Looking towards 2025

Looking at the 40 man roster for 2025 we’re looking at a minimum of 13 new players needed, assuming Strider and Acuna start the season on the 60 day IL and we don’t keep any of the fringe arms with no options left.

We may move on from Winans and Dodd as well pushing it to 15

It doesn’t look like we have any Rule 5 issues either giving us plenty of roster flexibility.

So there’s gonna be a lot of small moves to fill out the roster depth.
 
AA is gonna want another lefty in the rotation. Snell (if he opts out) and Crochet fit that bill. Payroll increasing is big news.
 
We have 4 guys out of options that are hard to guarantee a major league roster spot to.

It’s too bad they’re all coming back from injury and don’t have much trade value.

Ian Anderson

Ray Kerr (L)

Huascar Ynoa

Angel Perdomo (L)

My guess is only Kerr is kept.

Perdomo will likely be kept. The Braves kept him on the roster for a reason.
 
I think we can plan on the $280m vs the $230m

Braves will be in the market for a SP. I also think Laureano is pretty much a lock to bring back as well.

[TW] 1842227159588372733[/TW]

This is excellent news. I think we can pencil in an opening day luxury number of about $275M, meaning AA has roughly $40M to get a SS and a SP.

Maybe this year he just gets the obvious options for the obvious holes, but I doubt it.
 
This is excellent news. I think we can pencil in an opening day luxury number of about $275M, meaning AA has roughly $40M to get a SS and a SP.

Maybe this year he just gets the obvious options for the obvious holes, but I doubt it.

If he traded for Crochet he would have money for say Adames.
 
The top 2 SP in free agency are going to be Burnes and Fried. Over the last 3 years they are 9th and 18 in fWAR among SP at 11.8 and 10.1

They are 29 and 30 years old. Make no mistake. Fried will get paid despite this being his worst year since 2019.

I suspect the Braves will be looking at a Morton type SP deal. 1-2 years for a vet who won't break the bank but give you solid innings at the back of a rotation.

Nothing about what the Braves or Anthopolous have done would suggest anything else. They will either sign a veteran to short term deal or trade for a cheaper guy. Possibly both.
 
If he traded for Crochet he would have money for say Adames.

Right. If AA trades for arguably the most valuable SP likely to be traded he will definitely have cash for a SS. Problem is AA has never parted with a prospect package like that, and I don’t think the Braves even have the pieces needed to acquire him.
 
The top 2 SP in free agency are going to be Burnes and Fried. Over the last 3 years they are 9th and 18 in fWAR among SP at 11.8 and 10.1

They are 29 and 30 years old. Make no mistake. Fried will get paid despite this being his worst year since 2019.

I suspect the Braves will be looking at a Morton type SP deal. 1-2 years for a vet who won't break the bank but give you solid innings at the back of a rotation.

Snell, Cole, Yovaldi and Wacha can all choose to be free agents.

Not saying they're better or comparable. But the FA market could balloon. I don't think Cole hits FA I suspect he restructures, unsure about Snell.
 
Right. If AA trades for arguably the most valuable SP likely to be traded he will definitely have cash for a SS. Problem is AA has never parted with a prospect package like that, and I don’t think the Braves even have the pieces needed to acquire him.

I believe we were after him at the deadline but the demands he was making was throwing it off. He will definitely be traded this offseason. A Waldrep, Baldwin, Nacho, Richie, lesser piece probably does it. I dont like trading Baldwin though.
 
AA is gonna want another lefty in the rotation. Snell (if he opts out) and Crochet fit that bill. Payroll increasing is big news.

I would be all for Snell. Dude is always lights out in the second half and thats when the playoffs are so I would be all for it depending on the contract. I wouldnt go longer than 4 years with a 5th year option. I could also see taking Jordan Montgomery in a trade with AZ eating some of his salary. AZ is an extreme hitters park and he isnt an overpowering pitcher. Probably can expect Morton level production from a lefty. And I agree I think adding a second left to the rotation is something likely to happen, even if AA says the rotation isnt a priority like last year. Not a priority like last year only means we are looking for a backend guy to eat innings as on the to do list but not the top priority.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe we were after him at the deadline but the demands he was making was throwing it off. He will definitely be traded this offseason. A Waldrep, Baldwin, Nacho, Richie, lesser piece probably does it. I dont like trading Baldwin though.

