With as many pitchers as there are in camp, there have got to be enough step up to fill a pen. Most will be gone, and the ones who figure it out will be fine.
Spring Training 2015
- Thread starter Hawk
- Start date
With as many pitchers as there are in camp, there have got to be enough step up to fill a pen. Most will be gone, and the ones who figure it out will be fine.
weso1
<B>Clique Leader</B>
Yeah, I think he has a chance to be a player who is underrated by many. Not great at any one thing, but above average at most things.
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
Yep, so far so good with Peterson. Hope we can really get some steady contribution from 2B throughout the year. Would make a world of difference if he could be a solid presence at the top of the lineup.
Agreed with others. I think we'll find seven relievers that can be productive.
Agreed with others. I think we'll find seven relievers that can be productive.
Along with (and separate from) some of the above, my personal feeling is that:
The new regime are believers in Braxton Davidson to an extent. I don't see 30 HR pop there, but he does profile a bit like a young Freeman who could turn into a spray it all over 2Bs machine who hits enough mistakes to eventually turn into a 18-20 HR guy. Assuming we keep several of the contact/speed guys and Ruiz develops as hoped, the three of them could provide substantial run production. It's obviously way early in their development but if you've got cheap options like Davidson and Ruiz and you're able to move Peraza to CF, you could conceivably (before screaming bloody murder, please notice the emphasis - NOTHING is guaranteed naysayers) spend big on a right-handed corner OF bat OR include Simmons in a package to get one IF Albies looks anything like he's looked thus far after 2015. Once Preller finally realizes there's just no way Wil Myers can play CF defensively, San Diego would sure seem ripe for a deal centered around those two.
2B- Peterson, CF- Peraza, 1B- Freeman, RF- Myers/FA signing, 3B- Ruiz, SS- Simmons/Albies, LF- Markakis (until Davidson's ready), C- Bethancourt
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
No love for Mallex Smith in center? He seems, well, a lot more projectable than Davis does now, although I am with you on Albies. Seems to me that a lot would have to go right for any of these guys to be ready by 2017, which the Mayan calendar clearly predicts is our year.
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
This. This is exactly why I love the guy. I would honestly love to see Peraza at second and Peterson at third.
stpeteirish
Called Up to the Major Leagues
E mail your resume to Hart, you're a natural for this front office.
Add Mallex Smith to CF next season and you might all of a sudden have a bunch of low strikeout high contact hitters in the lineup. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
I don't see the Braves moving Peraza to CF anytime soon as they like his defense at second a lot. Plus he doesn't have a plus arm so unless Smith/Perez don't work out I'd not be in a hurry to move anyone (such as Pereza or Albies). But I wouldn't rule out moving someone there later on, maybe Albies given his speed and arm could make him great in CF too. Still, Kiley McDaniel who is as high on Albies as anyone sees Albies ETA as 2018 with him likely starting 2018 in AAA. Further, I think the Braves are more likely to play Peterson at third should he prove a worthy starter than to move Peraza off second to CF. Like Gosselin among other infielders, Peterson could probably play the OF at some point too and also start some games there.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
If Peterson hits and proves a worthy starter Peraza at second and Peterson at third could become very likely at some point IMO.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
They do seem pretty high on Mallex Smith as Kiley McDaniel stated that multiple Braves execs compared Smith to Michael Bourn and expressed no concerns over his hit tool.
Certainly don't think they'll give Smith up before he absolutely proves he can't hit at the upper levels - the main point being that Peraza has shown much more with the bat thus far, and WILL be ready soon. IF the organization believes in Ruiz' ability to stay at 3B long-term, you've only got 3 spots up the middle to divide between Simmons, Peterson, Peraza, Perez, Albies, and Smith assuming we don't draft or sign other options that are also close to being ready. $47 million of the $56 million committed to Simmons is due between 2017 and 2020, so (again, we're talking best-case scenario here) while he'd still be a "bargain" for all 29 other teams he'd make one HELLUVA trade chip if Albies can stick at SS.
