Analytics guru Mike Fast joined the Atlanta Braves organization this Wednesday, he announced via Twitter. Fast was formerly the director of research and development in Houston before leaving the organization in late September. The former semiconductor engineer will serve as a special assistant to GM Alex Anthopoulous, who has made it a priority to improve the Braves’ analytics department ever since his hiring in November of 2017, writes the Athletic’s David O’Brien. Per Anthopolous himself, Fast will be part of Atlanta’s senior leadership team, giving his input into all areas of baseball operations. Now, some other rumblings from around the NL East…
- Right field and catcher clearly require the attention of the Braves’ front office this winter, where current free agents Kurt Suzuki and newly-minted Silver Slugger Nick Markakis have left holes, but improving the bench is not much further down their winter checklist, writes Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Versatile defender Charlie Culberson was a bright spot for the bench unit in 2018, but they could use a power bat to fill the spot once occupied by Matt Adams (and most recently by current free agent Lucas Duda). Outfielder Adam Duvall was acquired from the Reds last season in part to fill that role, but he struggled mightily in his 33 games as a Brave. Duvall projects to earn $3.1MM his first time through arbitration this winter, which makes him a likely non-tender candidate. He is a career .230/.291/.454 hitter. Still, while GM Alex Anthopoulos said they will be more “open-minded” about spending significant dollars on the bench this season, that’s not a development likely to happen early in the free agent season.
- The Nationals do not see upgrading at second base as a priority this offseason, per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. Earlier this week Dougherty tweeted that the Nats were comfortable going into next season with Howie Kendrick and Wilmer Difo manning the keystone. Still, it’s a bit surprising given Kendrick is coming off a ruptured achilles, and Difo hardly looked the part of a starter last season when he hit only .230/.298/.350 in 456 plate appearances. Interestingly, Rizzo cites the organization’s depth, specifically prospects Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia as reasons for their optimism about the position moving forward. Rizzo’s comments are interesting because it means the Nationals are presumably comfortable keeping Trea Turner at shortstop for the foreseeable future. Further, Washington may view Kieboom and/or Garcia to be closer to the majors than it might otherwise appear. Garcia spent the 2018 season between Single-A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac, though he won’t even turn 19 until May. The 21-year-old Kieboom is the more likely of the two to make a surprise jump to the bigs (a la Juan Soto), as he played the final 62 games of 2018 at Double-A Harrisburg, hitting .262/.326/.395. The Nationals have, however, reportedly expressed some interest in Josh Harrison, though the former Pirates utilityman could back up multiple positions around the diamond.
Resigning Murphy perhaps?
I bet he goes to the AL to be a DH and occasionally at second base
Maybe 1B too. I think he appeared at 1B a couple times for the Nats or Cubs?
I’m surprised the Nats are interested in trying to bring Murphy back for a lefty bat at 2B/1B.
Heard so much chatter about how much the Nats love Kieboom and view him as the guy they’re going to promote aggressively this season. If he looks great in spring then he might even be there by the ASG.
The Nationals seem to be in a mini-Youth Movement. The payroll was far too high with a roster containing one-dimensional, over the hill veterans contracting lingering injuries.
Difo and Turner do nice things at times, but they often overreach and make boneheaded plays on D giving the opposing team extra outs, and on the basepaths running the team out of an inning. They’ve been in the majors long enough to know better.
The Kieboom comment is interesting. He’s one of the players the Marlins supposedly want in return for Realmuto.
TC, in the first bullet point, you used bold font for the parenthesis around “and most recently by current free agent Lucas Duda”. Please fix this since it made me stop reading the article and comment on it so I could make others aware of it, and now I have to start over again because of the bold font.
you got it snowflake!
Great, now ey is dizzy
It’s true.
Ha, very bizarre. Good note.
Thank you for fixing it. I am able to concentrate on reading the article without unnecessary distractions.
Sounds like
1. Catcher
2. Corner OF
3. Bench
4. SP
5. Bullpen
Just out of curiosity how are you a Steelers and Braves fan?
I think the braves used to play in Pittsburgh
Nope Boston til 53 and Milwaukee til 65
Why can’t someone like two teams from two different areas? I became a Braves fan in Vermont in ’91, but I’m a Pats fan as well.
They can, but it is an interesting question. ATL is a transient city bringing in many from all over but also the SuperStation created many fans all over broadcasting the Braves in the heyday. I am a Saints/Braves fan living in NYC – from both NoLa and ATL.
