Official 2024 Off-Season Thread!

[Hudson2]

He signed Strider long term

In FA. They waited to long on Fried and now he’ll be gone next year to the highest bidder.

[Hudson2]

Everyone seems hyper focused on a game 3 starter. I think the Braves are fine with Morton as a game 3 starter. You don't pay a guy 20 million that you don't think can start a playoff game. What I think they are doing is building a pen with the depth to go with a bullpen game in the playoffs if need be. Most likely for a game 4. We could start with an opener then Lopez for one time through the batting order and then mix and match the rest of the way.

Morton didnt pitch a single playoff game last year and is 40 now. He cant be relied on to start a playoff game. If he does then cool but thats alot of ifs for a team that has spent what we have. Losing 2 of your top 3 starters next offseason is gonna be rough for AA. He needs to acquire one now so he only needs 1 next year bc we’ll need another big bat for DH in the same offseason.

[bravesnumberone]

He signed Strider long term

Strider wasn't a 28-30-year-old free agent pitcher looking for a long-term deal.

[msstate7]

Is there any team set up for current and long term success more than the braves? If so, there aren't many... I'll trust AA who was instrumental in getting us in this position.

[Tapate50]

In FA. They waited to long on Fried and now he’ll be gone next year to the highest bidder.

Fried had indicated for years he was going to test the market. I’m not sure why people keep parroting this

[SJ24]

The Mets really want Yamamoto.

Cohen may well offer him $400 million.

[Deester11]

Is there any team set up for current and long term success more than the braves? If so, there aren't many... I'll trust AA who was instrumental in getting us in this position.

Questioning moves or wondering how pieces fit doesn't mean people don't trust or are criticizing what AA has done. He's been remarkable. Every GM has left meat on the bone. AA even said in different ways, another SP was needed. I don't think wishing he'd get a SP who is not ELDER-esque for the postseason is bashing AA in any way.

[msstate7]

Questioning moves or wondering how pieces fit doesn't mean people don't trust or are criticizing what AA has done. He's been remarkable. Every GM has left meat on the bone. AA even said in different ways, another SP was needed. I don't think wishing he'd get a SP who is not ELDER-esque for the postseason is bashing AA in any way.

I think there's a balance between present and future that he was to watch though. Sure we coulda traded AJSS for a starter last year, but thank God we didn't bc we still wouldn't have hit

[msstate7]

Now I'll be ready to criticize AA very soon if our farm doesn't start looking better this season.

[Slippyjms]

In FA. They waited to long on Fried and now he’ll be gone next year to the highest bidder.

Strider wasn't a 28-30-year-old free agent pitcher looking for a long-term deal.

The issue was AA wouldn't commit the money to sign an Ace. Obviously he ponied up for Strider which shows that AA will spend money there if the situation is right. 30 year old pitchers on new big money long term deals aren't exactly where value is found.

[SJ24]

Per Dan Clark, one team is flirting with offering 12-13 years for Yamamoto.

Gotta figure it's the Mets.

[Tapate50]

Per Dan Clark, one team is flirting with offering 12-13 years for Yamamoto.

Gotta figure it's the Mets.

Wow

[bravesnumberone]

Honestly, keep him away from the Dodgers and I'm good. If it happens, gotta think Snell/Montgomery will be split between the Dodgers and Giants.

[UNCBlue012]

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the Dbacks are in agreement on a deal.

[MadduxFanII]

It's not the worst thing in the world for Anthopolous to basically take a season off from major trades -- you'd like to give the farm system a chance to refresh itself, at the risk of drawing out the "farm" metaphor a bit too far. Any major trade we'd make would basically require giving up every significant minor league piece we have, which takes the farm from "worst in MLB" to "worst in recent memory."

[jpx7]

The issue was AA wouldn't commit the money to sign an Ace. Obviously he ponied up for Strider which shows that AA will spend money there if the situation is right. 30 year old pitchers on new big money long term deals aren't exactly where value is found.

Heading into the off-season, when predictions for Yamamoto were in the 8/$190m to 9/$225m range, it seemed like he could represent the rare “FA Ace” that presents good value. Apparently that was a collective mis-reading of his market, however, if these 10+ year, $300+m rumblings are to be believed—thresholds which place him firmly in the “you’re probably overpaying, no matter how good he is in the first half” echelon.

[Carp]

Heading into the off-season, when predictions for Yamamoto were in the 8/$190m to 9/$225m range, it seemed like he could represent the rare “FA Ace” that presents good value. Apparently that was a collective mis-reading of his market, however, if these 10+ year, $300+m rumblings are to be believed—thresholds which place him firmly in the “you’re probably overpaying, no matter how good he is in the first half” echelon.

Seems that Ohtani reset the market. The Phillies were smart to get Nola when they did. Sonny Gray seems like a steal now. Gotta figure Montgomery might get 160 million or more now.

This off-season definitely isn't the year for us to spend recklessly

[ixiXSolidXixi]

Seems that Ohtani reset the market. The Phillies were smart to get Nola when they did. Sonny Gray seems like a steal now. Gotta figure Montgomery might get 160 million or more now.

This off-season definitely isn't the year for us to spend recklessly

Braves don’t spend…

[cajunrevenge]

Morton didnt pitch a single playoff game last year and is 40 now. He cant be relied on to start a playoff game. If he does then cool but thats alot of ifs for a team that has spent what we have. Losing 2 of your top 3 starters next offseason is gonna be rough for AA. He needs to acquire one now so he only needs 1 next year bc we’ll need another big bat for DH in the same offseason.

Morton didnt pitch because of a freak finger injury at the wrong time. Most teams wish they had our top 3. If we are patient we may not need multiple starters next year. Fried wants to hit FA but that doesnt necessarily mean he is gone. He has enough warts to not get a ridiculous contract offer unless he has a crazy good year. We have 2 promising SP prospects at AAA and AA. One or both could develop into just as good of starter as we might have traded for or signed. Sure thats risky but the upside of having good and cheap pitching is worth it. If simply just AJSS turns into a mid rotation SP this season we could really afford to sign Fried and Soto next year and still be under the luxury cap. Trading our prospects for proven SP who we then have to pay close to FA money isnt a recipe for long term success.

[cajunrevenge]

It's not the worst thing in the world for Anthopolous to basically take a season off from major trades -- you'd like to give the farm system a chance to refresh itself, at the risk of drawing out the "farm" metaphor a bit too far. Any major trade we'd make would basically require giving up every significant minor league piece we have, which takes the farm from "worst in MLB" to "worst in recent memory."

Right, we will never develop any SP if we are continually trading the prospects for proven talent. We have a lot of pitching in the farm. We just need to be patient with them.