I've said this before but I could see something like: Verlander, Zimmerman,, Fulmer and Kinsler coming back to the Braves for not much, but the not much would have to include Kemp going the other way to make it work. Verlander is owed $28M through 2019 w/$22M vesting option (unlikely), Zimmerman is owed $25M per through 2020, Kinsler is owed $10M through 2018 ($5M buyout) and Fulmer is pre-arb with 5 years of control.

Kemp for the Braves is owed about $18M per through 2019.

So Detroit clears about: $28, 28, 25, 25, 25, 10,1 = $142M
Braves clear about: $36M

The Braves have to send prospects as well, but not much of value IMO because of the big money savings by Detroit, which is what they need and want. Braves send maybe one headliner, let's say Allard, plus Sims, Wisler and Blair.

So the blockbuster would be: Verlander, Zimmerman, Kinsler, Fullmer for Kemp, Allard, Sims, Wisler & Blair

It sounds like a lot of money the Braves are taking on, and it is. However, they just spent $8M on Dickey, $12.5M on Colon and $12M on Garcia (total= $32.5M) compared to the $28M + $25M + $1M = $54M of the Detroit players MINUS the albatross of Kemp's contract ($18M) essentially means that the real money comparison is $32.5M for 2017 veterans versus $36M (accounting for Kemp's money) for $36M. Kinsler is essentially $4M more than Sean Rodriguez & Phillips so the deal would be a net add of $8M over 2017 payroll yet would fill a number of holes.

2017 Rotation: Verlander, Fulmer, Folty, Teheran, Zimmerman (you obviously make some trades here asap to open room for some of the kids)

Lineup: Inciarte, Albies, Acuna, Freeman, Kinsler (3B), Markakis, Flowers, Swanson - Markakis, Flowers and Kinsler ($25M come off payroll after 2018)

This all assumes that Detroit is looking to rebuild and shed salary. Upton probably opts out if they start rebuilding and/or waives his no trade, so he could be gone after 2018. Victor Martinez is gone after 2018. Anibal Sanchez gets bought out. Their big problem is Miguel Cabrera as he is owed another $164M through his buy out in 2024. The only way they move him is to pay a majority of what he is owed and the only way they could do THAT would be to take the payroll way down, which they could do after 2018. They could be rebuilding now through 2020 with a real possibility to once again be competitive in the 2021-2023 range. If they stay status quo, they will be old and overpaid and underperforming that whole time. If you are going to lose anyway, you might as well do it in a rebuilding mode.