Official 2024 Off-Season Thread!

[bravesfanforlife88]

Projected for 4 WAR next year. Makes $27.5m over the next two years. That's a pretty big surplus value to overcome in a trade.

Who could we trade for him?

Unfortunately, not sure we have enough to get him unless we move one of our bigger pieces, it was just a thought.

 

[bravesnumberone]

Surprised Toronto would trade him when they should still figure to be in the mix in the AL East the next couple seasons.

 

[Carp]

Cubs have spoken with the Jays about a Bo Bichette trade.

Guy put up 4.9 WAR last season while playing SS and is signed through 2025....AA has made upgrades at spots that we didn't think we needed to upgrade at. I wonder if that would be something he could sneak in on.

Not sure how that makes a lot of since for Chicago since they already have Dansby and Hoerner up the middle. I suppose you could move Hoerner to a another position since he has experience at every position aside from catcher and 1b. But it seems like a weird fit.

And again, we don't really have anything to offer for a premier player. If we are making a trade for a hitter, it's likely going to be for an OFer on an expiring contract and who isn't a perennial all-star. Someone like Verdugo, Santander, or Kepler. You could probably get any one of those guys for a package with Grissom as the centerpiece. We could probably get Kepler without giving up anyone in our top 5 prospects.

 

[bravesfanforlife88]

The article said that Bichette would switch to 3B

 

[Heyward]

Do we know this to have happened? I know nothing, like always, but I feel like this just never happened- or if it did, it was most likely AA making sure the Phillies overpaid for an arm that’s gonna be in serious decline to take them out of the SP market and further wreck their future.

Phillies writer said we offered 6/162, who knows if thats true or not. But it is interesting.

 

[Hudson2]

Bichette isn’t getting trade unless it’s a big overpay so hard pass. I am curious what AA’s next move is gonna be after Nola chose to go back to Philly.

 

[Heyward]

Bichette isn’t getting trade unless it’s a big overpay so hard pass. I am curious what AA’s next move is gonna be after Nola chose to go back to Philly.

Think he tries to get a SP secured. Who knows which one though, plenty out there. I'm most curious what he does for LF.

 

[Enscheff]

I'm still not entirely sure I believe that the Braves even made that offer. With AA's front office being so close to the vest, nothing ever leaks out. It always felt like rumors floated by agents.

This is fair. Who knows. AA certainly won’t ever come out and confirm or deny these things.

 

[50PoundHead]

Think he tries to get a SP secured. Who knows which one though, plenty out there. I'm most curious what he does for LF.

LF is the puzzler to me. Like you say, there are a lot of pitching options and maybe Anthopoulos is waiting for another of the bigger contracts to fall before making a move.

 

[Enscheff]

And again, we don't really have anything to offer for a premier player. If we are making a trade for a hitter, it's likely going to be for an OFer on an expiring contract and who isn't a perennial all-star. Someone like Verdugo, Santander, or Kepler. You could probably get any one of those guys for a package with Grissom as the centerpiece. We could probably get Kepler without giving up anyone in our top 5 prospects.

This is the plan I figured would play out from the start of the offseason. Trade Grissom for a decent LFer (possibly extend), and sign the best value #3 available.

I did not foresee AA spending $50M on the BP by splurging on several 7th inning arms, so who knows how they impacts things. I also didn’t expect him to completely gut the 40 man roster that now must be rebuilt.

 

[zbhargrove]

I feel like Kepler is one of those players that has looked like a Braves player in the statcast data for a long time. I’ve long thought he’d end up here at some point.

 

[Jaw]

It's always bothered me that LF is a perpetual need. Of all the positions on the field to fill with an ~.800 OPS, it seems like that would be the easiest. I don't really mind it, it gets handled because it's easy enough to fill. I just think it's strange that someone hasn't made it out of the minors to plug the gap for a few years.

 

[ixiXSolidXixi]

I am not sure he used to play SS but move Albies to SS and contract a cheap guy like Joey Wendle for second base.

 

[thewupk]

It's always bothered me that LF is a perpetual need. Of all the positions on the field to fill with an ~.800 OPS, it seems like that would be the easiest. I don't really mind it, it gets handled because it's easy enough to fill. I just think it's strange that someone hasn't made it out of the minors to plug the gap for a few years.

Only 6 players qualified as LFers in 2023 had a 790 OPS or higher. Only 9 DHs did this as well.

It's not as easy as it would appear to find these type of players.

 

[jsebe10]

I am not sure he used to play SS but move Albies to SS and contract a cheap guy like Joey Wendle for second base.

Ozzie doesn't possess the range or the arm strength to be anywhere on the left side of the diamond...2B almost isn't close enough to 1B to cover his lack of arm strength.

 

[atl717]

Wendle also stinks and is a downgrade from Arcia. Why would we do that?

 

[Enscheff]

I feel like Kepler is one of those players that has looked like a Braves player in the statcast data for a long time. I’ve long thought he’d end up here at some point.

Kepler is a sneaky good option, especially if he’s protected against LHP a bit with a platoon partner. He’s essentially what everyone thinks Rosario is.

 

[50PoundHead]

Wendle also stinks and is a downgrade from Arcia. Why would we do that?

I always thought Wendle would be a decent bench piece until he totally fell off the table in 2023.

The guy I would try to sign (but only as a back-up) is Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Great glove at all the infield positions and has played extensively in the outfield. Can't hit much, so he's basically Nicky Lopez with the ability to play OF. Made $6 MM in 2023, but I doubt he'll match that offer in free agency.

 

[bravesnumberone]

Agree on Kepler. Could see AA making that move and then bringing ole Adam Duvall back.

 

[Super]

I always thought Wendle would be a decent bench piece until he totally fell off the table in 2023.

The guy I would try to sign (but only as a back-up) is Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Great glove at all the infield positions and has played extensively in the outfield. Can't hit much, so he's basically Nicky Lopez with the ability to play OF. Made $6 MM in 2023, but I doubt he'll match that offer in free agency.

I don’t hate IKF I just would’ve rather kept Lopez and his elite elite glove, especially since they’ll probably be around the same dollar amount. Lopez is also a lefty which has its benefits. Sorta bummed AA just threw him away.