5 offseason moves the Braves should make

3. Go big for Gerrit Cole

Since finishing their rebuild and returning to the playoffs, the Braves have preferred to keep their powder dry when it comes to free agency. They have not handed out a huge multi-year contract, opting for buy-low, one-year deals for veterans like Dallas Keuchel and Josh Donaldson (more on those two later). The Braves have locked up Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna to team-friendly extensions, but their long-term payroll outlook is extremely flexible.

This should be the first offseason in quite a while where the Braves are prepared to be massive players in free agency. Their first target should be Gerrit Cole, who has improved exponentially since embracing the analytics-driven approach to pitching practiced in Houston. The 29-year-old had a season for the ages and is going to get paid.

Coming off a year in which he pitched to a 20-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and a ridiculous 326 strikeouts, Cole will seek a deal worth more than $200 million, and he will deserve it. The right-hander ended the regular season on an 11-0 run with a 1.51 ERA over his final 89.2 innings of work with 143 strikeouts.

Every contender with cash to burn is going to be after Cole, but there actually aren’t that many teams that fall into that category. The Astros will likely pursue a reunion with Cole, but of the remaining playoff teams, the Braves might have the most money left to spend.