Compete or punt in 2017?

[Enscheff]

It seems to me the moves for the entire Braves upcoming offseason will be determined on whether they want to compete in 2017, or they want to go ahead and punt another season.

If they want to compete:

- Sign Desmond or Ces for LF
- Sign Freese, Prado, or Desmond for 3B
- Sign Castro or Ramos to catch.
- Promote Albies and/or Swanson from opening day
- Sign a solid MOR pitcher to a Lackey-type (2-3 years) contract

If they want to punt:

- Trade Teheran, Viz and Inciarte
- Sign more scrap heap guys like Norris, Chacin, KJ, Bonifacio, Beckham and Frenchy
- Manipulate the service clocks of Albies and Swanson to gain an extra year of control
- Make more trades to take on dead money to acquire picks and prospects

I think they need to pick one path or the other. Trying to straddle the line and doing a few moves from each set I listd above would be the worst case scenario, in my opinion. The Braves do NOT need to take on another Markakis contract for a solid player on a terrible team.

So who thinks they should try to compete, and who thinks they should punt? I'm honestly on the fence since Albies, Swanson and all the young pitchers in the minors have scuffled to the point that I'm doubting they will be ready to contribute next season. It might be wise to wait "one more year". Of course, that means one more year of watching crap like we are seeing now.

[nsacpi]

Yeah, I think the front office is gonna give up on travelling parallel tracks while dancing with the girl who might not be the prettiest. It is too painful.

JC has already given some indication of which way he is leaning. New stadium. Exciting young team.

[mfree80]

I think they will try to make a move or two to add some really good young hitters before next year. If they are successful, and have the makings of a competitive team, they will try to compete. If not, they will try to be young and exciting, knowing that competing is unlikely.

[bravescountry]

Trade Freeman, Teheran, Vizcaino, Markakis, and the veterans
Punt the first half of 2017 and see how we do with all our prospects up in the 2nd half..
go for it starting 2018

good plan

[nsacpi]

Add a couple 2 WAR players at catcher and third. Pick up a proven guy for the pen. Make a serious effort to build a quality bench. That would put us in the 80-85 range on the expected win curve in 2017. Even though our first round pick will be protected I don't think we'll go after anyone with a QO. The FO values those high second round picks pretty highly, as they should.

[Enscheff]

Exciting young team.

I'm so sick of reading that honestly. Winning is exciting. Losing is not exciting no matter how you lose. I would bet money no fan of a championship team has said they weren't excited about their team.

The goal should be to win. If the goal is to be "exciting" I want a new FO.

[Russ2dollas]

I don't think they will sign a FA with a draft pick compensation. I don't think they'll shell out big contracts.

I am hoping we can use our money to maybe overpay for a solid FA or two in exchange for less length of deal and some team options. For example maybe there is a player who is looking for 4/40, could we get him for 2/30 with two team options at 10 and 15 million.

I think they'll try to compete. But I don't think they'll sell long term pieces.

[Heyward]

Supposed to be a really, really good hitting prospect in the 2018 draft, so hard to say.

[mfree80]

I'm so sick of reading that honestly. Winning is exciting. Losing is not exciting no matter how you lose. I would bet money no fan of a championship team has said they weren't excited about their team.

The goal should be to win. If the goal is to be "exciting" I want a new FO.

Short Term/Long Term

The goal is always to win... just recognize that losing this year makes winning next year more likely. If that does not turn out to be the case, within a year or two, then yes, the rebuild will have failed, and the FO will be in trouble. I can enjoy watching young guys get chance, struggle a little, adjust, and get better... because I have confidence it is leading us somewhere. Long term futility with no purpose is definitely not exciting.

[Enscheff]

Supposed to be a really, really good hitting prospect in the 2018 draft, so hard to say.

Seems like the Braves decided to rebuild a couple years too early.

[nsacpi]

Supposed to be a really, really good hitting prospect in the 2018 draft, so hard to say.

Another Maitan?

[bravesfanMatt]

Honestly, I think we need to punt. I think right now we are set to be middle of the road for the next 2 to 3 years. So just punt and try to be good in 2018... with sights really set at 2019+

I don't think we can build around JT/FF/Viz.. I am for a complete reboot at this point and we should from the talent return have a pick of what team we want.

[The Chosen One]

No way they punt with first year of new stadium.

[Enscheff]

No way they punt with first year of new stadium.

Very good point. Punting may not be an option no matter how much sense it may make.

[bravos4evr]

I actually think they will be in the mix for the few big bats in free agency. I could see them signing Cespedes and taking the QO hit because they need to send the msg to the fans that they are serious about winning. I could easily see Cespedes and one of Ramos or Weiters signed , a trade for a 3b and the team posting this lineup:

Smith
Swanson
Freeman
Cespedes
Weiters/Ramos
Inciarte
Garcia/Ruiz/Olivera/trade for 3b
SP
Albies

[DirkPiggler]

I actually think they will be in the mix for the few big bats in free agency. I could see them signing Cespedes and taking the QO hit because they need to send the msg to the fans that they are serious about winning. I could easily see Cespedes and one of Ramos or Weiters signed , a trade for a 3b and the team posting this lineup:

Smith
Swanson
Freeman
Cespedes
Weiters/Ramos
Inciarte
Garcia/Ruiz/Olivera/trade for 3b
SP
Albies

That looks like a competitive lineup. I'm sold.

[Enscheff]

I actually think they will be in the mix for the few big bats in free agency. I could see them signing Cespedes and taking the QO hit because they need to send the msg to the fans that they are serious about winning. I could easily see Cespedes and one of Ramos or Weiters signed , a trade for a 3b and the team posting this lineup:

Smith
Swanson
Freeman
Cespedes
Weiters/Ramos
Inciarte
Garcia/Ruiz/Olivera/trade for 3b
SP
Albies

No thanks to Weiters, and I think a guy needs to be brought in to play 3b, but I mostly agree.

[bravos4evr]

I prefer Ramos or Castro to Weiters myself, but the rumor has been the Braves like Weiters the best....

[Enscheff]

I prefer Ramos or Castro to Weiters myself, but the rumor has been the Braves like Weiters the best....

That's a little distressing if true. Weiters is below average defensively and one of the worst framers around. He is exactly what the young pitchers do NOT need.

My concern with Ramos is that he will be paid like he is an elite offensive catcher based on his stats this year and relative young age.

My top choice for catcher now that Cervelli resigned with the Pirates is Castro. He's merely adequate offensively, but he hits LHed so would be a wonderful platoon partner for Flowers, and he is one of the best pitch framers available. Furthermore, he shouldn't command a QO from the Astros and cost the Braves a draft pick.

[Hudson2]

If Beer transfers to a Juco school next year he will be eligible for next years draft. But I'm not sure if we can compete by trading Teheran. If Newcomb ends on a high note along with Sims I say we can. But he has to be traded for the right bat. If we got Bregman or Gallo for him (nothing less or keep him) then we could have a really solid offense next year if we signed Desmond to play an outfield corner spot and say Ramos or Weiters.

Albies
Swanson
Freeman
Bregman/Gallo
Desmond
Ramos/Weiters
Inciarte
Mallex