2018 Offseason And Targets

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Buzzworm said:
Does it really matter to them though?
They practically print money and like the Dodgers can afford to miss over and over again.
Unlike the NFL or NBA there isn’t any consequences for a big market club compared to someone like us.Such is life in MLB....
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It does, you saw some teams not go bap**** crazy last winter. Only Boston i think was in the luxury tax this past winter. There is no cap sure, but the luxury tax kinda hurts teams not go crazy.
 
I'm leaning more to the view that the Braves will move to bolster the back end of their pen. Britton makes a certain amount of sense given he has pitched in the AL East. Ditto for David Robertson. This is how I could see the post-season going.

1) Sign Pollock or Brantley 3 years at an AAV of 13M
2) Sign Britton or Robertson 2-3 years at an AAV of 13M
3) Sign a versatile infielder such as Escobar, Gonzalez or Cabrera 2-3 years at an AAV of $10M
4) Re-sign Suzuki 1 year at $5M
5) Re-sign Sanchez 1 year at 6M

Total expenditures $47M

Pen would be: Robertson/Britton, Viz, Winkler, O'Day, Minter, Venters, Biddle, Freeman

Carle and Sobotka have options and can start the year at AAA.

That's "deep depth" for the pen.

Bench would be: The infielder signed above (he would play 2-3 times a week), Culberson (play once a week), Duvall (play against lefties allowing us to rest either Ender or Pollock/Brantley).

Riley would start the season in AAA.

Starting in spring training, we should begin deploying players in a greater variety of roles. Camargo should be asked to buy an outfielders glove this winter and given some games there in spring training. Albies should be given some games at short and center in spring training.

Rotation coming out of spring would be: Folty, Gausman, Sanchez, Julion and Newcomb.

We know that normally 8 starting pitchers are needed to navigate a full season.

By leaning on the free agent market rather than trades we can avoid giving up any significant prospects. We hold on to Riley, Pache, Contreras and Waters. We hold on to the pitchers. Very likely that Fried, Touki, Gohara and Soroka come into play in the major league rotation or major league pen at some point in 2019.

So we have a solid versatile bench. And "deep depth" regarding both the rotation and pen.

The only task left somewhat unaccomplished is upgrading catcher. But given that this would likely involve a risky contract for Grandal or giving up significant prospects for Reamulto, I'm good with emphasizing upgrades elsewhere and going with the status quo at catcher.
 
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thewupk said:
I dont think they are cheating. They just have the perfect balance of player development and analytics.
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And in Cole, Morton and Verlander they have identified pitchers with characteristics likely to produce good results once certain refinements in how they pitch are implemented.
 
I think they make a play for Donaldson and find value based on his down/injury plagued 2018. Then I think they look at Brantley for LF. They use Camargo and Culberson as a super subs. Acuna shifts to RF. If they go with a closer, I think they let Viz walk because of cost and injury reliability. I don't see Sanchez back unless they move Teheran. I think Suzuki re-signs and McCann possibly coming back cheaply as well.

Lineup:

LF Brantley
2B Albies
RF Acuna
1B Freeman
3B Donaldson
C McCann/Suzuki/Flowers
SS Swanson
CF Inciarte

Bench: 2 of Suzuki/McCann/Flowers, Culberson, Camargo, Duvall, Cheap OF like Matt Joyce (I expect that only 2 of the three catchers will likely be available at any one time)

SP: Folty, Gausman, Newk, Teheran, Touki/Fried
RP: Viz, Minter, O'Day, Venters, Winkler, Carle (I think Freeman, Jackson, Sobotka and Ramirez will have shots if they are healthy in spring) It's also possible Brach might be brought back or they might go after a closer like Britton but if they do, then I think Viz is traded/released due to cost)
 
I could def see Donaldson brought in and move Camargo to a super sub role. Our outfielder should probably be traded for, if not then a Pollock signing would be fine too. As long as Markakis isn’t resigned to start then I’m good
 
Hudson2 said:
I could def see Donaldson brought in and move Camargo to a super sub role. Our outfielder should probably be traded for, if not then a Pollock signing would be fine too. As long as Markakis isn’t resigned to start then I’m good
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Yeah, but doing it my way means no prospect capital is traded. I think you save that for an in-season deal if necessary. Donaldson is certainly a gamble but if he returns to 80% of his former self then a Acuna/Freeman/Donaldson middle of the lineup is as legit as it gets.
 
DoB says we have about $30m to $35m to spend this offseason that is off by about $10m from our calculations. Wonder where...?

Also AA has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning, possibly to announce Snitker extension and possible coaching staff changes

Hoping Hernandez is gone
 
bravesfanforlife88 said:
DoB says we have about $30m to $35m to spend this offseason that is off by about $10m from our calculations. Wonder where...?

Also AA has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning, possibly to announce Snitker extension and possible coaching staff changes

Hoping Hernandez is gone
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Unless the debt thing that got brought up earlier this year is a legit downer on payroll them I'm calling BS on what DOB has to say.
 
thewupk said:
Unless the debt thing that got brought up earlier this year is a legit downer on payroll them I'm calling BS on what DOB has to say.
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He backpeddled a bit in his tweets. When pointed out to him that he is saying payroll will go slightly up and spending 30 million would be a decrease in payroll he started blabbering about spending 35 plus an extension or two would bring it above opening day payroll.
 
I think DoB got so used to being spoon fed stories that he forgot how to actually be a reporter. The Braves should have at least $50 Million to spend, even after arbitration.
 
Pacheaholic said:
I think DoB got so used to being spoon fed stories that he forgot how to actually be a reporter. The Braves should have at least $50 Million to spend, even after arbitration.
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That’s a little high unless they start non-rendering and trading contracts.

Don’t see them beginning season at 130m.
 
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