Originally Posted by
Enscheff
IF this team overachieves this year (wins ~80 games), and IF pitchers like Fried and Newcomb and Folty show they are ready to anchor the rotation, and IF the Swanson/Albies duo shows they can produce a combined 6+ WAR between them, I can see the Braves making a push for the playoffs in 2018.
At that point, splurging to fix the biggest hole on the roster with the best available FA position player makes sense. Plug a hole in the rotation with a vet like Lackey, get a competent RHed 4th OFer, patch up 3B somehow, welcome back a healthy SRod, and you can see an 85+ win team in 2018 if you squint.
If the young pitching falls flat on its collective face like they did in 2016, I don't think signing a premium FA makes sense whatsoever.