Official Offseason Thread

[BeanieAntics]

I'm still pretty skeptical of the Reds overall, but they have substantially improved this offseason. I'm not sure what their ceiling is though because now that Votto has declined, they seem to have a bunch of good players but no great players. Outside of Suarez, do they have a position player that'll be worth more than 3 wins next year? Moose and Castellanos may be around 3 wins. I don't see anyone from the Votto, Barnhart, Galvis, or Winker group getting more than 2 wins a piece. Maybe Aquino can be pretty good. Maybe Senzel or Akiyama will be good for them. But generally, I don't think that offense is as strong as a lot of people think it'll be.

Before the Castellanos signing, ZiPS had the Reds starting lineup at 17.8 WAR with Aquino, Winker, and Ervin in the cOF spots. Castellanos MAY add another win to that total. For reference, ZiPS had the Braves starting lineup at 23.6 WAR before we signed Ozuna. So from a projection standpoint, the Reds offense is still significantly behind the Braves, even when we were complaining about the offense pre-Ozuna.

As far as their rotation is concerned, I think its much better than it was but still not as good as people think it'll be. They may be a wild card contender, but I still just don't see them as being a major threat for a WS or anything like some people do.

[Heyward]

I have a friend who is a Reds fan and he's praying with everything holy that Cincy trades Senzel in a package for Lindor.

I will say, the Reds have improved greatly, but they're a legitimate WS contender with Lindor.

Lindor, Votto, Suarez, Moustakas, Castellanos, Aquino, Akiyama, Barnhardt is CRAZY.

Strong hypothetical lineup, WS contender, not sure about that. Would be damn good.

[Heyward]

I'm still pretty skeptical of the Reds overall, but they have substantially improved this offseason. I'm not sure what their ceiling is though because now that Votto has declined, they seem to have a bunch of good players but no great players. Outside of Suarez, do they have a position player that'll be worth more than 3 wins next year? Moose and Castellanos may be around 3 wins. I don't see anyone from the Votto, Barnhart, Galvis, or Winker group getting more than 2 wins a piece. Maybe Aquino can be pretty good. Maybe Senzel or Akiyama will be good for them. But generally, I don't think that offense is as strong as a lot of people think it'll be.

Before the Castellanos signing, ZiPS had the Reds starting lineup at 17.8 WAR with Aquino, Winker, and Ervin in the cOF spots. Castellanos MAY add another win to that total. For reference, ZiPS had the Braves starting lineup at 23.6 WAR before we signed Ozuna. So from a projection standpoint, the Reds offense is still significantly behind the Braves, even when we were complaining about the offense pre-Ozuna.

As far as their rotation is concerned, I think its much better than it was but still not as good as people think it'll be. They may be a wild card contender, but I still just don't see them as being a major threat for a WS or anything like some people do.

I think they're division favorites on paper. Cubs are in transition, Cards lost Ozuna and havent added a bat to replace him, Brewers lost Moose and Grandal with SP remaining a big ?, Pirates are rebuilding. Probably not a WS contender but they can make the playoffs and win that division.

[Mad Dog Murph]

Yep, you could argue that the collapse of Nick Esasky and Bruce Sutter is what stopped the run the Braves were on in the early 80s.

Except the Braves “run” in the early 80’s ended in 84 and Esasky played in 1990.

[salmagundy]

With the new ruling now clarified(official), which pitchers make the Braves opening day roster.

[Heyward]

With the new ruling now clarified(official), which pitchers make the Braves opening day roster.

Health provided, i think....

Hamels/Soroka/Fried/Folty/Newk or Wright in rotation.

O'Day/Smith/Greene/Melancon/Martin/Jackson/Webb/Newk or Dayton.

Man that bullpen on paper compared to last year is night and day, and there's plenty of depth behind them.

[The Chosen One]

Didn't check schedule but is this another April like recent years where the schedule is compliant enough to where we don't need 5 starters the first few weeks and only need 4?

[Snowman]

Didn't check schedule but is this another April like recent years where the schedule is compliant enough to where we don't need 5 starters the first few weeks and only need 4?

Nope. We start the season with 7 games in a row before the first off day.

Edit: And then another 17 in a row before the second off day.

[CyYoung31]

Nope. We start the season with 7 games in a row before the first off day.

