Mostly thawed, and looking ahead at what the needs are for this ballclub going into 2020. This is a young team with a great core intact, so you’d think there wouldn’t be much to have to fill in, but that’s not necessarily correct. There are some major holes in this lineup and pitching staff that must be filled.
First, let’s not forget that the team has a whopping 10 members of the final 25 man roster that is entering FA. That does include the retiring Brian McCann. Aside from those 10, there are 3 more for whom the team holds a team option, and another where there is a mutual option. That’s a major portion of the 25 man roster.
Looking more deeply, the biggest spots we will have to fill are 3B, starting pitching, and catching. We’ll also need at least 1 OF and maybe 2. Our bench will take a slight hit, but most of our bench will return.
Bullet point #1: Will the Braves bring back Josh Donaldson? Published reports say there is mutual interest, and recent quotes from both sides seem to bear that out. But he will be expensive, and will likely require a 3 year commitment. While I personally believe he’s worth that, there is more to this equation which I will address next.
Bullet point #2: When the Braves took a flyer on Dallas Keuchel, I thought it was the perfect move for the team. Looking back, I still believe it was a good move for both the Braves and for DK. But the Braves wanted him for one main purpose. Help carry a young staff into the postseason, and will the big postseason games. We can check off the first box, but not the second. And I think that’s significant. I cannot see a scenario where he returns to the Braves for another stint. That creates a huge void in the starting rotation that must be filled. The team once again will be seeking a veteran presence for their young staff. If you think Julio is that guy, I respectfully disagree. I expect (I at least hope) that the team will decline Julio’s 2020 option and let him go elsewhere. That leaves us with defacto team ace Mike Soroka and up-and-down Mike Folty– as the only established starters for 2020. I believe Max Fried has also earned a spot, or at least he should have one to lose. But that’s just 3 of the necessary 5, not counting any depth we want to keep.
Bullet point #3: The bench will really only lose Matt Joyce, who is a FA and could sign elsewhere to start or at least platoon. Could he re-sign here? I suppose it’s possible, but I wouldn’t count on it. Rafael Ortega did a nice job in his opportunities, and is more versatile in the OF. He’s cheap, too. With Charlie, Johan, and Duvall all expected back, the bench should be fine. It needs to be noted that Billy Hamilton has a mutual option included in his contract, so there is at least a small chance he could return. But at $7.5M, it’s not likely.
Bullet point #4: Nick Markakis has very likely played his last game for the Braves. The team holds an option on him for 2020, but his disappearing act in October probably sealed his exit. I appreciate all that he has done for the team for the last 5 years, but it’s time for someone else to fill his spot.
Bullet point #5: Catching. Needs no explanation.
Bullet point #6: The bullpen. Mark Melancon will be back. Personally I think that’s a good thing. Shane Greene will also return. That’s a pretty strong back end returning. We should also return a healthy Jacob Webb, who was as good as we had in the pen before he got hurt. Losing Josh Tomlin (FA) will hurt a bit, but the fact is that pitchers like him are a dime a dozen, and most easily picked up just like he was… late in spring training. I can see that happening again in 2020.
So what does that all mean?
This is what this fan sees as the roadmap for the front office starting right now. Job #1 for AA and staff is to decide if they want to pour their big money into bringing back Josh Donaldson or a starting pitcher. I don’t think they can do both. The kind of pitcher we need will cost alot. I think AA needs to be in the Gerrit Cole derby, but that would eliminate any possibility of paying JD also. So the question must be asked and answered; Do we spend big on JDon, or on a pseudo-ace type pitcher? What say you find Stuffians on that one? There is just over $56M committed for 2020, so there will be money to spend. It won’t be of the Yankees proportion, but there is funding for some significant deals.
For me personally, I would love to see JD come back. I think he was perfect for this team and lineup this year. But if I have to choose… I’m choosing pitching. Austin Riley obviously has some work to do, but we’ve seen the potential he has. We can more easily address the 3B void from within over starting pitching. You cannot just grow an ace pitcher. Those take time to develop. And as we’ve witnessed painfully just this week, pitching is the key to postseason success.
We still don’t have an ace. Soroka is emerging, but he’s still just 22. And even at that, if you want to win, especially in the postseason, you better have a strong 1-2 punch. I want to see Cole/Soroka at the top of my rotation. And to be honest, I’d still take MadBum over a JDon reunion. MadBum would be a great fit, especially since he’s a lefty. He also won’t cost as much as Cole. Zack Wheeler? That’s a tough one. He’s gonna cost ya good bit, and has a history of not staying healthy. He falls on my list because of that. Still, when healthy, he’s a good one. I’m not looking at any other pitchers in FA. My standards are high. Caveat: If Steven Strasburg opts out of his deal, which he can do, he becomes my #1 target. I go after him hard and I pay him. I like him that much. Plus if we sign him away from the Nats, we don’t have to hit against him.
In the OF, Ender is still under contract even though he’s easy to forget about. His trade value is low, so I doubt he goes anywhere before the season. And his eventual replacement, Cristian Pache, is more likely to be a mid-season callup over making the team out of spring. But you still need a LF, so you can either address it in FA or via trade. But be careful, the trade capital is starting to run thin, and we need what we have to use in filling the biggest lineup void which I will mention shortly. If you address LF in FA, then it’ll not be Marcell Ozuna as he’ll come with a hefty price tag. I think we spend all our big money on pitching. We’ll need someone on a short deal anyway as Drew Waters will be coming up in another year if not sooner. A guy like Corey Dickerson might be a good fit. He bats LH and has plenty of power. He’d fit nicely into the lower part of the lineup where Mac and Flowers typically bat.
Speaking of Mac and Flowers…
This is where I think the Braves front office really has to do their work this offseason. It’s time to address the catching position with more than spit and duct tape. Mac is retiring and Flow is here only if the Braves pick up the team option. Thoppy needs to use what remaining prospect capital he has to get a catcher. And I’m not talking about a middling catcher to split time with Flow. I’m talking about a long term answer to start 120 games. It’ll cost him either Kyle Wright or Bryse Wilson, and maybe Drew Waters too. But you have to give quality to get quality. You can afford to give up the pitchers if you sign an ace. Untouchable Ian Anderson will also be ready soon, so the rotation will not need the minor league influx as much as we have needed it in recent years. We need pitching depth now more than a steady stream… but I digress. Back on topic, what catching answers might be available? Honestly, I have no idea. But that’s what Thoppy and Co. get paid the big bucks for, right?
So to capsulize: Sign a veteran pseudo-ace starting pitcher, add a LF, trade for a cornerstone catcher, fill in the gaps.
Easy right?
One note: I did not take into account the pre-arb and arb raises for guys who fall into that category when I noted the Braves 2020 salary commitment at just over $56M. RosterResource estimates the total payroll before any new additions to be in the neighborhood of $73M. Still, that leaves alot of flexibility to add quality players to this team for 2020.
Excellent, V! I have to agree with you. I hope Thoppy and upper management were shocked enough to face the fact that they have NOT put a championship team on the field at all. Right now they have a young group of overachivers. just IMHO. Thanks for writing all this!
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Thanks CL. Humbled and appreciative.
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Here’s another note…
The Braves have a whopping 8 players heading to arb this offseason. That’s alot, y’all. Some will surely be non-tendered, and some may get a multi-year deal. But those 8 players must be dealt with. They are: Shane Greene (arb 3), Folty (arb 3), Charlie (arb 2), Duvall (arb 2), Dansby (arb 1), Johan (arb 1), Luke Jackson (arb 1), and Grant Dayton (arb 1).
Interesting note on Dayton. The lefty reliever will turn 32 next month, yet is poised to enter arb for the just the first time. Being he’s a LH, the Braves will probably tender him an offer.
I see Luke Jackson as a bubble guy. I could see a non-tender with him. I could also see him return. He’s not a bad pitcher in the right role. It might simply come down to the number projections.
Don’t be surprised to see Folty finally get a real contract offer. Dansby will probably also get a multi-year deal done.
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C John Ryan Murphy is also arb eligible for the first time. Easy non-tender.
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There is another thing the front office has to devote some brain power to heading into the winter.
The Braves will have an unfathomable 14 players eligible for Rule 5 draft. Obviously not all of those would be considered serious candidates, but among those who would be are (AAA) SS Luis Marte, LHP Philip Pfeifer, RHP Jose Rafael De Paula, (AA) SS Ray-Patrick Didder, RHP Josh Graham. The team will have to figure out a way to accommodate these guys on their 40-man roster o risk losing them to another team.
With the 40-man maxed plus 3 guys on the 60-day IL, making room will not be easy even if we will lose as many as 10 or so to FA and non-tenders. There will still be some tough calls to make toward players who aren’t going to be in the future plans of this team. Among those who could go packing is former top prospect C Alex Jackson.
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excellent opining V! (and nice photo adding CL!)
There are some tough calls, that’s for sure! I get what you are saying about Pitching over J.D., but then production behind F.F. falters. But, we gotta have better pitching…and hitting….TIMELY hitting. Of course before the playoffs, this team was awesome coming back late….
Have to have better starting…MadBum is an innings eater, and a hungry guy, that might push guys like like Mad Max seems to have pushed Strausburg to greater heights…but, he’s not Mad Max…better than Julio T? Dallas K??? Sure…but, is he worth 20, 25 Mil????
more later….no rush, we have 6 months to ponder….
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Great opine as usual Vee.
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well, what a thoroughly deeeeeelightful game between the Nats and the Cards!!!! Old friend Anabel Sanchez nearly no-hit the Cards (they only got 1 hit) pitching a no-no into the 8th, and Sean Doolittle had a 4 out save, to beat the Cards, at Busch, to end up down 1-0, in the series before the Nats throw the big 3 at them! Ahh, how sweet it is! 🙂
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It seems a bit strange to be rooting for the gNats but I am all in for them at this point. Amazing performance by Anabel. Okay, I know about every one of the gNats players and their tendencies. Hard not to when you are only 90 miles away from them and they are getting ever closer building a minor league stadium in Fredricksberg.
So, while I was once a quasi Cards fan, no more… I hope Soto crushes a couple of homers against them.
Great little anecdote from D-Ro about his friend B-Mac. I hope Brian is able (invited) to take part of spring training with the Braves next spring.
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We are seeing what it means to have dominating starting pitching in the post season. One hit by the cards last night and only two hits so far tonight.
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and now the Cards are down 2-0! Fans were booing after the loss….gee…that’s a darned shame. 😛 Part of me feels like I shouldn’t gloat too much, but….well….sucks to be the Cards right now! 🙂
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It’s a tough week to be a sports fan in NE GA.
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OF – Greyson Jenista
Weekly Stats: 3 G, 3-10, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K
AzFL Stats: 12 G, .214/.313/.262, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB
Greyson finally has a good week.
OF – Trey Harris
Weekly Stats: 2 G, 2-9, 1 2B, 3 K
Season Stats: 11 G, .282/.356/.487, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB
Trey was our lone representative on the AFL All-stars.
He came off the bench, and whiffed in his one AB.
RHRP – Bradley Roney
Weekly Stats: 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Season Stats: 1 G, 1-0, 1 SV, 6.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 4 BB, 8 K, .150 BAA
His pitching has been consistently good all season in Arizona.
RHRP – Brandon White
Weekly Stats: 1 G, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Season Stats: 4 G, 5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA, 5 BB, 6 K, .273 BAA
Rocky start, but has come around, and settled in.
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We’ll just keep bringin’ ‘um up until we have a solid rotation and lights out bullpen.
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Other than JOHAN CAMARGO and AUSTIN RILEY I don’t see any position players ready now for ATLANTA, and the only possibilities for May 1 next year seem to be CRISTIAN PACHE and DREW WATERS.
I do think both need more seasoning with the rabbit-ball in AAA before auditioning in ATLANTA.
My timeline for arrival would be 2021, but sometime an off-season program works wonders.
BRADEN SHEWMAKE, WILLIE CONTRERAS and SHEA LANGELIERS I don’t see before 2021.
Hopefully, 2020 will cement the two Mike’s and MAX as three reliable starters.
No body else seems ready to take a front-end, or back-end role, and we need one of each.
I think it an imperative we sign CHRIS MARTIN for the pen.
As far as call-ups, PAT WEIGEL is a suspect for the fifth starter, long-relief role.
KYLE WRIGHT, IAN ANDERSON, BRYSE WILSON, KYLE MULLER, TOUKI TOUSSAINT et.al. don’t seem ready in 2020 to become solid starters.
Injury fill-ins only.
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I watch the Yankees blast the Astros last night… It was ugly but only one game. My, those are some short fences… Also the Cardinals were whining that the ball is not traveling as far. Well, I mentioned earlier that MLB was talking about using the pre 2018 baseballs…
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Thing is with CRISTIAN PACHE and DREW WATERS is they hit a combined 20 HR’s last year. They might make us long for the power hitting ways of Nick M. Now, that doesn’t mean one of them can’t come to spring training and have found a home run swing, but…they are just kids…we have been beyond lucky that Ozzie, Acuna, Soroka, and Riley for a time , were ML ready at such an early age! Just doesn’t happen, most of the time.
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Waters has the potential for consistent power, but he’s just a young’un. Pache will show flashes, but that’s not his game. He’s defense first (he would be the best defensive OF on the team right now), on base skills second, occasional pop.
Here’s the thing on Waters. He’s just now 20, will be 21 in December. He’s still got to put some man muscle on his frame. But all the evaluators say the swing is there. It’s just a matter of maturity.
As a corner OF, he’s a plus defender. Add that to his plus arm, plus hit, and plus power (developing), the only thing he lacks in being a true 5-tool player is running… and he’s not exactly Brian McCann there. Just not a “plus”. Oh… and he’s a switch-hitter. Think Carlos Beltran “light”.
I’m excited to see Pache’s defense at the major league level. I’m not convinced he’ll ever hit more than Ender Inciarte. But I’m excited about the potential of Drew Waters. If the Braves are patient with him, he might just be a real jewel in the pipeline.
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Could beating the Cardinals really be this easy? Amazing what great pitching and timely hitting can accomplish. I must be realistic about it all, the Nationals are a team which is peaking at the right time.
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So, what have we learned form all this? The Braves peaked a month too soon. Also, Freddie with a bum elbow is not as good as Freddie healthy…
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Also, Freddie with a bum elbow is not as good as Freddie healthy
He can say all he wants that the elbow was not a factor. It was a factor. Period.
I anxiously await the news that he’s undergone a procedure to remove the culprit bone spur. The sooner the better.
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I think the lack of Culberson and Camargo hurt more than we knew it would. Betting one of those guys could have gotten a hit with the bases loaded, one of those innings….look at how important Howie Kendrick has been to the Nats!
