Which starting pitcher deal of this offseason should the Braves have made?

"For me, the big money deals were too big and inflated for the production they offered, but that shouldn't be surprising at this point. The played-in-another-league-last-year deals (Tatsuya Imai, Cody Ponce) are a lot more modest, but still fairly risky - I would've preferred them be more like pillow deals. That said, a lot of mid-tier deals, I think would've been good to make."

"There were a handful for quantity-for-quality-ish trades of starters. In particular, Shane Baz and Ryan Weathers come to mind. Those moves would've been the opposite of Chris Bassitt in a way since they wouldn't necessarily add a reliable arm, but would just diversify a high degree of risk further. Even the MacKenzie Gore deal, while on the pricier side because Gore is a pricier pitcher production-wise, seemed okay."

Big-money free-agent contracts offered too much cost relative to expected production. Several foreign-league signings such as Tatsuya Imai and Cody Ponce carried modest fees but notable risk and would suit shorter, lower-commitment deals. Mid-tier veteran starters like Chris Bassitt and Steven Matz present reasonable salaries with upside and limited flexibility impact. Justin Verlander, Nick Martinez, and Dustin May signings are acceptable but less appealing. Low-cost, short-term pickups such as Foster Griffin reduce downside. Quantity-for-upside trade targets like Shane Baz, Ryan Weathers, and MacKenzie Gore diversify risk through multiple gambles. Zack Littell could act as a cheaper Bassitt alternative if contract terms remain minimal.

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