As expected, Max Fried has officially departed in free agency, signing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees. It’s the largest contract ever handed to a left-handed starting pitcher, and one the Braves were never going to compete with.

That’s another sign of the market this winter. Teams are throwing money at free agents like never before, showing a much greater willingness to take risks, especially on pitchers.

Will it backfire? Probably, for many teams, but if the Braves are going to address their rotation this offseason, they may have to take a risk that they haven’t been willing to do in the past.

Top Remaining Free Agent Starting Pitchers

Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki’s situation is much different than the other remaining free agent starting pitchers. He is the next Japanese phenom set to come overseas and play in the majors, and what makes him extremely intriguing — besides his upside — is the fact that everybody will be in play for his services. Most expect the Dodgers to win out, but given that teams can only offer him international bonus pool money, other factors could end up swaying him in a different direction.

Jack Flaherty

Searching for a Max Fried replacement? How about his old high school teammate, Jack Flaherty?

Flaherty had a nice bounce back campaign that began with the Tigers and ended with a trophy after he was traded to the Dodgers ahead of the deadline. He posted a 3.17 ERA over 28 starts, and while he won’t requite an eight-year contract, he’ll certainly a command a lucrative 3-4 year deal.

Sean Manaea

Manaea put together arguably the best year of his career with the Mets this season, posting a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts and helping New York to a trip to the NLCS. He’s not a bad mid-rotation option, but those kinds of arms have been quite expensive this offseason.

Walker Buehler

Buehler is another name that’s been linked to the Braves this offseason, and it certainly feels like the type of move Alex Anthopoulos looks for each offseason. He struggled coming off injury this season but was lights out in the postseason, even closing out Game 5 of the World Series for the Dodgers. His market will be extremely interesting. Teams could be willing to hand him a 2 or 3-year contract, but would he even want that? His best option might be a one-year deal, allowing him to rebuild his value and land one of these huge contracts next offseason.

Nick Pivetta

Some might have been surprised when Nick Pivetta declined a qualifying offer from the Boston Red Sox, which would have paid him north of $21 million next season. However, he must have received some pretty good advice from his agent, who may have known just how hot the market for starting pitchers would be this offseason. His surface-level numbers are nothing to write home about, but the stuff is extremely enticing. Someone is going to take a gamble this offseason and hand him a lucrative multi-year contract, and it could turn out to be one of the better bargains of this free agent class.

Charlie Morton

With the way starting pitchers are getting paid this offseason, bringing back Charlie Morton on a one-year contract is becoming a more attractive proposition by the day.

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Photo: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire