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Quick Hits: Rangers, Infield, Rays, Ozuna, Braves, Freeman

By TC Zencka | February 6, 2021 at 12:29pm CDT

Isiah Kiner-Falefa was so impressive in his Gold Glove winning season at the hot corner that the Rangers plan on bumping him further up the defensive hierarchy in 2021. He’ll be their starting shortstop, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, which means an open competition to fill his spot at third. Oddly enough, Elvis Andrus seemed to have the inside track on the job before being traded to the Texas Rangers today. Instead, his long-time double play partner Rougned Odor may be an option, or they could see a replacement from outside the organization. The Rangers prefer that youngsters like Josh Jung and Sherten Apostel spend more time in the minors, Landry notes.

  • Marcell Ozuna and Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos were all laughs today as they spoke to reporters, including the Athletic’s David O’Brien, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, and Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Though the two sides certainly took their time to come together on a new contract, the deal itself was actually finished over the course of a single day. The Rays had made an offer to Ozuna, but after one season in Atlanta – a year Ozuna described as the best year of his career – the slugging outfielder told his representation at CAA Sports that he wanted to hear from the Braves. The takeaway here is that clarity, communication, and a little pressure exerted from the outside go a long way to helping two sides come together.
  • The jolly atmosphere included a playful reference to the future negotiation of Freddie Freeman’s extension, tweets Janes. Anthopoulos certainly didn’t seem all that worried about potentially losing their franchise first baseman, who is a free agent after the 2021 season. For his part, Freeman doesn’t seem particularly likely to test his options elsewhere. The 31-year-old was handed the keys to the franchise from the legendary Chipper Jones, and there’s little reason to doubt his plans to stay behind the wheel in Atlanta. Coming off an MVP season and three consecutive NL East division titles, the partnership clearly works. As with Ozuna, the Braves and Freeman could be as much as a conversation away from keeping the California native on the East Coast, a sentiment the Athletic’s David O’Brien has shared for some time.
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Atlanta Braves Notes Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Alex Anthopoulos Elvis Andrus Freddie Freeman Isiah Kiner-Falefa Josh Jung Marcell Ozuna Nick Solak

Astros, Carlos Correa Avoid Arbitration
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A’s Re-Sign Mike Fiers
View Comments (62)
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62 Comments

  1. pmccurry56

    4 years ago

    Rays?

    1
    Reply
    • FloridaSportsGuy

      4 years ago

      I’m curious as to what the Rays’ offer was, and if it was something Ozuna actually considered or just intended to use as leverage with Atlanta.

      3
      Reply
    • bobtillman

      4 years ago

      Rays owner offered to sign over his stimulus check, but Ozuna wanted more.

      8
      Reply
      • thomps07

        4 years ago

        Rays need to move to Nashville and get an owner that wants to spend a little to retain their good players.

        3
        Reply
        • makaio6

          4 years ago

          The Ray’s organization is one of the best-run. Multiple World Series appearances, consistently contending for, and in, the postseason, all at some lowest payrolls. Which only speaks volumes to excellence of their front office. It’s their stadium/market that is the issue. Whether they move across the bay or elsewhere, they definitely do NOT need a change in ownership.

          6
          Reply
        • Albert Belle's corked bat

          4 years ago

          I agree. Rays need to move from St. Pete to Tampa. The Trop is in a bad location for fans to get to. Ugly stadium and the traffic is terrible.

          Reply
        • TB RoHo

          4 years ago

          No thanks. They need to move to Ybor City.

          Reply
        • truefan

          4 years ago

          A change in ownership would be great for the team and fans. The Rays were within 2 wins of the WS.

          The owner gave a horrible interview and talked about moving to MOntreal.
          He lost all positive capital with the fans and the community a week after being in the WS.

          Instead of getting a catcher who could hit and a strong DH they trade their two best starting pitchers.

          The Rays have a NYC banker who is only interested in $ and the value of the team.

          2
          Reply
      • arthur blank_for owner

        4 years ago

        @bobtillman your joke was not lost on me and well appreciated hahahaha 😉

        Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      4 years ago

      Rays were never in it for Ozuna, just smokescreen from the media. No one who understands the Rays honestly believed they could compete for his services. I’d rather have Morton anyway–I already miss him.

      5
      Reply
  2. Braveslifer

    4 years ago

    We have a few fun years ahead as Braves fans!

    5
    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      4 years ago

      Best Braves team since the 90s greats, but the problem is the division is much tougher. I still think the Braves are a top 3 team in baseball.

      9
      Reply
      • Loling @ you

        4 years ago

        @von sadly, 3rd is very distant these days. If freeman wants to win it won’t be with Braves unless something monumental happens and they finally decide to spend with padres dodgers and Mets. A ton of great free agents next season they need to improve a ton to compete seriously.

        1
        Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          4 years ago

          I think that’s far too negative of an outlook. They were a few outs away from eliminating the Dodgers and going to the WS. The Braves are still very good.

