How do the Braves find bats for 2017 and beyond?

[Horsehide Harry]

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.

[Runnin]

Since they need so many they should see about acquiring them wholesale.

[nsacpi]

Since they need so many they should see about acquiring them wholesale.

We just did a 2 for 1 to get Swisher and Bourn.

[Heyward]

Trading proven players like Maybin, Shelby for prospects is dumb.

[bravesnumberone]

Trading proven players like Maybin, Shelby for prospects is dumb.

[Dalyn]

Trading proven players like Maybin, Shelby for prospects is dumb.

[Heyward]

If you wanna use this re Wood, i dont think he's more of 3-4 long-term.

So cut that out.

[clvclv]

Can't see any scenario where trading Miller makes sense, especially if they're not going after one of the "Aces" available this winter.


2017 Potential Free-Agent Targets

OF- Jose Bautista
OF- Carlos Gomez
C- Jonathon Lucroy


In a sense, trading for Bourn and Swisher puts you in a position to go after one of the "Aces" this winter (payroll sitting at less than $80 million in commitments before arbitration and renewals), then do whatever it takes to land Bautista or Gomez as you move into the new park.

[Heyward]

Can't see any scenario where trading Miller makes sense, especially if they're not going after one of the "Aces" available this winter.


2017 Potential Free-Agent Targets

OF- Jose Bautista
OF- Carlos Gomez
C- Jonathon Lucroy


In a sense, trading for Bourn and Swisher puts you in a position to go after one of the "Aces" this winter (payroll sitting at less than $80 million in commitments before arbitration and renewals), then do whatever it takes to land Bautista or Gomez as you move into the new park.

Lucroy has two more years on his deal after this year.

Dont see Joey Bats leaving Tor especially if they keep Price.

Gomez is interesting.

[bravesnumberone]

What ace wants to pitch for a team that isn't planning on trying to win next year?

[50PoundHead]

Since they need so many they should see about acquiring them wholesale.

Get 'em right here! Link: http://www.slugger.com/baseball-wood...PriceHighToLow

[Chico]

We make some more trades and be open to taking on some more short term painful contracts. Im sute they have a list of expendables. Mine would be Maybin, Teheran, Bethancourt, Sims, and Sanchez. I think you look for the equivalent of guys like Mallex and Jace for C LF, and 3b along with some high upside arms.

[Horsehide Harry]

I think you look for the equivalent of guys like Mallex and Jace for C LF, and 3b along with some high upside arms.

I don't understand this. You already have these guys and they don't solve many issues anyway. The team needs power bats, especially RH power bats not more light hitting lead off, #8 hitter types. The system is full of those guys already.

[Horsehide Harry]

If you go the way I pushed out above you could have:

1B: Freeman - $20.5M
2B: Olivera - $6M
3B: McMahon - $0.5M
SS: Simmons - $8M
RF: Markakis - $10.5M
CF: Dahl - $0.5M
LF: TBD -$0.5M (filled by the trade of Teheran)
C: Murphy - $0.5M

$47M

Rotation could be

Price: $27M
Samardzija: $18M (Miller replacement)
Wisler: $2M
Folty: $2M
ManBan/Other: $1M

$50.5M

Add another $20M for the pen and the bench and you have a total of about $117M which is definitely NOT unreasonable to expect the payroll to be in that neighborhood moving into the new stadium.

AND, you keep all/most of your prospects. For instance, you could by that time have 3B depth with Ruiz at AAA and Riley at AA. You could have Albies at AAA (which could ultimately allow you to move Simmons as he gets expensive), Camargo at AA, Maybe Maitan, etc. SP depth could be Fried, Allard, Soroka, etc. which provides a lot of internal options as needed. 1B/Corner OF depth could come from Davidson, Peterson, etc.

Essentially this is what the Braves did to kick start the 90's dynasty with the exception that the Braves then had years of last place finishes where this Braves team isn't going to have that and will have to bring a lot of the talent in through trades as opposed to all internal development (I know those Braves brought in Smoltz but they also picked first or close to first a number of years bringing in the likes of CJ).

[Chico]

I don't understand this. You already have these guys and they don't solve many issues anyway. The team needs power bats, especially RH power bats not more light hitting lead off, #8 hitter types. The system is full of those guys already.

I meant under the radar prospects the FO thinks may be putting it all together.

[nsacpi]

I meant under the radar prospects the FO thinks may be putting it all together.

We picked up Mallex, Dustin Peterson, Jace Peterson and Ruiz last off-season. I assume these are the types of players you are referring to. I think we have to try somehow to get higher upside players. Not easy to do. But the general idea would be fewer but more high quality hitting prospects. Going for under the radar guys sounds great in principle but in reality the vast majority of those guys don't pan out.

I would add that imo Peraza has a higher upside than any of Mallex, Dustin Peterson, Jace Peterson or Ruiz. So I would have preferred sending those guys (even if it meant sending one of them paired with an additional prospect) to the Dodgers. I would have also been willing to not acquire Bird or the draft pick as part of that trade, if it would have allowed us to hold on to Peraza.

[Diesel]

What might happen is that the Braves will acquire no impact power bats. Instead, they will attempt to build an elite rotation, acquire and fill the lineup with contact, line drive hitters, and develop power bats from within for use a bit further down the road.

[nsacpi]

What might happen is that the Braves will acquire no impact power bats. Instead, they will attempt to build an elite rotation, acquire and fill the lineup with contact, line drive hitters, and develop power bats from within for use a bit further down the road.

I think that is the course we are on. But we will have some money after 2016. The Bourn and Swisher salaries come off. We could decline Maybin's option if we haven't already traded him. Some players will be getting raises. But between Bourn, Swisher and Maybin. we could free up almost 30M (I'm netting out here the 10M the Indians are sending us) from 2016 to 2017. Plus payroll will go up maybe 20M as we move to the new stadium. If we want to accelerate the rebuild we can take on an expensive player or two in 2017.

[bravesfanforlife88]

I can see the Braves trying to be unorthidox and looking in the international market next year for hitting talent...

Are there any major impact guys available?

[Chico]

What might happen is that the Braves will acquire no impact power bats. Instead, they will attempt to build an elite rotation, acquire and fill the lineup with contact, line drive hitters, and develop power bats from within for use a bit further down the road.

I also think this is likely.