Here’s the latest from Atlanta…
- Braves GM John Coppolella tells David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter links) that “we have not had any trade discussions on Freddie Freeman.” O’Brien also hears that the club hasn’t had any talks about Julio Teheran and that the Braves don’t intend to trade either player. Coppolella’s statement runs counter to a Ken Rosenthal report from earlier today claiming that Atlanta was shopping Freeman, Teheran and “everyone owed money,” in the words of one source. While the GM could be employing some gamesmanship, O’Brien believes (Twitter link) Coppolella’s denial could carry some weight, as he previously didn’t deny that Andrelton Simmons was being shopped prior to the shortstop being dealt to the Angels.
- In another tweet, O’Brien notes that he didn’t ask Coppolella whether or not Nick Markakis’ name had surfaced in trade talks. O’Brien thinks the Orioles, Markakis’ former team, could be interested in bringing the right fielder back to Baltimore. It also wouldn’t surprise O’Brien if the Braves traded Cameron Maybin this offseason.
- As part of a wide-ranging interview with Phil W. Hudson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle (links to part one and part two), Braves chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk said that the club plans to raise payroll in response to the expected revenue increase from their new stadium. A top-10 payroll should be feasible, McGuirk said. He “won’t give you a timetable, but you will start seeing major jumps” by January 1, 2017. (The new stadium is expected to be ready for Opening Day of the 2017 season.)
- McGuirk and team president John Schuerholz began to see trouble brewing for the club during the winter of 2013 in regards to a lagging farm system, though they resisted making any major changes since the Braves were winning at the time. The collapse at the end of the 2014 season was “the catharsis” for the franchise to reload the minor league system that McGuirk notes was so instrumental to the Braves’ success in the 1990’s and 2000’s. I recommend reading all of Hudson’s interview, as it also contains comments from McGuirk about how the payroll is set, infrastructure and development of the new ballpark, corporate sponsorships and much more information about the business side of the Braves’ operations.
More lies from a front office that’s done nothing but lie over the last year+
Yes, its smart business for GM’s to go around and tell everyone what their plan is…
If you believe anything a GM or exec says to a reporter, well, I have a bridge to sell you
I never put too much stock in any GM’s denial of a trade rumor. Especially with Coppy’s track record so far.
I like how the Braves even have a chance to “shop” Maybin when not even a year ago the Padres would have paid just to get rid of him.
i guess when it doesnt pay off, you just sell all your players aways
Aka The Marlin Plan
more like the As plan, marlins do sell their players but not everyone usually it just their higher end vets that dont work out for them.
But the A’s do it because of the limited payroll and Beane was big on capitalizing on players value if he could get a lot for it. Braves are not as nearly limited by their payroll as the A’s. The Braves are actually more like the Marlins because they’re selling all their guys after getting the new stadium (although Loria signed those guys just so he could get a new stadium).
Now the olivera trade looks worse. Might aswell send miller to the dodgers for prospects.
goes to show not every cuban prospect is a hit. looks like more and more are miss. well maybe just the ones the dodgers sign
Puig has been good. Last year awful, but the previous two good.
It’s too early to tell how productive he will but it definitely makes no sense to trade for a 30 year old prospect when the plan is to tear down the rest of the team and sell it as spare parts.
Trade Freeman while he has Value, and Before the Big Money kicks in for 275 Hitter !
It’s great we have a stat like Batting Average that we can just sort by and it tells us how valuable every player is.
I guess Dee Gordon is the best player in baseball then if BA is the measurement for players..
But Dee is’t payed payed 20,000,000 a year like Fast Freddie is !
He’s peaked SELL NOW , For two Really Good Prospects !
Can’t argue with that. Dee is absolutely not payed payed 20,000,000
You might want to check your facts- Freddie will be making 12 mil this year, then moving to 20+ the next several years. Considering he battled some wrist ailments and had no protection in the lineup his stats this year were right in line with his career norms.
$17MM for 2017. Then $21-$22MM for 2018-2021. His contract is fine.
