Step one: Go find a SP!
Step one: Go find a SP!
Probably twoOriginally Posted by Hulavol
Chopping With The Braves And Rolling With The Tide
Fire Snitker
Barnes (10-13-2023)
AA needs to do a much better job rounding out the roster. He got the big things right the past year, but he missed most of the little decisions (Pillar, bullpen depth, back of the rotation).
Feels like this is the offseason to go all in on a guy since it might be the last Fried year.
1. Put Snit out to pasture
2. Get another top starter
3. Get another lock down bullpen piece
4. Fix LF
Feels like we’d be lucky to have enough money to do even two of those things. Unless Morton retires, but that creates another hole.
Braves are making money hand over fist. They can invest in their cash cow for once
Imagine a back end of the bullpen of Iglesias, Kimbrel, and Hader
Stupid expensive and would never happen but would be unbelievable
Get off my lawn!
Sure they can. But will they? payroll would have to take a big jump this offseason. Not many meaningful contracts coming off the books.
In order of relevance, starting pitcher, left fielder, short stop, relief pitching, bench piece
Get off my lawn!
Morton needs to be let go and get a more reliable, younger, better SP. My ideal offseason would be Cease, Hader, and a LF upgrade.
Cody Bellinger sits atop my wishlist. Mutual option with the Cubs for 12 million that I can see one side wanting, but not the other. I’d offer him something like 3/78 or 4/102. Is a guy like Jack Flaherty worth a look? Probably will be expensive, but ok the good side of 30 and is a frontline starter.
Trevor Bauer is also intriguing.
Not gonna happen, but it should. Game 3 was just atrociously managed. Maybe the worst managed game I've ever seen from Snit and that says something. Feels like Game 4 someone else was pulling the strings. Pinch running Wall. Pinch hitting TDA for Harris. Not Snitkers way of doing things.
Ultimately, the layover got us. Baseball has gotta fix this. When your top seeds lose like this 2 years in a row, that's not coincidence.
I feel this is the same problem each offseason.
I think Braves should move Harris to the second hold.
Acuña
Harris
Riley
Olson
Maybe is the opportunity to trade Ozuna.
Agree - yes yes yes !
Braves should have $35M up to ~$50M depending how much they are willing to exceed the cap, assuming they dump McHugh. The best use of funds is likely to keep Rosario for $9M, and add a higher quality RHH OFer line Grichuk. Then get the best SP the FO can afford.
Then make another run at the title.
I'm curious what will be done with Grissom probably more so than anything. Hopefully Morton decides pretty quickly on whether he'll be back so we can plan for addressing starting pitching. I would try to scoop up as many high-leverage relievers as I could get. LF market seems pretty bleak, but I'd really like to have an actual solution.
I'm going to take a look at things with the roster, give my thoughts, and see what you guys think.
Bullpen: Know Iglesias and Minter will return. I would not mind giving a one year deal to bring back Yates and Johnson. I don't look for Hand to return. McHugh will be gone. He was a major disappointment this year. Biggest name on the relief market is Josh Hader. Like everything else, cost will be a factor. A Hader signing could move Iglesias to a set up role, but with other areas of need, I'm not sure I see the Braves making that type of splash for a reliever.
Rotation: This is the elephant in the room. I think Strider is the one lock to return. Fried will most likely be back. The one scenario I could see him not back is if the Braves see that they won't be able to sign him long term and maybe attempt to trade him, but I don't see that happening at this point. I think Charlie Morton has thrown his last pitch. Seeing his interview the night the division was clinched makes me think that. We know Wright is gone for next and who knows after that. Shoulder injuries are scarier than Tommy John. Ian Anderson won't be available until mid-season at the earliest and who knows how he'll be. And who knows in general about Soroka. With that into account, Braves need to go after two starters, IMO. Blake Snell is the best option available and the Padres are unlikely to resign him as it appears they want to cut payroll. Jordan Montgomery could be an option, certainly would cost less than Snell. Need to look through the trade market too. Names I've seen that could be available (cost depending, of course) are Corbin Burns, Dylan Cease, and Tyler Glasnow.
Catcher: Nothing to figure out here. Murphy with likely one last go around with TDA.
Infield. Mostly nothing to figure out here aside from one or two cheap utility guys. Olson, Riley, and Albies are sure bets to return. Arcia will most likely be back, but I'm not totally dismissing a potential trade. I know some fans would like to send him out after seeing him paying too much attention to Phillies fans tonight.
Outfield: Acuna and Harris are back. But lets get rid of the left field platoon. I don't look for Pillar to return. It's 50/50 to me with Rosario returning. See if that option gets picked up, but even if it does, still need a full time LF and let Rosario be a 4th outfielder. I know Bellinger is a popular name, but was this year he had with the Cubs proof that his MVP type days with the Dodgers are back, or was it a mirage and he'll be back to his last couple years like he had in LA after getting a rich deal. He scares me a bit. But, I don't see many impact outfield bats in free agency. May have to go trade route here. Not many names come to me right off hand in regards to trade options. Maybe Juan Soto, but even that is a bit of a stretch.
Designated Hitter: I know Ozuna had a bit of a bounce back, but I don't see him as a guarantee to return. It's a good bet he will be, but I can see him in a deal. Ohtani? Yeah, dream on.
Chopping With The Braves And Rolling With The Tide
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