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A random thought or two on a dreary fall morning…
I honestly don’t see the Braves being big players in the FA market. As much as I’d love to see them break off a top pitcher like a Cole or Strasburg (who seems more and more likely to opt out of his current deal and enter the free market), it’s just not realistic for the Braves. Wheeler and MadBum are also likely out of the range.
I also think it’s unrealistic that they’ll being back JDon. For one, he’ll most likely get 3 years guaranteed from someone, and it won’t be for a pay cut from last season. So at minimum your talking 3-years / $69M. Can you see them tying up that amount in a 34-year-old 3B when they need pitching?
Nope… me either.
I’m not sure how they’ll answer that question. I’m really not. I just can’t imagine they’ll pay into the $200M range to sign anyone, so that rules out the top tier of FA’s.
And that doesn’t even address the catching situation.
Yep, identifying the needs is pretty easy. Addressing them is quite something else.
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The worst thing about Strasburg and Cole???? both are represented by…..Scott Borass 😦
V, how much to we have on the books for next year? Mark Melancon get 14 Mil, but only for next year….which goes to your point of 200 Mil + contracts….is that something Thoppy would do for a pitcher 30 and above? (at I think Cole isn’t 30 yet, but will be over the life of the contract)
Perhaps some crazy high shorter deal is possible? One guy on mlbtv (Pleasac?) said he could see Cole being the first 40 Mil a year guy. Sounds crazy til you realize…Greinke, Verlander, and Kershaw have all made 35 Mil season (Kershaw is ONLY Making 31 Mil a year now, was making 34 Mil in 2016!) 4 years 160 Mil? Mutual deals each year after that? Heck, the Angels, Padres, Dodgers, might offer him 7-8 years at 40 + mil per…sigh….
as for catchers, is there anyone besides Yasmani Grandal even worth considering as a free agent? I really don’t think so, looking at the names. who do you trade for then? And don’t we still have 3 top 30 (Braves list) prospects? Forget them all, and go with some other teams top catching prospect, that for some reason, they will be willing to trade away????
I keep forgetting to mention his name, but….one guy I’d like to see the team go after? Nicholas Castellanos He will only be 28 next march. How many doubles did he have last year? 56!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 46 doubles in 2018. Played like his uniform was on fire, once he got on a winning team. (16 HR’s 21 Doubles, in 51 games for the Cubs) not supposed to be a good defender, but…from what I have seen in highlights, he looks fine out there…He would be fine in left…so IF…IF JD doesn’t re-up with the braves, Riley at 3rd, and Castellanos in left… not sure we would be better off, unless we used saved money on JD to get someone who is a #1, #1 A, but who????
Strasburg signed with Washington again, basically told Boras to get a deal done there. So, I am guessing he will opt out, only to get a better deal…Wheeler, Cole, and who else is available?????
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V, how much to we have on the books for next year?
Braves 2020 salary commitment is just over $56M, plus add in another estimated $17M or so for arb and pre-arb raises. So a reasonable estimate of the 2020 salary base before additions is somewhere in the neighborhood of $73M.
as for catchers, is there anyone besides Yasmani Grandal even worth considering as a free agent?
Nope, and he won’t have a QO to anchor him down this time around. He’ll get paid. The trade route is the best possibility for Thoppy here. It’s too early to identify specific names, but there are some young catchers out there that are blocked, and conversely some decent starters that are blocking emerging prospects. It’s just a matter of finding a match with a team looking for young controllable pitching. We have that.
Strasburg signed with Washington again, basically told Boras to get a deal done there. So, I am guessing he will opt out, only to get a better deal
That’s what most people are thinking. There’s so much money being waved at the top pitchers now… and as potentially the #2 guy out there he wants to get his. Can’t blame him. But he could also simply get a new deal done there in DC for more $$, especially if they can’t keep Rendon in town.
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So, the gNats scored 7 runs in the first inning against Wainwright. I guess I know how that feels… Game over….
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Congratulation to the Washington Nationals winning their first ever NL pennant. 50 years is a long time to get shut out. A couple of take a ways. The National’s pitching was stellar. Even their pen held up but that is what happens when you don’t ask them to get 12 outs ever night.
Another observations, good thing for the Nats that Holbrook wasn’t umpiring in right field or that misplay on a pop up in right would have been called an infield fly.
Now, can the Astros continue to beat the Yankees? Don’t look for them to play tonight. Lots of rain in the forecast.
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It’s nice to see the Cards get it handed right back to them. They should have handled their NLDS win with a little more class. Payback is a &!+(#.
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yup, payback is indeed a _____! only sorry it happened to Wainwright…other, than that, sweet! 🙂
someone who bets on baseball…if they put their money on the Nats going to the World series, over the Braves or Dodgers….is a rich man today! 😛
does make one wonder, but….oh well…the past is the past.
Have to say, Astros are a cocky team, but at least they have a reason to be. I was about to get mad when it looked like the Yankees were going to beat them 2-0 at their park. So glad that didn’t happen, and that the Astros are at least in a good position to win the AL pennant. Something about the Yankees sticks in my craw. You have to give the organization credit for looking for unsung guys, but literally everyone they grabbed off trash heaps became an all-star caliber player (at least for a few months) and while that’s a nice story, the fact that a team missing Judge and Stanton for much/most of the year, and NOT trade for rotation or bullpen help can not only win their division, but also have a decent chance to get into the W.S……it’s irksome. Yep, I said it, irksome! 😉
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This is not a surprise. It was also the easiest of the 8 managerial openings to predict. The other 7 not so much…
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A very Angels thing to do.
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Reading a piece from Bowman earlier, where he was asked a question regarding the team exercising the 3 options it holds on Flow, Kakes and Julio.
He sets the chances on each at:
Flow – “slam dunk” barring some type of “unknown medical concern” Agree.
Kakes – 65% I do not agree; I’d set this one much lower… maybe flip it to 35%.
Julio – 50%, citing his ability to “eat innings” I disagree… need quality innings over quantity. I’ll go 25%.
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Bow also noted that Newk will get a chance to return to the rotation in 2020. I have heard this already and completely agree with it. Newk is a good pitcher with great stuff… and still relatively young. He could still mature into a solid mid-rotation starter. He could even take up the innings that Julio was pitching. At worst he could be a placeholder for Ian Anderson, who will debut at some point next season.
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Need to note also that there is a mutual option on Billy Hamilton for $7M. He will certainly exercise his end, essentially making this a team option. No way the Braves pony up $7M for BHam. Safest bet of them all.
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Just want to say there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the Cards filed a complaint with MLB league office on behalf of PETA that the gNats should immediately cease with their “Baby Shark” chomp as it is degrading and misguide to seafood everywhere… Just saying….
PS… The Braves should seriously consider changing their team name now. Something less degrading like the “Atlanta Crackers” could work… Or maybe not.
Actually I am more put out by the Braves capitulating on the Chop because it hurt someone’s feelings when the real reason was they were getting their butts kicked and they were bitter the Braves fans were rubbing it in.
While do admit that I do actually own a real tommy hawk, It is not something I would want to get clubbed with.
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Okay, now serious business of deciding who stays and who leaves…. DUH! Beware of getting too old too quick or too young all at the same time. I think Donaldson will get an offer for more years and more money than the Braves are willing to match.
Julio??? To me it depends on the results of his MRI… seriously….
I think Newk has now had a chance to grow into a starter’s role. He was pretty darn good for 1/2 a season in 2018. Folks seem to forget that young kids don’t really mature physically until they are around 26 years old. Still, the Braves’ starters need at least one grizzled vet to look up to.
Will the pundits choose the Braves to finish 4th in the NL East again next season? #no respect…
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I think Donaldson will get an offer for more years and more money than the Braves are willing to match.
Agree. But I’m not certain that Austin Riley will get the 3B job handed to him. It’s an area that must be addressed in some fashion. Another short deal on a veteran?
Julio???
For $12M you can get 180 innings of inconsistency. I’m willing to bet I can get no less than the same thing from Sean Newcomb for less money.
I think Newk has now had a chance to grow into a starter’s role.
Yep, agree as I alluded to above.
Still, the Braves’ starters need at least one grizzled vet to look up to.
Again, I agree. Which is why I won’t waste $12M on Julio when I need that money to pay a pitching upgrade. It won’t be Cole or MadBum or any pitcher receiving a QO thus having the draft pick penalty attached. If Thoppy goes the FA route, it’ll be for a mid-level guy. In other words, it won’t be an ace. It’ll be for a Julio replacement.
But don’t rule out the trade route. I’m guessing Thoppy will be more active in the trade market than the FA market this year. And to that end, we could see some familiar major league talent go elsewhere. As I say all the time, you have to give quality to get quality. It’s just a matter of finding the right match.
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Just want to say there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the Cards filed a complaint with MLB league office on behalf of PETA
Given the way the Cardinals team represented in the NLCS, if I were an actual Cardinal bird I’d be offended and seek remedy from PETA myself.
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The word is that Ron Washington will get a 2nd interview in San Diego sometime this week. Depending on whom you read, their search may be down to a 2 man race… with Wash and Rangers’ coach Jayce Tingler being the finalists. Obviously Wash is the older dude with plenty of experience. But TIngler is the young up-and-comer with both on-field and front-office time on his resume. There is reason to believe the Pads may want a younger guy to grow with the team, too.
Personally, I’m pulling for Tingler… based on purely selfish motivation of course.
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Two games in the books since the All-Star break out in the AZL.
SCOTTSDALE victorious 6-5 on Monday and 2-1 on Tuesday.
Monday
RF TREY HARRIS 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B [3], 1 BB, 1 SO, .310 BA.
RHRP BRANDON S. WHITE [1 Sv, .270 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 14p/9s.
Tuesday
DH TREY HARRIS 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B [4], 1 RBI [5], 1 SO, .304 BA.
LF JUSTIN DEAN 0-2, 1 SO, .188 BA.
RHRP BRADLEY RONEY [H 1, 2.25 ERA] 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO, 29p/15s.
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The difference in our pitching vs either of the Cards or the gNats is experience.
I don’t see DALLAS with a tomahawk on his chest next season.
I don’t see TEHERAN being re-ed up.
The only way we can get it short of buying it by FA or trade is years of learning how to pitch rather than throw.
I do despair of FOLTYNEWICZ ever getting there.
I think NEWCOMB lacks the confident attitude at this point to get there.
I think TOUKI still doesn’t know where any one pitch may go, but if he ever figures it out…….look out league.
I think SOROKA and FRIED are well on the way.
I think WRIGHT, ANDERSON, WILSON, and MULLER are our hope for the not too distant future, say 2021.
Maybe KINGHAM, De La CRUZ and YNOA as well by then.
Which is the long way of saying I think……..too much.
But seriously, we still need an experienced leader as a starter in 2020.
And I consider it imperative to sign reliefer CRIS MARTIN.
We gave up too much to just let him walk out the door.
Besides he’s pretty good on the bump as well.
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I was telling my friend David Tuesday, that I hoped Newcomb goes back to starting, as using him as a 6, 7, 8 inning guy is a waste of his talent. (being a smart guy, he agreed 😛 )
Check this out….remember how wild/terrible Newcomb was as a starter this year? guess how many starts he made this year….have a number?????? ok, the number of starts he made were…………………
4! 3 in April, and apparently, 1 in June (did we have a bullpen game???) 3 games in April, 12 1/3 innings 15 hits, 6 runs, 8 walks. 4.38 ERA. And…that was it…walked TOO many guys in 3 whole starts….AAA (4 games, 3 starts, 20 innings, 14 hits, 5 walks 2.18 ERA, but not good enough, so bullpen guy for the rest of the season)
68 total innings, 29 walks, 3.18 ERA
Julio T??? 174 innings, 162 strikeouts, 148 hits , but…83 walks 3.81 ERA. those numbers I am sure look good to a lot of folks (even , the braves…ugh) Gil, guessing on an MRI, or have you heard something about him having one????
Anyways, Newcomb had a 3.91 ERA in 2018, 164 innings….I am sure he can easily replace Julio…for a lot less moola…
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Ber… No, I am not privy to any information, just an observation from my living room chair. I don’t always see a lot of things not being at games but I do notice patterns and trends. It is why Julio has not been traded (yet). Braves hedging their bets. They will wait to see who/what is available in the off season before committing to Julio for $9MM,
As for Newk, I think the Braves felt they needed him in the pen more than as a starter. Pitcher just don’t go the distance much any more these days. Therefore, relief pitchers are more in demand/needed.
Newk tended to overthrow a lot of pitches (missing the strike zone enough he did not get close pitches) so only having to worry about two pitches, fastball and curve, made it easier for him. A third pitch is really a must unless you fastball dances like a knuckler.
So many of the Braves pitchers are still really young. Well, they were young. I am not sure how you would classify Folty right now. Anywho… Is age really relevant any longer? I am inclined to believe age is really only a factor in the recovery time a pitcher needs between starts/appearances.
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They will wait to see who/what is available in the off season before committing to Julio for $9MM
$12M team option for 2020. He’s not worth $12M.
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Not disagreeing with you, just saying the Braves will wait until they have to make a decision before making one. Of course they made have already made their decision, just waiting on best timing of announcing said decision…
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As I understand it, they have until 6 days after the World Series wraps to announce the decisions on their 4 options.
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Newk tended to overthrow a lot of pitches (missing the strike zone enough he did not get close pitches) so only having to worry about two pitches, fastball and curve,made it easier for him. A third pitch is really a must
Newk also throws a slider and a changeup to go with those other 2 pitches. As a starter in 2018 he threw his upper 90’s 4-seam fastball 62.77% of the time, his curve 14.36%, his slider 4.02%, and his change 18.85%. As a reliever this year those rates changed drastically, especially with respect to his changeup: fastball 65.27%, curve 19.11%, slider 8.70%, change 6.92%
But check this out… On July 29, 2018, when he nearly no-hit the Dodgers, this was the breakdown: 4-seam fastball 76.12%, curve 4.48%, slider 2.24%, change 17.16%.
What does that tell us? It’s simple. Locating the fastball, and throwing it more often, is key to his success. And the best compliment to it is to change speeds, not change planes. (I sound like Leo Mazzone.) Yes, I understand that if his control goes to crap none of it matters. But can’t that be said for any starter? Any pitcher? Another talented lefty that found a good bit of success in Atlanta – a guy named Tom Glavine – carved out a HOF career by locating his fastball and changing speeds. You’d think some of these young guys would pay attention to those that came before them.
The bottom line is that Sean Newcomb’s highest value to the Braves is as a starter. He’s too talented to see just 1 inning at a time. And we have more options for relievers. Not so much with experienced starters.
