Official 2022 Offseason Moves Thread

NYCBrave said:
And that in reality is the issue. I'm not sure how math works to even afford what Freeman is looking for.
Click to expand...

That’s why Freeman will never be Chipper. I get he wants as much as he can get but Chipper always took less money and less years to help the team get better players. We already made FF an offer that would make him the highest paid 1b in the league. If I’m AA I’m not budging.
 
It’s funny lurking on some Facebook groups with majority of casual fans saying things like

”give him 8 years 200 million”
”pay the man he deserves 35 million a year”

and unrealistic stuff like that.

makes me appreciate our board here more. Because it seems no matter which side of the analytics or old school side you’re on here, seems we almost all agree that paying a 32 year old first baseman a 6-8 year contract and 200 million is not a good idea and hopefully AA doesn’t do that.
 
Opt-outs are almost invariably a win for the player, but I wonder if it would make sense here. It would require Anthopolous to be really rational and borderline cold-hearted, but I can imagine, say, a six-year contract with an opt out after three years working really well for us. Freeman rakes for three years, opts out, and we give him a hearty handshake and wish him well as he gets another team to pay him for the decline years.

Part of the reason opt-outs don't work for teams is they usually aren't willing to suck it up and just let the player go, but if you're willing to do that....

EDIT: Though opt-outs usually make more sense for younger players.
 
MadduxFanII said:
Opt-outs are almost invariably a win for the player, but I wonder if it would make sense here. It would require Anthopolous to be really rational and borderline cold-hearted, but I can imagine, say, a six-year contract with an opt out after three years working really well for us. Freeman rakes for three years, opts out, and we give him a hearty handshake and wish him well as he gets another team to pay him for the decline years.

Part of the reason opt-outs don't work for teams is they usually aren't willing to suck it up and just let the player go, but if you're willing to do that....

EDIT: Though opt-outs usually make more sense for younger players.
Click to expand...


If you are going to give him the opt out, then shorten the contract. 5 years with an opt out after 3. That way if he is really good for 3 years he can opt out and get a 3-4 yr deal. If he starts to decline, then he is only owed 2 more years. Bet on yourself FF.
 
Finding a way out of the Ozuna contract is a huge priority. And if beating up your wife doesn't keep you from making your millions, then MLB has a big problem.
 
Latest report now that Verlander is of interest to the Braves. Maybe, maybe not. But if the rumor mill generated info that it would take $20M then FF has little chance of getting his big payday in Atlanta.
 
AA needs to stick with the blueprint he has used the last 4 years. Short term high AAV contracts, trading for and signing players with peripherals that indicate they will have positive regression, having depth in the minors and the bench to help weather injuries, having payroll flexibility at the trade deadline and not making high cost win now moves has resulted in 4 division titles and a world series win. So if AA sticks to his model Freddie probably wont be back. I think 5/135 offer is the max the Braves can offer and still remain competitive. As people on here have pointed out, historically 1st basemen don't age well. I love Freddie but I really don't want to watch him struggle the last 3 years of a 6 year contract.

My dream would be for the Braves to get Olson from the A's but I doubt that will happen.

Assuming not signing Freddie allows for 30 million in spending, I would look at signing both Rizzo and Chris Taylor on 3 year deals with a 4th year option. The pair wouldn't cost much more than 30 to 35 million a year.

Brandon Belt is an interesting option too if he would sign a one year deal.

Kris Bryant will probably get less money than projections despite being a Boras client. His defense would age better at 1st. Bryant is 2 years younger than Freddie, so a 5 year contact to him would probably work out better on the back end.
 
Any concerns over Verlander and the sticky stuff? He hasn't pitched in a big league game since the crackdown. I'd hate to sign him and then watch him not be near as good because he's not using a substance anymore.
 
Given the reported interest in Syndergaard and Verlander, it can be assumed the Braves have budgeted ~ 20 million for a SP.

That means either:
1) AA is preparing a Plan B without Freeman
2) Payroll is going up significantly

To be honest, there is more support for #2 than #1.
 
I still think the business side of the club will require Freeman be re-signed. We can debate whether his contributions will be worth it later in the contract or whether it will hamstring us from competing in a couple years. But the fact remains that the Braves have an enormous amount of good will and excitement following their world series win. This will mean more season tickets sold and people willing to pay higher prices for tickets. If they don't re-sign Freeman they will lose a lot of good will. That will harm the business side of the club.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if McGuirk had already given AA his marching orders to re-sign Freddie.
 
I didn’t realize Verlander wanted to be on the east coast. So narrowing down his choices should be pretty easy. He’s right up AA’s ally of short term deals. A Verlander, Morton, Fried, and Anderson playoff rotation would be nasty. Him and Morton pitched together in Houston so that should help.
 
CJ9 said:
Any concerns over Verlander and the sticky stuff? He hasn't pitched in a big league game since the crackdown. I'd hate to sign him and then watch him not be near as good because he's not using a substance anymore.
Click to expand...

I mean anything is possible but I would doubt this is an issue with Verlander.
 
Its pretty wild that the Atlanta Braves are a prime FA destination now.

What a world. The Battery was a brilliant decision.
 
chop2chip said:
Given the reported interest in Syndergaard and Verlander, it can be assumed the Braves have budgeted ~ 20 million for a SP.

That means either:
1) AA is preparing a Plan B without Freeman
2) Payroll is going up significantly

To be honest, there is more support for #2 than #1.
Click to expand...

I can't even fathom the Braves having enough payroll to give Verlander $20M, Freeman close to $30M, and still have enough cash for LF and CF.

I mean...wow. That would require something like a $190M+ payroll in 2022, and possibly $200M+.
 
CJ9 said:
Any concerns over Verlander and the sticky stuff? He hasn't pitched in a big league game since the crackdown. I'd hate to sign him and then watch him not be near as good because he's not using a substance anymore.
Click to expand...

The only thing we could check is his spin rates before and after he went to the Astros. If the spin rate increased by 100+, then we can probably assume he did something. If it stayed flat, and we assume he didn't cheat in Detroit, that may mean he never cheated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top