2026 ST Thread

Carp said:
Just sign Giolito to something like 2/35 with an opt out (or mutual option if it the Braves still refuse to give out opt-outs), but pay him 22 million in year 1. Softens the tax blow so that you still have money to spend in July and it gives him incentive to opt out after the season with only 13 million guaranteed for 2027.
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Except he’s probably cooked, too? I would’ve preferred Littel.
 
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Not gonna lie the thought has passed my mind to lessen SS workload overall (still ramping up!) and to carry another starter without exposing them to waivers or having to cut them
 
thewupk said:
So SS the first, SS the second, Waldrep, and Wentz. How many starters would AA need to sign to cover everybody getting hurt?
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Yup.

Though AA did build this team and hand out the contracts to Lopez and Strider, while also letting Fried walk.
 
thewupk said:
Sure. Most people on this site didn't want to extend Fried though for market value.
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Fried is just the main option I mentioned because we let him walk. The point is AA assembled this unit. So he deserves some blame, fairly or unfairly, if they can't stay on the field.
 
thewupk said:
So SS the first, SS the second, Waldrep, and Wentz. How many starters would AA need to sign to cover everybody getting hurt?
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Imo the correct decision would have been to use Lopez/Holmes in the pen. Should have signed Brad Keller and then Littel once injuries started mounting.
 
msstate7 said:
I'm hopeful the reluctance to sign these type of guys is a sign that SS#2 and Waldrep are expected back sooner than later
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Bro, I don’t mean to piss in your Cheerios, but let me just point out that everything we assumed/feared regarding our starting pitchers going into the season has come true so far.
 
Seems like a long time ago when we were hoping to have Lopez as a strength out of the pen or a spot starter. Dude is now our 89 mph second starter.
 
Carp said:
Sure. I don't recall 5 people, much less 10, saying that our pitching depth was completely fine.

There may have been some people rationalizing AA's decisions or pointing out that we do have some decent depth options in AAA in the form of prospects who are ML ready. But I think 99% of the people on this board held the opinion that we needed a quality starter in FA.

And while it doesn't justify making zero moves in FA to address the SP depth, it is absolutely correct when someone says you can't adequately plan for 2 or more SPs to go down for 3+ months before the end of ST. Even if we had added Ranger Suarez, Dylan Cease, or Framber Valdez we would likely still be looking at Elder making potentially 10+ starts in 2026 with the injuries to Schwelly and Waldrep.

Two things can be true at the same time. AA put us in a bad spot by not signing a quality SP in FA, but it's also unrealistic to have expected him to sign/trade for 2 (or more) quality SPs given our budget and roster construction.
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I think most expected to sign one SP.

Not signing one was worrisome and obviously things look pretty rough now.

Separate thought: they couldn't have afforded to injury proof the rotation or the roster as a whole. At some level they have little choice but to hope for health and then address injuries as best as they can. I mean when you have the injuries and your depth fills in, suggesting that you are now thin is a little unfair.

Separate thought: having Chris Bassitt on the team would would not make the rotation look good now. But it would make things a lot better.

It does seem like signing Gialito or making an acquisition to patch what might be a gaping hole would be a good idea. You don't seem to have much other choice.
 
Guess it depends on what his workout regiment has been like in the Spring... if he's been keeping up and stretching out with simulated games, maybe not that long. I just don't know if he has much left in the tank.
 
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