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Just for grins and giggles, let’s look at a couple of numbers by themselves, or in a vacuum as they say.
Josh Donaldson’s 2018 salary = $23M
Julio’s 2019 team option = $12M
$23M + $12M = $35M
What pitcher could we buy for that $35M a year?
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Would a rotation of Madison Bumgarner (L), Soroka (R), Fried (L), Folty (R), Newk (L) be a winning major league rotation?
What about Jake Odorizzi (R), Soroka (R), Fried (L), Folty (R), Newk (L)?
Here’s a curveball (yes, pun fully intended)… What about Soroka (R), Fried (L), Folty (R), Cole Hamels (L), Newk (L)?
One more… Soroka (R), Michael Pineda (R), Fried (L), Folty (R), Newk (L)?
MadBum will for sure be given a QO, thus costing us a draft pick. Odorizzi is probably 50/50 on the QO. Hamels and Pineda not so much.
For what it’s worth, all of the above mentioned FA pitchers are well above both Julio and Keuchel in terms of Wins Above Replacement for 2019, and thus any one of them should be considered an improvement.
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geting into Zack Grenki numbers there…
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Random alert:
If I were Thoppy, I’d see what it would cost to bring Josh Tomlin back to our bullpen. I believe he was a very underrated member of the whole pitching staff this year.
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Random alert #2:
I think a Free Agent OF like Corey Dickerson (L) would be a perfect platoon compliment to Adam Duvall for LF.
2019 Dickerson vs. RHP:.313/.355/.587, 9 HR’s in 201 ABs
2019 Duvall vs. LHP: .333/.386/.744, 4 HR’s in 39 ABs
Either would provide good pop off the bench. And remember, we don’t need to pay a guy to come here for 3 years. We just need to bridge to our new #’s 1 & 2 prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters.
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Random alert #3:
There is a minor rumbling coming out of Chicago that thinks the Cubs could pursue Yasmani Grandal in FA and trade catcher Willson Contreras for prospects. That is a very Cubs thing to do, essentially buying prospects.
Would Contreras solve our catching problem? Uh… yes. He slashed .272/.355/.533 w/ 24 HR’s in 2019 playing in 105 games. He will be in just his first year of arb for 2020 and is projected to earn somewhere around $4.5M.
Obviously this is just one guy’s opinion (a Chicago insider, though) and thus is not a likely thing to happen. But wouldn’t he and his salary number fit here very nicely?
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#Braves will likely have an update soon on Freddie Freeman re: his elbow. Per DOB
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My goodness that Astros pitching is tough! It just underscores what is needed to make a deep run at a championship…
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I realize this is jumping the gun a little, but is there a chance of a different outcome?
Cole / Greinke / Verlander vs. Scherzer / Strasburg / Corbin
Yep… just underscores what we already know is needed in Atlanta.
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Astros are paying Verlander and Greinke 70 mil, and likely won’t be able to sign Cole!
Scherzer in 2019….wait, what???? $42,143,000????? ok, the same for the next 2 years… baseball reference says…portion of salary deferred through 2028
Strasburg….ok, I am CONFUZZLED! $38,333,333????????????????? 25 Mil in 2020? 15 Mil in 2021, 22, ??????
45 Mil in 23???? And he may opt out….
Corbin….man…only 12 mil the first year of his contract 19 mil next year, 23, 24 mil 2021, 22,23 then 35 mil in 2024
Man, the Nats are going to have some tough decisions this offseason..
anyways, after a few years we are back to money=championships! 😛
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What about Jake Odorizzi (R), Soroka (R), Fried (L), Folty (R), Newk (L)?
Odorizzi! An interesting thought for sure, good numbers in most areas..3.51 ERA 178 strikeouts in 159 innings…wait, 159 innings? in 30 starts? slightly more than 5 innings a start, in the AL??? Why????
that worries me. Only walked 53 guys….in 2018 164 innings, 32 starts.
so, good numbers overall, but not innings….I wonder why?
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There it is.
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You can’t fool those zuzu flies can you? 🙂
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MLBTR: “He was operated on by Mets team medical director and frequent baseball surgeon Dr. David Altchek.”
Wait… what? Mets team medical director? Man, that dude probably went in there and made spaghetti. Hope he wasn’t thinking about what Freddie did to them last year.
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Meh???? someone with a bit more power at least, but a lower batting average….
Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has been popular in trade rumors in the past, though no club has come up with a compelling enough offer to pry him out of Boston yet. Now, however, Bradley is approaching his last year of team control – in which he’ll make a projected $11MM – and the Red Sox may be on the verge of reducing payroll. With those factors in mind, Bradley may be heading into the offseason as one of the majors’ strongest trade candidates. Bradley, with his combination of defensive adeptness, passable offense and quality base running, remains valuable enough on the field for the Red Sox to tender him a contract at a fairly high cost. But if the Red Sox decide it would be wise to move on via trade in the coming weeks, there would surely be interest from elsewhere. Bradley probably isn’t going to require a sizable return in a trade, after all, and free agency isn’t exactly rife with appealing center fielders teams could count on as starters.
Here’s a look at several clubs that could inquire about Bradley…
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/10/looking-for-a-match-in-a-jackie-bradley-jr-trade.html#comments
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hmmm, why’d this chop off???
Braves: Center field isn’t a pressing need for the Braves, as they could continue to go with superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. as their man pick there (at least until hyped prospects Cristian Pache and Drew Waters show up). The Braves also have two other viable outfield starters in Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis, though they’re facing a decision on the latter’s $6MM club option/$2MM buyout. If the Braves part with Markakis, would they send Acuna to a corner? Even if Markakis stays, MLBTR’s Steve Adams raised an interesting question when the two of us were discussing Bradley: Would Atlanta and Boston consider a swap around Bradley and Inciarte? Both teams would come out with capable center fielders, with the Red Sox cutting some of their payroll for 2020. They’d get two years’ control over Inciarte, who’s due a guaranteed $16.025MM through 2021 (including a $1.025MM buyout for 2022).
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I like a healthy Ender in center and Acuna in right field. I also like Jackie Bradly Jr. I cannot see Alex increasing payroll short term without an appreciable upgrade. I see that money going towards signing Donaldson and pitching.
The Braves still need to employ a solid Ace to lead the staff. Like it or not the path to the World Series still runs through the pitcher’s mound.
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And I think that’s why ENDER is still in the organization.
If he continues with the poor offensive results next season, it will be his last in a BRAVES uni.
In fact, if either PACHE or WATERS gets off to s solid start, and INCIARTE continues to falter, he may be gone by June 2020.
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A front-line high $$$ starter, and a fifth starter provided the farm doesn’t come up with one.
With all the wanna-be’s I think that slot is filled internally.
I think that’s where AA will spend the big bucks this off-season.
We should also sign CHRIS MARTIN if he’s agreeable to a reasonable contract.
DONALDSON is looking for a final retirement check represented by a multi-year blowout $$$ contract.
I think our patience will be tested by AA because I don’t think he will break the bank to secure JOSH’s bat.
DUVALL may get another one year prove-it deal, and possibly MARKAKIS if NICK understands the days of demanding a full-time job are over for him.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see MARKAKIS retire rather than be a bench or platoon player.
I don’t see ATLANTA offering what he made this year.
He continues to lose the power in his bat though he remained a dangerous and steady singles hitter in the middle of the line-up.
A short-term deal with another organization that matches what he had this past year in ATLANTA is possible for him.
But it was obvious that the season wore him down.
You could see it in the return after the injury.
A quick spurt of offense than it just slid away.
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AZL results
SCOTTSDALE (12-11)
RF TREY HARRIS [.306 BA] 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 SO, 1 SB [2].
LF JUSTIN DEAN [.188 BA] 0-3, 0 BB, 2 SO.
HARRIS continues to shine in the Fall League in the second half.
No BRAVES pitchers in the 4-0 whitewash of the MESA team.
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So, the might Yankees fall to the upstart Astros… I love Altuve. That little mighty mite who proves you don’t have to be 6’5″ to be a slugger.
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Glad to hear it.
Our up and coming OF’er TREY HARRIS is 5’8″ maybe, 215 definitely.
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HTTR
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I was so confused by the rainout out, I completely forgot about the game last night! Thought it was a travel day….
just seeing the highlights though….soooo glad the patchwork Yanks didn’t get in. Wonder if they will fire Aaron Boone? Would be a …boone to his career, as he could then take over a team that would let him not go to the W.S. and manage the next year for said new team not in NYC.
I think the Nats are in real trouble…Astros seem like the Dodgers, anyone on the team can hit a homer at any time…
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Agree Ber, While I believe the Nats match up pretty well with the Astros as far as starting pitching, they fall short as far as their bullpen goes. My fearless prediction: Astros in 5….
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BOO-O-O, gNATS in six.
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The winners, baseball fans everywhere, at least those who will watch. The loser, Fox Sports who have managed to draw two small market teams. Okay, the Astros are not really small market but smallish as far as baseball viewership and the Nats maybe the smallest being squeezed out by the Phillies and the Orioles.
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Astros in 6.
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BRAVES 40-man construct peering through a February 11 lens
A – Pre-arb members
01 – MIKE SOROKA
02 – MAX FRIED
03 – KYLE WRIGHT
04 – BRYSE WILSON
05 – TOUKI TOUSSAINT
06 – SEAN NEWCOMB
07 – A.J. MINTER
08 – PATRICK WEIGEL
09 – HUASCAR YNOA
10 – JACOB WEBB
11 – AUSTIN RILEY
Pre-arb released
JEREMY WALKER
CHAD SOBOTKA
ALEX JACKSON
RAFAEL ORTEGA
B – Arb-eligible members
12 – MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ
13 – SHANE GREENE
14 – DANSBY SWANSON
15 – ADAM DUVALL
16 – JOHAN CAMARGO
17 – CHARLIE CULBERSON
Arb-eligible released
LUKE JACKSON
GRANT DAYTON
JOHN RYAN MURPHY
C – Members with options
18 – NICK MARKAKIS
19 – TYLER FLOWERS
Options players released
JULIO TEHERAN
BILLY HAMILTON
D – Controlled members
20 – MARK MELANCON
21 – FREDERICK FREEMAN
22 – RONALD ACUNA jr.
23 – OZHAINO ALBIES
24 – ENDER INCIARTE
E – Signed Free Agents
25 – CHRIS MARTIN
26 – JOSH TOMLIN
27 – JOSH DONALDSON
28 – MATT JOYCE
Released/retired members
DALLAS KEUCHEL
JERRY BLEVINS
DARREN O-DAY
ANTHONY SWARZAK
FRANCISCO CERVELLI
ADEINY HECHAVERRIA
BRIAN McCANN
F – Minor league members added
29 – CLAUDIO CUSTODIO
30 – LUKAS YOUNG Jr.
31 – RILEY UNROE
32 – LUIS MARTE
33 – JACK LOPEZ
34 – CARLOS MARTINEZ
Minors members granted free agency
JASON HURSH
JOSE RAFAEL DePALMA
JORDAN HARRISON
BEN ROWEN
CALEB THIELBAR
LANE ADAMS
JONATHAN ARO
ANDRES BLANCO
RYAN CASTEEL
RAY-PATRICK DIDDER
PEDRO FLORIMON
SEAN KAZMAR Jr.
CONNER LIEN
DANIEL LOCKHART
RAFAEL LOPEZ
ANDREW WILKINS
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RAFFY LOPEZ is the first minor’s BRAVE to elect to test FA.
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The Astros have zero, that’s zero LH pitchers on their World Series roster. Not one in the rotation; not one in the bullpen. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
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MLB managerial openings and rumors:
Angels: Struck first and hitched their wagon to Joe Maddon, recently cut loose by the…
Cubs: They have interviewed a laundry list of candidates and are not close to anything, but reportedly did bring back Astros bench coach Joe Espada for a 2nd interview. Former Brave David Ross has been a hot name up there since Maddon’s office was vacated.
Giants: Sounds today like this job is down to 3 candidates: Will Venable, Mark Kotsay, and Gabe Kapler… in no particular order. (Why anyone would seriously consider Kapler is beyond me.)
Mets: The Mets, like the Cubs, have interviewed just about everyone with a pulse, and were reportedly very interested in Carlos Beltran. The bigger question is whether Beltran is interested in the Mets. Now NY beat writer Andy Martino says they have a “bombshell candidate” they could turn to “if a clear favorite does not emerge from the current group”. Sounds like a typical NY rumor to keep the natives off their backs.
Padres: This is the one that has a direct effect on us here in Braves Country. The Fathers pared their list down to 2 last week, those being Ron Washington and Jayce Tingler. Heyman speculated that they could hire both, adding they’d want to hire Wash as manager and Tingler as his bench coach and heir apparent… learning from the wizened veteran. Funny thing is that “insider” Jim Bowden predicts the new man on the top step will be a 3rd name: Eduardo Pérez.
Phillies: They have done their due diligence on many candidates but reportedly have narrowed their preference to 3 veteran skippers in Joe Girardi, Dusty Baker and Buck Showalter. The hot rumor today is that it’s Girardi’s job if he wants it.
Pirates: Almost forgot about the Pirates. Don’t really know who is interviewing, and have no idea if they’re close. Don’t really care because it won’t really matter. They won’t get anyone with pedigree, and it won’t make a difference if they did. That ship is the SS Dysfunctional regardless of who the skipper is.
Royals: Not alot of chatter coming from KC because most expect former Cards’ head man Mike Matheny to be promoted from within. Makes alot of sense, so I’ll just go with that.
My guesses on the 7 openings are:
Cubs = Ross
Giants = Kapler
Mets = Girardi
Padres = Tingler
Phils = Showalter
Pirates = Who cares? I’ll go with Chuck Tanner. 😆
Royals = Matheny
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I really hope Washington stays with the Braves – for many reasons!
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And Eddie Perez. He simply belongs with the Braves. One of my favorite people since forever. I remember him trying to teach Skip how to correctly pronounce his name. Skip never did get it right.
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I better make a serious guess on the Pirates I suppose. I’ll go with Jeff Banister as he’s currently in the Pirates organization, is a former Pirates bench coach, and has ML managing experience from his time in TEX.
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I’m a little surprised no one has called on Walt Weiss to at least show up for an interview. Granted, his stint as the head man in COL wouldn’t be considered legendary, but it was his first go around. He wouldn’t be the first guy to make mistakes in his first try only to succeed when given a chance to show that he’d learned something in the experience. And he’s been a big part of a 2 straight division winning teams.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m not endorsing for him to go away. I think he’s a great guy to have on the bench with Snit. And if you were paying attention you’d have seen them chatting often on the top step. They appear to have a very good working relationship. I suppose I say all of this to say that Snit can’t manage forever… after all he just celebrated his 64th birthday last week. Perhaps Walt is just the guy to succeed him when he’s ready to take it to the house and spend more time with those beloved grandkids. I can think of worse things.
