Vox O’ReasoñJanuary 8, 2021 at 9:32 am
How can the Braves respond to the Mets recent acquisition of Mike Lindor from Cleveland ?
Well, the most obvious answer is to sign the top remaining offensive FA on the market. But the word is that George Springer has already turned down 5 yrs/$150M from TOR and is seeking closer to $200M. Even in the best of times, I do not believe that the Braves organization is going to pay $30M, 20% of their total payroll, for one player in 2021, especially when a Freddie extension is on the horizon. It’s just not in their DNA.
So what can they do? I’m glad you asked…
The Braves finished the 2020 season with a payroll of about $158M (in 162 game terms). Their current estimated payroll, as constituted right now this morning, is about $120M. We have no way of knowing what the threshold is. There are arguments going both ways. For the sake of this proposal, I’m going to go with the same figure with which they ended 2020 being $158M.
First, I make the trade for Kris Bryant. CHC needs to trade him, even if publicly they say they don’t. They really do need to make the trade. Because he comes with just 1 year remaining on his deal, and is a Scott Boras client, it’s essentially gaining his services for 1 year… a year in which he needs to rebuild value for his FA run. Sound familiar? It falls into the same pattern we’ve had with Josh Donaldson and Marcell Ozuna. Only this time we have to give up trade equity to make it happen. Follow me all the way through before you start picking my proposal apart. In modern day deals, it’s not uncommon to trade away a top prospect alongside a bad contract. That’s where we stand with Ender Inciarte. At some point, the Braves are going to have to start using some of their prospect equity or said prospects are going to wither on the vine. I say they need to do it now. I propose packaging top pitching prospect Kyle Muller with Ender Inciarte and throw in Sean Newcomb for Bryant. (The Cubs need a CF, BTW.) Lose Ender ($9M) and Newcomb (pre-arb, likely +/-$1M) and add Bryant ($19M), net addition = $9M.
Second, sign Michael Brantley. MLBTR estimates 2 yrs/$24M. I’ll go with 2 yrs/$26M because the recent FA signings are slightly higher than their estimates. He becomes your starting LF and part-time DH. With Bryant and Austin Riley, they combine to give you a rotation for 3B, LF and DH, keeping veteran legs fresh through October. And in the instance that there is no DH, then you have strengthened the bench for 2021 with Riley who can spot start for both Bryant and Brantley. Plus, Brantley gives you a LH bat and high OBP that is sorely missing from the current batting order. Top 5 in the order is Acuña, Ozzie, Freddie, Bryant, Brantley. Follow that with d’Arnaud, Dansby and Pache. Pretty stout. If you have the DH, then Riley gets slotted in after d’Arnaud. Not too shabby, IMO. Net addition = $13M.
Sign Jason Castro as backup catcher. He made $6.85M in 2021, and would probably look for at least a 2 year guaranteed deal for about the same. I say 2 yrs/$14M. He gives you a good LH compliment to Td’A and can capably catch enough games that we won’t burn out our starter by September. He is also the veteran backup to 2022 starter William Contreras, but I digress. Net addition = $7M.
Thus far, we’ve only added $29M to the payroll, still $9M less than we ended 2020. I can still afford to go out and get a real 4th OF… and maybe more.
How about reunite with veteran Nick Markakis for 1 yr/$2M (last year’s contract)? Then reunite with Mark Melancon for 1 yr/$4M (MLBTR projection). Bench is better (Markakis > Almonte), bullpen is better (Melancon > Luke Jackson). Net addition = $6M.
We’re still $3M under last year’s final payroll number and we have a lineup that can play with any in MLB.
Excellent!! Thanks!!
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Hi Margie, is their any particular trick to adding photos to a post? Will the text wrap around automatically?
I deleted my Twitter account, like the Christians posting the sign of the fish, I shall look for a more open minded place.
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Gil, getting photos to stay where you want them depends on the phase of the moon and the way you’re holding your chewing gum. Those exact details of those two requirements change by the minute. I’ve been otherwise occupied lately but I will try some things to see if I can get into the site ASAP.
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I haven’t even been getting notifications of new comments as I always have. No clue! Surely I haven’t ticked off WP enough to kick me out – – – right??
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Thanks V…
Well, the Nats , on a one year deal, got Kyle Schwarber for 10 mil,…apparently, there was interest from other teams….so, if he reverts to the 38 HR guy of 2019…a really good deal….for the Nats . and if he doesn’t perform like that, only a one year deal you see, so…not that big a risk. 1 year deals, hmmm…our GM ought to look into deals like that 😛
So, nats now have Josh Bell at 1st, (30 + homer guy, esp on a team that will compete ) and now Kyle…
and the braves have added….2 pitchers? get to work Thoppy (even though I know you will trade a young, “controllable” pitcher that will haunt the braves for years to come)
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forgot the link if anyone cares (Oh, and CL, you still can’t get on??? Wonder if W. P. saw your political leanings
)
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/nationals-to-sign-kyle-schwarber.html
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Gil,
glad you did it! Twitter, goggle (heh) f b, apple, amazon are all out to silence us. They truly don’t know what,(I’ll charitably call) can of worms, …hornet’s nest ….they have unleashed. you can only kick a man who is already face down, in the mud, for so long.
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Yes, the Nats signed Schwarbs, who is a complimentary player at best. I do not view that as am impact move. A nice move? Sure. Not alot to lose there except the roster spot and $10M. But it doesn’t send shock waves across the division IMO.
As I mentioned somewhere above, I would have been ok taking a flyer with him here, but only in a platoon situation which is not specifically open at the moment. In fact, signing him here would have required another signing of the complimentary piece. So instead of doing that, and tying up an additional roster spot, why not just invest in the right full-time guy? Scwharbs gets $10M for 2021 (not to mention the option w/ buyout for 2022). For appx $12M (MLBTR’s projection) you can get Michael Brantley. Who will have more impact in 2021? My money’s on Brantley. Schwarbs was a 0.1 WAR player in 2020; Brantley was 1.7.
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“Who will have more impact in 2021? My money’s on Brantley. Schwarbs was a 0.1 WAR player in 2020; Brantley was 1.7.”
baseball reference projects 30 74 for Kyle, so there! 😛
Kyle, like the whole cubs team last year had a terrible year. 1 year removed from 38 homers. and he is only 28. He will have a very good year there, no doubt (bet ya a quarter!)
Brantley will be 34 next year, and has no power. hmm, who does that sound like????
sorry, if he’s the big bat, the Mets, Nats, and Phils (if they re-sign their catcher) will be ranked higher than the braves. (how much longer will they be the braves? the least of our concerns as our country is in crisis right now)
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baseball reference projects 30 74 for Kyle
Yes, but it also projects a slash line of .233/.337/.471 w/ 150 K’s. I could get that from Adam Duvall at half the money.
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Brantley will be 34 next year, and has no power. hmm, who does that sound like???? sorry, if he’s the big bat…
But he’s not supposed to be. That’s the point. There are 2 holes to be filled… LF and RH power bat. Can they be the same? Well, if you want to shell out the bucks for George Springer, then yes. Or, if you’re OK with Marcell Ozuna playing in the field, then OK.
The point is that you have to fill two big spots. Schwarber cannot fill them both. He can’t even fill one of them by himself.
As for Brantley’s lack of power, it’s true in a relative sense. For his career, he has averaged 15 HR and 83 RBI over 162 games. But he also has a career slash line of .354/.440/.794, with just 75 K’s per 162. In other words, he gets his bat on the ball, puts it in play and gets on base. You better have some of those guys on the team or there will be a whole lot of baserunners stranded and a whole lot of rallies left unfinished.
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Brantley was also an All-Star in ’14, ’17, ’18 and the last full season of ’19 when he knocked 22 HRs with 9- RBI.
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90 RBI
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Random musings on a Monday morning…
An interesting note appeared in a piece published yesterday by Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown in which he asserts there has been interest from the Braves in free agent DJ LeMahieu.
First, if it is in a published report, then there’s likely no truth to it. Ninja GM Alex operates under a cloak of secrecy. But that said…
LeMahieu was a 3.0 WAR player in 2020 who slashed .364/.421/.590 w/ 10 HR and 27 RBI in 50 games. Pretty easy math there… that averages out to 30 HR and 81 RBI over 150 games. He would be the coveted RH bat to protect Freddie in our lineup. He has spent the vast majority of his career at 2B, but has logged the second most time at 3B, being about 104 games (11 of those last season). Brown reports that LeMahieu is looking for “at least” 5 yrs / $110MM, so a move of this type pushes Austin Riley off the hot corner and into LF/DH. It would also still require the other necessary move to acquire another LF/DH. (BTW, if you haven’t noticed, I’m banking on the DH for 2021. I realize the league instructed NL managers to assume there won’t be one, but that’s unreasonable logic. There will be a DH in 2020. There’s no reason for there not to be.)
Is LeMahieu a $22M per year player? Marcell Ozuna is projecting as a $18M/year player (MLBTR projection = 4 yrs / $72M). Personally, I don’t commit that much over 5 years to the 32 year old LeMahieu… not if I can bring back the 30 year old Ozuna for a lesser AAV.
Bottom line is this… the Braves have already shown they can thrive with Ozuna at DH and with Riley and Adam Duvall down the lineup playing 3B and LF. Why would you not look to continue that recipe in some form or fashion? LeMahieu might give you the bat, but at his age with the reported money, and the way he would shuffle the IF, he’s just not worth it. I spend the $18M or $19M on the power bat (Ozuna, Bryant, etc.) and go get the LF for another $12M (Brantley at $12M or a Duvall return at about $4M with a platoon partner such as Joc Pederson at $8M) and you’re done with the heavy lifting. At that point it’s just upgrading a bench spot or two.
Also, I think if I’m gonna move Riley off 3B permanently, then I’ll just trade him to CIN for my sudden obsession Eugenio Suarez… but I digress.
One additional thought… bringing back Duvall with a complimentary platoon partner also helps the bench at the same time. Just sayin’.
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Good morning folks… Just another rough night abed. My only question is how long before we are paid in Yuan…
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To continue my argument, this lineup:
Acuña, RF (R)
Freddie, 1B (L)
Marcell, DH (R)
Brantley, LF (L)
d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ozzie, 2B (S)
Riley, 3B (R)
Swanson, SS (R)
Pache, CF (R)
… is as good as any in MLB with the possible exception of LAD, and theirs is not yet complete either.
The bench is still a concern, though. After the above acquisitions, the bench is still a mix of Alex Jackson, Ender Inciarte, Johan Camargo, and Jack Mayfield. That dog will NOT hunt. At minimum there must be an upgrade of one of Ender or Mayfield. We cannot take both into the regular season. An upgrade of both is preferred. The jury is out on Alex Jackson. He’s been around long enough that he’s either going to contribute or simply be tagged as “organizational depth”.
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At this point I have to believe the Braves have extended offers to the players they wish to acquire for 2021. The players and their agents are mulling over said offers and waiting for someone to up the ante.
A couple of the lessons I have learned in my few years upon this earth are 1: You cannot outbid someone with deep pockets and 2: Some people have no concept of money and will spend it with abandon to get what they want.
I remember reading the musings of a well known golf pro who’s name escapes me is that to be a successful gamble, one must have no regard for money or it’s value. It is the tentative gambler who will always go home with empty pockets. The best they can hope for is to have enjoyed the time they spent losing their money.
So it is with baseball owners. George Steinbrenner did not make the Yankees a powerhouse by pinching pennies. Everyone loves a winner. People beg for a winner to take their money for the privilege of being associated with them.
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Of course you also have to have a sense of what the game is about. Ask the “Stupid” money Phillies… just saying…
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Stupid is as stupid does… 😆
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Here’s a question, and just a question:
Does Justin Turner have enough left in the tank for the 2 yr / $24M deal that MLBTR projects? If you have the assumed DH in the NL, can you DH him with Riley at 3B to keep his legs fresh and make it worth the cash commitment? I think he’d look really nice in the Braves lineup behind Freddie. And I think he’s got at least 2 good years left. But is he a fit? And it might take those 2 years plus an option w/ a buyout. He’s similar to Marcell with slightly less power and but more defensive flexibility.
If the Dodgers are strong on DJ LeMahieu, as is rumored, then Turner is likely out there. He didn’t do himself any favors in Kalifornia with the post-WS COVID celebration.
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As much as we’ve hashed over the merits of all the free agent OFs, my gut still says trade. I think we’ll all be surprised when it happens.
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I wonder what it would take to trade for Juan Soto? Okay, I can dream can’t I? 🙂 Or maybe Yelich…
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Well, we didn’t get any clarification on the DH front yesterday, but Rob Manfred did instruct teams to plan on a full 162 game season. And that’s significant itself. For one, it helps to soothe the butthurt of the MLBPA who has been insistent on that front. And second, it solidifies the ambiguous timeline for finalizing rosters.
Perhaps now that we’ve cleared that hurdle we can move forward on clarifying the rules, I.E. DH, extra innings, playoff teams. Hopefully DH will be first, because it has the most immediate impact.
If I’m AA, I’m looking to trade for my impact bat OF now (because that is not predicated on any DH rule) and I look to the FA market when the DH aspect is solidified. And I think that may be how he has approached it, hence the lengthy process of making said moves. Signing is easy. You and a player simply have to agree on how much he’s going to get paid. Trading is much more complicated.
Possible OF acquisitions? Well, there’s not alot of chatter (typical of Ninja GM), but someone like Nick Castellanos comes to mind. Kole Calhoun? David Peralta? Joey Gallo? 3B Kyle Seager still makes sense to me, and would smply mean a shift to LF for Austin Riley, but that goes against this narrative. Still… Ninja GM and all…
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One thing I believe happens is people develop a sort of tunnel vision in regards to trades is looking for a position player. I am of the mind that the best fit offensively added to the flexibility of the players already on the payroll allows for a person to be acquired who might be a real surprize. After all, if the Braves were willing to opt for defense over offense, sign Simba and call it a day.
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There has been a somewhat souring toward Andrelton Simmons after he opted out with 5 games remaining last season. The assertion is that he “quit” on his team in a contract year after they were eliminated from playoff contention. I don’t have an opinion one way or another, but I’ve seen that criticism repeated often in free agent discussion.
That said, I can’t see AA making a move to fortify the defense. If he wanted to do that he’d just roll with Ender Inciarte in LF.
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Just spit balling there… It seems to me the Braves have always been a tonic for players with an attitude.
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In all fairness, Simba played all summer with a gimpy ankle which really affected his hitting.
Speaking of left fielders, is Upton a free agent?
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I am of the mind that the best fit offensively added to the flexibility of the players already on the payroll allows for a person to be acquired who might be a real surprize.
Agree. The fact that Ronnie A can capably play all 3 OF positions, and that supposed starter Austin Riley can capably play LF, you simply can’t pigeon hole AA’s search to LF only. That said, I believe the trade and free agent markets for an “offense first” OF is more robust than that of 3B, and a defensively challenged OF is easier to hide in LF.
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Which is why I don’t thing Juan Soto’s move to left field to accommodate Kyle Schwaber will play well in the long run for the Nats. Soto has proven to be a less than talented defensive player who’s offense plays above average.
I wonder if the Yankees would be interested in trading away Mike Stanton?
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I just looked at what NYY owes to Stanton, and it shook me. This is what he’s owed:
2021: $29,000,000
2022: $29,000,000
2023: $32,000,000
2024: $32,000,000
2025: $32,000,000
2026: $29,000,000 ($10M paid by MIA)
2027: $25,000,000 ($10M paid by MIA)
2028: $25,000,000 team option ($10M paid by MIA); $10M buyout
I cannot even begin to fathom this.
(And get this, they owe more to Gerrit Cole. Alot more. He’s owed $36M per year through 2028. Crikey.)
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So they would be willing to pay part of the freight to unload him you say… 🙂
In today’s environment, it is all about recovering spent cost.
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Here’s another hypothetical for your consideration. This scenario would really be the most focused and possibly require the least movement. It requires just one BIG move. That’s it. Just one, but it’s a good one. It also requires bringing back some old friends on 1 or 2 year deals.
So as to that big deal, let’s get it out of the way right away. Re-sign Marcell Ozuna. That’s the one big deal. He’s the DH much like he was last year when he wasn’t but he was. Makes sense, right? Yep, about as much sense as putting the roster together without knowing for certain if there will or won’t be a DH. But I digress…
Re-sign Adam Duvall. Give him 2 years at $4M each. That’s not alot. He can pair with Ender in LF if you don’t want him out there everyday. Not favorable, but in all honestly, who’s gonna take Ender off our hands? Probably nobody. So he’s here whether we like it or not.
The Starting 9 is now set and we can fix the bench.
Re-sign Tyler Flowers for one more year, with the understanding that he’s not splitting time behind the plate evenly… more like 3 to 1.
Sign a backup SS that is not Jack Mayfield. There are some out-of-work vets out there that can play SS and still find a hit here and there. I need better than Jack Mayfield. Let’s throw Freddy Galvis out there for the sake of argument. If Dansby was to go down, God forbid, I don’t want to rely on Jack Mayfield every night. At least Freddy Galvis has had past success, mostly against the Braves.
Now the lineup is essentially what it was last year and the bench is relatively unchanged with Flow, Ender, Johan and newcomer Galvis taking the Hechy role.
Does that very familiar roster do it for you? It’s minimalist in comparison to some other speculation, but that group was 1 out away from the World Series last year.
So what say you?
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Good morning friends, I think I could live with that line-up Vee. So could the Braves given their added pitching depth. We all expect the Braves prospects will arrive soon enough. Of course there is always a bit of selling past the sale being done by the PR department.
The only question is how well will they transition to the big leagues. I give Tooki Trusant as a prime example. You are right about the injury bug too. Guys that play hard get hurt and said injuries almost always lead to diminished production. Then there is the yips…. I could myself suffer horrible from them myself on occasion, especially on the golf course, most often from thinking too much.
So what are we waiting for? One thing is acceptance of offers by the guys who have been tendered. The second is the nine hundred pound gorilla in the room called Covid. A publicly traded company like Liberty has a lot of stockholders to report to and not all of those stockholders are Braves fans.
No, a privately held franchise has a lot more mobility to spend a little more freely. Most owners I have seen have big egos and those translate into wanting a winner. It is why they are willing to over pay.
The Braves are like a rich version of myself. Not that I am starving or going wanting for anything but I am on a fixed income so I can’t go out and buy a new pick up when the one I have serves quite well. The Dodgers and the Yankees are the high end right now, the Red Sox are in a transition.
Speaking of transitions, Andrew Benintendi is said to be available… HEY LOOK… A SQUIRRLE…
Got a little off track there. anyhoo, The whole idea is to continue to get bigger & better until you have to start over because you can’t afford the McMansion any longer…
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Andrew Benintendi is said to be available
Yes, at first I chased the same squirrel… until I looked at his diminished numbers over the last couple of years. As you said, injuries take a toll, and so it is with him. Injuries hurt his mobility and his speed, and thus have diminished his whole game. And it’s not the exception for just one year, it’s the trend. As I said about an earlier player, I’ll just take Adam Duvall back if I want an imperfect player. At least he plays good defense.
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How come I never heard of the history of the curveball???? have you all heard about the 2 main possibilities before?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Goldsmith_(baseball)
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Fascinating:
[Candy] Cummings is often credited with being the first pitcher to throw a curveball, reportedly in 1867 at Worcester, Massachusetts while playing for the Brooklyn Excelsiors; some sources say later with the Brooklyn Stars. It was not until the Stars acquired catcher Nat Hicks that Cummings was able to use his curveball. Most catchers of his era stood 20 to 25 feet behind the batter, which made it impossible to field a curveball. It was Hicks’ catching technique of standing directly behind the batter that allowed Cummings to introduce his curveball. The introduction of the curveball radically changed pitching, and also changed the way catchers fielded their position.
