Offseason thread

Nemesis21 · Post #81 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:04 pm

Shae Simmons and Mallex Smith to Seattle for Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows,

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18453274/seattle-mariners-acquire-shae-simmons-outfielder-mallex-smith-atlanta-braves

Gohara is the Mariners 5th ranked prospect, Burrows rated their 25th.

Post #82 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:15 pm

Well, the Braves got 2 hard throwing lefties - one a good - but raw - starting prospect in 20 year old Brazilian Luiz Gohara - but gave up 2 young major leaguers in Mallex Smith and Shae Simmons. I'm sorry to see Simmons go - if not for the injury, I think he'd be the Braves' closer. Can't say I'd have made this trade - with Gohara likely being several years away from the bigs and having a weight issue, but the other lefty they got - Burrows - was a college player drafted in the 4th round in 2016 as a reliever, so he may be on the fast track. Still, the Braves need Gohara to do well to justify this trade. Mallex wasn't going to start, but he could be very useful as a 4th OFer. Word is Seattle got Mallex to trade him - we shall see.

Nemesis21 · Post #83 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:22 pm

Ms flip Smith to Rays for Drew Smyly.

Post #84 » by **JDR720** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 12:56 am

Don't really like the trade that much, but I guess its ok,

Post #85 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 8:26 pm

After reading up more on the Braves OF prospects, I'm more comfortable with trading Smith. Ronald Asuna (19) is an absolute stud who just needs time and health. He crushed an Australia winter league this offseason and should start the season in high A. Look for him to take a major jump in the Braves prospect list (I think he's listed at 19 now.). Ray Patrick Didder (22) has the potential to be a better version of Smith. He hasn't developed quite as quickly, but that's because he's had injuries and was switched from SS. He had 20 OF assists last year and has a much better arm than Smith and can play RF. Just needs to prove he can hit. Christian Pache (18) is an outstanding long-term CF prospect but years away. I like Connor Lien (22) - he's a big guy with excellent speed and arm - a 4th OFer type. He's the closest of the CF prospects to the bigs. And speedster Randy Ventura (19) is another in the Smith mold - probably the least likely to make it of the bunch - but a fun player to watch.

Nemesis21 · Post #86 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 10:33 pm

Braves acquire INF/OF Micah Johnson from the Dodgers for a PTBNL.

http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/213478084/braves-acquire-micah-johnson-from-dodgers/

Braves also avoid arby with Vizcaino and Krol,

http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/213474284/braves-avoid-arbitration-with-arodys-vizcaino/

Nemesis21 · Post #87 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:05 pm

Braves bring back Blaine Boyer on Minors deal,

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/braves-sign-blaine-boyer-minors.html

Nemesis21 · Post #88 » by **Nemesis21** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 6:31 pm

The Braves are working on a deal with FA C Kurt Suzuki,

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/braves-to-sign-kurt-suzuki.html

Post #89 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 2:11 pm

Read on Twitter

Bringing back the golden boy as a 4th outfielder. Vet presence, timely hitting. I'm onboard with letting him end his career where it started...in a Braves uni. (And a few miles North of Turner Field)

Post #90 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 8:42 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Bringing back the golden boy as a 4th outfielder. Vet presence, timely hitting. I'm onboard with letting him end his career where it started...in a Braves uni. (And a few miles North of Turner Field)

Yeah, I think they have only 3 OFers on the 40 man roster, so they need to get some bodies - though I guess Sean Rodriquez could help in the OF. The 3 they do have are veterans, so I'd prefer a young guy as the 4th OFer - but it doesn't look like anyone in the farm system is quite ready. Maybe they get someone decent at the end of Spring Training who loses a numbers game with another team.

Post #91 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:19 pm

Ruzious wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:

Read on Twitter

Bringing back the golden boy as a 4th outfielder. Vet presence, timely hitting. I'm onboard with letting him end his career where it started...in a Braves uni. (And a few miles North of Turner Field)

Yeah, I think they have only 3 OFers on the 40 man roster...The 3 they do have are veterans, so I'd prefer a young guy as the 4th OFer - but it doesn't look like anyone in the farm system is quite ready.

Interesting. I was under the impression that part of the reason we moved Mallex was because it's less than ideal to have a young, inexperienced player as the 4th outfielder. (The theory being that it's better to allow a young OF extra at-bats in High AAA rather than sit on the bench most days.)

I think they're reticent to utilize a top young OF at this point because he'd just be blocked at the big league level for the next couple of seasons.

Post #92 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 3:39 pm

I hear ya, but a 4th OFer often ends up getting 300 to 400 plate appearances - especially with Markakis being old and Kemp being injury-prone. I'm looking for a guy who's in a numbers game to make another team - not really a prospect like Mallex. An example of what I'm talking about is Joey Rickard - he played that role for the O's last year at 25 (though injuries slowed him down) and may or may not make their roster this year. He's still young, but he doesn't have to play every day.

Post #93 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 3:43 pm

Ruzious wrote:I hear ya, but a 4th OFer often ends up getting 300 to 400 plate appearances - especially with Markakis being old and Kemp being injury-prone. I'm looking for a guy who's in a numbers game to make another team - not really a prospect like Mallex. An example of what I'm talking about is Joey Rickard - he played that role for the O's last year at 25 (though injuries slowed him down) and may or may not make their roster this year. He's still young, but he doesn't have to play every day.

1. Noted
2. Makes complete sense
3. Thanks for clarifying!

Post #94 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 26, 2017 3:05 pm

Non-roster invites to Spring Training:

Read on Twitter

Post #95 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Jan 27, 2017 2:45 pm

The signing of Adam Walker to fill out the 40 man roster seems very minor - he strikes out a metric ton, not known as much of a fielder, and didn't have great stats but... he did crush lefties and did it in leagues regarded as bad for hitters. He could be a useful bench guy in the majors, imo.

Post #96 » by **HMFFL** » Sat Feb 4, 2017 3:11 am

Jamaaliver wrote:Non-roster invites to Spring Training:

Read on Twitter

Spring is in the AIR!!!

bsjaffe6 · Post #97 » by **bsjaffe6** » Sun Feb 5, 2017 8:14 pm

according to some of what i've read elsewhere the Braves felt that Mallex Smith was not going to unseat any of the current starters and would deal well with a bench role so they felt moving him was a better plan

TheKingofSting · Post #98 » by **TheKingofSting** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:03 am

We are finalizing a deal for Brandon Phillips. Can he play 3B?

Ken_Rosenthal
Source: Sean Rodriguez to undergo minor surgery on left shoulder next week due to car accident. One reason #Braves pursuing Phillips.

Source corrects: Surgery for Sean Rodriguez is NOT minor. Expected to be out 3 to 5 months.

Brandon PhillipsVerified account‏@DatDudeBP
Follow
More
I see ya @Baseball_ACES making dreams come true! Always getting things done especially when they need to be. #SALUTE #Outchea

More Phillips twitter

Brandon Phillips ‏@DatDudeBP 58m 58 minutes ago
More
What a day lol! #BackInDaTrap #ATLien

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nemesis21 · Post #99 » by **Nemesis21** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:06 am

TheKingofSting wrote:We are finalizing a deal for Brandon Phillips. Can he play 3B?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just read about it. He'll probably play at 2b. Sean Rodriguez, who was slated to start at 2b, was involved in a car accident and needs shoulder surgery. He'll be out 4-5 months.

I wonder who we would be sending to the Reds.

Nemesis21 · Post #100 » by **Nemesis21** » Sun Feb 12, 2017 5:09 am

Read on Twitter