Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[TheBravos]

Why do people think Ender will be the starting CF? Pache is the better defender and it is unlikely he will be worse at the plate. Maybe he earns a demotion but I don’t see how he’s not our opening day CF unless he’s 0-for-ST. Ender will be the 4th OF like he ended last season

Of course Pache will start, unless he just doesn’t hit...and I doubt that happens.

[msstate7]

Ender knows this is basically his last year of the contract. I expect him to have a above average “Ender” year.

I would love for him to put up another year like 2018

[TheBravos]

We signed Nate Jones per Rosenthal

[Freshmaker]

Hmm was trash last year with a -0.3 WAR but otherwise solid for his career. Could be a nice reclamation piece

[Jay212033]

I truly hope that the Braves now trade for an established 3B. Preferably Jose Ramirez his SH bat would be perfect in this lineup.

[KOdawg1]

We signed Nate Jones per Rosenthal

Will be interesting to see how much we spent on him

Edited: minor league deal

[MadduxFanII]

Why do people think Ender will be the starting CF? Pache is the better defender and it is unlikely he will be worse at the plate. Maybe he earns a demotion but I don’t see how he’s not our opening day CF unless he’s 0-for-ST. Ender will be the 4th OF like he ended last season

I think the way the Braves want it to work is that Ender comes to camp in amazing shape, impresses in spring training and gives them an excuse to keep Pache down in the minors for a while. I don't think you keep a guy like Ender around as a fourth outfielder for a full season, and you can't keep Pache stapled to the bench for extended periods of time. Maybe you get a dead cat bounce and Ender puts up 1 WAR or something over a full season.

Personally, I think Ender's almost certainly just toast, and I don't believe the Braves are going to carry him at the start of the season if he looks it, Pache's clock notwithstanding.

[MadduxFanII]

Jones is kind of interesting. I assume he was hurt in 2019?

[NYCBrave]

Can't believe so many here are confident in Inciarte starting and potentially being productive. I thought last year taught us all we needed to know. His defensive metrics fell off a cliff, which would make him essentially useless.

[ixiXSolidXixi]

Can't believe so many here are confident in Inciarte starting and potentially being productive. I thought last year taught us all we needed to know. His defensive metrics fell off a cliff, which would make him essentially useless.

Pache need a extra month to gain a extra year. That’s probably Ender will get centerfield for the beginning of the season.

[Super]

Can't believe so many here are confident in Inciarte starting and potentially being productive. I thought last year taught us all we needed to know. His defensive metrics fell off a cliff, which would make him essentially useless.

confident in his ability? or confident that he will in fact be the starter? i feel pretty confident he'll be the OD starter all equal health-wise but i'm not confident he won't be bad. it's also not a slam dunk that Pache would be better at this time.

[msstate7]

Can't believe so many here are confident in Inciarte starting and potentially being productive. I thought last year taught us all we needed to know. His defensive metrics fell off a cliff, which would make him essentially useless.

I don't think anyone is confident in ender. Basically everyone is just hoping he can rebound.

[tululush]

I think the way the Braves want it to work is that Ender comes to camp in amazing shape, impresses in spring training and gives them an excuse to keep Pache down in the minors for a while. I don't think you keep a guy like Ender around as a fourth outfielder for a full season, and you can't keep Pache stapled to the bench for extended periods of time. Maybe you get a dead cat bounce and Ender puts up 1 WAR or something over a full season.

Personally, I think Ender's almost certainly just toast, and I don't believe the Braves are going to carry him at the start of the season if he looks it, Pache's clock notwithstanding.

If Ender performs at all, you immediately trade him and find someone to eat half of his remaining salary. Heck, eat 1/4 of his remaining salary and it’s a win.

[NYCBrave]

I don't think anyone is confident in ender. Basically everyone is just hoping he can rebound.

What is there to rebound from. The metrics have shown he's lost a step or two in the field. He's on the wrong side of 30 now. You can't simply regain a step and be great again.

[zbhargrove]

Jones is kind of interesting. I assume he was hurt in 2019?

A lot of folks sleeping on Arano as well. Before he had elbow surgery he was very good

[Enscheff]

What is there to rebound from. The metrics have shown he's lost a step or two in the field. He's on the wrong side of 30 now. You can't simply regain a step and be great again.

What metrics? The ones from a short season?

When Ender was injured and struggling in 2019 he rebounded once healthy. That rebound lasted for about 8 minutes until he was hurt again, but he rebounded nonetheless.

The Braves are paying him regardless, so they have to see if he gets back to a 2 win guy next year. Maybe he was hurt in 2020. Maybe he is simply done as a MLB player. Unless he looks useless in ST and/or Pache impresses, he will probably get reps while Pache spends some time in AAA.

It’s called resource management, and teams do it all the time early in the season. The best 26 players rarely break camp with the MLB team.

[msstate7]

A lot of folks sleeping on Arano as well. Before he had elbow surgery he was very good

I feel like the braves do relatively well with these type of relief pitcher signings

[mfree80]

AA seems to be good at identifying guys who are ready to bounce back from an off-year or have recovered from injury and are trending upwards.

[clvclv]

I feel like the braves do relatively well with these type of relief pitcher signings

These guys fit the mold of the reclamation projects this franchise (not just AA) has been so successful with in the past. Arano, Edwards, and Jones have all proven capable of handling themselves in the late-innings in earlier seasons. They're a lot like Greene - the situation isn't going to cause them to crumble and their stuff may not be "off the charts" but when you have guys like them to use in the 6th and 7th it makes it much easier to build a dominant pen.

If they can't find it again in a few weeks it didn't cost you *hit, but if they throw well enough during camp to build a little confidence, look out.

[Carp]

AA, go get Bruce and Marwin. I have spoken.