I would imagine it’s because of the fact the Braves used to be televised on TBS. They gained a big following all across the country during the 90s because of it. The same way WGN had a big influence for the Cubs and White Sox. I recall watching those 2 teams a few times back in the early 2000s. Although I was already a Braves fan from GA so that was a no no for me. 😉
I think it’s more like:
1. Catcher
1. RF
1. SP
2. Bullpen
2. Bench
Grew up in North Jersey and the town I lived in got cable really late compared to pretty much every where else. Everybody was either a Yankee fan or a Met fan so I wanted to be different. I actually was a Cub fan 1st but when school started back up I would miss alot of games because they were on in the afternoon so I started watching the Braves.
Dale Murphy and Hubcap Hubbard became my favorite players. Zane Smith & Bedrock my fav pitchers.
I was a Dolphin fan when I was young because a family member played for them in the 70’s and had won a Super Bowl with them. Then freshman year of high school I went to visit family in Pitt and I found it amazing how the whole city shut down to watch them on Sundays. Rod Woodson became my favorite defensive player and Merril Hoge my favorite offensive player.
It was easy growing up around here bein a Giant fan they were winning. LT, Phil Simms and Parcells etc but Pitt had the blue collar city I fell in love with the whole concept hard nosed blue collar team.
Although I claimed the Dolphins before that Thanksgiving I had never even sat down and had watched a football game until then.
Ironically enough, i live in New York and I’m a Braves fan.
Same here …good ol’ TBS days
I grew up in South Jersey and then DE and have been a Phillies fan from age 6 on. Never cared much for football but started watching the Cowboys in 75 when they drafted a fellow McKean HS alum, Randy White. I have been a fan of both no matter where I have moved (and I have moved a lot). Probably the only Phillies/Cowboys fan in AZ now.
The Padres and Braves seem like good trade partners. I know the Braves have pitching and that the padres have pieces the Braves need.
Braves receive Hedges, Renfroe, and either Spangenberg or Asuaje
Padres get at least two pitchers back.
I don’t know the Braves well enough to name off pitches… could someone tell what the Braves could offer in this package?
Even through in Yates and really give the Braves some pieces they need
Renfroe eh? Not a bad idea. I could go for that upside. The pitchers any Padres fan will want from Atlanta is either Soroka or Wright but I don’t know how willing the Braves are to send them. Gohora is also a big name. If one of my fellow Braves fans mentions Allard, don’t get fooled. His stock is down. You might want to take a minute and look around at MLB pipeline. They aren’t the only prospect ranking in town but it’s fun and educational.
We’ve already got Renfroe – his name is Adam Duvall. Next! We need upgrades and we can’t sacrifice contact for power.
If Adam Duvall hit .248/.302/.504 instead of .195/.274/.365 the braves wouldnt need OF help now would they?
I think Renfroe’s cieling is a tad higher. For something like a 1 for 1 trade of a pitcher, I can see taking a chance on him emerging.
Atlanta trades: Gohora & Anderson. But that’s not much of a package for Atlanta to get back, below avg players.
Yates would have to be in any deal if SD wants to receive anything substantial. Those guys can’t hit and play average D at best. I wouldn’t imagine the Braves would be interested in any of their hitters unless it’s a bench guy or depth piece. I like Jankowski and they have been wanting to upgrade their bench. If we’re throwing out hypothetical trade scenarios, how about Yates and Jankowski for Fried, Gohara, and a lower level piece?
I would be all over that! Both pieces are expendable from the padres perspective
That may have been a generous offer now that I’m looking at their numbers. Yates was very good last season but I’m not convinced he’ll be that elite going forward. At the very least it could be just Fried or Gohara and another lower level. Although I’m not really high on Gohara and he has a lot of issues as far as his weight is concerned. He has the stuff and potential to be a CC Sabathia 2.0.
Braves upgrading the brass, great move, nice optics.
When the rest of the NL East start adding loads of upgrades the Braves will make a move out of necessity. They remind me of counter punchers in boxing.
I sure hope this off-season has a faster pace than last year, but I’m not holding my breathe. The GM’s stood their ground for the most part last off-season, especially with signings, and it seemed to work in bringing the prices down. I think we all think Manny Machado will be a Yankee but when will he sign, Nov., Dec., Jan., or early February? The same with Harper, it just gets old and quick.
No Renfroe !!!!!
