Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

[UNCBlue012]

Saw this: http://Sportsbetting.ag has the #Braves with the best odds of landing George Springer if he doesn’t return to Astros.

Acuña RF-Freeman 1B-Springer LF-d’Arnaud C-Albies 2B-Swanson SS-Riley 3B-Pache CF or Acuña RF-Freeman 1B-Springer LF-d’Arnaud C-Albies 2B-Duvall DH-Swanson SS-Riley 3B-Pache CF would be fanastic.

[PawPawMaxwell]

Saw this: http://Sportsbetting.ag has the #Braves with the best odds of landing George Springer if he doesn’t return to Astros.

Acuña RF-Freeman 1B-Springer LF-d’Arnaud C-Albies 2B-Swanson SS-Riley 3B-Pache CF or Acuña RF-Freeman 1B-Springer LF-d’Arnaud C-Albies 2B-Duvall DH-Swanson SS-Riley 3B-Pache CF would be fanastic.

Hot Stove has Ozuna coming back at even money. I havent heard or read anything else about Springer. IMO your lineups do nothing for the bottom of the order and I would bet that Duvall will never be a DH in MLB (at least not for a contender).

[UNCBlue012]

Hot Stove has Ozuna coming back at even money. I havent heard or read anything else about Springer. IMO your lineups do nothing for the bottom of the order and I would bet that Duvall will never be a DH in MLB (at least not for a contender).

I'm not sure Atlanta has the funds to bring back Oznua or add Springer and do much for the bottom of the lineup; my guess is AA plays platoon advantages or hopes the hitters continue to develop.

[salmagundy]

From MLBTR on Ozuna returning to the Braves.

Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has mostly preferred to invest in pricey one-year contracts for veteran players (including Josh Donaldson, Dallas Keuchel, and Ozuna himself) in free agency, though Atlanta signed Will Smith to a three-year, $39MM deal last offseason. Ozuna’s next deal might be worth almost twice as much as it took to land Smith, but considering how Atlanta expects to be contending for the World Series, making the big investment to re-sign Ozuna might be deemed as worthwhile from the Braves’ perspective.

[NYCBrave]

It was a question and not a pipe dream. I see you are one who is in all likelyhood subject to insider info being from/in NY but there are lots of discussions and commentator info out there that NY may well go away from DJ and move Gleyber to 2nd.

I don't have any inside info, just relaying what I hear in the news. Yankees love him and it's their priority above all else to bring him back. It's to the point they've floated traded Gleyber.

But this is the same thing every off season. We are never in the running for the top free agents, and Lameheiu is certainly among the most desirable.

[PawPawMaxwell]

Im gonna put this up knowing I risk another massive missive from clv and his $120M payroll opinion.
First, since this is the first time AA Braves team has progressed thru the playoffs, things have changed and will probably change more.
Second, Consider what 2 more runs would have done in the 7th game of the NLCS TWO TWO runs.
Third, Ponder on what would have happened if Soroka hadnt gotten hurt and forced Wright into a crucial situation. Not overlooking his crapping the bed, followed by 2 or 3 good starts, then falling on the sword again in the crucial game.
Fourth and most important IMO, Forbes values the Braves at $1.8B (thats a B) and they have another $1.1B (another B) invested in the Battery and Truist. So please tell me how they protect those investments and the $1.4B in current profit in the Braves (cost of the Braves purchase-$400M). Certainly not by putting a bottom of the barrel team out there. I doubt the Braves ever become concerned about the luxury tax but if AA and Liberty can see a long term contender challenging for the WS every year, I wager they would pony up $150-$180M for payroll.

[PawPawMaxwell]

Im gonna put this up knowing I risk another massive missive from clv and his $120M payroll opinion.
First, since this is the first time AA Braves team has progressed thru the playoffs, things have changed and will probably change more.
Second, Consider what 2 more runs would have done in the 7th game of the NLCS TWO TWO runs.
Third, Ponder on what would have happened if Soroka hadnt gotten hurt and forced Wright into a crucial situation. Not overlooking his crapping the bed, followed by 2 or 3 good starts, then falling on the sword again in the crucial game.
Fourth and most important IMO, Forbes values the Braves at $1.8B (thats a B) and they have another $1.1B (another B) invested in the Battery and Truist. So please tell me how they protect those investments and the $1.4B in current profit in the Braves (cost of the Braves purchase-$400M). Certainly not by putting a bottom of the barrel team out there. I doubt the Braves ever become concerned about the luxury tax but if AA and Liberty can see a long term contender challenging for the WS every year, I wager they would pony up $150-$180M for payroll.

