AA is already putting in effort to tamp down expectations for this off season:
https://www.talkingchop.com/2018/5/7...braves-payroll
"Anthopoulos confirmed that we will be looking at Kimbrel at the end of the season as well as any other big money relievers. Although they will be looking into these options, it may not make sense. This will be dependent on what our needs are and where we are in terms of spending at that time."
"Anthopoulos explained that he doesn’t see the Braves building like the Yankees in terms of spending. He sees us as a mid-size market."
This is all stuff intelli-Braves already knew, but he is setting expectations for casual fans who have spent the last 3+ years under the impression that the Braves could afford guys like Kimbrel, Harper and Machado by now. These fans will be upset when they think the Braves have a ton of money and don't bring in an elite FA.
When Kimbrel gets Jansen-like money, expect to see AA explain that the Braves have already produced Minter, and have a ton of arms that could nearly replicate Kimbrel's production cheaply.
Expect to hear the Braves loosely connected to Machado and Haprer, but when Machado signs for $350M+ and Harper signs for $400M+, AA won't have to explain anything...we all know the Braves aren't getting those guys unless they are able to be "like the Yankees in terms of spending".
That isn't happening with a "mid-sized market" payroll of $120M-$160M (the very top end of reasonable payroll expectations).
Of course, no amount of logic will curtail the inevitable "Just sign Machado or Harper in the offseason" comments from casual fans, but it can help lead some of us to engage in intelligent rosterbation.