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I hope Snit will be there for a long time to come. However, on the few times I’ve been able to see a whole game(and I watch a lot of video clips) I have noticed how Walt is always glued to Snit’s elbow absorbing every word the man says. He’d be a good choice to follow Snit. But, Washington is excellent, as well.
Remember Walt’s battered glove? What did they call it? The Thing? The Beast? Seems Jeff Porter spent more time working on that glove than he did patching up players! 😀
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It dawned on me this afternoon that as we have already begun to speculate on what the roster might look like in 2020, we have forgotten a very important fact: The Active Roster expands to 26 players in 2020.
That does make a difference in how we think about roster construction… or at least it should.
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It would seem to me that with the universal DH now looking like an eventuality (most likely as a bargaining chip by the owners in hammering out the next collective bargaining agreement, with the current one set to expire at the end of the 2021 season), the roster expansion and DH addition should go hand-in-hand.
But what do I know?
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Not trying to make “hot take” or anything, but…
I was looking at what MLBTR projects as the arb salary for Folty in 2020, that being $7.5M. I said once that I thought that maybe it was time for the 2 sides to work out a longer term deal now that Folty seems to have turned a corner.
But has he?
We in Atlanta (figuratively speaking of course) know him better than other fan bases. We may know him better than other GM’s.
I think it’s entirely possible that the Braves trade Folty this offseason. I don’t think his value will get any higher. I also don’t think he’ll ever be any better than he was for most of the second half of 2019. But that’s the key… most of 2019. You just never know when your gonna get one of those games when he can’t get out of the first inning. I wonder if the Braves braintrust has grown tired of seeing the same pattern year after year, especially from a guy that is set to hit FA in 2021?
I mean… we trusted him with the ball in an important playoff game in 2019. How’d that work out? Do we want to do that again in 2020? Could we use his projected $7.5M to help bring in a more consistent veteran?
I won’t be surprised to hear that he’s been dealt.
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Interesting thought! A good, reliable crystal ball would be handy about now. Not a lot coming out of that massive stockpile of pitchers the Braves accumulated a few years back, from what I can tell. (Gordon, again, thank you for all those fantastic field reports you researched and posted!) Yes, there are a couple, but not what we need now. sigh.
Things always seem to be just out of reach, don’t they?
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so….regular season just doesn’t matter, does it? 😛
glad to see the Nats win one in Houston….
if Strasburg wins tonight, could be quite interesting series! I can still imagine the Astros just being mad that someone dared beat them at home, and winning 4 more, but…Gerrit would be pitching on the road, against the first team to beat him since late May….
guessing record low ratings for this series….
of course, if it was football teams from Houston and D.C. in the Superbowl, ratings would be huge, cuz…they always are….can’t figure it out….perhaps if they hyped the W.S. for weeks and weeks (with a month off before it started, I keed, I KEED) then fair weather fans would show up?
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People got to see the NATIONALS for what they are last night…………hard to beat.
SNITKER and the coaching staff deserve a lot of praise for having taken the season series from D.C.
Players too of course.
BRAVES had a lot of injuries along the way.
If the club had maintained their line-up throughout the last half of the year without them, I think we’d be playing HOUSTON right now.
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Confession time…
I am ready for the World Series to be done so that we can move forward with the construction of the 2020 Braves roster.
Is that bad?
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Nope, I’m watching the WS more than usual.
I don’t want it to be over.
Why?
Scouting for gNATS weaknesses.
The NATIONALS will be the team the BRAVES must beat in the NL EAST next season.
And coming off a WS championship will be full of piss and vinegar.
Right now, I think their age will be their Achilles Heel in 2020.
I can’t see them allowing RENDON to walk, just like I feel the BRAVES must secure DONALDSON for 2020 and whatever necessary years beyond next season to have him under contract next year.
And while I’m on the issue of age, kudos to 37 year-old KURT SUZUKI.
I’m sure his arm strength is what induced AA to try to upgrade the squat by taking on BRIAN McCANN, and cutting SUZUKI loose.
A HR in the WS.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Like NICK MARKAKIS, he’s aging slowly, but still has game.
A real pro.
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Important MLB dates to note:
1 day after World Series ends: Eligible players become Free Agents, but sides may only talk for next 5 days.
5 days after World Series ends: Deadline to exercise team options; deadline to extend QOs; FA fully opens.
15 days after World Series ends: Deadline for FAs to accept/decline QO.
Nov. 11-14: GM meetings in Scottsdale, AZ.
Nov. 19-21: Owners Meetings in Arlington, TX.
Nov. 20: Deadline to submit 40-man roster with the names of players who will be protected in the Rule 5 draft.
Dec. 2: Non-tender deadline.
Dec. 9-12: Winter Meetings in San Diego, CA.
Dec. 12: Rule 5 draft.
Jan. 10: Eligible players and teams exchange Arb figures.
Feb. 3-21: Arb hearings.
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One more down. Currently I’m batting 1.000.
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me too! 😛
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/world-series-is-us-tv-ratings-tuesday-oct-22-2019-1249519
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See my comment about winners and losers… Nats in a very small market area…
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Go Snit!!
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Go Bringer Of Rain!!
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So, the Nats take a fairly commanding 2 game lead in the series by routing the Astros last night. Now folks can get a good idea of why I never got into gambling on sports.
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Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune:
The Padres remain mum, but signs are that Texas Rangers coach Jayce Tingler is the favorite to be their next manager. On Monday, Padres General Manager A.J. Preller was in the Dominican Republic and spent time with Tingler. Tingler, who is managing Escogido in the Dominican winter league, has been described by several people as Preller’s favorite from the start to replace Andy Green, who was fired Sept. 21.
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha…
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Well, there goes my streak.
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Angels = Joe Maddon ✓
Cubs = David Ross ✓
Giants = Gabe Kapler
Mets =
Joe GirardiPadres = Jayce Tingler
Phils =
Buck ShowalterJoe GirardiPirates = Jeff Banister
Royals = Mike Matheny
My batting average has dropped to .667.
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I’m watching the WS more than usual.
I don’t want it to be over.
Why?
Scouting for gNATS weaknesses.
The NATIONALS will be the team the BRAVES must beat in the NL EAST next season.
And coming off a WS championship will be full of piss and vinegar.
Right now, I think their age will be their Achilles Heel in 2020.
I can’t see them allowing RENDON to walk, just like I feel the BRAVES must secure DONALDSON for 2020 and whatever necessary years beyond next season to have him under contract next year.
And while I’m on the issue of age, kudos to 37 year-old KURT SUZUKI.
I’m sure his arm strength is what induced AA to try to upgrade the squat by taking on BRIAN McCANN, and cutting SUZUKI loose.
A HR in the WS.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Like NICK MARKAKIS, he’s aging slowly, but still has game.
A real pro.
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I feel the BRAVES must secure DONALDSON for 2020 and whatever necessary years beyond next season to have him under contract next year.
I heard a rumor – just a rumor – yesterday that said the Braves could be interested in the Cubs’ Kris Bryant if they are looking to move him as has been speculated. The Braves aren’t comfortable with Austin Riley yet and recognize the need to replicate JDon’s production in the cleanup spot without breaking the bank and making it more difficult to acquire starting pitching.
Bryant is still 2 years away from FA, and possibly just 1 pending the outcome of his grievance against the Cubs. Said grievance is one reason the Cubs are willing to listen on Bryant, and the presence of Ian Happ and David Bote make it feasible. Bryant’s 3rd arb reward will still be considerably less than JDon will command, and the short timeline would better accommodate Riley unless he’s included in a deal.
Caution, though. If there is any substance to this rumor at all, get ready to give up a Pache or Waters or Riley along with a couple of pitchers. The price on Bryant will be high.
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Sounds good. All options at 3B need be explored.
That said, a bird in the hand………..
The only caveat……..contract [length and price].
If it don’t fit, don’t force it.
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Speaking of Nick Markakis…
I said earlier that I don’t think they’ll exercise Nick’s option for 2020.
But then I looked at the numbers.
The option is for $6M. The buyout is $2M. In other words, it’ll really only cost them $4M to bring him back. I doubt they’ll let him walk for just $4M, especially when the OF is still unsettled. Perhaps he’ll be brought back in a slightly diminished role with the possibility of being moved mid-season to make room for the impending call-up of one of the OF phenoms. This would be made a little easier with the expansion of the active roster to 26.
As for specifics, for the first time in his career there was a fairly distinct difference in Nick’s splits between LHP and RHP. Could Nick work in a platoon situation? Well, unless your talking about playing on a team that is in full rebuild mode, I don’t see alot of teams clamoring for Nick as an everyday starter. His best opportunity might still be here splitting time in LF with Adam Duvall.
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Well, $4MM is really a small price to pay for a reliable outfielder. As you noted, that is the true cost of Markakis.
In another vain. Think Wash will pursue another vacant managerial job? I can see where the San Diego would be a plum with all the up and coming talent in their system, their are other openings which could be had for the sake of being a manager but somehow I don’t think Ron wants to start from scratch…
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The Giants will go young, the Royals will go safe and stay internal, as will the Pirates, and the Mets will want to make a big splash. The Pads job – more specifically Wash’s connection to Pads GM AJ Preller from their time together in Texas – was his only realistic shot at returning to the top step.
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My personal (very amateurish) opinion is that Markakis will be a very positive asset wherever he is.
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Tru’ dat.
NICK’s a pro’s pro, and understanding the business end of things, he might accept a diminished role in 2020.
If not, we should cut the string, and say thanks for five years of solid baseball memories.
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If he’s the intelligent veteran I think he is, that’s a real possibility in his mind.
If he’s mentally mired in the past however, I think we have to move on.
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Looking at ages and contract length including opt. of key players in 2020 plus $$$ for 2020.
SANCHEZ – 36 [2021] $ 9 m
SCHERZER – 36 [2021] $ 36 m approx.
DOOLITTLE 34 [2020 $ 0.5 opt]
HELLICKSON – 33 [FA]
MILLER – 33 [ Arb 1]
STRASBURG – 32 [2022] $25 m
CORBIN – 31 [2023] $ 19.5 approx.
ROSENTHAL – 30 [ 2020 $ 1 m opt.]
BARRACLOUGH – 30 [ Arb 2]
SUERO – 29 [no announced contract]
VOTH – 28 [no announced contract]
RAINEY – 27 [no announced contract]
SUZUKI – 37 [2020] $ 6 m
KENDRICK – 37 [FA]
SIPP – 37 [ 2020 $ 250,000 opt.]
ZIMMERMAN – 36 [2020 $ 2 m opt.]
GOMES – 33 [2020 $ 1 m opt] + opt. for 2022.
DOZIER – 33 [FA]
ADAMS – 32 [ 2020 $1 m opt.]
EATON – 31 [2020 $1.5 opt.]
GRACE – 31 [ Arb 1]
RENDON – 30 [FA]
KIEBOOM – 29 [no announced contract]
TAYLOR – 29 [ Arb 3]
DIFO – 28 [ Arb 1]
TURNER – 27 [ Arb 2]
ROBLES – 23 [no announced contract]
SOTO – 21 [no announced contract]
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Whew!
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Angels = Joe Maddon ✓
Cubs = David Ross ✓
Giants = Gabe Kapler
Mets =
Joe GirardiPadres = Jayce Tingler ✓
Phils =
Buck ShowalterJoe GirardiPirates = Jeff Banister
Royals = Mike Matheny
3 out of 4 ain’t bad. 4 more to go. Of course, I’ve already missed on one of those that remain by default. Thanks Joe Girardi… you cost me 2 misses. Typical for a Phillie. 😐
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Yep.
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Sadly, I don’t thing the Pads want Washington cuz…he’s “old” I mean, mlbtr just loved to act like Joe Girardi was some old stick in the mud who didn’t live and die by analytics….oh crud…was going to add to this, and got distracted! Honest, I came up with this point before the news came out….new guy is 38 cuz, he knows his analytics, err…baseball much more than Wash does… 😦
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The trend in MLB now is to go young at manager. Snit is the anomaly. It’s the biggest reason he’s so hated by so many so-called Braves “fans” who don’t realize that only about 5% of a manager’s job actually takes place in the dugout. Clueless millennials. They need to just go back to their spreadsheets in grandma’s basement and leave the reality of the game to those who actually are around the sport.
Nevertheless, young is in. In fact, now that Girardi is in Philthadelphia, I’ll take either Carlos Beltran or Eduardo Perez as my new picks to get the Mets job. (I won’t claim half credit if that happens. I accept the miss on Girardi.)
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They may know computers, but Washington knows people, players, baseball.
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Well said, young lady………
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Bonus for us.
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One thing for sure, there are a bunch of kids on the Braves team that are very happy Wash is staying in Atlanta.
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Padres executives say an unidentified person helped sway them away from hiring Ron Washington as their manager.
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I’m now pulling for the Nats. That is all.
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from mlbtr… Sanchez also cited his relationship with catcher Kurt Suzuki as a big factor in his improved performance with both the Braves and Nationals, another example of how Suzuki has himself enjoyed something of a late-career renaissance. As The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) writes, Suzuki considered retiring following the 2016 season, and was hesitant about leaving his family in California to sign a one-year contract and play across the country with the Braves. His wife convinced him to take the deal, however, and achieve Suzuki’s goal of ten full seasons of MLB service. That clock is now running at well over 12 seasons and counting, as Suzuki has enjoyed three of his best seasons at the plate in 2017-19, and is now perhaps closing in on his first World Series ring.
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Well, the real Astro’s team showed up last night and the gNats bullpen was exposed. Tonight’s game will be pivot able. Should be a barn burner…
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So, the gNats have scratched Max Schurzer and will start Joe Ross tonight. remember what I said about how I said I didn’t think Max was right physically since September.
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I had picked Astros in 6, and immediately felt I made a mistake.
Maybe not.
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I thought it was five
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Certain of one win in D.C., I felt the gNATS would close out the ASTROS in six.
Definitely not.
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Vox O’Reasoñ
October 22, 2019 at 8:13 am
Astros in 6.
Nope, ASTROS in six.
BTW, the age weakness in the gNATS reared it’s ugly head before last game when SCHERZER couldn’t go.
He’ll have a few more moments as a starter, but he’s on the downhill now.
