Play the game

[depley]

I am going to throw this out and see what kind of discussion it brings. All of this is based on for sake of discussion we have 50M to spend

Catcher. Do you
1) Sign Grandal to a 3 year 13 m per year
2) sign Maldonado 3 years 8.75M per
3) sign Ramos 1 year 10M per
4) sign Brian McCann 1 year 6M per
5) sign Zuk back at year 6M per
6) trade multiple high value minor leaguers for Realmuto (projected arb# of 6.1M for 2019)

Closer. Do you

1) Go after Kimbrel 4 years 18M per year
2) Go after Zach Britton 4 years 15M per
3) Stick with Viz and Minter
4) Some one else come to mind?

Outfield. Do you

1) Shoot the payroll and go for Harper at say 11 years 374M 34M per
2) Andrew McCutchen 3 years 45M 15M per
3) Michael Brantley 3 years 45M 15M per
4) Bring back Nick Markakis 22M 2 years 11M per
5) other, who and why?


We will start with these 3 and see how it goes.

[BeanieAntics]

I am going to throw this out and see what kind of discussion it brings. All of this is based on for sake of discussion we have 50M to spend

Catcher. Do you
1) Sign Grandal to a 3 year 13 m per year
2) sign Maldonado 3 years 8.75M per
3) sign Ramos 1 year 10M per
4) sign Brian McCann 1 year 6M per
5) sign Zuk back at year 6M per
6) trade multiple high value minor leaguers for Realmuto (projected arb# of 6.1M for 2019)

Closer. Do you

1) Go after Kimbrel 4 years 18M per year
2) Go after Zach Britton 4 years 15M per
3) Stick with Viz and Minter
4) Some one else come to mind?

Outfield. Do you

1) Shoot the payroll and go for Harper at say 11 years 374M 34M per
2) Andrew McCutchen 3 years 45M 15M per
3) Michael Brantley 3 years 45M 15M per
4) Bring back Nick Markakis 22M 2 years 11M per
5) other, who and why?


We will start with these 3 and see how it goes.

Catcher - #1 - Easy deal. I'd take Grandal on a 3/39 all day long
Closer - #3 - Don't think this needs to be an area we address. But I would be cool with a smaller value oriented deal, maybe.
Outfield - #5 - Trade for Peralta. I'm not big on any of the free agents available. Provided the Twins aren't selling, Peralta is the best available through trade.

I think you should also have two other categories: utility player and SP

Utility player because I think we need to find someone that will offset our infielder's strong platoon inclinations and perhaps our outfielder's as well.
SP because some people in our fanbase have no sense of risk and think trading for Bumgarner is a good idea. I guess let them have a category as well.

[nsacpi]

catcher Zuk

high leverage reliever Soria

corner outfielder Peralta in a trade involving Newk

backup infielder/lefty bat Lamb...see trade above

in addition we bring back Anibal...this gives us an opening day rotation of Folty, Anibal, Gausman, Julion and Fried

[Hudson2]

catcher Zuk

high leverage reliever Soria

corner outfielder Peralta in a trade involving Newk

backup infielder/lefty bat Lamb...see trade above

in addition we bring back Anibal...this gives us an opening day rotation of Folty, Anibal, Gausman, Julion and Fried

So with all the resources we have we are adding Peralta, Lamb, and Soria? Don’t get me wrong I’m fine with those guys but we need to upgrade catcher at the same time.

[nsacpi]

So with all the resources we have we are adding Peralta, Lamb, and Soria? Don’t get me wrong I’m fine with those guys but we need to upgrade catcher at the same time.

I'm expecting the price for Realmuto and Grandal to be excessive...just my take on how I expect the market for those two to play out...I've expressed in other threads some thoughts on prices I'd be willing to pay for them

id rather upgrade in a cost effective way

[Hudson2]

I’m all about being cost effective. I just think the way that AA is he values catcher pretty highly. I’d be very surprised if one of Grandal or Realmuto isn’t our catcher in spring training.

[BeanieAntics]

I'm expecting the price for Realmuto and Grandal to be excessive...just my take on how I expect the market for those two to play out...I've expressed in other threads some thoughts on prices I'd be willing to pay for them

id rather upgrade in a cost effective way

I think Grandal would be the preferable option until he hits a certain price point. For me, the maximum price where he remains the preferable option is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3/55. So about 3 years at 18.3 million. Luckily, it looks like most projections have him at about 5 million dollars below that AAV. At a 13 million per price, I think Grandal is an absolute no brainer.

