Braves visit the Brewers.... to make their Octoberfest plans

Tucker and rotating the outfielders as the DH is the answer.
This is the correct answer. The window is closing fast, so taking on the risk of a large contract is acceptable now since it doesn't matter if Tucker is terribly overpaid during the rebuild. And if he ages well he might be valuable enough to flip during the rebuild.

This is the offseason to grab both Bichette and Tucker, and an arm like Cease (though I might not agree on Cease being the best target). Tucker takes over RF with Acuna being the primary DH, and Bichette plays SS until Albies is gone so he can move to 2B as his defense declines even more. The money should be there unless the payroll is cut drastically.

Whichever team is stuck paying Ozuna when the hip starts to be a real issue is going to be pretty sad.
 
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I like the idea of Bo and Tucker.. (not sure AA has the balls to do it).. but that would be great. Cease is a nice dream on guy.. but I almost wonder if the team should push some of that money to fixing the pen.

I wouldn't count on Lopez pitching as a Brave again. JJ should help.. but there is a lot of work left to do this offseason with the pen.
 
AA is in the classic GM position of the window closing, and once the window closes the GM usually takes the fall. GMs in those situations have nothing to lose by taking on large contracts in an effort to win as the window closes. If they lose, they are fired, and then it doesn't matter if they gave someone like Tucker $250M+...they are fired either way, so may as well go out with guns blazing.
 
I like the idea of Bo and Tucker.. (not sure AA has the balls to do it).. but that would be great. Cease is a nice dream on guy.. but I almost wonder if the team should push some of that money to fixing the pen.

I wouldn't count on Lopez pitching as a Brave again. JJ should help.. but there is a lot of work left to do this offseason with the pen.
I think Lopez will pitch as a Brave again. We have him under contract through 2027. That being said, I think (or hope) it will be in the pen.
 
I think Lopez will pitch as a Brave again. We have him under contract through 2027. That being said, I think (or hope) it will be in the pen.
I did forget he restructured.. so he might get some reps late next year and be a pen option for 2027.. just shoulder injuries are the death keel of a pitcher typically.
 
I did forget he restructured.. so he might get some reps late next year and be a pen option for 2027.. just shoulder injuries are the death keel of a pitcher typically.
Why late next year if he comes back? If everything clears he should be ready to go by ST. He hasn’t even been ruled out for this year. Although, and I stress, that it’s an extremely long shot.
 
probably just fear of any pitcher who has shoulder surgery.. they take a long time to get back. He didn't have any structural damage, but I just don't trust bum shoulders.
 
Projections are he will start throwing bullpens in the next few weeks. He'll be back way before end of next year. If the Braves are still in it with a month or so left I think we'll see him this year, if not ST for sure.
 
AA is in the classic GM position of the window closing, and once the window closes the GM usually takes the fall. GMs in those situations have nothing to lose by taking on large contracts in an effort to win as the window closes. If they lose, they are fired, and then it doesn't matter if they gave someone like Tucker $250M+...they are fired either way, so may as well go out with guns blazing.
And with the battery printing money they definitely don't want a rebuild anytime soon. I think with them knowing that Acuna and Strider would miss a few months of the season and JJ hurt I think AA said it's not worth going over the tax so they did a soft reset. This offseason will be the complete opposite. Cease and one of Tucker/Bichette should be brought in no doubt with loading up on BP pieces that can pitch late in games and a few quality depth pieces. Get a trade lined up for Profar like you did with Soler and eat half the contract to dump him when the offseason starts.
 
AA is in the classic GM position of the window closing, and once the window closes the GM usually takes the fall. GMs in those situations have nothing to lose by taking on large contracts in an effort to win as the window closes. If they lose, they are fired, and then it doesn't matter if they gave someone like Tucker $250M+...they are fired either way, so may as well go out with guns blazing.
I was watching a Cubs game a few weeks ago, and the announcers were speculating that Tucker would get a $500M contract this offseason. I personally think they were high, but after Soto and Guerrero Jr.'s contracts, I don't know what the standard is anymore for top free agents.
 
I love Tucker but he's not gonna sniff Soto money. He'll be 29 when next year starts but 300 million is probably on the high end of what he gets. I'd guess 35 per for Tucker and probably 25-27 per for Bichette.
 
With Acuna having 2 bum knees before he's even 28 and Harris struggling and Profar being busted for PED's out OF needs a long term boost out there and it doesn't get any better than Tucker anytime soon. If AA spends on anybody it needs to be that guy. Let Ozuna walk and use his money towards him.
 
Projections are he will start throwing bullpens in the next few weeks. He'll be back way before end of next year. If the Braves are still in it with a month or so left I think we'll see him this year, if not ST for sure.
There’s no way he’s about to start throwing bullpens when he hasn’t done anything with that arm for 2-1/2 months. He has to completely rebuild strength in that arm. That takes a while.
 
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