NYCBrave
Well-known member
I mean, they were third in the league last year in OPS. They already have a really good lineup. Arguably their rotation and bullpen need the most work.
Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread
- Thread starter clvclv
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I mean, they were third in the league last year in OPS. They already have a really good lineup. Arguably their rotation and bullpen need the most work.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
I was a bit surprised they didn't sign Morton, though it sounded like it was Rays/Braves and money be damned. I would have put my eggs in the Bauer/Morton basket. DeGrom-Bauer-Morton-Stroman-Thor would have been incredible. Thor is only fifth because he's coming back from injury, FWIW.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/70.html
With the Pirates listening on everybody, I'd at least poke around - might be able to get them to take Ender's money back in a deal involving Moran and Polanco (and maybe even Richard Rodriguez) with the right prospects. The three of them are projected to make $10.6 million ($7 million AAV hit for Polanco), so they'd still be "saving" money. I'm not much more of a believer in a Polanco bounce-back than in an Ender bounce-back at this point, but Polanco is better suited to play LF and he might run into one more often than Ender would. If Polanco did happen to have a pretty good season there's bound to be more of a market for his skillset and 2 options than Ender's and his 1 option at whatever point Waters is added to the roster.
The fact that they brought Moran back means AA wouldn't get him for "free", but he's a really nice piece to have as Riley insurance even if it's not a strict platoon. He'd be a legitimate option as your main LH pinch-hitter. Rodriguez is cheap, so you could turn around and DFA Jackson and Dayton and add a couple million more to get Melancon or Greene back and the pen would be a huge strength again.
Since it sounds as if there's at least a whisper of a chance the DH comes back this year, if AA was able to add Polanco with what he would've had to pay Ender, there might be enough money to grab Duvall to platoon with him while bringing Ozuna or Cruz in to DH.
The Pirates would probably value our Wright/Newk/Touki/Wilson/Davidson types pretty highly - especially if they deal Taillon and Musgrove.
With the Pirates listening on everybody, I'd at least poke around - might be able to get them to take Ender's money back in a deal involving Moran and Polanco (and maybe even Richard Rodriguez) with the right prospects. The three of them are projected to make $10.6 million ($7 million AAV hit for Polanco), so they'd still be "saving" money. I'm not much more of a believer in a Polanco bounce-back than in an Ender bounce-back at this point, but Polanco is better suited to play LF and he might run into one more often than Ender would. If Polanco did happen to have a pretty good season there's bound to be more of a market for his skillset and 2 options than Ender's and his 1 option at whatever point Waters is added to the roster.
The fact that they brought Moran back means AA wouldn't get him for "free", but he's a really nice piece to have as Riley insurance even if it's not a strict platoon. He'd be a legitimate option as your main LH pinch-hitter. Rodriguez is cheap, so you could turn around and DFA Jackson and Dayton and add a couple million more to get Melancon or Greene back and the pen would be a huge strength again.
Since it sounds as if there's at least a whisper of a chance the DH comes back this year, if AA was able to add Polanco with what he would've had to pay Ender, there might be enough money to grab Duvall to platoon with him while bringing Ozuna or Cruz in to DH.
The Pirates would probably value our Wright/Newk/Touki/Wilson/Davidson types pretty highly - especially if they deal Taillon and Musgrove.
I mean it would be rough but with Pache and Acuna in the OF as well you could probably deal with it for 1 year. Not sure what you do about his arm though.
Moran would be a pretty perfect compliment to Riley. And would allow us to make a more expensive acquisition for LF.
While pitching isn't a need anymore, man I'd love to get James Taillon.
NYCBrave
Well-known member
I'm starting to warm up to this idea. Plus not looking like he's going to have a ton of pursuers so we might be able to get him on a price we can live with.
NYCBrave
Well-known member
I'm having a hard time understanding who his suitors would even be. Aside from the braves, the only teams who appear to have money to spend, are looking to contend next year, and have a clear need for Ozuna appear to be the Blue Jays, Nationals (maybe?), And Giants (maybe?). So we may be able to land him on a bargain deal.
Considering this is Taillon's SECOND surgery, he's a lot less attractive to me - but that's me.
The more I think about it, it would probably be better to just leave the Polanco/Inciarte part out of a deal for Moran. I'd probably still give up two of the post-hype arms for Moran and Rodriguez though. Go ahead and get rid of Jackson and replace him with Rodriguez and re-sign Ozuna while everyone's still trying to find out what's going to happen. Adding Rodriguez makes a Melancon/Greene/veteran free-agent RP unnecessary and leaves you with ~ $6 million IF the payroll ceiling is $140 million. At that point AA could just wait the OF market out in the event they do have the DH this year. That $6 million MIGHT be enough to get you someone like Dahl or Rosario, and even if it didn't there are several interesting names out there that you could turn into a platoon for that kind of money.
A really sneaky name I've been keeping my eye on is Jonathon Villar - I think he'd be an ideal super-sub for us. Drop Camargo and you come up with some of the money to pay him - he's capable of doing everything Johan can do, plus he's fast, can hit a bit, and can play in the OF when you want him to. You could probably pick him and Brian Goodwin up to platoon in LF for that $6 million and what's left of Camargo's money in the event there's a DH and keep Pache in Gwinnett as long as you have to to get the extra year.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
No Braves drafted in either the Major or Minor League phases of the Rule 5 and Braves do not draft anyone in Major League phase. Braves draft three players in minor league phase: RHP A.J. Puckett from the White Sox (former 2nd round pick of Royals in 2016, but hasn't pitched since 2017), 2B Jalen Miller from the Giants (Atlanta native and former 3rd round pick of Giants in 2015), and OF Jacob Pearson from the Twins (former 3rd round pick of the Angels in 2017).
bravesfanforlife88
Well-known member
Phillies hiring Dave Dombrowski as president of baseball operations
msstate7
Well-known member
What's your #1 reasonable option for rhh?
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
Honestly, I think Acuna and Pache could cover the outfield by themselves. Just tell Ozuna that when there's a play in the infield, toss the ball to Pache and let him throw it in.
If there’s a DH I want Cruz.
If there’s no DH I want Turner. Bryant is an acceptable backup plan as long as the acquisition cost is reasonable.
Either way the OF must also be addressed, and there are LHH options there at many price points. Brantley, Joc, Rosario, etc.
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MadduxFanII
Swallowed by Mark Bowman
Kind of an interesting choice. Dombrowski's a pure WIN NOW guy, which is fine as far as it goes, but that's a curious fit for a team that claims to be going through such horrifying financial straits that it has to consider trading Zach Wheeler.
msstate7
Well-known member
Like
i personally am happy they didn't go and hire a young mind from a great org.
Agreed. The Phillies are poised to make "win now" moves despite not being a good team, not having any prospect capital, and supposedly in rough financial condition. That's a perfect recipe for being terrible for the next decade.
The Mets are already making Mets moves.
As a Braves fan, it's great to see all these things.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
I didn't realize that MacPhail is stepping down after the 2021 season and Dombrowski probably slides into MacPhail's role after taking a year to consider the shape of the organization. I imagine the Phillies will still be looking for a GM with Dombrowski's input so that the hire won't be "someone else's guy."