Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[Slippyjms]

Not sure what that has to do with Ozuna or signing Freeman to an extension.

I think Ozuna had an excellent impact on team culture especially with the latin players. I don’t know how comfortable I would be with Freeman being the sole productive veteran voice going forward. Having Ozuna on board changes that dynamic.

[Slippyjms]

If we can sign Freeman, having a top 4 of Acuna, Albies, Freeman, Ozuna for the forseeable future is quite good. And as someone else said, Acuna was on the low list of reasons Atlanta lost to St Louis in 2019. Hardly anyone except Albies, Swanson, and Acuna could hit for squat that series.

Oh agreed. I just think it was a bad look for Freeman to be talking **** when he couldn’t hit and was a far bigger problem.

[NYCBrave]

I think Ozuna had an excellent impact on team culture especially with the latin players. I don’t know how comfortable I would be with Freeman being the sole productive veteran voice going forward. Having Ozuna on board changes that dynamic.

Ozuna to me is actually the bridge between the latin and american players. Since he's very outgoing and fluent in both languages, you could see him last year getting along with everyone. Sometimes you see guys staying with cliques. It's huge for the clubhouse.

[clvclv]

All the teeth-gnashing about Acuña around that time was a bit much, for sure.

Message board. At the end of the day pretty much any teeth-gnashing is a bit much, and typically EXTRORDINARILY overblown.

[clvclv]

Oh agreed. I just think it was a bad look for Freeman to be talking **** when he couldn’t hit and was a far bigger problem.

Should've benched him.

Think AA can get anything if he trades him???

[clvclv]

Ozuna to me is actually the bridge between the latin and american players. Since he's very outgoing and fluent in both languages, you could see him last year getting along with everyone. Sometimes you see guys staying with cliques. It's huge for the clubhouse.

The "bridge" between the Latin and American players - as well as the black and white ones and the lesbians and crossdressers doesn't hit, he gives multiple interviews every night during the season - let's hope Ozuna's mind is elsewhere,

[Russ2dollas]

Is there any chance of Comargo giving up switch hitting at this point and being better? He hits well from the right side. If he could just not be terrible vs RH he could be much more valuable.

[CJ9]

Baseball America apparently has us as the favorite to sign a top 2021-22 international prospect. I don't have an account so not sure the name, but good news that we are getting back heavily involved. Hopefully the name leaks so we can find some videos.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/s...568452096?s=20

[bravesfanforlife88]

Baseball America apparently has us as the favorite to sign a top 2021-22 international prospect. I don't have an account so not sure the name, but good news that we are getting back heavily involved. Hopefully the name leaks so we can find some videos.

https://twitter.com/CarlosACollazo/s...568452096?s=20

They already signed him. Ambioris Tavarez.

The bat is the reason Tavarez is coveted. He’s a right handed hitter with huge bat speed and big power potential- especially once he fills in his body.

There isn’t a ton of video of Tavarez available, but what is out there really showcases his bat speed. If you haven’t seen the video yet, the best way to describe it is eye opening. It almost reminds me of a young Javier Baez in the impressive right handed bat speed in a frame that’s not huge.

https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/1/1...signing-period

[CJ9]

They already signed him. Ambioris Tavarez.

The bat is the reason Tavarez is coveted. He’s a right handed hitter with huge bat speed and big power potential- especially once he fills in his body.

There isn’t a ton of video of Tavarez available, but what is out there really showcases his bat speed. If you haven’t seen the video yet, the best way to describe it is eye opening. It almost reminds me of a young Javier Baez in the impressive right handed bat speed in a frame that’s not huge.

https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/1/1...signing-period

No, Tavarez is in the 2020-21 class. The link is to a bat in the 2021-22 class.

[thewupk]

Glad to finally be out of all the restriction nonsense. Time to go ham on the international market.

[50PoundHead]

They already signed him. Ambioris Tavarez.

The bat is the reason Tavarez is coveted. He’s a right handed hitter with huge bat speed and big power potential- especially once he fills in his body.

There isn’t a ton of video of Tavarez available, but what is out there really showcases his bat speed. If you haven’t seen the video yet, the best way to describe it is eye opening. It almost reminds me of a young Javier Baez in the impressive right handed bat speed in a frame that’s not huge.

https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/1/1...signing-period

I think Tavarez is 20-21 and CJ9 is referencing 21-22. You could be right or maybe the Braves are in on another guy. Sure will be nice when the sanctions are through.

[CJ9]

Turns out the 2021-22 name is INF Diego Benitez. I'm finding very little about him through a quick search. Looks like he was initially expected to sign with the Yankees, but they screwed up something with signing his best friend last year plus Benitez has physically matured a lot since then and will command more money. So we are now seen as the likely landing spot for him. The little that's out there lists him as a SS who likely will move to 3B, but he can supposedly really hit. Seems like a top 10 guy, maybe better, from the upcoming international class.

Hard to find much else out there about him.

[Enscheff]

So who had Odorizzi or JBJ in the pool to guess “the player who tanked their own FA market with unreasonable contract demands”?

[clvclv]

So who had Odorizzi or JBJ in the pool to guess “the player who tanked their own FA market with unreasonable contract demands”?

Doesn't sound like Odorizzi's have been that "unreasonable", although he's an idiot for not taking something a little less by now IMO - JBJ's getting what he deserves for listening to Borass. 4 years for an older, defense-first CF in this market? Yeah, sure.

[clvclv]

Turns out the 2021-22 name is INF Diego Benitez. I'm finding very little about him through a quick search. Looks like he was initially expected to sign with the Yankees, but they screwed up something with signing his best friend last year plus Benitez has physically matured a lot since then and will command more money. So we are now seen as the likely landing spot for him. The little that's out there lists him as a SS who likely will move to 3B, but he can supposedly really hit. Seems like a top 10 guy, maybe better, from the upcoming international class.

Hard to find much else out there about him.

He's #6 on the new BA list. "Gap power with a chance to grow into average or better power as he gets stronger" is their current soundbyte.

[Enscheff]

They already signed him. Ambioris Tavarez.

The bat is the reason Tavarez is coveted. He’s a right handed hitter with huge bat speed and big power potential- especially once he fills in his body.

There isn’t a ton of video of Tavarez available, but what is out there really showcases his bat speed. If you haven’t seen the video yet, the best way to describe it is eye opening. It almost reminds me of a young Javier Baez in the impressive right handed bat speed in a frame that’s not huge.

https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/1/1...signing-period

Well, at least he only compared his bat speed to Baez, and didn't exaggerate it by a comp to Sheffield.

Where's the eyeroll emoji?

[CJ9]

Well, at least he only compared his bat speed to Baez, and didn't exaggerate it by a comp to Sheffield.

Where's the eyeroll emoji?

The Talking Chop writers watching YouTube videos and asserting themselves as prospect analysts has been extremely bizarre over the last few years.

[Enscheff]

The Talking Chop writers watching YouTube videos and asserting themselves as prospect analysts has been extremely bizarre over the last few years.

Everything produced by TC is pretty useless.

It reminds me of that guy Fat Ben who joined these boards a few years ago and then tried to awe everyone with his stories of discussing scouting video with his friends on conference calls. It's like he tried to invent some sort of amateur video scouting universe, and used his existence in it to call himself an expert. I've never seen anything so bizarre as these pseudo-experts with zero connections, experience, or relevant skills.

[Slippyjms]

AAA season to be delayed a month. Wonder where those mlb ready prospects are gonna go for more “seasoning” to start the year.