I think a Crochet deal is likely too. AA said the rotation isnt a priority this offseason like it was last year but that doesnt mean we wont aquire anyone. I dont think a deal gets done without AJSS unless they are taking on a bad contract too. Crochet seems like AA move. His low arbitration salary and injury history(likely to want long term security rather than betting hundreds of millions of dollars on his health) make him an ideal candidate for long term contract extension. I could see something like 8 years 200 million. He turned 25 3 months ago so he could still get a big pay day at 33/34 when he is a FA again. Maybe we get a couple big option years on the end. 8 years 200 million with two 40 million options. 8 years from now 40 million wont be what it is now.
 
Dansby finished the year with 4 WAR. Had a solid 120 RC in the second half. No one even interested in a reunion if the Cubs offered to eat some salary? Still playing out of this world defense at one of the most important defensive positions. Only 30 years old. He's pretty much the exact same player he was when he left. I dont know if or how much the Cubs might eat but I dont think it would be much after his second half rebound. I think its a risky move but we have always been a team that valued defense up the middle. Arcia is a good defender and Swanson is a great defender in his prime. I think Arcia might perform better in a limited role where he doesnt play every day. He always seems to start off hot then fade off. Sometimes off a cliff. Cubs might want out of the contract to pursue other big name free agents. We probably waited too late on that though. Probably a lot more willing at the trade deadline.
 
I think a Crochet deal is likely too. AA said the rotation isnt a priority this offseason like it was last year but that doesnt mean we wont aquire anyone. I dont think a deal gets done without AJSS unless they are taking on a bad contract too. Crochet seems like AA move. His low arbitration salary and injury history(likely to want long term security rather than betting hundreds of millions of dollars on his health) make him an ideal candidate for long term contract extension. I could see something like 8 years 200 million. He turned 25 3 months ago so he could still get a big pay day at 33/34 when he is a FA again. Maybe we get a couple big option years on the end. 8 years 200 million with two 40 million options. 8 years from now 40 million wont be what it is now.

Given the state of the White Sox both on the field and in the PR realm, I doubt they trade Crochet unless they get proven major league players back in the deal. It may make long-term sense for them to move Crochet for a set of decent prospects, but they won't let him go for a handful of lottery tickets. Going that route would turn a sour fan base (if there is still a White Sox fan base) increasingly bitter.

This shouldn't be that complicated of an off-season for Anthopoulos. The needs are evident and there's no reason to get super-creative. Try to upgrade the shortstop position and add one veteran arm to the pitching staff. I like the Snell idea, but worry that Snitker would go old school on him and have him pitch too many innings. Adames is going to get a Bogaerts-level deal and I don't think the Braves will bite on that.
 
Upgrading SS isn’t going to be as easy. Teams don’t let go of good shortstops and they’re usually overpriced come free agency.

A guy like Perdomo makes the most sense if the Dbacks are good with Lawlar.

Willi Castro makes a lot of sense, as he can play OF as well, since we’d have Arcia still as the backup.

Bo Bichette would be a good get if made available and at only 26 be an extension candidate. I’m just not sure they’d commit big bucks to a SS that wasn’t a plus defender.

Carlos Correa’s contract without the vesting years is around 4/133 which isn’t that bad, but still too much

I doubt we go after Kim with Boras attached

Willy Adames seems like the obvious choice if we have the money, but we’ve yet to play in the retail free agent market and he’ll probably be overpaid.

If none of these guys are traded Kim and Adames are going to bank.

I see another year of Arcia ahead
 
AA was a little critical about Arcia in his latest interview but no to bad. He will look to upgrade SS and a SP and those outside of a couple of depth pieces. If you get a SS then Arcia is the backup infielder.
 
Dansby finished the year with 4 WAR. Had a solid 120 RC in the second half. No one even interested in a reunion if the Cubs offered to eat some salary? Still playing out of this world defense at one of the most important defensive positions. Only 30 years old. He's pretty much the exact same player he was when he left. I dont know if or how much the Cubs might eat but I dont think it would be much after his second half rebound. I think its a risky move but we have always been a team that valued defense up the middle. Arcia is a good defender and Swanson is a great defender in his prime. I think Arcia might perform better in a limited role where he doesnt play every day. He always seems to start off hot then fade off. Sometimes off a cliff. Cubs might want out of the contract to pursue other big name free agents. We probably waited too late on that though. Probably a lot more willing at the trade deadline.

He's basically a defensive specialist at this point. Why not just sign Kim?
 
Back
Top