***The Official 2024 Atlanta Braves Thead***

[whitmm]

Of the four voters that picked Wheeler over Sale, two were from the New York chapter and one was the Philly voter.

[rittdk01]

Fried to the Yankees. Everyone saw this coming.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by rittdk01

Fried to the Yankees. Everyone saw this coming.

Which part? Him going to the Yankees? Him signing the largest contract for a LH SP in MLB history?

Yeah, I didn't see either of those coming. I'm guessing the Braves made a competitive offer. And before the AA tries to low-ball everyone (like he's the only one), remember that the Yankees offered Soto $50 million less and wanted one more year.

[abravesfan]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Which part?

This part:

Originally Posted by abravesfan

The Braves need another pitcher next year, agreed, but its not going to be Max. AA is never going to outbid the market on him unless he settles for a high AAV/low years deal.

Agreed that the overall dollar figure was higher than expected (I thought he'd get around $150M-$180M). But the Braves were never going to be top bidder.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by abravesfan

This part:



Agreed that the overall dollar figure was higher than expected (I thought he'd get around $150M-$180M). But the Braves were never going to be top bidder.

Yup, maybe they weren't going to be high bidder. Not every player simply takes the most money. Example, Bieber just re-signed with Cleveland for less money.

Everyone is going to act like Atlanta didn't even try to negotiate with him. And ignore that fact that New York's deal most likely blew everyone else out of the water. The Braves are paying 35 year old Chris Sale $22 million in 2025. They paid 40 year old Charlie Morton $20 million to pitch in 2024. So, let's not act like the Braves aren't willing to pay older pitchers. I wouldn't be surprised if their offer to Max was around the $25 million/year mark, and in the 5-6 year range.

The Dodgers and Yankees now have 6 of the 8 highest paid starting pitchers in the league, by AAV. And that's not counting Ohtani

[Rabs]

Originally Posted by whitmm

The Dodgers and Yankees now have 6 of the 8 highest paid starting pitchers in the league, by AAV. And that's not counting Ohtani

Bad for baseball with the rich keep getting richer IMO.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Rabs

Bad for baseball with the rich keep getting richer IMO.

10 of the top 22 across all players are on those two teams.

[whitmm]

Reports on Fried were that the A's were extremely aggressive in pursuing Max in an effort to get to a payroll of $105 million to avoid losing their CBT paycheck.

Other reported offers include both Boston and Texas offering 7 years, $190 million

[rittdk01]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Which part? Him going to the Yankees? Him signing the largest contract for a LH SP in MLB history?

Yeah, I didn't see either of those coming. I'm guessing the Braves made a competitive offer. And before the AA tries to low-ball everyone (like he's the only one), remember that the Yankees offered Soto $50 million less and wanted one more year.

Leaving the Braves of course.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by rittdk01

Leaving the Braves of course.

Right, ignore the part where he got more years and more money than anyone was expecting or predicting.

[Rabs]

Originally Posted by whitmm

10 of the top 22 across all players are on those two teams.

That's wild.

[whitmm]

Question for everyone. From a purely baseball production and contract standpoint, which players that have left via free agency are you upset about AA not trying harder on? Leave the fandom part out.

I'll address the big name now, because he doesn't fit the "AA doesn't pursue their own players when the hit FA." Freddie Freeman. AA went hard after him. AA offered him a contract that, when you factor in the state taxes, was more money that what Freddie signed for. The Braves were right in the thick of it, right up until Freddie's agent started giving ultimatums to AA.

[Rabs]

Well right now we aren't as good as we were last year.

Lost Travis.
Lost Max.

Who will we sign?

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Rabs

Well right now we aren't as good as we were last year.

Lost Travis.
Lost Max.

Who will we sign?

Travis will be replaced by Baldwin and Murphy will catch 100+ games, like he did every season but 2024.

There are still some decent starting pitchers out there. Burnes I think will have a team come in with a huge over pay. But there's still Flaherty, Buehler, Lynn, Manaea, Quintana, Rea, Yarbrough.

Or, just crazy talk, they sign Soroka and Alex Wood and Kyle Muller and they all turn into studs. Or Max Scherzer pulls a Chris Sale.

What about Sasaki? The reports seem to be that he doesn't want to be in a big market because of his experience with the media in Japan.

A Bryan De La Cruz would make a nice platoon with Kelenic. And I think the Braves end up with a SS named Kim.

[jduds]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Travis will be replaced by Baldwin and Murphy will catch 100+ games, like he did every season but 2024.

There are still some decent starting pitchers out there. Burnes I think will have a team come in with a huge over pay. But there's still Flaherty, Buehler, Lynn, Manaea, Quintana, Rea, Yarbrough.

Or, just crazy talk, they sign Soroka and Alex Wood and Kyle Muller and they all turn into studs. Or Max Scherzer pulls a Chris Sale.

What about Sasaki? The reports seem to be that he doesn't want to be in a big market because of his experience with the media in Japan.

A Bryan De La Cruz would make a nice platoon with Kelenic. And I think the Braves end up with a SS named Kim.

A Kelenic/De La Cruz platoon would take two roster spots to get to about one league average hitter. I'd be more excited if either had better stats from their good side. I like the Sasaki idea and am intrigued with the Braves going all last names starting with"S" for starters.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by jduds

A Kelenic/De La Cruz platoon would take two roster spots to get to about one league average hitter. I'd be more excited if either had better stats from their good side. I like the Sasaki idea and am intrigued with the Braves going all last names starting with"S" for starters.

I was just spitballing with LF. Kelenic is going to be on the team, and I'm not giving up on him just yet. To be honest, the extent of my BDLC research was looking at a list of FA and saw he his 21 homers last year.

The team definitely needs OF help. AA keeps saying that Acuna will most likely not be ready for OD, and Kelenic is best suited for a platoon.

List of OF FAs out there: Verdugo, Profar, Hays, Winker, Carlson, Bader, Hampson, Margot, Kike Hernandez, Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, Kepler, Heyward, Laureano.

[Rabs]

Santander had a great season. He's going to probably get a good deal somewhere but I like the thought of a power switch hitter in the OF. Can start in RF and then move to LF when Acuna is back.

[whitmm]

Braves are signing Bryan De La Cruz to a non guaranteed contract.

[rittdk01]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Right, ignore the part where he got more years and more money than anyone was expecting or predicting.

Don’t worry I don’t save receipts for Braves fans.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by rittdk01

Don’t worry I don’t save receipts for Braves fans.

Okay?

Being right about a player signing with a new team during free agency really isn't the flex you think it is

[Cracktoast]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Braves are signing Bryan De La Cruz to a non guaranteed contract.

Nice move that if it doesn't work out costs them absolutely nothing since it's a non guaranteed invite to ST

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

Nice move that if it doesn't work out costs them absolutely nothing since it's a non guaranteed invite to ST

Yup. Take a flyer on a guy. Fills depth or a platoon spot.

[rittdk01]

Originally Posted by whitmm

Okay?

Being right about a player signing with a new team during free agency really isn't the flex you think it is

I was just kidding around. I love Fried and really hoped he would stay. Any Braves fan is alright by me.

[whitmm]

Originally Posted by rittdk01

I was just kidding around. I love Fried and really hoped he would stay. Any Braves fan is alright by me.

My bad. There were plenty of plenty that were extremely insistent that Max wasn't coming back and that AA was just going to let him walk because AA doesn't try to sign his own guys.