          3
          Reply
        • ChipperChop

          4 years ago

          @tatsumaki I’m really not sure what planet you live on. The Braves are just as good as the Dodgers and Padres….right now. It was just a few months ago that the Braves had the Dodgers down 3 games to 1 with only two legit starters and one only had about 6-7 starts under his belt. With a healthy Soroka there is a chance the Dodgers get swept by the Braves in that series and almost a guarantee the Dodgers go home in under six games. So the team that took the Dodgers to 7 games (the Braves) will be adding Mike Soroka and Charlie Morton. The Dodgers added Bauer. I like the Braves additions much better. You homer fans might not get that but I can guarantee the Dodgers FO did not forget how lucky they were to beat a decimated Braves team and they understood a guy like Bauer would be needed if Soroka and Morton are healthy in a potential rematch.

          7
          Reply
        • Smacky

          4 years ago

          You are a special kind of dumb.

          Reply
        • 1984wasntamanual

          4 years ago

          They are not as good as the Dodgers. They may be able to beat them in a short series, but they are not as good as them and that will show over the course of a full season.

          Reply
      • larry48

        4 years ago

        Braves defense is not very good and baserunning is worse. I don’t see Atlanta winning because the NL East will be competitively good with no teams to pad stats on.

        Reply
        • Braves83

          4 years ago

          Not very good defense? Between C, 1st, 2nd, SS, Lf, C (with Pachee) All are above average. 3rd solid/good. Only left with Ozuna (if no DH) is poop. Acuna could steal 40 this year. Dans and Albies could steal 20 each. Base running is a strength of the team besides Riley. Ozuna is great on the bases and Freddie will somehow steal 3/4. They take the extra base a lot. The Braves are super aggressive on the bases and run into outs but also score a lot as well. I believe the Braves will win the division. Its the best division in baseball. It will be fun.

          6
          Reply
        • Smacky

          4 years ago

          Did you even watch any of last season’s games? Or is your take founded upon a couple of innings you saw in the playoffs?

          1
          Reply
    • DrDan75

      4 years ago

      @Braveslifer

      I am a San Diego native and lifelong Padres fan. Can’t wait to see these two teams lock horns. It will be a great series when they do.

      4
      Reply
  3. Rangers29

    4 years ago

    I think we all expected that too. Andrus is an easy move over to 3B, and it lets the org focus on worse needs than 3B especially since Odor is vying for playing time there as well.

    Reply
  4. UGA_Steve

    4 years ago

    Braves were probably waiting to see if they could figure out a deal for Arenado, and when that didn’t happen it was a quick turn to Ozuna.

    I was one of the people who didn’t want to see Ozuna without a DH, but that was because people were talking $22-25m per year, three year deal. This deal is in a good range for the Braves and I do believe the DH will be added with the CBA after this year at the latest. So that makes it even better.

    1
    Reply
  5. Phantom X

    4 years ago

    Do the Braves have a 1st baseman waiting to replace Freddie?

    Reply
    • whyhayzee

      4 years ago

      Yes and he just turned eleven.

      17
      Reply
    • JAMES JACOBSEN

      4 years ago

      Bryce Ball

      5
      Reply
      • RunDMC

        4 years ago

        !!!

        Reply
      • R.D.

        4 years ago

        I’m ready to play Bryceball too.

        But he belongs at DH.

        Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      4 years ago

      Sid Bream III

      1
      Reply
    • Rangers29

      4 years ago

      Yes, and he’s 5. Freddie Freeman II

      1
      Reply
    • Meatloaf rulz

      4 years ago

      Brice Ball is an option at 1st eventually. He is a Beast

      1
      Reply
    • Asmongold

      4 years ago

      Ball reminds me of a mini Aaron Judge. The boy is tall and has big #ick power. He destroyed rookie ball as well.

      2
      Reply
    • UGA_Steve

      4 years ago

      If you mean at the end of his current contract .. maybe Ball, but the reality is everyone expects him to re-up. He will get a decent contract, but my bet is he pulls a Chipper Jones significantly less than what he could have made on the open market to remain in Atlanta.

      Reply
  6. Herc33

    4 years ago

    Elvis Andrus at 3B for the Rangers aged well…

    Reply
    • jdgoat

      4 years ago

      Khris Davis taking over at the hot corner

      1
      Reply
      • southi

        4 years ago

        Let’s watch Davis lollipop one from third to firstbase.

        Reply
  7. RunDMC

    4 years ago

    Great tweet (@RhubarbBrown): “Ronald Acuña Jr, Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna will make a combined $24.25 million in 2021. Put Alex Anthopoulos in the Hall of Fame.”

    5
    Reply
    • Herc33

      4 years ago

      Alternative take: Put Ozzie Albies’ agent in jail. Criminally negligent work on his part with that extension.

      5
      Reply
      • HeyLookItsPlacidoPolanco

        4 years ago

        Ozzie had recently come off of a scary wrist injury. I think he saw his career flash before his eyes and decided to take the guaranteed money. Can’t say that I blame him. The options were probably unnecessary though.

