Now even Liberty is throwing AA under the bus...
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/03/liberty-media-ceo-maffei-discusses-braves-outlook.html
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/03/liberty-media-ceo-maffei-discusses-braves-outlook.html
TONS Of Money To Spend
- Thread starter clvclv
- Start date
Southcack77
Well-known member
I kind of agree with all of the Braves individual decisions, but the end result seems a little short.
I actually believe the Braves when they say there is more money but they don't like the deals that were around.
I actually believe the Braves when they say there is more money but they don't like the deals that were around.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
they made an offer for Brantley that was well above what they are paying Muk...so in all likelihood they have some budget to play with
Tapate50
Well-known member
Did you read that?
I honestly don’t put much stock into management comments to the public. BUT- I think I’m this case they have had their offers rebuffed and we still have money to spend, perhaps even a lot to spend.
What would you guess they offered Brantley? A minimum of $15M in 2019? Meaning they have $10M-ish left to play with after signing Markakis?
That certainly jives with estimates of an opening day payroll around $120M-$125M.
There has to be at least 1 more move coming, I just can’t figure out what that move is likely to be. Something like Newk for a position player and then backfill the rotation with Gio. An arm for Clint Frazier. Something like that.
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Tapate50
Well-known member
I'd be up for a Clint Frazier move.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Yeah, at least 15M. I'm guessing the full season budget is around 135M. Maybe the plan was to start the season around 120M, with 15M (which prorates to being able to take on 30-40M in salary mid-season). Now they have around 20-25M to play with (up to 50M of salary to take on mid-season). AA is in a position to be very aggressive this mid-season. I think he will look for value as always. But he could pick up a couple big contracts.
Just to throw out some names and their salary this year:
Cervelli (11M)
Wade Davis (18M)
Ian Desmond (15M)
David Peralta (7M)
We could pick up 2 players like that. I'm guessing if there is a long term injury we will react quickly to plug the whole.
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Ozuna is someone we could target if the Cards fall out of it. A shame Cepedes can't stay healthy as I'd be all over him too at the deadline.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
That kind of move is always there regardless of budget. The idea with having a bigger slush fund for mid-season moves is you can take on some bigger contracts with less surplus value. That way you minimize what you give up in the way of prospects.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Yeah. The one problem with mid-season moves is you don't know which teams will be sellers. A team like Baltimore or Miami will be a seller, but neither has much to pick from.
Southcack77
Well-known member
Ozuna is another one.
One or more of the Pirates OF in additional to Cervelli seems likely to be in play. Along with old pal Chris Archer.
Couple of teams in the Central will be selling.
Upton but his deal is a little longer and he has a no trade clause.
When the Angels fall out of it again I'd try to make a super trade and bring back Upton and Simmons to rebuild the Golden Wrens.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Yeah, Upton is on my radar too. There are some teams that are trying to contend this year, but look like pseudo contenders. Puig with the Reds is another possibility.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Actually, its not just what was just said yesterday. It also involves the fact that a pretty competitive offer was made to Brantley. McGuirk is probably the guy who has given the most detailed information on budgeting and I'm taking that into account as well. I think the information is out there to make some pretty well-educated guesses.
BeanieAntics
Arbitration Eligible
Its just hard to understand how you could look at getting Grandal on a one or two year deal and not like the value of it. I understand we already had B-Mac at that point, but still.
BeanieAntics
Arbitration Eligible
I think that a few OFers in the NL Central are bound to become available at some point this season. I think the Reds are gonna come back down to earth quickly so Puig could be an option. Polanco or Marte from the Pirates. Ozuna from the Cardinals. Maybe Happ from the Cubs.
The NL is going to be soooo competitive this year and I think we will see a few teams with legitimate assets unexpectedly drop out of contention by the trade deadline. Some of them will probably be looking to sell. After this relatively passive offseason, we need to be at the forefront of any potential deals that could be had.
The NL is going to be soooo competitive this year and I think we will see a few teams with legitimate assets unexpectedly drop out of contention by the trade deadline. Some of them will probably be looking to sell. After this relatively passive offseason, we need to be at the forefront of any potential deals that could be had.
I still think it's gonna be Castellanos
Everybody's aware of how dangerous it is to read anything into camp performances, but Pache and others can't have the breakout seasons that catapult them into "core pieces" without having big springs. Cristian, Wright, Wilson, and several others couldn't have done more to establish themselves as "untradeable" a month into the 2019 season.
As always, there are still plenty of questions for people to answer, but thus far even I'm willing to admit it's relatively tough to argue against AA's lack of activity. I'm still in favor of a Kimbrel addition (if and only if he can get him on the right terms), but there are several kids that are well on their ways to establishing themselves as someone who we'd already be *itching about having traded for shorter-term additions like Realmuto.
Don't misunderstand - if there really is still substantial money available and AA's not willing to overpay a bit at the deadline if this team is in the mix, I'm sure I'll howl as loud as anyone...but if the depth continues to take steps forward, things "should" turn out great. He still needs to remain keenly aware of the fact that he's only going to be able to afford major pieces like Freeman, Acuna, Albies, etc. for so much longer unless several pieces are willing to hang around for "fair value" rather than "market value".