Spring Training 2015

Carp said:
Read it again. I said, what offense are we going to get that we can't already get without trading Kimbrell and BJ?

We already have plenty of room left in the budget (more actually with the Uggla deal ending) to make a good splash in the FA market or trade market. There will/should be lot of semi affordable CF/OF options in next yrs FA. Fowler, Austin Jackson, Span, Cespedes, and Stubbs. Even some older players who could rebound like Quentin, Victorino, and Venable. We can afford any of these guys without getting rid of Kimbrell and BJ's contracts.
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No we don't. With the pay increases to Freeman, Teheran, and Simmons - not to mention all the arb guys... they basically wash the money coming off the books.
 
It's no sure thing that the Braves will be a competitive team in 2016, but I think there's a reasonable chance. In my view, we'd actually have a better chance of being competitive if we DO trade Kimbrel at the deadline for young, MLB-ready talent. The upcoming trade deadline may be the pinnacle of Kimbrel's value, so we'd be foolish not to at least listen. If the right deal isn't there, you move on.

Mid-market teams survive by building and retaining core talent and selling high on non-core talent. Some will surely disagree, but I don't think it's wise for us to lock ourselves into a mindset that Kimbrel - or any closer - is a core asset.
 
We have some future pieces, but I don't see competitiveness in 2015 or 2016.....(maybe 2017 with some significant changes)

Realistically, we have 2 pieces that we know are long term cornerstone players for the future. Freeman and Simmons. (I still take Simmons even with his offensive issues)

That leaves 6 other players. There are no Heyward/Freeman level prospects in the upper levels right now, but there are some guys that project to be solid contributors. I think Jose Peraza is a step below that Heyward/Freeman level, but is still likely a long term cornerstone player. Not sure how much we get from him in 2016, but maybe we do get above average production from him in 2017/back half of 16.

So that leaves 5 (ignoring good, but not great prospects like Smith, Ruiz, etc. as well as guys in A ball that it is really too early to tell or to project for any success in the next 2 years)

C- This spot is a huge question mark. Its probably his job for the next 2 years, but its questionable if he's a starting catcher on a contending team.

3B- Jace Peterson has looked good in the spring. Still questions about whether he's a major league regular and if so, if hes a starter on a playoff caliber team.

LF/CF/RF- I include RF because we certainly need an upgrade there, but obviously we are just with Markakis. He is likely the RF for the next 2-3 years at least. That is one position where we are hampered on the ability to upgrade. Left field and center field are clearly positions we need to upgrade.

If you are going to tell me we have a chance to compete in 2016, we are going to have to have a big free agent signing and the majority of our high minor/major league prospects are going to have to be productive players (Peraza/Bethancourt/Peterson)

Right now, we likely have 2 above average position players.
 
gilesfan said:
We have some future pieces, but I don't see competitiveness in 2015 or 2016.....(maybe 2017 with some significant changes)

Realistically, we have 2 pieces that we know are long term cornerstone players for the future. Freeman and Simmons. (I still take Simmons even with his offensive issues)

That leaves 6 other players. There are no Heyward/Freeman level prospects in the upper levels right now, but there are some guys that project to be solid contributors. I think Jose Peraza is a step below that Heyward/Freeman level, but is still likely a long term cornerstone player. Not sure how much we get from him in 2016, but maybe we do get above average production from him in 2017/back half of 16.

So that leaves 5 (ignoring good, but not great prospects like Smith, Ruiz, etc. as well as guys in A ball that it is really too early to tell or to project for any success in the next 2 years)

C- This spot is a huge question mark. Its probably his job for the next 2 years, but its questionable if he's a starting catcher on a contending team.

3B- Jace Peterson has looked good in the spring. Still questions about whether he's a major league regular and if so, if hes a starter on a playoff caliber team.

LF/CF/RF- I include RF because we certainly need an upgrade there, but obviously we are just with Markakis. He is likely the RF for the next 2-3 years at least. That is one position where we are hampered on the ability to upgrade. Left field and center field are clearly positions we need to upgrade.

If you are going to tell me we have a chance to compete in 2016, we are going to have to have a big free agent signing and the majority of our high minor/major league prospects are going to have to be productive players (Peraza/Bethancourt/Peterson)

Right now, we likely have 2 above average position players.
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Good synopsis. A lot will depend on guys like Ruiz and Smith becoming solid regulars by 2017. They don't project as top drawer guys, but I think they can be more than guys who just play a position. Albies is a guy to watch as well, but he is likely a 2018 guy (and where does he play?). They have to draft/sign young bats. No question about that being a very high priority.
 
