Around The Majors 2019

[Carp]

Geez the Royals starting rotation is putrid. If they had even an average rotation, they'd likely be .500 or better (Pythagorean currently 12-16). Their offense is surprisingly good so far. Hunter Dozier looks like he may be living up to his top prospect hype. Dude is killing the ball so far and he's walking almost as much as he's striking out.

[Enscheff]

MLBTR is keeping tabs on all the 2019-2020 FAs:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/...ankings-2.html

Notes on guys the Braves should be interested in...

Rendon: If Altuve's 5/151 contract is the comp, this is the aisle the Braves should be able to shop in, especially if they go cheap in RF again by picking up the Markakis option. Extending to 6 years might be the deal breaker.

Ozuna: If they decide to let Marakis walk, or decide to pull the trigger on moving Acuna to CF, Ozuna on a 4-5 year deal for $100M+ could make sense.

Donaldson: Bringing JD back for another year wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Giving him multiple years is probably asking for trouble.

Grandal: This is the #1 guy I wanted this past off season, and he will be atop my wish list again this coming off season. As usual with the Braves (and most modern FOs), the number of years will be the sticking point.

Puig: Who knows, but he is a more budget friendly option in the OF.

[CJ9]

Rendon has to be the top target. I just don’t think Washington lets him walk away, unfortunately. Would love to sign Rendon and then be able to use Austin Riley as a trade chip.

Ozuna and Puig are interesting, but it might come down to how Pache and Waters do this year.

Grandal won’t have the QO attached this year, which makes him even more attractive. Agree he’s a prime target.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Rendon has to be the top target. I just don’t think Washington lets him walk away, unfortunately. Would love to sign Rendon and then be able to use Austin Riley as a trade chip.

Ozuna and Puig are interesting, but it might come down to how Pache and Waters do this year.

Grandal won’t have the QO attached this year, which makes him even more attractive. Agree he’s a prime target.

Might be interested in Ozuna, I’d have to look into it a little more. But I’m out on Puig

[Enscheff]

Something to keep in mind for folks who wanted AA to spend big on the BP...

Tim Dierkes
2:08 Let's run down how the biggest relief contracts have gone so far.
Britton - 2.45 ERA but 5.7 BB/9
2:09 Familia - really bad
Ottavino - 2.51 ERA but 6.9 BB/9
Kelly - terrible
2:10 Andrew Miller - bad
Robertson - bad, on IL

[bravesfanMatt]

Something to keep in mind for folks who wanted AA to spend big on the BP...

Tim Dierkes
2:08 Let's run down how the biggest relief contracts have gone so far.
Britton - 2.45 ERA but 5.7 BB/9
2:09 Familia - really bad
Ottavino - 2.51 ERA but 6.9 BB/9
Kelly - terrible
2:10 Andrew Miller - bad
Robertson - bad, on IL

I said this about three weeks ago. I was one who wanted to make a splash on the FA reliever market. But everyone of the guys I liked have sucked this year. What I don’t understand is not using the guys we have. Wilson was up for a week and mopped a total of 1 in inning. I would really like these guys getting innings while guys like Biddle/venters/sobo get their **** together.

[AerchAngel]

Something to keep in mind for folks who wanted AA to spend big on the BP...

Tim Dierkes
2:08 Let's run down how the biggest relief contracts have gone so far.
Britton - 2.45 ERA but 5.7 BB/9
2:09 Familia - really bad
Ottavino - 2.51 ERA but 6.9 BB/9
Kelly - terrible
2:10 Andrew Miller - bad
Robertson - bad, on IL

I don't know what to say. Mining for data, I bow to you. Excellent.

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

I said this about three weeks ago. I was one who wanted to make a splash on the FA reliever market. But everyone of the guys I liked have sucked this year. What I don’t understand is not using the guys we have. Wilson was up for a week and mopped a total of 1 in inning. I would really like these guys getting innings while guys like Biddle/venters/sobo get their **** together.

Darren O'Day will be reevaluated tomorrow, RotoWire has his Est. Return as 5/5/2019 although I'm not sure how accurate that guess is.

[Jaw]

MLBTR is keeping tabs on all the 2019-2020 FAs:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/...ankings-2.html

Notes on guys the Braves should be interested in...

Rendon: If Altuve's 5/151 contract is the comp, this is the aisle the Braves should be able to shop in, especially if they go cheap in RF again by picking up the Markakis option. Extending to 6 years might be the deal breaker.

Ozuna: If they decide to let Marakis walk, or decide to pull the trigger on moving Acuna to CF, Ozuna on a 4-5 year deal for $100M+ could make sense.

Donaldson: Bringing JD back for another year wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Giving him multiple years is probably asking for trouble.

Grandal: This is the #1 guy I wanted this past off season, and he will be atop my wish list again this coming off season. As usual with the Braves (and most modern FOs), the number of years will be the sticking point.

Puig: Who knows, but he is a more budget friendly option in the OF.

I like Rendon, but I have trouble believing the Braves are ready to make that big of a yearly commitment for multiple years. I really expect them to either open it up for Riley or try to keep Donaldson for another year or two.