[Super]

Springer would be amazing. i'd feel so, so good about next year's team with him on it.

[PawPawMaxwell]

I don't have any inside info, just relaying what I hear in the news. Yankees love him and it's their priority above all else to bring him back. It's to the point they've floated traded Gleyber.

But this is the same thing every off season. We are never in the running for the top free agents, and Lameheiu is certainly among the most desirable.

Sorry. Wrong use of word. Meant your location and access to local pundits. Lupica types.

[Enscheff]

Im gonna put this up knowing I risk another massive missive from clv and his $120M payroll opinion.
First, since this is the first time AA Braves team has progressed thru the playoffs, things have changed and will probably change more.
Second, Consider what 2 more runs would have done in the 7th game of the NLCS TWO TWO runs.
Third, Ponder on what would have happened if Soroka hadnt gotten hurt and forced Wright into a crucial situation. Not overlooking his crapping the bed, followed by 2 or 3 good starts, then falling on the sword again in the crucial game.
Fourth and most important IMO, Forbes values the Braves at $1.8B (thats a B) and they have another $1.1B (another B) invested in the Battery and Truist. So please tell me how they protect those investments and the $1.4B in current profit in the Braves (cost of the Braves purchase-$400M). Certainly not by putting a bottom of the barrel team out there. I doubt the Braves ever become concerned about the luxury tax but if AA and Liberty can see a long term contender challenging for the WS every year, I wager they would pony up $150-$180M for payroll.

So you are saying if the Braves don't have a $150M-$180M payroll the season after a pandemic gutted the financials of the entire sport, they will be "putting a bottom barrel team out there"?

You'll wager they have a payroll that high? That makes the over/under $165M. Great, sign me up for that bet...what are your stakes?

[PawPawMaxwell]

So you are saying if the Braves don't have a $150M-$180M payroll the season after a pandemic gutted the financials of the entire sport, they will be "putting a bottom barrel team out there"?

You'll wager they have a payroll that high? That makes the over/under $165M. Great, sign me up for that bet...what are your stakes?

Surely you read better than that. However, I feel that if AA thinks they can be in a position to challenge for the WS again next year and Manfreds efforts pay off and the vaccine is forthcoming it is a distinct possibility that Braves will find enough money to fill the well known voids without scraping that barrel. So now, you tell me who you would pursue if you were AA and suddenly had permission to spend $150M.

[DirkPiggler]

I have this sinking feeling that Cohen is about to become mid-1970s George Steinbrenner and jack up the market rates for free agents in a year when no one wants to spend.

[Heyward]

I have this sinking feeling that Cohen is about to become mid-1970s George Steinbrenner and jack up the market rates for free agents in a year when no one wants to spend.

I think they outbid everyone for Realmuto, everyone else is hard to say. Springer and Bauer are probably the 2nd and 3rd best players on the market, then Ozuna. Not the best time to spend. Bauer depends if he's for real on the 1 year deal thing.

[nsacpi]

Im gonna put this up knowing I risk another massive missive from clv and his $120M payroll opinion.
First, since this is the first time AA Braves team has progressed thru the playoffs, things have changed and will probably change more.
Second, Consider what 2 more runs would have done in the 7th game of the NLCS TWO TWO runs.
Third, Ponder on what would have happened if Soroka hadnt gotten hurt and forced Wright into a crucial situation. Not overlooking his crapping the bed, followed by 2 or 3 good starts, then falling on the sword again in the crucial game.
Fourth and most important IMO, Forbes values the Braves at $1.8B (thats a B) and they have another $1.1B (another B) invested in the Battery and Truist. So please tell me how they protect those investments and the $1.4B in current profit in the Braves (cost of the Braves purchase-$400M). Certainly not by putting a bottom of the barrel team out there. I doubt the Braves ever become concerned about the luxury tax but if AA and Liberty can see a long term contender challenging for the WS every year, I wager they would pony up $150-$180M for payroll.

when you post twice it doubles the chance of a massive missive (nice alliteration btw) from clv

[Heyward]

Hot Stove has Ozuna coming back at even money. I havent heard or read anything else about Springer. IMO your lineups do nothing for the bottom of the order and I would bet that Duvall will never be a DH in MLB (at least not for a contender).