ATL needs to trade Julio to Brewers for Domingo Santana
Trade Max Fried to Twins for Byron Buxton
Trade Allard to Pitt for Cervelli
Trade Gohara to DBacks for Greinke and $$$$
Sign David Robertson & Adam Warren
Huh? You just need 1 starting OF and a 4th who can handle all 3 OF spots. I get the Teheran for Santana trade, but why not just sign a veteran hitter like Jon Jay to a 3 years 18 mill or less deal to either be the 3rd guy or 4th OF?
Also why not invest in Grandal or Ramos at catcher? Or go for broke and trade for Realmuto? Atlanta has the pitching to get him and then still have more than enough left for themselves.
You could offer the Marlins something like this for Realmuto
1 of Wright or Anderson
1 of Fried or Newcomb or Allard
1 of Christian Pache or Drew Waters
C William Contreras
You give them Anderson and Fried youre still left with Soroka, Newcomb, Folty, Wright, Wentz, Gausman, Touissant, Allard.
I feel Buxton is a good buy low candidate like Hicks was a few years ago. With ATL he can come in and get plenty of playing time backing up all 3 OF spots, double switches and pinch hitting/running. With him I believe the bench would not even need another OFer. My thought process is he would eventually develop into a starter supplanting either Inciarte or Santana.
Realmuto I think is going to priced out of what AA would be willing to give up. And I feel they really like Contreras being the catcher of the future and the pedigree is there so I want him to eventually come up in the next couple years. I mean reality is the Marlins play in the same division they would want to fleece the Braves for Realmuto.
Santana is stuck behind a bunch of OF in Milwaukee and this could be a chance to move Julio and get something in return. If anything else Julio is durable and I believe the Brewers value that more than other teams would.
Ramos injury history scares me. Grandal soured me faster than it took for me to like him. After the Braves/Dodgers series I jumped hard on the Grandal bandwagon. After the WS I jumped off real quick.
John Jay is not worth the money I think it would take to sign him.
With the volatility of RP I want to get guys that have been consistent and don’t come with major injury concerns. I don’t fall into the Kimbrell nostalgia. He will cost to much in terms of money but more importantly in years. Don’t like the idea of committing that kind of money to such a revolving door position.
Greinke I feel could be had just because of the contract and he was very productive last year and he could be a true leader of the rotation. Would he be overpaid ? Of course but the rotation is young nobody else will be commanding major money and Greinke may be motivated on a young team and coming home since he is from the area. Also buying a free agent pitcher would cost years at the back end of a contract. With Greinke it’s only 3 yrs and as his production slows down the youngsters like Folty & Newcomb should develop more and they wouldn’t be making a lot of money so it evens out.
Great ideas. But I would like to swap out Santana for Keon Braxton – I feel like he has “it” – the energy and enthusiasm – that would fit perfectly with the Braves. Also – i know he was or “is” an ace but I’m not sure about Greinke. Feel like it would just blow up and Braves are solid with pitching. Agree on John Jay – not worth it and doesn’t fit what we are looking for – unless he is going to be a 4th OF and paid like one too. I differ on Kimbrell. I see him like today’s Billy Wagner … worth the investment because everyone shifts down in spots in bullpen. Not sure Twins will give up on Buxton. Think they need one more year before they will cut bait.
I could see Braxton but I say Santana cause he seems more like a true cleanup hitter.
I am sorry though I don’t want them going anywhere near Kimbrell I just can’t see them paying that much for a closer not that Kimbrell isn’t worth it I just think that money could be allocated better and he definitely deserve to be paid.
I really hope the Braves don’t touch Grienke. He is going to be paid $34 million for the next 3 years. Age 35, 36, 37. You want to get him for little prospect value, the Braves take it all on. You want the DBacks to take on some $14 million a year of that you will have to give up valuable prospect coin.
No matter how you cut this, it’s expensive and you are getting a pitcher at the age of 35 into his late 30’s. This is the black ooz bad contracts are made of.
I hear what you are saying but my philosophy on it is the young guys by the 3rd year of that contract will be overproducing for their contracts namely Newcomb & Touki or Soroka. By then Gausman will have left in FA and Folty will be getting paid but the other 3 will all be cheap so we can afford to overpay for a Greinke at that time. He will provide invaluable leadership to the young guys over the next 3 years.
Now from my understanding Kluber or Carrasco will be available but you talk about prospect equity going back ? They will both cost a ton in name of prospects.
Paxton prospects plus injury history
Evoldi to many years
Happ not a true ace
Corbin inevitably a Yankee
I just see Greinke as the best fit get Arizona to pay $21 over the 3 years plus Teheran’s contract off the books. It will be minimal cost in terms of prospects and where are you getting a true number 1 for only 3 years. You pay him to be a number 1 next year and expect other guys to move up the ladder by the next 2 years.
