Matt Olson to Braves!

[jpx7]

Yeah but cutting your K-rate in half in one year is not something very common....

He was at 3.5 and 3.9 WAR in 2018 and 2019, respectively, before showing big gains in bb% in 2020 and 2021; then last year, he held those gains in bb% while cutting k%. It's quite possible he's just developing plate discipline as he enters his prime, to pair with his already-prodigious power (which should be aided by moving to a more hitter-friendly home park). Then there's the top-flight defense.

Outside of the sentimental elements re Freeman, it's hard to be too disappointed in this gamble by Anthopoulos.

 

[thethe]

Because we have a ton of money and could use huge upgrades in the OF and SP... what the heck is the point of trading for a cheaper option if you don't use those savings to really improve your club even more? Otherwise you just got rid of most of our Top 10 prospects for the same type team.

I'm all for a big addition. I just took umbridge with the idea we NEED to make 2-4 Big moves.

Give me Soler or Conforto in LF and then start extending the core that we have.

 

[bravesfanforlife88]

I tend to agree that Olson/Freeman are effectively a push. But we're down Soler, Rosario and Pederson from last year. Smyly started 23 games for us last year. Morton is coming off a broken leg and Acuna off a torn ligament. Unless we are assuming that those two will come back healthy quickly and we won't have any injuries this year, definitely seems to me that we need at least one OF and a SP.

AA did say in his press conference today that there are multiple holes on the team that need to be filled. So yes, I expect him to make at least 1-2 more deals before the start of the season.

 

[thethe]

Its Kirby Yates and he's coming off his second TJS and last I heard he won't be ready for a few months. Why would you count on that?

Because I don't care about the regular season honestly. I think Braves cruise to a playoff spot.

But being cautious as you say is the more prudent approach.

 

[zbhargrove]

I'm all for a big addition. I just took umbridge with the idea we NEED to make 2-4 Big moves.

Give me Soler or Conforto in LF and then start extending the core that we have.

With how much money we have, it is insulting to the fans if you don't make 2-3 more significant moves with that much money available.

 

[zbhargrove]

Because I don't care about the regular season honestly. I think Braves cruise to a playoff spot.

But being cautious as you say is the more prudent approach.

Well that and Venters is pretty much one of the only success stories to succeed after a second TJS. And even then, it didn't last long.

 

[thethe]

I tend to agree that Olson/Freeman are effectively a push. But we're down Soler, Rosario and Pederson from last year. Smyly started 23 games for us last year. Morton is coming off a broken leg and Acuna off a torn ligament. Unless we are assuming that those two will come back healthy quickly and we won't have any injuries this year, definitely seems to me that we need at least one OF and a SP.

Nobody is going to disagree with the OF but I just think we need to find out if these guys can pitch in the 4/5 spots:

Ynoa
Wright
Muller
Strider
Elder
Davidson

I get if we only had 3-4 guys for that but we go pretty deep for guys that at least deserve a shot.

 

[TURBO]

Next 2 years are most likely going to be similar between Freeman and Olson. The value to us is avoiding paying likely 4 more years to an aging first baseman. This should give us a bit more flexibility. The prospect cost was high, but I trust AA has a plan for the saved money

 

[thethe]

With how much money we have, it is insulting to the fans if you don't make 2-3 more significant moves with that much money available.

I think if you announce extensions for Fried/Riley that could go a long way to showing Brave fans you are committed t this core of winning.

 

[DirkPiggler]

Interesting that AA said, "Acuna can't PLAY THE FIELD until may." Is Acuna the DH? I'd think running the bases the way he does would be tough on the knees.

Remember that AA said last year that they considered activating Ronald and having him DH in the World Series.

 

[thethe]

Also remember that AA likes to keep money in reserve for mid season upgrades. Never know when taking big money in a deal helps.

Its not about fielding your best team on April 7th.

 

[chop2chip]

AA said payroll is definitely going up, so assuming a $160 million payroll, how much money does that leave us with?

Anybody here keep a tracker?

 

[zbhargrove]

I think if you announce extensions for Fried/Riley that could go a long way to showing Brave fans you are committed t this core of winning.

I'm not extending Fried with his injury/blister history.

 

[zbhargrove]

Also remember that AA likes to keep money in reserve for mid season upgrades. Never know when taking big money in a deal helps.

Its not about fielding your best team on April 7th.

Never said it was... but the team is nowhere near ready to start the season.

 

[thethe]

I'm not extending Fried with his injury history.

Eh - Its mostly been blisters.

Fried is going to be an absolute workhorse moving forward.

 

[The Tariff King]

AA said payroll is definitely going up, so assuming a $160 million payroll, how much money does that leave us with?

Anybody here keep a tracker?

We usually keep room for mid-season additions.

 

[Russ2dollas]

Duval is our center fielder.

LF is the acquisition. I'm obviously of the belief that we need to use our depth of SP options to fill those spots.

We have TYler Yates for right handed pen help no?

Duval is a fake it in CF type.
Yates is not going to available for a while. His contract suggests we expect to get value in 2023.

I'm not sure who we can get to play in the OF for our pitching depth. We just traded our one big upside guy.

It's certainly possible we can get solid 4/5 production from a couple of Wright, Davidson, Strider, Muller, Touki, Ynoa and Elder. But that is a pretty big gamble on 40% of the rotation. Especially with Morton old and off a broken leg. And Fried seems like a guy that needs rest. I'm sure we'll sign an Annibal Sanchez type too. We do every year and they get 1 million if they make the team.

 

[McCann'sCans]

Nobody is going to disagree with the OF but I just think we need to find out if these guys can pitch in the 4/5 spots:

Ynoa
Wright
Muller
Strider
Elder
Davidson

I get if we only had 3-4 guys for that but we go pretty deep for guys that at least deserve a shot.

Right, but even if we sign someone we still can put one of those guys in the rotation. It doesn't seem smart to expect Anderson/Morton/Fried to stay healthy all season. You don't want to suddenly be in May with a rotation of Morton/Elder/Ynoa/Wright/Muller because Anderson needs surgery and Fried has a blister.

 

[thethe]

Never said it was... but the team is nowhere near ready to start the season.

Lets assume Soler in LF. By June 1st this is the lineup:

Acuna
Olson
Ozuna
Soler
Riley
Albies
TDA
Duvall
Dansby

That is a STACKED lineup. Depending on how Ozuna bounces back you could be talking about top 5 in the league.

Top 3 in the rotation is very good. Back end has a lot of high end talent guys.

Back end of bullpen is great with help from the arms that don't make it to the starting rotation.

I think the team looks very good after the one outfield signing.

Then at the deadline you take a big contract for a pitcher off a teams hands.

 

[Russ2dollas]

Remember that AA said last year that they considered activating Ronald and having him DH in the World Series.

I did not. Thank you.

With that info you have to assume that the plan is Ozuna in LF, Duvall in RF and Ronnie at DH. So we don't have a CF unless you are the one person who believes in Waters. Harris isn't on the 40 man and that is a crazy jump.