Jace
- Thread starter msstate7
- Start date
Of course in my dream world, we'd be able to get a really good prospect or two for Vizcaino, get a bag of balls for Markakis, keep Julio, slide Inciarte to RF and Mallex to CF, spend a wad on Cespedes in LF, Aroldis Chapman to replace Vizcaino, add a mid-rotation lefty like Jaime Garcia and be competitive in 2017 -
Julio, Folty, Garcia, Wisler, Perez/Blair/Gant/Ellis/eventually Newcomb
Chapman, Simmons, Cervenka, Withrow, Krol, Cabrera, Alvarez, Akeel Morris
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
Who catches with that team?
I wouldn't mind that "good prospect or two" we got for Vizcaino turn out to be Reese McGuire and Yeudy Garcia from the Pirates.
McGuire's really strong defensively and his bat is improving, and he'd make a perfect platoon partner for Flowers. Garcia is another high octane arm (high-90s) that could move pretty fast if he were transitioned to the pen.
This continues to be the funniest response (from lots of folks, not just you) we keep seeing here. "We better not spend on..."
The Braves have LESS THAN $49 million dollars in committed salaries on the books for 2017, less than $47 million in 2018, less than $40 million in 2019, and less than $31 million in 2020. We're going to HAVE to sign someone folks. If you gave the two best free-agents this winter $20 million each, we're still a long way from what the current supposed ceiling of $120 million is. If there's truly going to be a payroll bump after the new park opens, there's still going to be money to make a splurge signing when the monster class becomes available a couple winters from now.
I didn't say that because we don't have money in the budget to do it. I said that because no team, especially a team that still isn't really ready to contend, should spend that much on a relief pitcher. 'LOL, we can afford it' is not a good defense to me. I want all of our money spent to be money well-spent, not money to spend just to do it. We will have room in the budget to give Kelly Johnson $25 million next year, but I'd rather not do it.
Chapman will almost certainly become the highest paid RP in history this offseason, and he's going to get a lot of years. I don't want the Braves to be the one making that signing. Who knows where we'll be in 3-4 years. I don't want us looking back and saying, 'Well, if we weren't paying Chapman ____ still, we could ____.'
If that's the case, we probably better avoid signing any free-agent - ever.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
Signing Chapman would not be smart.
Those approaching 30, at a position not of dire need, for a team that probably won't truly compete for a couple years, for a ton of money and a lot of years? Yes.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
The Braves have a lot of potential in their bullpen arms, including those currently in the bullpen and those in the minors. Plus they just got two more not far off in the Norris trade that could help as soon as next year at some point. So there is depth there too. This being the case they shouldn't be spending big money on a Chapman, they should be able to find a decent closer even without Viz among the bunch they already have in the system. I can think of three or four candidates not even counting Viz that could do well in that role (including a few in the minors that are close). Simmons depending on health is another possible option too.
Shoot we even have some real depth among good lefty relievers now, so no reason we cannot put together a strong bullpen next year. The starting pitching is where we are weak as far as pitching goes.
Shoot we even have some real depth among good lefty relievers now, so no reason we cannot put together a strong bullpen next year. The starting pitching is where we are weak as far as pitching goes.
bravos4evr
Still Playing the Waiting Game
any good reliever can close
Retisma
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
Not true, just ask Texas as they've tried a number of them and outside of Dyson have had issues. Bush being the latest example, though he's did fine otherwise. There's always been relievers that for whatever reason did well in 7th or 8th inning roles but sucked at closing and always will be. But those relievers are not always bad otherwise and some have great stuff and should do well closing but don't (maybe they overthink it, who knows).
Bush has one blown save, and he didn't even come in to start the 9th in that one. He then gave up 1 run in 1.2 IP during the 7th and 8th and 2 runs in the 8th in the next one. He's not closing, he's just had 3 bad games in a row as a normal RP.
Braves1976
It's OVER 5,000!
It was a 4-run lead his last outing to start the 9th, not a save situation but he still didn't handle it just like he didn't handle his previous one that was a three run lead and save situation.
BTW, you read wrong as the one run charged against him came in after he was taken out and didn't finish the 8th inning (not the 7th inning), Diekman is to blame there mostly. But that was a 6-2 Rangers win and 6-0 at the time so no big deal. And the two runs after that were in the 9th and not the 8th (last one he and Dyson blew vs Yankees). It's just he pitched two thirds in the 8th too and then walked the first two to start the 9th, then Dyson was brought on and gave up the three run homer to Mac (including the two runners belonging to Bush). JFYI.
bravos4evr
Still Playing the Waiting Game
well, it kinda is true, MLB is riddled with random relievers who became good closers for awhile, and due to the volatility of relievers either faded away or lost the job later. It's rare to find a closer who lasts long term, but that's because it's rare to find a really good relief arm that has staying power.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
Lead off double by Jace. He's hitting like .308 over his last 30. Maybe this is legit