I don’t care if you don’t like my thoughts on it but come up with a better fit I would love to read other takes on it.
The 3 years of Greinke probably wouldn’t hurt and his veteran presence would go far beyond what he gives just on the mound.
I won’t argue much with some of your points, but I do wish that you would learn to use paragraphs. It makes it easier to read instead of a block of text.
Braves trade flowers, Anderson, Riley and one lottery player for realmuto. Sign a cheaper backup catcher. Sign Donaldson and use Camargo as super utility playing at least 3 games a week. Sign Brantley for 2 years until pache is ready. Sign one more bench piece and BP arms. Then trade Julio for anything they can get. Off-season complete…
Flowers????
Marlins say no.
Realmuto will play most games, why would the braves pay 6 mil for a backup catcher who also bats righty? They need to go get a lefty backup catcher that is cheaper. Marlins will also need a catcher
How about Heyward and Caratini for cash?
Braves should open up the checkbook and sign Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos. Next, sign or trade for a solid relief pitcher (Not necessarily a closer). Do that and it won’t much matter who the bench bats are. However, quality reserves can usually be had at a low cost.
No on Harper. No on Kimbrel. Kluber for three years would be outstanding. Outfield could be anyone, Buxton is an interesting thought as is Santana. If you fill closer, corner OF and top of the line starter, the rest of the pieces will fall in line—bench guy and a couple of bullpen arms.
OK Mike, know you are reading this. Here is a plan for the Braves that will improve the team to a playoff winner quality without sacrificing the prospect system. The Braves could aggressively go after free agents in six areas: Third Base, sign Donaldson(1/20), Moustakas(1/10), or LeMahieu(2/18); Right Field, sign Pollock(4/60), MGonzalez(4/36), or AJones(1/8); Left Field, Brantley(3/45), McCutcheon(3/45), or Markakis(2/16); Catcher, sign Grandal(4/64), Ramos(3/36), or Suzuki(2/8), Closer, sign Britton(3/33), JKelly(3/27), or CAllen(2/16); Starter, sign Keuchel(4/84), Corbin(6/126), or Happ(3/48). THis involves spending between 98 and 53 million per year with a cost per WAR around 5 Million which will yield between 95 and 104 wins over the next 2-4 years.
The Lineup would be something like 1)Acuna CF 2)Albies 2B 3)Freeman 1B, 4) Donaldson 3B, 5)Grandal Ca, 6)Pollock RF, 7)Camargo SS, 8)Brantley LF with a bench of Flowers, Inciarte, Swanson and Culberson. The Starting Pitchers would be Keuchel, Foltynewicz, Gausman, Newcomb, and Toussaint with a pen of Britton 9th, Vizczino and Minter 8th, Winkler and Biddle 7th, O’Day, Soroka and Fried for earlier or spot starts.
Julio Teheran and Gohara could be in the bullpen or used to get more prospects or an upgrade to any of the free agents. Duvall, Wilson, Freeman and Carle could be stashed at Grinnett or cut loose if without options.
Clearly Inciarte, Swanson or Culberson can become regulars if necessary but each involves the loss of approximately 1.5 WAR if replacing a regular for the season and this may be tolerable to win division but not the playoffs.
If Donaldson, Grandal, Pollock, Brantley Keuchel and Allen were signed the ODP would be around $160MM with about 20 for Teheran and O’Day who should be traded if possible, then drop to $130 in 2020 when Riley replaces Donaldson and Teheran gone and to $110MM in 2021 with O’Day and Allen gone. This allows for some of the escallation in pre-arb players salaries.
If better players can be obtained through trades that makes things even better. Trea Turner would be a great player to use some of our assets to acquire as would Will Myers.
I don’t see the reason for sitting a 2 time GG CF when he has shown to produce at a good level without any real reason. Myers is a dumb trade idea and Trea Turner will not be traded.
If they don’t bring back Harper they need a solid lefty bat besides Juan Soto
Eaton isn’t a solid bat?
The thought of Kendrick (who was a questionable defender at 2B before he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon) playing defense is a little optimistic.
Difo is just OK. Carter Kieboom could easily switch from SS to the Keystone, but rushing him to the Bigs seems like a bad idea.
I have no doubt that the Lerners want to avoid paying the luxury tax again, and the Nats absolutely need at least one SP and a C, so 2B could be Difo’s to lose.