Offseason Thread

Nemesis21 · Post #61 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:58 pm

HMFFL wrote:Free Agent Profile: Aaron Harang

Last winter, veteran starter Aaron Harang hooked on with the Indians on a minor league deal and, at the time, he appeared to have a strong chance of being the fifth man in the Tribe’s rotation. In March, when he was informed that he wouldn’t be a part of the Opening Day roster, Harang requested and secured his release. That same day, he agreed to a big league deal with the Braves and he did not disappoint in Atlanta. Now, the 36-year-old is hitting the open market once again and this time around he should only be fielding big league offers.

Market

For his part, Harang told reporters, including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, that he would be interested in pitching for Atlanta again. The Braves undoubtedly appreciate his work this year, but they also know that they can’t retain him with another one-year, $1MM deal. In theory, the Braves can trot out a starting five of Mike Minor, Kris Medlen, Julio Teheran, Brandon Beachy, and Alex Wood. However, Medlen and Beachy are recovering from Tommy John surgery with unknown return dates and it would certainly help to have a battle-tested veteran pitcher at the ready.

Still, he may not be in the budget in Atlanta and he may not take a discount to stay put since this could be his last sizable deal. The Pirates are one team that could use a reasonably priced out-of-house addition to their rotation. Harang may also find a match with teams like the Astros and Rockies if he’s not aiming for a likely contender.

Expected Contract

Last winter, Bronson Arroyo, also at the age of 36, secured a guaranteed $23.5MM over two years from the Diamondbacks with an $11MM club option. Like Arroyo, Harang fits the profile of a durable innings eater who isn’t dependent on velocity for success and both had strong walk years before hitting the open market. However, not all innings eaters are created equal: before Arroyo’s unfortunate UCL tear this season, he pitched 200 innings or more from 2005 through 2013, with the exception of a 199 inning total in 2011. Also, Harang’s vagabond 2013 might hurt his case for big money.

We expect the Levinson brothers to readily bring up Arroyo’s name, but Harang probably won’t match his deal. I predict Harang will land a two-year, $14MM deal this offseason.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/atlanta-braves

Depending on what the Braves do with the rotation, I wouldn't mind bringing Harang back. But I wouldn't offer more than 2 yr/$10 mill.

TheKingofSting · Post #62 » by **TheKingofSting** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:55 am

I think the rotation will be Wood, JT, Minor, Hale, and whichever of Medlen and Beachy is willing to sign for less.

Post #63 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:45 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/522860316619591680[/tweet]

what would it cost them to get J-Hey?

Nemesis21 · Post #64 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:28 pm

JDR720 wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/522860316619591680[/tweet]

what would it cost them to get J-Hey?

There is nobody on Boston's roster I would want, except Cespedes. And they aren't trading him for Heyward.

Post #65 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:53 pm

I would go after their prospects more than their roster players,

Nemesis21 · Post #66 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:00 pm

JDR720 wrote:I would go after their prospects more than their roster players,

Do they have any worth trading for though?? Anybody that can start now? We need an upgrade at CF and 3b. I kind of want to keep J Hey and J Up.

Post #67 » by **JDR720** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:24 pm

Nemesis21 wrote:
JDR720 wrote:I would go after their prospects more than their roster players,

Do they have any worth trading for though?? Anybody that can start now? We need an upgrade at CF and 3b. I kind of want to keep J Hey and J Up.

Probably not start now...but they can help in a few seasons

Henry Owens SP (their #1 prospect) ETA 2015
Manuel Margot OF (their #6 prospect) ETA 2017
Anthony Ranaudo SP (their #4 prospect) ETA 2014

we can sign someone like Nori Aoki to replace J-Hey , throw away BJ and sign a decent OF

Lineup
1-Peraza 2B (ATL top prospect)
2-Aoki CF (FA)
3-Freeman 1B
4-J-Up LF
5-Gattis C
6-Michael Cuddyer RF (FA)
7-Johnson 3B
8-Simmons SS

Nemesis21 · Post #68 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:40 pm

JDR720 wrote:
Nemesis21 wrote:
JDR720 wrote:I would go after their prospects more than their roster players,

Do they have any worth trading for though?? Anybody that can start now? We need an upgrade at CF and 3b. I kind of want to keep J Hey and J Up.