That is just the kind of thing that really pings a baseball nerd like me!! 😀
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Back to the subject of finalizing the Braves roster for 2021…
The more we hash this over, the more I’m convinced we need NOT change last year’s final group too radically. Where we can improve, we should improve, but the key TO ME is to bring Marcell Ozuna back. And if we were willing to roll into 2020 with Ozuna in LF, we should have the same tolerance for 2021. So he should be priority #1.
And if we are to have the DH again, and I believe we will, then I can live with Adam Duvall in LF. That said, if we can improve in LF from Duvey, then by all means we should do so. But if we bring Duvey back along with Ozuna, the lineup will be just as beastly as it was last year… and maybe better with Pache on board.
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Agreed…
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yep!!!
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Gil, you mentioned the int’l signing penalties a short while back, and we talked about it briefly and in general terms. Here is a detailed explanation of the remaining penalties the Braves must endure in the final affected signing period, courtesy of Eric Cole at Talking Chop:
This international free agent period is the last year that the Braves’ international penalties are in effect. Their bonus pool was cut in half and that combined with the loss of international money that came when the Braves signed Marcell Ozuna, they by FAR have the lowest international bonus pool in the league this year coming in at $1,572,000. Also, unlike in previous years, teams could not trade for international slot money so even if the Braves wanted to go and get some more international money, they could not.
Normally, this signing period would have started on July 2nd of 2020 which is why you will often see this period of time referred to as J2 signing periods, but the ongoing pandemic necessitated some changes and the period was pushed back which was extra painful for a Braves team that just wants to start signing international guys of note again. Its weird that the 2020/2021 signing period doesn’t start until 2021, but these are strange times. This signing period will run through December 15, 2021.
So if I read this right, the 2020 signing period lasts all of 2021. And if this little rural GA brain still functions properly, that tells me the expiring penalties are actually extending an additional year thanks to COVID.
You’d think the team could petition the league for some kind of reprieve based on extenuating circumstances. After all, players appeal for reduced penalties all the time. Or will there be another 2021 round in 2021? Or will it be in 2022? Will we continue to kick it down the road, having 2022 in 2023, etc., or will we skip one along the way? Can we just skip 2020 and keep 2021 on track? It doesn’t make sense to me. We either catch up or we skip something. One of the two should happen. But I’m getting off topic here…
I’m concerned that the loss of impact int’l signees has caused a shift in the Braves draft philosophy as evidenced by the recent spate of college players taken. And while said players can enter the system with a lower “floor”, they also typically have a lower “ceiling”. Yes, the team has been able to flesh out their lower levels with these former college players, but they no longer have highly rated prospects in these lower levels. Jared Shuster might be the only player below AA that is even on any ranking radar, and he’s a college pitcher himself.
We do still have some really promising prospects in the system highlighted by the team’s Top 10: Cristian Pache, Drew Waters, Ian Anderson, Shea Langeliers, Braden Shewmake, Kyle Muller, William Contreras, Tucker Davidson, Jared Shuster, and Jasseel De La Cruz. 6 of those 10 have already made their ML debuts; 3 will open at AAA or AA; only 2020 draftee Shuster is expected to start lower.
Perhaps this is why Alex has been loathe to send off any of these guys in trade. Once they leave the organization, the overall pipeline diminishes in depth and quality. My thought is that it might be time to begin taking back some prospects ourselves. Maybe some of our guys on the verge, like Muller and Davidson, could be used to bring back some younger promising arms. Perhaps one of the catchers can be used that way as well. But of course if you use that prospect capital to help replenish the lower levels of the system, they can’t be used to help the boys on the big stage. And thus, we’re at the time that the effect of those penalties is beginning to show up on the big league product. Otherwise we’d be using our system surplus to fill the glaring holes we’ve been discussing ad nauseum.
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Yep, I remember Alex talking about the long term effect of the penalty and how it would show up in the system about now. Not that I feel the Braves should have got off light, just that it was pretty uneven on how it went down. They know other teams were guilty of the same thing but escaped punishment.
I’m hoping Drew Waters gets off to a good start in Triple A this season, I look for him to be a mid season replacement.
Yeah, the Braves did sign Ozuna as a left fielder last season. The DH thing just feel in their lap. I expect the league will make the rule change to a permanent DH for both leagues after a high profile pitcher strains a hammy or pulls a lat during an at-bat.
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I expect the league will make the rule change to a permanent DH for both leagues after a high profile pitcher strains a hammy or pulls a lat during an at-bat.
I still believe that it will happen prior to the season starting. It is reported that the two sides are negotiating that now, but they’ve been saying that all along as well. So who knows? It should be the next shoe to drop after the agreement on 162 games, though.
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I’ve been hearing some radio chatter today about the Braves’ “fallback plan”, with Marcell Ozuna of course being Plan A. But it would appear to be a fairly accepted notion that the Braves could look at Joc Pederson as Plan B.
Let me be clear on my position. Joc Pederson is a good player and a threat with a bat in his hands… mostly against RH pitching. But he’s not “the” piece. He’s not foundational and he’s not the guy that will put you over the top. He’s purely complimentary… like Kyle Schwarber for the Nats. If the Braves were to sign Ozuna, or trade for a guy like Kris Bryant, then Pederson would be a good secondary addition. But he’s not a Plan B.
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Radio guy on Marcell Ozuna:
“I’m willing to give up a misplayed ball in LF once in a while for his bat behind Freddie every night.”
Me too.
This guy wants Ozuna back with Adam Duvall and Joc Pederson platooning in LF. I’m good with that. In fact, I’m great with that.
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I say let’s get the band back together. Bring back Ozuna and Duvall… even Flowers and Melancon. They all have unfinished business.
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Assuming the DH, of course.
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Didn’t he sign with ATL in late January last year? Let’s hope history repeats itself.
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Yep. Jan. 21, 2020.
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Am I the only one that finds it intriguing that no team in either league has taken a flyer on a minor league deal with free agent Mike Foltynewicz? I see minor league signings almost every day for pitchers that are old, or coming off major injury, or are totally obscure… but nothing for Folty.
I can think of a dozen pitching starved teams that would presumably have an intertest in a guy that was an All-Star as recent as 2018. Seems like a perfect target for the Angels. How about the Royals, or Orioles, or Rangers? Even Seattle? Is he toxic? Did he tweet something conservative? He seems locked out for some reason. Maybe I’m overthinking it…
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LOL.. maybe he is friends with Curt Schillings…
I expect Folty will have to catch on with some independent league team. It is a same how far he has fallen.
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“shame” is not the same as same… close but different..
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Hopefully while 25 out of 30 teams were observing Kluber, Braves officials were meeting with Marcell Ozuna.
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88-90… Wow, he is in Julio Teheran territory. Just saying. Now if he can get the ball to move like Greg Maddux then I would be impressed. To me, movement is more important than velocity but that is just me.
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A short stop with big power sounds like a third baseman to me.
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Rosey, as quoted from his cash cow The Athletic:
This is all just part of negotiations between MLB and the Union. And the problem from my understanding is it’s not just involving the DH, there are other elements, other rules, other aspects like expanded playoffs that MLB wants to be part of this package that they will negotiate…So, I do expect ultimately there will be a DH in the National League in 2021 and beyond.
Me too.
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They have their DH.
Where is ours?
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Wait… got him confused with someone else.
Never mind… 😳
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Yeah, not for only 1 million dollars…
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well now….not taking a knee and having a few issues with B L M….means, fans don’t like the trade (5 guys on twitter, no doubt) so crap lib website trashes said relief pitcher. (batting practice pitcher?) gosh, I wonder if…shudder…he’s a Christian??? 80
https://deadspin.com/fans-rip-phillies-over-trade-for-black-lives-matter-hat-1846027380
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There will always be a segment of people that react senselessly… like those that have called for the expulsion and arrest of Rep. Louie Gohmert over words he spoke on the floor of Congress earlier this week. Only problem is, he was directly quoting Nancy Pelosi. He even prefaced it with “Speaker Pelosi said…”
My advice is to not read web sites like Deadspin, whose sole mission is to draw eyes and cause reaction.
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That is just the kind of thing that really pings a baseball nerd like me!!
oh me too! I used to love a book I had in the 70s about HOF’ers, and reading about guys from the 19th century, and how different the game was then
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One of society’s greatest failing is when they judge people of history by modern standards. I wonder how harshly today’s generations standards based on 18th and 19th century norms?
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Hint, I loved Greg Maddux as a player and am grateful to have had him play as an Atlanta Braves and he may well be one of the top five pitchers of all times but from all I have seen and heard about him, well to me, he was a real jerk…
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Pretty much expected. I know he had been connected to the Braves, but I never felt he was a good fit. Plus, if it was rumored there had been contact, it was probably false anyway.
On the flip side, it’s about the right time for some of these guys to start signing. They’ve all been waiting out the market to see where it might go with the rules clarification. But that doesn’t appear to be happening so players, and teams too, are moving forward.
I actually think the ambiguity might help the Braves in an indirect manner. Since the whole market is not completely open, players may look to familiar territory… like LeMahieu. And it’s slightly possible that they may look for shorter term deals with higher AAV in hopes that the full market will be back and more robust in another year or two.
Let’s not forget, too, the real pachyderm in the parlor. The CBA expires after this season. Will that have an effect on opportunity in 2021 and beyond? It certainly could.
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The 2020 MLB International Free Agent signing period opens today. Yes, the 2020 period. The Braves have 1 real arrow in their quiver… 17-year-old Dominican SS/3B Ambioris Tavarez. He’s a big fella at 6’2″ who will likely outgrow SS in time. He carries big time power, which is why the Braves are hot after him. He’s expected to be signed today for $1,500,000 of the team’s $1,572,000 allotment. I suppose they might scrounge up a player somewhere for the other $72K. And they are still free to sign guys with bonuses under $10K, as they don’t count against the team’s pool. But those guys are a dime a dozen. Well… they’re $120K a dozen. 😉
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Arguably the top reliever on the market.
Dominoes are starting to fall.
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A couple more dominoes dropped yesterday too, with P Alex Wood inking up the coast in San Fran and P Archie Bradley travelling east on I-76 to Philly.
In other words, the hot stove has kindling.
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Yes but it is a rally slow burn. We never really know where the bottle neck is do we? Sort of like the duck on the pond which appears calm but churning like crazy below the surface.
Everyone trying to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. It just doesn’t work that way unless you are a politician. I would say a crook but that would be redundant…
I know Ozuna really wants to rack up a big contract but I also know the Braves want to make a reasonable offer to keep Freddie Freeman in ATL.
I am thinking Atlanta and Ozuna’s agent have been having serious discussions. I also think that Alex is busy with plan B & C in case he does not sign Marcel. So many moving parts out there. I am not overly concerned with payroll if a player gets hurt or injured, that is what insurance is for. I also know that unless a player completely tanks, there is always some cost compensation. (Ender conundrum)
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V, just to be clear, I wouldn’t waste a second on Deadspin , just saw that , somewheres I and thought folks should know. It’s just a shame most of these sites , we can’t hurt by boycotting, since we are too smart to use them in the first place!
it is beyond time we stop giving money to the D N C / B L M via , say…Apple products, Amazon, etc. (Bank of America has not only cut off the president, but has pledged 1 billion to B L M, by far the biggest donation.) So, please drop them if you are using them!
Amazon is the really tough one for me…order everything from diabetic supplies, to water and air filters, even batteries when I couldn’t find AAA in the store…sooooo easy…but, enough is enough!
I just have to work a little harder to find stuff online, but hardly impossible.
Now, if I can just convince two friends with Apple stock to dump it….you wouldn’t think it would be this hard
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we can’t hurt by boycotting
Boycotting for the most part is a waste of time, and usually ends up being more of a hardship on the boycotter than the boycottee. If I tried to give up everything that I had some disappointment in, then I might as well move to PA and live as the Amish live. But alas, it’s just not realistic.
Best advice I ever received was simple. Work on the things within your control, and don’t stress over the things outside your control. Pick your battles well and decide which hills are worth dying on, because some just simply are not worth it.
Bottom line: Ultimately these are spiritual issues and should be dealt with on a spiritual plane. Why would you try to fight on their familiar territory anyway? Leave the things of this world for this world. Pray, spend time in the Word, and be ready for the ultimate judgment, because it’s coming. It might not be today or tomorrow, but it’s coming.
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. – Mark 13-32-33
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V, true enough, but…you wouldn’t give to the DNC, would you? or ACLU? That’s what we are doing supporting out enemies.
Not a hill to die on, but in a way, something we can control, IMO.
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our enemies…sigh…saw it as I hit post…got to see it for at least 10 seconds 😛
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you wouldn’t give to the DNC, would you? or ACLU?
Not directly, no. That is something that is under my control. But if they get paid indirectly after I purchase something from Apple or Amazon, it’s really not my money anymore anyway… is it?
Again, it’s not my role to exact judgment on any person or entity. It’s my role to love God and love others. I believe I can do more good by honoring Jesus’ commands in the way I conduct myself than I can by trying to affect the commerce of a bazillionaire corporation.
But you have to live your convictions, not mine. I’m just sharing my personal feelings on it.
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The general opinion on Tavarez is that he’s in the top 25 of this year’s int’l class, possibly a top 5 bat, and the most impressive int’l signee for the Braves since Kevin Maitan (who has not panned out very well thus far in the Angels’ system). He’ll probably even be listed in the team’s Top 30 prospect list when it’s updated.
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Kevin Maitan (who has not panned out very well thus far in the Angels’ system).
The kid is not hungry enough… no pun intended…
Take a kid from extreme poverty and make him flush with cash and he suddenly does not have huge incentive. Ask the Padres about that.
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DJ LeMahieu gets 6 yrs / $90M to stay in the Bronx. Not sure if the deal is backloaded in any way, but that might explain the 6 year length since he was generally expected to sign for 4 or possibly 5. Between the long term deals for LeMahieu, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yanks are paying just 3 players more than some organizations are paying their entire team. They’re gonna be paying that luxury tax for a long time too. I assume they just write it off as the cost of doing business.
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Here’s a thought after the LeMahieu deal in NYY…
They do not appear to have a spot on their roster for 3B Miguel Andujar. Thus far, Andujar has shown flashes of big time RH power, but it hasn’t been consistent. He’s sort of a 25-year-old version of Austin Riley, but not as good or versatile defensively. But he’s capable enough at 3B to allow Riley to move to LF when he’s in the lineup.
Now that the Yanks have spent big money on LeMahieu, they may need to look for cheap arms to flesh out their rotation and bullpen. How about sending them one of our surplus arms for Andujar? I propose Sean Newcomb for Andujar straight up. At worst Andujar helps our bench, which currently features Jack Mayfield and Abraham Almonte. At best he might be half a platoon tandem of someone like Joc Pederson or Eddie Rosario. Sean Newcomb doesn’t stand much of a chance of cracking the ML pitching staff at all. Seems like a logical swap, doesn’t it?
Andujar is still pre-arb and would come cheap, thus would not impede any other moves that Alex might have on his radar.
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Oh… and amid all this, today is arb figure swap day. The Braves have 4 players in that boat this year: Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Dansby Swanson, and AJ Minter. They are all important to the success of this team in 2021, so I expect to hear they’ve all agreed to deals sometime today. The Braves are a “file and trial” team and I do not think the neither the team nor any of these guys really wants to let an arbiter decide.
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Clarification: the deadline is at NOON today, or in about 1 more minute. Hopefully the announcements will trickle in this afternoon.
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Boy I am a dope. The deadline was 1pm, not noon as I said at 12:59pm. 😳
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Agreements:
Mike Soroka = 1 yr / $3.5M
AJ Minter = 1 yr / $1.3M
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CORRECTION:
Max Fried = 1 yr / $3.5M
AJ Minter = 1 yr / $1.3M
Mike Soroka =
Dansby Swanson =
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Bowman tweets that both Soroka and Swanson will be heading to hearings.
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I’m interested to see if Kris Bryant reaches agreement today, or is left out in arb limbo.
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Old friend Kurt Suzuki inks with the Angels for $1.5M. That should somewhat set the bar for BUCs.
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Rays beat writer Marc Topkin: The Rays are planning to open the 2021 season with a limited number of fans attending games at Tropicana Field. Seating will be limited to around 7,000 per game.
In other words, it should be a typical season in Tampa.
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Bob Nightengale:
Major League Baseball is proposing the return of seven-inning doubleheaders and extra-inning games beginning with a runner on second base, two persons with knowledge of their discussions told USA TODAY Sports.
The persons were unauthorized to publicly discuss MLB’s plan because of the on-going negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, which must approve the rule changes.
Yet, the rules that were implemented for the first time in 2020 during the 60-game shortened season, designed primarily to limit the length of games during the pandemic, were widely embraced by the players, with MLB managers advocating for the rules to return.
While the union is expected to approve the rule changes for the 2021 season, the two sides still have not determined whether there will be a universal DH or an expanded postseason with the rosters remaining at 26 players.
Where’s the logic? Where’s the reason? Why am I these asking questions?
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Reminder, as of today:
Lineup:
Acuña, RF (R)
Freddie, 1B (L)
HOLE, DH (R)
HOLE, LF (L)
d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ozzie, 2B (S)
Riley, 3B (R)
Swanson, SS (R)
Pache, CF (R)
Bench:
HOLE, C
HOLE, IF/OF
Camargo, IF (S)
Ender “Hole” Inciarte, OF (L)
Rotation and bullpen are relatively set.
Just in case you forgot.
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I read yesterday that Buster Olney says it “would appear highly unlikely” that Ozuna re-signs in Atlanta because AA “prefers” short deals over long term as evidenced by the 1-year deals given to Josh Donaldson and Marcell over the last 2 offseasons.
I say it’s a flawed assumption.
Had he forgotten that the Braves did try to sign JDon to a longer deal but were outbid? And does he think the team in 2019 was in the same place as the team heading into 2021?
This current team is in its window of opportunity, and that changes the scheme. I do think AA will offer, if he isn’t already, multiple years to Marcell. The only real question is if he will once again be outbid. But that’s something he can’t control. I believe it’s a bad assumption to think the team will always operate on the cheap. The numbers simply don’t back up the narrative.
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Alex is the epitome of closed to the vest guy. He should be in charge of White House security with his ability to tamp down leaks.
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Oh, and before the old “wish we had a real owner and not a corporation” argument starts, let me remind you that the Indians, Orioles, Rays, Marlins, Pirates, Mariners, Tigers, A’s, Rangers, and Brewers are all privately owned. They area also the bottom 10 in payroll. (Technically the Tigers are corporately owned, but the corporation is a subsidiary of Mike Ilitch, the defacto private owner.)
But all those teams aside, I will simply point to the Pirates and Orioles. Both privately owned and both run as poorly as a congressional office. I can also point to the Angels, whose private owner will certainly throw money around like an elected official, yet still yield middling results.
For what it’s worth, and currently speaking as of today, the league average in payroll is $103,484,020, and there are 14 teams below that and 16 teams above it. The Braves are at #15, right in the middle and a little above league average at $112,759,375. (Numbers courtesy of Sportrac salary tracker.) MLBTR estimates the overall salary at $121,116,875, projecting the raises factored into unannounced pre-arb assigned contracts and projecting the arb awarded salaries for Dansby and Soroka.
So why do I believe that Alex has the capability to make a long term commitment to a player like Marcell Ozuna, even with Freddie Freeman’s extension on the horizon?
