AA on the outfield:
1.Signs Harper to a big deal.
2. Works a trade to get Jhey back with the Cubs.
3. Says screw it...Tucker is raking and Pache and Waters are STUDS...we don’t need a long term option.
4. Signs Nick to a two year extension cause he’s 80 grade!!
AA on 3rd:
1. Signs Machado to a big deal.
2. Gets Donaldson for way to much at his age, but it’s cool...he’s my guy!!
3. Riley is a STUD...we don’t need a long term option.
AA overall roster:
1. I gots cash in 2019...imma sign some big names...let the good times roll.
2. NOW I have had time to see which guys I don’t like...let the trading begin!!
3. Imma hold on to that money, cause all these young guys gonna want PAID soon. I’ll be pretty careful with trading prospect, cause a like ALOT of them!!
I will say:
3, 1, 3
3, 3, 3
I have followed this team for 20 years and I recognize when my tits are getting squeezed. This team has mastered the art of fanbase manipulation. Its been Bill Shanks' schtick from "MP" to him rambling about Kimbrel resigning here.
It isn't what anyone wants to here, but the ideal outcome from these choices would be 3-3-3.
This team remains in the lower-middle class as far as payroll until proven otherwise.
Tucker being enough of a gem to hold down a corner for a couple of years would be a huge win if it keeps us from overpaying on a second tier outfielder this offseason.
Riley convincing the front office this year that he is THE guy for 3B would be great news for the same reason.
Using payroll space to buy out some free agency years from several successful young players is the best opportunity to extend the window of competitiveness. Even better if so many of the upper echelon minor league prospects impress so much that the front office decides they're untradeable. That would let the Braves be the team dangling a Fulmer, Archer, Yelich type of player for a bounty in a couple of years.
This past offseason would have been a great time to spend big with the free agent bargains that were out there. The Braves couldn't, because they already paid top shelf prices for bottom shelf products. Every team with a big payroll has lined up to spend big next offseason, so the market will be inflated again. Maybe the year after next will have bargain rates again after the big money teams spend their entire allowance this year.
I'm tired of big money mistakes like Upton, Uggla, Johnson, and Kemp crippling the payroll. I'm tired of having slap hitters at the corners because there isn't enough money to get a good hitter, or having a statue playing defense because he makes too much money to cut. I'm tired of the big offseason moves being Markakis, Jaime Garcia, R.A. Dickey, or a bad payroll swap. I just want to see this franchise not shoot itself in the foot for an offseason or two so we can find out how much of the rebuild we got lucky on, and maybe even be able to keep a stud like Acuna around long enough to not feel like a Rays fan.