Official Offseason Thread

[nsacpi]

Solarte may prove to be a clever pickup. My Padre buddy thinks a lot of him.

However, while little strokes that are meaningful are always a welcome quality in a GM, our boy needs one big master stroke right now. Hechevarria and Solarte and even Holt dont help the crater in the middle of the lineup.

AA will have a wider selection of players to choose once pseudo contenders like the Rangers and Mariners turn into sellers.

[Heyward]

I predict Acuna will hit cleanup.

I would be pleasantly shocked if AA doesnt add a cleanup hitter of some sort before the season starts.

[GovClintonTyree]

AA will have a wider selection of players to choose once pseudo contenders like the Rangers and Mariners turn into sellers.

I suppose we can float along for three months doing the wing-and-a-prayer method. If the Nats (Phils, Mets) get off to a good first half, though, that could be fatal.

My preference is to add a big bat before the season. It was splendid having that 1-4 last year.

[GovClintonTyree]

AA will have a wider selection of players to choose once pseudo contenders like the Rangers and Mariners turn into sellers.

One of your pseudos is keenly aware they aren't in the hunt this year (Mariners). I think their GM would be very amenable to a Seager/Haniger deal with some of the pieces that have been bandied about in the Bryant/Arenado conversations going the other way. Adding those two would be tough to beat.

I haven't seen an excess value analysis on that one but it might be interesting plugging in a couple pitchers and Riley or Waters.

[The Chosen One]

One of your pseudos is keenly aware they aren't in the hunt this year (Mariners). I think their GM would be very amenable to a Seager/Haniger deal with some of the pieces that have been bandied about in the Bryant/Arenado conversations going the other way. Adding those two would be tough to beat.

I haven't seen an excess value analysis on that one but it might be interesting plugging in a couple pitchers and Riley or Waters.

What if Riley completely sucks if he spends time in the bigs this year?

[Enscheff]

AA will have a wider selection of players to choose once pseudo contenders like the Rangers and Mariners turn into sellers.

If AA doesn’t improve the offense it is as likely the Braves are sellers at the deadline.

[nsacpi]

One of your pseudos is keenly aware they aren't in the hunt this year (Mariners). I think their GM would be very amenable to a Seager/Haniger deal with some of the pieces that have been bandied about in the Bryant/Arenado conversations going the other way. Adding those two would be tough to beat.

I haven't seen an excess value analysis on that one but it might be interesting plugging in a couple pitchers and Riley or Waters.

From a timing perspective it makes sense for the M's to wait. To give Haniger a chance to re-establish value.

And I think the Bravos harbor some hope's about Riley taking over at third after a month or two in AAA.

[Enscheff]

One of your pseudos is keenly aware they aren't in the hunt this year (Mariners). I think their GM would be very amenable to a Seager/Haniger deal with some of the pieces that have been bandied about in the Bryant/Arenado conversations going the other way. Adding those two would be tough to beat.

I haven't seen an excess value analysis on that one but it might be interesting plugging in a couple pitchers and Riley or Waters.

There are scenarios where acquiring a Haniger/Seager package makes sense. It shouldn’t cost too much in terms of prospect capital to make it happen, depending on how much of Seager’s deal the Braves take on.

Whether or not the Ms want to sell low on Haniger to facilitate dumping Seager is another question entirely.

[salmagundy]

Another BP arm(??) signed. MiLB contract with non-roster invite

From MLBTR

The Braves have signed lefty Chris Rusin to a minor league deal and invited him to major league camp, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter).

Rusin made just two appearances for the big league club in Colorado last season, making 25 appearances (10 starts) for the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate. The 33-year-old southpaw spent the last five seasons in Colorado, totaling 164 appearances (29 starts) as a swingman. He put up an overall 4.52 ERA/4.13 FIP, but struggled in 2018 to the tune of a 6.09 ERA/4.94 FIP.

[mfree80]

This thread is starting to remind me of the “Offseason is a total failure” thread from last year and the year before.

Have some faith in AA😀

[nsacpi]

This thread is starting to remind me of the “Offseason is a total failure” thread from last year and the year before.

Have some faith in AA😀

we must remain true to our ancient traditions

[Deester11]

This thread is starting to remind me of the “Offseason is a total failure” thread from last year and the year before.

Have some faith in AA😀

I think it's just fine for people to question the motives when you don't pay for a huge piece of the offense that made you playoff viable last year. They have to address it yes, but it is perfectly fine for people to be worried about the direction of the team.

[Hudson2]

If AA doesn’t improve the offense it is as likely the Braves are sellers at the deadline.

Agreed. You can’t lose the production JD brought last year and not replace it. Hoping to float along till July is to risky.

[PawPawMaxwell]

If AA doesn’t improve the offense it is as likely the Braves are sellers at the deadline.

Im curious as to who would be a candidate for sale under your scenario?

[Snowman]

This thread is starting to remind me of the “Offseason is a total failure” thread from last year and the year before.

Have some faith in AA��

I am starting to have faith in his ability to fail at offseasons.

[nsacpi]

Agreed. You can’t lose the production JD brought last year and not replace it. Hoping to float along till July is to risky.

Of course there is risk. There is also risk in giving JD a four year deal or Ozuna a four year deal. There is no risk free option.

[Tapate50]

It seems like AA severely underestimated the market for JD. He signed an expensive BP arm early while thinking JD would be far cheaper than he ended up being. As always, the DH allows AL teams to take bigger risks on aging offensive players.

My main concern with the Smith signing was that it would hamper the Braves ability to upgrade the roster in the future. Turns out that future may already be here. It’s not time to panic yet, but AA needs to cook something up if the offense is to be anything close to what it was last year.

Actually all the quotes at the end of the year indicated it would be tough to bring him back after the year he had. Or is that off base? Memory can be a bear in your mid 30s.

[Heyward]

Im curious as to who would be a candidate for sale under your scenario?

Anyone expiring would have some value, so let's say for talks, MM/Greene/Hamels, even Ender probably in this scenario. I agree with Scheff if we dont add a bopper before the year, we're more likely sellers than buyers.

[Enscheff]

Im curious as to who would be a candidate for sale under your scenario?

Folty will probably be the biggest chip at the deadline if the Braves fall out of contention.

Being able to unload short term assets in case revenue drops at the end of the year is precisely why long term deals are avoided.

[PawPawMaxwell]

Anyone expiring would have some value, so let's say for talks, MM/Greene/Hamels, even Ender probably in this scenario. I agree with Scheff if we dont add a bopper before the year, we're more likely sellers than buyers.

I get your point but would any of those mentioned bring back anything other than some useless salary relief and even more useless very low level prospects?