Here are the current total salary commitments for the next 5 years, including potential option buyouts:
(2022) $34,275,000
(2023) $25,000,000
(2024) $24,000,000
(2025) $24,000,000
(2026) $21,000,000
That’s why.
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such a pleasant memory, eh???
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Yep, makes me smile… Brooksie, bless his heart…
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Nats sign Cubs’ John Lester to a one year deal pending physicals…
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… and Pads trade for Joe Musgrove from the Pirates.
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Our hometown Braves have 3 players in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects, and 2 in the Top 10.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is that those up top are Ian Anderson (#7) and Cristian Pache (#8), with Drew Waters lurking at #32. Anderson and Pache should be graduated from prospect status very soon, leaving only Drew Waters, himself expected in ATL by 2022 if not earlier, as a Top 100 prospect.
But hey… let’s just enjoy these guys now and watch them contribute to a title contending team.
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There comes a point when top prospects become blocked by entrenched players. The only openings currently evident are left field and catcher other than the ever present need for pitchers of all stripes. Thus, unless you are ready to trade a short term pig for a couple in a poke. Your options are to comb the free agent list. The best free agents will also often have the added burden losing prime draft spots.
The good news is not all is lost. A well versed scouting team and a little luck and ingenuity can turn those lower round picks into pure gold. I give you the track record of Joe Gibbs and Bobby Bethard of the Redskins in turning 4,5,6th round draft picks into all-stars and Super Bowl Champions. It also helped to have an owner with deep pockets and the d\good sense to stay out of the day to day operations of the team.
I cannot say that Alex has actually made a bad trade to date for the Braves. The team continues to get better each year under AA so perhaps we can give him a bit leeway on that front. I am sure he is well aware of how much ammunition he has as far as trades go and I expect Drew Waters’ fate is wholly dependent on who the Braves deem long term answers to fil their outfield positions besides Pache and Acuna.
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I do not foresee any scenario that includes trading Drew Waters. To that end, unless a long term signing is for someone who can project to the DH role, I may need to revise my expectation for any long term deal going to a LF, i.e. George Springer or Michael Brantley in FA or some other cat via trade. Because as you sad, Waters needs not be blocked.
That said, Brantley actually has plenty of experience at DH, so there’s that. And if you traded for someone like Kyle Seager, he can DH as well.
When you look at all the plausible scenarios, there are a couple that seem most obvious. Signing Marcell Ozuna to be a DH is one. Of course, that assumes the DH in 2021. The other that seems to make sense is to trade for Kris Bryant. He’s only on the hook for one more year, he agreed to a deal in arb for $19.5 which is less than the top FA’s will get as AAV, and he can capably play LF, 3B or DH. He doesn’t block Austin Riley nor does he impede the scheduled arrival of Waters.
But it still galls me that there is no clarification on the universal DH yet. The Braves for sure have to fill 1 major hole, and possibly 2. But how can we know until the perplexing powers that preside get their acts together and provide some clarity?
As much as it pains me to say so, it actually makes the most sense at the moment to make the trade for Bryant as he for sure fills one hole and can provide the big RH bat to protect Freddie in the lineup. Then we can still add a DH type if necessary, but add the bench needs first… those being backup catcher and a LH bat. Even if there’s no DH, we still need that catcher. And we still need better bench candidates than Abraham Almonte and Jack Mayfield.
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So the Mets new GM has been let go for sending dirty pitches of himself to a reported… If you are that stupid, you pretty much deserve to be fired.
I saw a mention of the alleged offense yesterday before he was fired and opined his days were numbered. That number turned out to be one.
I’m pretty sure if he desired to fight the firing he might find the evidence would fail to stand up in court but you know. Time to turn the page. The current model of hiring a “President” of operations over a GM is a sneaky way of demoting someone without doing so. What’s in a title?
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Yes, a solid left handed bat is sorely needed for this team. I am curious on the status of Duvall. I can’t believe there is no interest on the guy from other teams.
Only a month to go before possible beginning of spring training. I am ready for some serious news from the Braves but I guess Alex doesn’t care what I think.
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I am curious on the status of Duvall. I can’t believe there is no interest on the guy from other teams.
I read this earlier today from Kris Willis at Talking Chop:
“(Adam Duvall) put up big numbers for Atlanta in 2020 but it is important to look at those numbers a little closer. Six of his 16 home runs came in two games. Look a little closer and eight of those homers came over an eight game stretch in early September. Prior to his three-homer game at Boston on September 2, Duvall was hitting .229/.279/.696 with five homers in 33 games. He hit three more homers against the Marlins on September 9 and then hit .169/.270/.338 with three homers over the final 16 games. He hit .161/.212/.387 with two more homers during the postseason. So, while his (2020) season numbers did look good, they were largely propped up by one insane eight game stretch in early September.”
Kinda places things in perspective.
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Rest in Peace Don Sutton, we hardly knew you… 😦
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Corporate owned team…
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I believe the Jays are a fair comparison for the Braves. Both corporate owned, both in extremely tough divisions on the east coast with teams that spend like Congress in an omnibus bill. Each team has an exciting young core of players, has added pitchers via FA and each was looking to add a big veteran bat in this cycle. TOR has now done that with George Springer. The big difference is that they ended 2020 at about $50M less in payroll than the Braves. They are now projected to open 2021 about $8M over their 2020 amount.
I have no real evidence to base my assertion on, so it’s strictly my opinion. But I still believe the Braves have the latitude to approach their 2020 number. If so, that’s another $37M to add to this year. Will they use it all? I have no idea. But I think to assume they couldn’t break off $25M for a player they like is unwise. And to be clear, they do have about 4 spots they still need to fill. But to think they are done is not really thinking things through.
Here’s another opinion… and just my opinion…
As I stated earlier, trading for Kris Bryant appears to make the most sense for this team. Is he the best option? Probably not. But he just makes sense. And the longer this offseason goes, the less his asking price becomes. Perhaps that’s why we’re still seeing no movement on that front on January 20. I’m sure the Cubs want a top prospect back i return, but that boat as sailed. If Alex had jumped on a deal for him back in November or December, it likely would have cost a current player, a top prospect, and a lower level prospect. At this point in the offseason, he could probably be had for Sean Newcomb and a lower level prospect. They are hurting for LHPs, especially in the rotation, and a chance for a return tour from Jon Lester just evaporated.
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Here’s a name to just throw out there for our bench. How about adding free agent OF/IF Marwin González? This guy has played all over the field and could help you in a number of ways. First, his versatility allows you to mix and match Bryant, Riley, etc. as you like. He’s a SH, so his value off the bench is heightened. His bat wasn’t very inspiring in 2020, but his “plug-and-play” versatility with solid defense has great value. He certainly would not cost very much $$. In the same vein, there’s Kiké Hernández. He’s just as versatile in the field but bats only RH. Neither are starters on most teams but you need those type of guys on the bench, and either one could fit ours nicely.
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Okay guys, when does the arbitration court convene? Does anyone know what the ask is for both players? How much did the Braves offer? Just wondering.
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Arb hearings begin on Feb. 1. Dansby asked $6.7M; the Braves offered $6M. Soroka asked $2.8M; the Braves offered $2.1M.
It’s my belief that each of them will work out multi-year extensions before their respective hearings take place. Dansby has another arb year next year, so the Braves may simply work out a 2-year deal with him to gain some cost certainty over next season. Soroka is a different case. First, this is his first year of arb as a Super 2, yet he’s only made 37 career starts due to injuries. Are the Braves playing “hard ball” (pun fully intended) because of the lack of actual ML starts? Does the small but present hint of uncertainty caused by his Achilles injury come into play? Or do they recognize the special talent and want to buy out his arb years now on the cheap in much the same way they did Ronnie and Ozzie? That one is a little harder to peg. But I think I lean more toward the team working out a longer deal with him.
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Wow. I want to think he would have been great fit here, but not for 3 years. I wonder if Alex was in there pitching a 2-year deal? Doesn’t matter much now I suppose.
Ripple effect… the pool is shrinking.
This does make one wonder if the Jays might be looking to trade Randal Grichuk now? I doubt they’d be wanting to move young Lourdes Gurriel Jr. And last I checked, there are still only 3 spots in the OF. And if I’m not mistaken, they have a glut of catchers too. Area of need? Pitching, of course. Hmmm…
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I suppose we need to check in on Randal Grichuk now. How about this, he’s much more similar to Kris Bryant than you might imagine. For his career, he has averaged 30 HR/79 RBI over 162 games. He projects to 28 HRs in 2021, and thus could fill the RH cleanup bat need. He’s been in RF, but LF would be just be a stroll across the OF. He’s under contract for 3 more years at $10,333,333 per season. That would fit very nicely in our payroll. The big question is… who would you be willing to give up to get him? It ain’t gonna be Sean Newcomb. It will likely start with Kyle Wright and include another top prospect… at least.
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And last I checked, Alex still has friends in TOR.
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Upon further reflection (and research), you may be able to get Grichuk with Newcomb after all. In fact, Grichuk is now a $10M+ thorn in the Jays side. He’s been pushed out of the starting lineup (Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in LF, George Springer in CF, Teoscar Hernandez in RF, Michael Brantley at DH). Heck, they may be willing to trade 3 years of $10.33M for 1 year of $8.7M, if you get what I’m reaching for here. I say we package Newk and Ender and go after Grichuk and a backup catcher… say Reese McGuire. You fill holes with one move. And you haven’t added very much to the payroll.
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You fill 2 holes with one move…
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Hold the boat!!!
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Hazel Mae is now on credibility probation.
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Is it best to be first or first to be right? duh… 🙂
Who knows what the Braves are up to? Do they even know?
Pretty sure Newk and Ender would require the Braves pay their entire salaries. Other teams are waiting for the Braves to DFA them so they can pick them up for a song.
To be fair, Newk still as some potential, he just needs the right coach to unlock it.
Ender hasn’t been right since he got abused on Twitter…
It is easy for me to spend other peoples money, I just don’t like it when they want to spend mine.
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Brantly to stay with Astros
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Well, so much for a Randal Grichuk trade. I wasted a lot of time on that too.
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Springer’s deal and Brantley’s deal both far exceeded the early expectations. Doesn’t portend well for an Ozuna reunion in Atlanta.
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Just read that Don Sutton has died. Age 75.
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I’m calling today: “What If Thursday”…
What if… the Braves actually signed Marcell Ozuna for what has become the market price. That would appear to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 years / $100M, or $25M for the next 4 years. (Nice neighborhood.) Would they have any money left over to sign an everyday OF or is Ozuna that guy?
What if… the Braves spend all their money on one player and have to roll into the season with a bench that consists of Alex Jackson, Jack Mayfield, Abraham Almonte, Johan Camargo, and Ender Inciarte?
What if… the stupid MLBPA and MLB decide at the last hour that the NL will have a DH? Is that a good thing that Ozuna would fill that role perfectly? Or is it tragic that Inciarte is now your starting LF?
What if… the Braves decide not to follow that market upward on Ozuna, and decide to spend less $$ per player to bring in more than one?
What if… they rolled the dice on an imperfect player like Joc Pederson, who is a threat every time he steps to the plate, but is mostly all or nothing. And he also has very wide splits between LH/RH pitching? Would they need to also acquire the RH counterpart? Or could Austin Riley be said RH counterpart? I could envision a loose platoon where Pederson starts against righties with Riley at 3B, but against lefties, Riley moves out to LF and Camargo gets the hot corner nod. Would that work? Camargo doesn’t project to be an impact player IMO.
What if… the Braves signed a couple of lesser known players, say Eddie Rosario and… wait for it… Yasiel Puig. Let’s face it. Puig still scares pitchers a little. He might slot in behind Freddie pretty good. He wouldn’t be what Ozuna was last year, but did we really expect Ozuna to be what Ozuna was last year? As I recall he was a last minute Plan B after Josh Donaldson turned AA down and went to Minnie. Oh, and Rosario is actually a fairly good option that no one is talking about for LF. We should remember that name.
What if… they did that? They’d have a capable everyday LF, and a DH candidate should that come down the pike. At worst, they have a LF platoon and they strengthen the bench. And heck, they’d still have some $$ left over to get a veteran backup catcher and maybe another guy to compete for a bench spot.
For what it’s worth, I still believe the trade market is where Alex is plying his trade right now. But the above questions needed to be raised.
What say ye?
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Another catching option off the table…
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As of this morning, the Braves still have not announced the date that P&CR for spring. As far as I can tell, most teams have not. The earliest I have seen is Feb. 15, being the Yankees. The O’s are reporting on the 16th, and the Mutts on the 17th. Position players report 5 days following.
What we do know is that the first spring game is schedule for Feb. 27, so you have to think the Braves will fall into that 15th-17th window.
Assuming the 17th, that’s 4 weeks from yesterday, 27 days from today.
Alex has alot of work to do in just 27 days.
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This year’s deals do not seem to reflect financial hardship on the part of baseball owners.
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If there is any fire to this smoke, it would be an amazing turn of events. It would also be the proverbial “first shoe” to drop, said shoe essentially hanging until there is a determination on the universal DH.
Scenario #1- There is a DH, and JTR/Td’A would split catching/DH’ing duty, keeping the legs of both catchers fresh for the whole season. Preferred!
Scenario #2- There is no DH, Travis d’Arnaud is traded for a LF, and veteran backup catcher is signed. I can think of worse things.
Scenario #2- There is still a DH, but d’Arnaud is traded for a LF or DH anyway, and other signings are still necessary. Meh…
Also, if there is any fire to this smoke, expect something to happen quickly since nothing ever leaks out of AA’s office until it’s happening.
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Remember, too, that JTR turned down 5 years / $110M from the Phillies already. He’s gonna cost ya.
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Sorry… I couldn’t resist. 😆 😆 😆
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Let me be clear…
I still believe that AA will trade for his bat. JTR would be nice, but I think it’s a real stretch. I suppose you never say never, though.
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Ya never know… 🙂
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You just have to wonder how busy AA’s phone is right now. Everyone is trying to squeeze the juice out of the same lemon methinks.
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I’ve listened to the radio talkers today parse this earlier rumor of JTR, and I’ve come to my own conclusions about it.
The prevailing thought around the radio waves is that there is no substance to toe rumor, and that it’s probably just JTR’s agent trying to pressure the Phillies to up their offer. But I’m not sure I agree with that assumption. And after all, it is just an assumption. First, they all – and I mean all – start their narratives with the tired old “Braves don’t like to give out long term deals” argument. I gotta tell you, they never gave out high AAV 1-year deals to aging veterans either, until they did. Now it’s the only thing they do?
But here’s where I think you can’t just toss this rumor in the circular file and dismiss it. It was first articulated by a guy that actually has credibility in sports journalism as a national writer. There wasn’t a link to anything, so it wasn’t click bait. And he specifically typed “league sources”, not just sources. League sources would not include agents. As a national writer, he wouldn’t jeopardize any of his source relationships by using them for any disingenuous purpose. No one likes to be used… not even “sources”.
Also, while such a move may seem out of character, it actually fits a typical timeline of a team like the Braves who went through a total rebuild, emerged as a pseudo-contender with alot of young talent, then turned real contender with a little experience. This is exactly the point where savvy execs go “all in” and make that one big move to push the team over the top. Anybody remember Fred McGriff?
Here’s another aspect that no one seems to consider. While it would take close to $23M AAV to ink JTR, it wouldn’t have to increase the Braves payroll by that much. Once you have ink to deal, you immediately trade Travis d’Arnaud and his remaining $8M. Net increase… $15M. If you were really aggressive about it, you’d attach a decent prospect to Ender Inciarte and trade off his salary too. You can also trade William Contreras to acquire your new LF. After all, you won’t be needing Contreras if JTR is in the house for 5 more years.
In other words, signing JTR does more than just add his bat to the lineup. It secures you behind the plate for the next 5 years with the best catcher in the game to help raise up a young pitching staff. If provides consistent protection for Freddie Freeman. It enables you to use your surpluses to fill holes. And most importantly, it enables you to consistently compete for championships for the foreseeable future.
I remember Fred McGriff in 1993. I remember the World Series title in 1995. I give JTR “my full endorsement”.
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One more thought…
Isn’t a steady succession of high priced 1-year deals the same as a long term deal? Actually, the long term deal might be had at a more reasonable AAV than the overpriced 1-year ones AA has been delivering.
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Vee, you don’t have to convince me, I have been in the JTR camp for a long time. I am pretty sure the Braves could make the math work. Not sure they could dump the entire $9 million owe to Ender but at least half I would think. I am also inclined to believe they could keep two good catchers if they choose to, it would actually be a plus as catcher tend to wear down pretty severely by September in a 162 game season.
So the only thing needed would be a decent left fielder with pop. Phig would work, he is of an age I think he could be toned down in his antics. He has a right fielder’s arm. I would still think the Braves would be in dire need of a lefty bench bat.
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Sad about Don Sutton. Broken leg last year…I liked him . Can’t believe he started on broadcasts in 1989!!!!
really nice 4 minute clip. I remember so little his career, besides the teams he played on . Not only did he win 324 games, but he was a money pitcher to boot!
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MLBTR: Atlanta also vied for Springer, who would have replaced Ozuna in its outfield. The Braves were “in on Springer until the end,” David O’Brien of The Athletic writes.
Well, now we know AA is not just peddling 1-year deals.
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So if the Braves were actually in on Springer until the end, a pivot to JTR actually makes alot of sense.
If the Braves had been able to land the OF, it would have obviously blocked Drew Waters, meaning he could be traded in an impactful deal.
Catcher is not that different. If they can land JTR, then Td’A is likely traded to a catching starved team (of which there are many), and William Contreras can then traded in an impactful deal… possibly for a LF.
So why is this year different from previous ones? I think that answer is obvious. First, the rebuild is over. The time to push the effort is now. The second and lesser reason is that the int’l signing restrictions are now ended, meaning there is greater freedom in building the entire roster from the minors up. It allows a greater ability to trade prospects. I know the popular narrative is that the Braves are in love with prospects and won’t let them go. But the reality is that the Coppygate penalties had a dramatic effect on how the pipeline was stocked, and the organization simply could not afford to deplete itself of talent. Times have now changed.
Last, the team’s salary commitments going forward are extremely low, even if you factor in a Freddie Freeman extension. Alex A hasn’t been stingy on giving out a long term deal because he doesn’t like it, rather because he’s been preparing for it. Here are the current total salary commitments for the next 5 years, including potential option buyouts: (2022) $34,275,000, (2023) $25,000,000, (2024) $24,000,000, (2025) $24,000,000, (2026) $21,000,000. It’s set up for a deal to be added.
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Aw man… what a week!!
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😦
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First Phil, then Don, now Hank.
Crushing month for Braves fans.
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Legends.
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Another LF option off the board. Not a great option, not a preferred option, but an option nonetheless. And the pricetag… 3 years guaranteed. Shows where the market is, which isn’t cheap.
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Options are evaporating.
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And another backup catcher comes off the board.
The longer this goes on, the longer I have nightmares of Alex Jackson and Abraham Almonte anchoring our bench.
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My top 3 picks for BUC are now gone with Curt Casali now in SFG, Jason Castro in HOU and Romine in CHC. What options are we left with? Old Tyler Flowers, older Robinson Chirinos, ancient Jeff Mathis, poor defensive guys like Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters, or poor offensive guys like Tony Wolters.
There’s one guy left that I believe has anything left in the tank that I would be halfway comfortable with… and that’s Alex Avila. His bat isn’t a real consistent threat, but he does hit the ball every now and then and he’s a decent defensive catcher.
BTW, the highest number of games Td’A has ever caught in a season is 112… in 2017 with the Mets. Going to battle with Avila 50 times is a bad prospect. Options are falling off the board quickly.