Probably not start now...but they can help in a few seasons

Henry Owens SP (their #1 prospect) ETA 2015
Manuel Margot OF (their #6 prospect) ETA 2017
Anthony Ranaudo SP (their #4 prospect) ETA 2014

we can sign someone like Nori Aoki to replace J-Hey , throw away BJ and sign a decent OF

Lineup
1-Peraza 2B (ATL top prospect)
2-Aoki CF (FA)
3-Freeman 1B
4-J-Up LF
5-Gattis C
6-Michael Cuddyer RF (FA)
7-Johnson 3B
8-Simmons SS

Won't he need another year of seasoning in AA/AAA?? I think La Stella still starts.

TheKingofSting · Post #69 » by **TheKingofSting** » Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:10 am

JDR720 wrote:
Nemesis21 wrote:
JDR720 wrote:I would go after their prospects more than their roster players,

Do they have any worth trading for though?? Anybody that can start now? We need an upgrade at CF and 3b. I kind of want to keep J Hey and J Up.

Probably not start now...but they can help in a few seasons

Henry Owens SP (their #1 prospect) ETA 2015
Manuel Margot OF (their #6 prospect) ETA 2017
Anthony Ranaudo SP (their #4 prospect) ETA 2014

we can sign someone like Nori Aoki to replace J-Hey , throw away BJ and sign a decent OF

Lineup
1-Peraza 2B (ATL top prospect)
2-Aoki CF (FA)
3-Freeman 1B
4-J-Up LF
5-Gattis C
6-Michael Cuddyer RF (FA)
7-Johnson 3B
8-Simmons SS

I saw Margot play for Greenville this year, he is the real deal in CF, you have to hit it out of the park to get it over his head and he is still a work in progress at the plate but better than BJ lol.

Nemesis21 · Post #70 » by **Nemesis21** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:42 pm

In this MLBTradeRumors Braves offseason outlook article, it suggests the Braves could look to deal Heyward for Cueto and discusses the possibility of trading Gattis to an AL team.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/atlanta-braves

If they Braves could land Cueto, here's what I'd do, Heyward and pitching prospect Mauricio Cabrera(Braves #6 prospect, #3 starter/closer potential) for Cueto. I'd then send Gattis and pitching prospect JR Graham(Braves #11 ranked prospect,closer potential) to the Blue Jays for Colby Rasmus and relief pitcher Aaron Loup.

Release BJ and sign FA RF'er Norichika Aoki 3 yrs/$12 mill. Re-sign Harang(2 yrs $8 mill) or Medlen(1 yr/$4 mill) for 5th starter.

RF Aoki
2b La Stella
1b Freeman
LF J Up
CF Rasmus
3b Johnson
SS Simmons
C Bethancourt

Bench

Bonifacio INF/OF
Pena INF
Gosselin INF
T Cunningham OF
David Ross/Russell Martin/John Buck FA Vet catcher

Cueto
Minor
Teheran
Wood
Harang/Medlen

S Simmons R
Loup L
Varvaro R
Carpenter R
Russell L
Walden R
Kimbrel R

That's an 90 + win team right there, while not spending a lot of money. Seeing how Uggla and BJ are still owed.

Aoki plays in RF for 2-3 seasons until Braxton Davidson(Braves #4 prospect)is ready to take over in RF. Braves 3b prospect Kyle Kubitza looks like he'll be ready to take over at 3b in 2016.

Potential lineup for 2017/going into new stadium

2b Peraza
SS Simmons
1b Freeman
LF J Up
CF Rasmus
C Bethancourt
3b Kubitza
RF Davidson

TheKingofSting · Post #71 » by **TheKingofSting** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:33 am

I have always liked Rasmus.

Post #72 » by **ATL Boy** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:35 am

I like Gattis but I'd rather keep Bethancourt over him: Christian's hitting is solid and will develop, he'll never be the power hitter Gattis is, but his defense far surpasses Evan's even right now.

