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Braves Offseason Thread


Unknøwn

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AA did a long Q&A with DOB. He talked a lot of things but I figured first we'd highlight Max Fried. DOB asked about an extension for Fried. AA said Fried has 2 years left and he believes it's a year early to be talking about it but he wanted to make sure he expressed that he strongly wants a deep rotation and it's at the front of his mind. He pointed out that of the current rotation, only Strider and Wright are under control after 2024. Here's a little of what he said. 

 

So the rotation is very much front of mind for me, long term. It’s very much like, “In 2025 what’s the rotation going to be?” That’s very much in my thought process. Max is a stud. Second in Cy Young, great in the clubhouse, and he’s the type — I’ve told him this, too — he’s going to age well. 

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14 hours ago, Unknøwn said:

AA did a long Q&A with DOB. He talked a lot of things but I figured first we'd highlight Max Fried. DOB asked about an extension for Fried. AA said Fried has 2 years left and he believes it's a year early to be talking about it but he wanted to make sure he expressed that he strongly wants a deep rotation and it's at the front of his mind. He pointed out that of the current rotation, only Strider and Wright are under control after 2024. Here's a little of what he said. 

 

So the rotation is very much front of mind for me, long term. It’s very much like, “In 2025 what’s the rotation going to be?” That’s very much in my thought process. Max is a stud. Second in Cy Young, great in the clubhouse, and he’s the type — I’ve told him this, too — he’s going to age well. 

I believe Fried will get the extension offer following this year. I can see AA offering an AAV of $18-20 million. Now does Fried accept that is the question. 

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Braves signing the arbitration guys

Luetge gets $1.5M 

Jimenez gets $2.76M

Minter gets $4.2M

Santana gets $1M

Today is the deadline to get deals done. Only one remaining for the Braves is Max Fried. Last year Fried went all the way to the arbitration hearing. He got $6.8M but is expected to nearly double that salary this year after finishing as the runner up to the Cy last year. 

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He also adds the insight that it's different for a player in Fried's position, as it's his one big contract. Acuna and Harris will get another big contract, presuming they play well. So, the negotiations work differently when it's the one and only money bag you know you're getting.

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But here's the best part of the interview:

"

Are you cautiously optimistic and/or hopeful for your fellow Canadian, Mike Soroka? So many fans and teammates are pulling hard for this kid, after the **** that he’s been through the last couple of years with all the surgeries and rehabs from a twice-torn Achilles. He still is really upbeat.

And the one thing is, it wasn’t his arm. I know he’s had some (arm) stuff in the past. But knowing him, the work ethic, the person, with the intelligence, I mean, this guy is going to get everything out of his career. And we forget how young he is (25). And he’s so talented. So, he’ll eventually get it. He’s going to be good again. There are so many examples of guys that have hit bumps in the road early in their careers, but there’s too much ability there. There’s too much talent, the aptitude, the work ethic. He’s gonna come out on the other end, regardless. I don’t know when. It might be right out of camp, it might be the middle of the summer, but Mike Soroka is gonna be a stud again. I’ve been around enough players (to know) you bet on that guy. He’ll will himself to be great, and he’s got the ability to be.

I just love the fact that right now, Ian Anderson, who was a lock for a rotation in the past — No. 2 starter for the postseason in ’20 — he’s competing now for the fifth spot. And Soroka, who was in the Cy Young conversation, is competing for the fifth spot. They both have (minor-league) options. That’s a good place to be from a rotation depth standpoint. I think more so than anything else, I go into every season now thinking, if you can be five (starters) that you feel good about, with a good pen — not to say offense isn’t important; of course it is — but five guys with a deep bullpen, you should be competitive no matter what."

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If Soroka can come back to be anything close to what he was pre-injury and Anderson can find himself again then is there really a better rotation in baseball?

I realize those are some IFS but in terms of pure arm and pitching talent I'm not sure how many other rotations can boast the sheer volume of arm talent that the braves have

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1 hour ago, falconsd56 said:

If Soroka can come back to be anything close to what he was pre-injury and Anderson can find himself again then is there really a better rotation in baseball?

I realize those are some IFS but in terms of pure arm and pitching talent I'm not sure how many other rotations can boast the sheer volume of arm talent that the brace have

Oh if everyone is healthy and pitching as they're capable plus a rehabbed Anderon and Soroka? Would definitely be the best and deepest rotation in MLB

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Speaking of Florida, we're less than a month away from players reporting. Players participating in this Spring's WBC are required to report to camp on Feb 13. They'll have full workouts beginning Feb 16. Players not participating in the WBC report on Feb 16 with first workouts Feb 21. 

So far there's been no Braves participants but rosters are not fully revealed yet. Acuna posted to Instagram asking why teams are allowed to block players from going. Saying that he was one, seemingly saying the Braves blocked him from playing for Venezuela. 

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4 hours ago, Unknøwn said:

Speaking of Florida, we're less than a month away from players reporting. Players participating in this Spring's WBC are required to report to camp on Feb 13. They'll have full workouts beginning Feb 16. Players not participating in the WBC report on Feb 16 with first workouts Feb 21. 

So far there's been no Braves participants but rosters are not fully revealed yet. Acuna posted to Instagram asking why teams are allowed to block players from going. Saying that he was one, seemingly saying the Braves blocked him from playing for Venezuela. 

I hope we didn’t block him from playing. That’s a chance for him to represent his country and get more national exposure. 

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15 hours ago, Unknøwn said:

So far there's been no Braves participants but rosters are not fully revealed yet. 

I believe Chadwick Tromp will be playing for the Netherlands, but I don't know if that's been confirmed. 

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6 hours ago, K26dp said:

I believe Chadwick Tromp will be playing for the Netherlands, but I don't know if that's been confirmed. 

Most likely, he was included in the preliminary roster pool and is the only catcher in the pool that's on an MLB roster. Andruw Jones being the bench coach also likely helps his case. 

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Listening to AA in the DOB Q&A you can tell he has some reservations on Grissom being the full time guy at SS. He said if it wasn't for Wash being such a guru and so adamant that Grissom can do it, I don't think he would be doing it. He said he trusts Wash that much. He did say nobody expects it to be pretty or great, it's a process. AA even admitted Grissom might have to be sent to AAA at some point but they believe in Arcia. He said they expect Arcia to be a low .700 OPS guy that plays good defensively he said the best will win the job in Spring. 

He also said he gets the fans frustration over Dansby and Freeman in back to back years. He said even hears it from his wife and kids. He said would you rather have a roster of 10 high paid great players and a bunch of holes or a complete team? 

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His answers on Swanson and Freeman -- that they had to be mindful of likely future payroll obligations, even if it was clear the Braves would go over the CBT threshold -- makes me think they will make a concerted effort to retain Fried. Don't know if it will work, but we'll see.

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56 minutes ago, K26dp said:

His answers on Swanson and Freeman -- that they had to be mindful of likely future payroll obligations, even if it was clear the Braves would go over the CBT threshold -- makes me think they will make a concerted effort to retain Fried. Don't know if it will work, but we'll see.

The way he talks I would think so. He made it a point to say he knows and has told Fried that he will age well. 

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