ATLANTA -- Regardless of how this past season concluded, the Braves were destined to encounter what should be an interesting and influential offseason. But when a second straight division title led to another early postseason exit, there was greater urgency to spend these next few months further fortifying what already stands as a strong product.

• Looking ahead at Braves' 2020 roster

Here are five questions the Braves must address this winter:

1. What should be done with the rotation?
With Mike Soroka and Max Fried, the Braves have two of the game’s top young starting pitchers. Mike Foltynewicz’s late-season resurgence showed he is capable of at least serving as a valuable No. 3 starter. Sean Newcomb will be given a chance to start in Spring Training, though the club opted not to pick up Julio Teheran’s $12 million option, which made him a free agent.

But even with Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright and Tucker Davidson among those waiting in the wings, there’s seemingly a need to add a quality experience to this rotation. Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg are the headliners of a starting pitching free-agent market that will also include Madison Bumgarner and Zack Wheeler. But the Braves may dip into their pool of prospects to land that potential No. 1 or No. 2 starter to pair with Soroka, who was a National League Rookie of the Year Award and NL Cy Young Award candidate this past season.

The June signing of Dallas Keuchel created the stability needed after Kevin Gausman struggled consistently, Newcomb was sent to the bullpen and Foltynewicz was forced to spend some time back at Triple-A. Keuchel was worth the $13 million he was paid to pitch for a little more than three months. But looking toward 2020, the Braves could use the addition of a legit No. 1 or No. 2 starter.

2. Will Josh Donaldson return?
There were a number of questions surrounding Donaldson -- who received a qualifying offer from Atlanta on Monday -- when he signed a one-year, $23 million contract last year. But he distanced himself from the injuries that plagued him the previous two seasons, and the former American League MVP Award winner became a productive and beloved member within the Braves’ clubhouse.

Donaldson has said he’d like to return and Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has confirmed there is certainly mutual interest in a reunion. But there’s also an understanding the 33-year-old third baseman re-established himself as a top commodity while spending this season providing Gold Glove-caliber defense and proving there’s still plenty of pop left in his bat.

Donaldson will almost assuredly gain and average annual value of $25 million from his next contract. The veteran has also earned the right to seek a contract that contains at least three guaranteed seasons. A third year might be a bit of a gamble for a maximum effort veteran not too far removed from injury concerns. But this will be the cost to do business with Donaldson, whose value extends beyond what he brings with his bat and glove.

3. Is there a need to address the bullpen?
The Braves were quite fortunate they proved unsuccessful with their late attempt to sign Craig Kimbrel in June. Instead of reuniting with their former closer who struggled during an injury-plagued summer with the Cubs, Atlanta used their financial resources to acquire Mark Melancon, Shane Greene and Chris Martin before the Trade Deadline.

Martin is the only member of this trio who will be on the free-agent market. If there was any question about his value, it was seen once an oblique strain forced him to exit Game 1 of the NLDS before throwing a pitch. The Braves blew a two-run, eighth-inning lead in that loss and then were stretched thin in Game 4, after Keuchel was chased early while starting on short rest. Fried might have been the Game 4 starter had their not been the need for him after Martin was injured.

Melancon and Greene give the Braves a base upon which to build their bullpen. Luke Jackson might have been maddening at times, but he made great strides and a division title may not have been won without his presence this year. While Newcomb will be stretched out as a starter during Spring Training, he seems best fit in a relief role. If Darren O’Day and Josh Tomlin return, the Braves might not look for much more than a lefty specialist and potential middle relief depth.

4. How might the outfield look in 2020?
Ronald Acuña Jr. likes right field and the Braves’ preference is to play him there soon on a full-time basis. This further increases the possibility Ender Inciarte will be back in center field. Inciarte’s long-term future in Atlanta is more greatly influenced by rising prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters, neither of whom will be Major League-ready at the start of next season.

After the Braves exercised Nick Markakis’ $6 million option, they could have him play left field or at least platoon there with either Adam Duvall or Austin Riley. Given how Riley finished this past season, there’s certainly reason to think he could benefit from starting 2020 at the Triple-A level, where he would get regular at-bats.

These potential options will also hinge on whether Donaldson returns. If Donaldson were to sign elsewhere -- which would give the Braves Draft pick compensation -- the Braves would need to find another power bat. If that option is not available at third base, there’s a good chance they’ll attempt to satisfy it with the addition of an outfielder.

5. Who will be the catchers?
After Tyler Flowers’ $6 million option was exercised, the Braves will still need to add a catcher to fill the void created by Brian McCann’s retirement. Alex Jackson does not seem ready to fill a regular backup role at the big league level and the two top catching prospects, Shea Langeliers and William Contreras, are both at least a year away from being deemed ready.

Yasmani Grandal stands as the top catcher on the free-agent market. But while he checks a lot of boxes, the Braves may go for a shorter-term, cheaper fit like free agent Alex Avila, who, like Flowers, ranks high in pitch-framing metrics.