Edit: And then another 17 in a row before the second off day.

Holy ****. I’ve never seen that before.

At least I won’t have to worry about being teased by a game or two, only to immediately have a day without Braves baseball. Hate that.

[nsacpi]

Holy ****. I’ve never seen that before.

At least I won’t have to worry about being teased by a game or two, only to immediately have a day without Braves baseball. Hate that.

Arizona has a dome and San Diego has great weather that time of the year. So no need to schedule the day off that a lot of teams do in case opening day needs to be made up.

[Heyward]

Sounds like Dodgers are gonna get Mookie. That lineup with him is ridiculous, who do you even pitch around?

C- Will Smith, 1B- Muncy, 2B- Lux, SS- Seager, 3B- Turner, LF- Pederson, CF- Bellinger, RF- Betts

[bravesfanMatt]

Sounds like Dodgers are gonna get Mookie. That lineup with him is ridiculous, who do you even pitch around?

C- Will Smith, 1B- Muncy, 2B- Lux, SS- Seager, 3B- Turner, LF- Pederson, CF- Bellinger, RF- Betts

It would be tough but good pitching can shut any lineup down. I think Boston is very smart in trading Mookie. I think the Friars are also close on a deal I bet they end up getting him if Boston trades him.

[Heyward]

It would be tough but good pitching can shut any lineup down. I think Boston is very smart in trading Mookie. I think the Friars are also close on a deal I bet they end up getting him if Boston trades him.

Sounds like Dodgers are more likely to get him right now. I agree Boston's smart to move him though.

[Carp]

If LA is willing to give up Verdugo, I don't see how the Padres have much of a shot unless they are willing to massively overpay in prospects.

[Heyward]

Yeah Padres arent offering anything close to him alone, rumored Dodgers offer is Gonsolin/Downs/Verdugo, maybe another piece or so. Not sure if they take Price but if Verdugo's in the deal, Padres are gonna have to up that offer, their current rumored offer doesnt touch that.

[bravesfanMatt]

Yeah Padres arent offering anything close to him alone, rumored Dodgers offer is Gonsolin/Downs/Verdugo, maybe another piece or so. Not sure if they take Price but if Verdugo's in the deal, Padres are gonna have to up that offer, their current rumored offer doesnt touch that.

I might be behind. Last I saw was Friars have a deal in place just haggling over Myers contract. If the Sox were taking Myers back then I figured the players going back would be a lot. So the Dodgers are giving that up AND taking Price. That seems like a huge over pay for Betts.

[Heyward]

I might be behind. Last I saw was Friars have a deal in place just haggling over Myers contract. If the Sox were taking Myers back then I figured the players going back would be a lot. So the Dodgers are giving that up AND taking Price. That seems like a huge over pay for Betts.

Never seen Padres have a deal in place. If Boston can shed Price's contract, and get back Verdugo, and a couple other pieces, that is a lot better than what the Padres are offering. Not even offering Patino, Trammel or Abrams.

Latest info seems to have Dodgers in the lead for Mookie.

[Snowman]

Last I saw, the Padres were offering either Margot or Naylor, plus either Quantrill or Lucchesi, and just to get those two the Red Sox were going to have to take back half of Myers' contract. My reaction to that would have been "keep him and take the QO pick." They're not even in the same solar system as that Dodgers offer.

[bravesfanMatt]

Last I saw, the Padres were offering either Margot or Naylor, plus either Quantrill or Lucchesi, and just to get those two the Red Sox were going to have to take back half of Myers' contract. My reaction to that would have been "keep him and take the QO pick." They're not even in the same solar system as that Dodgers offer.

Yeah that is what I saw. Friars wanted them to take 75% of Myers. Sox only wanted to take 50. But the Dodger deal is way better. They get a great prospect and shed price. That is huge.

[Snowman]

Yeah that is what I saw. Friars wanted them to take 75% of Myers. Sox only wanted to take 50. But the Dodger deal is way better. They get a great prospect and shed price. That is huge.

It's the difference between a straight up salary dump garbage trade and an actual trade in which you get a reasonable return. The smart move now is to ask the Padres if they want to up their offer, but you know there's a tiny little vindictive part of the brain that just wants to give them the finger now.