2022 Trade Deadline

Benintendi is projected for 1 win at a cost of $2.8M. Accounting for the “playoff run premium”, that puts his value at roughly $10M-$15M.

Tarnok is a 40, Mez is a 40, and Collins is a 35+. That’s a total of less than $5M in prospect capital. Seems like a good value to me, even if the names aren’t exact.

The trade the intrigues me is Happ for Kelley (40+), Colas (45) and Vera (40+). AA can afford a package like that.

The question I have is "does he have any interest in paying it?".

If he's including Snitker in the discussions, you just know he's saying "we don't need him - Eddie's starting to hit and Ozuna had three hits the night before last". That's just who he is.

We don't know, but it's probably fair to assume that payroll may get another slight bump next season considering attendance and the success of The Battery. If that's the case (and the price), I don't see how Alex can afford NOT TO pull the trigger on a Happ deal - he could justify the potential increase in what Happ will make next year over what Duvall got this year (if there even is a difference) by explaining how much more balanced it makes the entire roster. Happ takes care of any need for a platoon in LF, Rosario and Ozuna can form some sort of a platoon at DH (with Ozuna receiving the majority of PAs), and you'd have your LF platoon in the event Happ misses any time. If you need to pinch pennies to make the money work you can DFA Heredia this winter and re-sign him for the minimum if you choose to carry a mascot - you could just let him go if you choose since Happ and Acuna can handle CF for a short period if needed.
 
I like Benintendi but Happ is the clear choice for a more impact player. I’ve seen us connected to Castillo a lot the last few days. No clue what he’d cost but it’d take the rest of our farm system for sure.
 
I like Benintendi but Happ is the clear choice for a more impact player. I’ve seen us connected to Castillo a lot the last few days. No clue what he’d cost but it’d take the rest of our farm system for sure.

I just get the impression these guys we want are also in demand from all or the other playoff contenders. Not sure we will be able to or even willing to offer a better package for any of them.
 
I like Benintendi but Happ is the clear choice for a more impact player. I’ve seen us connected to Castillo a lot the last few days. No clue what he’d cost but it’d take the rest of our farm system for sure.

Our biggest asset might be available payroll. What would he cost if we just ate the Moose contract?
 
Our biggest asset might be available payroll. What would he cost if we just ate the Moose contract?

Moose will cost 18 million next year with a 4 million buyout in 2024 so I’d steer clear of that. Castillo will be in high demand and we’ll be outbid no doubt. But what I would do is offer Anderson up as the headliner if the Reds were interested. They’d have Anderson for 3 more years after this one. We’d have to add somebody with him but I’d do it to get Castillo for next year. Not sure if the Reds would be interested though.
 
Moose will cost 18 million next year with a 4 million buyout in 2024 so I’d steer clear of that. Castillo will be in high demand and we’ll be outbid no doubt. But what I would do is offer Anderson up as the headliner if the Reds were interested. They’d have Anderson for 3 more years after this one. We’d have to add somebody with him but I’d do it to get Castillo for next year. Not sure if the Reds would be interested though.

Just a note about Anderson. The Braves actually have 4 more years of control after this one. Since he came up mid year 2020 it wasn't a full year of service time.
 
Our biggest asset might be available payroll. What would he cost if we just ate the Moose contract?

I agree with this sentiment, if not the targets.

AA should have nearly unlimited money to spend at the deadline, and it is undoubtedly his biggest asset to acquire upgrades. Adding $20M to the 2022 payroll wouldn’t shock me at all.
 
I agree with this sentiment, if not the targets.

AA should have nearly unlimited money to spend at the deadline, and it is undoubtedly his biggest asset to acquire upgrades. Adding $20M to the 2022 payroll wouldn’t shock me at all.

I am curious where this idea comes from?

I agree the team has printed money with ws and attendance.

I am not aware that the payroll flexibility is that huge.

I’d love to see us take on a bad deal to get an impact guy over using the little extra talent we have in minors
 
Lord knows I'll go full speed ahead using a SSS, but braves are #1 in FIP in mlb. If you trust this stat, perhaps things aren't as bad as we making it right now
 
I agree with this sentiment, if not the targets.

AA should have nearly unlimited money to spend at the deadline, and it is undoubtedly his biggest asset to acquire upgrades. Adding $20M to the 2022 payroll wouldn’t shock me at all.

Interesting thought along those lines in the event he is going to get a bump next season as I mentioned earlier.

