Looking towards 2025

Carp said:
Soler is basically the same player as Hernandez. Maybe Hernandez is slightly better in the field, but not substantially. It would be extremely questionable decision making to trade Soler and his 2/32 contract only to sign basically the same player for more years at a higher AAV.
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Last year they weren't the same player... Hernandez was much better. Offensively too.
 
Enscheff said:
MLBTR's top trade targets: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/top-35-trade-candidates-mlb-offseason.html

Lots of pitchers on this list, but how motivated is AA to make a trade for a SP? It's hard to imagine AA parting with the package required for Crochet, though he did give up Contreras for Murphy, so Baldwin for Crochet isn't impossible to see happening. Gray seems like a salary dump type move AA might make. To me, the last year of Montgomery's deal seems like a similar acquisition to Sale, but obviously with lower upside.

The trade options for LF are...dismal. Other than a buy low gamble on Robert, there isn't anyone available worth moving Kelenic to the bench to start the season. The White Sox would have to be completely braindead to trade Robert right now, but they were stupid enough to hang onto him at peak value despite no chance of winning, so who knows what that horrible FO will do. Just another case of "they don't have to trade him right now" nonsense coming back to bite a team.
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I highly suspect the White Sox will pair Crochet with Benintindi to unload that contract. That would significantly lessen the prospect capital needed. On top of that I think he got one of the hottest prospect trade chips in Drake Baldwin. Might not be the best prospect but catcher is a premium position.

Is Arenado an option for us? Would we try Riley in LF again? Arenado feels like he would be a straight salary dump even if he is a 3 WAR 3B. I dont think its likely. Maybe a last resort for us or part of a trade involving someone else. Like Brendan Donovan or Helsely. Donvan seems like exactly what we need and we could always use a backup closer if we want to win 100 games we cant use Iglesias every night.

Luis Arraez I think would be a good LF option for us. I think we need to vary the types of hitters we have on the team to help us be more consistent. Arraez being the high average low power guy might help with that. He could backup a lot of other positions like 2B when we know Ozzie will miss some time. Even if he doesnt have a clear starting position for the team its always good to have someone who perennially challenges for the batting title coming off the bench.

Wilyer Abreu seems like he should be a target of ours. Being a strict platoon bat limits his value just enough to make him affordable. The Red Sox need pitching and we have a good bit close to MLB ready so I think we match up well. Abreu has the bonus of being pre-arb so if we can fix LF for league minimum plys a RH platoon bat that leaves a lot left to address other positions like SS or another good SP.

Cody Bellinger I think is a good option for us based on his lack of need for a platoon partner and position versatility. Michael Harris has had injury issues the last 2 years. Bellinger could fill in CF. We already have depth issues in the outfield. And Bellinger is a good bet to opt out after 2025 even if he doesnt have a great year.
 
AA should get into the Soto bidding. If for no other reason than to drive up the price. We honestly should be aiming for quality over quantity at this point but I know we arent winning any bidding wars with NY teams.
 
Jim Bowden predicted we trade two minor league pitchers for Jordan Montgomery. I don’t think he’s ever been correct on a prediction, so that may have just killed that idea.

If we were to trade for Montgomery, I think we should be able to attach Fletcher’s $6.5M in 25 and $1.5M buyout in 26.
 
Chico said:
Jim Bowden predicted we trade two minor league pitchers for Jordan Montgomery. I don’t think he’s ever been correct on a prediction, so that may have just killed that idea.

If we were to trade for Montgomery, I think we should be able to attach Fletcher’s $6.5M in 25 and $1.5M buyout in 26.
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This feels like a lesser version of the Sale trade, and is something I could totally see AA doing.
 
I also really like the idea of Boyd on a short deal.

I just want this to be the year where AA potions himself to be the one who hands out the bargain contract for a SP in January.
 
