This is the latest entry in MLBTR’s 2017-18 Offseason In Review series. Click here to read the other completed reviews from around the league.
A much-anticipated offseason started off with unexpected front office turnover and ended up focusing squarely on the future.
Major League Signings
- Peter Moylan, RHP: One year, $575K (non-guaranteed)
- Chris Stewart, C: One year, $575K (non-guaranteed)
Trades And Claims
- Acquired Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, Adrian Gonzalez, Charlie Culberson & $4.5MM from Dodgers in exchange for Matt Kemp
- Acquired LHP Justin Kelly from Angels in exchange for RHP Jim Johnson & international bonus pool money
- Acquired INF Ryan Schimpf from Rays in exchange for cash/PTBNL
- Acquired RHP Shane Carle from Pirates in exchange for cash/PTBNL
- Acquired OF Preston Tucker from Astros in exchange for cash/PTBNL
- Acquired RHP Josh Ravin from Dodgers in exchange for cash
- Claimed RHP Chase Whitley off waivers from Rays
- Claimed LHP Grant Dayton off waivers from Dodgers
- Selected RHP Anyelo Gomez from Yankees in Rule 5 draft (since returned)
Option Decisions
- Exercised one-year, $4MM option over C Tyler Flowers
- Declined one-year, $8MM option ($500K buyout) over SP R.A. Dickey
Notable Minor League Signings
Notable Losses
- Matt Adams, Adonis Garcia, Jim Johnson, Micah Johnson, Matt Kemp, Ian Krol, Jason Motte, Jace Peterson
Braves 25-Man Roster & Minor League Depth Chart; Braves Payroll Overview
Needs Addressed
Whatever the Braves’ plans may have been heading into the offseason, they were jolted with the sudden and stunning downfall of former GM John Coppolella and eventual move of president of baseball operations John Hart out of his role atop the baseball hierarchy.
The former regime was toppled by a scandal arising out of the organization’s international signing practices. In addition to the front-office upheaval, the violations of MLB rules cost the organization its rights to several notable previously signed prospects and left it facing reduced international spending capabilities for several seasons as well as the loss of a third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
After dabbling in a move for former executive Dayton Moore, who instead remained with the Royals, the Atlanta organization struck a deal to bring in former Blue Jays GM and recent Dodgers exec Alex Anthopoulos. He’s now the top baseball decisionmaker in the Braves hierarchy.
Whether that shake-up changed the Braves’ plans for the 2017-18 winter will never really be known. But the organization certainly did not end up acting as many anticipated. Having opened Sun Trust Park last season and with an abundance of young talent reaching the majors, many anticipated that the organization would announce the beginning of the end of its rebuilding period by pursuing some significant additions via trade and/or free agency.
As it turned out, the Braves’ arguable on-field needs — including potential improvements at third base, the corner outfield, and the bullpen, along with veteran rotation help — were never really addressed, at least not in the manner of an organization that’s readying for contention. While the division-rival Phillies made two significant splashes and spent some real cash on their bullpen, the Braves pursued a course designed to clear future payroll capacity and support the ongoing development of internal talent.
The biggest need identified by Anthopoulos was not, say, finding a high-quality regular at the hot corner. Rather, it was figuring a way to move Matt Kemp and his significant remaining contractual obligations in an advantageous manner. After moving the remaining dollars owed to reliever Jim Johnson, Anthopoulos arrived at a fascinating money-shifting swap involving Kemp with none other than the organization he had just worked for. In a deal full of notable veteran names, the Braves shipped Kemp to the Dodgers in exchange for high-priced veterans Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, and Adrian Gonzalez — along with $4.5MM to make the deal entirely cash-neutral. Atlanta also landed versatile bench candidate Charlie Culberson.
The roster-clearing benefits for the Atlanta organization were clear. Moving Kemp out of the picture left the club free to try some other options in left field. The Braves claimed Preston Tucker and later signed Ezequiel Carrera; those two left-handed hitters could pair with the righty swinging Lane Adams. Of course, the real occupant of left is not going to open the 2018 campaign in the majors. All-world prospect Ronald Acuna ran roughshod over the Grapefruit League but will not make his MLB debut until later in the coming season. While Anthopoulos has insisted the decision was based purely on Acuna’s development, and he did race through the minors last year, there’s also little doubt that service-time considerations also played a role.
