2016-2017 Off-Season Thread

[Chico]

Maybe deal IFA money for a competitive round draft pick? They would probably have to give IFA money at about a 2:1 ratio for any US draft slot they acquired.

The Marlins would be a good bet on both. They're trying to win and they're not in the penalty box for IFA. Also at #14 they're not going to have a large bonus pool to spread around like top teams who want to spread the wealth. They'd be a good trade partner for that #36 pick.

The Brewers may also be a team who could go big on the international front. With the #9 overall they may be going best payer available and not value that pick as much to get two 2st round talents.

The other teams I don't see as much, unless they've been scouting heavy and ready to go big internationally. If I had top 5 money though, I'd spread it over 3 picks like we did last year.

[smootness]

Are we sure that international penalties carry over? With the new hard cap, are any teams that went over the last two years still penalized in the same way they were, or is everyone subject to just the $5 million hard cap going forward?

[Chico]

Are we sure that international penalties carry over? With the new hard cap, are any teams that went over the last two years still penalized in the same way they were, or is everyone subject to just the $5 million hard cap going forward?

Yeah, the penalties carried over.

[cajunrevenge]

The Yankees penalty ends after this year so there was no incentive for mlb to stop the penalty from carrying over into the new system.

[nsacpi]

Castillo signs w Orioles. Think the Bravos will make a bid for Wieters.

[The Chosen One]

Castillo signs w Orioles. Think the Bravos will make a bid for Wieters.

Ewww

[Horsehide Harry]

Ewww

You know, Wieters isn't especially good at anything. I can't see any reason to pay him 10+ million to do anything, much less multi years.

[nsacpi]

You know, Wieters isn't especially good at anything. I can't see any reason to pay him 10+ million to do anything, much less multi years.

10+ million would be a bad deal. But I doubt anyone is going to pay him that. Castillo just signed for $6M. I think that's about what Wieters will end up getting.

[Enscheff]

10+ million would be a bad deal. But I doubt anyone is going to pay him that. Castillo just signed for $6M. I think that's about what Wieters will end up getting.

Wieters at Castillo money is fine because they are essentially the same player. I would be fine giving him something like 2/15 or 3/20 with him transitioning to a backup role when Flowers leaves.

[nsacpi]

Wieters at Castillo money is fine because they are essentially the same player. I would be fine giving him something like 2/15 or 3/20 with him transitioning to a backup role when Flowers leaves.

I think those are reasonable deals for Wieters. He will probably be one of the last to sign. But I think we are well-positioned to play the waiting game with Boras.

[dak]

As long as the contract is in the same ballpark as Castillo, I'd be fine with pursuing Wieters. Boras is in a box at this point, so there's a chance it could happen. I could also see Wieters holding out until March / April when a desperate team is facing an injury situation.

I have a lot of respect for guys like Recker, but I think the Braves are fooling themselves if they buy into him as a guy worthy of 300 PAs on a contending MLB team.

[dak]

Another thing to keep in mind on the Catcher front . . . the Braves have made no secret that they're trying to acquire a Catcher at the AA / AAA level this Winter. If they're able to make an acquisition like this that's on the higher end of the spectrum, they may be more willing to roll with a Flowers / Recker / Tuffy depth chart for the first half of 2017.

[Oklahomabrave]

I'm surprised how slow the trades have been this offseason. Other than the two Whitesox trades and the Mariners trade it's been dead.

[Oklahomabrave]

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/w...senthal-121416
Rosenthals latest. Says braves and Rays have been talking most of the offseason and then subtly ****s on our prospects.

[Enscheff]

Another thing to keep in mind on the Catcher front . . . the Braves have made no secret that they're trying to acquire a Catcher at the AA / AAA level this Winter. If they're able to make an acquisition like this that's on the higher end of the spectrum, they may be more willing to roll with a Flowers / Recker / Tuffy depth chart for the first half of 2017.

I've been trying to figure out who that minor league catcher might be. Teams almost always trade prospects for MLB guys (even Jenkins is an MLB guy compared to Jackson), and I don't see a whole lot of valuable pieces on the MLB roster the Braves could demand a ~50 FV catcher as the return unless its Inciarte. Maybe a BP piece like Viz could command a nearly ready catching prospect, but I doubt he could bring back one that's starting caliber.

So which contenders are set at the catcher position at the MLB level, have a ~50 FV catcher in the upper level of the minors, and could use a CFer and/or BP arms?

[50PoundHead]

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/w...senthal-121416
Rosenthals latest. Says braves and Rays have been talking most of the offseason and then subtly ****s on our prospects.

I think Rosenthal is right on the mark. Outside of Albies and Swanson, we don't have any high profile prospects who don't have something to prove. A lot of works-in-progress who, like Rosenthal says, everyone will have a better idea about after the 2017 season.

[clvclv]

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/w...senthal-121416
Rosenthals latest. Says braves and Rays have been talking most of the offseason and then subtly ****s on our prospects.

Not sure he dumps on the Braves' prospects - he's just stating what many people (including posters here) have said - there's no doubt that the bigger names we've stockpiled have really high ceilings, most just prefer to reserve judgement until they've faced a little stiffer competition. The current regime has always placed more weight on what our scouts say than what others say - and that's pretty much true for just about every organization. Otherwise they'd be looking for other scouts.

That's what happens when you put more emphasis on high school kids who aren't as far along in their development. I remember literally TONS of people questioning Madison Bumgarner and Greg Holland (local guys who I know personally) when they were drafted because the prevailing sentiment was that they only looked good because the level of competition they faced here in the podunk back woods of rural NC made them look better. Sure, those people have had to eat crow on those two guys, but they'd have been right in saying the same thing about the overwhelming majority of players in this area.

To quote the great Sidney Deane - "Even the sun shines on a dog's *ss some days."

[auyushu]

Not sure he dumps on the Braves' prospects - he's just stating what many people (including posters here) have said - there's no doubt that the bigger names we've stockpiled have really high ceilings, most just prefer to reserve judgement until they've faced a little stiffer competition. The current regime has always placed more weight on what our scouts say than what others say - and that's pretty much true for just about every organization. Otherwise they'd be looking for other scouts.

Pretty much this. It's hard to sell folks on prospects headlining deals when they haven't reached and performed really well at AA or above. Albies has, but his ceiling isn't really going to blow clubs away as a headliner of a deal.

[Horsehide Harry]

I've been trying to figure out who that minor league catcher might be. Teams almost always trade prospects for MLB guys (even Jenkins is an MLB guy compared to Jackson), and I don't see a whole lot of valuable pieces on the MLB roster the Braves could demand a ~50 FV catcher as the return unless its Inciarte. Maybe a BP piece like Viz could command a nearly ready catching prospect, but I doubt he could bring back one that's starting caliber.

So which contenders are set at the catcher position at the MLB level, have a ~50 FV catcher in the upper level of the minors, and could use a CFer and/or BP arms?

Maybe Colorado. Looks like they may play Murphy, so Dom Nunez? Should start at AA. Murphy is the guy, but unless the Rocks sign a FA catcher like Weiters, then Murphy is probably beyond reach.

I also still would like to see the Braves make a play for Tyler Stephenson (Reds reportedly want big league bullpen help and drafted Okey) and/or Max Pentecost or McGuire (Jays have Martin through 2020 and have BP need as well).

Might see if the Reds want Cabrera for Stephenson and/or Jays want Viz for Pentecost.

[bravesfanMatt]

How is pentacost's shoulder. Wasn't that the concern with him. I also not sure we should sell low on viz just yet. He will never reach elite closer status. But he can rebuild his value he had before his June collapse and second half injuries.