According to Cot’s he’s set to make roughly 12.4mil for 2016 and then 20.8 for 2017 followed by two years at 21.4 and two years at 22.4. So this is most likely the last real year of any major surplus value.
Got mine from Fangraphs, it’s apparently wrong. Someone better edit it.
No but, Bryce Harper is so it does mean something.
hahahaha, no.
.285 avg .366 obp .466 slg .832 ops these are Freddie’s CAREER marks for his six years in the league. His first season in 2010 was too small a sample to really count towards these numbers, even though they do. So if your going to cherry pick a stat try using one not based an injury laden season, but more in line with his normal production.
Braves trade Chip Caray to Cubs for 73rd ranked pitching prospect and “decent” patch of Ivy.
UPDATE: Deal falls through, Ivy fails physical.
I would wrap myself in poison ivy for a year if it meant not having to listen to Chip and Joe anymore
Haha! I don’t mind Joe so much. The only reason I tolerate Chip is because of his bloodline.
After reading all of McGuirk’s interview, I am now certain in my belief that the Braves are being run by con men. McGuirk speaks of his confidence often during the interview as if it is a bulwark against the possibility that things will not go as planned. Strange man. I hope it all works out the way he thinks it will.
How do the O’s want Markakis back? Didn’t want to sign him 1.5 years ago now they will have to lose some assets to acquire him. Now they will pay him the salary anyway.
I don’t believe them so here strafe for you between Braves and Seattle. Seattle gets Freeman, Tehran Cameron Grilli Aybar swisher and 25 million off set money and Braves get Of/c Alex Jackson 3b/1b D.J Peterson Of Austin Wilson C Tyler Marlettie Sp Tajuan Walker P Danny Hultzen 1b mark Trumbo (replace Freddy ) and combo pick. Seattle get super star 1b Sp to replace walker A Cf a closer Ss and Swisher and Braves can finally be over the rebuild and have some pos players for future. Then give Ss job to dance carrot for year or 2 and sign gordan beckham to back him up and then sign couple middle tear reliever like Jackson and oflathery and sign couple other player and call it a year . As Braves of 32 years we are going to lose over 100 game for at less 3 more years so let just do it but I will say this brave management and owner better be right other wise there going to be in big trouble because brave stock will be worthless and this idea of total tear down lick Astros did the difference is Houston all ready had a new stadium the brave are a year away and if every one look at it . When Braves won all the title the drafted and dev there own player and not trade for them and when you look at history of baseball of team trade for super star of future more time then not the minor league prospect end up being a bust so there taken very big risk . What does every body think? I think trade make since give Seattle real chance to win a word series and brave are done rebuilding finally
I don’t believe them I have to trade for between the Braves and Seattle Seattle gets freeman Tehran Maybin Grilli Aybar swisher and 25 million and Braves get of/c Alex Jackson 3b/1b D.j. Peterson of Austin Wilson C Tyler Marlettie Sp Tajuan Walker and Danny Hultzen Rp Tom Wilhelmsen and mark Trumbo ( Freeman replacement) and com pick Seattle has chance to win World Series and Braves are done with rebuild . And brave hand Ss to Daniel Castro and sign Gordan Beckham to back him up and sign couple middle tear Rp like Jackson and Oflaherty and couple other player so the maybe able to move at trading dead line I think it win win situation for both teams What does every body thing
Braves are going to loss over 100 games a year for at less next 3 to 4 years at less let try to make sure we get 1st pick every year. Who cares if we only score 100 years for the year and Braves get shut out 80 games. If we going to bad want not make sure we worst team it does matter how many runs we score any way so let be the worst we can. Embrace the 80’s again a decade of loading and being the laugh in stock of not only baseball but all sports
Here two more trade for you all Braves trade sp miller of Bourn and lph marksberry for solar and Beaz and then Braves trade markakis Perez and Trumbo to Baltimore for Lrp Brian Matusz 1b Christian Walker Sp Hunter Harvey and Of mike Yastrzemski these trade help the other team full hole and give them chance to win and brave can really be done with the rebuild and have lost pay roll in baseball around 20 million