Of course, that could have been accomplished simply by cutting Kemp loose. Picking up the veteran trio was of greater utility, however, even with Gonzalez being cut loose. Kazmir and especially McCarthy will represent 2018 rotation candidates for the Braves, thus obviating the need to spend more on veteran pitching to build out the rotation. Having already declined an option over knuckler R.A. Dickey, the Braves needed some innings to avoid putting too much pressure on their young arms.
Additionally, the swap shifted the payroll hit from Kemp forward. The Dodgers preferred to consolidate the money they owed to free them from the luxury tax this year. For the Braves, though, the move allowed the team to spend down its obligations now while clearing the books for 2019. Now, only Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran, and Ender Inciarte are promised money for the future.
It seems, though, that the financial shift also tamped down the likelihood of any significant outlays for the 2018 season, as the immediate payroll ballooned. That left the Braves seeking low-commitment additions throughout the winter. In addition to picking up Tucker and Carrera in the outfield, Anthopoulos added a variety of infielders, including Culberson, Danny Santana, Christian Colon, and Ryan Schimpf. Having already extended Kurt Suzuki to reunite with Tyler Flowers behind the dish, the club added Chris Stewart on a non-guaranteed MLB deal and Rob Brantly on a minors pact to round out the catching depth. After losing Luiz Gohara to injury, the club picked up Anibal Sanchez on a minors pact to deepen the rotation mix. And Anthopoulos added a variety of low-risk relievers, including Chase Whitley, Shane Carle, Josh Ravin, and Tommy John patient Grant Dayton. None of those players cost the Braves more than a de minimus amount of cash, 40-man spot, and/or a non-roster invitation.
Questions Remaining
The club’s approach hardly seems to set the stage for a 2018 postseason berth, though a run can never be ruled out. There is, after all, quite a lot of intriguing talent spread across the Braves’ MLB roster and top minor-league affiliates. But there are also loads of questions, the answers to which will help chart the future for the organization.
We already touched upon the outfield situation. Ender Inciarte is firmly ensconced in center, while Nick Markakis will presumably handle the bulk of the time in right during the final season of his contract. That leaves left field open to examination as the season progresses. Unless Acuna is injured or unexpectedly stumbles at Gwinnett, odds are the pressure will steadily mount for him to be handed the reins — particularly if the Braves get off to a decent start and/or the platoon players don’t pan out.
The right side of the infield is set with star first baseman Freddie Freeman and young second bagger Ozzie Albies, who has earned a long leash after a strong, 57-game debut showing last year. Likewise, the catching situation is largely settled to open the season, as the Flowers/Suzuki pairing will handle the duties.
There’s more potential intrigue, though, in the remaining two spots on the dirt. Dansby Swanson’s sophomore swoon tamped down excitement about his future, though there’s still good reason to believe he’ll be a quality regular and ample cause for the Braves to exercise patience. Third base is largely wide open. It seems the organization will give Johan Camargo a shot at proving he’s no flash in the pan, though he’s expected to open the year on the DL. Schimpf perhaps could have received a shot but turned in a rather unbelievable 0-for-30 performance this spring. Rio Ruiz has not exactly seized his limited opportunities to date but has perhaps shown enough at Triple-A to warrant a chance. Otherwise, the club would likely be left with a mix of Culberson and Santana to hold down the fort. Well-regarded prospect Austin Riley could force his way into the picture if he keeps mashing; no doubt the hope is he’ll earn the job in the long run. It’s perhaps still possible that the Braves could end up finding another option from outside the organization over the next few weeks.
The pitching staff, meanwhile, is chock full of wild cards. The top four members of the rotation are clear, but each comes with as much uncertainty as talent. Julio Teheran is looking to bounce back from a mediocre 2017 season, Mike Foltynewicz will try to turn the corner, McCarthy has made just 25 starts over the past two seasons, and power lefty Sean Newcomb needs to show that he can limit the free passes. A rotation slot had been intended for youngster Luiz Gohara, who impressed at all levels (including a five-start MLB debut) last year. But he suffered a few injuries in camp and now looks to be ticketed for a reasonably lengthy layoff, leaving the door open behind him. While Atlanta may not need a fifth starter to open the year, the club will eventually need to fill out the starting staff. Kazmir and Sanchez are the notable names here, with both looking to rebound from unproductive recent seasons. Otherwise, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, or Lucas Sims could again be given opportunities despite failing to capitalize on their prior chances.
