Braves Acquire Tommy Milone

[50PoundHead]

It's really not that much to give up—certainly much more palatable than the "[g]uys like Owens/Estes/Devito/Vines" that you suggested.

But, in retrospect, anything was too much to give up. Of the two, I'm more upset about losing Cullen.

I said it then and I'll say it now: Milone was Erlin that we actually gave up something for. I'm not going to dog on Anthopoulos, but this is one case where he'd been better off doing nothing.

[clvclv]

It's really not that much to give up—certainly much more palatable than the "[g]uys like Owens/Estes/Devito/Vines" that you suggested.

But, in retrospect, anything was too much to give up. Of the two, I'm more upset about losing Cullen.

Project SPs are available late in the draft every year, and will be that much easier to find moving forward with shorter drafts and less minor league roster spots to hand out now that 40 or more teams are about to be contracted. A lot of the HS Pitchers who have been drafted late that are actually willing to sign for (relative) peanuts will make it to college and MLB teams will watch the development of the ones they like closely against stronger competition there.

[50PoundHead]

It's really not that much to give up—certainly much more palatable than the "[g]uys like Owens/Estes/Devito/Vines" that you suggested.

But, in retrospect, anything was too much to give up. Of the two, I'm more upset about losing Cullen.

Looking at the instructional league roster (Yes! There was an instructional league.), DeVito, Owens, and Estes are on it, joined by SS/3B Grissom, 1B Backstrom, and RHP Johnson all but Devito coming from the crop of post-10th round above-slot signings of 2019. Only above-slot guy not on the roster is OF Morton.

For those interested, here is a link to the roster: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stor...league-roster/. Braves went in a different direction than most franchises, inviting a smaller group of players. I think the Braves see some helium in these guys, especially Grissom (who was on the 60-man roster for the regular season).

[clvclv]

Looking at the instructional league roster (Yes! There was an instructional league.), DeVito, Owens, and Estes are on it, joined by SS/3B Grissom, 1B Backstrom, and RHP Johnson all but Devito coming from the crop of post-10th round above-slot signings of 2019. Only above-slot guy not on the roster is OF Morton.

For those interested, here is a link to the roster: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stor...league-roster/. Braves went in a different direction than most franchises, inviting a smaller group of players. I think the Braves see some helium in these guys, especially Grissom (who was on the 60-man roster for the regular season).

Obviously just speculation, but it certainly seems as though the organization thinks Grissom and Michael Harris could come pretty fast. If that's the case - and they think Grissom could be ready by 2023 or 2024, adding Holt or Shaw (maybe even on a 2 year deal) - or even Moran - to platoon with Riley while spending money on a short-term LH bat in LF (Rosario or David Peralta) makes a lot of sense if you're really only looking to "bridge the gap" to Waters.

[50PoundHead]

Obviously just speculation, but it certainly seems as though the organization thinks Grissom and Michael Harris could come pretty fast. If that's the case - and they think Grissom could be ready by 2023 or 2024, adding Holt or Shaw (maybe even on a 2 year deal) - or even Moran - to platoon with Riley while spending money on a short-term LH bat in LF (Rosario or David Peralta) makes a lot of sense if you're really only looking to "bridge the gap" to Waters.

I think you've hit it on the head regarding 3B. I just don't know what the brass thinks of Riley. I've never been a Brock Holt guy because I don't think he's a true regular, but he makes sense as a bench guy who can play 3B, 2B, and the OF (Camargo can only do the first two) and be a LHH. Moran's defense is suspect, so I don't know if he's an option for a team that values defense (Of course, Riley is hardly a gazelle at the hot corner). Hayes is ready to go in Pittsburgh, so I agree Moran will probably be playing elsewhere in 2021. Whether he is non-tendered or traded is the issue. The question becomes if you get Moran for a season or two, do you just move Riley and hang on to Camargo as the late-inning defensive replacement (Camargo may be too expensive for that type of role).

