2025-2026 offseason thread

I think the roster is pretty set. Looking at the early season schedule I think they run a 6 man rotation for the first 2 weeks. Maybe even until the Dodgers series in May. #5 will be Holmes and 6 will be Wentz or Elder with the other being long reliever out of the pen. Waldrep starts at AAA as a sort of extended Spring training. He notoriously struggles with mechanics early in the season so this may be for the best. I think JR Ritchie will get a chance to compete in ST as well for rotation spot but for obvious reasons wont win. We could see him by June. Fuentes has shoulder issues so not counting on anything from him. I am slightly worried about everything but defense but I think the team is well rounded. I would still like another high end reliever like Keller because I dont trust Jiminez's health and an upgrade from Wisely/White but it is what it is. Even without adding a starter I feel the pen and offense will be better which means we can still compete with subpar SP for a while. I am very excited about what could be a very improved defense for key situations. An Outfield of Yas/MH/White would be such an upgrade. Dubon/Kim in the middle infield. Potentially with Nacho at 3B. Make the pitchers job easier.
 
UNCBlue012 said:
Any thoughts or general gut feelings on what that move looks like?
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The Braves payroll has shot past the "AA doesn't have money" scenario, so I wouldn't put any cap on it. The luxury number is sitting at $256M (probably a bit less since RR seems to over estimate the "Estimated player benefits to be paid" line item), but I see no reason they wouldn't go over the 2nd cap of $264M. They will likely stay under the 3rd cap of $284M (or maybe not, who knows?), which leaves plenty to sign a Bassitt type FA SP.

So to me, the most likely options are a trade for a legit option like Ryan/Peralta, or a non-QO FA SP. Unlike others, I don't think the rumors about Diaz means AA is willing to lose the 26th pick. I think it means Diaz at a reasonable price was worth giving it up, just like Framber at a bargain price would be worth giving it up.

So hopefully AA is able to sit back now and allow the SP bargain that always presents itself every single year to fall into his lap. I've always wanted the Braves to be the team benefitting from a SP's market collapsing.
 
It's worth pointing out that the 3rd cap is also where you start getting into draft pick impacts. I believe if you go over that 3rd cap that your first draft pick gets pushed back 10 spots - but that would be in the 2027 draft, not the 2026 draft where we have the two high picks. I'd be really surprised if we wanted to do that.
 
Bassitt makes a ton of sense but AA seems to want a guy that would start a playoff game and with the guys we already have he would have to be really good if everybody was healthy.
 
From what I understand its going over the second level which is 264 million that pushes the draft pick back. I dont think AA wants to go over that cap, but if the right situation arises he would. Like for Skubal if it was ever possible. Also as far as AA spending its exactly what I said. He can spend just not big long term deals unless they are super team friendly. Expect that to continue until if/when Acuna resigns. Once thats done I expect them to be more open to long term deals. Most of our long term deals will be short term by that point anyways.
 
Southcack77 said:
Likely because it was a one year pillow as opposed to less AAV on a multi-year.
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But what’s his upside on a FA deal after he’s another year older and potentially has a QO attached? It’s not like he’s in line for a 5-year deal next offseason. If he has a really good, healthy season he’ll have the QO. I think the familiarity played some sort of role.
 
I will pass on Chris Bassitt, who I assume would cost more than the 2/40 million deal that Kelly just signed to stay in AZ.

The only guys left in FA that move the needle all have QOs attached and will cost 100-150 million (or more). I don't buy the rumors that AA is shopping in this aisle.
 
Bassitt will prob sign right around what Kelly signed for. $20m added to the payroll would be $276m. That only leaves ~$7m before the 3rd cap. AA probably wants more than that going into the season.
 
The Phillies once again are trying to assemble the worst defensive OF in baseball.

How the eff do they keep their pitchers ERAs so low? Especially when they consistently run out arguably the worst defender in baseball at RF for 150 games a year? It's honestly very impressive.
 
Carp said:
The Phillies once again are trying to assemble the worst defensive OF in baseball.

How the eff do they keep their pitchers ERAs so low? Especially when they consistently run out arguably the worst defender in baseball at RF for 150 games a year? It's honestly very impressive.
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because it is either an infield pop up or a homer.. OF defense doesn't exist in that park.
 
Carp said:
The Phillies once again are trying to assemble the worst defensive OF in baseball.

How the eff do they keep their pitchers ERAs so low? Especially when they consistently run out arguably the worst defender in baseball at RF for 150 games a year? It's honestly very impressive.
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Well Garcia is a much better defender than Castellanos. Looks like they’ll be going with Crawford in CF which is questionable. But Marsh should be a good defensive LF.
 
Enscheff said:
The Braves payroll has shot past the "AA doesn't have money" scenario, so I wouldn't put any cap on it. The luxury number is sitting at $256M (probably a bit less since RR seems to over estimate the "Estimated player benefits to be paid" line item), but I see no reason they wouldn't go over the 2nd cap of $264M. They will likely stay under the 3rd cap of $284M (or maybe not, who knows?), which leaves plenty to sign a Bassitt type FA SP.

So to me, the most likely options are a trade for a legit option like Ryan/Peralta, or a non-QO FA SP. Unlike others, I don't think the rumors about Diaz means AA is willing to lose the 26th pick. I think it means Diaz at a reasonable price was worth giving it up, just like Framber at a bargain price would be worth giving it up.

So hopefully AA is able to sit back now and allow the SP bargain that always presents itself every single year to fall into his lap. I've always wanted the Braves to be the team benefitting from a SP's market collapsing.
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Dallas Keuchel.
 
cajunrevenge said:
From what I understand its going over the second level which is 264 million that pushes the draft pick back. I dont think AA wants to go over that cap, but if the right situation arises he would. Like for Skubal if it was ever possible. Also as far as AA spending its exactly what I said. He can spend just not big long term deals unless they are super team friendly. Expect that to continue until if/when Acuna resigns. Once thats done I expect them to be more open to long term deals. Most of our long term deals will be short term by that point anyways.
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The cap is $244M this year. The draft pick penalty kicks in at $40M+ over that cap, so the Braves can go up to $284M without suffering draft penalties.

After seeing AA spend like we all hoped he could spend, I see no reason he can't add another $20M salary to the 2026 payroll other than the Braves simply ran out of money...which seems unlikely.
 
Carp said:
The Phillies once again are trying to assemble the worst defensive OF in baseball.

How the eff do they keep their pitchers ERAs so low? Especially when they consistently run out arguably the worst defender in baseball at RF for 150 games a year? It's honestly very impressive.
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FWIW, Statcast has rated Garcia very well defensively the last few years.
 
20 won't get Valdez who is probably the only one worth spending that on and the pick so make a trade for a good SP and use the extra money at the deadline.
 
Enscheff said:
The cap is $244M this year. The draft pick penalty kicks in at $40M+ over that cap, so the Braves can go up to $284M without suffering draft penalties.

After seeing AA spend like we all hoped he could spend, I see no reason he can't add another $20M salary to the 2026 payroll other than the Braves simply ran out of money...which seems unlikely.
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Awesome. I still want Keller and Andujar.
 
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