Talking Chop has completed their midseason prospect rankings

[Enscheff]

Coppy has publicly said it never occurred to him to promote Swanson last year. It was all the senior Johns have a senior moment.

It's like he knew it was a stupid move and wanted to distance himself from it as tactfully as possible.

[Knucksie]

Why is everyone assuming they promoted Acuna because of his stats? I don't imagine the decision makers here are just looking at stat sheets and deciding what to do. I'm absolutely certain they have things they want Acuna to work on and development they want to see. It's likely they're basing far more on that than they are on his stats with his high babip.

Because it's mostly kids here playing around on their notebooks, wandering around blog sites and message boards all day. They think that's how the real world actually works.

[Russ2dollas]

I hope the promotion is based off scouting and not results

You didn't need babip to see Chris Johnson was getting lucky bloop hits

The talking chop guys love Acuna approach. Klaw says it's an immature approach. Tc sees every Acuna at bat but they have more pro atl bias

Based on no info but what I read I think the braves think Acuna is a plus MLB rf now. I'm going to guess they think they can sign him long term bc he only signed for 100 k.

The thing I don't get is the pursuit of a starter if they are going this way. Acuna, Albies Swanson ff inciarte locks down a lot of spots long term. Flowers might be a guy. They seem to love kemp despite all information. So you are talking about a decent team with only 3b being truest open.

Yes pitching needs an upgrade but they have allard soroka and wright who are so close.

[thethe]

I hope the promotion is based off scouting and not results

You didn't need babip to see Chris Johnson was getting lucky bloop hits

The talking chop guys love Acuna approach. Klaw says it's an immature approach. Tc sees every Acuna at bat but they have more pro atl bias

Based on no info but what I read I think the braves think Acuna is a plus MLB rf now. I'm going to guess they think they can sign him long term bc he only signed for 100 k.

The thing I don't get is the pursuit of a starter if they are going this way. Acuna, Albies Swanson ff inciarte locks down a lot of spots long term. Flowers might be a guy. They seem to love kemp despite all information. So you are talking about a decent team with only 3b being truest open.

Yes pitching needs an upgrade but they have allard soroka and wright who are so close.

Not to mention a bench that has some interesting options long term. Camargo/Santanta/Ruiz/Micah Johnson/catcher

Bullpen is going to have a complete overhaul the next 2 years. Minter/Lindgren/Watts/Clouse and the starters that don't make it.

[nsacpi]

The thing I don't get is the pursuit of a starter if they are going this way. Acuna, Albies Swanson ff inciarte locks down a lot of spots long term. Flowers might be a guy. They seem to love kemp despite all information. So you are talking about a decent team with only 3b being truest open.

Yes pitching needs an upgrade but they have allard soroka and wright who are so close.

The options with respect to the starting rotation this year and next:

1) Stay internal: Folty, Teheran, Dickey, Newcomb, one of Wisler/Sims starting the season, with some promising arms in AAA.

2) Acquire a 2-3 win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and one of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

3) Acquire 4+ win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and of of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

I've listed the choices in my order of preference. Options 2 and 3 are not necessarily bad. It depends on the price we pay. A separate question is do we do it at the deadline or the off-season. You pay a bit more of a premium for major league talent at the deadline. The Cubs certainly did for Quintana. There will probably be more options in the off-season. But there is nothing wrong with putting in a bid for someone like Gray right now. I doubt we can get him without overpaying, but it is worth a try. And yes, trading Albies in any deal is something that I think should be avoided.

[bravesfanMatt]

The options with respect to the starting rotation this year and next:

1) Stay internal: Folty, Teheran, Dickey, Newcomb, one of Wisler/Sims starting the season, with some promising arms in AAA.

2) Acquire a 2-3 win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and one of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

3) Acquire 4+ win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and of of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

I've listed the choices in my order of preference. Options 2 and 3 are not necessarily bad. It depends on the price we pay. A separate question is do we do it at the deadline or the off-season. You pay a bit more of a premium for major league talent at the deadline. The Cubs certainly did for Quintana. There will probably be more options in the off-season. But there is nothing wrong with putting in a bid for someone like Gray right now. I doubt we can get him without overpaying, but it is worth a try. And yes, trading Albies in any deal is something that I think should be avoided.

