The Braves have over $10MM in leftover payroll that they could use to upgrade the club in-season, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes. It’s also possible they could use some of that money on amateur international talent. Of course, it seems very unlikely that the Braves will contend this season, so it would be very surprising if they were deadline buyers in the traditional sense. Perhaps, though, there are scenarios in which they could use their extra payroll to take on the contract of a player signed beyond 2016 who might help them in future seasons. Here’s more out of Atlanta.
- Also via Bowman, GM John Coppolella also notes that the Braves will not let service time concerns dictate the promotion timelines of players like Aaron Blair or Tyrell Jenkins (neither of whom have yet pitched in the Majors) should those players prove they deserve to start the season in the Braves’ rotation.
- It doesn’t appear pitchers like Blair and Jenkins will win rotation spots, but perhaps it is possible. Via David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (on Twitter), Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez says that only three pitchers (Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler and Bud Norris) are penciled into rotation spots as of now, with the other two spots open. (Other potential rotation options include non-roster invitees Kyle Kendrick and Jhoulys Chacin, along with younger pitchers like Williams Perez, Manny Banuelos and Ryan Weber.)
- Braves reliever Jason Grilli believes he’ll be able to make a successful return from the ruptured Achilles tendon that caused him to miss the second half of last season, Bowman reports. Bowman writes that Grilli has been throwing off a mound without trouble. Grilli notes that he’s had tougher injuries in the past, including a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2010 season. “This was child’s play in comparison to the knee,” he says. “They told me I wasn’t going to walk again with my knee. So, with the Achilles, there are still some precautions you take, just like you do with your arm. I’m just coming in here and I’ve got six weeks to get ready.” The 39-year-old was having a terrific season in 2015 prior to the Achilles injury, posting a 2.94 ERA, 12.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 while saving 24 games in his 33 2/3 innings.
I’m saying it now you can vilify me all season but Bud Norris is going to pretty legit in our rotation. I think McDowell will do wonders with him. I like Wisler and Teheran but I think Norris will be the surprise of the rotation.
Considering he got the highest deal of any pitcher this offseason on the team – I think that’s the expectation. Norris has the most upside of any of the reclamation projects, thus the contract. Though, it wouldn’t surprise me to see someone like Kendrick/Chacin excel at times. ATL has a knack at resurrecting then flipping like an HGTV show.
Agree with you. Hes legit.
I agree, think it is a good possibility.
I’m anxious to see what Chacin does. I think he has a legitimate shot at being a good performer.
I don’t have much faith in Kendrick at all.
Getting far away from Coors field has to help his confidence quite a bit. I think he is young enough and talented enough to turn it around if he listens to his coaches.
Seeing ManBan, Folty, or Blair get one spot and Chacin the other seems most ideal.
Even if the Braves can manage to compete, they don’t have a chance in the post season. That money is best served in the IFA market.
That said, they shouldn’t just throw in the towel this year. The fans need to see that the team can win a few games or they won’t show up next year.
This type of thinking is whats wrong. Fans will always show up if u win. So just keep the rebuild short and they will come back. The braves most certainly still have pieces to flip in grilli, freeman, vizcaino, teheran should they choose. Freeman for a.j reed and tony kemp would solidify that right side of their infield for years.
Hopefully most of these fairweather fans won’t find their way to Cobb Co. So tired of giving geography lessons to these people that can’t drive 12 miles north to go to a game, but drive 2 hours one way to go to work each morning (average commute time for ATL business people).
Freeman for Reed and Kemp??? That makes no sense whatsoever. How about Freeman and Albies/Swanson? If money isn’t an issue – which it isn’t considering he has a nice extension – why would you trade a proven hitter going into his prime and a top-30 prospect in Albies/Swanson for the risk of a swing-first prospect in AJ Reed, who very easily could be the next Joey Gallo/Adam Dunn, if even that, and another prospect that isn’t rated higher than what we have in our own system for that same position? I don’t want to see Freeman traded unless they’re including someone like Springer and/or McCullers Jr. in the deal.
U added the prospect. I just said freeman. And freeman doesnt have reeds potential impact. Freeman is a good bat but not extremely good for a 1b. Its first base they are all bat only prospects. And they are both mlb ready. I mean maybe extend the deal to include vizcaino and you can get montas as well. Thats prolly more even. Otherwise freeman is 29 by the time you are ready to compete with only 2 years left on his deal.
lol Freeman for Reed and Kemp- that’s laughable.