I think we'll just have to live with the bottom of the lineup being what it's gonna be if we make a big splash for a big bat. Not sure we can add a LHH outfielder, a SP, bullpen depth, and a cleanup hitter unless AA has more money to spend than we think or prices are cheaper than usual.

[clvclv]

I think they outbid everyone for Realmuto, everyone else is hard to say. Springer and Bauer are probably the 2nd and 3rd best players on the market, then Ozuna. Not the best time to spend. Bauer depends if he's for real on the 1 year deal thing.

The timing's just awful for everyone else though - Realmuto and Springer fill two major holes for them, they have more "stupid money" to spend than when Philadelphia wanted to go nuts, and Springer would be "coming home" to an extent.

Have pretty much resigned myself to the belief that they sign both. Stroman accepting the QO is a long-run blessing for them too IMO - if he and Syndergaard pitch well this season (and the Mutts suddenly become competitive), there's probably a legitimate chance that Cohen offers to extend one or both. If he chooses not to give them long-term deals, he can simply offer guys like Lynn a few million more than anyone else offers for a season or two, plus McCullers becomes a free-agent next winter too. Cohen certainly has enough money that he's not concerned about paying luxury tax penalties, and he sure talks like he won't mind paying them to build a winner.

[thewupk]

I have this sinking feeling that Cohen is about to become mid-1970s George Steinbrenner and jack up the market rates for free agents in a year when no one wants to spend.

Or the early 00's Mets where it still got them nothing.

The Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz, and Robbie Alomar Mets were amazing to watch.

[clvclv]

Or the early 00's Mets where it still got them nothing.

The Mo Vaughn, Jeromy Burnitz, and Robbie Alomar Mets were amazing to watch.

We can always hope!!!

[NYCBrave]

The timing's just awful for everyone else though - Realmuto and Springer fill two major holes for them, they have more "stupid money" to spend than when Philadelphia wanted to go nuts, and Springer would be "coming home" to an extent.

Have pretty much resigned myself to the belief that they sign both. Stroman accepting the QO is a long-run blessing for them too IMO - if he and Syndergaard pitch well this season (and the Mutts suddenly become competitive), there's probably a legitimate chance that Cohen offers to extend one or both. If he chooses not to give them long-term deals, he can simply offer guys like Lynn a few million more than anyone else offers for a season or two, plus McCullers becomes a free-agent next winter too. Cohen certainly has enough money that he's not concerned about paying luxury tax penalties, and he sure talks like he won't mind paying them to build a winner.

It seems like Cohen is willing to go through the luxury tax (which the Wilpons never were) but is also trying to build an organization. He's looking to beef up every aspect of the front office from scouting to analytics, because he admitted they were in the stone age compared to other teams. He even said in his opening press conference he'd be disappointed if they don't win the world series in 3-5 years.

Here's the thing though, I'm not sure the Mets are a couple of signings away from winning a world series. Their farm system is already rated one of the worst in the league. Their hitting last year was great but it was a bunch of butchers in the field. Their bullpen needs a lot of help. Their rotation needs help (Syndegaard is supposed to miss the first two months).

The Mets to me are in a weird spot. DeGrom is 33 next year. Conforto who finally broke out will be a free agent after next season. There's not much help left coming through the minors. So I'm not sure how they pull this off long term with just spending.

[Enscheff]

The Mets are trying to embrace analytics by rehiring the dinosaur named Alderson? And they plan to spend a ton of cash before they have their analytics in place?

Sounds very Mets to me already. Glad to see it happening.