Freeman Trade Speculation

[chop2chip]

Public perception of the results is all that matters and that will be determined in large part by the faith the team and the fanbase has in the GM.

Knowing what to say and how to say it is something that JS and JH do about as well as anyone.

The perception of the results doesn't matter. Dayton Moore was perceived to be a dunce the first 5 years his time with the Royals, then he won and the perception changed. That's going to be true of Coppy as well.

[bravesfanMatt]

I don't see us trading Aybar until after the season has started. He is really the only option at the position we have until Albies is ready. Yeah you can try Garcia but really he is not an everyday option. You put Aybar out there and hope he has a good first half of the season. Trade him at the deadline and pick up prospects.

Adonis will be at 3rd unless something changes. Castro will man SS next year with Pedro filling in for either of them. Aybar will have no value at the deadline. What team will be looking for a slap hitting SS to put them over the top with less than half a season left. Trade him this offseason so a team will have him for an entire year.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Adonis will be at 3rd unless something changes. Castro will man SS next year with Pedro filling in for either of them. Aybar will have no value at the deadline. What team will be looking for a slap hitting SS to put them over the top with less than half a season left. Trade him this offseason so a team will have him for an entire year.

Was thinking of Castro...my bad!

[bravesfanMatt]

Was thinking of Castro...my bad!

ideally, that is not a great combination.. but it will work for next year since we will most likely be bad anyway.

[bravesfanforlife88]

1b - Freeman
2b - Peterson
SS - Aybar
3b - Garcia
LF - Olivera
CF - Maybin
RF - Markakis
C - AJ/Bethancourt

Bench:
Swisher
Bourn
AJ/Bethancourt
Open competition

God that is depressing



What is the line up?

Markakis
Maybin
Freeman
Garcia
AJ
Olivera
Aybar
Peterson

Or

Markakis
Maybin
Freeman
Garcia
Olivera
Aybar
Peterson
Bethancourt

[thewupk]

I hope we trade Aybor personally. this is his only year he will be here.. We are going to stink next year. Get some value from him...

I would agree. But it seems the FO wants to try and appease the fans somehow without going into full rebuild mode.

[emk418]

1b - Freeman
2b - Peterson
SS - Aybar
3b - Garcia
LF - Olivera
CF - Maybin
RF - Markakis
C - AJ/Bethancourt

Bench:
Swisher
Bourn
AJ/Bethancourt
Open competition

God that is depressing



What is the line up?

Markakis
Maybin
Freeman
Garcia
AJ
Olivera
Aybar
Peterson

Or

Markakis
Maybin
Freeman
Garcia
Olivera
Aybar
Peterson
Bethancourt

That lineup actually isn't as bad as I was expecting IF and it's a big IF Olivera becomes a solid middle of the order bat.

Aybar SS
Jace 2B
Freeman 1B
Olivera LF
Markakis RF
Maybin CF
AJ C
Please please please please not Adonis 3B

[Enscheff]

Adonis will be at 3rd unless something changes. Castro will man SS next year with Pedro filling in for either of them. Aybar will have no value at the deadline. What team will be looking for a slap hitting SS to put them over the top with less than half a season left. Trade him this offseason so a team will have him for an entire year.

Plenty of teams could be looking for an upgrade at SS at the deadline, especially a cheap one that they only have to commit to for a few months.

But yes, since part of the reason Simmons was dealt was due to the lack of SS options this offseason and his inflated value, that should also make Aybar more valuable as well. However, just like in Maybin's case, I would not be in favor of trading Aybar for some 45 FV prospect that wouldn't even crack the Braves top 20 because those are pointless additions to the system, but if Aybar combined with other assets can bring back a legit hitting prospect I think it's clearly in the Braves best interest to move him.

[Runnin]

The perception of the results doesn't matter. Dayton Moore was perceived to be a dunce the first 5 years his time with the Royals, then he won and the perception changed. That's going to be true of Coppy as well.

5 years of Dunceville in KC was doable because it was KC. He won't last 2 in Atlanta if he's perceived that way.

[mfree80]

That lineup actually isn't as bad as I was expecting IF and it's a big IF Olivera becomes a solid middle of the order bat.

