Looking towards 2025

[jpx7]

It might be worth noting the current luxury number is $223M, which is a good bit under the first cap of $241M. I really hope they aren't trying to reset the penalties, but if they are this roster could be considered complete with $12M-$15M left to spend this offseason assuming a few million left for the deadline.

Would be unfortunate, and tough to square with Anthopoulos' "I expect payroll will rise again" statement—though he did carefully phrase that as an expectation (full quote, in all its vagueness, below). However, I suppose there is some wisdom to resetting now, if you have faith in the current roster, think you can have a good pitching staff without major additions / through internal promotions, and think you can creatively upgrade LF/SS without eclipsing the CBT threshold. Certainly, Drake Baldwin's emergence as a seemingly-bonafide MLB bat at catcher helps (saving those $8m by declining d'Arnaud).

I'd moreover assume they'd only do this if they have a plan to spend back into tax territory in the 2025 offseason—but it's not a particularly intriguing group of FAs next offseason, with Vlad Jr and (to a lesser extent) Bichette Jr being the only really eye-catching options.

“It’s gone up each year that I’ve been here,” Anthopoulos said (link via Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). “I know it’s not going to go down, I expect it to rise, but to what level, we’ll spend the offseason going through that. I view it opening day to opening day, because in-season things come up. … Is it a bottomless pit? Is it unlimited? Of course not. But every year we’ve set a new Braves high from a payroll standpoint. … We will be going up, I just can’t give you the amount.”

[cajunrevenge]

If Waldrep doesn’t have much value, keep him and make him a reliever. He could be a really good one, and it seems like they may be looking for help there.

I would give AJSS and Waldrep both a chance to win a rotation spot in Spring Training. If they dont then let them adjust to coming out of the pen for a month in AAA and use them as relievers. I know theres some negative stigma about moving prospects to the pen but both have stuff that should play up out of the pen and it doesnt have to be a permanent move. If they can prove they can do the job for 1 inning. Give them some 2 Inning appearances. If they can handle that try using them as openers for 3 Innings or 1 turn through the batting order. If that works then stretch them out to start again. The art of developing a pitcher in the pen seems to be a lost art. Its a regular thing in Japan. I think trying to save service time is what killed it. If either AJSS or Waldrep developed into a young cheap closer so we dont have to pay 15 million a year for a closer that would help the team immensely.

[Enscheff]

Scratch Pivetta, Manaea, Severino, and Martinez off the list of potential back end SPs now that they were offered a QO. Their markets will be significantly impacted with draft compensation attached.

[Enscheff]

Tyler ONeill was not offered a QO, so he becomes an interesting option for LF. Think I'd pass on a guy who relies on making a 30% K rate work though.

[Tapate50]

Eovaldi fits, but I'm not sure we are gonna pay what he's gonna ask.

[WaitingFor2017]

The two guys the Braves hired from the Giants seem to specialize in player analytics. Now if you only get the dinosaur coaching staff to use the pre-game script to best utilize the team day in day out.

[cajunrevenge]

Tyler ONeill was not offered a QO, so he becomes an interesting option for LF. Think I'd pass on a guy who relies on making a 30% K rate work though.

Honestly rather pay Laureano his arb salary than anything close to what it would take for O'Neil.

[cajunrevenge]

Eovaldi fits, but I'm not sure we are gonna pay what he's gonna ask.

I think its a matter of years. They rather pay higher yearly amounts for shorter term contracts. So 2 years for Eovaldi would be exactly what they are looking for. Maybe 3 years. He also has an elite fastball which seems to be something we target.

[CyYoung31]

Neither Acuña or Strider will be ready Opening Day.

[Hudson2]

Neither Acuña or Strider will be ready Opening Day.

Was just coming to say that. That’s a big deal so I think that could be why AA has been saving money so he can get a really good LF and SP.

[Hudson2]

Neither Acuña or Strider will be ready Opening Day.

Was just coming to say that. That’s a big deal so I think that could be why AA has been saving money so he can get a really good LF and SP.

[GovClintonTyree]

Tyler ONeill was not offered a QO, so he becomes an interesting option for LF. Think I'd pass on a guy who relies on making a 30% K rate work though.

Have him platoon with Kelenic in LF. You'd have a matched set.

[bravesfanMatt]

Neither Acuña or Strider will be ready Opening Day.

But will Acuna still be able to steal some bases in spring training?

[CJ9]

But will Acuna still be able to steal some bases in spring training?

We won't know he's back until he can stay in a rundown for two full minutes.

[cajunrevenge]

I think Strider is strategically not ready opening day. We dont want him pitching a full season after missing a whole year.

[50PoundHead]

I think Strider is strategically not ready opening day. We dont want him pitching a full season after missing a whole year.

I know he's having the same surgery as Brock Purdy, but throwing a baseball and throwing a football are somewhat different and Strider relies on arm strength more than Purdy. I imagine it will take longer for Strider to recover seeing he will have to build up arm strength to get into the velocity neighborhood where he lived prior to surgery.

[Enscheff]

But will Acuna still be able to steal some bases in spring training?

Acuna is stealing bases right now in pick up games on the beach. He popped a stich out of his knee suture, but Snit seems ok with it and sees no reason to give him the red light.

[Enscheff]

I know he's having the same surgery as Brock Purdy, but throwing a baseball and throwing a football are somewhat different and Strider relies on arm strength more than Purdy. I imagine it will take longer for Strider to recover seeing he will have to build up arm strength to get into the velocity neighborhood where he lived prior to surgery.

The Braves would be wise to count on Strider plus Sale to provide the inning count of 1 fully healthy SP. I don't want to hear any excuses when AA is "surprised" Sale went back to his injury-prone ways, and Strider only pitches 100 innings. It's not a surprise, it should be expected.

Everyone should be well aware of the risk with those 2 pitchers, and plans should be in action to cover for it now...not after the inevitable happens and we watch Winans or some other AAAA fodder make 11 starts.

[Hudson2]

The Braves would be wise to count on Strider plus Sale to provide the inning count of 1 fully healthy SP. I don't want to hear any excuses when AA is "surprised" Sale went back to his injury-prone ways, and Strider only pitches 100 innings. It's not a surprise, it should be expected.

Everyone should be well aware of the risk with those 2 pitchers, and plans should be in action to cover for it now...not after the inevitable happens and we watch Winans or some other AAAA fodder make 11 starts.

This is why I think AA gets another really good SP. I love Sale and hope he does but I don’t see him repeating this year health wise. He has all the talent in the world but it’s always health with him. I think that’s the reason they traded Soler. With Acuña’s knees we can’t have a liability on defense out there.

[JohnBoy]

This is why I think AA gets another really good SP. I love Sale and hope he does but I don’t see him repeating this year health wise. He has all the talent in the world but it’s always health with him. I think that’s the reason they traded Soler. With Acuña’s knees we can’t have a liability on defense out there.

I'm hoping that with Acuna's knees he becomes a nearly fulltime DH sometime soon. And no stealing bases allowed.