A potential trade of White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease has been among the most prominent storylines of the offseason to this point, as White Sox GM Chris Getz has made clear that his club is operating with no untouchables as they look to retool after a 101-loss season. One of the teams most frequently connected to Cease is the Braves, who have a clear need in their rotation after losing Kyle Wright to shoulder surgery and subsequently dealing him to the Royals earlier this offseason.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman pushed back against reports of Atlanta’s involvement in the Cease sweepstakes today, however, even as speculation regarding the right-hander has begun to intensify alongside the start of the Winter Meetings. Bowman acknowledges that the 27-year-old hurler was on the club’s radar earlier in the offseason but indicates that there isn’t “currently a fit” between the sides while suggesting that Atlanta’s level of interest and involvement in trade talks with Chicago has been “overblown.”
Bowman’s report also indicates that the Braves haven’t shown “serious interest” in two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani this offseason. While the Braves are not among the teams that have been most frequently connected to Ohtani’s market this offseason, Bowman’s characterization is a significant departure from a report earlier today from Jon Morosi of MLB Network, who suggested that the Braves not only have shown interest in Ohtani but are one of the teams still “actively involved” in the negotiation process.
While Bowman downplays the club’s interest in making a headline-grabbing move for Cease or Ohtani, he nonetheless suggests that the Braves are “not done” following last night’s move to acquire Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales and Evan White from the Mariners, leaving the door open to the possibility the Braves make “at least one more big move.” Such a deal could even come in the form of a trade for a front-line starter, with Bowman suggesting Corbin Burnes and Tyler Glasnow as possible alternatives to Cease on the trade market.
Of course, it’s worth noting that the club is in uncharted territory in terms of payroll. After posting a franchise record payroll of $205MM in 2023 (per RosterResource), the Braves are currently projected for an Opening Day payroll of $220MM in 2024, with a luxury tax figure of just over $256MM. That puts them right up against the second tax threshold of $257MM, meaning that the club would surely need to shed payroll before making further moves if they hope to avoid that second threshold. Bowman echoes reporting from earlier today that suggested the Braves will attempt to flip Gonzales, who is owed $12.25MM in 2024, before the offseason comes to a close. In addition to the possibility of flipping Gonzales, Bowman suggests the club could look to “sell high” on either DH Marcell Ozuna or closer Raisel Iglesias in deals that would simultaneously shed salary while potentially bringing in additional talent.
Ozuna is owed $18MM in 2024, the final guaranteed year of his contract that also includes a $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout for 2025. The 33-year-old slugger is coming off a strong season at the plate during which he slashed .274/.346/.558 while crushing 40 home runs, 29 doubles, and a triple. While he’s largely limited to DH at this point in his career, he’d surely draw interest on the trade market from clubs looking to upgrade their lineup; just six hitters reached the 40-homer plateau in 2023, and just four posted a higher ISO than Ozuna’s .285 figure.
Iglesias, meanwhile, posted a 2.75 ERA and 3.26 FIP while collecting 33 saves for the Braves across 55 2/3 innings of work. It’s the fourth-consecutive season in which Iglesias has posted an ERA below 3.o0 as the 33-year-old has emerged as one of the most reliable closers in the league in recent years. Excellent as Iglesias has been, he’s guaranteed a $16MM salary in each of the next two seasons. That’s a hefty sum to pay for a reliever even with Iglesias’s pedigree. Bowman also points out the club has plenty of established back-end relief options who could anchor the bullpen if Iglesias were to be moved including left-hander A.J. Minter and offseason addition Reynaldo Lopez, though it’s worth noting the club currently plans to stretch the righty out as a potential starting option for 2024.
I like the Morosi reporting better than the Bowman reporting.
I like anyone’s reporting over Andy Martino.
Glad this is only a thing in sports reporting and not something afflicting the whole Country regarding the most visceral issues that affect all our lives.
if you’re not dying, you have food, water, and a roof over your head you’re doing fine. the economy is going to continue to change and evolve and mess with people. Stop posting bs about politics.
We’re talking about news here. Literal news.