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In the modern era of player development, catching prospects are generally not bench options as player development directors prefer them to catch everyday in the minors. I really don’t see William Contreras as being a real option to sit on the ML bench 3 or 4 out of 5 games. I think he still needs some AAA AB’s. Can we live with Alex Jackson? If Contreras is slated for the lion’s share of starts in AAA, where else will AJax play anyway? Is that the plan?
Oh the humanity…
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I don’t know… I’m just a desk jockey. Perhaps William Contreras is ready to share catching duties at the ML level. I’m not confident that d’Arnaud will catch a new season high in games at age 31. For the most part, unless you have JTR or some other young stud catcher, it’s a tandem job anyway. If Td’A catches 3 of 5 games, that’s still 97. Is 65 games enough to continue the growth of a prospect like WilCon? Maybe so. Maybe that’s the plan. And if going with the youngster saves $4M-$7M that can be used toward a big bat (are there any left?) then I reckon I can live with it.
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In the immortal words of the Hitchhiker’s Guide, DON’T Panic! Don’t forget your towel either.
Yes, a sad time for Braves fans. While Don Sutton was not ever a pitcher for the Braves, he was an outstanding and beloved announcer even if he an Skip did not really get along.
I am going to put complete faith in Alex to solve the player problem. Just like the out of nowhere JTR story, perhaps he has a trade lined up to snag Yelich away from the Brewers… Ya never know … 😉
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I saw something really funny yesterday… saying the Braves should sign JTR and Ozuna, then put together a package with Waters and Contreras to send to Millie for Yelich. Wouldn’t the Marlins just love that?!?
😆 😆 😆
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Back to reality… I still feel like there is probably traction to a Kris Bryant trade. It just makes too much sense. Still leaves other holes to fill, but that’s a major problem solved.
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MLBTR: Atlanta also vied for Springer, who would have replaced Ozuna in its outfield. The Braves were “in on Springer until the end,” David O’Brien of The Athletic writes.
Well, now we know AA is not just peddling 1-year deals.
yep, he offered…2 years!!!!!!!!!!! 😛
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After the election, I had a bout of the blues. I order to snap back, I stopped watching any news broadcast, dropped my Twitter account and other than snippets, generally decided I can’t fight the CIA and the lame stream media. I will stick with sports and try to become blissfully ignorant like the majority of the Democrats in this country. Life is too short to stress over things I cannot control. Especially as I am in my 7th decade on this planet.
So I am ready for some baseball. C’mon Alex, make me happy again…. It’s only someone else’s money.
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I haven’t watched news in years. I have a happy life.
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First Phil, then Don, now Hank.
Crushing month for Braves fans.
with all the insanity going on in our beloved country, my brain actually forgot Phil passed too! I just thought, wow, first Don, now Hank!
I sure hope folks caught Hank the 1 , 2 times a year he would end up in the broadcast booth. He still seemed…shy? Reticent ???…something like that …but one of, if not the last time he was in the booth (had to have been 2019) he really had some interesting insights…sure wish I had recorded that one!
to me, the most amazing season of his career? in 1973, at the age of 39, in only 120 games, 392 ABs, he hit….40 HR’s 92 RBI’s 301 BA, 402 OBP!!!!! Wowser!
one thing I can’t figure…I know he was “old” and needed rest, but , how in the wide, wide world of sports do you not even have him pinch hit in 42 games?
Rest in peace sir….
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He still seemed…shy? Reticent ???…something like that
Oddly, he seemed humble. Sure appeared that way anyway.
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Hank Aaron stayed pretty much true to who and what he had always been, a poor, shy, country boy who was appreciative of everything he got in life. I know he was put on the payroll of the Braves mainly for PR work but if he had come along in the era of big money, he would have to have hired two accountants just to keep track of it all.
He will be missed by Braves fans ever where as well as the Atlanta community at large. He was a one of a kind icon and all the platitudes he receives will still not do him justice. He is one who has truly earned a gold casket. God Bless Him, may he rest in peace.
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Okay folks, the answer is 42… As in offer Ozuna $42 million over two years for his services.
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I don’t think that makes it… not looking at what the other cats in the market are getting. Springer got 6 yrs / $150M; DJ LeMahieu got 6 yrs / $90M; Michael Brantley got 2 yrs / $32M. Heck, James McCann got 4 years out of the Mutts and Jurikson Profar just inked a 3-year deal.
I’m guessing it will take 4 yrs / $80M for Big O.
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A reunion with Melancon makes sense to me.
While not directly a “hole” in the roster, it’s an area that could certainly be strengthened.
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Thinking about this, Melancon may not be the type of arm they want. While he’s been very reliable in the closer role here, the team might be looking for more of a prototypical strikeout guy. Definitely a righty though. The pen is loaded with lefties.
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Brad Hand is still out there, right? I know, a lefty, but since loogys aren’t a thing anymore…and he’s the best closer out there…well….
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Woke up this morning and discovered my brass monkey had become neutered overnight. Whew… it got down in the teens overnight. Coldest night of the year so far for us here in the Old Dominion. Catching up on the local news and discovering what a FUBAR place this state has become. 😦
Now baseball… With the passing of so many Braves icons recently, the Braves might have to employ a sash to incorporate all the memorial patches. Too soon? My apologies… But it has been a tragic passing for many long time Braves fans, it is a shame so many newbies have no idea how great those passing were and their contributions to the sport and the community.
I would dearly love to attend a spring training game at the new Braves facility but expect that ship has sailed. it is just to tough for Josie to tote me around these days. I’m thinking I will make a diligent effort to catch one of the Striper’s games in Norfolk this year. The access to the park is pretty easy and no fear off their being a shortage of tickets. Sometimes the moon and the stars line up just right and maybe get a chance to see Drew Waters play.
Paying $75 to see the Braves play in D.C. just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me any longer. The seat in my living room is more comfortable and the beer is cheaper and colder. Besides, D.C. seems to be a hot bed of Covid these days plus them be cra cra up there.
The JTR rumor hit a lot of Atlanta fans by surprise didn’t it? The braves could make it work if they wanted to but Alec seems to be pretty sharp when it come to negotiations. Remember last year when everyone predicted Josh Donaldson would get $100 million? Signed for a lot less with the Twins. I expect Alex has offered a contract in the neighborhood of 3 years $60 million to Ozuna. Maybe even a little less.
That is still a pretty ritzy neighborhood. I can’t blame a player for trying to get all they can, especially with the uncertainty surrounding tax brackets. Like I said, they will need two accountants to figure it all out.
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Yikes. That’s a good pickup for them. By my calculations, AA has about 3 weeks to do what I perceive to be quite a bit of remaining work.
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This should be a fun year in the NL East. gNats have made themselves better as have the Nutts. The Marlins also and the Fillies.. well you know… The Braves have improved their starting pitching, their pen is a little weaker but still better than most. The only hole remains in left field/third base. I use that combo because that is the spot which could use improvement. Pick either one. Ozuna maybe, or a trade which will certainly cost Drew Waters and an arm. A back up outfielder (batting left) preferred
gNats also signed Ryan Zimmerman to play after he sat out last season. Not sure how much he has left in the tank but taking last season off probably helped him.
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Braves sign the Panda to a minor league deal. He will be paid $1 million if he makes the team out of spring training.
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Reminder, as of today:
Lineup:
Acuña, RF (R)
Freddie, 1B (L)
HOLE, DH (R) possible DH, or alternately bench bopper
HOLE, LF (L)
d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ozzie, 2B (S)
Riley, 3B (R)
Swanson, SS (R)
Pache, CF (R)
Bench:
HOLE, C
HOLE, IF/OF
Camargo, IF (S)
Ender “Hole” Inciarte, OF (L)
If this looks like a post from last week, that’s because it is the same. Nothing has changed.
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Anybody catch their reports out this weekend regarding the Orioles and their financial situation? In a nutshell, they really aren’t paying anybody that much except 1B Chris Davis, who’s got an “albatross” deal that still owes him $21M for each of the next 2 seasons. But below that, there’s SP Alex Cobb at $15M and then All-Star OF Trey Mancini, who just settled at the arb deadline for $4.75M. Fourth on their list is up-and-coming OF Anthony Santander who will make either $2.1M or $2.475M depending on the outcome of his arb hearing.
What’s significant about this is that over the weekend it was leaked that the O’s had approached both Mancini and Santander about settling on their deals before the arb deadline, then deferring large portions of their respective salaries 2 or 3 years down the road to help with their 2021 payroll expenses. Of course, both declined. But the larger point is that the O’s already have one of baseball’s smallest payrolls at $42,940,362, with only the Pirates and Indians (can I still say that?) lower.
They are in trouble.
Could a team, say… the Braves, swoop in and make a deal to take Mancini off their hands completely for a very low priced player and a mid-tier prospect, or cash considerations? Maybe the better question is would MLB allow such a deal? I’d bet that you could give them Bryse Wilson ($565,000) and minor league OF’er Greyson Jenista (Braves #20 prospect) and you might get close. Heck, they can even have Abraham Almonte or newly claimed Kyle Garlik if they want.
I’d be quite happy with Trey Mancini in LF for his remaining 2 arb seasons, and maybe beyond.
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That would work for me, he is not a Ozuna level bat but he is a very solid player.
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After consulting with some “trade” resources, I have proposed the following swap:
Braves get:
OF Trey Mancini
Orioles get:
SP Touki Toussaint
SP Tucker Davidson
OF Greyson Jenista
I’d do that deal.
Here’s a Mancini’s in a nutshell, via AP…
Mancini missed the entire 2020 season while recovering from Stage 3 colon cancer. He signed on deadline day last January for $4.75 million — which turned into $1,759,259 prorated and was preparing for another solid season before being diagnosed with cancer. The first baseman/outfielder was voted team MVP in 2019 after batting .291 with 35 home runs and 97 RBI.
Mancini, 28, has been working out this offseason and expects to play a full season this year. Before being sidelined, he averaged 28 homers over his three full seasons.
Career slash: .276/.335/.485, 6.6 WAR. He is not a FA until 2023. He is your RH power and fills LF until Drew Waters emerges.
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Full disclosure, I was a big Orioles fan back in the 70s when they were really good, even got to see them play in the old War Memorial stadium. The had 4 20 game winners at one point. Their newish stadium is still one of the prettiest in MLB.
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But their current ownership is abysmal…
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And somewhere in hell a snowflake has fallen.
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What? Hypocrisy from a politician? Yegads… the humanity!!
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Wonder what the union is holding out for?
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Why is the union so against expanded playoffs? Not that I think they should or shouldn’t be. I’m just trying to understand the staunch position, because they are obviously dug in on that one.
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To be clear, I am personally not a fan of the expanded playoffs. I don’t like more than half the teams making it to the post-season. But I’m just a fan. I am curious as to why the union has said, “Don’t even ask.” If you take it off the negotiating board completely, there has to be a strong reason.
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Likely has something to do with amount of revenue sharing. Not sure what the old formula was but it had to do with the players getting a share of the gate after a certain number of games played. I am too lazy to look it up and I am not sure it will be relevant this season.
Now the grapefruit league… I’ll bet DeSanto is saying come on down and bring your money…
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What I am reading suggests that the union feels that the expanded playoffs is too valuable a bargaining chip to throw away on anything prior to negotiating the next CBA. The union is simply content to ride the current rules, which are in effect unless changed, into their expiration at season’s end unless something clearly benefits them in a manner that changes their mind.
It actually gives you a good sense of the negotiations to come. The union wants to win big in this one because they have felt all along that MLB “won” the last round. The union also sees the public sentiment has turned against big business and knows they’ll win in the court of public opinion. Don’t expect it to be pretty.
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I was a union member for over 35 years and I never understood half the stuff that was asked for by either labor or management. Most of the time it was one or two guys in a position to make a deal who said yes or no. Yes, Unions can be just as corrupt as any other organization, especially national unions which siphoned off large amounts of the dues.
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“The Braves have improved their starting pitching,”
Gil, I know this will shock you, but not sold on that fact just yet. a 37 year old with a 4.74 era last year….and some other dude that was really good for 4-5 games…we shall see….if one could “pin” a comment, I would guess one or the other(both?) will end up missing a month or 2 during the season.
More has to happen if the braves think they can compete against the Dodgers or Pads…let alone the NL east.
V, Trey Mancini would be just fine….can’t imagine how P.O.ed the Orioles fanbase would be if they traded their one guy the fans really like…
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Remember the adage you need 7 major league ready starting pitchers on your staff at the beginning of the season if you are to have a hope of being competitive. Both of the pick ups will better Atlanta’s chances of repeating as the NL East champs.
Also keep in mind, that the Braves nor anyone else will get by on bailing wire and duct tape like they did in a 60 game season. Of course it is not yet etched in stone there will be a 162 game season this year. Covid is even more rampant now than last season. Who knows what special rule will happen by April. I look for the season to be delayed again until at least May.
Is this team perfect? No, not by a long shot but like the old joke about if you have to be the fastest runner to escape a bear, no you don’t, just don’t be the slowest.
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I’m going to bed tonight in hopes that when I wake up I’ll find we’ve made the deal for our new RH power bat in some form. After today’s news, I’m not very optimistic on seeing the DH in our league this year. (I hope Mike Soroka doesn’t have to leg out a hit and snap that Achilles again.) It really does radically change how AA has to play this. Just one big impact bat now and a few complimentary pieces.
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Well, you didn’t win the lottery either so back on your head….
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IF the mutts sign Trevor Bauer….can you imagine what will be said/happen between he and the NYC press?????
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Yes and sadly it will somehow become political. he could avoid all that and sign with the Braves but I don’t see that happening either.
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Another bench option. Good signing. The more the merrier.
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And there ya go.
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There is no other imoact FA remaining for Alex now. Ozuna is no longer a fit without the DH. It must come via trade now. Well, either that or a second rate move. Bring us Kris Bryant.
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That one might have worked for us if you shoehorned Semien in at 3B. The pieces are starting to all fall.
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I remember folks saying Kyle Schwarber was a strikeout machine…156 in 2019. Well, Bryant struck out 145 times in 2019. hit .206 last year, with 11 RBI’s in 34 games. So, any discount? Do you give up Drew Waters? I don’t think they just want pitching, they have lost Kyle, and …shoot, didn’t they trade another outfielder? I know they released Albert Amora(sp) jr ….
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Waters?!? Hardly. Sean Newcomb and Ender Inciarte. They save $10M and gain a still young LHP. Bryant’s $19M commitment gives him negative equity.
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‘Nuther deal drops.
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Ever have a job or environment where you absolutely dreaded going to work? I think Simba was in such an environment last season. Look for him to rebound this year.
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And ‘nuther.
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The hits just keep on coming. I guess at this point Alex Jackson is about our best BUC option. Do I sound disgusted? I am.
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Waters?!? Hardly. Sean Newcomb and Ender Inciarte. They save $10M and gain a still young LHP. Bryant’s $19M commitment gives him negative equity.
no way they trade him for a meh pitcher, and worthless outfielder (that shaves half the savings)
That fan base would go nuts. They were looking at one of the Mutts top catching prospects earlier.
Otherwise, they might as well pay him for half a season, and if he rebounds, they can actually get some decent prospects back.
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They were looking at one of the Mutts top catching prospects earlier.
That ship has sailed. Cubs need to trim payroll and every GM knows it. Bryant has slipped and lost his value and is owed $19M… and is repped by Scott Boras, thus anyone who trades for him only has 1 remaining year. They have zero chance for top prospects. They will receive a good, not great, but good prospect plus a middling player or 2. That’s it.
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So who blinks first? Ozuna or Alex?
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I believe if Ozuna returns, it will be on another 1 year deal because his market never develops. Problem is, he’ll have to play LF. You really have to be willing to accept bad defense there for his bat, and then hope he has another big year like 2020.
Maybe the biggest reason he hasn’t found a deal yet is that he had his career year in a 60 game mini sample. Perhaps teams are fearing he’ll regress back toward his career norm… which isn’t bad, but not worth 4 years and $72M. Perhaps Alex is in that camp, too.
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Yes, much like the Josh Donaldson contract, it was way smaller than what many pundits predicted. I am not sure if Ozuna’s defense is really as bad as all that, just not really all that good. Perhaps the Braves should sign Puig who has Ozuna level power but has a right fielder’s arm. He also brings a bit of excitement to the game. Not Neon Deon level excitement but pretty flakey… Hey, I’m spit balling here… 🙂
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I heard a guy yesterday surmise that they should re-sign Adam Duvall and then sign Puig as a “platoon” partner… which sounds weird as both are RH hitters. However, he pointed out that Puig’s numbers seem to be opposite of normal.
Let’s see…
Puig career vs RHP: .285/.350/.495, 102 HR, 511 K, in 2442 PAs.
Puig career vs LHP: .255/.343/.419, 30 HR, 170 K, in 934 PAs.
Well, it does appear to be reversed, but not really skewed too far.
By comparison, let’s look at LH Eddie Rosario:
Rosario career vs RHP: .277/.312/.507, 104 HR, 389 K, in 2041 PAs.
Rosario career vs LHP: .277/.304/.406, 15 HR, 150 K, in 789 PAs.
For my money, give me Rosario.
Just for grins and giggles, let’s look at Joc Pederson:
Pederson career vs RHP: .238/.349/.501, 121 HR, 498 K, in 2132 PAs.
Pederson career vs LHP: .191/.266/.310, 9 HR, 111 K, in 385 PAs.
Now those are some extreme splits.
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I am reading alot of positives on the UTIL IF Ehire Adrianza that Alex inked to a minor league deal yesterday. Looks like he has played all over the field, like Charlie, and carries a great reputation among the players. Now at the very least Jack Mayfield has competition.
The particulars, according to DO’B:
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Not a ton of offense, but that’s generally not what you seek in the guy that is supposed to give you defensive backup all over the field.
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Ok… I don’t care who you are… that’s funny right there.
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LOL… Yep… I was a little slow on the uptake until I clicked on the link.
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Is “kicking the tires” anything like “circling on”? I guess you “kick the tires” on someone else’s player and “circle on” a free agent?
I really don’t care about kicking or circling. I care about acquiring.
Period.
Roughly 2 1/2 weeks before P&CR… and 3 weeks until position players follow. Will we have whole team?
The clock keeps ticking and the pool keeps shrinking. I hope something impactful happens. I’ll feel a little deflated with Adam Duvall trying to protect Freddie.
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Well, looks like Alec read your earlier post on trading for Mancini. Prophet star for Vee…
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If he can just make it happen. It’ll be tough for the O’s because he’s “their guy”. But it’s fairly apparent they’re not going to be able to afford him. Heck, they wanted to defer 25% of his salary this year. I do think that Alex would have to overpay a bit to get it done. That’s a big PR hit in BAL. They would have to “win” the trade to make it sit well there. But if Mancini helps push the Braves over the top, then both teams win, right?
I think they have to get back one of our prize pitchers, and likely one that’s ready to step in this year. Kyke Wright or Bryse Wilson? The clock has already started on both of those pitchers and they’d probably prefer a guy with max control… like Kyle Muller or Tucker Davidson. Maybe Jared Shuster, although I’m not sure he’s ready to face ML pitchers yet. But Muller and Davidson are clearly blocked here and it’s time to use them to fill holes elsewhere.
But I think you have to start with one of those guys then add in a couple more useful pieces. Johan Camargo? Maybe. He’d help them alot and still be cheap. I feel they’d need an OF to fill the gap, and they won’t want to pay Ender. (Heck, I don’t want to pay Ender.) Would you send him there and just pay his freight? That’s almost unheard of, isn’t it? His entire $8.75M plus Mancini’s $4.75M is still less than Bryant or any of those other guys.
