Braves are in the point of their window where "wasting" money is fine if it helps contribute to wins on the field.
Offseason Hot Stove 2024-25 Thread
- Thread starter CrimsonCowboy
- Start date
Braves are in the point of their window where "wasting" money is fine if it helps contribute to wins on the field.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
Nothing suggests Correa is available and he has a no trade clause so its even dependent on him agreeing. I think Willie Castro from the Twins is more likely. Arenado I would be okay with but the Cards would need to eat a good chunk of his salary.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I guess I would rather them 'waste' it on something that moves the needle a bit more.. but yeah ~8 million isn't a huge hit.. at least he isn't unplayable versus righties.. unless that slow ass bat only gets worse.
msstate7
Well-known member
Esp when we suck bs rhp, but hit lhp well
Even if he was the fulltime LFer he would get you 2+ WAR over a full season. 8 million for that is hardly an issue. With the talent on this team the Braves really just need players that don't suck in LF and SS. Just get some average players and go win 95+ games.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
FYI: Bowman also said it's not us.
I love the idea of waiting for a SP bargain in January.
Ward is a reasonable target: cOFer who can play everyday while Acuna is rehabbing and then platoon with Kelenic if he ever figure things out, or continue to play everyday if Kelenic continues to be terrible. All the realistic LF options seem to be mediocre 2-3 win guys, but that's OK because the Braves are upgrading from "worst in MLB" at the position, so average is a significant bump.
The Tucker rumor seems silly...why would the win-now Astros want to trade away one of their best hitters? These rumors are almost as dumb as the "Milwaukee is listening on Adames" rumors that kept popping up.
Ward is a reasonable target: cOFer who can play everyday while Acuna is rehabbing and then platoon with Kelenic if he ever figure things out, or continue to play everyday if Kelenic continues to be terrible. All the realistic LF options seem to be mediocre 2-3 win guys, but that's OK because the Braves are upgrading from "worst in MLB" at the position, so average is a significant bump.
The Tucker rumor seems silly...why would the win-now Astros want to trade away one of their best hitters? These rumors are almost as dumb as the "Milwaukee is listening on Adames" rumors that kept popping up.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Up here in Minnesota, nothing would surprise me what the Twins might do (or not do). They have playoff success in 2023 and the fan base is really excited and then they cut payroll. The Twins are on the market, so ownership may be cutting payroll even more to make selling easier. Not much of what they've done over the past decade has made much sense, but they've been playoff contenders (and participants) and maybe current ownership has viewed that as enough.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I wonder if more teams are going to employ the 'Rays' model of operations. Trading stars just before FA to keep the upper minors stocked full of talent and thus keeping your team always in shouting distance of competing. Maybe not to every player, but some they think they won't resign.
I mean the '21 Braves showed the league that you can be without your best player and still win if the talent up and down is good enough to get into the dance.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Doable, but the scouting department can't make big mistakes if a team goes that route. Prospect failure rate remains fairly high, so a team needs to both draft well (and hang on to their better prospects) and know the quality of the minor league prospects (and younger major league players) they will be obtaining.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I agree, but getting a nice 'haul' for one year of a guy you wouldn't sign anyway, usually gets you guys who are less likely to flame out and at least provide some positive value in MLB.
I honestly could argue both sides of the equation.. getting some prospects for a star player versus letting him play one last season and getting only a QO draft comp. versus getting that one last year of star production while you try to win. I think I lean towards the later.. but I can see the argument on the other side.
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
Ken says Fried's nearing a decision. Red Sox, Jays, and Yanks in the mix, among others. People will blame AA or call him cheap but he's making the right move letting Max walk given his injury past and playoff struggles other than his masterclass Game 6.
Hudson2
Well-known member
Bc he’s going into his last year and he’s turned down 2 extensions with them already. Only way it would make sense is if he would sign an extension before trading away a lot of talent. The Astros are in win now mode so I get them maybe holding onto him.
Tucker is a year away from FA and has basically made it known he will test FA. Astros might believe that it's gonna be better to re-sign Bregman and find another OFer than risk losing both players in a 12 months. Tucker will undoubtedly bring back at least 1 impact prospect who is MLB ready.
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
If Houston cant come to an extension with Tucker, then it would make sense to actually move him. Basically the Rays model. But obviously going to depend what kind of return they're getting. I dont know who is offering a ton of their top guys if it's known Tucker wants to hit free agency.
Hudson2
Well-known member
Exactly. If the acquiring team knows that Tucker is gonna test FA then no thanks on giving up an impact guy. He’s from Florida so maybe that helps.
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
Player benefits include health insurance, transportation, meal money, and other non-salary payments for all 40-man roster players.