A trade centered around Nacho and an arm should be what it takes to get Cease/King from SD. Nacho allows them to use Arreaz at DH, the arm slides into the rotation, and the freed up money could be used to sign another FA SP.
If SD keeps dragging this on through the weekend AA should just sign one of those #4 FA SP and be done with it.
Keith Law’s farm system rankings are out today and he has the Braves at 28th. He cites Atlanta’s years of contention-focused trades, some poor recent drafts, and the ongoing effects of the international signing sanctions as the reasons we’re so low but notes some of our international prospects are starting to hit his top 20.
I would say the Brave's Farm is "bad" because they promote the good players before dummies like Law even notice them and they become 3+win players for the big team instead of being good in AAA.
Coppy
I kinda wonder if Preller has the ability to make a significant trade right now with their ownership tied up in litigation over control of the team. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s limited to the small additions he’s made recently but can’t do a major addition or subtraction without all of the Seidlers signing off. So it’s possible we could have an agreement with Preller that he can’t get his ownership to all agree on for reasons other than baseball. Purely speculation but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Name another team that could compete with Strider/Harris/Schwelly the last 3 years.. maybe the O's..
Coppy
Yup, this is where the "system" in terms of this machine that continues to pump out impact players is very good, while the "system" in terms of the collection of guys in the minor leagues is not so great.
It's also important to note that while the Braves have traded away a lot of talent for MLB players, none of that talent has turned into anything worth missing...except Contreras, but I won't get started on the Murphy trade/extension. So the "system" is very good in that regard too.
Mrs. Meta (01-30-2025)
a couple of guys that I am watching to move quickly and for us to really start clamoring about.. Owen Murphy (not a huge surprise) and Lucas Braun.. Lucas could make a start this year for the big club and he might be the next thing.
Coppy
Looking at the Burnes trade last year is also informative when it comes to a potential Cease trade.
The Os gave up Joey Ortiz (2B #42 overall FV 50), DL Hall (post-hype FV 50 BP arm), and the 34th pick (typically a FV 40+ guy).
The equivalent is Nacho (2B/3B #49 overall FV 50), Waldrep (stock falling FV 50 SP), and some guy just outside the Top 10 in the system.
That package was considered steep at the time for Burnes, and Cease is not as valuable as Burnes. Nacho plus some non-AJSS arms should be enough for Cease. Nacho plus AJSS would be an overpay. Baldwin should be a clear nonstarter in these trade talks.
Dead out there today - even among the Twitter "insiders"
did you mean to link it?
A Cubs guy said the price for Cease is incredibly high:
Jacob Zanolla: Regarding Dylan Cease, several sources have indicated that the asking price is Matt Shaw+. Not just Shaw. Preller wants more.
This is insane for a one-year rental. Cease is good, but not worth Shaw and more. Or Shaw by himself.
They can keep him then😀
I am guessing the Pads will cave at some point.
I commend them for trying, but unfortunately there isn't another AJ Preller for AJ Preller to take advantage of.
Or they can wait for when some team inevitably has an unforeseen injury in Spring Training and see if someone is desperate enough.
In depth from college
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/hurston-...beware-beware/
first start recap
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/hurston-...-of-contrasts/
Ivermectin Man
bravesnumberone (01-30-2025)