Whatever it takes, if this guy’s actually available Alex should make it happen. That would be a real impact move.
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Absolutely agree, the Braves would still have enough pitching depth. Shipping off Ender and paying a portion of his salary would still be a win, usually that type of deal means cash going the other way.
The guy is affordable and half what it would cost for Ozuna or someone of his ilk.
I am sure Baltimore is looking for a lot of cheap guys who can play. It won’t take six players but it will take at least 4.
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They need pitching badly. Kyle Muller + Sean Newcomb + Ender Inciarte + $8M. If they want a 4th player to temper the public reaction, they can have Johan Camargo too.
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At the Braves wouldn’t have to face Muller on a regular basis.
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The probably want Drew also but that would be a stretch maybe. Then again, maybe one of the Braves catching prospects.
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Finally have a P&CR date… Feb. 17.
21 days.
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Then again, the Os likely would rather dump Chris Davis and his $21 million… Would solve the bat delimma but I don’t know if he can play anywhere besides 1st and DH. At that price you may as well sign Ozuna.
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If you knew you had the DH in the NL, you might not mind paying Chris Davis $23M for each of 2021 & 2022 if it meant you got Trey Mancini for $4.75 this year with another year of arb to come before FA.
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Imagining the power of a lineup that went Acuna, Freddie, Mancini, Davis, Riley, Ozzie, d’Arnaud, Dans, Pache. Murderous.
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Yes but where do you play Davis if no DH?
PS, I think the commissioner will institute the dh
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The reason being a continued pandemic and use of the three batter minimum for relief pitchers. I cannot see where the conditions are any different from last year.
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While it would be a salary dump for Baltimore, it would still take about 6 players going back to the Os. I think they would do it but I don’t know what the ask (well, I do have a good idea and it’s steep) but not sure who Alec will be willing to give up. I can’t see him trying to fleece the Os although Atlanta fans seem to believe that is what he should do. If you are going to get some thing, you have to be willing to give up something.
What we do know is once that capital is spent (prospects) they are gone.
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O’Day signs a 2.5 million dollar one year deal with the Yankees.
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Good morning Braves & Stuffians. I am a little concerned this morning. I surveyed the remaining market for impact bats, and there really is only one left… and that one is not a sure thing. But Marcell Ozuna is about it. He’s not a perfect fit here without the DH, and he’s not even a perfect fit with it. I have become skeptical after closer examination. Last year truly was a career year for him. I’ll admit that even at his career level he’s above average, but he’s also a guy that traditionally missed alot of time with injury. What will he look like over 162 games? I suppose that’s the $20M question, right? Because that’s what he wants… multiple years at $20M.
George Springer was the best fit, but he was never seriously pursued. Michael Brantley was a very good fit, but likewise he was never seriously pursued. Same with JTR. To be honest, I’m not sure anyone has been seriously pursued.
From my reading, the prevailing theory is that over his tenure as Braves GM, AA has waited out the market and let players fall to him. It appears to be true on some levels. But he did strike early on pitching in both 2019 and 2020. He did strike early on Travis d’Arnaud last year. So maybe the narrative has been created to fit the appearance of what is happening this year. And as we all know, the narrative is always created to follow the popular theory.
Still…
Has Alex waited out the 2021 market too long? It sure looks like it. But he does always seem to pull a rabbit out of his hat somehow. Are there any rabbits left to appear? I hope so. But there are just 20 days until P&CR, and the hat looks eerily empty. C’mon Thoppy. Reach up that sleeve and leave us with our jaws dropped… or at least our mouths open a little bit. Maybe drooling a little out one corner? Too much to ask?
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And coincidentally, just…
… days until P&CR.
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What if the Braves went all in on pitching and just cobbled together an offense? If you want a real impact FA, this one’s it. Of course he brings his very unique brand of crazy with him. Would we want that around our young pitchers?
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Perhaps the reason the Mets shipped Matz to the Jays is to make room for Bauer?
Now Braves… I got nothing… Not even a reasonable guess..
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According to reports, Matz was already projected to be the odd man out of their rotation. And to be clear, he never repeated the early success of his rookie year. In fact, his 2020 season was a disaster. So trading him was not much more than shedding his $5.2M salary. In the process, they racked up on prospects. I’m not sure what TOR was thinking, but they gave up a haul for a mediocre starter. Makes me wonder just exactly what we might get for Kyle Wright…
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Kris Willis, Talking Chop:
MLB Pipeline its Top 10 lists by position in advance of their Top 100 prospect list which will be released on Friday. The Atlanta Braves are well represented in the outfield group with both Cristian Pache and Drew Waters making the list.
Pache comes in at No. 3 on the list and is lauded for his defensive ability. Pipeline rates Pache as the top outfield prospect in terms of Run (70), Arm (70) and Defense (80).
A mainstay on MLB Pipeline’s All-Defense team since 2017, Pache has been considered the top defender in the Minors for nearly as long. He enhances his speed with outstanding instincts that allow him to get to balls that most players can’t. The Braves valued his defensive ability to keep him over three-time Gold Glove Award winner Ender Inciarte on their 2020 playoff roster.
Waters comes in at No. 10 on the list. He put together a banner 2019 season that saw him end the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. Feels like there might be a bit of prospect fatigue associated with Waters in some circles as the focus has been on his need to refine his approach at the plate and to cut some of the swing and miss from his game. Having no minor league season in 2020 didn’t allow him to quiet any of those concerns but the reports on him coming out of the alternate site were positive.
I know it’s never a good idea to start 2 rookies in the same lineup, and more specifically in the same OF. But at this point, are there any better options than Drew Waters on the free agent or trade market? I’d rather see a kid with actual potential than a retread free agent or Ender Inciarte.
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Yep, it is why looking a player’s ranking on his team’s prospect list has little to do with how he is rated across the league.
It can also be deceptive. Victor Robles really fell off last season from his potential but I think his balky ankle had a lot to do with it, much like Acuna’s wrist injury raising his strikeout totals.
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Trying to think the last time a pennant winning Atlanta team had two rookies starting on the team other than a pitcher and a position player. The key to the Dodgers success as well as the 90s Braves was to bring along one rookie each season.
What hurts a rookie the most is not being able to repeat success at the plate once the book is out on him. Most common problem is a rookie not being able to withstand the mental let down associated with failure.
So what happened with Ender? I still think he got a case of the red ass from not being loved on Twitter… I was a mental thing and the more he tried to prove his critics wrong, the more he pressed and well, a change of scenery is sorely needed by him methinks.
Yes, the conundrum is much like trying to measure a player’s worth based solely on September call up numbers. No question he put up great numbers in a short season but let’s be honest, those number seldom extrapolate over a 162 game season.
I have a gut feeling that the hang up between Ozuna and the Braves is not really about short term money but length of the contract. I think AA is balking at anything longer than two years. Still, if there was real certainty about the DH, maybe he would be willing to go another year or two. Even with the uncertainty of a full season not just in 2021 but also 2022 with the current labor agreement coming to an end. You know there will not be a quick agreement between the Union and management. That makes too much sense. They will want to push it to the midnight hour.
My suggestion to the players is to make sure they save some of this year’s salary to tide them over into 2022.
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They will want to push it to the midnight hour.
I wish I thought it would be the midnight hour. I’m thinking closer to 2am or 3am… when the other drunks are all out on the road.
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I found a link to subscribe to The Athletic for just $1 a month. Yes, I gave in to the dark side because of $. I feel so dirty.
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Do not despair, I too subscribe for $1.00 a month, about what I place as a reasonable cost, after all, newsprint and ink is expensive. (snark)
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Hope this isn’t the “big” move. Wouldn’t mind it as a complimentary one, though.
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Another backup catcher exits the now sparse market.
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Another one bites the dust. Just a reminder… today’s LF starter is Ender Inciarte. If there’s no DH, that’s 2 automatic outs in the lineup.
You’re welcome and good morning.
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Cubs said NO to Kyle Schwarber and YES to Joc Pederson.
Ain’t that weird?
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I just don’t get this one.
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Reminder, as of today:
Lineup:
Acuña, RF (R)
Freddie, 1B (L)
HOLE, DH (R) possible DH, or alternately bench bopper
HOLE, LF (L)
d’Arnaud, C (R)
Ozzie, 2B (S)
Riley, 3B (R)
Swanson, SS (R)
Pache, CF (R)
Bench:
HOLE, C
Ehire Adrianza, IF/OF (S)
Camargo, IF (S)
Ender “Hole” Inciarte, OF (L)
Hey, at least we have a legitimate utilityman now.
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There are rumblings out there that with these 3 familiar faces still hanging around on the market that there’s a legitimate chance we could reunite with both Mark Melancon and Shane Greene… and Marcell Ozuna too.
The projected numbers are 1 yr / $4M for Melancon and 1 yr / $6M for Greene.
Ozuna is reportedly seeking 4 years guaranteed minimum at last year’s rate of $18M per year… or 4 yrs / $72M.
I believe all of those things are plausible. but the likelier scenario is Ozuna + 1 pitcher, most likely Melancon.
And I also believe that since Alex could be getting the band back together, Adam Duvall could circle back to “The A” as well. My fear is that the LF hole could be filled by a Duvall / Inciarte platoon. That is not desirable. But I have this feeling…
Hopefully it’s just an intolerance to lactose.
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I can live with Ozuna for 4 years at 18 per. At least 3 years would be as a DH.
Melancon is from the Greg Maddox school of pitching, his MO is pitch to weak contact. At least that is what I have seen so far.
The more I read, the more I believe the Braves are angling to have Drew Waters in place by mid season. Ender will be an add in on a trade of bad contracts at some point. Let’s be realistic, other teams have access to the same date the Braves have on him. Unless those teams are looking for a back up outfielder for less than a million dollars per (the difference is what the Braves will have to pay) other teams will simply say no thanks.
Translation: Ender will only be traded at a huge discount and the Braves would be willing to pay another team to take him off their hands so the Braves can clear roster space.
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A swap of bad contracts maybe?
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And speaking of, just…
… days until P&CR.
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Who would you rather have as your back up outfielder, Ender or Markakis?
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Nick Markakis. I didn’t even have to think too hard on it.
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Exactly
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Ken Rosenthal and Nick Groke of The Athletic report that the Braves spoke to the Rockies about Nolen Arenado, but those talks haven’t gone anywhere.
Not surprising. Arenado is owed a ton of cash, has declined noticeably over the last 2 seasons, and is greatly overvalued by COL. He’s a nice name, but that’s not something I’d want to see develop unless the return did not include Austin Riley or any of our Top 10 prospects. And they’d have to take Ender back in the deal.
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Trading for a guy in his declining years is a lot like buying a vintage Mercedes, at one point they were top of the line but tend to be very expensive to repair when they break down and they will break down.
Just like the stock market, everyone wants to buy at the bottom and sell at the top, the only ones who can get away with that are the hedge funds because the market is rigged. The Os will not let go of Mancini any more that the Braves would dump Acuna. Not unless you were getting back a Mark Teixeira size haul.
Rumors of the Braves looking at Arenado are just more indications the Braves are thinking on two separate tracks to the same thing. Either a power hitting outfielder or a power hitting 3rd baseman and moving Riley to left. It is nice to have options.
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Joc’s deal in ChiTown is 1 year / $7M. Matches the predictions.
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Which brings us back to the point of why would you pay $9M for Ender when you could have a power bat like Pederson for seven?
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This guy is the Rockies beat writer. Note that this tweet came out at 1:03am this morning, well after Rosey and his buddy dismissed the Braves interest.
Let me be clear. I do not interpret that to say that the Braves are in there working to get a deal done. But I do read it to mean that the Braves are at least still engaged, which is a little more than Rosey gave it. I’ll give my nod toward the beat writer since he’s the guy that’s around all the time.
Last month, Alan Carpenter of Tomahawk Take wrote a lengthy article spelling out that conditions of a trade to bring Arenado to ATL. Here is an exerpt:
Assumption 1: Arenado’s opt-out clause will either be waived or ignored — as noted previously, market conditions suggest that taking the opt-out isn’t a winning option for the player.
Assumption 2: Arenado’s no-trade clause would be bought out successfully as he accepts a trade to Atlanta… an organization with a chance to win immediately.
The idea behind any trade deal is to provide acceptable value on both sides — not just for the purposes of getting the deal done, but so that your choices are acceptable and understandable when you explain them to your fanbase.
If the Rockies are to eat enough of Arenado’s contract to reduce the rate to $20 million for a receiving team, that means $15 million each year for 4 years, $12 million for a fifth year, and $7 million for year 6… 2026.
That’s a total $79 million. While Colorado would save $120 million, they’d clearly want significant talent in return for those monies. Here goes:
he then goes on to list the following players: Austin Riley, Drew Waters, Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright, Sean Newcomb or Touki Toussaint, Ender Inciarte, and one more prospect from a group that includes Kyle Muller, Tucker Davidson, Braden Shumake, William Contreras, and Shae Langeliers.
In total, a 5-for-2 swap might be in order with Atlanta taking back one of their $2-to-$4-million relievers to both help balance out the 40-man roster and incentivize them to accept Inciarte.
Holy moly.
Well, I think that in the last month, the market of interested teams has likely shrunk. Initially, the group of 5 were STL, TOR, NYM, SFG, and ATL. Now the field has likely shrunk to 2 teams, the Braves and Cards. I don’t know what the Cards might be offering, but I don’t think they have the ability to offer a gargantuan package such as that suggest by the respected Mr. Carpenter.
I think a straight 5-for-1 deal could be made with Waters as the feature, no Riley, Wright, Ender, Davidson, and Johan. (Johan might thrive in that rarified air out there.)
So the question comes before you. Would you give up a Teixeirian return for 6 years of Arenado at the contract terms as listed above?
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Is it just me or does Jon Heyman throw shade at the Braves every time he references them?
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Here’s the thing…
The Rockies think they have leverage in a deal because they don’t have to make a trade. But that opt out in his deal means they could see their star walk out the door and get nothing back in return. That coupled with the fact that the bidding for his services is likely down to just 2 teams means they won’t get the moon and the stars, but they’ll still likely get the moon.
So the question lies more with the bidding teams than the selling team. Who are they willing to give up, and are they willing to go the entire 6 year commitment, because that should be a provision of any trade made.
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I would be hesitant to trade away the farm again for anyone.
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I have not yet got the bitter taste of Tex out of my mouth yet.
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two yets…
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I would imagine that any package would have to have Drew Waters in it. Probably one of Kyle Muller and Tucker Davidson, too. I’m betting it starts there and adds on with lesser components.
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So when you are trading talents, would you rather have Arenado and still needing a left fielder or trade for Mancini and keep Riley in place. It is only my opinion but I believe this season will be Austin’s breakout year.
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That’s the move I’d prefer too. I don’t see either one happening.
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I only want to mention this once, because I don’t even like to hear myself say it…
Jordan Schafer. Not every top prospect delivers as advertised. That is all. I won’t go there again.
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And to that I say… broken hammock bone… wrist are not to be trifled with.
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It’s what happens when you play injured.
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Cubs said NO to Kyle Schwarber and YES to Joc Pederson.
Ain’t that weird?
I’ll say! Joc is a better fielder (but not the elite guy one of those effete libs was talking up even before he arrived in La La land) but I believe Kyle hits lefties a bit better . and Kyle was a fav of the fans there. Oh well…
I wonder if A.A. is perhaps underestimating the NL east? Thinks the braves can toss any old guy in left, (Ender mainly?) and if/when some team collapses by say, June, trade for their slugger? And also hope by playing Ender, noted hot starter (tee hee) he will build some value and some team will agree to take him, and not force the braves to eat salary? I don’t know…hard to figure things out right now.
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Joc is a better fielder
Joc is not that great a fielder either, but Schwarbs does make Marcell look like Mays.
I don’t know…hard to figure things out right now.
Fo real!
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I do think a trade is still possible, and at this juncture more likely than it was earlier in the offseason. I say that because the only real impact bats left are primarily DH bats. So that said, I think that a trade for Nolen Arenado is not very high on the list of plausibility.
I think the more likely trades are, in order: Kris Bryant, Andrew Benintendi, Trey Mancini… with the dropoff in likelihood from Benintendi to Mancini fairly significant.
Bryant still makes the most sense for both the Braves and the Cubs who are in dire need of pitching. The same could pretty much be said for the BoSox too.
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Jim Bowden of The Athletic lists the top remaining 15 free agents and lists their most likely destinations along with contract predictions.
The Braves are connected with 3 of the 15, and are the top team listed on each.
Those FA’s are:
2. Marcell Ozuna, LF/DH, Contract prediction: 4 yrs / $72M
12. Mark Melancon, RHP, Contract prediction: 2 yrs / $14M
13. Shane Greene, RHP, Contract prediction: 2 yrs / $12M
I believe he’s way over valuing Melancon. I think Ozuna and Greene are spot on.
All things being equal, I prefer Melancon over Greene because Greene strikes me more as a setup man, of which the Braves are not lacking. That said, if Will Smith simply becomes the closer, Greene would be a great 7th or 8th inning man. A foursome of Smith, Chris Martin, AJ Minter and Melancon/Greene would be the epitome of a shutdown late inning bullpen.
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Question? Is the three batter rule for relief pitchers still in place for the 2012 season?
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Yessir. That one is amended into the CBA.
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So the only rule not carried over was the universal DH….?
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The universal DH, expanded playoffs, and extra inning (man on 2B) rules were specifically negotiated and implemented for the 60-game COVID season. The 3 batter rule had already been agreed upon in the normal offseason meetings as new permanent rule.
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… along with the 26-man active roster and limited September roster.
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… and elimination of the August “waiver” trade deadline.
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Now we better seriously hope there is a trade afoot, because pretty much all the free agent hitters, aside from Ozuna, are gone.
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Wow!!
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Hey… the Braves aren’t sitting idly by. We snagged another old reliever on a minor league deal. Yay!
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gee, didn’t know he was so good with RISP….oh well (I think I will be saying those 2 words a lot before and during the season
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… and we still don’t know the players going the other way yet. Although the names rumored suggest that STL kept their top prospects.
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Can I do this from my phone?
Only…
… days until P&CR.
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Yes!
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An smart phone savant you be… 🙂
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There’s a whole hot stove world going on out there somewhere.
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Cue the return of the universal DH.
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… and the subsequent renewed negotiations with Marcell Ozuna.
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Yep. Figured.
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I see this as good news. I believe the fact that the union did not outright reject this means it’s set to be agreed upon. Now maybe AA can get on with business having some clarity.
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However early reports say it will be rejected because the union perceives it as a loss of leverage in the CBA negotiations at season’s end. In other words, this has nothing to do with the 2021 season, nor the players nor the game in general. It’s all about the pi$$ing contest.
Expect ZERO changes and for spring to start as scheduled. I’ll be surprised if there is any mutual ground agreed upon.
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Only…
… days until P&CR.
Maybe.
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Only…
… days until P&CR.
Maybe.
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As we sit today at 8:50-ish ET, here are the top free agent hitters remaining. Warning, the pickin’s are slim.
DH/LF Marcell Ozuna. Reportedly seeking 4 yrs / $72M. Would get that if there was a universal DH. I still think there is a match back here in ATL, even if the defense is TBH pretty lousy. When you line him up with Cristian Pache in CF and Ronald Acuña, Jr. in RF you can cheat over a good bit and cover some deficiencies.
3B/DH Justin Turner. Reportedly seeking a 4 year deal at age 36. Won’t get it. The only questions with him are what he has to settle for, and if the Dodgers will match anything that come his way. (They probably will.) But I think he would be a good match here for a couple of years at least. He can play 3B with Austin Riley in LF for 2021, and move to DH in 2022 with Riley moving back to 3B and Drew Waters taking over in LF.
