zbhargrove
Well-known member
Was posted in the Albers thread, but he has been traded to the Mariners. No word on the return, but obviously not expecting much.
The Marlins are not in a bad situation with Stanton. Chances are he is going to opt out after 2020. And his production in 2018-2020 is very likely to exceed his cost.
An opt-out would be a godsend to the Fish, but I'm not really seeing why he'd do it other than he didn't want to be in Miami any more.
Trading for 1 year of Donaldson is not something a 73 win team does in the subsequent offseason.
The Braves decided to build around pitching prospects. They are not going to contend until enough of those pitching prospects turn into 3-4 solid pieces of a MLB rotation. Nothing the Braves attempt to rush their contention window will change that fact. We have seen this fact driven home with every "win now" move the Braves have made the last 3 years. Only the thickest of the thick can't see it by now.
The Braves should hold long term assets until they can fill 3-4 spots in the rotation with 2+ win homegrown pitchers. So far, the first 2 waves of pitchers have completely failed, and the next wave of hope is the Gohara, Soroka, Allard, Wright wave that could make the Braves competitive by 2019.
2020 will be his age 30 season. I think he will post 5-6 WAR per year over the next three seasons. He will do better financially if he hits the market after that kind of production. If he doesn't opt out he makes 30M/year over his age 31-37 seasons. I think he will do better than that as a free agent, barring something bad happening over the next 3 years.
Obviously, I have loudly said this for several years. No question in my mind that the Braves should have fully committed to the rebuild, taken its lumps and been fully loaded to compete in 2019/2020. They didn't do that and it looks like they won't be good until then anyway, which is what I expected to happen. That means they will waste the best years of Freeman and likely Inciarte while ruining some prospects by rushing them up before they are ready (plus ineffectively managing service time). All that has already happened and likely will continue to happen.
The team CAN get better if they wisely spend some money. Will they? Can they? Could it be enough?
It's hard to answer those questions without knowing the parameters. Obviously if you trade for Donaldson, you do so with the expectation that you extend him for 3 or 4 years. And, it doesn't look like there are real viable ml prospects for 3B until you get down to Maitan - there's hope for guys like Ruiz (fading), Riley, Demerritte.
The commitment to Kemp hurts flexibility obviously. The inability of the first wave of pitching to do much at all hurts. Let's face it, the FO pretty much crapped out on all the "divesting" trades. Even the Miller trade was a bit lucky with Inciarte becoming the jewel and Blair (bust) and Swanson (self inflicted wound) likely never being what was wanted.
I know what the Braves should have done and what they should still do but they aren't doing that. Given that, I've moved on to trying to find a different way.
I'm pretty sure at this point that this "reload" will fail. Without the emergence of Acuna I would put the odds at almost 100%. Right now I'm at about 75% because the FO has done some very stupid things and continues to do stupid things, the purse strings really haven't been loosened much in reality, the ROI experienced from the divestment trades has mostly been a bust and they have had more bad luck than good.
My definition of a good rebuild is to place the team in a talent and payroll position to be competitive for 5-10 years. Not win the WS every year or Division or even the WC but win more games than you lose and have a chance every year. Like the Cardinals or the Braves of the 90's.
What I think we will see is the Braves get good for a year or two then crater back into another rebuild.
You think he would be able to sign for something better than 7/$210M after his age 30 season?
Not saying you're wrong... is there any precedent for that?
Yeah. Take a look at what Pujols signed for after his age 31 season. And add in the appropriate inflation adjustment. I'm pretty confident Stanton will get something better than 7/210, barring some kind of serious injury or other issue. Or take a look at what Greinke got after his age 31 season. Or David Price after his age 29 seasons. Add in some inflation to both those comps.
Gary Rogers said:Braves could trade for Archer By sending Sims, Wisler,Demeritte,D.Peterson and Muller for him . Then trade Teheran,Seymour and R.Sanchez to Texas for Profar,W.Calhoun and Sadzeck?
Some genius posted this little gem over at MLBTR in the comments.
Some genius posted this little gem over at MLBTR in the comments.