Official official offseason thread

There really isn't room to. Counting Hilliard, we have six outfielders now. And if Hilliard isn't on the roster, Adrianza or a third catcher like Tromp will be. Unless he finds a way to unload Ozuna or Rosario, I see no openings for the outfield/DH group. Let's just focus on some bullpen insurance, preferably a lefty, and maybe a veteran starter if Soroka needs to start the year in Triple-A and Anderson/Elder can't be a reliable fifth starter.

The situation is not dire at all — I'd pick them to win the East and be in serious contention for the pennant if the season started today — but it's not unreasonable to want more of a sure thing at the weaker spots or to expect it from an organization that is rolling in cash.

I didn't really understand the Hilliard (career .641 OPS away from Coors which is odd because his HR numbers are better on the road) move to begin with, but if something better comes along, I don't think there would be too many tears shed if they get into a situation where he's DFAd. It appears Hilliard can play defense and has time in CF, so it makes sense at that level, but he has AAAA written all over him. Gwinnett currently has no OFs on their roster and the Braves don't have anyone ready to move up from below so there's a need there.
 
I didn't really understand the Hilliard (career .641 OPS away from Coors which is odd because his HR numbers are better on the road) move to begin with, but if something better comes along, I don't think there would be too many tears shed if they get into a situation where he's DFAd. It appears Hilliard can play defense and has time in CF, so it makes sense at that level, but he has AAAA written all over him. Gwinnett currently has no OFs on their roster and the Braves don't have anyone ready to move up from below so there's a need there.

This isn't very comforting.
 
I'm not in love with the moves made this off season either. But I feel this board too often gets up in arms because AA doesn't make the splashy signings and win the off season like some of the other big payroll teams who do so and never end up winning anything anyway.
 
I'm not in love with the moves made this off season either. But I feel this board too often gets up in arms because AA doesn't make the splashy signings and win the off season like some of the other big payroll teams who do so and never end up winning anything anyway.
I think we all know by now that AA marches to the beat of his own payroll. Splashy isn't what is expected I don't think. Especially when going up against a budget you can't beat (the Dodgers/Mets, et.al).
 
What are we defining as "splashy?" I wouldn't have done any of the big shortstop deals and don't view a Reynolds trade as realistic. But I think there are better options that should be available to a championship contender that don't necessarily "move the needle" but are likely better than hoping for the unlikely scenario that a Luplow/Rosario platoon works out just fine and dandy.
 
Braves with AA as GM...
411-296 (.581)
5 for 5 in division titles
2 NLCS losses
1 WS

Acuna, albies, Olson, Harris, strider, wright, and riley under team control for multiple years.

Sorry if I give the man the benefit of the doubt

People can call AA a great GM and also criticize his mistakes. The man isn’t above reproach, and he certainly makes bad deals that I’ve called out the moment he’s made them. This isn’t a cult where blind admiration is required.
 
What are we defining as "splashy?" I wouldn't have done any of the big shortstop deals and don't view a Reynolds trade as realistic. But I think there are better options that should be available to a championship contender that don't necessarily "move the needle" but are likely better than hoping for the unlikely scenario that a Luplow/Rosario platoon works out just fine and dandy.
I think that's the point. I have never expected AA's M.O. to be about playing in the luxury free agent pool. But you're correct when thinking that the Luplow/Rosario scenario is....interestingly underwhelming.
 
I think that's the point. I have never expected AA's M.O. to be about playing in the luxury free agent pool. But you're correct when thinking that the Luplow/Rosario scenario is....interestingly underwhelming.

And the roster wouldn’t be in this position had AA not given Rosario 2 years, which was a contract I and a few others hated the moment it was signed. Even back then the cult members loved it and said “AA knows what he’s doing” simply because Eddie stood in the LHH batters box and the Braves “needed a LHH”…apparently even if that LHH was terrible.

Well guess what? Even great GMs make mistakes, and Rosario was one of them. Now the Braves are terrible in LF as a direct result of a terrible contract that AA should have known was terrible the day it was offered.

So yeah, excuse me if I scoff at the simpleton “I think AA knows what he’s doing” comments some use to justify everything he does. Sometimes he screw up, and if I can see it as an obvious screw up (ahem Will Smith) then I expect AA should be able to see it as well.
 
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And the roster wouldn’t be in this position had AA not given Rosario 2 years, which was a contract I and a few others hated the moment it was signed. Even back then the cult members loved it and said “AA knows what he’s doing doing” simply because Eddie stood in the LHH batters box and the Braves “needed a LHH”…apparently even if that LHH was terrible.

Well guess what? Even great GMs make mistakes, and Rosario was one of them. Now the Braves are terrible in LF as a direct result of a terrible contract that AA should have known was terrible the day it was offered.

So yeah, excuse me if I scoff at the simpleton “I think AA knows what he’s doing” comments some use to justify everything he does.
Agreed. I'm all about the good things AA does, but I can call out the ones that are 'seemingly' not so good.
 
What are we defining as "splashy?" I wouldn't have done any of the big shortstop deals and don't view a Reynolds trade as realistic. But I think there are better options that should be available to a championship contender that don't necessarily "move the needle" but are likely better than hoping for the unlikely scenario that a Luplow/Rosario platoon works out just fine and dandy.

I get it. But as long as Rosario and Ozuna are on the roster, are they just supposed to be benched and never used? Not sure if we can even realistically make a big upgrade in the outfield.
 
I get it. But as long as Rosario and Ozuna are on the roster, are they just supposed to be benched and never used? Not sure if we can even realistically make a big upgrade in the outfield.

If we got a LF that could be more than just a platoon, it would move Rosario to a full-on DH platoon. I’d rather have that situation. Luplow might be a good defender, but theoretically Rosario is going to be playing more with more RHP.
 
I get it. But as long as Rosario and Ozuna are on the roster, are they just supposed to be benched and never used? Not sure if we can even realistically make a big upgrade in the outfield.

The only thing worse than signing guys like Ozuna and Rosario to bad contracts is to continue playing them just because they are being paid too much.
 
If we got a LF that could be more than just a platoon, it would move Rosario to a full-on DH platoon. I’d rather have that situation. Luplow might be a good defender, but theoretically Rosario is going to be playing more with more RHP.

Lups still fits as the compliment to Harris, who should be rested 1-2 games a month vs LHP.
 
If we got a LF that could be more than just a platoon, it would move Rosario to a full-on DH platoon. I’d rather have that situation. Luplow might be a good defender, but theoretically Rosario is going to be playing more with more RHP.

Which is not a bad plan. But it effectively turns Ozuna into high priced dead weight on the bench. Not sure AA is willing to treat Ozuna as 2 year dead weight, no matter what the best decision is
 
People can call AA a great GM and also criticize his mistakes. The man isn’t above reproach, and he certainly makes bad deals that I’ve called out the moment he’s made them. This isn’t a cult where blind admiration is required.

I'm not above criticizing him. Hell, I did all last year about FF. The team proved to be still really good last year without FF, so I vowed to chill this season
 
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