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https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/coastal/ap-online/2019/10/28/pirates-fire-general-manager-neal-huntington
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Yep, saw it this morning. Somewhere Clint Hurdle is smiling…
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It certainly wasn’t all Hurdle’s fault, but he had lost complete control of that clubhouse. It all came to a head in early September when pitcher Kyle Crick got in a clubhouse fight with fellow reliever Felipe Vázquez and required season-ending surgery on the index finger of his pitching hand. Inexcusable. As we have mentioned many times before, only a small portion of a manager’s job is actually done in the dugout. Hurdle might be a good in-game manager, but he was not as equally successful in the unseen but equally important aspects of managing a team. After all, it is called managing a team. That fight was the beginning of the end for Hurdle. But even before that, the team that was not devoid of talent seemed to constantly underachieve. Huntington was responsible for stocking the talent. He’ll find personnel work elsewhere. Hurdle’s best shot will be on someone else’s staff.
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Huntington’s undoing was the Chris Archer deal… a deal that almost any other GM would have done and many were trying to do. Huntington just “won” the derby. But Archer didn’t deliver. And when you go all in on a player, that player better deliver. Remember Nate McLouth? That one cost Johnny Sunshine the trifecta of Gorkys Hernandez, Jeff Locke, and Charlie Morton. Morton was the “one that got away”. There were others. Len Barker, of course, is always at the top of the list. Reggie Sanders still mystifies me. Remember Ryan Doumit? Exactly. Nobody does. (I cannot bring myself to include Mark Teixeira as it was his choice to leave Atlanta. Had he taken the Braves offer and stayed here that trade would be viewed in an entirely different light.)
I’m resisting the temptation to mention the worst offender…
OK. I’ll say it.
J.D. Drew.
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Alan Carpenter, Tomahawk Chop: Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: things could go a whole different route in 2020
Chilling possibility. Great points. I like this guy’s writing. He typically shows good baseball acumen and common sense… a rare combination.
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Lest we forget what it is the Braves will be seeking this offseason, let me post a reminder:
–> Starting pitcher, preferably of the “ace” variety.
–> 3B, possibly as a bridge to Austin Riley, but not necessarily
–> Catcher, anyone that can fog a mirror. We don’t have one except Tyler Flowers. We don’t have one.
–> LF. Maybe even LF and CF, depending on whom you believe.
AA will be getting to work soon. Remember, no one outside Atlanta can talk to JDon before the World Series is done when he’s officially a FA. You can bet AA has been in his ear already. On the surface tying up that much $$ on a 33 year old 3B, when you have a top prospect at the position close to ready, makes no sense. But somehow it does make sense here, for some reason. I won’t be surprised if the Bringer Of Rain brings the storm back to SunTrust Park (or Truist Park or whatever it will be called).
And he has to go get a top pitcher. He just has to. There is no greater example of just how important that is than this year’s World Series combatants.
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Yep, I would even place a front line starter as the number one priority. Depends on how much Donaldson like the Atlanta area.
I’m thinking the Astros wrap this thing up tonight.
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Agree. That is the “must have” for this offseason. No getting around it.
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Oops
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V said, Lest we forget what it is the Braves will be seeking this offseason, let me post a reminder:
–> Starting pitcher, preferably of the “ace” variety.
Gil said….
Yep, I would even place a front line starter as the number one priority.
Berigan said…I agree! but….there’s always a but….a lot of teams wanting one, aren’t there?
I think we need to have low expectations here, hard if not impossible to do of course….
has anyone come up with names of aces that for some reason teams want to trade away?
Garrit Cole is a game changer. you are very likely to win game one of any playoff series….but, no one seems to think the braves will go after him….ok….Steven Stasburg isn’t likely to go anywheres…
gritty, gutty Madison Bumgarner…he’s a 1a IMHO….he will be a bit better than Dallas K… 200 + innings, and he can hit, which is probably one reason he pitched 200 + innings…..I can’t get that excited about him,(3.90 ERA last year in a pitchers park) but he’s the most likely guy…has anyone heard estimates on what he will earn per year?
well…googled M.B. and free agent contracts and found this San Fran blog guestimating…
SP Madison Bumgarner: Four years, $80 million, plus a 2024 club option
Age and workload will almost certainly keep Bumgarner from eclipsing the six-year, $140 million deal that Patrick Corbin signed as the top starting pitcher on the market last offseason, both in terms of years and AAV.
However, he should have no problem topping the $17 million AAV that J.A. Happ (Yankees) and Nathan Eovaldi (Red Sox) squeezed out of a pair of AL East rivals.
At $20 million per year, Bumgarner would still be picking up a significant raise over the $12 million he made in 2018 and 2019, and a four-year deal would take him through his age-33 season.
The four-year prediction might be conservative, but teams have simply not been as willing to offer up significant years to non-elite starters of late. While Bumgarner is still an absolute horse, he’s no longer in that upper-echelon of pitchers.
https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2019/10/18/san-francisco-giants-predicting-free-agents-next-contract/2/
Ok, a thought…if someone is looking for more years, but teams may not offer it…..how about 25 Mil for 4 years, and one of those mutual option 5th years??? I don’t know….just a thought….
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and one of those mutual option 5th years?
Won’t happen in Atlanta. Team policy against giving player options. Billy Hamilton’s was attached to him when he arrived.
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I would even place a front line starter as the number one priority.
Yes. I didn’t list those in specific order, as they’re all pretty important, but pitching is definitely at the top of the priority list. If you have to roll with Austin Riley at 3B in order to acquire MadBum, then that’s the way it is. If you have to roll with Duvall and Markakis in LF in order to sign Yasmani Grandal, then that’s the way it is. There may be give and take, but the bottom line is that there are not additional front line starter options on the roster already. That must be addressed. There is not a real starting catcher in the pipeline. That guy must be acquired. Those items will drive how we take care of the other position needs. The caveat to that is: if JDon wants to come back enough to get a deal settled without waiting out the market. I believe if both sides want to come to a quick agreement, it’ll happen.
Berigan said…I agree! but….there’s always a but….a lot of teams wanting one, aren’t there? I think we need to have low expectations here, hard if not impossible to do of course
But someone has to land the ace, and this time it needs to be Atlanta. You either want to win, and want the pieces required to win, or you don’t.
Does that mean we have to sign Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg? No. But there are going to be pitchers available through both FA and trade that could sit at the top of our rotation aside the incumbent ace Mike Soroka. And that is a glaring need for this team to take a step forward. MadBum would absolutely help. Zack Wheeler would help. Jake Odorizzi would help. Michael Pineda would help. And this fan is an advocate for Cole Hamels. He would help.
You either want to win, and want the pieces required to win, or you don’t.
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Game seven of the WS tonight.
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I’m expecting a real pitchers duel between GREINKE and SCHERZER.
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Well, you got one right on that one. The Stros pen had another melt down however….
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That front-line starter is priority #1 to my mind.
3B is priority #2
CHRIS MARTIN is priority #3
Everything else falls into place depending on 1,2,3.
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Do not undersell the presence of the dreaded QO on some of the potential FA pitchers. With the Braves still suffering from the int’l penalties saddles on us from the previous administration, our farm system will begin to dry up soon. Truth is, that attrition has already begun. If Thoppy chooses to avoid giving up a draft pick to sign a pitcher, it’s really hard to hold that against him.
These pitchers will surely be hung with the QO:
Gerrit Cole
Stephen Strasburg
Jake Odorizzi
Zack Wheeler
MadBum* (likely, but not certain)
Pitchers that likely will not receive a QO:
Cole Hamels
Michael Pineda
Adam Wainright (who will probably be a Cards lifer)
Kyle Gibson
Alex Wood
Ivan Nova
Wade Miley
Michael Wacha
Pitchers that cannot receive a QO because they’ve already been tagged once:
Hyun-Jin Ryu (although he’s given every indication he wants to stay a in LA)
Brett Anderson
Pitchers that are not eligible for QO due to trade:
Homer Bailey
Tanner Roark
(Those are not complete lists, of course. Those are just pitchers that should receive some level of interest.)
So one might reasonably assume that we can mark those top 5 names right off the shopping list. But you never know.
I have also read that this may be the season that Thoppy begins to send off a few mid-level veterans in exchange for prospects to try to bolster the lower level talent. A good example of that is the speculation that he could pick up Julio’s $12M option, then spin him off for prospects. It’s essentially buying prospects, but a very viable option. Ender could fall into that same boat. Don’t be surprised if something like that begins to happen to guys we are used to seeing… like Folty. If you can pick up a couple of good prospects for him, then replace his innings with a mid-level FA like Alex Wood or Ivan Nova, are you losing alot in 2020?
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For what it’s worth, catcher Yasmani Grandal cannot receive a QO because he received one last year.
Just sayin’…
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Happy Free Agency Eve!!
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These pitchers will surely be hung with the QO:
Gerrit Cole
Stephen Strasburg
Jake Odorizzi
Zack Wheeler
MadBum* (likely, but not certain)
V, I don’t see Jake Odorizzi getting a QO…you know I am mr old timey, but his numbers look good only to a point. I mentioned some of this before, but it bares repeating. 15-7 3.51? Oh yeah, lets get this guy. But, if you look at other old timey stats, 30 starts, 159 innings. 2018? 32 starts, 164 innings. So, in the DH league, and not walking a ton of guys, he has averaged slightly more than 5 innings a start! How in any way is that going to help the braves? And the QO in 2020? 17.8 million, down 100 K . So, Twins would be crazy to risk having to pay him that much, and I don’t think anyone will want to sign him, to lose a pick, when they weren’t willing to do that for Dallas K. Why not just re-sign him at that point? Heck, Julio T in 33 starts pitched 174 innings. and a 3.81 ERA. IF you didn’t know who’s numbers those were, wouldn’t you consider a guy with those stats?
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I don’t see Jake Odorizzi getting a QO
First, if you want a comparative stat, his 4.3 WAR ranks 5th among FA starters behind only Cole (7.4), Strasburg (5.7), Ryu (4.8), and Wheeler, (4.7). Also, among those top pitchers, only Cole is younger at 29 than the 30 year old Odorizzi.
Plus, Odorizzi is a ground ball pitcher (35% gb rate) who also averages 10 K’s per 9 IP. So you can put those number together to see that 2 of every 3 outs he gets never reach the OF. Those are big reasons he was an All-Star in 2019.
Finally, and most importantly, he’s the Twins’ ace and they want to keep him in town. They have Michael Pinéda and Kyle Gibson also slated to walk in FA, essentially leaving only José Berríos in their rotation. They have to hold onto one of their FA pitchers, and Odorizzi is the obvious choice. What they really want is to re-sign him on a multi-year deal. Tagging him with the onus of a QO will give them a competitive advantage over other teams in any signing scenario.
I will grant you that he’s probably more of a bubble guy, but I believe he’ll get the QO from Minnie if for no other reason than they really want to keep him in the Twin Cities.
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… and if he doesn’t get a QO, he’s a guy I’d like to see come here. Those ground ball and K rates would play really well in STP.
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Reposting with greater clarity…
Important MLB dates to note:
Oct. 31: Eligible players become Free Agents, but sides may only talk for next 5 days.
Nov. 4: Deadline to exercise team options; deadline to extend QOs; FA fully opens.
Nov. 14: Deadline for FAs to accept/decline QO.
Nov. 11-14: GM meetings in Scottsdale, AZ.
Nov. 19-21: Owners Meetings in Arlington, TX.
Nov. 20: Deadline to submit 40-man roster with the names of players who will be protected in the Rule 5 draft.
Dec. 2: Non-tender deadline.
Dec. 9-12: Winter Meetings in San Diego, CA.
Dec. 12: Rule 5 draft.
Jan. 10: Eligible players and teams exchange Arb figures.
Feb. 3-21: Arb hearings.
IMO, that Nov. 4 date and which options they pick up/decline will indicate to us the road map as to what the front wants to accomplish. We’ll have a better understanding of how ambitious they want to be.
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First, if you want a comparative stat, his 4.3 WAR ranks 5th among FA starters behind only Cole (7.4), Strasburg (5.7), Ryu (4.8), and Wheeler, (4.7). Also, among those top pitchers, only Cole is younger at 29 than the 30 year old Odorizzi.
Plus, Odorizzi is a ground ball pitcher (35% gb rate) who also averages 10 K’s per 9 IP. So you can put those number together to see that 2 of every 3 outs he gets never reach the OF. Those are big reasons he was an All-Star in 2019.
V, guess we just will have to agree to disagree here….Starting WAR is clearly a joke then, I don’t care what any expert says…a starter that has averaged 5 innings a start for 2 straight seasons, is ….worthless. every start you basically need 4 pitchers after him. A glorified opener, IMHO. but, he’s going to get 15-20 mil a year?
323 innings in 2 seasons. Dallas Keuchel only made 19 starts for the braves, yet over 2 seasons he threw 317 innings (204 in 2018, will we make an offer for Dallas?)
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Congrats Nats!
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Yes, congrats indeed!!!! Remember when I said the Nats in 7???? Pretty sure I did….no need to look for that post. 😛 I guess that’s why they play the games, huh????
I don’t know if I have ever seen a more emotional team after winning…..so it makes it a lot easier to take….
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What makes a good rivalry is respect for the other guy. Gotta respect that team, no doubt.
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They have a lot of individuals who are easy to root for aa well.
Howie Kendrick anybody?
Is it just me, or does his story make you think of one young Trey Harris?
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And looking forward to 2020, can they afford both Strasburg and Rendon? Gonna be tough.
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No
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Well, a begrudging congrats to the gNats, who would have thunk it? Gordon maybe with his Nats in 6 prediction. Turns out it was the Stros who had the leaky pen…
Well, let them have their parade, there is always next year. Will the pundits pick the Braves to finish fourth in the NL East again in 2020 like they did in ’19? Stay tuned… If you are going to be the best, you have to beat the best…
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Amen, brother.
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Officially in season…
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Manager prediction scorebook:
Angels = Joe Maddon ✓
Cubs = David Ross ✓
Giants = Gabe Kapler
Mets =
Joe GirardiPadres = Jayce Tingler ✓
Phils =
Buck ShowalterJoe GirardiPirates = Jeff Banister
Royals = Mike Matheny ✓
I’m still feeling good on Kapler in SanFran. Feeling less confident on Banister in PIT since their GM was fired. That could go many directions depending on who takes over there. And who knows what the Mets could do? I’m still feeling Eduardo Perez now that Girardi landed in Philly, but they love their headlines there. They’ll want a splashy name.
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Wow! That’s a bad move by any player, but especially for someone so high profile as Cole. That ‘s a clown move, bro.