The order pleases me. I have no interest in selling the farm for a 4 win pitcher. If we can trade anyone outside our top 7 to get a 2 WAR pitcher (maybe a buy low guy) then I am fine. Trading any of our top 3 hitters or Soroka/Allard/Wright is not fine in my world.

[nsacpi]

The order pleases me. I have no interest in selling the farm for a 4 win pitcher. If we can trade anyone outside our top 7 to get a 2 WAR pitcher (maybe a buy low guy) then I am fine. Trading any of our top 3 hitters or Soroka/Allard/Wright is not fine in my world.

the 4+ war guys are very expensive whether it be on the trade or FA market...mid-market teams like us need to develop them and the chances are good there are a couple on the farm that will turn into those kinds of players...we just don't know right now who they are and have to be careful to hold on to them

[Heyward]

The order pleases me. I have no interest in selling the farm for a 4 win pitcher. If we can trade anyone outside our top 7 to get a 2 WAR pitcher (maybe a buy low guy) then I am fine. Trading any of our top 3 hitters or Soroka/Allard/Wright is not fine in my world.

Well not every prospect is gonna pan out, thats just the reality of probability.

The 4 WAR SP would depend who it is. Archer is good but im not sure i'd trade the farm for him.

At some point we'll have to make a big contending move, i dont think it's time to do that right now though.

[Southcack77]

the 4+ war guys are very expensive whether it be on the trade or FA market...mid-market teams like us need to develop them and the chances are good there are a couple on the farm that will turn into those kinds of players...we just don't know right now who they are and have to be careful to hold on to them

If you are content not having any 4 WAR pitchers on the team, that seems like the right strategy.

[clvclv]

The options with respect to the starting rotation this year and next:

1) Stay internal: Folty, Teheran, Dickey, Newcomb, one of Wisler/Sims starting the season, with some promising arms in AAA.

2) Acquire a 2-3 win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and one of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

3) Acquire 4+ win pitcher to go with Folty, Teheran, Dickey and of of Newcomb/Wisler/Sims.

I've listed the choices in my order of preference. Options 2 and 3 are not necessarily bad. It depends on the price we pay. A separate question is do we do it at the deadline or the off-season. You pay a bit more of a premium for major league talent at the deadline. The Cubs certainly did for Quintana. There will probably be more options in the off-season. But there is nothing wrong with putting in a bid for someone like Gray right now. I doubt we can get him without overpaying, but it is worth a try. And yes, trading Albies in any deal is something that I think should be avoided.

Assuming we can keep the top bats out of the deal, and the overpay in arms isn't drastic, don't you almost have to pull the trigger?

If say Allard, Fried, and one of Wentz/Muller nets Gray with his southern roots is anyone really willing to pass?

[Southcack77]

Assuming we can keep the top bats out of the deal, and the overpay in arms isn't drastic, don't you almost have to pull the trigger?

If say Allard, Fried, and one of Wentz/Muller nets Gray with his southern roots is anyone really willing to pass?

I think that's too high for Gray.

[smootness]

I think that's too high for Gray.

I agree.

[thethe]

What we are learning now is that the buzz with Allard is more than any results. The stuff has taken a big step up not only in command but movement. Even a potential plus change is not out of the question with him. 3 plus pitches from the left side coming in in the mid 90's on a moving fastball is not something you trade.

[clvclv]

That's the point - and probably a potential asking price if we're going to get to keep the bats IMO.

And there's no doubt that it would hurt. Given our depth, it wouldn't be crippling IMO - but would definitely hurt.

[Heyward]

Assuming we can keep the top bats out of the deal, and the overpay in arms isn't drastic, don't you almost have to pull the trigger?

If say Allard, Fried, and one of Wentz/Muller nets Gray with his southern roots is anyone really willing to pass?

I'd do Anderson, Fried and Wentz or Muller, i'd like to hang onto Allard.

[Southcack77]

That's the point - and probably a potential asking price if we're going to get to keep the bats IMO.

And there's no doubt that it would hurt. Given our depth, it wouldn't be crippling IMO - but would definitely hurt.

I'd do it for Archer.

[Enscheff]

If history says there's a 50/50 chance any pitching prospect becomes a legit contributor, I see no problem trading 2 of them for a proven pitcher. Obviously, the timing has to be right though...and it's not currently the right time to shift future wins to present day wins.