I don't think they'll commit multiple years to an OF with Pache and Waters seemingly options for '20 or '21. I would also be surprised to see a move that locked Acuna into CF on a full time basis. I expect next year's OF to be identical to this one, with the hope that Pache or Waters can replace CF if needed.

I am on the sign Grandal train with you. He made the most sense last year and still does.

[Heyward]

Given the contracts the Braves have with Ozzie/Acuna, they'll have some money to spend this winter.

I dont envision they'll be in on Grandal, given the contract he'll likely get. Not sure about an outfielder either given Pache/Waters should be ready in the next couple years, maybe even end of 2020.

Rendon makes the most sense, but im not sure AA gives him the contract he's gonna get.

[Braves1976]

former Brave news... ''The Angels have outrighted lefty Sam Freeman, per the team’s transactions page. It is not yet known whether the 31-year-old will accept or reject the assignment to Triple-A; he has the service time to make his own election. Freeman made just one appearance after being selected recently to the MLB roster. He continued to dish out a worrying number of walks, as he had in his initial action at Triple-A.''

[clvclv]

I like Rendon, but I have trouble believing the Braves are ready to make that big of a yearly commitment for multiple years. I really expect them to either open it up for Riley or try to keep Donaldson for another year or two.

I don't think they'll commit multiple years to an OF with Pache and Waters seemingly options for '20 or '21. I would also be surprised to see a move that locked Acuna into CF on a full time basis. I expect next year's OF to be identical to this one, with the hope that Pache or Waters can replace CF if needed.

I am on the sign Grandal train with you. He made the most sense last year and still does.

Not sure I agree there. With the DH on the horizon, the OF could be rotated through to create days off for health and keeping guys fresher.

Ideally for me Donaldson gets a QO and passes, opening the door for Riley. With Donaldson, Julio, O'Day, Vizcaino, Venters, Duvall, and potentially Ender off the books, commitments will be back to next to nothing again. I'd love to see Kimbrel added after the draft this year, with Riley promoted following the season since he has to be added to the 40-Man Roster anyway. Then add Ozuna and Grandal over the winter. That'd give you...

2B- Ozzie, CF- Acuna, 1B- Freddie, LF- Ozuna, C- Grandal, 3B- Riley, RF- Markakis, SS- Dansby

Flowers, Camargo, Culberson, OF that can backup Acuna in CF if Pache and/or Waters haven't forced themselves onto the roster

Once the DH starts, you could give Ozuna a 2-3 starts a week there with Grandal getting the other ones (and each potentially available to give Freddie a day off once in a while) while creating playing time for Flowers and Pache/Waters.

[CrazyTrain]

I drafted Verlander as my 2nd SP in fantasy this year (behind Scherzer) and I can't believe how good he's been in his age 36 season. Impressive.

[50PoundHead]

Not sure I agree there. With the DH on the horizon, the OF could be rotated through to create days off for health and keeping guys fresher.

Ideally for me Donaldson gets a QO and passes, opening the door for Riley. With Donaldson, Julio, O'Day, Vizcaino, Venters, Duvall, and potentially Ender off the books, commitments will be back to next to nothing again. I'd love to see Kimbrel added after the draft this year, with Riley promoted following the season since he has to be added to the 40-Man Roster anyway. Then add Ozuna and Grandal over the winter. That'd give you...

2B- Ozzie, CF- Acuna, 1B- Freddie, LF- Ozuna, C- Grandal, 3B- Riley, RF- Markakis, SS- Dansby

Flowers, Camargo, Culberson, OF that can backup Acuna in CF if Pache and/or Waters haven't forced themselves onto the roster

Once the DH starts, you could give Ozuna a 2-3 starts a week there with Grandal getting the other ones (and each potentially available to give Freddie a day off once in a while) while creating playing time for Flowers and Pache/Waters.

Good point on the DH. Don't know if it will shake out exactly the way you predict, but getting an established bat that can play some in the field has to be part of the calculation.

[Super]

I drafted Verlander as my 2nd SP in fantasy this year (behind Scherzer) and I can't believe how good he's been in his age 36 season. Impressive.

MadBum 3rd?

[Enscheff]

MadBum 3rd?

He actually drafted Fried and Newk late in his draft, and then flipped them for MadBum...and extended him for 6 more years.

[CyYoung31]

[thewupk]

MLB changed the baseball and it's effecting pitchers

[Enscheff]

MLB changed the baseball and it's effecting pitchers

Doesn’t explain why SPs are better than RPs.

The calculus will start to change again when it’s pretty obvious a tiring Soroka facing the lineup a 3rd time is better than a worn down and/or ineffective BP arm facing the same batters.

[nsacpi]

The adjustment that might be happening is hitters are adjusting to the velocity and sitting fastball. Starters have more than a fastball. A lot of relievers don't.

I'm thinking hitters are now spending more time in the cage hitting against a machine set at 100 mph. That's what they are geared up for. The relievers may be responding by trying to throw more off-speed stuff but too many of them don't have an off-speed pitch they can throw for strikes.

It was nice to see Blevins throw those curves against Hosmer last night. And Tomlin before him throwing strikes and mixing pitches. I'm wondering if the pendulum swings back to those kinds of relievers.