This off-season is going to be nuts. I think the non-tender pile is going to be huge.

[clvclv]

I think you've hit it on the head regarding 3B. I just don't know what the brass thinks of Riley. I've never been a Brock Holt guy because I don't think he's a true regular, but he makes sense as a bench guy who can play 3B, 2B, and the OF (Camargo can only do the first two) and be a LHH. Moran's defense is suspect, so I don't know if he's an option for a team that values defense (Of course, Riley is hardly a gazelle at the hot corner). Hayes is ready to go in Pittsburgh, so I agree Moran will probably be playing elsewhere in 2021. Whether he is non-tendered or traded is the issue. The question becomes if you get Moran for a season or two, do you just move Riley and hang on to Camargo as the late-inning defensive replacement (Camargo may be too expensive for that type of role).

This off-season is going to be nuts. I think the non-tender pile is going to be huge.

In the event AA's able to land a solid enough guy to be the strong-side of the platoon, I'd send Camargo packing (or at least non-tender him and see if he wants to stay a part of the organization with his buddies for less money on a non-guaranteed deal) - but that's me. Riley's adjustments haven't taken well enough (yet) that you can reasonably count on him consistently. That said, not only is he cheaper than Johan, his upside is immensely greater - and even if you're just trying to get through until Grissom is ready, there's always that chance that Riley gets insanely hot for a 2-3 week stretch and brings you back something with fairly significant value. That's certainly never going to happen with Camargo.

[Southcack77]

In the event AA's able to land a solid enough guy to be the strong-side of the platoon, I'd send Camargo packing (or at least non-tender him and see if he wants to stay a part of the organization with his buddies for less money on a non-guaranteed deal) - but that's me. Riley's adjustments haven't taken well enough (yet) that you can reasonably count on him consistently. That said, not only is he cheaper than Johan, his upside is immensely greater - and even if you're just trying to get through until Grissom is ready, there's always that chance that Riley gets insanely hot for a 2-3 week stretch and brings you back something with fairly significant value. That's certainly never going to happen with Camargo.

Camargo is certainly expendable.

A three week hot streak from Riley is not going to drive up his value. That's already priced in because he's already done it twice.

The reason to keep Riley is that he doesn't cost any money and he made general improvement at the plate in 2020 and it's possible he's got a productive short lived peak in him. As is, he's reasonably productive vs LHP.

[50PoundHead]

I will be surprised if Camargo is back. My only point above is that if they bring in someone like Moran (which is probably a longshot and not worth wondering about), they will likely need a reasonable defensive substitute, which Camargo is. If Camargo's price is expected to come at $1.9 MM as estimated, he's gone. The downside for Riley in this scenario is where does he get his ABs? He murders LHP, but is he the kind of guy seasoned enough to make the transition to be a part-time player? If not, it really erodes his value on the roster.

[PawPawMaxwell]

Ill throw another two cents on this fire. IMO Riley is a better trade chip than Duvall but not as valuable as Pache or Waters and maybe not as much as some of the prospect pitchers. But again IMO Riley is going nowhere until all the other voids are filled. To 50's point, I think it is a given that Camargo and Jackson will be non tendered if AA cant find a trade for them.

[50PoundHead]

Did a quick search to look at the timeline for Anthopoulos' moves last off-season, which may not be applicable to the tasks at hand, but he clearly went pitching first.

Here's the timeline:

11/8/19--Re-sign O'Day
11/14/19--Signs Smith
11/19/19--Re-signs Martin
11/24/19--Signs d'Arnaud
12/4/19--Signs Hamels
1/21/20--Signs Ozuna

Again, I don't know if that means anything per se, given that Smith, Martin, and d'Arnaud are all under contract for 2021, but it should be interesting to see which way Anthopoulos goes during this very odd off-season.

[Tapate50]

RP may find this to be a cold market and could certainly rather be gainfully employed come thanksgiving.