The 2018-2019 Free agency class

C

Chico

New member
The writers have definitely started early on milking as many clicks as they can from this free agency class. I've also seen a lot of people say we need to focus on this class. I went through and looked at who was likely to actually be there and the likelihood they'd fit our club. Donaldson and Cutch are the only likely players I see us lining up with. Donaldson could be a likely extension candidate. Third basemen with power, good defense, and clubhouse presence, don't get away. Beltre got an extension at 37. I foresee a lot of trades in the next two-three years and us dipping our toes in the FA market when there's a buy low candidate, or a player has just been traded and won't cost a pick. I definitely do not see us holding out for a particular draft class, when we have no idea what it will actually be by then.

Jose Fernandez- He’ll be 26 and command a ton. He’s big market bound
Bryce Harper- No way. He’s definitely big market bound
Manny Machado- Very likely to sign extension.
Josh Donaldson- Will be 32, definitely cost a pick to sign. Could be an extension candidate
Andrew McCutcheon- will be 32, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA
Craig Kimbrel- will be 31, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA
Brian Dozier- will be 32, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA, would have to be 3B for us
Michael Brantley- will be 32, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA
Andrew Miller- will be 34, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA
Drew Smyly- Will be 29, so many ways this could go, extension candidate
Cody Allen- Will be 29. Could be a good signing. Will probably cost a pick
Charlie Blackmon- will be 32, probably cost a pick, but likely to be a FA
Jeurys Familia- will be 28, likely extension candidate
Matt Harvey- will be 29. , so many ways this could go, extension candidate
D.J Lemahieu- will be 30, good extension candidate, likely won’t need 2B

Pollack and Shelby get moved to 2020 free agency due to missed time. Kershaw could opt out, but we wouldn’t be able to afford $40M a year it would take. I don’t think Price opts out at 33 with a good contract and play leveling off. Jose Quintana will hit the 2020 class with his 2019 option picked up
 
Assuming he's healthy between now and then Jose Fernandez is the guy I would target. He's young and an actual ace that can carry a team into the playoffs. The issue is that he's already had surgery once and he's a ticking time bomb like all pitchers. But again he's the youngest of anybody available at that time and has the most talent. If healthy you'd get the best talent at the best years of his career. So the potential for the biggest success and likely the biggest bust too.
 
thewupk said:
Assuming he's healthy between now and then Jose Fernandez is the guy I would target. He's young and an actual ace that can carry a team into the playoffs. The issue is that he's already had surgery once and he's a ticking time bomb like all pitchers. But again he's the youngest of anybody available at that time and has the most talent. If healthy you'd get the best talent at the best years of his career. So the potential for the biggest success and likely the biggest bust too.
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At 26 years old he could be looking at a 250K contract. I'd guess he'd end up in L.A.
 
Folks are still living in La La Land if they think the Braves are realistic suitors for guys in the $200M+ range, even with the revenue boost from Sun Trust. Guys like Harper, Fernandez and Machado are going to be so expensive the Braves won't even begin negotiations with them.

The Braves might be in a position to buy the decline years of guys like Miller, Brantley, Donaldson and McCutchen, but they won't be acquiring any premium FAs in their primes.
 
Enscheff said:
Folks are still living in La La Land if they think the Braves are realistic suitors for guys in the $200M+ range, even with the revenue boost from Sun Trust. Guys like Harper, Fernandez and Machado are going to be so expensive the Braves won't even begin negotiations with them.

The Braves might be in a position to buy the decline years of guys like Miller, Brantley, Donaldson and McCutchen, but they won't be acquiring any premium FAs in their primes.
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Exactly. If you're a premium talent hitting FA in your mid 20's you're going to a big market team. The only thing we can hope for is to pay a guy for his 32-36 years and give his old team a draft pick for the right to do so.

Also, I believe the AAV of contracts is only going to get higher after this offseason if not before due to guys like Machado getting an extension.

I'd be looking in the trade market and holding on to my draft picks
 
Enscheff said:
Folks are still living in La La Land if they think the Braves are realistic suitors for guys in the $200M+ range, even with the revenue boost from Sun Trust. Guys like Harper, Fernandez and Machado are going to be so expensive the Braves won't even begin negotiations with them.

The Braves might be in a position to buy the decline years of guys like Miller, Brantley, Donaldson and McCutchen, but they won't be acquiring any premium FAs in their primes.
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I don't think anybody thinks the Braves will go after those types of names. However that would be the ideal time imo to pursue a premium FA.
 
thewupk said:
I don't think anybody thinks the Braves will go after those types of names. However that would be the ideal time imo to pursue a premium FA.
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I have seen plenty of folks around here linking the Braves to the Lesters, Prices and Grienkes of the world. There will undoubtedly be dozens of posts on this site where folks suggest signing Machado, Fernandez and Harper. And they will come up with the most outlandishly intricate scenarios about how it could happen and why those players would possibly sign for less to play in Atlanta.

In fact, you literally just made a post in this thread suggesting the Braves target Fernandez. So yes, folks have been thinking, and will continue to think the Braves have a shot at names like that.
 
Enscheff said:
I have seen plenty of folks around here linking the Braves to the Lesters, Prices and Grienkes of the world. There will undoubtedly be dozens of posts on this site where folks suggest signing Machado, Fernandez and Harper. And they will come up with the most outlandishly intricate scenarios about how it could happen and why those players would possibly sign for less to play in Atlanta.

In fact, you literally just made a post in this thread suggesting the Braves target Fernandez. So yes, folks have been thinking, and will continue to think the Braves have a shot at names like that.
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I said I would target him not that the Braves would. I think that following year is the first year the Braves will truly be able to compete assuming our young guys progress and Fernandez would be the piece to make a run. I don't think the Braves will however unless the payroll spikes. And that's something I will believe when it happens.
 
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