Barring a MASSIVE shake up this offseason we will not be competitive in 2016 either. That being the case, four or five high draft picks should help the system...Frankly, unless they work miracles I don't see 2017 as the year either.
 
Tapate50 said:
Barring a MASSIVE shake up this offseason we will not be competitive in 2016 either. That being the case, four or five high draft picks should help the system...Frankly, unless they work miracles I don't see 2017 as the year either.
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I agree. I can see incremental improvement, but it's hard to imagine being really good in 2016. Our young guys, even if they're ultimately successful, are probably going to take some lumps at the big league level for a while. To be a legit contender in '16, I think we'd have to sign a stud LF and have all of the young'uns produce a best-case kind of season. It's possible, but doesn't seem likely.
 
I'm hopeful that Braxton Davidson puts up a monster season and puts himself in contention for a 2017 impact.

But of all of our minor leaguers, he's really the only one I see being an "impact" bat. And even that is certainly not guaranteed.
 
Julio3000 said:
I agree. I can see incremental improvement, but it's hard to imagine being really good in 2016. Our young guys, even if they're ultimately successful, are probably going to take some lumps at the big league level for a while. To be a legit contender in '16, I think we'd have to sign a stud LF and have all of the young'uns produce a best-case kind of season. It's possible, but doesn't seem likely.
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With ya. That same narrative would almost certainly have to apply to 2017 as well for us to "hit our ceiling" and frankly... we have had more than our fair share of ****TTY luck lately so I fully expect Kimbrel, Wood, and Sims to be nonfactors by then via some crazy injury! Simmons will get Chuck Knoblach disease and forget where the bases are located, Dan Uggla will win his first MVP as a member of the Nats, and our pets heads will be falling off (or just Nick Markaikis).
 
Tapate50 said:
Olney picks us as second to worst team in MLB. Only ahead of Philly.

I don't think we will be THAT bad, but it isn't going to be pretty. Bring on the high draft picks!
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That's been the trendy thing for most pundits. Of course I don't think many of them are watching some of these teams in camp very objectively. No one seems to be talking about them, but I have a tough time seeing Tampa being any better than us, and they could easily be worse.

Longoria > Johnson

Simmons = Cabrera

Peterson/Callaspo > Forsythe

Freeman > Loney

Markakis > Souza (Souza's had a dreadful spring)

EY ~ Kiermaier

KJ/Gomes ~ Jennings

They're down Cobb, Smyly, Moore, and McGee right now, and Balfour's their current closer. Without Joe Maddon around, how can they NOT be in the discussion of the worst teams???
 
clvclv said:
That's been the trendy thing for most pundits. Of course I don't think many of them are watching some of these teams in camp very objectively. No one seems to be talking about them, but I have a tough time seeing Tampa being any better than us, and they could easily be worse.

Longoria > Johnson
Simmons = Cabrera
Peterson/Callaspo > Forsythe
Freeman > Loney
Markakis > Souza (Souza's had a dreadful spring)
EY ~ Kiermaier
KJ/Gomes ~ Jennings

They're down Cobb, Smyly, Moore, and McGee right now, and Balfour's their current closer. Without Joe Maddon around, how can they NOT be in the discussion of the worst teams???
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Im sorry, but I don't think you could be more wrong on the Rays. (managers don't work miracles either). Obviously health is a concern for them, but I believe all those guys are projected back at worst in the first part of the season. I also think Brad Boxberger is their closer, not Grant Balfour.

If the Rays get 115 ish starts from Cobb, Archer, Odorizzi, Smyly, Moore, they will have one of the top staffs int he American League.

As for position players (remember the Rays probably have the best defense in baseball; maybe by a longshot:

C- Rivera>Bethancourt
1B- Freeman>Loney
2B- Franklin/Forsyth ~Peterson/Callaspo
SS- Cabrera < Simmons
3B- Longoria > Johnson
LF- Jennings> Gomes/KJ (how could you possibly call these guys even?)
CF- Kiermaier>EY/Upton (how could you possibly calls these guys even?)
RF- Souza < Markakis (bc of bad spring. But, I think Souza could be a breakout player this year and one of only 3 players I think that BP projects as a 20/20 man)

The Rays also have a pretty deep bench/DH with Forsythe, Dejesus, Guyer, Jaso

Now, if Cobb and Smyly miss 2/3 months, that could really change things.