DH Nelson Cruz. He is a DH only. Couldn’t catch COVID in a NY nursing home. And at age 40, it’ll be a 1 year deal somewhere, most likely back in Minnie. No match.
OF Jackie Bradley, Jr. Catches everything that comes his way. Sadly, doesn’t hit nearly that well… and certainly not for power. Poor match, but would at least fill out a roster.
2B Kolton Wong. Plays a position we have filled, bats LH, and has little power. There isn’t a much worse fit out there. Well, except maybe for…
C Yadier Molina. He’ll go back to STL just like his buddy Adam “We Hardly Knew Ya” Wainright. And he’s a complete jerk. I wouldn’t want him around my young plyers, TBH.
Th… th… th… that’s all folks.
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Young plyers?
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Speaking of free agents, the offseason’s #1 FA, P Trevor Bauer, remains unsigned. But he’s a bird and there’s no telling what kind of negotiations are actually taking place with him. And no telling what he’s seeking. Somebody’s gonna get a good pitcher, but the dude is cracked and brings his own brand of loony to the clubhouse.
#4 Marcell Ozuna also remains unsigned, and we’ve discussed him ad nauseum.
The rest of the Top 10 are signed and sealed.
Below there 7 of those ranked 10-25 still remain including: #11 SP Jake Odorizzi, #14 Turner, #20 DH Cruz, #21 JBJr, #22 SP James Paxton, #23 SP Taijuan Walker, #25 Wong.
The rest of the unsigned Top 50 includes, #27 RP Trevor “Not Related To Ken” Rosenthal, #32 Molina, #39 RP Alex Colome, #46 SP Rick Porcello, #47 Cole “Screwed The Braves” Hamels, #48 RP Mark “Did Not Screw The Braves” Melancon, and bringing up the rear #50 SP Chris Archer.
Overall, that’s 16 unsigned in the Top 50… 2 of those in the Top 5.
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DH/LF Marcell Ozuna. Reportedly seeking 4 yrs / $72M. Would get that if there was a universal DH. I still think there is a match back here in ATL, even if the defense is TBH pretty lousy. When you line him up with Cristian Pache in CF and Ronald Acuña, Jr. in RF you can cheat over a good bit and cover some deficiencies.
One year in left, til the DH, and didn’t the Red Sox win with Manny Ramirez in left? Ozuna is better in LF than Manny, but then, so am I , and I’m no good! 😉
Honestly shocked some team like the Red Sox didn’t sign him, but I guess they are pretending to be broke , or something this year. Guess A.A. is playing chicken, hoping to get him on a 1 year deal again (perhaps 2?) if it works for him, swell…if he misses out…well, forget the World series this year (unless some team collapses in may, and trades their swell slugger then)
3B/DH Justin Turner. Reportedly seeking a 4 year deal at age 36. Won’t get it. The only questions with him are what he has to settle for, and if the Dodgers will match anything that come his way. (They probably will.) But I think he would be a good match here for a couple of years at least. He can play 3B with Austin Riley in LF for 2021, and move to DH in 2022 with Riley moving back to 3B and Drew Waters taking over in LF.
actually, that’s not a bad plan! He could still play a few games at 3rd in 22….
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didn’t the Red Sox win with Manny Ramirez in left?
Truth
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If the season opened today, this is the roster that the Braves would go into battle with:
Starting 8:
Ronald Acuña, Jr, RF (R)
Ozzie Albies, 2B (S)
Freddie Freeman, 1B (L)
Travis d’Arnaud, C (R)
Austin Riley, 3B (R)
Dansby Swanson, SS (R)
Ender Inciarte, LF (L)
Cristian Pache, CF (R)
Rotation:
Mike Soroka (R) [Yes, I know if we started today he wouldn’t be ready. But you get the exercise.]
Max Fried (L)
Charlie Morton (R)
Ian Anderson (R)
Drew Smyly (L)
Bullpen:
Will Smith (L)
Chris Martin (R)
AJ Minter (L)
Tyler Matzek (L)
Grant Dayton (L)
Jacob Webb (R)
Josh Tomlin (R)
Sean Newcomb (L)
Some of those names at the bottom of the list could be interchanged with a couple of others, but that’s mostly inconsequential as there is simply depth at AAA.
Bench:
Alex Jackson, C
Ehire Adrianza, UTIL (S)
Johan Camargo, 2B/3B (S)
Abraham Almonte, OF (S)
Pablo Sandoval, 3B/1B (S)
Analysis:
Let’s work from the bottom up. The bench is an interesting mix. You have a ton of switch-hitters, which would normally be a good thing except none of them will hit consistently, and a couple honestly shouldn’t crack a ML roster.
The bullpen is good but not great. It has great depth and talent at the backend, but lacks a true closer. Maybe that’s not as important in the modern game, but I’d feel better with a guy coming into the 9th inning with a great track record of slamming the door. And notice how heavily it tilts to the left side. Waaaay left, like Congress, but different.
The rotation should be the strength of the team if it stays healthy. And there is depth there with Kyle Wright, Bryse Wilson, and Huascar Ynoa all being promising young pitchers waiting in the wings. As always, health is the key.
Now the lineup…
Love the top 4, but it’s not ideal. My aging catcher is my cleanup hitter and protection for reigning MVP Freeman, whom we had to move back to #3. Ozzie pops back up to #2. Ronnie gonna be Ronnie. Past the cleanup spot, I have a major question mark in Riley then Dansby, who seems to have finally begun living up to the hype. But the bottom 1/3 is scary. I have a big unknown in rookie Cristian Pache, a sadly well known dud in Ender, and the pitcher spot. My top 4 is stout, but only Dansby gives me any sense of confidence past that. In all honesty, that lineup does not make the playoffs, much less win the NL East. And there’s no longer that one transformative bat that will make it so with the possible exceptions of a poor fielder in Marcell Ozuna or a 36 year old Justin Turner.
We really still could use 4, yes 4 acquisitions. We need a RH hitting LF, a RH firing closer, and 2 bench spots… one of which could be a DH if it happens to materialize at the last hour.
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Heck, I think I’d prefer FA Jake Marisnick over Ender Inciarte in LF. I know I’d prefer him on my bench over Almonte.
Jake Marisnick? Yes, no one seems to mention him in any news cycle, yet he’s still a free agent. He’s not a great player, but he’s a capable player that is a good defensive OF, has plus speed, and will still run into the ball from time to time. In other words, he’s a RH version of Ender Inciarte that might actually get a hit from time to time.
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I suppose we could sign JBJr and go with pitching and defense… like we did in the 90’s. But if you’ll remember, it still took big bat Fred McGriff to get us the big trophy.
Legendary homeboy upstairs had to make a big trade to get that bat. Maybe the current guy warming that chair should learn from history and make a big trade of his own. The phrase “parades over prospects” comes to mind.
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Sleeper LF candidate: Kevin Pillar. He slashed .288/.336/.462 w/ little power last year with both BOS and COL. But he did hit 21 HRs as recently as 2019 in SFG. He’s also a great clubhouse guy that would replace Nicky Kakes’ veteran leadership. He doesn’t give us the power we need behind Freddie, but he’s at least a ML quality OF and a clear upgrade over Ender.
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Hi guys and lady, a lot of whiteness outside today. Not one of those 14 inch snow storms but enough to keep my large ass inside as my ski slope is icy in spots and the fire departments. crane is out of service.
A May first start actually plays right into the hands of the Braves pitching rotation. The extra month bodes well for Soroka’s return to full health.
Jackie Bradley Jr is a great player. Maybe not a guy who is going to hit 450 ft homeruns but he will garner more than his share of hustle doubles and will produce some gold glove level defense in the outfield. Anything hit in the air to the outfield should register as a put out.
I thought Archer signed with Mets?
Okay, back to watching the birds fight with the squirrels over first refusal rights to the bird seed.
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Archer is still trying to latch on somewhere after he missed all of 2020 recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. He’s sadly in the same conversations as Mike Foltynewicz these days. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
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According to reports, the Orioles are about to deal for Alex Cob to the Angels. That will likely be the key deal that soothes their payroll enough to hang onto Trey Mancini.
Too bad.
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Then again, once Cobb is gone, they will need a starter… and a cheap one too.
Hmmm…
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This guy agrees with me.
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To be clear, Marcell Ozuna has been and is still my preference.
At this juncture, I’ll be happy with a Ozuna and Adam Duvall reunion.
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If the Union rejects the proposal, look for the Commissioner to make an unilateral move.
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Except that the universal DH is something the union wants, thus is a league bargaining chip. Plus such things must be collectively bargained anyway. The only thing the commish can act on without union approval is in the “best interests of baseball”, which can carry broad interpretation but can also be challenged in court. Given the current state of relations between the two sides with the SCB running out at season’s end, it would be very inadvisable for the commish to play the “best interests of baseball” card.
Here is where the rub really lies. In all that proposal of delaying the season and such was embedded the universal DH and the expanded playoffs. The union has said all along they will not agree to expanding the playoffs because it waters down the field and would dissuade teams from spending more $$ on free agents. When over half the teams are going to get in the post-season, where is the incentive to put together a top roster? Our Braves are a great example. With the expanded playoff format, our current roster probably gets in. Without it, we are definitely out and thus need to spend on Marcell Ozuna. So it’s hard to disagree with them on that point since it is illustrated so perfectly here in A-town.
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SCB
What the heck? I typed CBA. I think. SCB isn’t even in the same pattern of keystrokes. I have no idea how that happened.
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Who is still in on Marcell Ozuna?
Here are the AL teams and their current DH’s. I am also marking through the ones who have no shot to pay for a top FA even if they need one:
BAL: Trey ManciniBOS: JD Martinez
CHW: Eloy Jiménez
CLE: Franmil ReyesDET: Miguel Cabrera
HOU: Yordan Alvarez
KCR: Jorge SolerLAA: Shohei Ohtani
MIN: Luis Arraez I’ll be shocked if a deal with Nelson Cruz doesn’t happen
NYY: Giancarlo Stanton
OAK: Khris DavisSEA: Ty France
TBR: Austin MeadowsTEX: Willie Calhoun
TOR: Rowdy Tellez/Randal Grichuk
The only AL teams that I see that might still be kicking the tires on him for DH are TEX and maybe HOU, but I doubt that HOU would spend big again this offseason.
In the NL, where the DH isn’t certain, STL seemed to be the Braves biggest rivals for him. But they just traded for Arenado, so they’re out. Who else? The Dodgers? Maybe but I doubt it. They’ll likely re-up with Justin Turner and go on to camp. Seriously, there could be interest in MIA. But I can’t see it anywhere else.
So that’s how many teams still sniffing around? Braves, Rangers, Marlins…. maybe Dodgers and Astros?
The lack of clarity on the universal DH has really hurt Ozuna as NL teams not located in the state of Georgia have moved on with their roster building, and AL teams either had theirs already or moved early in the offseason when Ozuna and Nellie Cruz were waiting out in hopes of a 30-team market.
Ozuna might just fall back into our laps again. I just hope that Alex does him a solid and gives him ore than just 1 season. How about 3 and an option? That’s a fair compromise, isn’t it?
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Part time means that he’ll come over when it’s convenient, but the team gets to benefit from his name being attached.
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So maybe there’s more meat to this than first impression?
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He needs to be assigned full time to Austin Riley.
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Still waiting for the real bombshell to hit. Braves jump the shark and fill their needs.
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Good morning.
The final tally on the Nolan Arenado trade, now official, is in.
Cards get:
Arenado
Rockies get:
LHP Austin Gomber (27-y-o, 107 ML innings)
IF Elehuris Montero (Cards’ #14 prospect)
RHP Tony Locey (Cards’ #26 prospect)
3B Mateo Gil (Cards’ #28 prospect)
RHP Jake Sommers (no prospect rank)
Cards didn’t give up any “blue chip” talent, but we all know this was as much a salary dump as anything. The horrible deal that got moved also got worse. To induce Arenado to waive his no-trade clause, the Cards had to add another year and $15MM to Arenado’s contract. Now he’s signed through 2027 at $214M. The Rockies are paying $51M of it, including all of his $35M salary in 2021. And for all the prospect capital that STL sent to COL, Arenado can still opt out of the deal after 2021 and also after 2022, another concession the Cards gave him to induce him to waive the no-trade, said no-trade being immediately reinstated upon completion of the deal.
I will say this much. I all likelihood, there should be little concern over the opt outs. Arenado would be a fool to walk away from $214M guaranteed at age 29 when his game has noticeably slipped over the last 2 seasons and he’s moving away from the most hitter friendly park in the league. The no-trade aspect makes this a true albatross deal; the Cards are now chained to this deal for the next 7 years.
I truly hope that Arenado stays fully healthy and plays at a $35M level for them for at least the early part of the deal. STL is a great baseball town and deserves a great baseball team. I just find it a little ironic that they would import such a deal attached to an aging player when they wouldn’t outbid LAA to give their own home grown star Albert Pujols his own albatross deal several years ago. But hey… it’s always easier to spend someone else’s money, right? Just ask Congress.
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Just…
… days until P&CR.
Maybe.
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Notice Newk has a bat in his hand. Just thought I’d point that out. 😀
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When you are a septuagenarian, it is a lot easier to be snow bound. No blizzard needed, just a dusting will do. I feel a lot like the boy in the bubble.
Now baseball. Just who in their division are the cards going to get beat by this season. Not the gutted Cubs nor the woeful Pirates. The Reds after they ditched their starting pitching staff?
So it is them and the Brewers. MEH!
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The Brewers have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Marcell Ozuna. I’m sure there would have to be a DH available there for them to be really serious. But Ozuna in Millie as a DH makes them a competitor for the division. Let’s all hope that Ozuna does NOT land there… and lands here instead.
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V, I just have to respectfully disagree on Arenado. Who exactly says he’s aging? I am a night owl, and I see the highlights of the games out west, (they are more west than us, right? 😉 and play a lot of west coast teams) as must as I despise Manny M of the Pads, he’s an awesome 3rd baseman, but no one, no one comes close to Arenado’s defense , game in, game out. If some snot nosed stat guy that never even put a glove on says his defense is worse than it was in 2018, 2019, well..they are just wrong! Dude has been po’ed for years since he did sign that contract, cuz he thought they were going to compete, and let folks like DJ LeMahieu, who’s the heart and soul of the Yanks now, leave. (and ol’ DJ , who I seem to recall was considered a huge beneficiary of playing in mile high air, has had 2 of his 3 best B.A. seasons in NYC, and joined them at…30)
Matt Holliday became a card at 29, and look at his numbers, basically the same as in Colorado https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hollima01.shtml
Remember Andrés Galarraga??? (of course you do, everyone does! 🙂 ) never hit more than 31 homers til he was 35 , came here at 37 (wow!) and only hit 44 121 ,.305 .397! barely down from his last season in Colorado.
Arenado , in 2019 hit 41 118 .315 .379 . He must have been injured last year, as he only played 48 games.
Now, he’s going to be playing in front of…well, perhaps a lot of fans…on a team that wants to win, in a division where seemingly every other team doesn’t want to win, so the Cards, if they stay just semi healthy will win the next 2-3 divisions.
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” as must as I despise Manny M of the Pads, ” ???
I must despise him….much, I believe is the word I was looking for
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Ber, disagreement is a good thing. Keeps things from getting boring. That’s why we’re here, right? If we all just agreed on everything there wouldn’t be much to type about. And this is truly one of those things where only time will tell the tale.
As for Galarraga, I loved the guy, and loved him as a Brave. Look at pictures of him as an Expo and a Rockie… and as a Brave, Had a Bondsian growth spurt as an adult. Weird, huh? That’s all I’ll say about that.
Now… back to Arenado. Remember, I qualified my statement as saying I hope he rebounds to his All-Star self. But 2020 was not an All-Star year. Plus, he had a fairly serious injury that may or may not have lasting effects. We won’t know until it plays itself out, literally. And what I should have made clearer is that a 90% Nolan Arenado is still better than most 3B in the game, so there’s that. I just feel that $214M committed for the next 7 years to a player coming off major injury who has put up monster numbers playing half his games in COL is a real stepout. With that contract, he’s the team’s foundation for most of this next decade, a decade where he’ll play in his 30’s.
Home slash career: .322/.376/.609
Away slash career: .263/.322/.471
Hugely disproportionate..? Debatable. But it is noticeably disproportionate. Again, time will tell the tale in Busch Stadium. For what it’s worth, he’s played 24 games in Busch in his career and has a slash line of .278/.337/.511 there. Looks basically right in the middle of his home/away disparity. I’m sure the Cards will take those numbers. We’ll get a good idea in 81 games there this year (maybe).
For what it’s worth, his slash over 10 games in Truist Park is just .255/.255/.447. Maybe that’s why Alex didn’t make a harder push for him. Well, that and $214M.
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When you are a septuagenarian, it is a lot easier to be snow bound. No blizzard needed, just a dusting will do. I feel a lot like the boy in the bubble.
Gil, I feel ya! My dads nearly a …nonagenarian….I have had to do all the shopping (In fact, since the chinaplague is getting worse and worse in GA, I am now ordering in, which you and CL really ought to consider, at least to keep visits down from the places that no doubt this crud keeps spreading in, it surely isn’t Churches!) and Dad , who still can drive and get around a bit (usually in a cart in a store, or Home Depot) is stuck at home, except for …ugh…doctor’s appointments. Trying to do some of those by phone now, cuz…hospitals also have to be dandy places to get it.
Feel bad for him, he gets to sit in the car while I go in an Ingles (NO one shops at the one near us, most of the time) or , big event yesterday, we drove in separate cars to get his fuel pump replaced (I now have a bad shoulder to go along with a bad back, so not much I can do on a car 😦 )
and not to be a gloomy Gus, but now “they” you know, the experts who are never wrong, say that this Brazilian strain is quite worrisome as it’s spread like wildfire in places that already should have had herd immunity.
In another time, we would have declared war on a country that brought this plague upon us (and the world)
Instead, ChinaJoe will be kissing said nations butt for 4 years, or until the lady gets bored being a mere VP….
sigh….
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Yep…. I have not been able to pick up my pain med refill for a week but thanks to judicious rationing, I am holding out. They do not deliver those. SIGH!
It is snowing still here. Not a lot of snow but enough. I don’t know how the ground hog saw his shadow today but that furry little rat has been as accurate as a CNN poll.
I get the loss of ability to do things normally you could do yourself. The tough part is finding competent people to do it for you.
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I don’t know how the ground hog saw his shadow today
He didn’t. They drug him out of the door on the side of a warm plastic tree stump, surrounded by throngs of cameras and outdoor lighting, set him down on a piece of carpet on top of the stump while about 7 or 8 grown men (supposedly) gathered around him to “hear” his prediction, which they translated to the adoring press. The only thing that rat saw was a mob of delusional play actors. I really wish he had bitten one of them. It would have been more satisfying.
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“I really wish he had bitten one of them.”
It has happened before, it never ended well for the groundhog… 🙂
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Systemic human privilege..
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I heard they drug [fill in your favorite White House official here] out of their warm office this morning too and they predicted 6 more weeks of death, doom, and destruction. It’s about as credible. Fear is an easy emotion to manipulate.
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just did some quick math on the Arenado deal….it averages (it really doesn’t since the Rockies will pay him 35 mil this year to hit 40+ homers for the Cards, Rock fans must LOVE that, and no blue chip guys coming back!)
just play along. just a tick above 23 Mil a season! Wow…
and only 15 mil for his last season of the deal, at the age of 36. Rockies GM must really be smart (or under a lot of pressure from yet another stupid, yet somehow a billionaire owner)
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just a tick above 23 Mil a season
Yep. Chump change. What a bargain.