Is Simba too much to give up for Myers? Maybe, but I'd prefer to see what happens this year with both of them before committing to that. Even if Myers isn't a .350+ OBP guy like J-Up he's still likely to be very good right-handed 25+ HR protection for Freeman, meaning you've essentially actually replaced Gattis with someone who CAN play a corner in the OF. With a lineup full of high-contact and speed guys like Peterson/Peraza/Albies/Freeman/Markakis, I'm pretty comfortable with a little swing-and-miss from the guy hitting behind Freddie as long as he's not an all-or-nothing hitter. I think there's a lot more to come from Myers, and San Diego has enough depth at the corner spots in Kemp/Liriano/Renfroe (and potentially Middlebrooks if Spangenberg forces Gyorko over to 3B) that moving Myers for a franchise SS that they'll control for years would make a lot of sense IMO, especially one who's already cost-controlled like Simmons. If Myers turns into a 25/100 guy in Petco, he's going to cost them a TON of money in arbitration.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
While I could see Albies making Simmons a trade candidate at some point. I think the earliest that happens is 2018 given Albies ETA, etc. Of course by then the Braves might decide to move Albies to CF should Smith turn more into a 4th outfielder type. Time will tell.
There's also the option of signing Dexter Fowler to play CF and holding onto EY Jr. and sliding him back over to LF to platoon with Gomes with Markakis in RF while keeping Simmons through 2017 (or for the balance of his deal) if Albies isn't ready when the new park opens. While that doesn't solve the RH thumper behind Freeman issue, that's a lineup full of pesky guys around him to deal with in Fowler, Markakis, Peterson, and Peraza in the lineup.
While it's still a long time away right now, the Brewers are going to need a relatively inexpensive 3B to replace Aramis Ramirez next winter and they've got no replacements on the horizon. There's always an outside chance that we could get a bag of balls for Johnson if we didn't eat any of the money left on his deal and Peterson could slide over.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
A bag of balls sounds good for CJ, so does Cash/PTBNL (little cash or low A scrub is fine). Just so long as they take on his contract then they can have him basically free.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
It's starting to seem like we really messed up not protecting Graham from the Rule V Draft.
Mike Berardino
@MikeBerardino
#MNTwins: Rule 5 pick J.R. Graham feeling 'like I'm back'" http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_27662447/twins-rule-5-pick-j-r-graham-feeling
"Graham, a former top prospect who dealt with a right shoulder strain that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season, fared well in his Grapefruit League debut against the Rays on Friday, tossing two scoreless innings while repeatedly hitting 96 mph on the radar gun.
"I haven't put too much pressure on myself," said Graham, who was previously a starter before converting to relief late last season. "I've said it to my family and my friends that it feels easier. There's a big load off my back right now being the Rule 5 guy. I don't know what it is. I just feel like the opportunity I'm getting is making me more relaxed and focused instead of trying to prove I should be here.""
Mike Berardino
@MikeBerardino
#MNTwins: Rule 5 pick J.R. Graham feeling 'like I'm back'" http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_27662447/twins-rule-5-pick-j-r-graham-feeling
"Graham, a former top prospect who dealt with a right shoulder strain that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season, fared well in his Grapefruit League debut against the Rays on Friday, tossing two scoreless innings while repeatedly hitting 96 mph on the radar gun.
"I haven't put too much pressure on myself," said Graham, who was previously a starter before converting to relief late last season. "I've said it to my family and my friends that it feels easier. There's a big load off my back right now being the Rule 5 guy. I don't know what it is. I just feel like the opportunity I'm getting is making me more relaxed and focused instead of trying to prove I should be here.""
I can't imagine anyone in the front office is losing any sleep over Graham (therefore starting his clock NOW) - we needed the 40-Man Roster spot. The Twins have to carry him on their MLB roster ALL SEASON or offer him back to us. I'd much rather have that spot available for a SP (even one who's rehabbing) than using it for Graham. When you look at the organization's SP depth chart now, there's likely not even going to be a spot in the rotation in the near future for Hursh or Cabrera - they'll be fine "replacements" for Graham IF we don't get him back.
1.) Kimbrel
2.) Grilli
3.) Johnson
4.) Simmons
5.) Vizcaino
6.) Russell
7.) Avilan
8.) Hursh
9.) Kohn
10.) Cabrera
11.) Fulenchek
12.) Grosser
13.) Povse
and on and on. Pretty sure we can cobble a bullpen together without him.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Coppy has already said he didn't want to lose him and hopes we get him back. Personally, I thought it was bad move if for no other reason than we could've just DFA'd Jaime to make room, and Jaime should've been DFA'd a while back anyway IMO. Plus there was at least one questionable add to the 40-man that didn't need to be protected from the Rule V Draft too.