By Clint Thompson

The Atlanta Braves’ options for the starting rotation next season are one less after Tuesday’s development.

Left-hander Blake Snell, one of the better starters on the free agent market this offseason, has agreed to a five-year deal with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s not a surprising development. After all, the Dodgers were very thin among starters last year, due to injuries, including Shohei Ohtani’s recovery from Tommy John surgery.

What that means is if the Braves can’t re-sign Max Fried — and it’s highly unlikely they fork over the kind of money it will require to retain his services — they will have one less option to choose from; at least one that is comparable to Fried’s pitching accomplishments.

It should create a sense of urgency for the Braves and general manager Alex Anthopolous. The Braves are built to compete now and will have to do so next year with a starting rotation that only leaves three starters returning in reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach.

All three were tremendous in 2024, but Sale will be 36 next year with an injury history. Schwellenbach is still young, and Lopez has an injury history as well. Can the Braves rely on all three to duplicate last year’s success or at least provide the Braves reliable arms the entire season? I’m not so sure.

Spencer Strider will obviously bolster the top of the rotation, but who knows when he will return and in what shape? Will he be the strikeout machine he once was?

That uncertainty emphasizes the need for the Braves to respond to the Dodgers’ latest high-priced move and acquire a veteran starter; a reliable arm that can toe the rubber every fifth day.

I’ve read that Walker Buehler could be an option. He was outstanding for the Dodgers in last year’s postseason, but he has endured two Tommy John surgeries. Nathan Eovaldi, a two-time All-Star, is another option. He is 34 but did log 29 starts in 2024 with the Texas Rangers.

My preference would be for the Braves to stick with Fried, though the price tag is projected around $170 million to $180 million. Considering the Braves’ recent track record with letting Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson walk, I would be shocked if the Braves changed course and signed another expensive long-term contract.

No matter what the Braves do, they need to respond to their biggest rival in the National League. The Dodgers got better by signing Snell. What will the Braves do?