Offseason Hot Stove 2024-25 Thread

I'm not worried about the 5th spot in the rotation. I am worried about depth.

AJSS, Holmes, Elder, Waldrep, etc are good depth options in case someone goes down for an extended stretch. I have faith we can string together enough quality innings from that bunch so that it won't greatly affect the outcome of this season. But when this group is currently competing for your 5th rotation spot and 2 of them will likely have to start until at least May... well that is a problem.

I still believe AA is going to bring in a quality MLB starting caliber pitcher before the end of ST. Even if that pitcher is only Jose Quintana or Lance Lynn.
 
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I am not too worried about the 5th spot.. between Elder/Holmes and the tripA train, someone will fill that spot. I am worried about depth though.. like you said, this team can't afford any injuries, not just in the rotation..

There's still some guys out there on the FA market. But if Strider misses the first 3-4 weeks, you cant have any of the top 3 out. They do need to add someone, b/c idk if you can trust Anderson out there. Elder, we know what he is. Maybe Holmes is a diamond in the rough, but thats one spot, and i like him better in the bullpen.
 
People who are worried about the 5th spot and depth of the rotation should first be worried about the 4th spot in the rotation. The Braves should consider themselves lucky to get 250 IP combined from Sale/Strider this year. Schwelly is a 2nd year regression candidate. Lopez is solid, but the reality is he's a converted BP arm who had multiple shoulder scares last year. It's very likely there is no point this season where all 4 are available at the same time.

That's it. That's the end of legit MLB SP depth for this championship contender. All the other names folks rattle off as if they mean anything are just that...names. Other than Holmes as a swing guy, none of the other guys represent anything resembling MLB SPs. AJSS has a shot, but unless a lot has changed in that arsenal since he made his MLB debut I'm not holding out much hope.
 
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People who are worried about the 5th spot and depth of the rotation should first be worried about the 4th spot in the rotation. The Braves should consider themselves lucky to get 250 IP combined from Sale/Strider this year. Schwelly is a 2nd year regression candidate. Lopez is solid, but the reality is he's a converted BP arm who had multiple shoulder scares last year. It's very likely there is no point this season where all 4 are available at the same time.

That's it. That's the end of legit MLB SP depth for this championship contender. All the other names folks rattle off as if they mean anything are just that...names. Other than Holmes as a swing guy, none of the other guys represent anything resembling MLB SPs. AJSS has a shot, but unless a lot has changed in that arsenal since he made his MLB debut I'm not holding out much hope.

You don't have to squint too hard to see how the train runs off the track on this season. The only logical explanation is that the plan is to reset the tax, unless Acuna and Strider come back in top form and the team overachieves, then maybe they take on salary midseason.
 
You don't have to squint too hard to see how the train runs off the track on this season. The only logical explanation is that the plan is to reset the tax, unless Acuna and Strider come back in top form and the team overachieves, then maybe they take on salary midseason.

And if the train runs off the tracks, attendance drops. If attendance drops, payroll goes down
 
too much doom in this thread

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You don't have to squint too hard to see how the train runs off the track on this season. The only logical explanation is that the plan is to reset the tax, unless Acuna and Strider come back in top form and the team overachieves, then maybe they take on salary midseason.

Theres no such thing as a safe team. Even the Dodgers. In the same vane if just Acuna and Strider are good but not great as they were before the team is looking really good.
 
Theres no such thing as a safe team. Even the Dodgers. In the same vane if just Acuna and Strider are good but not great as they were before the team is looking really good.

Braves maybe have more injury risk than average in rotation though it's hard to really say how much more than average.

I'm not sure that their organizational depth will turn out to be much worse than most club's organizational depth.

The Dodgers/Padres aside I guess.

In the era of twice through the rotation and give it to the pen...you can get through a lot if you are hitting.

If the Braves have locked themselves into an offensive core that doesn't hit, that would seem like the real problem.
 
Braves just released the lineups for ST games 3 and 4, and still no sign of Albies or Profar. Hmm.
 
I'm surprised they didn't go hard after Fried or empty the farm for Cease.

At the very least I thought they would go after someone with team control like Castillo or Pablo Lopez. I can see the Mets not willing to see the farm for a 1 year rental.
 
wow.. I went to MLB to see when the Braves play and I saw Braves/Boston with S. Newcomb starting.. mini stroke later, I realized he was pitching for the BoSoxs... I didn't even realize he was still in league.
 
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