Official official offseason thread

[Enscheff]

And who exactly are we replacing Ozzie with? Grissom, lol. No. Even if you thought Grissom could provide 2-3 WAR at 2b next year, it would make way more sense to just trade him.

Ozzie is dirt cheap and a 4 WAR 2b when healthy. There is literally no realistic package that would make it worth it for us to move him. We would in all likelihood be worse off in 2023 and 2024, during the peak years of our best players.

Anyone suggesting such a possibility deserves all the mockery they receive.

Underlined and bolded the most important fact.

Couple that with the fact that it would be very hard for any competitive team to offer the talent package of MLB-ready players required to pry Albies away from Atlanta while still remaining a competitive team themselves, and it becomes clear why a trade is so unlikely.

A trade of Albies would have to bring back several decently expensive players from a team looking to clear payroll to sign someone like Correa/Turner/Judge. That team would also need MLB-ready players in the minors to replace the expensive players they traded away for Albies. I'm not sure any such team exists.

Look for Acuna/Albies to be traded towards the end of their contracts when they have 2-3 years left on the deal and the Braves are facing a closing contention window. Until then, enjoy watching a 90+ win team fighting for playoff position every single year. AKA...a great franchise for fans.

[chop2chip]

Given the likely payroll constraints, Ozzie is particularly valuable to the Braves.

[Heyward]

Underlined and bolded the most important fact.

Couple that with the fact that it would be very hard for any competitive team to offer the talent package of MLB-ready players required to pry Albies away from Atlanta while still remaining a competitive team themselves, and it becomes clear why a trade is so unlikely.

A trade of Albies would have to bring back several decently expensive players from a team looking to clear payroll to sign someone like Correa/Turner/Judge. That team would also need MLB-ready players in the minors to replace the expensive players they traded away for Albies. I'm not sure any such team exists.

Look for Acuna/Albies to be traded towards the end of their contracts when they have 2-3 years left on the deal and the Braves are facing a closing contention window. Until then, enjoy watching a 90+ win team fighting for playoff position every single year. AKA...a great franchise for fans.

Could also extend Albies and Acuna when some other money comes off the books in a few years. But if we trade them, it's then, not now in the middle of a contention window.

[McCann'sCans]

You know things are boring when we're talking about trading a guy who is top 2-3 at his position over the past 5 years and is on a ridiculously team friendly deal. Shouldn't even be a conversation topic.

Please pick up soon, offseason.

[Heyward]

You know things are boring when we're talking about trading a guy who is top 2-3 at his position over the past 5 years and is on a ridiculously team friendly deal. Shouldn't even be a conversation topic.

Please pick up soon, offseason.

Once Judge signs, and it looks like he will next week. Things should pick up considerably.

Trading Albies is literally the last thing a team should do. He makes 7 mil the next 5 years and his luxury tax salary is 5 million. Not even a package worth considering thats worth it realistically anyway.

[Heyward]

Tigers signed Matt Boyd

Boyd got 10 million while pitching 13 innings. Clevinger just got 12 while being up and down last year. Guess the pitching market is gonna be crazy and Morton at 20 isnt looking as bad, shrugs.

[chop2chip]

Boyd got 10 million while pitching 13 innings. Clevinger just got 12 while being up and down last year. Guess the pitching market is gonna be crazy and Morton at 20 isnt looking as bad, shrugs.

Not sure saving $2m for Odorizzi was the right move to make.

[thethe]

Given the likely payroll constraints, Ozzie is particularly valuable to the Braves.

Payroll constraints?

WHAT PAYROLL CONSTRAINTS!!!!! :)

[Heyward]

Not sure saving $2m for Odorizzi was the right move to make.

Most likely depends how capped or not we are this winter. Only time will tell.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Zach Eflin goes to the Rays. 3 year deal with a $40m guarantee

[Heyward]

Ken's latest, actually had some Braves intel!!

