How do the Braves find bats for 2017 and beyond?

[gilesfan]

Add Ozuna to the list of plausible potential OF targets. Marlins need pitching, and the Braves certainly have it. I would hate to see someone like Teheran or Folty or Wisler pitching for the Fish for the next 10 years, but Ozuna is cheap so the Braves could afford to buy a FA or 2 for the rotation.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/0...candidate.html

What do you find appealing about Ozuna's below average bat?

[Chico]

Ozuna would be a good get, but he seems to fit more into that all or nothing mentality we're trying to get away from.

[Heyward]

Well if they wont spend on an ace, words from Coppy, and wont get in on Ces, Jason or Justin, i have no idea what happens this winter.

They have plenty of money and i dont know what they'll do with it.

2017 FA doesnt seem very good, so im confused.

[Heyward]

I don't think we have that much free payroll for 2016. Something around 25-30M. We will have more for 2017.

Problem is the FA for 2017 doesnt have near as good SP's/hitters as 2016.

Best SP is Strasburg, best bat is Gomez.

There's a bunch of good closers though.

[Enscheff]

What do you find appealing about Ozuna's below average bat?

Basically just that he is 25, right-handed, cost controlled for 4 more years, has 20-25 HR pop, put up a .772 OPS in 600+ PAs at age 23 when he was worth 4.5 WAR, has a 6-7% walk rate, plays above average defense in the OF, and just put up a .937 OPS in AAA over more than a month.

Oh, and he might be available, and might be a good buy low candidate.

He does K a lot (probably will never be better than 20%), but it's not like the Braves have offensive options galore. He seems to be pretty much the same player as Cespedes when he's right, only younger and cheaper.

[Enscheff]

I will start:

RHP Shelby Miller, CF Cam Maybin to Colorado for OF David Dahl, 3B Ryan McMahon, C Tom Murphy

The Braves then sign a FA analog pitcher to replace Miller and play Bourn in CF until/if Dahl and/or Smith can take over.
2017 sees McMahon as the 3B and Olivera at 2B.

Maybin plus pitching to SF for Susac.

CB plus pitching to Maimi for Ozuna. Or maybe CB plus Maybin to SF and only pitching to Miami.

Sign 1 or 2 FA SPs towards the end of the offseason.

Bourn in CF until Mallex is ready.

Resign AJ and KJ for the bench.

Bourn/Mallex
Markakis
Olivera
Freeman
Ozuna
Susac
Jace
Simmons

AJ
KJ
Terdo
Bourn
Ciriaco/Castro

SP - FA/FA/Miller/Wisler (if not traded)/Teheran (if not traded)/Perez/Folty/etc

[GovClintonTyree]

Basically just that he is 25, right-handed, cost controlled for 4 more years, has 20-25 HR pop, put up a .772 OPS in 600+ PAs at age 23 when he was worth 4.5 WAR, has a 6-7% walk rate, plays above average defense in the OF, and just put up a .937 OPS in AAA over more than a month.

Oh, and he might be available, and might be a good buy low candidate.

He does K a lot (probably will never be better than 20%), but it's not like the Braves have offensive options galore. He seems to be pretty much the same player as Cespedes when he's right, only younger and cheaper.

Hmm. I like this idea. And the Marlins are stupid and impatient.

[GovClintonTyree]

Ozuna would be a good get, but he seems to fit more into that all or nothing mentality we're trying to get away from.

Yeah, but you can have one or two of those guys if they otherwise fit your puzzle. But you can't have a whole lineup full.

[auyushu]

Maybin plus pitching to SF for Susac.

CB plus pitching to Maimi for Ozuna. Or maybe CB plus Maybin to SF and only pitching to Miami.

Sign 1 or 2 FA SPs towards the end of the offseason.

Bourn in CF until Mallex is ready.

I like your gameplan. If we did those trades and signed some decent FA pitching we could be competing as soon as next year. Ozuna is an excellent buy low option with very good defense.