[Heyward]

If Grandal only costs 13 mil a year, thats a no brainer but with so many teams needing catcher i'd be shocked if he signs for that assuming he turns down the QO.

[Horsehide Harry]

1. Zuk 1/6, McCann 1/6
2. Herrera 1/8, Allen 2/16
3. Donaldson 2/36, Brantley 3/45
4. Eovaldi 4/60

Total added to 2019 payroll: 6+6+8+8+18+15+15= $76M

Trade or NT Viz (save $3.4M)
Trade Teheran (probably have to eat ~$5M so save ~$6M) maybe send some marginal pitching like Allard along to help decrease the cash sent

So net add about $66M, maybe a bit of a stretch

Team then:

LF Brantley
2B Albies
RF Acuna
1B Freeman
3B Donaldson
C McCann
SS Swanson
CF Inciarte

SP: Folty, Eovaldi, Gausman, Newk, Fried (Touki, Soroka, Gohara, Wilson, Wright are the rotation to start the year in AAA) with (Anderson, Wentz, Muller, Weigel, Davidson starting in AA)
RP: Herrera, Allen, Minter, O'Day, Venters, Biddle, Winkler, Sobotka

Bench: C Zuk/Flowers (expect 1 of the three to be on the DL at any one time), Camargo (Util, get him some OF time in ST), Culberson (Util), Duvall OF

* No signings of players with QO
* No trade of prospects of any value
* Within range of available money (whatever it really is)
* Brings upside plays in Donaldson, Brantley, Herrera and Allen with limited commitment. If they bust out, go back to 2018 status quo except for the absence of Markakis.
* Buys young pitching another year. Buys Riley another development year but he will likely get some time in relief of Donaldson due to projected DL time.
* No long term commitment to catcher, a position that has a huge flame out factor.

[nsacpi]

I think Grandal would be the preferable option until he hits a certain price point. For me, the maximum price where he remains the preferable option is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3/55. So about 3 years at 18.3 million. Luckily, it looks like most projections have him at about 5 million dollars below that AAV. At a 13 million per price, I think Grandal is an absolute no brainer.

years and AAV matter ...I expect him to get 5 years with an AAV in the 18-20m range

[jpx7]

years and AAV matter ...I expect him to get 5 years with an AAV in the 18-20m range

Would you do 5 if the AAV is closer to $13 million?

[nsacpi]

Would you do 5 if the AAV is closer to $13 million?

yes

[depley]

I was basing most of this on John Heyman"s projections in his column on 131 free agents
this is what said on Grandal

" Yasmani Grandal, C: The expert obviously is looking at his very nice regular season. Hard for me to get that postseason out of my mind. Expert: 3 years, $13M per, $39M. Me: 2 years, $10M per, $20M."

[jpx7]

yes

Agreed. I think 5/$75 million is the absolute cap I’d set, and even then hope to frontload (something like $20/20/15/10/10).

[jpx7]

I was basing most of this on John Heyman"s projections in his column on 131 free agents
this is what said on Grandal

" Yasmani Grandal, C: The expert obviously is looking at his very nice regular season. Hard for me to get that postseason out of my mind. Expert: 3 years, $13M per, $39M. Me: 2 years, $10M per, $20M."

I’m very skeptical his market’s that soft; but, if it is, the Braves would be foolish not to pursue him assiduously.

[nsacpi]

Agreed. I think 5/$75 million is the absolute cap I’d set, and even then hope to frontload (something like $20/20/15/10/10).

4 years 15M AAV also works for me

[jpx7]

4 years 15M AAV also works for me

Preferable, to be sure. I’d still look to frontload.

[Heyward]

I’m very skeptical his market’s that soft; but, if it is, the Braves would be foolish not to pursue him assiduously.

I'm for JT, but if Grandal's market is that soft, AA should go after him quick. With so many teams in need for catchers, i'd be shocked though.

[nsacpi]

I'm for JT, but if Grandal's market is that soft, AA should go after him quick. With so many teams in need for catchers, i'd be shocked though.

gnats and phillies are both likely to make a big effort to upgrade at catcher. Dodgers are unlikely to stick with the non-Grandal in house options. Those three are the three most likely landing spots for Grandal, Realmuto and Ramos.

[Hudson2]

Dodgers and Phillies couldn’t outbid us for JT if we want him. I doubt the Nationals could either.

[nsacpi]

Dodgers and Phillies couldn’t outbid us for JT if we want him. I doubt the Nationals could either.

