DOB: Braves offseason about to get a lot busier. - Gamel released.

[NYCBrave]

Rotation
1. Minor
2. Teheran
3. Wood
4. Sims
5. Hursh

Lineup
1. Outfielder to be acquired w Bethancourt as main trade chip or signed as a FA.
2. La Stella 2B
3. Freeman 1B
4. Gattis C
5. Chris Johnson 3B
6. Terdoslavich LF
7. BJ Upton CF
8. Simmons SS

Thanks. But if we stuck with that team, I"m assuming we'd have a lot of money to play with to fill in a free agent or two, right?

[Knucksie]

Rotation
1. Minor
2. Teheran
3. Wood
4. Sims
5. Hursh

Lineup
1. Outfielder to be acquired w Bethancourt as main trade chip or signed as a FA.
2. La Stella 2B
3. Freeman 1B
4. Gattis C
5. Chris Johnson 3B
6. Terdoslavich LF
7. BJ Upton CF
8. Simmons SS

In other words, there will be no trades or FA signings, involving any starting pitchers or position players. That'd be pretty amazing for a 2 year transaction freeze.

[nsacpi]

Thanks. But if we stuck with that team, I"m assuming we'd have a lot of money to play with to fill in a free agent or two, right?

Yes. I assume we will spend money on an outfielder. If La Stella and other internal options at second don't pan out, we should have the funds to also acquire a second baseman.

[nsacpi]

In other words, there will be no trades or FA signings, involving any starting pitchers or position players. That'd be pretty amazing for a 2 year transaction freeze.

Sort of a repeat of this past off-season. Too boring to contemplate eh?

Well I don't expect it to actually work out that way. The lineup and rotation I wrote out was just an exercise to see what the "default" team would look like if we mainly went with internal options. I think second base is our iffiest position when looking at internal options. I wouldn't be surprised to see an acquisition there. If we move Kimbrel, I think we'll acquire a veteran closer, but someone cheaper than Kimbrel.

[Braves1976]

Very unlikely CJ sticks around that long given his defense and cost moving forward, etc.

[Heyward]

A's sign EOF for 2 years, 7 million.

Dissapointed thats all it took.

[Heyward]

Must mean the Braves are high on Ryan Butcher.

[NinersSBChamps]

A's sign EOF for 2 years, 7 million.

Dissapointed thats all it took.

The Braves must have been more concerned about his return than Oakland was. It's a shame because EOF was money when healthy. Good luck to him though.

[Heyward]

David O'Brien ‏@ajcbraves 13m
Keep an eye on #Braves rookie lefty Ryan Buchter. 103 K in 62 IP at AAA Gwinnett, limited lefty hitters to .124 avg and .466 OPS.

Didnt they get him for Rodrigo Lopez?

[Knucksie]

Sort of a repeat of this past off-season. Too boring to contemplate eh?

Well I don't expect it to actually work out that way. The lineup and rotation I wrote out was just an exercise to see what the "default" team would look like if we mainly went with internal options. I think second base is our iffiest position when looking at internal options. I wouldn't be surprised to see an acquisition there. If we move Kimbrel, I think we'll acquire a veteran closer, but someone cheaper than Kimbrel.

Worrying about who will walk after another year or two really takes the joy out of the here and now.

[nsacpi]

Must mean the Braves are high on Ryan Butcher.

Buchter or Severino will probably be the second lefty in the pen until Venters returns.

[tvsportscaster]

And don't forget, Wood might be headed to the bullpen after Gavin Floyd comes back.

[Tapate50]

A's sign EOF for 2 years, 7 million.

Dissapointed thats all it took.

Incentives can take it to 10 and he could close for them.

So a maximum of 10m for 1.5 years. Thats big cheddar.

[Braves1976]

Buchter or Severino will probably be the second lefty in the pen until Venters returns.

I could also see Ian Thomas forcing his way on the team if he dominates this spring. He didn't give up a single homerun vs a lefty last year and only one extra base hit total (a double). Lefties hit .190 against him, that is as dominate as it gets vs lefties. Righties didn't fair much better hitting .193 against Thomas, though they did get more extra base hits (including 7 homers).

That said, I know the Braves like Thomas as a starter too. So it depends on how dominate Thomas is compared to the other lefty options (Buchter and Severino namely). If Buchter has decent control and dominates lefties he gets the spot most likely since he's already added to the 40-man roster.

[nsacpi]

I could also see Ian Thomas forcing his way on the team if he dominates this spring. He didn't give up a single homerun vs a lefty last year and only one extra base hit total (a double). Lefties hit .190 against him, that is as dominate as it gets vs lefties. Righties didn't fair much better hitting .193 against Thomas, though they did get more extra base hits (including 7 homers).

That said, I know the Braves like Thomas as a starter too. So it depends on how dominate Thomas is compared to the other lefty options (Buchter and Severino namely). If Buchter has decent control and dominates lefties he gets the spot most likely since he's already added to the 40-man roster.

Yeah. The Braves will go with the guy already on the 40-man if everything else is close to equal. Just like they'll keep the guys who are out of options unless they earn their way off the team.

[jcc03004]

plus would have to wonder what effect Price would have on our two lefties Wood and Minor.

[zitothebrave]

plus would have to wonder what effect Price would have on our two lefties Wood and Minor.

I'm jus abour 100% sure we don't have the pieces to trade for price without giving up Minor or Wood

[jcc03004]

Well, he's been very keen on trading top prospects.

Did it with alot on the current roster, and Sims may be next on that list.

Price is good, yes, but how much of an upgrade?

And getting him guarantees nothing.

Are you talking about Wren? If you are its just the opposite he has an extreme aversion to trading top prospects and has not given up a "top" prospect in any of his deals as a matter of fact there are always players who are publicly off limits. It sounds like Wren values our prospects.

[jcc03004]

When Minor or Teheran throw up 4 consecutive 15+ win, sub 3.50 ERA seasons (no reason they can't, but it hasn't happened yet) get me on the horn pronto and we'll dub them into acehood.

This brings up a greater issue: there is no operating definition of an ace.

The 'very few' you allude to are more elite than ace, to me. To split hairs.

My tiers:
- Serviceable
- Quality
- Ace (Excellent: Darvish, Sabathia, Lester, Lee, etc.)
- Elite (Untouchables: Kershaw, King Felix, Verlander, Sale)

Ok wheres Hamels on this list?

[jcc03004]

Let me ask this. What are the odds of us winning the WS with the current team? And what would the odds be of winning it if we traded Wood/Sims/Peraza/Bethancourt for Price?

Maybe its just me but id be satisfied making it out of the first round... baby steps.... What are our odds of that with and without Price or Sale?