Official Offseason Thread

[weso1]

There is a third alternative. Which is what the gnats have done in spreading the $$ among some cheaper options.

I personally still prefer JD in that case as well. Reason being that I plan on watching the games and would much prefer to watch JD play for us rather than a few mediocre players. But I understand why that third alternative might make more sense. But if all things are close to being equal, I'd rather watch the superstar play.

[Southcack77]

I still think if we wanna be a serious threat that we need one more bat. NC, Ozuna, Marte, or Haniger, any one of those makes us the favorites in the NL. If we sign JD then the first 2 are probably out. I’d say Haniger or Marte fits perfect.

I agree. They needed a 4 and 5 hole hitter to give them a great lineup.

[Horsehide Harry]

So on a slow day, another Harry special:

Braves get: 3B Andujar, OF Frazier, SP Happ

Yankees get: OF Inciarte, SP Folty, RP Greene, SP Muller

Why it works for the Braves: First they don't have to spend $100M on Donaldson which at a minimum is a huge risk. They fill both lineup holes with a RH power 3B and a RH power OF. If Andujar isn't quite ready, Riley starts there until he is. If he is ready, Riley plays everyday in AAA. Frazier starts in RF with Acuna in CF and Markakis in LF until one or both of the AAA OF (Pache or Waters) is ready. Happ backfills for Folty. With the difference in Happ and Folty paired with the difference in Andujar/Frazier and Donaldson (about +17-8-25+2 = +$14M) the Braves could go add a veteran or two for the SP to go with Happ (I would prefer Walker and maybe Wood or Smyly). Instead of spending big money on Donaldson and/or Ozuna or Castellanos you get youth, potential, less cost but more unknowns.

Why it works for the Yankees: They move Happ which they would like to do. They get a LH hitting OF which they would like to do and Inciarte improves their OF defense. They pick up a guy in Folty that the Yankees will probably turn into an ACE (but it's clear that's not going to happen in Atlanta) but if they don't he's short term expense. They add to their bullpen with Greene which they have stated they would like to do. They pick up an SP prospect who would likely be top five in their system right now. The move would leave them a bit thin at 3B if Urshela proves to be fool's gold so Braves might have to add Camargo with another piece coming back from the Yankees (I like Anthony Garcia).

Only real prospect the Braves give up is Muller. Jackson fills the Greene role. Payroll stays relatively low. I would add Addison Russell on a flyer as backup infielder replacing Camargo. I would try to bring in Domingo Santana to backup 1B, corner OF and hit DH when interleague play is in effect.

Lineup:

CF Acuna
2B Albies
1B Freeman
3B Andujar
LF Markakis
RF Frazier
SS Swanson
C d'Arnaud

Bench: Flowers, Duvall, Russell, Santana, Culberson, util guy

SP: Soroka, Fried, Hamels, Happ, Walker/Smyly

RP: Smith, Melancon, Martin, O'Day, Jackson, Newk, Minter/Dayton

In AAA you'd have: 3B/cOF Riley, OF Pache, OF Waters, RHP Anderson, RHP Wright, RHP Toussaint, RHP Webb, RHP Wilson, RHP Sobotka, RHP J. Walker, RHP Ynoa, RHP Weigel, LHP Davidson, LHP Burrows.

My thinking on Frazier is that his bat is probably no worse than what you would get from either Ozuna or Castellanos over 162 games and possibly better. His defense is likely not significantly worse than either as well with potential to get better. All at significantly less risk and cost.

My thinking on Andujar is that he's obviously talented. You're taking some risk because of the labrum tear and his defense wasn't that great to begin with. However, since you hang on to Riley in this scenario you mitigate that somewhat. If things go right, you have a cheap top 10 type of 3B for the next 4-5 years. If they go wrong, you still have the potential of Riley.

[Enscheff]

Who was that old poster that constantly cooked up laughable trade ideas by adding players until he deemed it fair? And then listed out the resulting roster as if we didn’t know who was already on the team?

[thewupk]

Who was that old poster that constantly cooked up laughable trade ideas?

murphysomething

[Metaphysicist]

Assuming you mean genius trade ideas, it was murph3.

[Enscheff]

murphysomething

Haha that’s right.

Did he also then list out the entire roster with the new players added as if we didn’t already know who was on it before the trade?

[Horsehide Harry]

Hey,

Just amusing myself and sharing for debate. By all means, if you don't like it, please feel free to go back to your pissing matches.

[TheBravos]

Excellent point. Now is the perfect time to splurge on the perfect hitter in the medium term. Whether or not that hitter is JD is certainly open for debate, but AA clearly loves the guy.

JD would be the only long term contract I would consider as a “bad” contract, and there is a possibility it could just turn out to be an average deal.

AA has done a good job working around the International restrictions, to minimize future roster problems. How many GMs (given the farm we have), would still be holding on to this many prospects.

[Enscheff]

Guys, what if the Braves and Astros did the following trade:

Braves get: Altuve, Springer, Bregman, Verlander

Astros get: Albies, Acuna, Soroka, Pache

Why it works for the Braves: the Braves replace their 2B with another one, replace their star OF with another one, replace their good pitcher with another one, and add the 3b they need.

Why it works for the Astros: they replace their players with guys that are younger and cheaper. Since they already have a flag to stare at, they don’t need to go all in this year.

In case anyone can’t figure out where these guys would play, The Braves lineup becomes:

1b - Freeman
2B - Altuve
3b - Bregman
SS - Swanson
LF - Markakis/Duvall
CF - Inciarte
RF - Springer

SP - Verlander, Fried, Folty, Ham, young guy.

If anyone needs the AAA roster as well I can list it out. Just let me know.

[Hudson2]

Guys, what if the Braves and Astros did the following trade:

Braves get: Altuve, Springer, Bregman, Verlander

Astros get: Albies, Acuna, Soroka, Pache

Why it works for the Braves: the Braves replace their 2B with another one, replace their star OF with another one, replace their good pitcher with another one, and add the 3b they need.

Why it works for the Astros: they replace their players with guys that are younger and cheaper. Since they already have a flag to stare at, they don’t need to go all in this year.

In case anyone can’t figure out where these guys would play, The Braves lineup becomes:

1b - Freeman
2B - Altuve
3b - Bregman
SS - Swanson
LF - Markakis/Duvall
CF - Inciarte
RF - Springer

SP - Verlander, Fried, Folty, Ham, young guy.

If anyone needs the AAA roster as well I can list it out. Just let me know.

Double A lineup to if you get time..

[nsacpi]

In the name of being forward-looking we need to:

1) Acquire a DH type hitter for when the DH comes to the NL

2) A catcher who can't frame for when the robo umps take over

Those are my two favorite trade ideas for this off-season. It seems to me that so far AA has failed by not looking ahead to those developments. That's all I got.

[Enscheff]

The real innovators won’t even use a catcher with nobody on base when robo umps take over. Just have the pitcher fire the ball to the backstop, and enjoy the extra defender.

[weso1]

In the name of being forward-looking we need to:

1) Acquire a DH type hitter for when the DH comes to the NL

Bryce Ball says hi.

[clvclv]

So on a slow day, another Harry special:

Braves get: 3B Andujar, OF Frazier, SP Happ

Yankees get: OF Inciarte, SP Folty, RP Greene, SP Muller

Why it works for the Braves: First they don't have to spend $100M on Donaldson which at a minimum is a huge risk. They fill both lineup holes with a RH power 3B and a RH power OF. If Andujar isn't quite ready, Riley starts there until he is. If he is ready, Riley plays everyday in AAA. Frazier starts in RF with Acuna in CF and Markakis in LF until one or both of the AAA OF (Pache or Waters) is ready. Happ backfills for Folty. With the difference in Happ and Folty paired with the difference in Andujar/Frazier and Donaldson (about +17-8-25+2 = +$14M) the Braves could go add a veteran or two for the SP to go with Happ (I would prefer Walker and maybe Wood or Smyly). Instead of spending big money on Donaldson and/or Ozuna or Castellanos you get youth, potential, less cost but more unknowns.

Why it works for the Yankees: They move Happ which they would like to do. They get a LH hitting OF which they would like to do and Inciarte improves their OF defense. They pick up a guy in Folty that the Yankees will probably turn into an ACE (but it's clear that's not going to happen in Atlanta) but if they don't he's short term expense. They add to their bullpen with Greene which they have stated they would like to do. They pick up an SP prospect who would likely be top five in their system right now. The move would leave them a bit thin at 3B if Urshela proves to be fool's gold so Braves might have to add Camargo with another piece coming back from the Yankees (I like Anthony Garcia).

Only real prospect the Braves give up is Muller. Jackson fills the Greene role. Payroll stays relatively low. I would add Addison Russell on a flyer as backup infielder replacing Camargo. I would try to bring in Domingo Santana to backup 1B, corner OF and hit DH when interleague play is in effect.

Lineup:

CF Acuna
2B Albies
1B Freeman
3B Andujar
LF Markakis
RF Frazier
SS Swanson
C d'Arnaud

Bench: Flowers, Duvall, Russell, Santana, Culberson, util guy

SP: Soroka, Fried, Hamels, Happ, Walker/Smyly

RP: Smith, Melancon, Martin, O'Day, Jackson, Newk, Minter/Dayton

In AAA you'd have: 3B/cOF Riley, OF Pache, OF Waters, RHP Anderson, RHP Wright, RHP Toussaint, RHP Webb, RHP Wilson, RHP Sobotka, RHP J. Walker, RHP Ynoa, RHP Weigel, LHP Davidson, LHP Burrows.

My thinking on Frazier is that his bat is probably no worse than what you would get from either Ozuna or Castellanos over 162 games and possibly better. His defense is likely not significantly worse than either as well with potential to get better. All at significantly less risk and cost.

My thinking on Andujar is that he's obviously talented. You're taking some risk because of the labrum tear and his defense wasn't that great to begin with. However, since you hang on to Riley in this scenario you mitigate that somewhat. If things go right, you have a cheap top 10 type of 3B for the next 4-5 years. If they go wrong, you still have the potential of Riley.

IIRC, he was the worst-rated defensive 3B in a while - Bowden's even considering him as a 1B in any of the crazy trade ideas he comes up with to kill time too.

No thanks - afraid I'm not interested in Andujar even with the bat. If Donaldson re-signs, we've got more than enough candidates to use at DH in two years.

[nsacpi]

If Donaldson re-signs, we've got more than enough candidates to use at DH in two years.

would be yuge

[Sheffield10]

Some people are saying “it’s a huge risk and people will learn/regret”

Some people are saying “it’s a perfect time to splurge”

One person said both these exact things and is as lost as always. Frail.

[Enscheff]

JD for 4 years can be both a big risk, and a risk taken at the best possible time.

Logic...it’s not your thing. Too limited mentally.

Neither is playing baseball apparently. Too limited physically.

Derp

[Russ2dollas]

I still think we need two 120 plus wrc + bats added. I was thinking it’s a sign and a trade.

I still think that happens. I think the waiting on jd is us exploring options.

My guess is aa is trying to get someone to sell a dollar for 5 quarters or maybe 2 fifty cent pieces and some dimes.

I do think we have some clutter on the 40 man and if we can find someone to bite on the poo poo platter then it’s worth it.

[UNCBlue012]

Apparently the Angels and Indians discussed Mike Clevinger and the ask was Adell plus.