Simmons dealt to Angels for two top pitchers, Aybar

[Tapate50]

How can you say that Newcomb and Wisler are only elite prospects?!? I guess we need to define elite. But those above plus Folty all can be consider top talent. Folty is close to ready, just not polished. there is no question that he has the ability to be special. I think having the ability is all I need to consider a prospect elite. Riley could be considered elite in the same perspective as Allard would be. High draft pick that excelled out of the gate.

I'm in total agreement. I'm a posibrave to the last.

[nsacpi]

Toussaint?

I don't believe he was on BA's mid-season Top 50.

[zbhargrove]

Newcomb, Sims, and Allard are probably our highest ceiling pitching trio since the big 3. Add in Soroka, Toissant, Wisler, Fried, Ellis... That's 5 other pitchers with huge ceilings. After the dust has settled, this is a pretty good trade. Aybar may not be Simmons but he's a whole lot better than most of you are giving him credit. He's definitely a better offensive player and an ideal 2 hole hitter.

[sturg33]

... I had a friend text me this morning "why the hell did we trade for Olivera again?"

Pisses me off everytime I think about it.

At least Newcomb can fill the void left by Wood hopefully

[Tapate50]

I don't believe he was on BA's mid-season Top 50.

Is that the measuring stick we are using?

[nsacpi]

I guess we need to define elite.

I would say in BA's list of Top 50 as of the time of the trade. That's my definition.

[nsacpi]

Is that the measuring stick we are using?

Its mine. I didn't say it had to be anyone else's.

[zbhargrove]

You're right. He's a future middle of the rotation starter. Sims is another likely bullpen piece moving forward. Again there is nothing wrong with that but I think you are confusing quantity with quality which is what a lot of people on here did last offseason.

And how do you figure Sims is a bullpen piece? Nothing hints at that. Have you even followed his progression this year?

[50PoundHead]

Why do you think Sims is a likely bullpen piece? He's got great velocity and life on his fastball, his curve is good, and his changeup is coming along. He's got a good shot at having three major league pitches. The biggest flaw in his game has been his BBs. But considering how he's young and the Braves have pushed him, there's a very good chance that improves. In fact, there are signs that's developing as we speak.

His last 3 starts at Mississipi he went at least 6 IP and didn't walk more than 2. Now in the AFL he's K'd 15 and walked only 3 in 14 IP. The AFL is usually a hitter's league. In his last 33.1 IP, he's walked only 8 men compared to 37 Ks. That's pretty dominant.

When you consider the fact that he started the year as a 20 year old in high A ball, missed over a month due to a bus crash, came back, earned a promotion to AA, finished the year as a 21 year old in AA, and has over 4.5 K/BB over his last 33.1 IP, you should be excited!

Agreed. I'm not quite ready to pigeonhole Sims. Big kid with a big fastball. He gets the polish he needs and he could really be someone.

[50PoundHead]

simmons is owed a lot in the back end of that contract. the club is setting themselves up to have both plenty of young talent and plenty of payroll flexibility in a few years. if you're going to rebuild, do it right. rushing this to be pretty good in a year or two isn't as good as planning to be great in three or four years. i know it's a long time, but potentially they'll be so freaking set for years to come after just a few more wasted summers.

as it was, the top end prospects in the system were eh. this is one more top guy now that can really matter. the rotation now is close to being freaking stacked down the line. it's dark today, but will pay off in a big way.

as for position players, clearly the braves are planning on signing as many international guys as they can to fill those voids. we'll see, but the 18 year old class of draftees seems to be the true core of the next generation so it's going to take three or four years anyway. may as well get better for the future than hang on to a guy during his prime years as you will lose anyway only to have him get more and more expensive as you go.

I think Braves' fans should have 2020 vision.

[nsacpi]

I think Braves' fans should have 2020 vision.

I like that. And it is a pretty fair description of our timeline. If you squint really hard maybe 2019 we have a pretty good team.

[zbhargrove]

Agreed. I'm not quite ready to pigeonhole Sims. Big kid with a big fastball. He gets the polish he needs and he could really be someone.

That's thewupk though. He always views all players in the worst possible scenario even if positive signs are pointing the other way. Disgruntled for life.

[sturg33]

It's so funny how it's always the same posters who blindly praise no matter what.

This FO has demolished the young proven taken that we had. We're now hoping a bunch of pitchers become great, and hope we can win a bunch of 1-0 games on the back of a 32 year old Olivera.

[bravesfanMatt]

I would say in BA's list of Top 50 as of the time of the trade. That's my definition.

so we have 3 elite prospects then.

Ozzie/Newcomb/Hector.

Do you think many teams have 3 elite prospects and a whole lot of 'almost' elite talent ..

[sturg33]

so we have 3 elite prospects then.

Ozzie/Newcomb/Hector.

Do you think many teams have 3 elite prospects and a whole lot of 'almost' elite talent ..

Counting Hector as a top prospect is ridiculous.

1. He's old as ****

2. He's not subject to rookie contracts... so we won't be able to get the 3 "free" years like normal rookies

[bravesfanMatt]

It's so funny how it's always the same posters who blindly praise no matter what.

This FO has demolished the young proven taken that we had. We're now hoping a bunch of pitchers become great, and hope we can win a bunch of 1-0 games on the back of a 32 year old Olivera.

Pitching is the gold bullion of MLB.. we are what some would call rich with pitching depth.

[zbhargrove]

It's so funny how it's always the same posters who blindly praise no matter what.

This FO has demolished the young proven taken that we had. We're now hoping a bunch of pitchers become great, and hope we can win a bunch of 1-0 games on the back of a 32 year old Olivera.

I never praised the Olivera trade and still don't like it. This trade, however, was very good.

[UNCBlue012]

... I had a friend text me this morning "why the hell did we trade for Olivera again?"

Pisses me off everytime I think about it.

At least Newcomb can fill the void left by Wood hopefully

ME EFFIN TOO. I only don't get that. If they're going to contend, sure. But unless we are missing something, I'm confused.

[UNCBlue012]

I never praised the Olivera trade and still don't like it. This trade, however, was very good.

Hey, we can take critique together, because I agree with you.

[bravesfanMatt]

Counting Hector as a top prospect is ridiculous.

1. He's old as ****

2. He's not subject to rookie contracts... so we won't be able to get the 3 "free" years like normal rookies

playing by the rules laid out in front of me..

#16 on BA top 50..