http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/1...edictions.html
MLBTR has released their predictions on the top 50 FAs. The only top 50 player they predict the Braves signing is Clippard for 3/18. It will be a very disappointing offseason for Braves fans if that's the case.
The most interesting prediction is for Heyward at 10/200 to the Yankees. If that's the price, the Braves should jump into the bidding.
Last edited by Enscheff; 11-07-2015 at 06:00 AM.
jpx7 (11-09-2015)
Pass on Clippard
50PoundHead (11-06-2015), AerchAngel (11-07-2015), Carp (11-07-2015), jpx7 (11-09-2015), Prikichi (11-08-2015)
yeah there are a few predictions on there i think he was stretching on....lots of action from the yankees, cubs, and tigers.....
personally, i would pass on clippard....seems to be overrated to me and we could fill his production at a much more cost efficient way.
Hell no!
I'd much sooner go with that status quo and giving some more youngsters a shot than paying that to a reliever like Clippard.
I wouldn't make too much of that Clippard prediction. He's a nice RP and tough against lefties, but I don't see his market at 3 / $18m. Nor do I see the Braves acquiring an RP of his ilk for that type of contract.
I think the thing on Heyward will be who will give him an opt-out after three or four seasons. I'm guessing an AAV closer to $20 MM than $25 MM with an opt-out at age 30.
Gonna be an interesting market, i wouldnt mind Alex Gordon if he was a little younger.
Similar to Heyward minus age.
I would love Alex Gordon, but it won't happen.
Nonetheless, they're predicting...
Price, Arrieta, Lester, Lackey as the Cubs 1-4. lol alright, keep slobbering.
The Braves need to make some moves, simple as that.
It wouldn't really benefit the Braves but if you were a team in Win Now mode and you could essentially get Heyward for 3-4 years close to 20 million a year? That's a steal. Let him opt out and have some other team get most of his decline years.Originally Posted by 50PoundHead
The front office has been fairly consistent in saying they want to field a contending team in 2017.
jpx7 (11-09-2015)
That's the other side of the coin. It's going to be interesting to see how Close and Heyward approach things. Some teams might be willing to front-load a shorter contract without an opt-out. For those teams, Heyward might get closer to the $25 MM AAV. The balance is going to be years versus AAV. If Heyward believes he is going to be worth appreciably more five years from now, he probably takes the opt-out route. But if someone throws eight years at him at an AAV of $22.5 MM with no opt-out, Heyward better be extremely confident that his marketability will be at least equal to what it is now to make an opt-out pay.
Curious to see how he is approached.
That's not how the predictions work at all. Those teams simply had the most writer votes for those particular players.
I would fully expect the Cubs to sign a guy like Price, and according to recent reports they will be looking to add several starters. I wouldn't be shocked at all if they came away with Price and Lackey. More likely they sign one guy and trade for one guy though since they have assets like Baez and Castro that can be moved for pitching.
If they re-sign Fowler, their outfield is Soler, Fowler and Schwarber (I think this is where they are headed). Their infield is Rizzo, Castro, Russell and Bryant. Their main "spare" or trade chip in this scenario is Baez. But I think there is a good chance they hold on to him as insurance against some of the other guys not working out. Castro has been very inconsistent. There is still a chance Schwarber sticks at catcher in which case they can play Baez in left. And I think the jury is out on what kind of major league bats Russell and Soler have. So I'm not so sure the Cubs will be in a hurry to move Baez. They have the funds to sign two pitchers like Price and Lackey while re-signing Fowler. I think that makes the most sense for them.
They also have Coughlan in the mix at 2b and the OF. They can easily trade from the group of Soler/Castro/Baez for a young controlled pitcher like Teheran, sign a guy like Price and sign Heyward or Gordon for the OF (especially if they trade Castro).
That's exactly what I would do if I were the Cubs. Trade for a pitcher, sign another pitcher, then sign Heyward or Gordon depending on how much money was left over.
Heyman also has the Braves quiet on the FA market, silent actually:
http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/writer...ked-by-dollars
If the Braves aren't going to sign an impact guy this year, when will they use their freed up money? Next year when the FA class is going to be terrible?
I get a bad feeling they will spend next offseason in a bad FA class and regret it.
This offseason maybe they plan to buy more young players like they did with Touki?
If this team doesn't do anything, they are stupid. Simple as that.
Im not expecting them to get a Price, Greinke, Ces, Heyward, Upton, etc.
But given they have a protected pick, and some money with holes everywhere, it makes no sense to sit on the money in a strong FA class.
Next years FA class isnt near as strong as this year.
The farm is in good enough shape they can afford to lose the pick.
Hopefully if they do spend money it's a short term contract if it's going to be for a marginal player. It would be a mistake to pay the 2 WAR plaers of the world market value for 3+ years.
Surely they must realize they need a veteran pitcher to help the young guys along. Leake, Lackey, or Shark should be our top targets. Leake being the most preferable.
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