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“yet somehow a billionaire owner”
Remember most billionaires got that way by under paying those who work for them, just saying..
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Olney says the Tigers are “circling” or “kicking the tires” or some other vague cliche on some 3rd tier free agents including Adam Duvall.
We are at a critical juncture. If there will be no DH, then make a move on Marcell Ozuna now anyway. If not, then Duvall may be among the best of the rest.
In the words of Uncle Joe, “Come on, man!” Find us a LF, Alex. My stress level doesn’t need to be this high.
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I read this comment from a reader named “Monger” to an article on Tomahawk Take earlier:
So what gets me is this over fascination with Marcell Ozuna’s one flaw in his game. His supposed “terrible” defense. First let’s start out with the fact he actually has a Gold Glove at the MLB level in 2017, just 4 years ago. I know he had some shoulder issues and doesn’t have the arm strength he once had, but how is he really that much of a liability in left field? He made 2 errors last season. In his 2019 and 2018 full seasons in the outfield he made 4 errors each season. I know the advanced stat nerds will jump all over this, but I’m talking basics. Left field is the easiest outfield position to play, and it’s made to hide your weaker defenders. So why would you not want a legit 35-40 Homerun guy with 100 RBI potential who is a career .271 hitter and is such a great fit in clubhouse? Because he will make 3-4 errors in the field every year? Lol. His arm is not that bad and he is not some bumbling drunk out there. True he is not the same defender he once was, but this is waaaayyyy overblown.
Well said, Monger. Well said.
Any deal is a risk, whether it’s committing $72M for a guy you already know or committing $214M to a guy you just traded for. It’s even a risk to extend your future HOF’er to keep him a lifetime Brave. Some risks pay off, some don’t. But the ones you don’t take never pay off.
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Excellent opine.
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V, Toronto seems to be one team with far too many outfielders…you mentioned Randal Grichuk…. last year, 12 35 .273 .312 (doesn’t walk much, a pattern for many a Jay hitter) good enough to protect FF???
all 3 right handed hitters…so, not really fits, are they??? Is Thoppy most concerned about building up Ender’s numbers, so they can trade him later on?
or will he make a deal with Ozuna, basically the only guy that makes sense right now?
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weird, copied info from CBS website, and it chopped on OBP, on 2 of the guys…. oh well…
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Is Thoppy most concerned about building up Ender’s numbers, so they can trade him later on?
I do not believe that factors in. You can’t sacrifice that much of your batting order in hopes a guy might show some worth… not if you are a contending team. Pretenders do that all the time, though.
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remember this guy playing left for the Phils? Going to the playoffs several years, and winning the w.s. one year??? And he played left on astroturf????
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Loved The Bull! He was one of my favorite non-Braves.
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Jon Heyman, on what transpired between the league and union regarding these last proposals:
No counter by players union to MLB proposal, as expected. MLB offered to eliminate the language to delay the season since the players union believed the delay gave expanded powers to cancel/postpone games to the Commissioner. The union still didn’t counter. This does not bode well for avoiding a work stoppage when CBA expires in a year.
It’s almost like they were going to say “no” regardless of the proposal.
To clarify, MLB offered to eliminate language in the proposal the union thought gave expanded powers to cancel/postpone games to Manfred. With the change, both sides would have retained rights to legal action and the CBA default language would apply for pay and service.
MLB planning for on-time start now.
If I had to guess, there will be no more offers or proposals. The DH in the NL is dead for 2021.
My sympathies generally lie with the players as the game is nothing without them. But I don’t see why the union — after months to think about it with a couple weeks to go, and wanting the universal DH and being offered 162 games pay for 154 games — never even made one proposal. Reasons to counter: get DH in NL which both sides want and protects pitchers who haven’t hit since ‘19, possibly lessen Covid risk via month delay, add playoffs (if fair $ split can be worked out) to generate profits/interest, send positive message to fans about future CBA talks.
My sympathies generally lie with the owners, but I can see the view from both perspectives. And I agree with the union that the expanded playoffs do water down the postseason and make it easier for teams to get in, thus disincentivizing them from making the necessary deals for excellence when mediocre will suffice.
I mean, its entirely possible that the Braves braintrust has ben holding of on making any real transformative moves because they may have felt it wasn’t necessary. After all, they have the horses to win 84 games and sneak into the party. What they can’t do as currently constructed is win 94 games and strut through the front door.
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Please understand, negotiations between unions and management have little to do with common sense in my experiences . It is all about power and greed. Shameful but true.
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MLB is notorious for making 12th hour, no make that “13th” hour deals and changes, but I truly believe that this last proposal made by the league to the union was the last one. It’s glaringly apparent that there can be no agreement between the two parties on any issue, even one both sides want, prior to a new CBA being negotiated at season’s end. And it doesn’t take a prophet or soothsayer to believe that regardless of the state of COVID, baseball as we know it probably won’t start on time in 2022. This looks to get messy… very messy. No… check that. It’s already messy. It’s gonna be a bloodbath.
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Not sure I realized Ryan Braun was a free agent without a team. How is it that his name is virtually unmentioned all off-season? I know he’s older, but he hasn’t suffered an Ugglian decline, has he?
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Not unexpected. IMO, it’s immediate fallout from the lack of agreement on the DH. Marcell Ozuna will be next… and likely soon.
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The ajc’s Tim Tucker does a deep dive into the Braves payroll, spending alot of time and energy to come to the same conclusion we’ve been discussing for months:
As it stands now, the Braves’ player payroll is about $35 million less than it would have been for a full 2020 season and the second lowest in the National League East.
That means one of two things: Either the Braves have some big and expensive moves left to make this offseason, or they’ll cut the payroll for 2021 after the steep revenue drop of 2020.
Yep, he really drew some real intuitive conclusions there, didn’t he?
Journalism.
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Yep, prophet star for Vee.
As for Braun, he has been up and down since he was caught (ahem) for juicing. Yes, we know the evidence was disallowed but he has been crucified in the court of public opinion.
Still, if you needed a cheap back up outfielder….
And now you get a good sense of where Ozuna stands as far as what the Braves are willing to pay and what Ozuna likely thinks he is worth. I would venture to think the two sides are about $5M per season apart right now.
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And now, pretty solidly just…
… days until P&CR.
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Buyer beware.
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Truth be told, I’d take him… You have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet and Bauer is about as cracked as they come so he has a head start…
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😆
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I’m a little concerned about the other ingredients…
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I believe, only as a gut feeling and with no substantiation, that the following will happen:
Marcell Ozuna will sign in Atlanta. I have no idea what the contract will look like… whether it will be for 4 years or another big 1 year deal. But if I was pressed to answer, I’d say 4 years / $72M. I think Cruz signing in Minnie signals that Ozuna could be on the verge of making his own deal.
And I also believe that one of Mark Melancon or Shane Greene will be re-signed. Again, just a gut thing, but I think that AA would prefer Greene, but the likelihood is that Greene will want 2 years and Alex will only offer 1. I think Melancon would also prefer 2, but is more likely to take 1. And I think that discrepancy is what’s keeping a deal from happening. I think Alex is trying to wait Greene out hoping Melancon might still be there as a fallback.
And I think Adam Duvall could return as a bench piece, but only if he doesn’t get an everyday gig somewhere else. Less likely, but still possible.
Again, I have nothing concrete to base any of that on, but I believe it will happen.
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Question for the Stuffians…
If Ozuna comes home, how do you best like the bating order? Do you like Freddie at #2 or #3?
Do you prefer:
Acuña, Ozzie, Freddie, Marcell
or
Acuña, Freddie, Marcell?
That’s tough for me. Freddie won his MVP batting mostly 2nd. But Acuña, Ozzie, Freddie, Marcell starts off fast and powerful. Get both Ronnie and Ozzie on base and it gives pitchers fits while still trying to make quality pitches to Freddie and/or Marcell.
Acuña, Ozzie, Freddie, Marcell, d’Arnaud, Riley, Dansby, Cristian… it’s very RH heavy, especially at the bottom.
Thus, I suppose that Acuña, Freddie, Marcell, d’Arnaud, Ozzie, Riley, Dansby, Cristian makes the most sense, otherwise you have your only true LH and only SH back to back.
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One would think the batting order is dependent on the lower half of the line up’s ability to consistently hit against right handed pitching. If there is a big difference you might well see Ozzie dropped into the 5 hole and see Camargo substituted in late innings. Maybe even see the Panda take a turn or two at third.
Still way early to know what magic AA could pull out of the hat as far as late waiver deals he could pick up. That is where the computer nerds earn their keep in recommending acquisitions.
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I believe the line-up which featured Freddie batting second was dependent upon the DH being implemented. Somewhere there is a computer spitting out the info from which the decision shall be made.
All said, Freddie is not your prototypical homerun hitter. It is not his game so I am sure that is taken into account.
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When the lineup, which demands RH power behind Freddie, features 6 RHs, 1 LH, and 1 SH, it’s pretty hard not to bunch up the same-sidedness.
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Yes it is.
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DO’B: Braves ace Soroka’s timetable for return could be affected if he must go to bat and run bases.
Ugh. It’s the ugly truth. Alex should be on the phone as an arbiter between the stupid league officials and stupid union officials begging the virtues of keeping the universal DH. I wonder how many NL pitchers who haven’t even picked up a bat in a year are going to injure themselves this spring? But I suppose that’s not as important to the union as saving face and not appearing to give an inch. Idiots.
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There are rumors ou tthere that the Rays have made a multi-year offer to Marcell Ozuna, and reportedly Ozuna was on a live stream last night and would neither confirm or deny such.
I have a queasy feeling in my belly…
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wow…would never have guessed them being interested!
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Ouch.
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Apparently not yet sealed.
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And late last night, Thoppy prodigy and new Angels GM Perry Minasian shows his upbringing by swinging a deal for the Cards’ Dexter Fowler seemingly out of nowhere, showing us that anything can still happen between now and the beginning of camp… especially when you run a ninja front office.
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And Fowler is in the last year of his big contract, so the Angels are only on the hook for 12 year. Also sounds very Thoppy-like, doesn’t it?
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1 year. Big thumb hit extra keys.
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Of all days to miss.
Yesterday, there were just…
… days until P&CR.
Oops.
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And today, just…
… until P&CR.
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I was out in the truck a good bit yesterday, and heard a guy commenting on an article in ESPN called “Way-too-early 2021 MLB Starting Lineup Rankings”. The full article is behind a pay wall, so I couldn’t access it to see the rankings, but the radio talker noted that as currently constructed, ESPN has the Braves ranked as the #10 lineup in baseball.
That might be generous.
But the thing I found especially interesting was the batting order they listed. They had our starting 8 going thus: Acuña, Dans, Freddie, d’Arnaud, Ozzie, Riley, Ender, Pache.
Dans at #2? I suppose when you consider the power potential of Ozzie, batting him in the middle of the order makes sense. And Dans did seem to finally come into his own last year. As the lineup currently sits, I think that order is probably my favorite.
Let’s hope this whole post is rendered obsolete very soon,
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So the assertion that the Mets and Bauer had come to agreement was premature. It appears that there is a deal on the table from NYM, offered on Jan. 16, for 3 years / $90M, with a 4th year option. Not sure what the Dodgers are offering, but the rumors say that they offering 1 year at a much higher AAV. An it appears that it’s down to those 2 teams. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a choice made today. It feels like it’s close.
And Ozuna has to be close himself, unless he just doesn’t want to report to spring training until mid-camp.
The calendar is ticking… or something like that.
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Guess: Ozuna still wants 4 years / $72M. Braves are offering half the years at higher AAV… maybe 2 years / $40M? Extended guess: They’ll meet in the middle at 3 years / $57M, with a 4th year option.
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I think the Braves are the best team for Ozuna, and I know Ozuna is the best remaining hitter for the Braves. They really need to just get it worked out.
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Let’s be honest, Ozuna is no worse in left field than Ryan Klesko. Certainly he is better than many others who have occupied the position. At worse he would serve as the left fielder for only one year and whenever playing away in an American league park he would DH so bite the bullet and get it done Alex. Sometimes you can shop for a bargain a little bit too long and discover that the last one is also gone and the rest are on back order.
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So today, on February 5, 2021, I have a wish list. I realize it’s not Christmas, but my list will look like it is because the likelihood of it being filled is about as likely as Santa being real.
But here it is… my list:
Item #1: I wish the DH would be back in the NL for good. And for me, that’s a real reversal of philosophy. But after having it for 2020, I have given in to the practicality of not having my pitcher stand at the plate and look like a doofus, with the very real possibility of injury occurring if he should actually make contact with the pitched ball.
Item #2: I wish Marcell Ozuna was signed to be the Braves DH.
Item #3: I wish the Braves could make a trade for a LH hitting LF, and send Ender Inciarte away in the process. Maybe that should be in its own wish. [The Cards are paying $14M of Dexter Fowler’s deal to the Angels. Why couldn’t we have just swapped Ender for Dexter and made the money work out for both? But that is too late now.]
Item #4: In it’s own standalone wish, I wish Ender Inciarte could be traded away. Period. I don’t care if they have to eat $7M of the $8M. Heck, eat it all. It’s already a sunk cost on a horrid hitter. Bye.
Item #5: I wish the Braves would sign Adam Duvall for the bench.
Item #6: I wish the Braves would sign Trevor Rosenthal to be our closer. I have no issues with Chris Martin or Will Smith. I just like them in the 7th and 8th innings. Let Rosenthal slam the door like he’s done so many times in his career. If not Rosenthal, then either Mark Melancon or Shane Greene. I just believe we need one more horse down there. Just one. I’m not greedy.
Item #7: Nothing. I’m happy with the first 6. I’ve even given up my droning on about a backup catcher. After all, Alex Jackson has to move out of the way at AAA so that William Contreras can get his time in there. He might as well come on up and —- or get off the proverbial pot.
Now if only a couple of those things come to being I’ll be happy. More than 3 and I’ll be ecstatic. But let’s start with #1 or #2 and see what happens next.
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So let’s see… where is there another team that is looking to shed payroll, that has a veteran OF in the last year or so of a big contract, that could be looking to trade said veteran and save some $$ in a year that is lost before it even starts?
Would a guy that slashed .303/.356/.448 in 2020 with 6 HR in 39 games, which equates to 25 over 162 be of interest? That guy slashed .314/.364/.576 with 32 HRs in 2019.
He’s owed $21M for 2021, with player options for $21M in 2022 & $10M in 2023. That 2023 option would almost certainly not be exercised, and the 2022 might not given the money being given out in FA this year.
At worst, you have him on the hook for 3 years / $52M ($17.33M AAV), but you possibly have him for 2 years / $42M, which is much more up AA’s alley.
That player is the Rockies Charlie Blackmon. He might be a fallback option for LF if Marcell Ozuna doesn’t come home. He’s a LH, and thus not the “ideal” pickup, but he’s a heckuva lot better option than what we currently have on the roster. And he’s a hustle guy that plays a great defensive OF.
Heck, I might even like him better on the roster than Ozuna… especially without a DH this year.
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Yes, I realize half of those power outbursts come in Rocky Mountain High, but I’m grasping at straws here.
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Uh, does this really say anything new?
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I believe Craig Mish is the Marlins reporter that said a JT Realmuto to Braves trade was a virtual lock a couple of years ago. He whiffed on that one.
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I’ll lean toward Topkin that he knows the Rays’ business better than Mish.
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I just believe that Ozuna would choose the Braves if the Braves choose him. That’s the bigger mystery here… what exactly are they looking for up there in the offices of Truist Park?
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I am not surprised.
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… but I am a little relieved.
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Cross-confirmation.
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Serious question… how are opt-outs different than player options? Don’t they operate the same way? Am I missing something? Is it just new terminology?
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I understand it in the context that you have a, say… 7 year deal with an opt out after year 2, where you’re tied to the remaining 5 years if it’s not exercised. But if you have an opt-out after each year of a 3 year deal, isn’t it essentially a 1 year deal with a pair of player options?
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I cannot fathom these numbers. Can we just sign Marcell for a piddling $18M please?
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I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a guy that takes his own BS more seriously than this dude. What an egomaniac.
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There is something wrong with this picture. When money isn’t an obstacle, why would they care about the threshold? Answer: They don’t.
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I’m just spitballin’ here, but I’m gonna guess it’s not for $40M.
Good luck, Folty. And eat a sammich, OK?
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I cannot fathom these numbers. Can we just sign Marcell for a piddling $18M please?
he may be wanting more than that number….honestly, can’t blame him. (doesn’t mean he’s gonna get it)
Braves are pay Charlie Morton 15 Mil to hopefully make 24-27 starts??? (think I’m exaggerating? he never made more than 29 starts til he was 35!)
Michael Brantley is making 16 mil, after hitting 5 Homers last year, in 47 games. Yeah, good defender, also 34 in May.
So, if the braves act like they can’t go more than 2 years, 36-38 mil, would one blame him for taking say, 22 Mil for one year somewhere else, roll the dice on yet another good season, and a 3 year deal next off season ?) I mean, you can, you can only spend so much moola, but…still…
Braves need him, more than he needs us….still makes a ton of sense, if you want to say, compete in 2021, to sign him again (imagine the braves offense if say FF…missed 6 weeks with a pulled hammy! :8O: :80:
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Boom!!
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And just like the Braves lineup comes together, and Ender Inciarte is no longer in it.
Thank you Jesus!
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Santa is real!!
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Yea… 🙂
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Okay, the hard part is done, now add the finishing pieces. Back up catcher, Closer, bench bat
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I’ll live with Alex Jackson if I can get a closer and bench bat.
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So there is joy in Mudville tonight. One has to wonder at the games players, owners, GMs and agents play with the media to gain their ends. It is a real merry go round of rumors, bluffs and feigned interest all designed to keep the other side guessing.
i give you Marcel Ozuna as a prime example. Nary a peep until someone leaked the Rays had extended an offer, then suddenly the Marlins, ChiSox, Boston were interested? Sigh! No worry, at some point Braves Twitter will bemoan the signing as too much for an aging slugger while other will say it was a bargain at any cost. So be it… I for one am happy to see the much needed slugger in the fold and so what if he lets in a run or two. Everybody makes an error now and then. Just make the plays you are suppose to make and try not to run over Pache’ while lumbering after an occasional fly ball. At worse it will only be this year he will ply the outfield before becoming Atlanta’s version of Bid Pappi.
His contract is not so huge as to prevent the A from signing Freddie Free to a long time extension next spring and from shelling out a few extra dollars to get some end of the season help. After all, Ender still lerks in the shadows. 🙂
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In honor of our newly minted big RH bopper, just…
… days until P&CR.
From one monster masher to another. 😀
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(And there was no way I was going to use the image of our current #11 in this series. Not hap’nin’.)
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I pose a couple of further thoughts and players and their relative worth.
$40 million for Trevor Bauer… whew, great work if you can get it. People on the left coast think in Monopoly money figures. No wonder they are in hock up to their eyeballs.
In the meantime I wonder at the extravagance of the platinum upgrade for my home warranty.
There is a huge downside to playing in LA… To me it’s living in LA… Not exactly all the glitz we see portrayed in the movies, especially since many are now filmed in Canada and (ahem) Georgia. All it takes for LaLa Land to portray someplace as somewhere else is a road sign.
Anyhoo, back to my original rabbit: I guess if you can afford it, why not overpay. After all, Atlanta’s only World Series championship came when they were in the upper strata of payroll expenses.
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I do not begrudge the signing at all. I am a free market person. If someone is willing to pay, then so be it.
But it’s goofy when you consider the numbers I saw earlier this morning…
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I’ll take our 3 over their 1.