They both can be right…ATL has shown “interest” (Bowman), but not “serious interest” (Morosi). Morosi’s comment that ATL is “actively involved” is hilariously broad in that we don’t have a full list of confirmed teams, and of course, ATL is going to show some level interest in a guy that’s been quoted as being “intrigued” to play for them. ATL has about as much of a chance as a fart in the wind.
I hope some fringe Braves fans are holding their breath so the bandwagon will run a little lighter.
I wasn’t replying to that. I was replying to the dude that liked reporter A’s news over reporter B’s.
The Braves are expected to change their name to Crushers in deference to Rob Manfred his desire to eliminate the demeaning tomahawk chop.
I don’t get how Atlanta gets killed for it yet is more than cool when Florida St and the Kansas City Chiefs do it.
Well Florida State has support of the Seminole Tribe so nobody can say much there.
Braves have support from their local tribe as well, so…
Now I was not out front picketing Braves game but always thought that chop was tackey and if I was a Braves fan at a game I personally would not do it.
As an Orioles fan, I love some cold water being thrown on the “robust market” for Cease.
The biggest problem in all this speculation is that MLBTR is running out of Dylan Cease pictures.
LOL!
Bowman does not know jack spit. He is almost always wrong
It’s actually a little bit sad—bowman has been their mlb beat writer since forever and used to have legit connections and had a mailbag feature that would actually contain pretty predictive commentary. Either because he no longer has connections with this regime or because they have such a tight gag order in effect, his writing is basically pointless. The Braves routinely break stories on their own before bowman has even contemplated the moves
I bet it’s horrible being a beat writer. Can’t be too negative on team transactions, or front office doesn’t want to send you info.
Can’t poo on players or they won’t talk and their agents won’t give you info.
Info that doesn’t go to local beat writer can be given to a hundred other writers.
All that’s left is fluff information propping up team, players, or agents.
“We plan to have an offseason. That is all.”
No way Braves sign Ohtani. They’ll never get a team friendly contract out of him.
The only thing anyone knows for sure about Anthopoulos is that he will surprise us. And with he and the Braves front office being so good at keeping their plans and intentions a secret, that only leads to more speculation from sportswriters. So, unless someone is quoting Anthopoulos directly, I take it all with a grain of salt.
In 2018 I was hoping that the Braves would draft Kelenic, but the Mets took him first. And for years I’ve been hoping that the Braves would find a young LF to complement the rest of their starting lineup, which is almost completely set for years to come. But I never imagined they would land Kelenic. So, I’m thrilled. He is still young and some prospects take longer to develop than others. So, I have hope that he (along with Grissom perhaps) will patrol LF for years to come in Atlanta.
Between being the top guy in Toronto and Atlanta AA has I think 11 seasons at the helm. Only one WS title. Seems strange he gets so many accolades but has only one trophy.
But that 1 trophy is with the Braves and that’s all that matters. I’m sure he will win multiple titles with the Braves.
That’s what we all thought in the nineties with those Braves teams too.
He inherited an unbelievable amount of talent in young players in Atlanta. Most of us couldn’t screw up being gifted Acuna. Riley, Fried, Freeman, Albies, Swanson and so on.
He also extended those young players as well as brought in strider, Harris, etc. keep ur mouth shut unless you know ball
I don’t know ball because I said your general manager had talent before he got there? Typical tough guy key board hero. Your ignorance came through with that tough guy comment.
I think you’re both kinda right. AA inherited a ton of young talent from the previous regime’s tanking, which pretty much formed the core of this team. But he’s also made a lot of nice acquisitions, draft picks, and especially, team friendly extensions. Braves don’t win in 2021 without his office correctly identifying all those underperforming outfielders who they got for nothing and carried them through October without acuna.
WS titles are flukes. Division titles are where it’s at.
I agree, while the term “flukes” perhaps devalues the accomplishment of winning a WS. Anyone that diminishes Division titles or consistent WC entries (current era) are probably not experiencing them. Go Braves!
Will people stop saying AJ Minter is a potential closing option. I love the man, but he isn’t a closer. Yes, he has the ability to occasionally close, and has closer’s stuff, but he isn’t cut out mentally to be a closer.