Soto is a pipe dream, but hey, why not dream? While I’m not a fan of his defense, he won’t be worse than Soler and Ozuna, at least in theory. But if somehow, some way, the Braves got him, it’s an instant impact to the offense. Put him in the two spot, you’d have Acuna, Soto, Riley, Olson, and Ozuna at the top, going R-L-R-L-R in the top five in the order and you can move Albies down to six or seven.

Again, a pipe dream. It’s going to be more than hard to compete with what the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, etc can match. I’ll be stunned if the Braves are anywhere close to being in contention.
 
Chico said:
Jim Bowden predicted we trade two minor league pitchers for Jordan Montgomery. I don’t think he’s ever been correct on a prediction, so that may have just killed that idea.

If we were to trade for Montgomery, I think we should be able to attach Fletcher’s $6.5M in 25 and $1.5M buyout in 26.
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Wow! Just looked at Montgomery's 2024 stats and they are so bad I wonder if that cools the market for him at all. Braves do have a lot of minor league pitching depth, so if they trade any prospects it would likely be from that talent pool.

In another matter, Braves picked up former Brave minor league pitcher Roybar Salinas on waivers from the A's. Big guy with a big fastball, but has trouble with command. I defer to Deester11 who probably saw Salinas at one of the Braves' minor league stops prior to him going to Oakland in the Sean Murphy trade.
 
50PoundHead said:
Wow! Just looked at Montgomery's 2024 stats and they are so bad I wonder if that cools the market for him at all. Braves do have a lot of minor league pitching depth, so if they trade any prospects it would likely be from that talent pool.

In another matter, Braves picked up former Brave minor league pitcher Roybar Salinas on waivers from the A's. Big guy with a big fastball, but has trouble with command. I defer to Deester11 who probably saw Salinas at one of the Braves' minor league stops prior to him going to Oakland in the Sean Murphy trade.
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Yeah it would all depend on if they truly believed he was never right after missing camp, and he’s going to have a bounce back in his contract year.
 
The GM bad mouthed Montgomery so hard it's hard to imagine that you'd need to give anything of value. Maybe they would pay you.

The As got no return at all for Murphy.
 
AA is very clearly creating payroll space for 2025. Considering he already said payroll will go up the only thing it can mean is he is trying to add at least 1 very expensive contract.

I know Soto is unlikely, but it’s starting to look like the money is there to be serious bidders. He is exactly the type of hitter this lineup needs at the top, and exactly the kind of attitude the team needs to finally get rid of that lifelessness we always complain about.
 
Enscheff said:
https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/braves

The Braves luxury number currently sits at $213M.

Assuming they non-tender Canning, Laureano and Biggio that drops the number to $198M.

Assuming they pick up the options for Ozuna, TDA, and Bummer that bumps the number up to about $228M.

Assuming the opening day luxury number will be about $275M, that leaves $47M+ to spend.

The funds are there to add pretty much anything AA wants, even Soto at something crazy like 15/600. At that point it doesn't matter who plays SS.
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Currently at 216. Add 23 for Ozuna and TDA brings it to 239. Subtract 11 for Canning and Laureano gets it to 228.

The current moves did absolutely nothing in terms of the luxury number, but it did free up a bit of real cash to spend in 2025.
 
Enscheff said:
AA is very clearly creating payroll space for 2025. Considering he already said payroll will go up the only thing it can mean is he is trying to add at least 1 very expensive contract.

I know Soto is unlikely, but it’s starting to look like the money is there to be serious bidders. He is exactly the type of hitter this lineup needs at the top, and exactly the kind of attitude the team needs to finally get rid of that lifelessness we always complain about.
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Currently at 195 in payroll but 215 in overall number, but thats with Canning and Laureano as well as Luke Jackson's numbers on there as well. With the money saved, you could probably bring back RL at that number, although could see AA try to get him back at a lower number on a 2 year deal. In regards to Soto, just cant see AA at the 500-600M number but that would basically solve a ton of problems the team has lol.

We have a bit of room if AA doesnt care about the tax numbers.
 
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