DOB: Braves offseason about to get a lot busier. - Gamel released.

nsacpi said:
My reading is Heyward and Freeman want to be paid market value. I don't think we'll see a significant home team discount from them. So the team might as well enjoy those arb years when the system does cause them to be paid below market value. At free agency, they will probably go to another team that has a bigger budget or a team like the Mariners that is willing to concentrate more of its budget in one or two players.

As for trading them, it all depends on the return. My view is that for the most part players have surplus value only in their pre-free agency years. Sure occasionally there will be exceptions due to team friendly contracts. Chris Sale is the great example these days. But the surplus value of guys like Heyward and Freeman was going to be exhausted once they hit six years of major league service time, and this little ruckus about them going to arbitration does not chance that.

A team like the Braves builds mostly upon players in their pre-arb and arb years. You look at whether the players in that group are good enough to make for a contender (at the moment the answer is yes). Then you fill in the holes that the farm system has not filled as best you can with the budget you have left. It is an understatement to say we have not done well with that part of the equation. But the farm system has been so good that we have a contending team in spite of the Uggla and BJ Upton contracts.

I also think this team will stay intact through 2015. At the end of that season, there will be big changes. Heyward, Justin Upton, Uggla and Medlen will be free agents. Chances are Kimbrel will be traded. Some of those holes will be filled internally. Sims will probably be ready to replace Medlen in the rotation. Terdoslavich might show enough to be given one of the corner outfield spots. But we'll still have to fill at least one outfield spot. The bright side is we'll have the funds (from the Heyward, Justin Upton, Uggla, Medlen and Kimbrel salaries) to pursue a pretty good outfielder. Who might that be? Maybe Jason Heyward. If so, it will be at full market price.
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Ok why is everyone on here so quick to want to trade Medlen? Whats the deal?
 
NYCBrave said:
Because he's quickly becoming expensive and we'll probably lose him to free agency rather than extend him.
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We better get used to this. We are going to be the Kansas City Royals in a few short years. We need to think about moving anyone approaching free agency.:mad0182:
 
nsacpi said:
Braves sign Freddy Garcia.

Freddy Garcia make pitch for Braves in 2014.
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It's a minor league deal with a spring training invite. DOB reports: "Garcia penciled in for Triple-A Gwinnett, but gives #Braves 5th-starter option in case of injury or if they need LH Wood in pen early, etc."

I am fine with bringing Garcia back for depth on a minor league deal.
 
Press release from Schuerholz on Garcia signing via Braves.com

"Today I am excited to announce the re-acquisition of Freddy Garcia to the great organization that is the Atlanta Braves. I'm thrilled that we were able to finalize a deal with a pitcher the caliber of Freddy Garcia to put atop of our already young and outstanding rotation. Rest assured my fellow Braves fans, we did our due dillegence throughout this entire offseason running ideas and solutions to improve our ballclub and make it a championship caliber type contender. When the Hall of Fame announcements were made a couple of weeks ago for Bobby (Cox), Greg (Maddux), and Tom (Glavine), I assured all of you that Frank Wren was not done, and today we are here to verify that statement. The fact of the matter is that right now the economics of baseball stink, absolutely stink, with free agents salaries reaching new heights that we have never seen before. Liberty Media, our owners, are committed to being fiscally responsible while giving us financial flexibility to put a conteding team on the field year in and year out, and rest assured, we as an organization will do whatever it takes to bring a championship back to Atlanta. Through that, and with the hard work of Frank and myself, and our scouts, it was in our estimation and our best interest in bringing back Freddy. We are excited to bring him back and bring an ace type caliber arm to put atop of the rotation. We now, as you saw last fall, have a guy that can go toe to toe with the best pitchers in the game, like Game 4 against Clayton Kershaw. There is no doubt in my mind, after exhausting all options, that we have assembled a pitching staff that rivals if not better than those great teams throughout the 1990's. Again, today is an exciting day to be a Braves fan, and we look forward to an exciting 2014 campaign."
 
MLBTR reports: "Garcia would receive a $1.25MM base salary upon making the club out of Spring Training. His contract contains big incentives for games started but lesser incentives for relief work, Heyman adds."

I'd like to know just how big those incentives are for Garcia.

Update from MLBTR: "Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that Garcia can earn an additional $1.25MM based on games started or an additional $1MM based on relief appearances. He can request out of his deal on March 25 if not on the roster."
 
I don't mind signing Garcia to a minor league deal, but the Braves are going to have an excess of guys who can start in AAA.

The list potentially includes Hale, Graham, Maya, Garcia, Martin, Northcraft, Schlosser, Thomas and Daniel Rodriguez.

We have also have a very large group of relievers at the AAA level: Vasquez, Obispo, Buchter, Jaime, Lamm, Harper, Simmons, Severino, Bastista, Hoyt, Fish. Some might make the major league team and a couple could be shuffled off to AA.

It will be interesting to see who is on the 13 man staff you typically see in AAA.
 
There is no doubt in my mind, after exhausting all options, that we have assembled a pitching staff that rivals if not better than those great teams throughout the 1990's. Again, today is an exciting day to be a Braves fan, and we look forward to an exciting 2014 campaign."
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Go home JS, you're drunk.
 
If JS really thinks that about the pitching staff than he needs to find a new job. Clearly the man has lost his mind.
 
nsacpi said:
I don't mind signing Garcia to a minor league deal, but the Braves are going to have an excess of guys who can start in AAA.
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Apparently Garcia can opt-out of the deal if not on the roster by March 25. So if he doesn't make the team he can become a free agent, if he makes the team he will make 1.25 million with another 1.25 in incentives to be had (2.5 million total if incentives are reached).
 
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