For whatever reason, Minter just isn’t nearly as effective as a closer. Look at how the beginning of last season worked out. Everytime they try to have Minter close games he gets out of whack, and he only becomes himself again once some time has passed and he gets settled back into his set-up role.
100% agreed
I’ve never been a big fan
Bring back Kimbrel who will be cheaper than Iglesis
At least with Kimbrel on the Phillies the Braves can tee off on him once in a while.
That’s it then. Cease to the Braves.
Braves beat writers seem to find out about trades and signings when the rest of us do so I’m not sure how much weight I put into his report around Cease based on all of the others recently.
AA doesn’t let stuff leak and he didn’t cite any sources so we’ll see. Bowman has tunnel vision regarding the Ozuna and Iglesias trade suggestions too. Don’t see either of those happening.
Eat another burger Bowman.
So tired of reading daily contradiction. That goes for all of MLB.
Sports journalists are pathetic
Very few are journalists by any but the broadest definition. Most are writers who have to post a story whether there is any news or not.
95% propagandists in my opinion.
Also, I could see the Braves attaching Gonzales along with Grissom, Waldrep, and Owen Murphy to the Rays for Glasnow.
The facts are, the Braves always allow themselves some financial wiggle room for mid-season deals. With that being said, they’re either just trading Gonzales for that room or making other cost-cutting moves, or they are simply going over that second tax threshold.
It would be very difficult to make any significant additions without then going over that second tax bracket.
This is where Cease would still make sense, but I’ve read the Braves have been out on him for awhile because the White Sox want too much for him from a prospect perspective.
This is also why it is difficult for the Braves to pull off any big moves, because they don’t really have any close to ML ready B+ type of prospects. They don’t want to have to give up both of Smith-Shawver AND Waldrep in a trade, but that’s what teams are going to demand for someone cheaper like a Dylan Cease.
Then again, it isn’t like AA hasn’t made me look stupid before, so who knows!?! lol
That’s to much for a always injured pitcher with a $25 million 1 year contract
You not giving up that much prospect capital
Grissom, Murphy & Gonzalez
Glasnow has 1 year left and you would be willing to not only throw in Grissom, but two 1st round picks in as well? Yikes. They aren’t trading Waldrep unless they get an ace with cost controlled years.
The rays wouldn’t take Gonzales. They don’t take on excess money.
That is a moronic overpay unless Tampa is paying all of Glasnow’s contract.
AA is not trading Waldrep. I definitely don’t want him to, even for Cease.
Teams need to step their games up we the only team making noise this Winter Meetings.
Not much noise. A bunch of cast always to fill out your 40 man roster.
Kind of the exact same thing the LOLMets are doing with all of your great signings so far. I’m sure Andre Scrubb will be the one that puts you over the top.
Really thinking Braves land Trevor Bauer.
I think the negative public relations related to his signing will be too much for atlanta. Atlanta is pretty much played as the all America city / team.
Maybe so. Berkshire Hathaway has taken a noticeable share in the Braves, and that could well support your theory.
Snit already shot down that idea, without hesitation.
As a Mets fan I can’t help but admire what an amazing team and core the Braves front office has put together this past 5 plus years. Hopefully Stearns et al can glean something from our rivals, but it’ll be Braves then everybody else for the foreseeable future in the NL East.
Generous comment, but I will say the Phillies are obviously legit. One would think it’s only a matter of time, perhaps two seasons, before the Mets make a stand again. The NL East, baseball in general, is better with a competitive Mets team.
Most of the Braves trades come with 0 hint 0 word and then boom they are made. Writers have to make stories in order for people to read their sites. Look at this article MLBTR have just as much inside as we do.m and nobody knows
Deeds CANNOT write. What a surprise that there are more errors in this piece.
You can’t just say “excellent as Iglesias has been.” It’s “AS excellent as Iglesias has been.” “As” isn’t optional. Write with proper grammar, kid.
“Meanwhile” can’t be inserted mid-sentence, separated by commas. It needs to START the sentence