They have room for some big moves for 2020. But no so much at the 2019 trade deadline, unless they get "creative."
I agree there probably isn't much left. I could see a deal that had Duvall, Ender, or Gausman (more to even out salaries than value) going back to offset some cash though.
Assuming everything stays the same in the standings, I'm not sure the Braves stack up well against the Dodgers, but there is a chance that we can get past the Cubs, and the Dodgers get beat by whoever survives the wild card. A team like the Nats stack up better against the Dodgers because they have that starting staff. I think we've all learned being Braves fans is that you just have to make it in, and everything from there is either going to work or it's not.
What we’ve learned being Braves fans is that the Braves won’t win a playoff series.
We won't win a playoff series until 2101 when we break the 100 year curse and win a playoff series for the first time since 2001 NLDS.
Yeah, maybe will have a top 5 payroll again by then.
We will have our 6th new stadium by then.
Yeah, maybe will have a top 5 payroll again by then.
No. Probably need to add a SP and closer. No SP but Soroka is good enough to start a playoff game. We have enough good arms that hopefully atleast one like Folty or Gausman can step up by the end of the season. I have no confidence in Luke Jackson closing playoff games. Regular season I think he is fine. Dont want him closing 1 run games in the playoffs. Seen that movie too many times.
So imo we need a Game 2 starter for the playoffs.... and a stable closer.
if the 2006 Cardinals could win a world series, I'd say about 20 teams still have some sort of chance this year
if the 2006 Cardinals could win a world series, I'd say about 20 teams still have some sort of chance this year
Our lineup and bench stacks up well against the Dodgers, imo. They are a little better overall, but both offenses are among the league's best.
Starting pitching wise, we're still ok, especially with DK on the staff and the Dodgers lefty heavy lineup. Although, I'd like to add Wheeler at the deadline and I think that can be done while not really affectng our farm depth very much at all. But if not, we have to hope Folty can get his mechanics right and get back to what he was last year. If that happens, our Top 3 is definitely on par with LA.
RP they clearly have the advantage, though we've played better as of late. Really need to grab a high leverage reliever at the deadline to help out in the later innings.
Let's not get carried away. If Folty got right, a Folty-Soroka-Keuchel rotation is certainly not bad...but it's still not Ryu-Kershaw-Buehler, and not really all that close.
Our lineup and bench are.
Our pitching on the whole is not and it’s not even close starting pitching wise.
Dodgers are clearly superior in 3 of the 5 starting spots.
Can you honestly say you trust anyone besides Soroka and Dallas to give you a quality start against a Dodgers lineup thats as close to elite as our own?I like Fried but I don’t think he could hold them to less then 3 in 5 innings.Julio is Julio and who the hell knows with Gaus/Folty.
Unless we went for it and made a mega deal like Bauer and Hand for Wright/Gohara/Waters etc at the break to close the gap I still see them as the class of the NL but I do think we are the second best team in the league and with luck and injuries we could get there this year if everything broke right but I’m still aiming for next year after the Braves show even more financial commitment to truly contending, to go along with the continued infusion of our youth.