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Vox O’Reasoñ
October 31, 2019 at 8:00 am
And looking forward to 2020, can they afford both Strasburg and Rendon? Gonna be tough.
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Reply
that’s what I was thinking too (that no way to sign both) but I think someone (Harold Reynolds?) pointed out last night that they were going to pay Harper 300 + Mil to stay…so, IF Rendon was willing to give a hometown discount, you know, like 250 Mil 😛 they only have to pay Steven S. a few more million per year than they are now….now I would love to see them lose both for purely selfish reasons…..
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DITTO, XEROX, et. al.
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man, messed the formatting up there!
I end up watching LOTS of postgame stuff…mlbtv had like 2 + hours of live coverage…. Trea Turner is hilairous! came out to the field to talk to Harold, Pedro, and DeRo with a blacked out jet fighter helmet on with Adam Eaton, and was talking a mile a minute about how “he” had seen Eaton really mature over the season…it sounded so funny in part since you couldn’t see his face, and because he sounded exactly like a vet talking about a young player! Zimmerman and Suzuki came out (on the field, not as gay 😛 ) Mad Max with his father who is taller than he is (and was dressed in crazy bright colored clothes) you could just sense the relief in their faces and voices…and Howie too of course. He talked about how the hitting coach there helped him with his swing, he even asked the guy who also lives in Phoenix, if he was Howie, what he’d change about his swing, and he said nothing with his swing, he’d basically change his stride (called it something else , which I forget) I thing more strideless, something to do with tying up his hands, and now he can hit pitches most anywhere without his hands getting in the way…seems like he’d be a natural for being a broadcaster or sideman….
still feels weird that the team we owned (well, 11-7 I think?) beat up the Cards, Dodgers and Astros eh? I think after their slow start (the players and the GM joked about how the manager needed to be fired, and to trade off the old players-they are the oldest team in baseball, so much for youth always winning out) they were like 82-40 from then on….that kind of slipped under the radar….
I am sure they were confident, but not to the point of the Astros, who were perhaps too cocky…and that bullpen isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be, IMHO, though perhaps worn out too….
Have to like a season that ended where the Yankees, Dodgers and Astros were humbled….
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I took a long hard look at the potential construct of the gNATS for 2020.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the HOUSTON team outbid any amount the LERNERS offer for him to stay.
He is a home town goat that could become the hometown hero pretty quickly.
I can’t see STRASBURG leaving.
He’s been accepting undisclosed deferrals of comp. to help the LERNERS.
As has Mad Max and CORBIN.
STRASBURG’s the type of seasoned vet we’re hoping for at the head of the BRAVES starting pitching in 2020.
Beyond that………
FA’s:
ANTHONY RENDON [18.4 m 2019].
BRIAN DOZIER [9.0 m 2019].
HOWIE KENDRICK [4.0 m 2019] – Established vet – no contract.
JEREMY HELLICKSON [1.3 m 2019].
Expiring Contracts:
RYAN ZIMMERMAN 2.0 m opt.[18 m 2019].
ADAM EATON 1.5 m opt. 2020 and 2021[8.4m 2019].
YAN GOMES 1.0 m opt. [7.023 m 2019].
SEAN DOOLITTLE 0.5 m opt. [6.0 m 2019].
TREVOR ROSENTHAL 1.0 m opt. [6.0 m 2019].
MATT ADAMS 1.0 m opt. [3.0 m 2019].
TONY SIPP 0.25 m opt. [1.0 m 2019].
Arb qualified:
MICHAEL A. TAYLOR arb 3 [3.25 m 2019].
TREA TURNER arb 2 [3.725 m 2019].
KYLE BARRACLOUGH arb 2 [1.725 m 2019].
JOE ROSS arb. 2 [1.0 M 2019].
JUSTIN MILLER arb. 1 [0.593 m 2019].
WILMER DIFO arb. 1 [0.581 m 2019]
MATT GRACE arb. 1 [0.576 m 2019].
KODA GLOVER arb. 1 ]0.564 m 2019] minor league.
Under contract for 2020:
STEPHEN STRASBURG [38.33 m 2020; exp. 2022].
MAX SCHERZER [37.4 m 2020; exp.2021].
PATRICK CORBIN [12.9 m 2020, 19.4 m 2021, 24.4 m 2022, exp.2023].
ANIBEL SANCHEZ [9.0 m, exp. 2021].
KURT SUZUKI [6.0 m 2020].
Team control:
JUAN SOTO [0.578 m 2019].
WANDER SUERO [0.562 m 2019].
ANDREW STEVENSON [0.559 m 2019].
VICTOR ROBLES [0.558 m 2019].
JAKE NOLL [0.555 m 2019].
AUSTIN ADAMS
JAMES BOURQUE
JAMES CORDERO
ERICK FEDDE
SPENCER KIEBOOM
KYLE McGOWIN
TANNER RAINEY
RAUDY READ
ADRIAN SANCHEZ
AUSTIN VOTH
AUSTEN WILLIAMS
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So Boarass represents GARRITT COLE?
Don’t expect to see him with a Tomahawk on his chest in 2020.
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IF Rendon was willing to give a hometown discount, you know, like 250 Mil
He is poised to make the payday of a lifetime. Nolan Arenado’s extension last year was for 8 yrs / $260M, and that did NOT come on the heels of a magical World Series performance. I can’t imagine Anthony Rendon taking less. Arenado’s offensive numbers are a little better overall than Rendon’s over the last 5 years, but he does play half his games in Mile High Denver. Arenado’s home/road OPS is Mile High skewed at .995/.800, while Rendon’s home/road is .869/.851… making him the more consistent hitter. And he is easily the top hitter in this year’s FA class, making his market even more favorable to him. There isn’t a Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to compete for against for dollars like there was last year.
I do think he could go back to DC, but it’ll take something a little north of Arenado’s standard setter… maybe 8 yrs / $270.
And I think that could prevent the Nats from giving Stephen Strasburg the raise he’s gonna get by opting out. He could not have possibly given a better performance prior to hitting the open market than he did this post-season, where he was simply dominating. And the market for starting pitching is always much wider than the market for a position player. Every team needs pitching. Immediately after his last start on Tuesday, Jim Bowden tweeted: “If anyone is wondering if Stephen Strasburg is going to opt out of his existing contract with the Nationals with 4-yrs $100m left…..I can help by telling you he’ll get more than 7-years $210m if he goes on open market. One of the most impressive post-seasons in MLB history.”
I’m not saying that Nats GM Mike Rizzo won’t figure out a way to make both happen, but how can he pony up both of those commitments, not forgetting he still owes Max Scherzer $82.3M over 2 more years, and owes Patrick Corbin $127.1M (plus whatever of many possible bonuses and escalators are built into his deal) over the next 5 years?
$270M + $210M + 82M + &127M = $689M. Just typing that makes me want to cuss.
That’s a rough row to hoe.
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I can’t see STRASBURG leaving. He’s been accepting undisclosed deferrals of comp. to help the LERNERS. As has Mad Max and CORBIN.
According to published reports, this is the breakdown of the deferrals on the contracts of Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg:
Scherzer signed a 7-yr / $210M deal with the Nats before the 2015 season, the average annual salary sitting at $30M. For the first 4 years of the deal, he only received a base salary of $15M a year plus signing bonus money and incentives, with the balance of each year being deferred. From 2019 through the last year of the deal in 2021, he’s receiving a base salary of $30M. His deferred money kicks back in from 2022-28 when Washington will be paying Scherzer $15M each year.
In other words, his deal will continue to affect the team payroll over the next 7 years even though he’s only under contract for 2 more. That will not go away. And Scherzer will only be 37 at the end of his current deal. Should the 2 sides desire to extend their marriage beyond 2021, that $15M yearly commitment will only increase.
Corbin signed a 6-yr / $140M deal last year that included a $2.5M signing bonus, and salaries of $12.5M in 2019, $19M in 2020, $24M in 2021, $23M in 2022, $24M in 2023, and $35M in 2024, with an additional $10M deferred (w/o interest).
His salary burden increases fairly dramatically over the next 5 years.
As for Strasburgs’s deferrals, they are a little more scattered. He received yearly amounts of $10.4M in 2016, $15M in each of 2017 and 2018, and a stout $35M this year (before the opt-out option kicks in). The annual salary drops to $25M in 2020, dropping again to $15M in 2021 and 2022, before ballooning to $45M in the deal’s final year of 2023,.. making it an annual average of $25M over those remaining 4 years.
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BTW, Strasburg is a Scott Boras client. Think there’s any chance he’ll leave a penny on the table anywhere?
Not a chance.
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Just looked up Anthony Rendon’s agent…
You guessed it: Scott Boras.
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So the top 3 free agents in this year’s class, Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Anthony Rendon, all are represented by Scott Boras. Rendon should easily exceed $260M in his new deal, with $300M for the pitchers being more realistic. And, J.D. Martinez, who is expected to opt-out of his deal in Boston and is ranked the #6 FA, is also a Boras client. So is #10 ranked Marcell Ozuna.
Happy day at the ol’ Boras camp.
Holy moley…
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Officially official… and not unexpected. Decisions remain on Julio, Nick and Flow.
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I expect them to exercise Flow’s option. I do not expect him to catch 81 games in 2020. $6M for a backup catcher who has a great rapport with the young pitchers is a relative bargain.
I think it’s 60/40 they’ll exercise the $6M option on Nick if for no other reason than his buyout is $2M, and the $4M difference is a pittance in baseball money. The caveat here is that they may feel they need his 40-man roster spot, and that it’s more valuable than said $4M difference.
I find it hard to get a good feeling on Julio. I do not think they want to pay him $12M to be a part of our rotation in 2020, but other teams might not share the same sentiment. Even though his act has grown tiresome here in ATL, $12M for a veteran guy that’ll toe the rubber every 5th day and eat 180 innings is not alot in today’s baseball market. And Julio could be a classic “change of scenery” guy. It’s a very familiar story that other managers and coaches feel they can “fix” someone else’s problem. So it wouldn’t be surprising if AA exercises Julio’s option and seeks to spin him off for prospects or include him in a package deal to fill another need.
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OK, enough time has passed to let the Nats enjoy what they won. But a game (and championship) the Astros had in their back pocket got away from them late when it wasn’t necessary.
I know hindsight is always 20/20, but can anyone truly justify why AJ Hinch took out a Zack Greinke at only 80 pitches when he had kept the Nats’ offense off balance for 7 innings? Because a talented hitter took him deep for a solo shot? Did he really think Will Harris was a better option? Mistake #1, and a major one.
And have we finally seen a bigger playoff bullpen bust than leaving a hot Craig Kimbrel watching from the bullpen while a lesser pitcher wet the bed in a deciding game (ironically in the same Minute Maid Park)? Why would you not have Gerrit Cole pitch those last 2 innings when you had him warmed up and ready in the bullpen? Because Robert Osuna is a better option? There is no better option than Cole. Mistake #2, and a fatal one.
I have no dog in that fight, but with all due respect to the Nats winning a title, the Astros were poised to pop the champagne before Hinch blinked and lost that game (and championship).
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Speaking of Greinke, man I love to watch him pitch. Is there any pitcher that throws gas easier than he does? His motion is so effortless. I don’t care that his contract is a ridiculous $35M for each of the next 2 seasons. I’d love to see him in ATL. Maybe the ‘Stros will look to trade him to make re-signing Cole more workable. They can have Folty back. I’ll roll with Riley at 3B if I can have Greinke.
Can you imagine a rotation that begins Greinke / Soroka / Fried? That dog’ll hunt!
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I’m pondering being an armchair GM and putting together a 2020 roster through mock trades and signings. It’ll take a little work. Is it worth it? (Confession: I’ve already done some of the research…)
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v, you KNOW you are going to do it, knock yer self out! 😉
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V, the only person I have ever heard of basically undercutting Borass is Stephen Strasburg. It’s been awhile, but I read with the last contract that Scotty had to make a deal with D.C. Oddly enough Marcell Ozuna has said he really, really, really wants to re-sign with the Cards…Borass must be ill. Of course, I have also heard that the Cards might want to put that moola elsewhere, (but that takes out their other big bat, their J.D.) https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/08/marcell-ozuna-would-prefer-to-stay-with-cardinals.html
But V, you are correct, S.B. will make a lot of money this winter….
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I know hindsight is always 20/20, but can anyone truly justify why AJ Hinch took out a Zack Greinke at only 80 pitches when he had kept the Nats’ offense off balance for 7 innings? Because a talented hitter took him deep for a solo shot? Did he really think Will Harris was a better option? Mistake #1, and a major one.
And have we finally seen a bigger playoff bullpen bust than leaving a hot Craig Kimbrel watching from the bullpen while a lesser pitcher wet the bed in a deciding game (ironically in the same Minute Maid Park)? Why would you not have Gerrit Cole pitch those last 2 innings when you had him warmed up and ready in the bullpen? Because Robert Osuna is a better option? There is no better option than Cole. Mistake #2, and a fatal one.
V, A.J. was in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t position. It started with Bochy, IMO….ANY trouble by the starter (especially OLDER starters, Bochy forever removed guys after, 3,4 innings in the W.S., and they did win 3 of them) and you are out . So, a HR then a walk (and NO ONE mentioned this after the the game, but Zack threw a curved for strike 3, but, it wasn’t called strike 3, then the walk that caused him to pull Zack) and the reliever threw a good pitch, low and outside, that Howie hit the opposite way and hit the fair poll….Astros were just meant to win…
do agree Garrit comes in tied game, lead or behind(excuse given was he came in only in a tied game or with lead)
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excuse given was he came in only in a tied game or with lead
If that was the excuse given, then it was a cop out. It’s game 7 of the World Series. There are no rules.
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the “plan”….I guess if you have won a W.S. before, you get rigid???? inflexible? (didn’t I just say that?) plan, instead of react????
https://abc13.com/sports/astros-manager-pressed-again-on-why-no-gerrit-cole-in-game-7-/5664309/
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Well, when you screw up, you say you had a plan and you stuck to it. Then the inanimate plan is to blame, not the actual person. Accountability is an antiquated concept.
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Manager prediction scorecard update:
Angels = Joe Maddon ✓
Cubs = David Ross ✓
Giants = Gabe Kapler
Mets =
Joe GirardiCarlos BeltránPadres = Jayce Tingler ✓
Phils = Buck Showalter Joe Girardi
Pirates = Jeff Banister
Royals = Mike Matheny ✓
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Oops… formatting error. Let me try that again…
Manager prediction scorecard update:
Angels = Joe Maddon ✓
Cubs = David Ross ✓
Giants = Gabe Kapler
Mets =
Joe GirardiCarlos BeltránPadres = Jayce Tingler ✓
Phils =
Buck ShowalterJoe GirardiPirates = Jeff Banister
Royals = Mike Matheny ✓
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Who’s hot, who’s not down on the farm:
I’ve got to defer to my main man GIL for any analysis of farm hands in the squat.
As an old backstop, I trust his judgement on our players behind the plate.
That said, SS BRADEN SHEWMAKE looked really good this past rookie season.
I’d be surprised if he wasn’t moved up from ROME to start out next season, maybe all the way to AA bypassing A+ altogether.
3B C.J. ALEXANDER has a terrible season in 2019.
He evidently had a serious injury in his very first game, and when he came back he just wasn’t the same player at all.
Hopefully, 2020 will be kinder, and he can get up on his bike again.
I’m a believer in PACHE, WATERS and TREY HARRIS.
ROME burned while TREY fiddled to a .366 tune.
He ended up blowing through three levels.
At each, though respectable, his results declined; .303 in A+. .281 in AA.
In AA, he batted .214 against LH, .303 against RH.
He’ll need to show continue improvement in 2020 against lefties to become a solid BRAVES citizen.
TREY was having a good AFL season [.286?] until injured.
Not feeling it so much in any of the supposed ML ready pitching in AA and AAA.
WRIGHT, ANDERSON et. al.
Actually, I think RHSP NOLAN KINGHAM might become a good pitcher, and pretty soon.
What I liked most about him was how deep he went into games.
I think he threw four complete games last season across three levels.
Three starts in ROME, no complete games, then promo.
18 starts in A+, four complete games.
Pitches per: 85 May 1/85 May 31/91 June 18, promo.
Six starts in MISSISSIPPI, one complete game, his last start of the season.
Pitches per: 96 Sept. 1
In between he struggled at times, twice knocked out pretty early [2.1 and 3.0 IP], others four, five, six innings, but he had several seven inning outings, and at two of eight plus one of 8.2.
Thing is, he continued to show overall improvement.
His metrics say he will become a back of the rotation starter at best.
I’m not so sure.
What I like most about him, he doesn’t like wasting pitches.
He’s not a nibbler.
He gives the appearance of wanting positive results with each batter, and isn’t afraid to reach that result as soon as possible.
I like that attitude in a pitcher.
I can’t wait to see how he fairs in AA and GWINNETT next season.
If he keeps up that level of effectiveness, he may develop into another MIKE SOROKA.
That would be fine with me.
That’s all for now.
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Whew… Josie and I finished up cleaning out our junk from the camper and sold/gave it away today. I feel bad because I cannot really do my share of the work because I am restricted to training wheels. The good news is that is $6000 I won’t have to shell out for camping fees next year. There is no bad news….
The gNats had their parade today in DC. Will any one notice? There seems to be a parade of some sort every week in DC. Well, good for them, I am happy for them. Now, will the Braves make the necessary moves to have their parade? Goes to show that the team that is hot the last month of the season has to be a favorite. The Braves would have been World Series champs if the season had ended in August instead of September. The gNats earned it because they had a heck of a gauntlet to pass thru the final month of the season. The only team they could not beat was the Braves. Go figure….
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I like it because both MONUMENTAL SPORTS with two Championships, and the LERNERS with one, are leaving the REDSKINS with majority owner DAN SNYDER in the dust with egg on his face.
SNYDER’s a clown of an owner.
Evidently weak-minded at least in football management, he surrounds himself with “yes” men.
Since he became owner in 1999, he’s had two GM’s.
VINNIE CERRATO was a bag-man for SNYDER who was certain he knew all about running an NFL franchise.
The only thing CERRATO became good at was opening the valise full of cash he carried around for ownership, and bestowing huge sums of money on players who proved unworthy of the financial lagress.
The second is BRUCE ALLEN, eldest son of the infamous psychotic coach of the RAMS and REDSKINS.
Vain, small-minded, stubborn in the extreme, and vindictive, Brucifer’s tenure as GM has been marked by failure after failure in his relations with everyone outside and inside the organization other than the ownership,
an obsequious “yes” man, adroit at manipulating the owner into listening to his poison.
The sooner the Shield bans SNYDER from the leadership role of the club, the better off the REDSKINS will be.
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Mony, mony, mony, M-o-o-ony!
The LERNERS are within nine million of the tax threshold, and SS just multiplied their finances 10 fold.
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Proof once again that the big money teams with deep pockets are the ones who go deep in the process.
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Strasburg is going home to SoCal. The Fathers are ready to pony up the bucks, and they have a young team that can go places. Adding Strasburg would go a long way toward enabling them to challenge the Dodgers for the NL West walking dogs. Strasburg plus one more pitcher to go with their talented young ones… remind you of anyone?
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Still awaiting announcements on the remaining Braves team contract options, those being Julio, Nick and Flow. It’s deadline day. There will be news.
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And in case you missed it over the weekend, the Braves were shutout on Gold Glove awards. Both Ozzie and JDon finished as runner up.
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yeah, odd….
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The Braves need to do something to get me excited about baseball…. I feel sort of blah right now.
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Gil, you mean the thought of getting one of the 3 soft tossing #3 starters (Dallas, MadBum, or Hamels) being our rotation savoir isn’t thrilling you? 😛
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getting one of the 3 southpaw soft tossing #3 starters
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I’m working on making my mock trades and signings and finalizing constructing of my 2020 roster. I’m just awaiting the decisions on the real contract options before finalizing my deals and adding up the totals.
Those actual decisions are so close now it doesn’t make any sense to guess about them.
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Gut feeling today says they are exercising all 3 options, including Julio.
I think they’ll seek to trade Julio if they can acquire top-of-the-rotation pitching in the way they want/need to. But having him under contract is basically an $11M insurance policy.
I think they have to keep Flow if for no other reason that there is no other viable ML catcher on the roster at present.
As for Nick, he’s relatively cheapfor what he can still bring to the table. And with Pache and Waters so close to arriving, the organization can squeeze a little more service out of Nick even if it’s in a platoon situation with Duvall or even Riley and direct their attention and funds toward the more pressing needs of pitching and catching. (And I think bringing Josh Donaldson back has a direct bearing on this. I feel that needs to happen and that it will happen.)
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And it just dawned on me that by waiting to tomorrow to finalize my roster, I’ll also know who got tagged with the dreaded QO. That is a critical piece of information.
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Reporting dates have finally been announced:
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There’s one.
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Mets have announced they will offer the dreaded QO to Zack Wheeler.
I think Wheeler may have been a top target for AA, but maybe not so much now with the QO onus.
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DO’B: Braves still working on Teheran and Markakis
I think it’s fair to say they could do a similar “buyout/sign” deal with Nick if they intend to keep him around. If it makes accounting sense for Flow, it should make the same accounting sense for Nick.
As for Julio, not sure exactly what that means. But a $1M buyout and new 1-yr deal for $11M would certainly make him more tradeable, regardless of the accounting advantages.
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Likely on the same arrangement as Flow.
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Razzin frazzin… 😡
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Julio is gone.
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I have learned today that buyout figures count toward the previous year’s payroll totals. Thus, the buyouts of Flow, Nick, Julio, and Billy Hamilton all count against the 2019 payroll… not the 2020 payroll. This clarification is important if the powers that be at Liberty Media have given AA a hard payroll cap to work under. Given the way that they team worked out the deals with Flow and Nick, one would have to assume that there is a need to maximize the payroll availability in 2020, whether there is such a cap or not. It also might signal that AA is going to be able to actually do some shopping this year.
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Braves are figuring out how to spend the $11 million they saved from Julio. Methinks they saw the same thing I did with Julio’s arm/shoulder ailment… Perhaps a new pitching coach can figure it out but I think his shoulder will need some serious work to be right again. I don’t think the Braves felt they could waste $11 million on Julio while he recovers from surgery. Not saying he will have surgery, just saying I think he will need it.
I can’t say that I feel sorry for Julio, after all, $1 million is a lot of walking around money, especially in Columbia. I hope he hasn’t spent all his earning to date and had a trustworthy accountant.
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Braves are figuring out how to spend the $11 million they saved from Julio.
I really did think they’d exercise that option as insurance against not being able to land a big fish. But this signals to me that the Braves are going to be players in this year’s market. They have to. Between Julio’s 174.2 IP, Dallas Keuchel’s 112.2 IP, and Kevin Gausman’s 80.0 IP, that’s 367.1 innings that have to be taken by someone. And that someone will not be Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson nor Ian Anderson. Any combination of those youngsters might give you 150 of those innings, but you still have a huge hole to fill.
They Braves must be active this year. They now have no choice.
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To clarify, while I believe Wright still has a bight future as a starter, he did not take a big step forward last season and could benefit from more seasoning at AAA. I like Wilson’s stuff and think he’s better suited in a relief role. In all honesty, the kid has the stuff to close. I’d like to see him take over Chris Martin’s bullpen role. As for Anderson, it’s just not his time yet. The kid will pitch in ATL soon enough, and be a good one. Just not yet.
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With today’s contract decisions made official, the Braves currently have $70,105,000 allocated in guaranteed contracts for 2020. This does not include contracts of arb-eligible and pre-arb players. Factoring in projected figures for said arb-eligibles ($28,400,000) and pre-arbs ($9,990,000), the team now has a baseline salary floor of roughly $108,495,000… give or take a mill.
Now the player movement can begin.
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I am hoping Newk is ready to step back in as a starter next season. He has reached the age of majority now as a pitcher.
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It would not break my heart to see Strausburg relocated to San Diego.
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With Julio’s departure, as well as Keuchel’s exit, the Braves starting rotation now looks like:
Mike Soroka (R)
Mike Foltynewicz (R)
Max Fried (L)
Might need to fill in a couple of gaps there.
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OK, y’all. All contract options have been decided, all QO’s have been extended, and the 5 day “quiet period” is over. Time to throw some logs in this thing and crank up the heat!
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10 players received QO’s this year, those being:
Jose Abreu, 1B
Madison Bumgarner, SP
Gerrit Cole, SP
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Jake Odorizzi, SP
Marcell Ozuna, OF
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Will Smith, RP
Stephen Strasburg, SP
Zack Wheeler, SP
Those of note are JDon, of course, as he was ours, and MadBum, Odorizzi, and Wheeler as they are all certainly reasonable candidates for our rotation.
One notable name missing from that list is Cole Hamels, who was on the bubble. No QO attachment for him.
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Yep. It’s not hard to foresee that. A pairing with either Adam Duvall or Austin Riley could certainly make sense.
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Interesting. The Angels declined to their option on OF Kole Calhoun, paying him a $1M buyout rather than $14M. I don’t necessarily disagree since his 2019 batting AVG was a rather uninspiring .232, but he did launch 33 bombs last year.
He should find work easily. Wonder what he will sign for?
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DO’B talked to AA following the decision to decline Julio’s option, and AA had this to say: “We’ll continue to stay in contact with him. Obviously, he’ll have a chance now to test the market and talk to other teams. But I think there’s an openness on both sides to continue the relationship. So, we’ll see where that leads.”
MLBTR agrees that the $12M was an overpay for Julio, and estimates his contract value closer to 2 yrs / $18M.
Would you be open to Julio coming back as a 5th starter for a $9M AAV? I’m not so sure that I am.
I believe that AA probably made those statements to keep the parting of ways in the most positive atmosphere he could.
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I’m well into crafting my mock roster for 2020, and have discovered that so many moves are predicated on other moves. It requires making assumptions, and I hate to assume. We all know that old adage, right?
But since this is a mock construction, and not a prediction, I can move forward without stressing over one missed move causing a cascade of other misses.
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OK.. so here we go.
As the mock GM of the Atlanta Braves, these are the actions I am taking over the next several weeks prior to showing up to our brand spanking new spring training facility in North Port, FL…
To begin, I need to lay out the foundation of my spending. I used the numbers that are provided by Roster Resource for my contract figures, and I also used their estimations for the arb figures. Over the years, this site has been quite accurate in those projections.
Players I have under contract for 2020 already are Freddie Freeman, Mark Melancon, Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis, Tyler Flowers, Ozzie Albies, and Ronald Acuña, Jr. Their total contract obligations for 2020 add up to $54,059,375.
My arb-eligible players are Shane Greene, Mike Foltynewicz, Charlie Culberson, John Ryan Murphy, Adam Duvall, Dansby Swanson, Luke Jackson, Grant Dayton, and Johan Camargo. To start, I non-tender Murphy and Dayton, leaving my estimated arb projections adding up to $16,400,000.
The total for all my other pre-arb players are estimated to add up to $9,435,000.
Thus, my salary floor that I am starting with prior to making any additions is $89,894,375.
The first thing I work out is to re-sign Josh Donaldson. I need him back in the fold before I make my big trade of the offseason, sending Austin Riley and Touki Toussaint to CLE for Corey Kluber. Kluber becomes my ace for 2 more years. I hate losing Riley, but I want JDon on 3B, and I need Kluber. You have to give quality to get quality.
I want Kluber because I prefer him to a similarly paid Madison Bumgarner or Jake Odorizzi, both saddled with QO’s, and I don’t have to worry about losing the draft pick which is still more valuable to the Braves because of the lingering int’l market penalties.
I turn my attention then to catcher, and decide I do not want 4 years of Yasmani Grandal, which is the prevailing thought. He’s the top catcher on the market, and he’s going to receive a contract in both dollars and length that reflects such. Still, I need a catcher to catch 110+ games, and I want my overall catching to improve. I move to the next best available catcher and sign Travis d’Arnaud. He’s not as good a pitch framer as Flow (yet), but he’s better at throwing out would-be stealers, slotting slightly above league average in that category. He’s also above average offensively at catcher. And at just 30, he makes my catching core younger. I probably can get him for only 2 years, nicely bridging to my 2 catching prospects Shae Langeliers and William Contreras.
I still need one more starting pitcher, and I need to replace alot of innings, so I turn to veteran Rick Porcello, who is an innings eater. He’s also a pretty good lefty that will fill the bill of 5th starter and mentor to my younger lefties.
Besides JDon, there are a couple of Braves FA’s that I want to bring back, those being Chris Martin and Matt Joyce. I could sign another reliever, but I gave up a good prospect for Martin, so I want to keep him around another couple of years. Joyce is my last guy on the bench. He did a good job in that role in 2019, and I want him back for 2020.
I need to note, that the contracts I am giving to my FA acquisitions are all in line with the contract predictions over at MLBTR. Those guys do alot of research and are usually pretty close.
So the deals are as follows: Donaldson at 3 yrs/$75M ($25 AAV), d’Arnaud at 2 yrs/$14M ($7M AAV), Porcello at 1 yr/$11M, Martin at 2 yrs/$14M ($7M AAV), Joyve at 1 yr/$1M.
Kluber is under contract for 2020 at $17.5M. He also has a 2021 option for $18M, which doesn’t factor into the 2020 totals of course, but I do have him for 2 years which is important to note if I’m giving up Riley and Touki.
For the purpose of this exercise, I am using the AAV’s to calculate the 2020 payroll. It’s entirely possible, even probable, that the contract figures for some would not be even, rather would go from a lower figure to higher over the course of their deals, especially JDon’s. But ‘m sticking with the AAV so that if anything I’m overestimating for 2020.
So starting with my salary floor of $89,894,375, and adding new money in of $68,500,000, I have established my starting payroll for 2020 at $158,394,375.
Will the Braves go that high? I’ve seen pundits who believe they would range anywhere from $140M to $160M. And I believe the $160M figure to be fairly plausible. Thus, I sort of used that as my “cap”.
So there ya go. For my payroll of $158,394,375, I give you my 2020 26-man roster:
Rotation:
Corey Kluber (R)
Mike Soroka (R)
Max Fried (L)
Mike Foltynewicz (R)
Rick Porcello (L)
Bullpen:
Mark Melancon, Closer
Shane Greene
Chris Martin
Sean Newcomb (LH)
AJ Minter (LH)
Jacob Webb
Luke Jackson
Bryse Wilson
Go-to Lineup:
Ronald Acuña, Jr., RF (R)
Ozzie Albies, 2B (S)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (L)
Josh Donaldson, 3B (R)
Adam Duvall, LF (R platoon)
Travis d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ender Inciarte, CF (L)
Dansby Swanson, SS (R)
Bench:
Tyler Flowers, C (R)
Nick Markakis, LF (L platoon)
Charlie Culberson, IF/OF (R)
Johan Camargo, IF/OF (S)
Matt Joyce, OF (L)
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What? No interest in bringing back Francisco Cervelli?
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I really wanted Yasmani Grandal as my catcher. It’s really a very good fit for him here in Atlanta. But I want Donaldson more, and I want a high salary pitcher like Kluber more. Had to compromise elsewhere.
I also considered Jason Castro at catcher. The contract would be similar. Castro is a slightly better defender and pitch framer, but lesser bat. All in all, I’d be fairly happy with either for a couple of years. d’Arnaud is 2 years younger, so I went with him.
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Sadly, I think catchers age quicker than most. It makes it real tricky when projecting a line up. Still, someone needs to bat eighth in the order and it is a spot that once was almost exclusively reserved for backstops.
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Sadly, I think catchers age quicker than most. It makes it real tricky when projecting a line up.
Which is why I like d’Arnaud. He’s just 30, 2 years younger than Castro and the same age as Grandal.
d’Arnaud’s numbers in Tampa last year were .263/.323/.459 w/ 16 HR in just 92 games while splitting time with Mike Zunino. As for his defense, he threw out an above-average 29% of attempted base-stealers last season, which would be a massive improvement for the Braves where the combo of McFlow had trouble throwing out the trash on garbage day. And TD has also long been considered an above-average pitch framer, something we know the front office covets.
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Braves GM Alex Anthopolous on Josh Donaldson: “He’ll have a chance to see what his value is on the free-agent market, and at that point, hopefully, we can line up on a deal with him.” — courtesy of DO’B
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It dawned on me this morning that if the Braves cannot re-sign Donaldson, they will themselves acquire a supplemental draft pick. It might allow them to wade into the QO laden pitchers – MadBum, Wheeler, Odorizzi – without fear of losing ground by losing a pick. Get one; give one. Zero sum.
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Is it just me, or does it feel like so much of what AA will do this winter will be predicated on whether or not he can bring back JDon?
Is Josh Donaldson the linchpin of the offseason, so to speak?
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Had Austin Riley not fallen back so much in Aug. and Sept., we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
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To clarify, if the Braves were to sign a player hung with a QO, they would lose their 2nd round pick… not their 1st. (They’ll also lose $500K in int’l bonus pool money, but that is of little consequence to the Braves given their current int’l restrictions anyway.)
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And what if…
As an addendum to my earlier plan…
If I cannot re-sign Donaldson, perhaps I look at Mike Moustakis as a shorter term stop-gap.
MLBTR projects Moose as netting a 2-yr / $20M deal ($10M AAV). He’s 2 years younger, and knocked 35 HR’s himself last year. He’s not as good defensively as JD, but he’s solid. (Then again I would not have said JD was as good as JD before watching him this year.) Moose could also handle 2B if Ozzie were to have to be down for any reason.
And if you are paying Moose $15M less per year than JD, that in itself would pay Cole Hamels.
Or… you take JD’s incoming draft pick, and don’t worry about forfeiting one to sign Zack Wheeler or MadBum, whom you can now also afford. It saves you from giving up Austin Riley in an attempted trade for Corey Kluber. Now you have Riley to continue to improve at AAA, or to continue to utilize in LF in a platoon with Nick.
It would seem such a tactic would give the Braves more versatility and more options.
I think I could like this idea better…
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And if you keep Riley for the platoon partner for Nick, you could trade Duvall and apply his projected $3.8M elsewhere.
I may work these numbers up and submit plan #2.
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So if I go with Plan B, then I let JDon sign elsewhere, and sign Moose instead, saving me $15M per year right off the bat. Then I keep Riley instead of trading him, allowing me to trade of non-tender Duvall and save another $3.8M.
I take the savings and step up my pitching acquisitions, signing Madison Bumgarner instead of trying to trade for Corey Kluber and sign Cole Hamels and instead of Rick Porcello. And having Hamels around to tutor Fried might be icing on the cake. They are so similar.
Overall we save payroll money that can become “financial flexibility” to be used mid-season.
My new team costs just $144,094,375 and looks like this:
Rotation:
Madison Bumgarner (L)
Mike Soroka (R)
Max Fried (L)
Mike Foltynewicz (R)
Cole Hamels (L)
Bullpen:
Mark Melancon (Closer)
Shane Greene
Chris Martin
Sean Newcomb (L)
AJ Minter (L)
Jacob Webb
Luke Jackson
Bryse Wilson
Go-to Lineup:
Ronald Acuña, Jr., RF (R)
Ozzie Albies, 2B (S)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (L)
Mike Moustakas, 3B (L)
Austin Riley, LF (R platoon)
Travis d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ender Inciarte, CF (L)
Dansby Swanson, SS (R)
Bench:
Tyler Flowers, C (R)
Nick Markakis, LF (L platoon)
Charlie Culberson, IF/OF (R)
Johan Camargo, IF/OF (S)
Matt Joyce, OF (L)
Too many lefties in the rotation? Is there such a thing?
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Under this plan, an everyday lineup that was good enough to win 97-games despite many injuries changes very little. Moose is not a very big step down from JDon at all, and a majority of d’Arnaud over Flow is an improvement over an even split of Mac and Flow. At worst the offense takes a lateral step.
But the rotation is improved greatly.
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I would love to see the Braves bring him back home in some organizational role, whether on the field or in the front office. It seems like the right place for his next chapter to begin.
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Rumblings about MadBum to the ATL….something I did not know til I heard someone mention it on MLB.TV
Home record? 6-2, 2.93 ERA
Road record? 3-7, 5.29 ERA
Now that is odd!
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Bring him on. He’s not the dominator he was a couple years ago, but he’s still better than most. He’d be great in our rotation. Signing MadBum, considered by most to be the #6 FA on the market, would be a statement move for the Braves, signaling that the team has made the turn onto the home stretch and are putting the finishing touches on the “contender”. Adding the targeted veterans is always the last step in the process.
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San Fran is a pitcher’s park… 420 foot to center…
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wow…just saw this…what is it with Braves GM’s and wanting to bend the rules? I mean, I am sure this goes one, but still…hush!!!!
Bet he’s going to be super quiet this offseason….about everything….
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/mlbpa-investigation-braves-gm-alex-anthopoulos.html
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Much ado about nothing. A misspeak. It’s simply the MLBPA overreacting. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say they are purposely grasping at anything that they can use in the future to implicate collusion if they don’t like the way this offseason goes… like last year. If it’s slow again, they’ll cry about it and point to that statement as “evidence”.
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AA’s statement. This should be the end of it. I doubt it will.
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Freddie!!
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Exactly. This is a direct result of a “gotcha” culture… trying to grab any random soundbite they can and to weaponize it for personal gain. In the instance of the MLBPA, they want to allege collusion so badly they’ll take a benign statement intended to convey one message and twist it into something completely different. And as is the norm in today’s media centered culture, if they can cry something long enough and loud enough, and get gullible media outlets to parrot it for clicks, they can create a “truth” out of nothing.
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Alex Pavlovic, NBC Sports California:
“[Madison Bumgarner] knows the Braves, the team closest to his North Carolina home will call early. That last part is the greatest concern to any Giants officials looking for a reunion. Per league sources, the Braves have made Bumgarner a priority and planned to quickly communicate that to the left-hander. Atlanta sniffed around before the trade deadline and they are the clear favorite if Bumgarner does end up elsewhere. The Braves just watched the rival Nationals win the World Series with starting pitching.”
Yes on all accounts: MadBum should be a priority; AA should make him clearly aware of that; starting pitching is the key to reaching the next level.
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Cole Hamels: “I can do one year here and there and just play as long as I can play. I think that’s what will help give me an opportunity to play on teams that are trying to go to the postseason. If you need one guy, I can just kind of bounce around. I just want to have the opportunity to get to the postseason, just so that I can try to win.” — courtesy of Todd Zolecki, MLB.com
Come on down to Atlanta, Cole. You should get to know Max Fried a/k/a mini-Cole.
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Congrats Freddie, Ozzie and Ronald!!
(We might want to get used to saying this…)
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Good morning all… On the MLB player’s union. I cannot have sympathy for any union that has players earning $30 million a year and other earning minimum. They also failed to honor other unions strikes. Now, do I think the owners play fair? Nope… They are out to earn a buck too. Share the wealth, a fine concept until you see the wealth not being distributed fairly. Not say a rookie should earn as much as a star but come on, $30 million a year is a bit on the greedy side and pretty much guarantees a roster full of holes and franchises that will always be on the bottom.
Want to kill the Golden Goose? Keep down the path of destruction by going on strike again.
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I read a rumor yesterday somewhere (I was out and cannot track down where I saw it) that brought up a very interesting trade scenario. I may have even heard it on radio; can’t remember. Anyway…
This reporter said there might be interest between the Red Sox and Braves on a straight up swap of CF’s, where the Braves would receive 1 year of Jackie Bradley, Jr. in exchange for 2 years (plus a team option) of Ender Inciarte.
Why? Simple… economics. The Sox are trying to get under the Luxury Tax threshold, and swapping CF’s would allow them to take on an extra year of Ender, but at a much lower 2020 and 2021 salary. JBJ is projected to receive $11M in his last year of arb, whereas Ender is under contract for just $7.7M in 2020, 8.7M in 2021, with an option for 2022 at $9.7M.
With the Braves poised to hand off CF to Cristian Pache in 2021 anyway, it makes sense for the Braves as well. JBJ is a superior bat to Ender in all phases, including power where he knocked 21 HR’s last season. As a simple comparative figure, JBJ weighs in with a 2.0 WAR as opposed to Ender’s 0.6. Wouldn’t it be nice to slot him behind JDon in the 5 hole as opposed to say… Nick Markakis? Uh, yes it would.
If this is something both sides are truly pondering, this fan wholeheartedly endorses it.
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Jackie Bradley Jr? .234 lifetime ba, hitting in one of the best hitters parks ever. .213 ba and 4 Hr’s against Lefties last year. (but Nick M needs to platoon?) V, if you think Ender at the plate made you want to pull your hair out, check out JBJ’s numbers by month. Last April? .127 (71 Ab’s) May? .247. June, .315! Yay! July? .198. August? .194….that’s 2 months of sub .200 hitting. You want that behind JD? He’d walk 50% of the time, at least… Sept, he really caught fire, 244.
Gotta be someone better than that, otherwise, stick with Ender, and save the 3 mil
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I like it. He looked pretty good in his brief appearances. Worth the flyer…
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Actually, I think is a good price.
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BUMGARDNER and HAMELS are two pitchers I don’t want any part of next season.
I think they are both over the hill, and ready for the scrapheap.
To me this is merely dumpster diving.
I know you may not agree.
Just my two cents.
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O’DAY?
Great if he stays healthy for a change.
Sign CHRIS MARTIN.
That’s an arm I can get behind.
MOUSTAKIS over DONALDSON?
Maybe.
d’ARNOUD to replace McCANN.
O.K.
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Jackie Bradley Jr. is a local product from DINWIDDIE County, Virginia.
He used to be on the travel team my eldest grandson played with for a number of years, [Va. Cardinals].
They never played together however.
Anyway the poop on BRADLEY was always very positive.
I thought he would make a solid major league position player.
But he’s been hot and cold since he came up in 2013.
I think a swap for ENDER not in the Braves’ best interest.
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https://www.wect.com/2019/11/07/stargell-invitational-celebrities-visit-dialysis-center-nhrmc/
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One thing we know about the ol’ Hot Stove, it takes it a while to heat up. And thus far, this one needs some serious kindling.
But it’s not unusual. Any free agent who is “splash-worthy” is going to let his market develop. There is a cycle to follow that allows the market to peak, but also a point where it will begin to decline. That’s why they hire agents, to appraise that market and strike when the time is right. As for those who barely make a ripple, like Darren O’Day, they don’t really make the headlines and thus the news cycle is still slow. And they certainly don’t stoke the flames within the stove.
So we wait.
Speaking of things not making headlines, the GM meetings begin today in Scottsdale, AZ, and run through Thursday. But don’t expect any headlines to come fro that either. It’s basically a 4 day grip-and-grin where GM’s simply get a feel for what everyone is looking for, and what everyone might be willing to part with. But it’s more about kicking tires than actually buying the car.
So we’ll be patient for a little while… probably until Dec. 9, when the Winter Meetings start. Until then. grab a blanket or put on your favorite sweatshirt. You aren’t likely to get much heat from the stove until then.
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DO’B gets it right with this tweet…
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So many hard choices Vee…. Free Agents always seem to strive for a contract that exceeds their usefulness by a couple of years. Then you end up like the Angles having to string Prujols along and dragging down the team. To me, while I would love to see J-Don return, I think a more evident need is a front line pitcher and a healthy catcher who can throw out would be base stealers at a better than 20% rate.
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Yep, my opine earlier in the week. Money talks,,, y’all know the rest…
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Sorry, V! You have again been hijacked! Thanks!!!
New Lead is up!!
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