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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Braves' to a friend
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BravesNomad
Wasn’t Cunningham claimed by the Angels?
jasonhsv 2
Yes, he was.
mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/angels-claim-todd-cunni…
Jeff Todd
Yeah, I’m not sure why he worked his way into my mind and the post. I edited.
Andy 8
Cunningham isn’t on the Braves anymore.
geauxbraves
I didn’t have a problem with the trades being made up until the KJ and Uribe deal. Hindsight though, I don’t know if the Braves would’ve caught the Mets had the deal not been made, and I don’t think anyone was going to beat KC anyway so it turned out to be a non-factor imo.
I don’t think those trades are going to make this team competitive in 2017. I’d like to think that, but unless the Braves do make a splash in the FA market this off-season or next, it may be a few more season before they are ready to contend.
Mike Query
We finished 23 games back, we werent catching them with Mike Trout and Kershaw in a month and a half, nevermind Uribe and KJ.
geauxbraves
At the time of the trade though the Braves were only 6.5 back with FF coming back from injury. Granted they would have had to go 46-20 to overtake the Mets for the title, but at the time there was still a glimmer of hope.
Acuña Matata
There wasn’t a chance in Hades that the Braves were going to catch the Mets. Miller was in the midst of one of the most historically obscure records in MLB history. We had next to no run support, the bullpen was decimated. The Braves would actually have to trade FOR pieces to even try and maintain being even 6.5 games back. It wasn’t happening in ANY realm of possibility
Jervass
They may have been 6.5 back, but they were 6 games under .500, and, playing at their best, were hovering around .500. They didn’t wallow in the 2nd half due to not having Uribe and Johnson so much as the pitching staff – starters and relievers – racing to see who could get the worst ERA.
There was very little chance of the Braves overtaking anyone for the Wild Card, let alone the division, so getting something – anything – for guys who would bee gone in 100 days anyway made sense.
One could argue whether could have gotten more, though I don’t think either would have returned much anyway.
bravesiowafan
Is dion toscano ever going to get his “visa issue” and playing clearance through? No big name Cubans had issues getting thru the system why do the braves have such luck?
Admiral Rusty T. Shackleford
I’m not sure he really even exists
Jervass
My wife had to go through this process, though she obviously wasn’t getting a work visa to play MLB. The process when it works normally takes 6-12 months.
If I had to guess, and it’s pure speculation (but based on experience with friends/family going through it), but I would think that either a deadline was missed, or some questions came to light about the legitimacy of some documents. In either case, the process has to start completely over from the beginning, including the applicant having to leave the country for a period and then re-enter.
Again…solely my speculation, based on nothing in fact. But the situation is familiar.
Stash_The_Gumbo
I would not be surprised if 2016 mirrored 2015, with maybe just a few additional wins. Sign a couple of “reclamation projects” or vets like we did with JJ, Grilli, KJ, Uribe, Gomes, etc., then flip them at the trade deadline for whatever we can get (remember, Gomes returned a middle IF stud from KC), then wind up with the 5th-6th pick in the 2016 draft instead of the 3rd pick. If we’re not going to win much, we might as well lose our asses off and continue stocking the system. Especially with the way our scouting department has been revamped over the last year.
I’d love to have Wieters on board if not for the draft pick it will probably cost us…
I also wonder how big of players we will truly be in the int’l market come J2 2016. Not just Maitan, but if the plan is to blow right past the bonus pool, who else is going to be available? And for any guys who are not subject to bonus pools for 2015 (i.e., Yasiel Sierra), would we take a risk on any of those guys?
misterb71
The Braves finished with the 3rd worst record in all of baseball and their 1st round draft pick is protected for 2016. Why would you write that signing Wieters could be a problem? I’m pretty confident that giving up a 2nd round draft pick for Wieters would not be an issue with Braves management — it’s not like they’d be giving up the 3rd overall pick.
Jeff Todd
As I wrote earlier in the post: “While Atlanta’s #3 overall selection is protected, the team will probably like the idea of preserving an additional early draft slot (and the pool money that comes with it).”
it’s not an unconquerable barrier, but it will impact the team’s valuation.
