AerchAngel
<B>Secretary of Statistics</B>
The only way we trade a player is they take BJ with them if it is Heyward, Freeman or Simmons. To not do it is a crime.
Please lock up Heyward - I am not kidding
- Thread starter AerchAngel
- Start date
sturg33
I
Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves: The 25-year-old Gold Glove winner will be a free agent after next season, and if Atlanta president John Hart determines that the team will not be able to re-sign him to a long-term deal, the best play for the team could be to trade him now, to recoup as much value as possible. And within the context of the current position player market, Heyward would look like a gem.
Yes, he has been erratic offensively, but he has power, he takes walks, and he is regarded as a shutdown defender at a time when the industry places a high priority in that.
Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves: Like Heyward, the 27-year-old Upton will be eligible for free agency after next season. Coming off a summer in which he had 29 homers among 65 extra-base hits, he’s worth a lot more in trade now than the draft pick the Braves would get if he walked away as a free agent next fall. If the Braves don’t think they can afford to sign him to a long-term deal, then trading him this winter -- in the thin market for power hitting -- could be the smart move.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Hey! I don't write for ESPN so they've stolen my idea! If we trade either of them, J. Upton is the one to trade. See if we can start a bidding war between a couple of the "must win now" franchises and cash in. If we can't do that, he's probably here until free agency. Whatever we do, we shouldn't settle for the kind of deal that moved Teixeira out of Atlanta. We want the kind of haul that brought Teixeira to Atlanta.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
I would trade Justin before Jason. Between his defense, leadership and ceiling, I'd prefer him personally. Do I want to keep both? Yes. Do I hope they take pay cuts? Yes. Will they? Probably not. Let's just be smart and got get screwed over. If we could get a good trade, I'd gladly trade Justin in a package that begins with a ML ready pitcher.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
I think we'd all perform better without having to watch his brother.
... Well, except maybe Fearless Leader.
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
Miss the playoffs/lose in WC round=compete?
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Playoffs are a lottery. So there is value in holding a ticket, even via the wild card.
Personally, I view the regular season as a more meaningful test. I love the intensity of post-season play, but luck plays such a big part in short series that inferior teams win out quite often.
NinersSBChamps
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br> 2015 (Co-Winner)</BR>20
I understand your point. but regular season wins aren't important when you don't win in October.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
And playoffs are not possible without regular season wins. One is a necessary condition for the other. Unless you have stumbled upon a formula for making it to the playoffs without regular season wins. I'm all ears.
NinersSBChamps
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br> 2015 (Co-Winner)</BR>20
Obviously that is the case. I am saying regular season wins are pretty meaningless when you constantly fail in the post season. I mean you think Oakland or Angels are happy they won 90 plus games but didn't advance in the post season?
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Regular season wins are a necessary condition (though not a guarantee) for playoff success. I would say Oakland and Angels fans are happier than fans of the Twins or Cubs or other teams that knew from spring training their teams had no chance. But maybe you would rather be the fan of a no hope team than one that contends only to disappoint.
NYCBrave
Well-known member
The way the game is now, you almost have to treat it like two different entities. Winning the division (which is the prize for 6 months of good play) should almost be celebrated way more than winning the world series (getting lucky and getting hot for 3 weeks). No this is not a loser mentality, but the playoffs really are not indicative at all of what transpired during the season, it's a whole nother thing.
If he demands $20-$25M a year we better send his ass packing this offseason. I would love to lock him up but definitely not close to that. I'm very curious what he's asking for.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
[Insert eye-roll.]
What do you expect the FA rate for a 26 year old with Heyward's pedigree is going to be? He is already one of the best defensive players and base runners in the game, and has potential to be elite offensively. Heyward may have been a disappointment since he was billed as the next Chipper, but he is still a very valuable player.
I would say his floor is $20M per year, and if he hit the open market right now I bet he could score a 7-10 year deal with an opt out clause.
So yes, if the Braves want to keep him they better be willing to hitch their wagons to the Freeman/Heyward tandem for a LONG time. If they want to add JUp to that mix they better be willing to pay $60M per year for 3 players. So in other words, it ain't happening.
The way Hart/Coppy handle JUp and Heyward over the next 12 months could very well determine the fate of this franchise for the next decade.
I would say his floor is $20M per year, and if he hit the open market right now I bet he could score a 7-10 year deal with an opt out clause.
So yes, if the Braves want to keep him they better be willing to hitch their wagons to the Freeman/Heyward tandem for a LONG time. If they want to add JUp to that mix they better be willing to pay $60M per year for 3 players. So in other words, it ain't happening.
The way Hart/Coppy handle JUp and Heyward over the next 12 months could very well determine the fate of this franchise for the next decade.