UNCBlue012
Well-known member
I don’t see it that way at all. I’m sure Alex did some haggling, but Kim’s a Boras client — and Boras almost always pushes his guys to free agency.
2025-2026 offseason thread
- Thread starter Enscheff
- Start date
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
Really interesting quote from Terry McGuirk on today's investor call. (I stole this from someone on Twitter, but validated this is accurate):
His goal is to be a "top five" payroll team ans while they’ve stayed inside the top ten for multiple seasons, aiming for the top five “is a place I want to get to (and) I think we’re capable of doing that.”
He says the Braves will be "quite active in the free agent market and the trade market". One of the key priorities is "adding a couple of players to a veteran, win-now squad that has years of success ahead."
Being top five in 2025 would have meant passing Toronto at $258M. Atlanta was at $213M this season.
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The Braves’ base payroll sits comfortably below the CBT threshold, and it would take roughly $260 million to crack the top five. That likely leaves them with about $50–70 million in spending flexibility. With that, they could comfortably add a starter like Cease (just as an example), a closer such as Iggy or Williams (maybe even Edwin, though he’s probably too expensive for a relief arm), and a super-utility player/SS or starting outfielder to rotate with Ronnie and Profar at DH.
His goal is to be a "top five" payroll team ans while they’ve stayed inside the top ten for multiple seasons, aiming for the top five “is a place I want to get to (and) I think we’re capable of doing that.”
He says the Braves will be "quite active in the free agent market and the trade market". One of the key priorities is "adding a couple of players to a veteran, win-now squad that has years of success ahead."
Being top five in 2025 would have meant passing Toronto at $258M. Atlanta was at $213M this season.
---
The Braves’ base payroll sits comfortably below the CBT threshold, and it would take roughly $260 million to crack the top five. That likely leaves them with about $50–70 million in spending flexibility. With that, they could comfortably add a starter like Cease (just as an example), a closer such as Iggy or Williams (maybe even Edwin, though he’s probably too expensive for a relief arm), and a super-utility player/SS or starting outfielder to rotate with Ronnie and Profar at DH.
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bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
Problem is Terry is counting all the developers, real estate agents, contractors, and builders as part of the top 5 payroll.. so he probably needs to reduce the Brave's payroll to fit of those folks in.
This.
But weren’t they top 5 last year? It doesn’t seem like much to be a top 5 payroll team with so much salary already baked in. I want to see them extend beyond the 3rd CBT threshold and really fill in the holes on this team with impact players and quality depth.
Because he has 1 year remaining, isn't a core player, and they have several top SS prospects.
Hudson2
Well-known member
Just bc Bader turned it down doesn't mean he'll get more per year could just be more overall. And the Mariners have a lot of good SS prospects so they could live without Crawford who only has 1 year left on his deal. With the CBA looming a lot of teams may be reluctant to spend this offseason.
FG just released their FA projections: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-top-50-mlb-free-agents/
As much as we like to think now is the time to splurge on an OFer like Tucker, the Braves aren't giving him $300M. Let's not even waste the energy.
I'm going to assume Cease, Valdez and Suarez are out of AA's price range due to the QO and $150M price tag. If he does shop from that bin, the obvious choice is Cease due to being the most likely guy to offer true impact in October. I think Valdez will be the biggest bust of this entire FA class, and Suarez will not be "crafty" for much longer.
The options for BP Ace pretty much boil down to Diaz, Suarez, Williams, Helsley, and Iglesias. Yes, our beloved Iggy. It's interesting this article uses the "BP arms are volatile and can bounce back from a bad 2025" argument for Helsley and Williams, but does not offer Iglesias the same excuse. Here are the xwOBAs over the last 3 years for those BP guys, along with their age and projected contracts:
Name (Age) - Contract: 2023, 2024, 2025 xwOBA
Diaz (32) - 3/$75: injured, .246, .249
Suarez (35) - 3/$48: .278, .272, .306
Williams (31) - 2/$24: .254, .225, .280
Helsley (31) - 2/$24: .233, .258, .313
Iglesias (36) - 2/$24: .276, .233, .286
Diaz is clearly the top BP arm, but even in Iggy's horrible 2025 he was still as good or better than all the other top options, and he was as elite as any of them as recently as last year. If Suarez can "bounce back" at 35, why can't Iggy at 36? Assuming Diaz isn't a real option, I'm starting to think Iggy is a great option if he can be had on a 1 year deal. In no version of the multiverse do I give Suarez $48M.
After Tucker the OF options are lame.
Grisham 3/$54
Bader 2/$30
End of list. It's a terrible time to be shopping for an OFer that allows players to be rotated through DH like a modern organization. Luckily for us, the Braves just hired a manager who won't be able to rotate players through DH to keep them healthy, so expect a bat-only guy to be signed. Perhaps Ozuna for 1/$15 to maintain the "continuity" this organization seems to love so much.
As much as we like to think now is the time to splurge on an OFer like Tucker, the Braves aren't giving him $300M. Let's not even waste the energy.
I'm going to assume Cease, Valdez and Suarez are out of AA's price range due to the QO and $150M price tag. If he does shop from that bin, the obvious choice is Cease due to being the most likely guy to offer true impact in October. I think Valdez will be the biggest bust of this entire FA class, and Suarez will not be "crafty" for much longer.
The options for BP Ace pretty much boil down to Diaz, Suarez, Williams, Helsley, and Iglesias. Yes, our beloved Iggy. It's interesting this article uses the "BP arms are volatile and can bounce back from a bad 2025" argument for Helsley and Williams, but does not offer Iglesias the same excuse. Here are the xwOBAs over the last 3 years for those BP guys, along with their age and projected contracts:
Name (Age) - Contract: 2023, 2024, 2025 xwOBA
Diaz (32) - 3/$75: injured, .246, .249
Suarez (35) - 3/$48: .278, .272, .306
Williams (31) - 2/$24: .254, .225, .280
Helsley (31) - 2/$24: .233, .258, .313
Iglesias (36) - 2/$24: .276, .233, .286
Diaz is clearly the top BP arm, but even in Iggy's horrible 2025 he was still as good or better than all the other top options, and he was as elite as any of them as recently as last year. If Suarez can "bounce back" at 35, why can't Iggy at 36? Assuming Diaz isn't a real option, I'm starting to think Iggy is a great option if he can be had on a 1 year deal. In no version of the multiverse do I give Suarez $48M.
After Tucker the OF options are lame.
Grisham 3/$54
Bader 2/$30
End of list. It's a terrible time to be shopping for an OFer that allows players to be rotated through DH like a modern organization. Luckily for us, the Braves just hired a manager who won't be able to rotate players through DH to keep them healthy, so expect a bat-only guy to be signed. Perhaps Ozuna for 1/$15 to maintain the "continuity" this organization seems to love so much.
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Mad Dog Murph
Well-known member
Braves exercised $18 million option on Chris Sale.
The first two points mean they won't be getting much back for him, and well-run teams in contention generally don't trade 3-win players to gamble on guys who have never played in the majors
bader is absolutely getting more per year, look at the fangraphs projection
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
FYI - Fredi won't return as our 3B coach in 2026. Just confirmed to MLB Network.
Snitker for 3B coach?