Stash_The_Gumbo
Last year, ATL drafted Austin Riley @ 41, which is right around the slot the Braves would be sacrificing for ~4 years of Wieters…rather have the prospect if we can, especially if it’s a Riley-esque talent. Ideally, Wieters won’t get the QO and we’ll sign him, CBeth will get attached to someone else in a trade, and we keep the draft slot (and slot money that goes with it).
Mike Query
Definitely taking the pick over Wieters, who is extremely overrated even in the rare times when he is healthy.
RunDMC
This feels somewhat like the McCann quandary all over again, trying to figure if he was worth it considering his age, recent decline and health risks. Only thing that makes me think he could sign with ATL is the fact that ATL is opportunistic. Considering he’s the only starting C on the market, I’ll bet he and Boras get a bid out of ATL’s price range, and ATL trades for an uncompelling upgrade (i.e. Chris Ianetta, LAA).
wookieeoftheyear
I like the idea of the Braves signing Wieters, but I am worried about his production this past year, and in the future.
Ryan Cothran
Peter Moylan’s 2 year MILB contract became void when he received the callup to the big league club. He’s now officially a free agent.
Jeff Todd
Yes, I read about that and added him to the FA list, but forgot to update his bit in the post. I updated the post already.
Ryan Cothran
Right on! 🙂
Admiral Rusty T. Shackleford
Barves will sign Wieters and some old 4th starter and call it a day
RunDMC
Hope not. That makes me Barve.
RunDMC
Not that it’s that important, but Matt Wieters is a Charleston, SC native, not GA. He went to GA Tech, where he met his wife. Other than that, GA was just a pit stop, or at least not enough of one for a hometown discount.
tdmorgan
Not that I really want Wieters, but he does still have a home in ATL
Jeff Todd
Ah, that’s my fault. Fixing …
mj-2
Pretty sure that’s close enough to consider it his hometown baseball team. Most people in Charleston grew up Braves fans.
Admiral Rusty T. Shackleford
What I want to know is this: if they’re clearing all this $$ off the books for 2017, then what the hell for? What free agents will be available then or 2018?
mj-2
There’s really not much.
I brought this up around the time they traded Kimbrel just so they could clear BJ’s contract. You can argue it frees up money to bring someone in by trade, but in terms of FA there really isn’t anything major to sign. I still think we were better off just eating Uptons contract and keeping Kimbrel, even if it did net Maybin who I admit has been a nice surprise.
At the end of the day that trade was designed to save money when there’s nothing to spend for.
Meanwhile our bullpen is horrific
Jervass
I believe they are clearing a good portion for the international signing period beginning in July. The money cleared from the bad deals past 2016 is essentially what will be used to (allegedly) blow past the Int’l bonus pool, I’m guessing.
rocketfish19
Never real liked John Hart since he fired Hargrove as manager of the Indians. But then, on reflection, I guess I understand why he did it back then. I mean, my gosh, why didn’t Hargrove use Pedro Martinez better? Or Randy Johnson? Oh that’s right. Hart was never able to acquire a those guys when they were available, or any other top stud starter for those Indian teams. And why didn’t Hargrove make better use of Brian Giles? Oh yeah, that’s right. Hart traded him. For Ricardo Rincon. RICARDO RINCON!! And he fires Hargrove? Should have fired himself. Enjoy, Brave’s fans, enjoy.
Admiral Rusty T. Shackleford
let it go dude – that was 2 presidents ago
NL_East_Rivalry
Well Hart for the past 10 months has been an overseer. John C has actually been the main man behind the trades
RunDMC
Not to be a Hart apologist, but what has any CLE brain trust done since? Sure, they didn’t bring home the title, but he helped lead some of the best non-Lebron CLE teams the past 3 decades and you’re talking about what they didn’t have. I could be doing the same thing you’re doing on Red Sox pages with Frank Wren, but I don’t care enough. Acceptance is the first step in the road to recovery.
larrycole3
I’m honestly expecting a rinse and repeat of last year. They’ll probably sign some decent, declining veteran pieces, put together a semi-formidable team, and then trade away any pieces that don’t serve them long-term. Maybe more performance from younger guys though.
homeparkdc
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