I wonder if agreeing to take on Heyward's remaining salary could be Alex' ace in the hole in a potential Happ/Givens deal? It would probably require some shuffling next season, but could arguably be worth it. Just ballparking things here, so these numbers wouldn't be exact.

1.) Happ will make roughly what Duvall did in his last year of arbitration, so let's call that a wash.
2.) Yates takes Smith's spot - $7 million savings.
3.) Strider gets converted to the pen and becomes your Closer, taking Jansen's spot - $15 million savings.
4.) Givens replaces Chavez and Stephens and you have Cruz/Jay Jackson/Ynoa take the open spot - costs ~ $2 million.

That almost covers Heyward's 2023 salary - he replaces Heredia as the defensive replacement/mascot. Would put payroll at around $165 million PLUS whatever Fried/Riley/Minter/Matzek get for arbitration raises with Anderson/Soroka/Muller/Elder/Davidson/Shuster competing for the #4/#5 spots in the rotation.

FG has current estimated payroll at ~ $185 million - IF there's room to bump that to ~$195 million in 2023, that kind of deal would actually be possible.
 
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Interesting thought along those lines in the event he is going to get a bump next season as I mentioned earlier.

I wonder if agreeing to take on Heyward's remaining salary could be Alex' ace in the hole in a potential Happ/Givens deal? It would probably require some shuffling next season, but could arguably be worth it. Just ballparking things here, so these numbers wouldn't be exact.

1.) Happ will make roughly what Duvall did in his last year of arbitration, so let's call that a wash.
2.) Yates takes Smith's spot - $7 million savings.
3.) Strider gets converted to the pen and becomes your Closer, taking Jansen's spot - $15 million savings.
4.) Givens replaces Chavez and Stephens and you have Cruz/Jay Jackson/Ynoa take the open spot - costs ~ $2 million.

That almost covers Heyward's 2023 salary - he replaces Heredia as the defensive replacement/mascot. Would put payroll at around $165 million PLUS whatever Fried/Riley/Minter/Matzek get for arbitration raises with Anderson/Soroka/Muller/Elder/Davidson/Shuster competing for the #4/#5 spots in the rotation.

FG has current estimated payroll at ~ $185 million - IF there's room to bump that to ~$195 million in 2023, that kind of deal would actually be possible.

Stephens and Chavez are not the problems in the pen, not sure why you keep trying to dump them... they are both cheap and effective... there's no reason to take them out of the pen. Replace the guys who suck... $2 million is not going to keep us from acquiring a big contract lol
 
Lord knows I'll go full speed ahead using a SSS, but braves are #1 in FIP in mlb. If you trust this stat, perhaps things aren't as bad as we making it right now

Exactly. Braves are really good. Every contender has minor holes they are looking to fill right now.
 
While not a sexy move, I would inquire on Odorizzi from Houston to help stabilize the rotation. They'd probably give him away. FIP of 3.87 suggests he may be getting a bit unlucky. Either way, his 4.25 ERA is a damn sight better than Ian's 5+ ERA.

I think the most logical solution offensively is Joey Wendle. Shouldn't cost a ton, gets on base pretty well, and a has a lot of position flexibility. Move him to LF once Ozzie is back.

We don't have a lot of holes and our system is paper thin. My mindset would essentially be the same as last year. Find some cheap role players and roll with what we got.
 
I am curious where this idea comes from?

I agree the team has printed money with ws and attendance.

I am not aware that the payroll flexibility is that huge.

I’d love to see us take on a bad deal to get an impact guy over using the little extra talent we have in minors

Mainly from the fact that AA seemed to have much more money to play with than he used before the season, and the Braves are drawing monster attendance that is likely beating preseason projections.
 
I think Happ is the best fit, but this is the first season where he's been >.800 OPS versus LHP. Happ provides some positional flexibility and he's got another year of control. With Duvall going down, it would seem that a RHH would be the target, but is there one out there? Too bad Demeritte was a mirage.

As for additional pitching, I think the bullpen is alright (especially if Yates returns and is somewhat effective). Another starter would be good, but outside of the obvious (and likely expensive) upgrades, I don't know if what is out there is truly better than what we have right now.

Should be interesting. We don't have a lot of trade chips given the lack of quality depth in the minors, but maybe there are some of our mid-tier guys that could net some help (like last year). I wouldn't be surprised if Anthopoulos targets guys with control beyond this year (like Happ).
 
I could see Muller and Grissom as the headliners for a Castillo deal... I would think some clubs could value Grissom closer to a 50 FV prospect at this point, Muller has really increased his value quite a bit this year IMO but I'm unsure how his broken non pitching hand changes things up.
 
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