Dodgers made a point (via the Kemp trade with us) of going under the luxury tax threshold. I think they will be very active this off-season.

The Phillies have much more payroll potential than we do. They were over 170M not so long ago.

Both can outbid us for any given player.

[bravesfanMatt]

Dodgers made a point (via the Kemp trade with us) of going under the luxury tax threshold. I think they will be very active this off-season.

The Phillies have much more payroll potential than we do. They were over 170M not so long ago.

Both can outbid us for any given player.


Prospect capital. Not money.

[Hudson2]

Prospect capital. Not money.

This

[nsacpi]

Phillies could include Sixto Sanchez in a deal for Reamulto. I don't think it would be wise to try to top that.

Dodgers could offer Keibert Ruiz and Alex Verdugo. Also would be unwise to try to top.

[Heyward]

Phillies could include Sixto Sanchez in a deal for Reamulto. I don't think it would be wise to try to top that.

Dodgers could offer Keibert Ruiz and Alex Verdugo. Also would be unwise to try to top.

I dont see Philly moving Sixto in a trade, he's their best prospect by far.

And what's the point of holding onto all these prospects if you dont use them to improve your major league club? If not now, when do you cash in?

[bravesfanMatt]

I dont see Philly moving Sixto in a trade, he's their best prospect by far.

And what's the point of holding onto all these prospects if you dont use them to improve your major league club? If not now, when do you cash in?

Maybe the prospects improve your major league club.

[Heyward]

Maybe the prospects improve your major league club.

We dont have room for 10 SP's, and you cant hold onto every freaking prospect, thats stupid baseball economics.

Not every prospect is gonna pan out, and you gotta take that risk in moving some of them, and if they pan out for another team, oh ****ing well.

[bravesfanMatt]

We dont have room for 10 SP's, and you cant hold onto every freaking prospect, thats stupid baseball economics.

Not every prospect is gonna pan out, and you gotta take that risk in moving some of them, and if they pan out for another team, oh ****ing well.

We don’t have a starting log jam. These guys have options to the minors. Some will pitch out of the pen. Some will fail.

I expect some will be traded. I just don’t want to see a big prospect trade. Then another. Then a huge FA signing. I am fine with another year of successful baseball while properly developing young players.

[Heyward]

We don’t have a starting log jam. These guys have options to the minors. Some will pitch out of the pen. Some will fail.

I expect some will be traded. I just don’t want to see a big prospect trade. Then another. Then a huge FA signing. I am fine with another year of successful baseball while properly developing young players.

I'd make 1 big trade, 1 minor trade, and then use the rest in free agency.

But AA has been more about trades than free agency in the past, so buckle up.

[Horsehide Harry]

Trade 1:
Braves send
Sean Newcomb 5 years 2 WAR ea at an est $30M (~$65M)
Teheran 2 years $23.5M, 2 WAR ea (~16.5M)
Kyle Wright (~$42M)
Cristian Pache (~$60M)
Total $183.5M

Mariners Send
3B Kyle Seager: 19, 20, 21; owed $57.5M 3 years at 1 WAR (~ -$30M value)
RF Mitch Haniger: arby at 2020, FA at 2023 (4 years at 4.5 WAR) estimated $35M (~ $140M)
LHP James Paxton: 3 years at 3 WAR estimated $36M (~ $55M)
$165M value

2019 Braves payroll add: (~ +$16M)

Trade 2:
Braves send
Inciarte: 3 WAR per for 4 years at cost of $31M (~ $70M)
Allard: (~ $16M)
Total: ~ $86M

Indians send:
RHP Corey Kluber: 3 years a 4 WAR, 3 years $52.5M (~$65M)
Total: ~ $65M

Braves 2019 Add: ~ $11.5M

Sign:
C McCann 1 year $6M

Braves 2019 Add (~ $6M)

Sign:
Brantley 3 years $45M

Braves 2019 add (~$15M)

Braves add $48.5M

Would still like a closer if finances allow. Would trade or non tender Viz to save money if so.

LF Brantley
2B Albies
CF Acuna
1B Freeman
RF Haniger
3B Seager/Camargo
C Flowers/McCann
SS Swanson

Bench: Flowers/McCann, Camargo, Culberson, Duvall, OF

SP: Kluber, Paxton, Folty, Gausman, Touki/Fried
RP: Viz, Minter, O'Day, Venters, Winkler, Biddle, Carle, Sobotka

Give up Wright, Pache and Allard