Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[clvclv]

https://twitter.com/HighRoller__Ent/...069187584?s=20

[thewupk]

https://twitter.com/HighRoller__Ent/...069187584?s=20

Definitely a bat first prospect (I've read top 5 bat in this years class). Can't be too upset about that all things considered. Here's hoping it's a start to some strong IFA moves over the next few seasons.

[clvclv]

As usual, DOB and Bowman are MIA on important days - agreements to avoid arbitration for Dansby, Fried, Soroka, and Minter have to be settled in 9 minutes and we hear crickets from the Braves' beat corners of the interwebs.

[UNCBlue012]

#Braves agreed to terms with A.J. Minter, $1.3M

[UNCBlue012]

#Braves also avoided arbitration with Max Fried, settled at $3.5M

[thewupk]

#Braves agreed to terms with A.J. Minter, $1.3M

#Braves also avoided arbitration with Max Fried, settled at $3.5M

For whatever it's worth. Both of those numbers come in less than what MLB Traderumors predicted for them.

[clvclv]

For whatever it's worth. Both of those numbers come in less than what MLB Traderumors predicted for them.

Fangraphs hit Fried on the head - had Minter pegged at $1.35 million.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Angels signed Kurt Suzuki 1 year / $1.5m

[UNCBlue012]

Corey Kluber's contract negotiations are heating up. Moving along.

[Enscheff]

For whatever it's worth. Both of those numbers come in less than what MLB Traderumors predicted for them.

Since nobody knew how arb salaries would shake out after the abbreviated season, waiting for them to be settled may also be a reason for the slow FA market. Perhaps we will see teams make moves now that they know what their arb class will cost.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Corey Kluber's contract negotiations are heating up. Moving along.

Honestly, i'd love to have him and hate to see him sign with the Phillies/gNats/Mets...but we have a strong starting 5 and desperately need to address the offense.

[UNCBlue012]

Honestly, i'd love to have him and hate to see him sign with the Phillies/gNats/Mets...but we have a strong starting 5 and desperately need to address the offense.

Agreed. Had we not signed Smyly or Morton, I'd love to grab him but there's no reason at this juncture.

[clvclv]

Agreed. Had we not signed Smyly or Morton, I'd love to grab him but there's no reason at this juncture.

Has been a LONG TIME since Kluber's been either healthy or good - I'll keep Morton TYVM.

[jpx7]

Since nobody knew how arb salaries would shake out after the abbreviated season, waiting for them to be settled may also be a reason for the slow FA market. Perhaps we will see teams make moves now that they know what their arb class will cost.

I was thinking that re Bryant (and, to a lesser extent, Contreras) from the Cubs. While Darvish's 2021 salary was locked-in, what those guys will take home was up in the air. If the Cubs really are angling for a somewhat quick rebuild (as they should), versus a half-assed "retool" (ie holding onto most of their soon-to-be-FA), they may now get more serious about moving some of these guys.

Likewise, if Anthopoulos has any real interest in Bryant, knowing he'll cost exactly $19.5m next year may kickstart more intensive negotiations.

[50PoundHead]

Hope he's good. Braves used their entire budget on him.

Don't players signed at 10K or under not count towards the yearly budget?

Not that it necessarily means anything, but he wasn't in MLB.com's Top 30 IFAs.

[jpx7]

Not that it necessarily means anything, but he wasn't in MLB.com's Top 30 IFAs.

He was 25th on BA's list.

[UNCBlue012]

Kluber headed to the Yanks

[clvclv]

If $11 million is an overpay for Smyly, it would certainly seem steep for Kluber given the amount of inactivity over the past couple years.

Have to give Cashman some credit though - with the reduced-AAV deal LeMahieu signed along with this one they've still got ~ $9 million to spend while staying below the luxury tax line. They can probably still take a flier on a Leake/Richards/Quintana/Archer/Wainright/Rodon/Hill/Walker/Folty depth signing.

[jpx7]

If $11 million is an overpay for Smyly, it would certainly seem steep for Kluber given the amount of inactivity over the past couple years.

Have to give Cashman some credit though - with the reduced-AAV deal LeMahieu signed along with this one they've still got ~ $9 million to spend while staying below the luxury tax line. They can probably still take a flier on a Leake/Richards/Quintana/Archer/Wainright/Rodon/Hill/Walker/Folty depth signing.

If Kluber is netting $11m—when he hasn't been healthy or good in two seasons—then I think Smyly, who at least was very good in a short-sample last season, at $11m is still an overpay, but not as bad of one as it initially seemed. He's also slightly younger and entirely more left-handed than Kluber, though he's been dogged by more injuries and never produced close to Kluber's peak.

What I hope this helps put to rest is the notion that $15m was an overpay for Morton. It didn't seem so, to me, at the time; it seems even less so now.

[UNCBlue012]

Soroka files for $2.8 million and Atlanta at $2.1 million

Dansby filed for $6.7 million, while the Braves countered at $6 million. Midpoint: $6.35 million.