Braves trade CJ for Swisher, Bourn, $$$

zitothebrave said:
So lets look at this trade, we moved Johnson (owed 17.5M in 16 and 17) to take on Bourn and Swisher who're owed about 29M less about 10M or so, so basically we traded Johnson, for an OF log jam that will cost us at least 2M more. Assuming we're smart enough not to trigger thier PA bonus.

Upside to this move is assuming we sandbag them for PA early on, is if they seem decent we can probably trade them for prospects. Downside is that we have 4 OFers making serious money.
Click to expand...

The trade has reduced what little uncertainty there remained about the relative importance of 2016 versus 2017 in the front office's plans. We might have a decent 2016 team, but it will not be a high priority and nothing will be done to strengthen the 2016 team at the expense of 2017.
 
zitothebrave said:
So lets look at this trade, we moved Johnson (owed 17.5M in 16 and 17) to take on Bourn and Swisher who're owed about 29M less about 10M or so, so basically we traded Johnson, for an OF log jam that will cost us at least 2M more. Assuming we're smart enough not to trigger thier PA bonus.

Upside to this move is assuming we sandbag them for PA early on, is if they seem decent we can probably trade them for prospects. Downside is that we have 4 OFers making serious money.
Click to expand...

Swisher and Bourn are making 28.5 million combined this year too while Johnson is only making 6 million this year. So for what's left this year we're taking on the most money but after that it's basically the same money wise overall.
 
nsacpi said:
The trade has reduced what little uncertainty there remained about the relative importance of 2016 versus 2017 in the front office's plans. We might have a decent 2016 team, but it will not be a high priority and nothing will be done to strengthen the 2016 team at the expense of 2017.
Click to expand...

Yea, they clearly are willing to sacrifice another season for the magic of 2017. Hate to say, it makes sense to do so now after retaining Fredi and trading off Wood-Peraza plus for Hector Olivera, etc.
 
mqt said:
185 PA is still a very small sample. For roughly 180 PA this year Jimmy Paredes was one of the best hitters in baseball. Maybe we should go after him.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you wouldn't want to include meaningful games against true contenders in the sample size.
 
From a team cohesion standpoint, we got rid of one sourpuss and added two solid teammates and clubhouse guys. Methinks this September is gonna be different.
 
nsacpi said:
The trade has reduced what little uncertainty there remained about the relative importance of 2016 versus 2017 in the front office's plans. We might have a decent 2016 team, but it will not be a high priority and nothing will be done to strengthen the 2016 team at the expense of 2017.
Click to expand...

I agree that the front office's actions to date have shown that they view 2017 as more important than 2016, though I think they will make every effort to build a contending team in 2016. Making the playoffs will be the expectation, and Fredi's job will likely depend on it.

My sense is that Hart has been very motivated to complete the tear-down process this year so that the optics of the 2015-2016 offseason will be focused on building up the roster. It looks like we may have $30m to $40m to spend for 2016, and I expect that money to be focused on MLB talent. For instance, if someone offers the Braves a deal to buy a prospect for significant cash in November, I think Hart will turn in down.

In the usual junket of end-of-season interviews, I expect Hart to tout the success of the rebuild and to emphasize that the focus of the 2016 season will be different / back to normal. I could be way off here, but that's my prediction.
 
If they have no intention of competing in 2016, then the Olivera trade is all the more baffling.

Both the Markakis signing and Olivera trade has slapped the otherwise solid moves for a longer term sustainable re-build in the face. I don't get it
 
sturg33 said:
If they have no intention of competing in 2016, then the Olivera trade is all the more baffling.

Both the Markakis signing and Olivera trade has slapped the otherwise solid moves for a longer term sustainable re-build in the face. I don't get it
Click to expand...
Maybe Olivera is actually like 26. Lol
 
sturg33 said:
If they have no intention of competing in 2016, then the Olivera trade is all the more baffling.
Click to expand...

Agreed. While the vast majority of us lamented the Olivera deal, i think it is a pretty big "tell" that the front office intends to field a team in 2016 capable of making the playoffs. They have the $ and the non-core MLB / MLB-ready trade assets to give it a whirl without sacrificing 2017-2018.
 
Runnin said:
From a team cohesion standpoint, we got rid of one sourpuss and added two solid teammates and clubhouse guys. Methinks this September is gonna be different.
Click to expand...

I do believe that Johnson's personality had something to do with the move.
 
Knucksie said:
Yeah, you wouldn't want to include meaningful games against true contenders in the sample size.
Click to expand...

The error in this line of thinking is the idea that it actually matters what the circumstances are for your small sample size. The fact that the stakes were higher doesn't change the fact that the sample is too small to gauge properly. Weird things happen in baseball, it doesn't mean a player can't perform in the playoffs.

This is all a moot point, though. At this stage in his career it's very likely that he is unable to help a team in the playoffs no matter what.
 
dak said:
Agreed. While the vast majority of us lamented the Olivera deal, i think it is a pretty big "tell" that the front office intends to field a team in 2016 capable of making the playoffs. They have the $ and the non-core MLB / MLB-ready trade assets to give it a whirl without sacrificing 2017-2018.
Click to expand...

Well, then this trade seems bizarre if this is the case.
 
dak said:
Agreed. While the vast majority of us lamented the Olivera deal, i think it is a pretty big "tell" that the front office intends to field a team in 2016 capable of making the playoffs. They have the $ and the non-core MLB / MLB-ready trade assets to give it a whirl without sacrificing 2017-2018.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure Olivera's expected production in 2016 out-weighs Wood's.

The plan may be to field a palatable team in 2016 that might make the playoffs. But it seems to me that the Swisher-Bourn-CJ trade indicates that the front office is willing to sacrifice some wins in 2016 (by tying up so much of the payroll in Swisher and Bourn) for wins in 2017 (by elminating the financial obligation to CJ).
 
Runnin said:
From a team cohesion standpoint, we got rid of one sourpuss and added two solid teammates and clubhouse guys. Methinks this September is gonna be different.
Click to expand...

This. I would rather watch Bourn and Swisher any day of the week....than CJ phoning it in with one mental error after another.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top