[Carp]

The problem is... I'm not nearly as confident in the return for pitching assets as I was a month ago. Everyone knows that I think the return for Wood was dreadful... and I'd guess he had more trade value than any other pitcher, except maybe Shelby

The more reading I've done on it, it seems Wood was viewed much differently around the league than what we viewed him.

[Carp]

Yes, now that we've started down this road, it's going to require patience, nerve and faith to stay the course and not spend money on starting pitching.

I think the stupid move would be to have acquired 20-some young pitchers in trades over the last nine months and then go out and spend what money you have on more pitching.

Quite the opposite actually. Instead of paying elite money for non-elite bats, we could sign a very good pitcher at a below market deal, and then use the pitching depth we have acquired to trade for a controllable bat.

[Dalyn]

Quite the opposite actually. Instead of paying elite money for non-elite bats, we could sign a very good pitcher at a below market deal, and then use the pitching depth we have acquired to trade for a controllable bat.

Agreed. I mentioned this earlier, but I would go after two good starters and trade from a strength to get Soler. Leake would be one I would definitely go after. For the second pitcher I would trade for Verlander or sign Kazmir/Samardzija/Zimmerman.

Verlander/Kazmir/Samardzija/Zimmerman
Miller
Leake
Teheran
Ban/Perez/Minor/Wisler (nice depth)

In addition, I would go after Feliz, Eric O', and Hunter to help the bullpen. Would probably even give Beachy a try there.

[GovClintonTyree]

Quite the opposite actually. Instead of paying elite money for non-elite bats, we could sign a very good pitcher at a below market deal, and then use the pitching depth we have acquired to trade for a controllable bat.

Eh. I think it's duplicative, or overkill. How much pitching do we need before dealing some?

I mean, if you can get Iwakuma for 3/$24m, it's always better to have discounted assets. I think we can deal from pitching right now.

If you cut too close, there are always Harangs hanging around in spring training.

[GovClintonTyree]

Agreed. I mentioned this earlier, but I would go after two good starters and trade from a strength to get Soler. Leake would be one I would definitely go after. For the second pitcher I would trade for Verlander or sign Kazmir/Samardzija/Zimmerman.

Verlander/Kazmir/Samardzija/Zimmerman
Miller
Leake
Teheran
Ban/Perez/Minor/Wisler (nice depth)

In addition, I would go after Feliz, Eric O', and Hunter to help the bullpen. Would probably even give Beachy a try there.

I don't think it makes sense to leave the five spot to four-five guys after signing two more guys. We would have acquired too much pitching.

I do recall from auction Rotisserie that I would go in determined to blow my wad on hitting, confident that I could find the pitching I needed for cheap. But somebody solid would always fall to me for way less than market. I would certainly be fine with taking advantage of that in real life. Leake is a guy I've always liked whose numbers have been impacted some by that micropark in Cincinnati.

[Julio3000]

If you cut too close, there are always Harangs hanging around in spring training.

On the really sturdy branch, maybe.

[GovClintonTyree]

On the really sturdy branch, maybe.

Yeah. Not too high up, either.

[Dalyn]

I don't think it makes sense to leave the five spot to four-five guys after signing two more guys. We would have acquired too much pitching.

That's BEFORE trading for offense, which I specifically mentioned. That was the point.

[Dalyn]

And if you don't have at least three or so guys ready for the #5 spot, you're in deep **** as soon as the season matures and pitchers go down.

[Chico]

If the Cardinals plan on signing Heyward, I wonder of they'd be open to trading Piscotty or Grichuk. I'm not so sure they are planning on resigning Heyward and they don't look to have many needs elsewhere. So it may be a moot point. I like Piscotty a lot though.

[yeezus]

If the Cardinals plan on signing Heyward, I wonder of they'd be open to trading Piscotty or Grichuk. I'm not so sure they are planning on resigning Heyward and they don't look to have many needs elsewhere. So it may be a moot point. I like Piscotty a lot though.

I bet you they will love Piscotty or Grichuk at their prices over Heyward at his. I don't see them signing him. They will both be better values.