2021 Braves off-season and Spring Training thread...

Post #21 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Nov 6, 2020 12:00 am

HMFFL wrote:Starting Nine: Hitting free-agent market to fill Braves’ biggest needs

If current options move on, where could Atlanta turn for a middle-of-the-order bat, starting pitcher and catcher?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.talkingchop.com/platform/amp/2020/11/5/21550763/starting-nine-hitting-free-agent-market-to-fill-braves-biggest-needs

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We really need to know if the NL's gonna keep the DH. If yes, keep the band together.

Nemesis21 · Post #22 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Nov 6, 2020 12:02 am

Read on Twitter

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Post #23 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Nov 6, 2020 10:08 am

Nemesis21 wrote:

Read on Twitter
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No big loss - 2 borderline at best prospects who may or may not make it to the bigs some day as utility infielders. Good luck to them.

DirtybirdGA · Post #24 » by **DirtybirdGA** » Fri Nov 6, 2020 2:20 pm

Congrats to the 4 Brave silver slugger awards winners.

Post #25 » by **HMFFL** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:53 am

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, free agent starter Charlie Morton is drawing "some level of interest" from "at least" 8-10 teams.

Tampa Bay declined Morton's $15 million option for 2021 late last month after he struggled to a 4.74 ERA, 1.395 WHIP, and 42/10 K/BB ratio over nine regular-season starts covering 38 innings. He did come through in the playoffs, however, with a 2.70 ERA across four outings. Feinsand writes that returning to the Rays "appears to be Morton's first choice," but adds that the club is "unlikely to offer more than $10 million" to the soon-to-be 37-year-old. That opens the door to a lot of other teams who may view him as a strong bounceback candidate following a small-sample-size 2020 campaign. The sense is that he could sign relatively early.

SOURCE: Rays.mlb.com

Nov 9, 2020, 7:33 PM ET

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Nemesis21 · Post #26 » by **Nemesis21** » Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:28 pm

Read on Twitter

?s=20

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/braves-resign-josh-tomlin.html

Nemesis21 · Post #27 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:04 am

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First baseman sweep the MVP awards, Jose Abreu won in AL.

Nemesis21 · Post #28 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:10 am

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Freeman's OPS was the best by a Braves player since Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby posted a 1.130 OPS for the Boston Braves in 1928.

This is Freeman's fourth top-five victory, tying Warren Spahn for second most in franchise history behind only Hank Aaron (8).

Post #29 » by **HMFFL** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 1:09 am

Congrats to Freddie!
I was nervous about this so thankfully he won.

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Nemesis21 · Post #30 » by **Nemesis21** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:48 pm

Freeman received 28 of the 30 first place votes, Betts got the other two. Freeman finished with 410 total votes, Betts with 291.

Post #31 » by **HMFFL** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 3:09 pm

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that 10 teams, including the Braves, are showing interest in Marcell Ozuna.

Heyman says that the interest comes from clubs in the National League and American League. We don't know yet whether the universal designated hitter will remain in effect in 2021, but the consensus seems to be that it probably will. Even if it doesn't, it's likely to be part of the new CBA. Ozuna led the NL with 18 home runs and 56 RBI this past season.

SOURCE: Jon Heyman on Twitter

Nov 13, 2020, 8:15 AM ET

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Nemesis21 · Post #32 » by **Nemesis21** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 7:14 pm

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30331027/atlanta-braves-sign-lefty-drew-smyly-one-year-11m-deal

Smyly was 0-1 with a 3.45 ERA over 26.2 IP(5 starts, 2 relief appearances) in 2020. 14.4 K/9, 3.1 BB/9

I'm not really happy about this, would have preferred to give $10-12 mill to Wainwright/Morton.

Post #33 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:18 pm

Braves signed LHP Drew Smyly to a one-year, $11 million contract.

Can't say we saw this coming, at least as far as the timing is concerned, though the Braves were active early last offseason as well. Still, Smyly is a good gamble. While staying healthy has been an issue, the 31-year-old put up a 3.42 ERA and 42/9 K/BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings over five starts and two relief appearances this past season. He also showed a healthy uptick in velocity compared to previous seasons. The Giants had interest in bringing him back, but they might not have been willing to top this offer after bringing back Kevin Gausman with a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer. Smyly will join a Braves' rotation which projects to include Max Fried, Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, and hopefully Mike Soroka as he returns from an Achilles tear.

Nov 16, 2020, 1:27 PM ET

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Post #34 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:19 pm

Makes absolutely NO sense!

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Post #35 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 2:24 pm

I'm surprised you guys are upset with the Smylie signing. Our rotation was thin last year, and I'm fine with signing him to a 1 year deal. The only thing is he's never been very durable, but when healthy, he's a good pitcher with outstanding SO/W ratios. I'd compare him to a lefthanded Gausman, and Gausman got an 18.9 mil 1 year contract.

Nemesis21 · Post #36 » by **Nemesis21** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 2:57 pm

Ruzious wrote:I'm surprised you guys are upset with the Smylie signing. Our rotation was thin last year, and I'm fine with signing him to a 1 year deal. The only thing is he's never been very durable, but when healthy, he's a good pitcher with outstanding SO/W ratios. I'd compare him to a lefthanded Gausman, and Gausman got an 18.9 mil 1 year contract.

I would have preferred giving Wainwright/Morton the $10-12 mill deal.

Post #37 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 3:30 pm

Nemesis21 wrote:
Ruzious wrote:I'm surprised you guys are upset with the Smylie signing. Our rotation was thin last year, and I'm fine with signing him to a 1 year deal. The only thing is he's never been very durable, but when healthy, he's a good pitcher with outstanding SO/W ratios. I'd compare him to a lefthanded Gausman, and Gausman got an 18.9 mil 1 year contract.

I would have preferred giving Wainwright/Morton the $10-12 mill deal.

Yeah - I could see that, and they've both had much better careers than Smylie, but I think age had an effect on the choice - even on a 1 year deal. Like with Ozuna, the Braves might want to keep Smylie after the 1 year deal.

Question: Do the Braves re-sign Melancon? He did great, but the optics are highly doubtful that he can keep it up as a quality closer for another year.

Nemesis21 · Post #38 » by **Nemesis21** » Sat Nov 21, 2020 5:01 pm

If the DH doesn't return in 2021 and Ozuna not re-signed, I revisit the idea of trading for Arenado. The package will start with Riley, Wright, Wilson and Shewmake. (and maybe Jenista/M Harris)

Post #39 » by **Ruzious** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:54 am

Nemesis21 wrote:If the DH doesn't return in 2021 and Ozuna not re-signed, I revisit the idea of trading for Arenado. The package will start with Riley, Wright, Wilson and Shewmake. (and maybe Jenista/M Harris)

He's making 35 mil a year and has an opt out clause after 2021. I could see trading Riley and Shewmake for him, but I wouldn't add anything more than lower level talent.

Nemesis21 · Post #40 » by **Nemesis21** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:19 pm

Ruzious wrote:
Nemesis21 wrote:If the DH doesn't return in 2021 and Ozuna not re-signed, I revisit the idea of trading for Arenado. The package will start with Riley, Wright, Wilson and Shewmake. (and maybe Jenista/M Harris)

He's making 35 mil a year and has an opt out clause after 2021. I could see trading Riley and Shewmake for him, but I wouldn't add anything more than lower level talent.

If he's traded to a team that is a legit WS contender and will contend for years, he won't opt out. I highly doubt that he would opt out if traded to the Braves, Dodgers or Yankees.