I understand what you're saying but it really doesn't apply. I'm willing to admit that there are many, many scenarios where trading Freeman resulted in little to nothing back, especially considering the Johns were in charge. But that's a question of FO competence, not overall correct strategy. Freddie wasn't traded, not because keeping him through a rebuild was the most efficient and correct way to go, but because the Johns were trying their BS reload strategy IMO. They didn't commit to a full out rebuild. And, now what I thought would happen IS happening: the Braves are a good but not great team with significant flaws that really can't be addressed because there's not enough payroll space to add enough salary to adequately cover the flaws and the talent waves in the minor leagues are not deep enough to provide the help needed. The farm is still relatively good but not at the top of baseball and a number of the best prospects are about to move into the majors as replacements of others who will be moving on like Folty, Flowers, d'Arnaud, Freeman, Inciarte, Markakis, etc. The ml talent is there to help navigate those losses (with the exception of Freeman) but not both do that AND address the flaws enough to be the team that I would like to see them be.