Winter Meetings Thread

[Heyward]

I get it, but Harper is a horrible person and an up-and-down player. He doesn't deserve a huge deal like that.

where do you get he's a horrible person, cause he's a Nat?

[Heyward]

If the Nats got Sale for a package centered around Robles and Giolito, they could flip a current member of their rotation like Ross for Cutch.

Pirates were asking for Robles+ for Cutch, i doubt they're trading Cutch for Ross.

[bravesfanforlife88]

very quiet day on the Braves front. starting to believe that we will not be getting sale, archer, or gray....may make very small moves if any at all

[rico43]

very quiet day on the Braves front. starting to believe that we will not be getting sale, archer, or gray....may make very small moves if any at all

Except that the Braves have always kept the lid on when it mattered. I would say silence now makes no difference.

[Heyward]

Hill is signed for $12, $16m and $18m over the next three years with a $2m signing bonus. Hill, 37 next Spring, has had one of the most remarkable late-career renaissances in history, as he’s still just 18 months removed from pitching with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. Hill parlayed a September roll of the dice by the Red Sox in 2015 into a one-year, $6MM deal with the A’s last offseason. For Hill, even last year’s $6MM represented a life-changing number, as he’d never earned more than $1MM in a single MLB season. Prior to this deal, Hill had earned just over $9MM in parts of 12 big league seasons, per Baseball Reference.

Two thoughts. One: congratulations, Rich Hill. Every guy toiling in the semipro leagues, grinding through their seventh rehab, just knowing if they can just get healthy it will all work out - here's your patron saint.

Second: Have the Dodgers lost their minds? $48,000,000 to a 37 year old who could only start 20x in 2016, his best health in over a decade? Wow. Just wow.

Dodgers have a ton of depth.

Kershaw, Kazmir (not sure if he opted out or not), Ryu, Maeda, McCarthy, Urias, De Leon and now Hill.

Worthwhile gamble.

And for someone who is 37, Hill doesnt have a ton of wear and tear.

[Heyward]

Take this a step further.. say we could sign him for 10/400.

Would you? Even with an optimistic payroll projection of 150 million, we would be giving close to half of our budget to he and Freddie. We would be really good while the young players are pre FA.

No, 40 mil is too much.

There's a ton of good FA's that year that can be had for a bit less.

[Southcack77]

I could only see McCutchen if the Braves were to deal for someone like Sale. If you make the commitment for one (both financially and in terms of acquisition cost) then you signal going all in and there's logic behind adding the other. Acquiring either one by himself would leave something to be desired.

From a marketing point of view McCutchen would make more than complete and total sense. I think he's a worthy gamble offensively ... I don't know about defense. Is he completely worthless in the outfield now?

I remember reading or hearing someone say his defensive numbers had fallen off a cliff this past season. It the thought was he'd probably been playing with an injury.

[Knucksie]

Except that the Braves have always kept the lid on when it mattered. I would say silence now makes no difference.

Indeed. Some seemingly more imminent transactions do not get completed until after the Winter Meetings.

[Carp]

Absolutely, one of the reasons I wouldn't do it. However, I would seriously consider going after McCutchen if it meant flipping Markakis to another team and playing McCutchen in right.

Apparently Cutch isn't willing to play anywhere but CF.

[gilesfan]

Harpers a horrible person?

He's a big meanie.

[Chico]

Except that the Braves have always kept the lid on when it mattered. I would say silence now makes no difference.

Agreed. I'm taking this "silence" as there is probably something in the works. You don't have time to talk when you're working.

[Carp]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 2m2 minutes ago
Sources: #Nationals more focused on Sale than Cutch. #WhiteSox likely would get Robles, Giolito, much more. No indication deal is close.

Steep price. We'll see who finches first. I think its pretty apparent Sale won't be a White Sock by March.

[UNCBlue012]

Steep price. We'll see who finches first. I think its pretty apparent Sale won't be a White Sock by March.

I completely agree. I do think they'll come up a little at least

[Enscheff]

Good to see everyone still holding out hope for a Sale acquisition until the bitter end.

Now we are deluding ourselves into believing the silence is a sign something will happen? Good lord guys lol!

[dak]

Looking like storm may have passed.

[dak]

[Enscheff]

This is a shocking turn of events!! Has anyone on this board been saying for weeks exactly what DOB and Bowman just tweeted? Hmmm...

[chop2chip]

Thank goodness

Love the offseason thus far. Keep it up Coppy

[Enscheff]

Now that this silliness about acquiring an Ace is behind us, I would like to see the Braves focus on realistic targets.

Welington Castillo and a RHed 4th OFer like Rajai Davis, Justin Ruggiano, or Desmond Jennings would round out the roster nicely. Maybe add a LHed hitting guy for 3B like Valbuena.

Those moves could push the Braves to a 78+ win team with a real chance at challenging for a .500 record. Then next offseason they could look to add an impact FA like Lucroy and shoot for 85+ wins and a playoff spot in 2018.

[chop2chip]

Now that this silliness about acquiring an Ace is behind us, I would like to see the Braves focus on realistic targets.

Welington Castillo and a RHed 4th OFer like Rajai Davis, Justin Ruggiano, or Desmond Jennings would round out the roster nicely. Maybe add a LHed hitting guy for 3B like Valbuena.

Those moves could push the Braves to a 78+ win team with a real chance at challenging for a .500 record. Then next offseason they could look to add an impact FA like Lucroy and shoot for 85+ wins and a playoff spot in 2018.

There's also some really nice starting pitchers here as well that fit our window perfectly such as Darvish and Arrieta.

I also presume that Archer, Gray and Sale are going to around next offseason. While Archer's and Gray's stock can still rise, Sale won't and I have to imagine a year of our top prospect's in the lower levels advancing should see many of their stock rise as well.

Good time to be a Braves fan.