Aybar SS
Jace 2B
Freeman 1B
Olivera LF
Markakis RF
Maybin CF
AJ C
Please please please please not Adonis 3B

The off-season is still very young.

[Millwood1Hitter]

The off-season is still very young.

Yep, Bryan Pena is on his way to help. Alberto Callaspo as well.

[Chico]

The perception of the results doesn't matter. Dayton Moore was perceived to be a dunce the first 5 years his time with the Royals, then he won and the perception changed. That's going to be true of Coppy as well.

People are very predictable this way.

[smootness]

I think the point is, Aybar shouldn't be as massive of a downgrade (based off their recent #s) that most people are suggesting. He still produced a 2.3 WAR in 2015 and will likely be better offensively than Simmons next season. He will be 32 next season, so that is a concern, but we also got back two very promising pitchers in the deal as well. Its a trade that could help out both long term and short term.

I guess I didn't do a good job of explaining myself. I'm not taking issue with the trade. I'm fine with the trades, especially if we can get something for Aybar later.

My issue is in the attempt to sell the trade and in the overall attitude Coppy seems to have. And yes, it matters. Dayton Moore may have been thought a fool, but he was pretty open about his plan and he never blasted the fan base. That will cause fans to turn on you, which will affect attendance and ultimately revenue. And now is not a time to be messing with revenue.

I know several season-ticket holders who are not planning to pay for them anymore. That is a problem. A GM who tries to explain things to the fan base and how they can help in the process has a chance of keeping them on board. A GM who gets defensive and dismissive is likely to turn the fan base entirely against him.

Payroll will only increase if more fans come to games. They won't, even with the new stadium, if they believe the FO is trying to lose and then attacks them on top of it. I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about the average fan. They don't get this, and the FO has done nothing to try to explain it. And now on top of that, Coppy's going to be a dick to them?

[mqt]

Yep, Bryan Pena is on his way to help. Alberto Callaspo as well.

If we can once again eventually turn him into two decent pitching prospects like Gant and Whalen, sign me up for Callaspo.

[smootness]

Also, I actually believe Coppy is doing well in personnel moves, and I want him to stay as the guy making deals. His chances of that are lessened when he angers the fan base. So I would like him to stop doing it.

[sturg33]

That lineup actually isn't as bad as I was expecting IF and it's a big IF Olivera becomes a solid middle of the order bat.

It's so sad that we have to make statements like that considering we gave up Wood and Peraza to acquire him.

What a damn stupid trade.

[bravesfanMatt]

It's so sad that we have to make statements like that considering we gave up Wood and Peraza to acquire him.

What a damn stupid trade.

well to be fair neither one of Woods or Peraza were going to become a solid middle of the order bat..just sayin..

[chop2chip]

5 years of Dunceville in KC was doable because it was KC. He won't last 2 in Atlanta if he's perceived that way.

Fredi Gonzalez begs to differ, which is even worse since he's a dunce in both thought and action.

[bravesfanMatt]

Fredi Gonzalez begs to differ, which is even worse since he's a dunce in both thought and action.

[chop2chip]

My issue is in the attempt to sell the trade and in the overall attitude Coppy seems to have. And yes, it matters. Dayton Moore may have been thought a fool, but he was pretty open about his plan and he never blasted the fan base. That will cause fans to turn on you, which will affect attendance and ultimately revenue. And now is not a time to be messing with revenue.

I know several season-ticket holders who are not planning to pay for them anymore. That is a problem. A GM who tries to explain things to the fan base and how they can help in the process has a chance of keeping them on board. A GM who gets defensive and dismissive is likely to turn the fan base entirely against him.

Payroll will only increase if more fans come to games. They won't, even with the new stadium, if they believe the FO is trying to lose and then attacks them on top of it. I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about the average fan. They don't get this, and the FO has done nothing to try to explain it. And now on top of that, Coppy's going to be a dick to them?

JC Bradbury, David Berri, Stephen Stefnoski, etc. have all done studies about what drives attendance and the only two significant factors were "the halo effect" (new stadium) and winning. Your general ballgame attending fan isn't following blogs to read what their GM is saying and if they are, then they are the type whose demand is inelastic that they tend to go to games regardless.

Now I'm not saying your friends are lying because I believe them that they won't go to games to watch this crap team. But I don't believe they wouldn't return to see the team if the team was good.