Solid Bets in FA

Tapate50

Tapate50

Well-known member
Lets say the front office goes shopping down the starting pitcher and FA 3B\OF isle this offseason...We all know how spotty our record for high end signings is and when we 'break out the checkbooks' things generally just 'break' instead. Lookin' at you Beej.

Anyway, who is the safest bet to look at when looking at $ vs value? I don't want to pursue any flash in the pan type of player. I want rock solid production at the least amount of risk. Who is the smart money on?
 
SP- Kazmir, Brett Anderson, Buerhle (for a year or so), Wei-Yin-Chen, Gallarado.

3B- Uribe, Freese, not much here. Could go after Howie Kendrick and move him to 3B.

OF- Not much here, honestly. Assuming we arent in on Justin, Jason or Cespedes. There's some options but i take they take short-term deals like Span, Fowler. De Aza would be an ok stop gap. Probably need to trade for someone
 
Heyward said:
SP- Kazmir, Brett Anderson, Buerhle (for a year or so), Wei-Yin-Chen, Gallarado.

3B- Uribe, Freese, not much here. Could go after Howie Kendrick and move him to 3B.

OF- Not much here, honestly. Assuming we arent in on Justin, Jason or Cespedes. There's some options but i take they take short-term deals like Span, Fowler. De Aza would be an ok stop gap. Probably need to trade for someone
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I would think Price would be in the safe bet SP category. I would also think Zimmerman projects well?

I am more interesting in a solid track record and no player that has peripherals or things that really cause you to worry about them producing at a near value rate for the contract.
 
Heyward said:
SP- Kazmir, Brett Anderson, Buerhle (for a year or so), Wei-Yin-Chen, Gallarado.
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Kazmir and Anderson are huge injury risks. Buerhle is not better than any of our in-house options. Gallardo might be an interesting piece if the price is right. I like Chen -- especially in the NL.
 
Tapate50 said:
I would think Price would be in the safe bet SP category. I would also think Zimmerman projects well?
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I agree, although it's worth noting for the sake of a balanced argument that Price has a ton of innings under his belt ... and he's on the wrong side of his prime. CC Sabathia is a good comp in general -- he's been a remarkably healthy workhorse (had a knee injury last season but his arm appears relatively sound). The question really is: do we think that Price can continue to be useful/serviceable into the later years of his contract as his stuff tapers off? Given the Braves payroll constraints they really can't afford to be paying a guy ~$20MM+ to just be 'OK'. Sabathia is struggling with the transition from power to finesse right now, and he's primarily a fastball/sinker guy (90 MPH) who mixes in a nice slider/change piece. Price, on the other hand, seems to rely a lot on velocity: also fastball/sinker (95 MPH) with a hard change/cutter/curve.
 
Tapate50 said:
I would think Price would be in the safe bet SP category. I would also think Zimmerman projects well?

I am more interesting in a solid track record and no player that has peripherals or things that really cause you to worry about them producing at a near value rate for the contract.
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I thought you were talking about in terms of value dollars.

Im not against going after Price or Zimmerman, but Price has a ton of innings on his arm. I think the Cubs will go hard for Zimmerman.
 
Heyward said:
OF- Not much here, honestly. Assuming we arent in on Justin, Jason or Cespedes. There's some options but i take they take short-term deals like Span, Fowler. De Aza would be an ok stop gap. Probably need to trade for someone
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Are any of these better than Smith and Maybin?
 
So, only proven players from here on out? Not with you there, chum (and yes, I know I’m exaggerating your comment to the point of absurdity). I can’t help thinking that with at least two candidates for center in Smith and Peraza, and Maybin providing close you what you’d get in Cespedes, we’re better spending the resources at third or catcher. Or yeah, maybe an ace. I’d roll the dice and adjust in 2017 if need be.

Although if nothing longterm appears at third, you could do worse than Uribe and K Johnson.

That leave a lot for a catcher with some thump and an ace….
 
Gallardo would be a nice addition. He's been pretty solid since his days in Milwaukee and this season down in Arlington he's pitched very well.

I just can't see this front office paying for a quality starting pitcher from the free agent crop.
 
NinersSBChamps said:
I just can't see this front office paying for a quality starting pitcher from the free agent crop.
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Don't see why not. The Braves have no clear ace, are pitching obsessed, and have a bunch of SP prospects that need to be used to acquire hitting (hitting that isn't available on the FA market).
 
Price is the only SP we should go after. We should have the money to get Price and Jason or Justin. Especially if we can convince someone to take Markakis.
 
Heyward said:
SP- Kazmir, Brett Anderson, Buerhle (for a year or so), Wei-Yin-Chen, Gallarado.

3B- Uribe, Freese, not much here. Could go after Howie Kendrick and move him to 3B.

OF- Not much here, honestly. Assuming we arent in on Justin, Jason or Cespedes. There's some options but i take they take short-term deals like Span, Fowler. De Aza would be an ok stop gap. Probably need to trade for someone
Click to expand...

He asked for safe bets and this is the list you come up with?
 
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