2017 Braves.

[jcc03004]

Is it safe to start getting wrapped back up in the team again? Do you see 2017 as the start of a run or, is this team closer to, say the 1990 team?

[cajunrevenge]

2017 is going to be all kinds of fun. We are going to have a young and exciting team with bigger than usual crowds. There is a notion out there that veteran teams are better but I think its the opposite. Young players play with more fire and urgency. Even if we dont make the playoffs the team should still be worth watching for all the prospects hitting the majors.

[The Chosen One]

2017 is going to be great. I expect us to at minimum get the 2nd wild card if not compete for the division. I don't see the Mets being consistent enough, and I see the Nats in all sorts of trouble. I think we'll make some noise. FO doesn't want to go into a new stadium with one foot in the door.

[bravesfanMatt]

I am a forever posi-brave. But I still see 17 as a maturing process. Ups and downs. Good and bad streaks. No playoffs but not Seth beer sweeps bad.

[thewupk]

Believe in Swanson. The not-so-ready SS will win ROY and lead us to the promise land. Swollen balls and all.

[Hudson2]

All depends on what limits the FO is willing to go to this offseason both money and prospects they are will to trade.

[dak]

2015 and 2016 were about building the future and surviving the present. I see 2017 as a return to "normal". Using $ and non-core talent to build the best possible MLB team.

[50PoundHead]

I hope they spend wisely and don't become too impatient. Good young core. I expect Albies to be with the big club at some point, along with Minter. We'll need growth from a few guys if we plan on contending. Unless everything lines up, I don't see us being able to make that step. I look for a team with a win total approaching .500.

[nsacpi]

I hope they spend wisely and don't become too impatient. Good young core. I expect Albies to be with the big club at some point, along with Minter. We'll need growth from a few guys if we plan on contending. Unless everything lines up, I don't see us being able to make that step. I look for a team with a win total approaching .500.

Pretty much how I see it. The FO has to make some acquisitions that allow us to improve in 2017 without have a major impact on the team's financial flexibility moving forward. That means moves along the line of the Kemp trade (I think McCann will happen) and some second-tier FA signings.

[Enscheff]

The 2017 team will be fun to watch, even if I don't think they will be serious playoff contenders. We will get to see Swanson improve. We will get to see Albies make his debut. We will get to see Newcomb make his debut and try to figure things out.

I predict the Braves trade for Mac, sign whichever FA guy at 3B doesn't cost a draft pick, and add some pitchers we will undoubtedly be disappointed about when they are acquired (think Jorge De La Rosa).

But it will all add up to a 75 win team that is young and going to get better. We will finally be able to look forward to something other than watching the draft position of the Braves.

[dak]

Pretty much how I see it. The FO has to make some acquisitions that allow us to improve in 2017 without have a major impact on the team's financial flexibility moving forward. That means moves along the line of the Kemp trade (I think McCann will happen) and some second-tier FA signings.

Agreed. Those that will be clamoring for us to outbid big market teams for top-tier FAs . . . or to push in significant trade chips to for a short-term upgrade will be disappointed, I think. Given that some folks were advocating that last offseason, I'm expecting to see those proposals in spades on the board this Winter. I think it's much more likely we'll see the signing of non-QO FAs to market average deals, the acquisition of players with some dead money on their contracts, and smaller trades where we have depth or where another team values a certain player a lot more than we do.

[Enscheff]

Agreed. Those that will be clamoring for us to outbid big market teams for top-tier FAs . . . or to push in significant trade chips to for a short-term upgrade will be disappointed, I think. Given that some folks were advocating that last offseason, I'm expecting to see those proposals in spades on the board this Winter. I think it's much more likely we'll see the signing of non-QO FAs to market average deals, the acquisition of players with some dead money on their contracts, and smaller trades where we have depth or where another team values a certain player a lot more than we do.

This is pretty much the Kemp trade. Mac actually falls into this camp as well (he passed through waivers). Sandoval is another.

I would like to brainstorm a list of other possible contracts like this at some point. Identify all contracts with negative trade value that have another 2-3 years on them, as I see those as potential trade targets for the Braves.

[smootness]

Prospects whose debut we could see in 2017:

Albies
Newcomb
Peterson
Sims
Ruiz
Weigel
Povse
Minter
Ellis
Possibly even a late call-up for somebody like Demeritte.

That's pretty exciting. And the following guys could end up at least in AA by the end of the year:
Fried
Touki
Allard
Soroka
Acuna
Riley
Sanchez
Davidson

Pretty nice.

[Russ2dollas]

I like the BP. I know health won't work out but the idea of Viz, Cabrera, Winkler and Minter is exciting b/c IMO all are premium pen arms.

I like CF, 1B, and Tehran as a 2. I think I'll like SS and 2B with Swanson and Albies. I think Folty as a 3 will be good. I think we have enough guys that we should be able to get a decent 5.

I'm stuck with Kemp in LF.

I find it hard to believe we'd lose a draft pick by signing a QO FA.

So we'll see if we can upgrade RF, 3B, C, and 2 starting Pitchers with mid tier guys w/o giving up a ton in contract years or prospects.

I like the farm, but Newcombe and Peterson are the only guys I have any excitement about that I think can reasonably be on the team in the next two years (Assuming Albies and Swanson are up). Maybe Simms in a relief role.

[goldfly]

depends who we get as manager

[Knucksie]

is this team closer to, say the 1990 team?

The '90 team was expected to be a cellar dweller and delivered those results. Ditto with the '91 team, but they obviously did a bit better than projections. :D

It's reasonable to predict a .500 team now, but we are several months away from having any idea of how the Opening Day roster will take shape. Clearly, there's attention being given to the areas that need improvement. So, it's a matter of addressing in a reasonable fashion. Hoping that they can deliver a competitive, or at least, entertaining team!

[Southcack77]

Few guesses at contracts by Jon Heyman:

Prado 3/33
Turner 4/60
Desmond 4/64

Fister 2/16
Cashner 2/25
Hellickson 3/30
Nova 3/42
R. Hill 3/50

Ramos 4/68
Winters 3/30

[thewupk]

Few guesses at contracts by Jon Heyman:

Prado 3/33
Turner 4/60
Desmond 4/164

Fister 2/16
Cashner 2/25
Hellickson 3/30
Nova 3/42
R. Hill 3/50

Ramos 4/68
Winters 3/30

hmmmm

[Southcack77]

hmmmm

oops. Wouldn't recommend the Braves go that high.
Corrected.

[thewupk]

oops. Wouldn't recommend the Braves go that high.
Corrected.

Yeah. Crazy what a difference a year makes for him. I do wonder if anybody will try to sign him as a SS or if he stays in the OF.