        Reply
    • bravesfan

      4 years ago

      I still hold my reserve on AA. His history of refusing to make a move when the teams needs are screaming for help essentially cost the Braves a World Series appearance, possibly a World Series ring. Today was an excellent signing, so was the Acuna and Ozzie deals. But lord if that’s what we are gonna judge GM’s on and not ultimate performance on the field, then we are a misguided. The keys AA was handed, his legacy falls on if he can take us to the promise land or not. He was gifted gold… all he has to do and win 1 World Series and stop falling flat on his face when the pressure is on

      1
      Reply
      • TheDP

        4 years ago

        Thank god your opinion is like ………You are clueless.

        Reply
  8. badco44

    4 years ago

    Obviously there’s something in the water in Atlanta…. whole team is on team friendly contracts… now if they can get past the Padres and Dodgers!

    1
    Reply
    • larry48

      4 years ago

      Brave not likely to get by the Dodgers for the next 5 years.

      Reply
    • RunDMC

      4 years ago

      “team friendly contracts” or “no bad contracts”?

      3
      Reply
      • arthur blank_for owner

        4 years ago

        RunDMC: a.k.a. : Front Office or AA apologist accounts…bwhahaha

        Reply
  9. bogs79

    4 years ago

    Funny how less than a day later, Texas sends Andrus out. Landry has some work to do before she gets to TR Sullivan’s level of scoop.

    Reply
  10. Lloyd Emerson

    4 years ago

    “Oddly enough, Elvis Andrus seemed to have the inside track on the job before being traded to the Texas Rangers today.”

    Just another Zencka article with yet another glaring error in the very first paragraph. Does this “writer” know how to proofread?

    Reply
  11. LarryJ4

    4 years ago

    Even after signing Ozuna and at a relatively cheaper price, imo this still makes A Bryant trade from the Cubs to the Braves possible. Something along the lines of Riley, Brice Wilson, and a lower end prospect package.

    Reply
    • RunDMC

      4 years ago

      That’s not happening for a $19.5M player under his last year of control coming off his career-worst season. That’s a comparable package that NYM sent to CLE for Lindor (1 year of control: $22.3M)/Carrasco (3 yrs of control).

      If we’re giving up a package like that, it needs to be someone proven, controllable like Suarez. People can clamor for J-Ram, but I can’t see CLE trading him, especially after investing in 1 year deals (read: they’re going for it).

      1
      Reply
      • JAMES JACOBSEN

        4 years ago

        I still think getting Bryant in a trade for Inciarte (to make up for bryants large price tag) And maybe a lower level prospect. should make it about right for a rental. but I also like the Idea of Suarez and Ramirez

        1
        Reply
        • 1984wasntamanual

          4 years ago

          Why would the cubs make that trade?

          Reply
        • JAMES JACOBSEN

          4 years ago

          Because Bryant isnt worth the $ he is owed and if if the cubs were wanting to cut payroll this would be a way to do it.

          1
          Reply
    • steelerbravenation

      4 years ago

      Doubt they make a run at Bryant unless Riley falls on his face & Camargo blows yet another chance
      Even at that if they are up or really close in the standings it probably won’t happen until it’s closer to the deadline
      With all that being said the signing of Morton & Smyly are telling me Wright & Wilson are available
      I myself would have preferred passing on Smyly and having Wright, Wilson and a NRI battle it out for the 5th spot freeing up a bit more money to improve the bullpen a bit better

      Reply
  12. Rsox

    4 years ago

    Rangers could now be a landing spot for Justin Turner if he’s willing to take a one year deal. Bringing back Todd Frazier is another possibility

    Reply
  13. braves25

    4 years ago

    Now Melancon, Greene, and Duvall all need to take team friendly contracts and stay in Atl as well.

    Peter Moylan tweeted asking if you would make this trade..Atlanta gets Jose Ramirez and the Indians get Joel De La Cruz, Langliers, Riley, and Waters.

    I think I would, but it would be a tough decisions. Waters would be the guy that keeps me from jumping all over this though. However adding another MVP to the lineup would be monstrous. I would try to add Inciarte to just offset the money in 2021.

    Reply
    • JAMES JACOBSEN

      4 years ago

      Yes i would but i would try to keep Waters and give them somebody else.

      Reply
    • R.D.

      4 years ago

      If Ramirez agrees to a reasonable extension beforehand? Hellyeah.

      Otherwise no thanks. I still have faith in Riley and I’m not sold on Pache’s offense as much as Waters’.

      Reply
      • braves25

        4 years ago

        @R.D.

        Ramirez is already under contract for 3 years at an extremely reasonable price.

        Reply
  14. madmanTX

    4 years ago

    Elvis Andrus was traded to the Rangers?

    Reply
    • Dalton1017

      4 years ago

      from the Braves.

      Reply
  15. Firefraudman

    4 years ago

    Freddie Freeman to the dodgers.

    Reply
  16. Mjshof

    4 years ago

    I’d pay good money to see the fallout from Freddie to LAD. It’d be better than election night 2016

    Reply

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