Braves donate Justin Upton to Padres for prospects

[Braves1976]

We WILL need a new manager.

My hope is that they decided that Fredi was OK for 2015 due in part to it being a reload/rebuild year. But that they will not renew his contract when it runs out after this coming season. So instead of firing him they just let him finish his contract this season and find a new manager for 2016.

If there serious about being a contender by 2017 then Fredi surely won't being managing the team once the new ballpark opens.

[Dalyn]

My hope is that they decided that Fredi was OK for 2015 due in part to it being a reload/rebuild year. But that they will not renew his contract when it runs out after this coming season. So instead of firing him they just let him finish his contract this season and find a new manager for 2016.

If there serious about being a contender by 2017 then Fredi surely won't being managing the team once the new stadium opens.

[Hawk]

If you look at the compositions of the teams John Hart has built before offense has never even remotely been an issue (whereas pitching, almost universally, has been), so perhaps he's confident in his ability to sniff out value and production in that arena. Presuming that's the case, the pieces still don't exactly fit; the Braves already possess a solid pitching core at the Major League level, have a decent amount of high-ceiling arms in the Minors, and own a rather pristine history of accumulating valuable arms from outside of the organization by a variety of means.

If the Braves move Justin Upton -- and I believe they will -- this team goes from a poor offense to a brutal one. And that's not even accouting for the real possibility that Gattis is gone as well. What scares me the most about this potential series of events is where it leaves the Braves even looking ahead to competitiveness in 2017. The farm system has about 5 semi-projectable bats in its current arsenal, and even if the team completely reshapes its draft/scouting strategies it could easily be 5-6 years before any of that talent sniffs the Majors.

Obviously we will find ourselves in a much better position to analyze the direction of the team after Hart finishes executing the first stage of his plan over the course of this offseason, but right now we have a lot more questions than answers.

[bravesfanforlife88]

This is true hawk however there is so much fundamentally wrong with the organization you have to start somewhere. And "the braves way" has always revolved around pitching. I am confident hart will blow us away within the next few weeks

[Braves1976]

If you look at the compositions of the teams John Hart has built before offense has never even remotely been an issue (whereas pitching, almost universally, has been), so perhaps he's confident in his ability to sniff out value and production in that arena. Presuming that's the case, the pieces still don't exactly fit; the Braves already possess a solid pitching core at the Major League level, have a decent amount of high-ceiling arms in the Minors, and own a rather pristine history of accumulating valuable arms from outside of the organization by a variety of means.

If the Braves move Justin Upton -- and I believe they will -- this team goes from a poor offense to a brutal one. And that's not even accouting for the real possibility that Gattis is gone as well. What scares me the most about this potential series of events is where it leaves the Braves even looking ahead to competitiveness in 2017. The farm system has about 5 semi-projectable bats in its current arsenal, and even if the team completely reshapes its draft/scouting strategies it could easily be 5-6 years before any of that talent sniffs the Majors.

Obviously we will find ourselves in a much better position to analyze the direction of the team after Hart finishes executing the first stage of his plan over the course of this offseason, but right now we have a lot more questions than answers.

I figure either way it goes that one or more of Wood, Miller, etc., go down with injury before or by 2017.

[GovClintonTyree]

If you look at the compositions of the teams John Hart has built before offense has never even remotely been an issue (whereas pitching, almost universally, has been), so perhaps he's confident in his ability to sniff out value and production in that arena. Presuming that's the case, the pieces still don't exactly fit; the Braves already possess a solid pitching core at the Major League level, have a decent amount of high-ceiling arms in the Minors, and own a rather pristine history of accumulating valuable arms from outside of the organization by a variety of means.

If the Braves move Justin Upton -- and I believe they will -- this team goes from a poor offense to a brutal one. And that's not even accouting for the real possibility that Gattis is gone as well. What scares me the most about this potential series of events is where it leaves the Braves even looking ahead to competitiveness in 2017. The farm system has about 5 semi-projectable bats in its current arsenal, and even if the team completely reshapes its draft/scouting strategies it could easily be 5-6 years before any of that talent sniffs the Majors.

Obviously we will find ourselves in a much better position to analyze the direction of the team after Hart finishes executing the first stage of his plan over the course of this offseason, but right now we have a lot more questions than answers.