And finally, here’s an example of how thoroughly some clubs dig into the trade and free-agent markets: The Braves, with Travis d’Arnaud, William Contreras and Manny Piña, possess one of the deepest catching corps in the majors. Yet according to major-league sources, they are one of the teams that has checked in on the Athletics’ coveted Sean Murphy — just in case.

Why would the Braves want Murphy? First and foremost, he’s a good player. Equally important, he would give the Braves the depth to make other moves. Perhaps they could trade Contreras or d’Arnaud for a young shortstop, a young starting pitcher, a corner outfielder. Contreras is more a hitter than game-caller at this point. d’Arnaud has only one guaranteed year left on his contract, though the Braves hold an $8 million option on him for 2024.

The chances of the Braves acquiring Murphy or completing any of the other moves mentioned above are slim. If they do anything involving a catcher, it likely will be a trade of Piña, in whom they are drawing interest. With Murphy, they’re simply investigating the possibility, and seeing what might happen.

[Hudson2]

That’s really interesting about Murphy. Surely they wouldn’t trade Contreras. If they did get Murphy then a package of Contreras, Grissom, Anderson would get you a pretty dang good controllable player. I’d spend my resources elsewhere though.

[Oklahomabrave]

That’s really interesting about Murphy. Surely they wouldn’t trade Contreras. If they did get Murphy then a package of Contreras, Grissom, Anderson would get you a pretty dang good controllable player. I’d spend my resources elsewhere though.

What would we trade for Murphy if not those three?

[NYCBrave]

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Braves are giving internal consideration to surpassing the luxury tax in the right situation

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/...threshold.html

[Heyward]

What would we trade for Murphy if not those three?

Maybe cash in on Anderson +? We do have guys like Schuster, Tarnok, Ritchie, Murphy, etc, but probably not gonna sell off Murphy or Ritchie after one year. Most likely scenario is to trade Pina for anything just to get his salary off the books.

[Heyward]

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Braves are giving internal consideration to surpassing the luxury tax in the right situation

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/...threshold.html

If we're at 228, then we basically have no choice but to go over it. Because we literally cant do anything at that number. Article said we might be operating at the 198 number and not 228 which would make more sense and give us alot more room to operate.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Braves are giving internal consideration to surpassing the luxury tax in the right situation

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/...threshold.html

Interesting take. Says the Braves are focused more on their actual payroll number and not the luxury tax number, so take that for what its worth. Also, it is interesting to point out. The Braves have roughly $50M coming off the books next season. That being the case, if they go over the luxury tax this season, but drop under it next season, they will only have around a $4M fine which is reasonable. Especially considering they are getting increased $$$ from their TV contract than in the past, and they got around $30m from MLB selling that asset to Disney.

I think they do go over the luxury tax and bring back Swanson, or bring in one of either Turner or Correa

[Hudson2]

AA will fix SS with a legit player so we have another FF situation here. AA has given Swanson his best offer now he’s letting him sit on it for a certain amount of time. AA has talked to Turner and Correas agents I’m sure.

[Deester11]

Sorry...I'm in the hell no to trading Contreras. There is hopefully no one that watched him that didn't see improvement in his defense. OK, actually he's not markedly better, he only caught 14% of base stealers (avg is 24%), but 3 passed balls compared to 7 the year before in 100 more innings and better framing says he's a serviceable catcher. As for his offense...nuff said. I'd rather trade Pina.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Sorry...I'm in the hell no to trading Contreras. There is hopefully no one that watched him that didn't see improvement in his defense. OK, actually he's not markedly better, he only caught 14% of base stealers (avg is 24%), but 3 passed balls compared to 7 the year before in 100 more innings and better framing says he's a serviceable catcher. As for his offense...nuff said. I'd rather trade Pina.

They trade Contreras talk is just something being floated by the AJC writer. Doubt it is something that they would actually consider. I think it is more likely they trade Pina to get rid of that $4.5m, which should be no problem. If they traded for Murphy, and I highly doubt they would, then you can use Contreras at DH or in the OF. I feel like we have to find a way to have TdA and Contreras in the lineup together. They were just too good last season.