Post #73 » by **JDR720** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:16 pm

signed this dude to a minor league deal
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... ague-deal/

Post #74 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:45 am

JDR720 wrote:signed this dude to a minor league deal
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/ ... ague-deal/

Not exactly the best numbers.......

Ciriaco batted just .213/.229/.255 with only two extra-base hits in 49 plate appearances this season for the Royals

TheKingofSting · Post #75 » by **TheKingofSting** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 2:11 am

Low risk possible high reward if we get a hitting coach who can get the most of his talents.

Post #76 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 4:37 pm

True.
I looked into his numbers more after posting that and I did notice he has done better.
Time will tell if he makes a name for himself.

Nemesis21 · Post #77 » by **Nemesis21** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 5:05 pm

Per wiretap, the Red Sox could make Cespedes available. Would you rather trade Heyward and pieces for Cespedes or trade Heyward and pieces for Cueto?? I would love to get Cespedes!!

J Hey, Mike Minor, pitching prospect Mauricio Cabrera and OF prospect Todd Cunningham for Cespedes and relief pitcher Burke Badenhop. Trade Gattis and pitching prospect JR Graham to the Blue Jays for Colby Rasmus and relief pitcher Aaron Loup.

Release BJ, sign James Shields 3 yrs/$50 mill, sign Francisco Liriano 3 yrs/$27 mill, re-sign Harang/Medlen for 5th starter, sign FA vet Catcher Jeff Mathis 2 yrs/$6 mill, sign FA OF Jonny Gomes 2yrs/$8 mill.

2b La Stella
SS Simmons
1b Freeman
LF Cespedes
CF Rasmus
RF J Up
3b Johnson
C Bethancourt

Bench
Bonifacio INF/OF
Pena INF
Gosselin INF
Gomes OF
Mathis C

Shields
Liriano
Teheran
Wood
Harang/Medlen

Loup
Badenhop
Russell
Varvaro
Carpenter
Walden
Kimbrel

BeesWax · Post #78 » by **BeesWax** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:55 am

Nemesis21 wrote:Per wiretap, the Red Sox could make Cespedes available. Would you rather trade Heyward and pieces for Cespedes or trade Heyward and pieces for Cueto?? I would love to get Cespedes!!

J Hey, Mike Minor, pitching prospect Mauricio Cabrera and OF prospect Todd Cunningham for Cespedes and relief pitcher Burke Badenhop. Trade Gattis and pitching prospect JR Graham to the Blue Jays for Colby Rasmus and relief pitcher Aaron Loup.

Release BJ, sign James Shields 3 yrs/$50 mill, sign Francisco Liriano 3 yrs/$27 mill, re-sign Harang/Medlen for 5th starter, sign FA vet Catcher Jeff Mathis 2 yrs/$6 mill, sign FA OF Jonny Gomes 2yrs/$8 mill.

2b La Stella
SS Simmons
1b Freeman
LF Cespedes
CF Rasmus
RF J Up
3b Johnson
C Bethancourt

Bench
Bonifacio INF/OF
Pena INF
Gosselin INF
Gomes OF
Mathis C

Shields
Liriano
Teheran
Wood
Harang/Medlen

Loup
Badenhop
Russell
Varvaro
Carpenter
Walden
Kimbrel

I don't like the trades. How much money are you eating on BJ at this point too. Not sure we can afford the moves while eating all the cash for BJ. We either need to trade him (very hard) or keep him and move him to the bench as a 4th OF.

I feel like you are giving up way to much to Boston in that deal. J Hey is about on par with Cespedes because he is so much better on defense.

TheKingofSting · Post #79 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:34 am

I agree, trade BJ for an equally or close to equal bad contract or just bench him.

SBM · Post #80 » by **SBM** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:27 am

Go ahead and make the Reds a better team by trading them Heyward while not getting any better yourself. Go ahead and trade Heyward for a 29 year old Cespedes who when you account for defense and age is not a better prospect than Heyward.

Would I like Cespedes for the correct price? Yes, but Heyward is not that price.