Interesting thoughts. Really, he doesn't need any more pitching at this point. Patch in a Harang or a Gavin Floyd at five. Still got Hale as a swing man. Other than insurance, he could be done there.

Then the goal should be young controllable hitting now. Seattle is a good place for that, too. Back to Fat Upton, They'd probably do two of Saunders/Ackley/Miller, which would really help us for 4-5 years each. Maybe throw in James Jones to play CF and run between Gattis on the LF line and Tomas on the RF line. You could even play BJ against lefties if you can't find a sucker to take him.

Or maybe righties. Defensive replacement? Pinch hitter? Bullpen catcher? Beer vendor in Section 235?

[blueagleace1]

Interesting thoughts. Really, he doesn't need any more pitching at this point. Patch in a Harang or a Gavin Floyd at five. Still got Hale as a swing man. Other than insurance, he could be done there.

Then the goal should be young controllable hitting now. Seattle is a good place for that, too. Back to Fat Upton, They'd probably do two of Saunders/Ackley/Miller, which would really help us for 4-5 years each. Maybe throw in James Jones to play CF and run between Gattis on the LF line and Tomas on the RF line. You could even play BJ against lefties if you can't find a sucker to take him.

Or maybe righties. Defensive replacement? Pinch hitter? Bullpen catcher? Beer vendor in Section 235?

If they don't build a deal around Walker or Paxton then it will look something like this: Justin Upton for D.J Peterson, 1 of Gabriel Guerrero/Austin Wilson, and Edwin Diaz

[cajunrevenge]

The Rangers are an interesting option because they have bad contracts that we could use to get rid of BJ. Elvis Andrus is owed 15 mill a year for the next 8 years. That's brutal.

[GovClintonTyree]

If they don't build a deal around Walker or Paxton then it will look something like this: Justin Upton for D.J Peterson, 1 of Gabriel Guerrero/Austin Wilson, and Edwin Diaz

I would favor young vets or a mix of young vets and prospects in keeping with our non-tear-down rebuild philosophy.

[holden]

buzzword buzzword buzzword


Get over the drama already. I'm telling you what happened.

cool

[holden]

Why do we HAVE to be competitive in 2017? People keep saying this like it's a fact. Sucky teams move into new stadia all the time.

White people will come to the suburban stadium no matter what.

[Hawk]

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
#Rangers have spoken with #Braves about Justin Upton, as @Joelsherman1 said. Also have liked Upton in past. Pitching is more current focus.

[GovClintonTyree]

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
#Rangers have spoken with #Braves about Justin Upton, as @Joelsherman1 said. Also have liked Upton in past. Pitching is more current focus.

Yeah, hitting doesn't do **** for them if they don't find some pitching.

[Heyward]

Why do we HAVE to be competitive in 2017? People keep saying this like it's a fact. Sucky teams move into new stadia all the time.

White people will come to the suburban stadium no matter what.

I think we can "compete" by 2016, and division/WS type by 2017.

Rotation is plenty fine.

Offense is another story.

[Heyward]

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
#Rangers have spoken with #Braves about Justin Upton, as @Joelsherman1 said. Also have liked Upton in past. Pitching is more current focus.

Meh we got enough pitching.

Minor, Wood, Miller, Julio is a solid top-4.

Hale, a vet ona 1-yr deal could finish it out.

Need some hitting bad.

[COGPK]

Upton Brothers for Andrus for 3rd and a couple of minor leaguers.

[clvclv]

Best guess is that price for Texas would be Gallo and Nick Williams or Gallo and Jake Thompson.

(Hart wouldn't take Andrus' contract back if you held a gun to his head BTW.)

[Tapate50]

Wonder what type of value a guy like Hale has in trade talks?

On one hand you can point at his results and say he is a cheap pretty damn good pitcher, but others will just shrug their shoulders and say he couldnt possibly keep it up. If we did sign a guy like Lester he could be a decent little trade addition.

[zitothebrave]

Hale has virtually no trade value. Not necessarily none, but virtually none.

[nsacpi]

Hale has virtually no trade value. Not necessarily none, but virtually none.

Yup. I think he would be an acceptable fifth starter, but right now I don't think he has any market value. I think it would make sense to pencil him in as the fifth starter, but also to have a viable plan B and plan C.