The stove is officially hot.
The Braves, who have dominated the news cycle the last 24 hours or so with talks of Chris Sale and other top-flight starters, are "aggressively swapping offers for starting pitchers," according to Buster Olney of ESPN.
Braves are aggressively swapping offers for starting pitchers. Rival officials think Braves and Astros will add the most help this winter.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 16, 2016
We've heard the Braves are interested in Sale, Chris Archer and Sonny Gray, all of which would require a massive prospect haul, especially for the first two. Atlanta is one of a few clubs in baseball with the prospects to get a deal done. Whether or not the Braves should ship 4-5 of their better prospects out for a No. 1 starter is something that has been debated vigorously.
If I'm a betting man, the Braves will make a move of some kind sooner rather than later. Whether it's a Sale or Archer type -- or a middle-tier guy with a lower price tag -- is anyone's guess.
The Braves are also players for catcher Jason Castro, who would form a solid platoon with Tyler Flowers behind the plate.
The Braves are also among the most serious bidders for catcher Jason Castro, as they look at the available catching.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 16, 2016
Stay tuned.