Good time to start this as we have the first trade. The Tigers have traded Cameron Maybin to the Angels.
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Good time to start this as we have the first trade. The Tigers have traded Cameron Maybin to the Angels.
Always liked maybin
Astros have claimed outfielder Nori Aoki on waivers from Mariners.
Cardinals pick up the option on Jaime Garcia and decline the option on Jordan Walden. Wouldn't mind throwing a spring training invite to walden
Accidentally merged original. Sorry!
hearing Tigers got Victor Alcantera.... Angels 8th best prospect... but if true, our return was better.. good grief the Angels have a bad system..
Who will be the first brave acquisition?
I would love to go after Walden again. When healthy, he's legit.
The Royals announced they're picking up options on Davis and Escobar, but no announcement on Volquez. They could be working on a sign and trade right now before announcing either way. I think Volquez would be a good option.
I could even see a Volquez/Kennedy trade where we take on two contracts and a couple of prospects.
Torey Lovullo hired as Arizona manager. Long rumored.
I could see us making a move for Garcia or Holland out of the gate. We'd check the box for a vet and a lefty in the rotation.
I could see us moving quickly to fill holes and then work on upgrading from there.
Justin Ruggiano dropped by the Mets:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/1...&post-id=76298
If one of Mallex or Inciarte is traded, or if Mallex starts the year in AAA, I would like to see Riggiano as the 4th OFer. He can cover all 3 spots, bats RHed with a career .865 OPS vs LHers, and would be the perfect compliment to Inciarte and Markakis, as well as a defensive replacement for Kemp.
I would prefer Ruggiano to Rajai Davis because he should be much cheaper.
I suspect we will see Francouer back with the team
Danny Reynolds? That guy is dead.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...eynoda01.shtml
So many teams want a CFer this offseason. I've seen The A's, Blue Jays,Astros, and Cardninals all tied to Inciarte in some way or another. The Mets and Giants both need a CFer as well. The only guy on the market is Fowler. Those who miss out could really start a bidding frenzy over Inciarte.
I'd really hate to lose him, but he seems like the asset most likely to be overpaid for.
Kris Medlen and Edinson Volquez are now free agents; wonder what their asking price is these days?
Bud Black named by Rockies.
Dodgers trade Ruiz to Mariners.
If it's the Astros then Bregman would have to be in play for me. Inciarte is a stud and the type of sparkplug we need at the top of our own lineup. It would have to be an overpay.
If the astros want Teharan and Inciarte they better empty the farm.
10 players were offered QOs, and can be effectively crossed off the list of potential targets for the Braves:
Mark Trumbo, Orioles
Jeremy Hellickson, Phillies
Yoenis Cespedes, Mets
Neil Walker, Mets
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
Ian Desmond, Rangers
Dexter Fowler, Cubs
Kenley Jansen, Dodgers
Justin Turner, Dodgers
Guys of note that weren't offered a QO are Weiters, Ramos, Valbuena, Fister and Volquez. While I desperately hope the Braves don't try to sign either of the catchers, Volquez makes some sense on a short term deal, and they could make worse acquisitions than Fister. Valbuena makes for an interesting option at 3B if he comes at a bargain, though I'm not convinced he is much of an upgrade over a Ruiz/Garcia platoon.
FWIW, FG has posted current win projections for all teams before any FAs are signed.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/insta...tions-already/
The Braves project for 70 wins as the roster currently stands. I can see them easily adding ~5 wins by signing someone like Castro and acquiring 2 MOR starters, but adding 10+ wins to get to .500 is likely unrealistic given the facts that they won't be signing any impact FAs or converting the required prospect capital into MLB talent via trades.
I think this further confirms my prediction that the Braves will win 75-80 games next year.
not a big fan of this FA class.
Couple good names but no real blue chip type of players.
MLBTR just released their predictions for the top 50 FAs:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/1...edictions.html
They have the Braves signing:
Hammell for 3/42
Wieters for 3/39
Dickey for 1/8
They also predict:
Castro to the ChiSox for 2/15
Volquez to the Phils for 1/8
At those prices I would much rather see the Braves sign Castro and Volquez rather than Wieters and Dickey. I would even add an option year for Castro to get his elite framing skills and LHed bat paired with Flowers.
Hammell makes some sense, but I have a hard time seeing the Braves handing out a 3 year deal to a pitcher after Coppy literally just told DOB they don't want any long term deals to block their young pitchers. According to the invterview, that means 1-2 year deals for any pitchers signed this offseason.
Bowman continues to say braves have no interest in Weiters. I tend to trust him more than DOB and others.
If we get Weiters for 3 years sub 40 mill, I wouldn't be that upset. I don't think 3 years is too big of a commitment and he would be an upgrade over Flowers. At least a slight upgrade. I wouldn't mind a 2 year (higher AV) with a vesting option for #3 at lower price. Gives tradability/releasability at the end or make it a straight club option. So say 3/39 like suggested.. but instead do 2/32 and 3rd year at 7..
Wieters is terrible at every facet of the game. Folks act like he is some offensive force at catcher, but his OPS last year was .711 and his career OPS is .739. He hasn't been a 2 WAR player since 2012. He is one of the worst pitch framers in the game, which isn't even factored into his low WAR totals. Last year alone he was worth -7 framing runs, which is almost another lost win just from his poor receiving skills.
If the Braves pay $13M per year for that level of production I will have lost all faith in their ability to construct a contending MLB roster. All the data exists to make a competent decision, and giving Wieters that kind of money would prove they are either not capable to finding that data, or they are incapable of making sound decisions based upon that data.
Castro is lesser offensively, but is more than playable (for a catcher) vs RHers with a career .750 OPS against them. He is also consistently an elite pitch framer, and was as +12 runs last year. That is literally 20 runs better than Wieters, which is 2 wins just from framing. He will cost half as much as Wieters.
mlbtraderumors predict the Braves to sign Jason Hammels, Matt Wieters, and RA Dickey (in their top 50 list).