Official 2024 Off-Season Thread!

Rosario gets along with everybody in the clubhouse really well and AA believes in that. If we don’t bring Rosario back then I think he’ll get a significant upgrade out there. Robert makes the most sense bc the White Sox are going nowhere. He just turned 26 and has 2 more years on his deal cheap. If we trade assets for anybody it needs to be him.

And who are we trading to get a premier young talent that has affordable control left?
 
And who are we trading to get a premier young talent that has affordable control left?

I tend to agree with you. I think this is the off-season where Anthopoulos stands pat in the now-for-later department. I think Grissom and Smith-Shawver could fetch a return, but that would further deplete the minor league talent pool and there just isn't enough pitching depth to move Smith-Shawver. I can see Grissom being moved because he really doesn't fit in the current scheme seeing we are set at his primary positions (SS and 2B) and if they were planning on moving him to LF, I don't know why they didn't do that in Gwinnett after Lopez was obtained.

I don't see anyone currently in the system other than those two who would bring much in return unless one includes guys like Murphy, Waldrep, and some of the injured guys and I seriously doubt any of those are going anywhere.

It's likely to be a money-driven off-season to fill holes. The position-player core is in place. That's the plan Anthopoulos has put in motion.

For the record, I can't stand Rosario. But it may be difficult to do better in landing a LHH LF as part of a platoon. I hope they find a better 4th OF than Pillar for the RH part of the formula.
 
Verdugo is a guy that feels like he could be a AA target. 1 year rental. Excellent glove, decent bat. Acquisition cost should be pretty low overall.
 
Heyward is likely an upgrade over Rosario. Problem is AA to dump Rosario and then win the bidding for Heyward. That could go many ways, but to me, the risk/reward isn’t worth it.
 
Verdugo is a guy that feels like he could be a AA target. 1 year rental. Excellent glove, decent bat. Acquisition cost should be pretty low overall.

I'm curious if Verdugo will be non-tendered. Probably not, but it's always hard to tell with guys in that strata.
 
Heyward is likely an upgrade over Rosario. Problem is AA to dump Rosario and then win the bidding for Heyward. That could go many ways, but to me, the risk/reward isn’t worth it.

I think the other angle is if they simply let Rosario walk and then lose in a bidding war over Heyward, they are scrambling. Anthopoulos has found himself backed into a corner a couple of times over his tenure, but has come out of those situations in pretty good shape. Hard to keep tempting fate.
 
Was reading about the projected salaries for Braves players eligible for arbitration. Nicky Lopez is projected to get nearly $4 million. Which is double what Arcia will make next year. Not sure how that's going to work if they planned to retain Lopez.
 
I think the other angle is if they simply let Rosario walk and then lose in a bidding war over Heyward, they are scrambling. Anthopoulos has found himself backed into a corner a couple of times over his tenure, but has come out of those situations in pretty good shape. Hard to keep tempting fate.

I really don't see a bidding war happening for Heyward and Rosario seems like the type that will need to wait til February/March before he signs.
 
MLBTR's primer for the Braves: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/offseason-outlook-atlanta-braves-12.html

Nothing really being said that we haven't already covered.

Morton could come back for less money.

The in house options to replace him are more filler than anything else.

Burnes, Bieber, Cease, Glasnow, Pivetta, Quantrill are the trade candidates.

They mention the lower tier FA arms like Flaherty, Lugo, Wacha...no thanks. AA should shoot higher.

They cover how blah the LF options are if Rosario walks, but they don't mention Heyward who is the obvious target.
 
I am not the smartest baseball fan, but I was thinking how much Acuna and that contract would bring. We did as well without him in the postseason. Go get Ohtani.
 
MLBTR's primer for the Braves: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/offseason-outlook-atlanta-braves-12.html

Nothing really being said that we haven't already covered.

Morton could come back for less money.

The in house options to replace him are more filler than anything else.

Burnes, Bieber, Cease, Glasnow, Pivetta, Quantrill are the trade candidates.

They mention the lower tier FA arms like Flaherty, Lugo, Wacha...no thanks. AA should shoot higher.

They cover how blah the LF options are if Rosario walks, but they don't mention Heyward who is the obvious target.

AA absolutely must pick a starting pitcher from the top tier that's available, and if he wants to add a Lugo or Wacha to eat up innings at the back of the rotation fine. But he should be acquiring one guy at minimum who we'd all be fine with starting a postseason game.
 
I am not the smartest baseball fan, but I was thinking how much Acuna and that contract would bring. We did as well without him in the postseason. Go get Ohtani.

Acuna is the most valuable asset in the sport. No contending team could put together a package for him and still be a contender. Trading Trout used to be the same thing...practically impossible.
 
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I really don't see a bidding war happening for Heyward and Rosario seems like the type that will need to wait til February/March before he signs.

Bidding war was probably the wrong term, but if the Braves budget < $10 MM and Heyward wants > $10 MM, he'll likely follow the money. Hard to believe we are talking between $8 MM and $10 MM for guys like Rosario and Heyward.
 
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