The choices are:
1. Downgrade at 3b in 2020
2. Opening day payroll of $150M
3. Big trade for impact bat
What do you predict?
I guess 3, and AA had it lined up before signing Hamels
The Chosen One (12-05-2019)
The answer is 2. But it will be from 1 to 3 year contracts. Playoffs = profit for the Braves. Short contracts make money for the team but don’t sacrifice the future. Look at the meager amount of 2022 payroll obligations. If the team suddenly sucks and revenue falls then spending will be easy to reign in. As long as the spending doesn’t extend beyond a reasonable contention window I think AA has the money to make any deal.
clvclv (12-05-2019)
What about Ian Happ for a 3B platoon with Riley/Camargo? Maybe expand to include Chatwood as a back end starter/salary relief for Cubs to knock down cost.
Would still be the dream but if AA has gone this long without giving up prospects, will he really finally move some of them for anything other than the Ace he seemingly desperately covets?
If they'd take Riley and an arm, I'd imagine just about everyone here would pounce quickly - but would Alex???
Has there EVER been a statement and question a certain someone should absolutely never have made and asked publicly more than...
Kinda pathetic to see yourself as a message board knight in shining armor. How impotent does someone have to be in real life to resort to playing hero on a message board?
Miguel Adujar seems like the most obvious trade candidate for 3b. May be a big trade with Andujar and Frazier to fill multiple needs.
clvclv (12-05-2019)
I think it just depends on cost and the availability of other 3rd basemen. If Andujar was available for good value and we were confident in his health, I think it would be kinda silly to turn down a trade for a cheap, controllable 3 win 3rd baseman just because he's a really bad defender. If we were confident in his ability to put up an .850-.900 OPS, I'd be willing to take the hit on defense. Especially if we weren't confident in getting anyone else to fill in at 3rd base this offseason. I would take Andujar and his defense over what we currently have any day of the week.
But there are more preferable targets out there and I would exhaust most of them before trying to target Andujar. If it did come down to that, though, he could eventually represent Freddie's replacement at 1st base if and when Freddie hits free agency in 2021.
So AA is planning on bring a 34 year old, left handed, outfielder, who is terrible on defense, has terrible home/away splits, and is owed 21 million dollars for the next 3 seasons and is willing to give up Pache or Waters in a deal like that? Yeah... don't think I'm buying that. I can't think of a worse fit than Charlie freaking Blackmon.