It doesn't sound like the Braves will be playing at the top of the starting pitching market
The Elder discussion brings something else about this offseason into focus. Alex Anthopoulos went out of his way to say that payroll is going up and no one is confused that starting pitching was the top concern going into the offseason where this free agent class has a lot of high end options. However, all of the reporting right now suggests that Atlanta isn't going to be participating at the top of the free agent market.
If you look at the scuttlebutt around guys like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Aaron Nola, no one is mentioning the Braves as a possibility for these guys. That is probably partially due to the fact that all of those guys are going to command lengthy nine figure deals and the Braves don't give those out lightly, but it is still disheartening that the offseason has only just begun and those guys seem to be off the table.
The good news is that the Braves have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Sonny Gray by numerous outlets. Gray is a bit old and could probably be convinced to sign a healthy two or three year deal. However, with where the Braves are in relation to the luxury tax, it is an open question as to whether or not Atlanta would go far enough to snag Gray especially with the qualifying offer attached to him.
The most likely scenario right now feels like the Braves add some sort of mid-level starter and then bank on one or more of their internal candidates working out. They do have some interesting arms in AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Darius Vines that could end being good enough, but it would be nice to see the Braves be aggressive given the strength of the pitching market.