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Absolutely
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Camargo’s HR, must-see grab lead DR to title:
https://www.mlb.com/news/johan-camargo-amazing-play-caribbean-series
I know the camera adds 10 pounds but it looks to me that Johan has bulked up over the winter.
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Alex A did a radio interview yesterday, and was a little more forthcoming about his plans than he usually is. But I think that is more a product of the fact that his heavy lifting is over than anything else. I’ve ready more than one commentary on his interview, and there are a few items that are now universally accepted.
For one, the overall payroll will not be as high as last year’s ending amount. [To me, that’s OK. He has dome enough shopping in the expensive aisle with Charlie Morton, Drew Smyly, and Marcell Ozuna to satisfy me.]
He is still looking to add some periphery items. He stated that he would like to strengthen both the bullpen and the bench. [This is not really news. We all know those are areas of need. I think he would prefer a LH bat, which is not Adam Duvall, but that’s the level of player we’re talking about. I know he needs a RH reliever, but I won’t be surprised to see that come via trade. We can deal from our excess of LH to obtain a RH. There are plenty of teams in need of LH arms.]
He mentioned that he’ll hang onto his famous “payroll flexibility” for mid-season, but also with an eye toward a possible DH. He acknowledged that the DH could still be added at the last minute and that he would address it if it does. [Translation: Big Bear will be our DH as soon as it’s instituted. Alex will go get a LF, not a DH. Duh.]
As Alan Carpenter at Tomahawk Take pointed out, the one thing Alex did not mention is catcher. [The natural conclusion here is that Alex Jackson and William Contreras will battle for the backup catcher spot. Carpenter discusses it at length, which I won’t repeat. But suffice to say it appears that the youngsters will get an opportunity to earn a job, and both would have to fail for AA to go hunting for a veteran.]
I believe that there will still be 2 or 3 more pieces added to the roster as Thoppy conceded. I won’t be surprised if those additions come during camp as all 30 teams start shaping their rosters and assessing needs. That’s when good and capable bench pieces and relievers become available again. Remember Matt Joyce? Picked up during camp. There has been a pitcher or 2 in that same category that really helped the team flesh out a needy bullpen. And while this year’s is not so much needy, there is still room for improvement. I say all that to say this, there is still time to finalize the roster prior to Opening Day. It doesn’t have ot happen before next Wednesday.
Which reminds me…
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Yesterday, there were only…
… days until P&CR.
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And today, there are only…
… days until P&CR.
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Oh glorious spring is right around the corner. Reports of Orioles, Blue Jays and Cardinals flying south to portend the coming of summer….
Soon the Braves will be the only “tribe” left in baseball. It is a sad passing of a great era in baseball. Will the next name change be the all encompassing “Trangenders”? Let’s go “T”s… could add a whole new meaning to the “Chop”..
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Yes Vee, one never knows which players will emerge from training camp as the next savior of the franchise. Sometimes a player takes the opportunity to get their mind right during the off season, a batter perfects their stroke, getting rid of a hitch or a pitchers adds a couple of miles per hour to their fast ball or learns how to throw a slider or a third pitch. Another opportunity to grow into their “man weight”. I only wish I could be there to see it.
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One of the under the radar signings was right handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. late of the Seattle Mariners. A slightly built (6-1 170 lbs) from South Carolina. He has experienced arm issues in the past but has decent numbers when healthy. A diamond in the rough or a flyer? Spring training grist for the mill? We shall see.
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Most sense I would guess is 3 separate pods if they want to cut travel to a minimum which I suppose is their aim.
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The one thing both sides want and they can’t figure out a way to agree on it.
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Reminds me of a divorce settlement when both sides want an agreement but don’t want to admit it.
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This is how it has been explained…
The union sys publicly they want it for player safety to prevent pitchers from doing things they can’t do… even though we all know they want it because it provides an additional high paying position on each team. The league sees it as an additional position that causes an increase to player wages, and thus a payroll increase, and they want something as a concession from the union in return. The union doesn’t want to concede anything, especially because they know that ultimately the league really wants it as well because it helps increase scoring and by extension increase fan interest.
It’s all pretty stupid. Just add it and move on. The fans will appreciate it. (Like we matter.)
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Vox O’Reasoñ
February 1, 2021 at 9:55 am
Heck, I think I’d prefer FA Jake Marisnick over Ender Inciarte in LF. I know I’d prefer him on my bench over Almonte.
I read Maricnick’s name this morning on a popular fan site as a speculative pickup for the Braves. What I read seemed to mirror what I posted here on Feb. 1… that I would like him for the bench over Ender Inciarte. The author even said he’d like to pair Marisnick with Adam Duvall for a L/R bench combo and possible LF platoon in the event the universal DH came to reality.
I wonder if Jake reads the ol’ B&S?
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Oh course they do, you are one of their best un-paid consultant/advisor.
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Just…
… days until P&CR.
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Love this!!
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Love this too!!
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Adam Duvall off the market to… the Marlins.
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Good for him, I wish him well, now the Braves can sign Jackie Bradley Jr. and everybody can be happy…
Well, I can be happy..
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Did y’all read the blerb about MLB attempting to de-juice the balls for 2021. I guess it became too obvious even for the brass, especially since they have to pay higher salaries based on the number of homeruns hit.
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File this one under “stuff” and enjoy…
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Yep, the “REAL” joke is the New York Times… IMO…
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I tried to share the video link directly, but WordPress was not cooperative in that pursuit. I could not possible care less about the accompanying article, but that video has made me laugh all morning.
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Oh yeah. Almost forgot.
Just…
… days until P&CR.
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?
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Must be hard to recognize Dansby with the guard covering much of his face…
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Not what I am seeing. Getting a circle with a slash and a message which says, This message hot linked…
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Would have been a good bench candidate here…
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I still wouldn’t mind seeing Yasiel Puig here for our bench. I know he’s a RH, but he has posted reverse splits for his career and thus would be as good as a LH. And if the DH should be cast upon us at the last minute, he can play a good LF.
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Yes, I suggest Puig earlier.
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Pretty big trade last night, as detailed by Jeff Passan:
Royals get: OF Andrew Benintendi
Mets get: OF Khalil Lee
Red Sox get: OF Franchy Cordero, RHP Josh Winckowski, two PTBNLs from Kansas City, one PTBNL from New York
I would have liked to see Benintendi on the Braves as a complimentary piece, but he’s not a perennial All-Star. Of more direct impact to the Braves, though, is the OF the Mets got. He’s a young OF that is close to ML ready, but still has work to do. He’s more of a young Ender Inciarte type… great speed and great defense, whose bat has not yet caught up. So to me, it’s not a huge gain for the division rivals, and it’s certainly not something that will help them in 2021.
In other words, nothing to see here. I think the Royals and Red Sox did better… especially the Sox.
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So, put a team together with Ozzie, Ronald, Ozuna and toss in Puig and you have the makings of a latino posse.
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They would have all the white guys doing salsa and drinking Red Stripes in the club house.
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Instead of the big Tom Tom out in right field they could have a steel drum Caribbean group… Whee, what fun… Seriously, could be a real fun time.
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I like the idea of Puig on this team as a PH, but I love the idea if the DH is added and he’s the LF, at least part time.
Consider:
Acuña, RF
Swanson, SS
Freddie, 1B
Marcell, DH
Ozzie, 2B
d’Arnaud, C
Puig, LF
Riley, 3B
Pache, CF
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That is a very stout and powerful looking line-up. Even when taking into account the mixing and matching which occurs over a 154-162 game season. Looking at Camargo’s photos, I am not so sure he hasn’t “grown” out of the short stop position. He has developed into more of a 2nd base, third base body. Which means the Braves will need a utility infielder who can spell Dansby or they will need to shift Ozzie to short on occasion.
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Looking at Camargo’s photos, I am not so sure he hasn’t “grown” out of the short stop position.
Camargo hasn’t been a viable SS for a couple of seasons already. That’s why Charlie and Hecheverria were around. This year’s presumed backup SS is the recently signed Ehire Adrianza. He can pick ’em. Not anything to write home about with a bat in his hands, but he can flash the leather.
I think the better point you make is that we shouldn’t just hand the 3B job to Austin Riley, who quite honestly has not really established himself as an everyday ML player. He can hit it a long way, but you have to make contact for that to happen. That’s where Riles struggles.
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I am so old that I remember when the shortstop was considered a defensive position and a light bat was very acceptable over a stellar glove. Of course Cal Ripken came along and that went by the wayside. Up to a point…
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Yikes. I almost forgot. And today’s is a special one.
Just…
… days until P&CR.
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Reading an article this morning called Starting Nine: Bold predictions for Braves at spring training.
The author does in fact lay out some pretty “bold” predictions.. or are they?
Among them, he predicts:
The starting third baseman isn’t on the roster just yet. I don’t think this is very bold. This is how Bleacher Report assesses the Braves 3B situation: Rank: 21. Braves Johan Camargo/Austin Riley. If the Braves get a full-season version of the Austin Riley, who clubbed nine home runs in the first 18 games of his MLB career last year, this ranking will look incredibly foolish. If they instead get the Riley who batted .192 the rest of the year while striking out in more than 40 percent of his at bats, they’ll have little choice but to turn to Camargo. But he is just as much of a wild card. After batting .272 with 19 home runs two years ago, he had the worst FanGraphs WAR on Atlanta’s roster in 2019. This 3B situation could be awesome or it could be a disaster, and it may well determine whether the Braves win the NL East. I pretty much agree with that assessment completely. If the Braves are going all in for 2021, they need more certainty at the hot corner.
Bryse Wilson claims the No. 5 spot (for now). Again, not a shocker. The loss of the DH means that Mike Soroka cannot come back until that Achilles is 100%, and that’s not likely to happen by Opening Day. That leaves the #5 spot as a competition between Wilson and Kyle Wright. Either could take it, but Wilson has the best shot.
The Braves cut the cord on Ender Inciarte and A reunion (or two) will happen. I combined a couple here. With Marcell Ozuna starting in LF, there is no place for Ender. He doesn’t help you off the bench as he couldn’t find a hit on Spotify. The Braves do need a LH for the bench, and Nick Markakis might be the guy. He’s no longer a starter, but he just might get you that double off in the gap in the 8th inning when you need to get that runner home from 2B. I could easily see that happening, especially if Alex spends the rest of his folding bills to upgrade 3B.
William Contreras locks down the backup catcher role. Not a stretch. See the last sentence above. Contreras > Alex Jackson.
There were 9 “bold” predictions in all, none of which were particularly bold. All are plausible. These are just the highlights. If you want the full article, you can find it here.
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Every year their are player who for one reason or the other don’t perform to the norm. Ender is a perfect example of “what happened to him”? Remember he went from leading the league in hits to not being able to buy a hit since.
Austin Riley? He is still a rookie and rookies always have an abysmal time of adjusting to big league when they discover he can hit anybody’s fastball but can be tricked with off speed pitches. Shuck, how often did we see Greg Maddux make Barry Bonds look foolish by throwing him change-ups?
One thing I have learned over many years of watching baseball, just like not being able to teach a kid how to throw a 100 mph fastball, you also cannot teach power at the plate. Those things, like fast twitch muscles and 15-20 eyesight, those are gifts from God and we should all be so lucky to possess them and learn to harness them. As it is, we mere humans don’t and therefore those who do get paid a lot of money to display them to we mere mortals.
If Camargo could return to his pre 2019 form and play a stellar third base, (I love his arm), he does have an edge in that he is a switch hitter and can balance a line-up.
One thing I have come to accept is having a guy who hits .240 but drives in 100 runs and hits 35 homeruns gets paid much more than a diminutive center fielder who bats .300 but had a .350 OPS. Just saying…
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Jake Marisnick is off the board to the Cubs…
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And just so that I can poke that bruise just a little harder…
As of today, the Braves’ OF options on the 40-man roster are Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Christian Pache, Ender Inciarte and Abraham Almonte. That is it. That is not acceptable.
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The smoke signals seem to say that the Mets are trying to obtain Kris Bryant from the Cubs. Let’s hope that does not happen.
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Too many avenues available to resolve these issues.
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Has anyone seen any content of Braves players working out in pre-season?
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There have been videos posted of RAJ working out. He’s already a stud, but he’s this year’s best candidate to come into camp in the BSOML.
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Marwin Gonzalez signs with the BoSox. That’s a good value pickup for them. It’s likely that the MarGo signing will preclude then re-upping with JBJr, which could theoretically be a good thing for ATL in the event the DH magically reappears. Most talkers and writers seem to think that Alex has about another $10M to spend in some manner.
Personally I’m hoping he can still work a trade for another hitter. I just can’t get on board with our bench as it currently sits, and I still have a gut feeling the DH will still enter the scene at the last hour.
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And today, just…
… days until P&CR.
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And as soon as I make this post, in accordance with everything that has been publicized about Spring Training 2021, I see that the Braves announced yesterday that their reporting date is actually Feb. 17, not the widely accepted Feb. 17. So all of the countdown has been a day early.
Dangit.

So… in honor of reality over perception, there are actually still just…
… days until P&CR.
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“I see that the Braves announced yesterday that their reporting date is actually Feb. 17, not the widely accepted Feb. 17.”
Man, I’m having a rough morning. I may go hibernate for a few hours…
I see that the Braves announced yesterday that their reporting date is actually Feb. 17, not the widely accepted Feb. 18.
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What in the world…
I’m gonna try this one more time. Where’s my coffee?!?!?
I see that the Braves announced yesterday that their reporting date is actually Feb. 18, not the widely accepted Feb. 17.
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Yes, it is tough when there is a disconnect between your brain and your fingers, happens to me a lot.
Well, a particularly surprising snow storm hit here yesterday and last night. The weather people were calling for 1-2 inches and we got around 5 inches. Our poor cedar trees are on the brink now and with the ice storm that cometh. I do hope they are wrong because they are predicting up to an inch of ice and we know what that means. NO POWER… UGH!
I keep thinking that a whole home generator is a big expense but my big brother says his is a life saver. I don’t know, we have been hit by lightning three time now and have had three tornados brush by in close proximity it may be a decent investment.
Now baseball… sounds as if people in Atlanta are getting nervous about the Braves third baseman situation. I suppose folks would not be baseball fans if they didn’t worry about something. Just saying.
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Darn global warming…
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Now baseball… sounds as if people in Atlanta are getting nervous about the Braves third baseman situation. I suppose folks would not be baseball fans if they didn’t worry about something.
I’m in that camp. I like Riley’s big time power, but I do not like his contact (or lack thereof) skills. And I do understand that these guys need time to “click”. But I am also looking at where the Braves are in their current competitive cycle. They are in the window now. Freddie is in his prime. Ronald is hitting his stride. Big Bear is here in his best possible years. The young pitchers that have been promised for so long are finally emerging.
It’s time to win now..
I have adopted the mantra of the moment… trade prospects for parades. We no longer need to hoard all these other pitchers that have yet to establish themselves. Let’s eliminate the remaining question marks and overtake the teams that are still in front of us.
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Major League Baseball announced on Friday a new plan for affiliated baseball, with 120 Minor League clubs officially agreeing to join the new Professional Development League (PDL).
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Another one off the table.
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I wondered if that might happen when I saw that TD had been placed on waivers.
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I cannot wait to see this guy perform over a whole season this year!!!
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And I believe with the new reporting date, there are just…
… days until P&CR.
(Kinda fitting that MVFree got 2 days of pics I think.)
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Justin Turner back to LA…
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2 years / $30M. Good work if you can get it.
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Yesterday there were just…
… days until P&CR.
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And today there are just…
… days until P&CR.
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Whew! White Power is way overrated… Ice storm cameth and wenteth and lefted us without electricity. 40 hours of being resourceful and fueling the generator every 6 hours. It is a smallish Honda but did keep the house temp at a balmy 58 degrees and the refrigerator cold.
This may well be the year a whole home generator gets installed.
Looks like I missed the Dayton 500… Oh well, any time a Penske Team does not win, well, you know it was a good day for me.
Now baseball, I am glad that Gwinnet and Norfolk are still in the same league. I will try for sure to make a game or two to scout Drew Waters.
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Well, it’s not Bryant but another insurance vet.
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Yep. And he does have some recent experience in the OF (2019, Indians) and not-so-recent experience at 3B (2010, Arizona Fall League).
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https://www.mlb.com/news/jason-kipnis-deal-with-braves
Link to Bowman’s spiel on the 2021 invites to camp. A lot of unknown names.
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Okay, unknown to me…
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CL… you OK out there? We’re the tornadoes near you?
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We’re = were. Spellchucker made an assumption.
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Just…
… days until P&CR!
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That’s right, just…
… days until P&CR! I’m excited too Ozzie!
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Well, it appears that the Braves threw me a curve and I whiffed. I initially thought today was reporting day, then they announced Feb. 18, but apparently that is the first workout. That means TODAY is actually the day that P&CR!
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Keep ’em guessing, that appears to be Alec’s mantra…
I guess today is a meet and greet and physicals. I suspect everyone has been going thru some level of workouts so at least they won’t be too sore from their early calisthenics beginning tomorrow.
I wonder how many had to give up their day jobs this season from installing windows? Just asking.
Looks like the Braves were .500 in their arbitration trials this year. Soroka winning his and Dansby losing his.
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https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/611yn-%2BVucL.AC_SY445.jpg
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Yep, never forget any bit of trivia from spring training. Nor everyone’s favorite janitor/parking valet either.
Who will be the surprise player coming out of spring training this year? There is always at least one or have we become so entuned to the player’s little nuances to no longer surprized by any turn of events?
Will the beat writers have more access this year or are the locked out like the rest of us?
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I look for a surprise young arm in the bullpen.
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Makes Ronnie and Ozzie look like paupers.
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Yes, it will be tough to get by on a measly $100 million… In retrospect, it equals out to about the same net, it takes 3 times as much to live in LaLa Land as it does in JawJa.. In the immortal words of Greg Maddux when he was asked about taking a pay cut in Atlanta verses other cities: “poor me, I guess I’ll just have to get by” …
Still, it is a lot of moola and I am sure there will be players who will be envious. All I have to say is someone believes the gravy train won’t stop and if it does, they will declare bankruptcy and all the contracts will become null and void. What surprises me is how they hooked and insurance company into covering that big contract.
So, congratulations to Tatis, it is a great work if you can get it. I am sure Uncle Sam will be happy to help him spend it.
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Well, the ol’ blog is starting to lag a bit. I need to write a new lead… after all, spring training is now sprung training and the leather’s about to start poppin’. I just started a new job this week and I’m a little more structured and have a little less time on my hands. Still, gotta write, so it’ll be coming soon.
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YEA!… 🙂
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I like it… alot.
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Just read O’Brien’s spiel on the signing of Jake Lamb. I doubt the Braves paid a lot but hopefully it will be another of Alec’s gems off the rubbish pile.
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Freeman delayed to Braves camp by birth of twin boys: Good reason to show up late,,, Congratulations Big Guy…
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Two good reasons. 🙂
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Beautiful.
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Officially official.
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I like it. He’s a good 4th OF candidate. Better than some of the others. Not sure who will lose their roster spot for this, but he’s a good add.
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There ya go…
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I know most of you are too young to remember when the Braves routinely plucked 4th outfielders off of other teams waivers, the only difference is at least now they aren’t slated as starters on the Braves.
Old Lewis Grizzard joke: What do the Atlanta Braves and Michael Jackson have in common? They both wear a glove on one hand for no apparent reason.
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hmm, let me try this link . Chum for the braves bulliten board?
http://www.imagebam.com/image/8c31fe1371174351
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NEW LEAD UP: Thanks Kenny
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