative with his resources, similar to what he did last year with Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez.

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Photographer: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire