ESPN NEWS: BRAVE GM Alex Anthopoulos has confirmed Braves high interest and pursued Philadelphia Phillies pitcher

Despite the fact that nothing has come to fruition, the Braves have been looking for a starting pitcher.

Atlanta has been linked to Dylan Cease, who appears destined to be traded by the White Sox as the free agent dominoes begin to fall. Corbin Burnes is another possibility, but he is in the final year of his contract.

A trade appears more plausible at this point in the offseason because the Braves are unwilling to compete for the top free players. Alex Anthopoulos never pays the full retail price.

It’s not a money issue, either, because the Braves were interested in Aaron Nola, as Anthopoulos confirmed in a recent interview with Jeff Schultz of The Athletic.
The Phillies battled for Nola’s services with a number of other teams, notably their NL East rivals in Atlanta. According to reports, the Braves “were a real threat” to sign the experienced starter.

There was also a reported offer. The Braves offered Aaron Nola a six-year, $162 million contract, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“The Braves, coming off back-to-back 100-win seasons and divisional-round defeats at the hands of the Phillies, made a six-year, $162 million offer to Nola out of the gate,” a source claimed on Sunday. It was a good beginning point. Atlanta’s offer was similar to the Yankees’ last-minute contract for free-agent lefty Carlos Rodón.”

Take it for what it’s worth, but whatever of the particular amounts floating around, Anthopoulos didn’t go after Aaron Nola without a bag of cash in hand. Money isn’t an issue for the Braves as long as the player is durable and capable of postseason success.