It’s more like Freeman+$15 million for AJ Reed+Kyle Tucker+Francis Martes
And if it’s any less, there’s no point of trading him….
other packages for your imagination:
Freeman +$ for Austin Meadows + Josh Bell +Reese McGuire
or Devers +Espinoza +Benintendi
If you think Freeman’s worth only one top 50.. that’s funny.
You’d have a point if they provided a massive package of impact players near or MLB-ready that fill several holes, but you’re not providing that. You’re talking about taking a chance on AJ Reed – who had a breakout season in the minors (!!!) to replace a proven All-Star 1B. I’m not the biggest Freeman fan, but his defense his underrated and I still don’t think we’ve seen the most of his power (if he can recover from the wrist injury). And that’s thinking that ATL won’t compete for the next 3 years in one of the weakest divisions in MLB.
The n.l east is hardly weak. The mets with that pitching are set for years. 5 pitchers all entering their primes. Reed is a top 20 prospect that has hit every step of the way, it was hardly a breakout. And yes you want minors guys. Its 6 years of control for all of them, basically any prospect in double a can be considered near mlb ready, thats the direction of the game. Kemp is an elite contact guy as a second baseman, reed has more power than freeman. At worst he is a 240/340/480 guy. And u save money on freeman so u can buy a bad contract for better prospects or spend more internationally next year. Sign wilin rosario for a mil for the few months reeds in the minors. Kemp looks like an above average everyday player with reeds floor of a 2 win guy and the cost savings and added control it benefits both sides.
Exactly. Freeman is a 30 HR man and was on pace to hit 30 HR’s last year before the wrist injury in June. He’s also a .290-.300 hitter. Those guys aren’t easy to replace. Trading Freeman is total nonsense.
Great — Wilin Rosario will play 1B?
It doesn’t matter because there is no way that the Astros are parting with AJ Reed as part of a package for Freeman. It is extremely likely that Reed will be in Houston before the end of May. Reed is projected to be at least as good a fielder as Freeman, with comparable average, on base percentage, and significantly more power. The Astros just plan to make do at first until they call up Reed. They are definitely expecting Reed to finish the season in Houston as the everyday firstbaseman.
And a.j reed immediately replaces him, and you get your starting second baseman for the next 6 years. And the braves arent making the playoffs, 2 months of wilin rosario at first is irrelevant. Just hope he hits and a dh gets hurt and get a minor league arm for him. Its not like you are trading for an unknown commodity, scouts said reed had the second best bat in that draft and has hit at every level, guy will rake. Freeman on a last place team is useless.
I think if fellow Braves fans can be patient, this will be a telling season. No we are not winning the division, but will be good to see them compete and see where the young kids are second half into ’17.
I’m so old……….. I remember when Jason Grilli was a starter! : ))
I remember his hilariously narcissistic book where he compared himself to Jesus.
The Braves aren’t trading Freddie Freeman. To even suggest such is asinine!!
the thing is we never know…
We’re going to be out at the deadline (and if anybody thinks we’re going to contend, we honestly won’t)… and teams at the deadline will be in need of pitching help and a few teams will be in need of 1B help- I can see Astros, Pirates, and Red Sox.
If they/teams are desperate enough, a team will come out an overpay for Teheran and Freeman.. and if we think it’s enough, we pull the trigger. There’s no such thing as untouchable or “aren’t trading a player,” especially in a rebuild.
You’re right that anything can happen. But I firmly believe the Braves will be better than expected this year. Not a contender but better than 90 losses. Also believe the Braves will be in the playoff hunt as soon as 2017 and a real WS contender in 2018. We need Freeman to reach those levels. He’s severely underrated.
Why do you want them to be better is one. 2 i dont see the playoff hunt, on the hitting side the only pros9ect who is close is swanson, and most of the pitching prospects are 3rd starter ceilings. Freeman moght give 8 mil in surplus every year which would be 4 war a year. The contract is good not great. Just makes more sense to trade him honestly. Albies is 3 years away, mallex smith is just an above average regular ceiling, ruiz was always over hyped. I just dont see the talent surrounding him to make it worthwhile to payhim 36 mil dollars the next 2 years with no playoff hopes. It just makes sense ti deal him regardless of your fandom blinding u.
Simmons, Kimbrel, and Miller were untouchable too.
If anyone thinks any player is untouchable I have two words for you…Wayne Gretzky.
Lol at all of you thinking we are even gonna trade Freeman he is a part of this rebuild and we need him in our line up
Imagine if Blair wows in Spring Training and earns a rotation spot and has a solid year. Stewart already looks foolish but if that happens Arizona fans should be calling for his head if they aren’t already.