Originally Posted by
clvclv
Completely understandable. However, at the end of the day, AA has to start moving some of these pieces - even if that results in a questionable deal or two. No one's arguing some trades could turn out to be regrettable, but in the Braves' situation you're going to have to take a couple chances unless there's some influx of cash coming that no one sees. The list of 2019 MLB-ready arms is ridiculous at this point...
Folty (going nowhere), Gausman (going nowhere), Newcomb (likely takes a BIG deal to move him), Julio (likely going nowhere unless you find a sucker)
That leaves you with 9 guys - Touki, Fried, Soroka, Gohara, Wilson, Allard, Parsons, and at some point Weigel and Anderson for the #5 slot and not enough slots at Gwinnett for the rest of them - with a GAPING hole in LF and questionable offensive options at SS, CF, and behind the plate.
If he's scared of moving some of the more highly thought of guys for Realmuto, Haniger, or Peralta because those Pitchers MIGHT reach their ceilings sometime down the road, signing Donaldson was a giant mistake. You just don't do that unless you're making a push, and stopping short of adding the other pieces when they're available SCREAMS the Tex situation all over again. I don't like Pollock's asking price any more than what the rumored returns for the other three options appears to be, but if you're not willing (or can't afford) to pay them why in the *ell did you jump out there and get Donaldson - even for one year??? He's stopping halfway right now - the "to-do list" was upgrading the bench (check), upgrading the pen (meh at best), upgrading a corner OF spot (not even close, but it's fine to argue a healthy Donaldson mitigates that somewhat), and adding someone at the top of the rotation (nope).