Three questions for Atlanta Braves after MLB playoffs exit

Longtime Atlanta Braves fans know the unpredictable reality of October baseball. This Braves team was better than the 2021 team that won it all but simply didn't get hot at the right time, losing in disappointing fashion to the Philadelphia Phillies in the division series — a team it finished 14 games ahead of in the regular season.

Still, it was a terrific season: rallying from 10½ games down on June 1 to catch the New York Mets in the final week for a fifth straight NL East title, the franchise's first 100-win season since 2003, and especially the emergence of rookie stars Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider and the breakout performance of 21-game winner Kyle Wright.

The Braves' foundation is stronger than ever. This team is going to be competing for a lot of World Series titles in upcoming seasons.

Notable free agents: SS Dansby Swanson, RP Kenley Jansen, OF Adam Duvall, OF Robbie Grossman, SP Jake Odorizzi ($6.5 million player option)

Two big holes for the Braves to fill if Swanson and Jansen depart. Jansen led the National League with 41 saves, but the Braves acquired Raisel Iglesias at the trade deadline, and he's signed through 2025, so they almost certainly will hand the closer duties to Iglesias in 2023.

Trade candidates: Well, they would love to find a taker for Marcell Ozuna, but that's a nonstarter. Otherwise, they won't be looking to trade any of their core players — there's no reason. The Braves do have plenty of starting pitching depth.

Extension candidates: They extended Austin Riley and Harris during the season and then Strider right before the division series started, so kudos to baseball operations president Alex Anthopoulos for getting those three deals completed. That ship might have sailed on Max