Looking Ahead - The 2020 Offseason Thread

Concern, sign someone, bliss.
Concern, sign someone, bliss.
Concern, sign someone, bliss.
Concern...

Maybe AA forgot how to build a team this offseason, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt considering he's been aces so far.

ETA... changed "freak out" to "concern". I think the vast majority here aren't freaking out.
 
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Oh I understand there's still time, but when guys like Miller and Cabrera, both of whom would have been great additions to our bench and fit perfectly with what we still need, and they both sign for low amounts, you have to at least wonder.
 
skillet said:
Oh I understand there's still time, but when guys like Miller and Cabrera, both of whom would have been great additions to our bench and fit perfectly with what we still need, and they both sign for low amounts, you have to at least wonder.
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High-insight being 2020, it looks like for the $11m we have given Smyly, we could have allocated to:

Lester/Cabrera/Gonzalez or so many other combinations for the same amount.

Granted, if Smyly goes out and wins 15 games at around a 3.50 ERA, i'm sure all will be forgiven
 
skillet said:
Oh I understand there's still time, but when guys like Miller and Cabrera, both of whom would have been great additions to our bench and fit perfectly with what we still need, and they both sign for low amounts, you have to at least wonder.
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Interesting how it leads different people to different conclusions... to me it means he's trying to make a bigger splash and doesn't want to waste his budget on bit players when he may be trying to get one more big bat at third base. He's been clear that there's a chunk of money left. Fill your bit players in when you know how much money you have left.

I could be wrong, right, or I could be right but the deal never presents itself... but to me its the only thing that makes sense with all that has been reported budget wise from AA himself and all the beat writers.
 
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bravesfanforlife88 said:
High-insight being 2020, it looks like for the $11m we have given Smyly, we could have allocated to:

Lester/Cabrera/Gonzalez or so many other combinations for the same amount.

Granted, if Smyly goes out and wins 15 games at around a 3.50 ERA, i'm sure all will be forgiven
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Lester is toast... If Smyly stays healthy, he's easily a much better option
 
skillet said:
Oh I understand there's still time, but when guys like Miller and Cabrera, both of whom would have been great additions to our bench and fit perfectly with what we still need, and they both sign for low amounts, you have to at least wonder.
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Or maybe they aren’t the perfect fit some of us think they are. Or, maybe they didn’t want to sign with Atlanta. Or maybe one of a million other things. It’s not like AA suddenly forgot how to build a team and is just letting guys sign with other teams because he’s busy helping his wife pick out tile for the bathroom.
 
I suspect AA feels strongly about Smyly as aggressive as he was. He doesn’t give out big contracts lightly. Obviously we’ll see how it pans out but I have a good feeling Smyly will be better than we think.
 
zbhargrove said:
Interesting how it leads different people to different conclusions... to me it means he's trying to make a bigger splash and doesn't want to waste his budget on bit players when he may be trying to get one more big bat at third base. He's been clear that there's a chunk of money left. Fill your bit players in when you know how much money you have left.

I could be wrong, right, or I could be right but the deal never presents itself... but to me its the only thing that makes sense with all that has been reported budget wise from AA himself and all the beat writers.
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You may be right, that is certainly a possibility and would make sense given no other moves fringe moves yet. I hope that's the case.
 
zbhargrove said:
Interesting how it leads different people to different conclusions... to me it means he's trying to make a bigger splash and doesn't want to waste his budget on bit players when he may be trying to get one more big bat at third base. He's been clear that there's a chunk of money left. Fill your bit players in when you know how much money you have left.

I could be wrong, right, or I could be right but the deal never presents itself... but to me its the only thing that makes sense with all that has been reported budget wise from AA himself and all the beat writers.
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While it's certainly not time to panic, it's fair for those pointing out that several of the recent signings are at least concerning to do so. It's definitely fair to criticize the decision to tender Camargo and Jackson if money is even REMOTELY tight at this point and to assume that they misread the RP and bench depth market to a point (hindsight or not). If you can't afford less than $1.5 million to upgrade from Camargo to Cabrera the budget wasn't handled very well - simply non-tendering Dayton (when you already have 3 other lefties in the pen plus Newk, Pfeifer, Davidson, and Muller hanging out right up the road would have covered most of the Camargo --> Cabrera cost, and Cabrera would have given you someone who could legitimately share time with Riley if another 3B isn't brought in.

It's fair to hope that a 3B upgrade is in the works, but let's be honest here...with the information that's out there at this point that just doesn't look likely - unless AA is finally willing to back up the truck and do what he has shown no inclination to do since taking over. The reports (true or not) say that he a.) balked at the asking price for Ramirez, b.) say that Chapman isn't available, c.) isn't interested in Bryant, d.) haven't mentioned Suarez as available in quite some time, and e.) give every indication that anyone trying to get Turner to come east is going to have to substantially overpay (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/latest-on-justin-turner-2.html).

AA obviously has other moves available (trading for Moran or signing Shaw to pair with Riley or trading for Seager), but the fact remains that Cabrera or Miller COULD HAVE been added inexpensively and either would have made this team that much deeper.
 
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bravesfanforlife88 said:
If he does go get a big 3b like Turner/Bryant/Chapman (less likely), then Riley goes to the bench which improves our current situation
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That would certainly be the case.... also, in the event we end up with a DH (Still very plausible) Riley is in LF. I know the opening of ST feels like a deadline of sorts to get things done.... as does opening day, but in reality there are very few deadlines. Rosters change all season long. The ST roster will change a bunch before opening day. A month later it will be different.

We are all too focused on the date. It is an ongoing process.
 
zbhargrove said:
If the 3b was acquired via trade, I would almost guarantee Riley would be involved in the trade.
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And I'm still not convinced that a deal like that we haven't discussed for a while isn't still the best option...Riley and Ender for Seager and $5 million.

Makes Seager a $10 million player for 2021 and 2022, and gives you a LH bat to hit between Ozuna and d'Arnaud. Sign Josh Reddick to play RF for the first couple months to get the extra year of control over Pache back while he's getting everyday ABs in Gwinnett (or platoon the two of them with Acuna back in RF when Pache plays) and maybe pick up Todd Frazier or Eric Sogard (and possibly Flowers) to make the bench a bit deeper.
 
I totally forgot about Seager as an option at 3b. Shaw still seems available too as Riley insurance.

Gardner and JBJ are still good LHH options in the OF, and both take pressure off Pache needing to to be ready opening day. Adam Frazier still fits too. Even Markakis works as a Plan D. Is there any word in Peralta being available?

Who still fits at SS now that Villar and Miller are gone? Cozart?
 
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