Atlanta Braves are singing a Star now that Aaron Nola has returned to Philly…

Frontline starter options for Atlanta now that Aaron Nola has returned to Philly.

The Braves either need to move up in money for a Japanese star or settle for a Tier 2 option.

The Atlanta Braves were reportedly “determined” to leave free agency with a “frontline” starter, one that could take the ball in a postseason game.

That task got a bit harder on Sunday morning with the news that presumed top target Aaron Nola was returning to the Philadelphia Phillies on a seven year, $172M deal. It hits a bit harder when you notice that it’s just under $25M AAV, a price that Atlanta reportedly was willing to pay for the right starter.

So, with the best and most logical option off the board, what other frontline pitching options are left for Atlanta?

Aug 4, 2021; Yokohama, Japan; Team Japan pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (17) throws a pitch against Korea in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium.

Aug 16, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with teammates while wearing a samurai helmet after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.

Apr 18, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Blake Snell (left) looks on as Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning at Petco Park.

Oct 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros during game three of the ALDS for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Target Field.

Each of these remaining options have tradeoffs

There’s additional costs to each of these players outside of just the contract – the trio of Ohtani, Snell, and Gray all received (and declined) qualifying offers, meaning any MLB team signing them in free agency is required to forfeit draft pick compensation. As a team that paid into the luxury tax last season, Atlanta would lose their 2nd and 5th-highest draft picks to sign either of the trio.

Yamamoto comes without draft pick compensation, but he does require a posting fee. That fee is a sliding scale off of the total contract amount, projected to end up around in excess of $30M.

(The fee is structured as follows: $5 million [20 percent] for the first $25 million of Yamamoto’s contract, $4.375 million [17.5 percent] of the next $25 million and 15 percent of the remaining total over $50 million.)

Which option would you want Atlanta to pursue?

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