I believe last year the Rays had the worst cluster luck in the majors.
 
gilesfan said:
We have some future pieces, but I don't see competitiveness in 2015 or 2016.....(maybe 2017 with some significant changes)

Realistically, we have 2 pieces that we know are long term cornerstone players for the future. Freeman and Simmons. (I still take Simmons even with his offensive issues)

That leaves 6 other players. There are no Heyward/Freeman level prospects in the upper levels right now, but there are some guys that project to be solid contributors. I think Jose Peraza is a step below that Heyward/Freeman level, but is still likely a long term cornerstone player. Not sure how much we get from him in 2016, but maybe we do get above average production from him in 2017/back half of 16.

So that leaves 5 (ignoring good, but not great prospects like Smith, Ruiz, etc. as well as guys in A ball that it is really too early to tell or to project for any success in the next 2 years)

C- This spot is a huge question mark. Its probably his job for the next 2 years, but its questionable if he's a starting catcher on a contending team.

3B- Jace Peterson has looked good in the spring. Still questions about whether he's a major league regular and if so, if hes a starter on a playoff caliber team.

LF/CF/RF- I include RF because we certainly need an upgrade there, but obviously we are just with Markakis. He is likely the RF for the next 2-3 years at least. That is one position where we are hampered on the ability to upgrade. Left field and center field are clearly positions we need to upgrade.

If you are going to tell me we have a chance to compete in 2016, we are going to have to have a big free agent signing and the majority of our high minor/major league prospects are going to have to be productive players (Peraza/Bethancourt/Peterson)

Right now, we likely have 2 above average position players.
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The way I see the future roster shaping up:

Freeman and Simmons locked in, CB is at least a defensive first C. Peraza and Jace handle 2 of 2B, 3B and CF. Markakis is entrenched in RF and slides to LF in 2-3 years. That's hopefully 6 of 8 positions. Unless Braxton turns it on, there is nothing else of note coming up through the system except that tiny SS prospect who probably won't be ready by 2017 anyways.

Depending on where Jace and Peraza ultimately end up playing, the Braves will need to either sign or trade for at least 2 legit MLB position players for CF, RF, 3B, and/or 2B. JBJr from the BoSox is a guy they have already been targeting to fill one of those holes.
 
No worries, my inside sources are telling me that Heyward, Upton, Price, and Grienke are all coming to Atlanta. You thought this last offseason was a whorlwind with Hart, wait until December 2015! And I have reason to believe that my sources are correct in their assumptions.
 
Enscheff said:
The way I see the future roster shaping up:

Freeman and Simmons locked in, CB is at least a defensive first C. Peraza and Jace handle 2 of 2B, 3B and CF. Markakis is entrenched in RF and slides to LF in 2-3 years. That's hopefully 6 of 8 positions. Unless Braxton turns it on, there is nothing else of note coming up through the system except that tiny SS prospect who probably won't be ready by 2017 anyways.

Depending on where Jace and Peraza ultimately end up playing, the Braves will need to either sign or trade for at least 2 legit MLB position players for CF, RF, 3B, and/or 2B. JBJr from the BoSox is a guy they have already been targeting to fill one of those holes.
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That team might hit 40 HRs
 
Enscheff said:
The way I see the future roster shaping up:

Freeman and Simmons locked in, CB is at least a defensive first C. Peraza and Jace handle 2 of 2B, 3B and CF. Markakis is entrenched in RF and slides to LF in 2-3 years. That's hopefully 6 of 8 positions. Unless Braxton turns it on, there is nothing else of note coming up through the system except that tiny SS prospect who probably won't be ready by 2017 anyways.

Depending on where Jace and Peraza ultimately end up playing, the Braves will need to either sign or trade for at least 2 legit MLB position players for CF, RF, 3B, and/or 2B. JBJr from the BoSox is a guy they have already been targeting to fill one of those holes.
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Rio Ruiz is going to surprise quite a few people.
 
thethe said:
Braves need a long term option at CF/LF/3B. The rest is fine. Braves have a lot of interesting options for both 3B/CF. Somehow they have to find a way to get a good hitting left fielder.
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If Peterson and Smith both play like they did this spring (I know, I know) and Peraza has the AAA season most of us expect, you could very possibly get by with just LF, and concentrate on the pen and maybe an ace. I’m not even certain the latter is strictly necessary.

Please note that I am not even going to try to count the number of Ifs in that paragraph.
 
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