No matter how that situation sorts itself out, the Braves will be weighing all season long whether and when to make some further promotions. Touted young hurlers such as Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Kyle Wright are expected to knock on the door in the near term. With another wave of talent coming up behind them, the front office surely won’t hesitate to take a look at those arms against the game’s best hitters when they’re deemed ready. After all, it could soon be necessary to make some tough calls on which pitchers to keep and which to dangle in trades.
If Anthopoulos focused anywhere in particular this winter, it seems to have been the bullpen, where the club added new arms and outrighted Mauricio Cabrera and Luke Jackson. There are loads of options stacked up for trials and patches as the situation dictates. Arodys Vizcaino will be looking for some elusive consistency after a strong 2017 effort, with Jose Ramirez and lefty A.J. Minter primed to join him at the back of the pen. Veterans Peter Moylan and Sam Freeman figure to provide some stability. Dan Winkler, whose Rule 5 status is still not fully determined, will hope to remain healthy and effective.
That likely leaves two spots still open to some debate, with Whitley, Ravin, Carle, Wisler, and Blair perhaps the chief candidates to open the season on the active roster now that Rule 5er Anyelo Gomez has been returned. Lefty Rex Brothers has struggled this spring after agreeing to a non-guaranteed arb deal. Reclamation projects Jesse Biddle and Jacob Lindgren could represent interesting southpaw candidates at some point but aren’t immediate options (with the former already having been optioned and the latter dealing with elbow issues). Righties Jason Hursh and Akeel Morris won’t make the active roster but are still on the 40-man, as are young southpaws Adam McCreery and Ricardo Sanchez. Needless to say, it’s likely there’ll be quite a lot of turnover in the relief unit as the season goes on. With 26 pitchers on the 40-man roster at present, it’s all but certain that a few hurlers will end up being traded or placed on outright waivers at some point.
Overview
Outside of those roster spots that were locked down entering the winter, the strategy was obviously to build out depth, seek some diamonds in the rough, and create competition. That process is likely to carry on throughout the season as needs arise and players sink or swim. The Braves will surely prioritize protecting their future talent pool over maximizing immediate MLB performance, but plenty of difficult decisions will begin to be made as camp draws to a close. While the organization doesn’t really have loads of veterans that figure to profile as mid-season trade candidates, it’s certainly possible that deals will be considered at some point for Teheran, McCarthy, Markakis, and certain veteran relievers or bench pieces. Expectations are tempered for the coming season, but fans and the front office alike will surely be watching closely at how things are shaping up for 2019 and beyond.
How would you grade the organization’s offseason efforts? (Link for app users.)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
xabial
Very curious how McCarthy and Kazmir produce, 2018!
McCarthy, in particular has a 1.42 ERA, and 0.79 WHIP, in 12.2 IP 2018 Spring Training.
xabial
I gave them an A, anticipating bigger moves to come.
AA gets an A from me ^_^
jbigz12
If mccarthys healthy I have no doubt he’ll be solid. His biggest concern is getting hurt.
jbigz12
Schimpf is 0-30. That’s hilarious. He really has no hit tool.
DanielDannyDano
The Braves are readying for the free agent class of 2018-2019. Could a reunion between AA and Josh Donaldson be in the future?
jbaker3170
ZERO chance The Braves sign a 33 y/o 3b in the off-season. 0 chance
Dillon Carroll™
Well I think the odds are higher than zero unless you have some crystal ball you’re hiding.
Zach725
They very might if Riley regresses or they need a power bat. 3 year/$50 Million would probably get him.
jbaker3170
Braves spending $50 million on a 33 y/o 3b?? Not happening. Save this conversation so I can say I told y’all so
chesteraarthur
do you mean 3 @ 50 per or 3/150? or did you mean 3 years 50m total?
jbigz12
3/75 would be a bargain for Donaldson. There is 0 ZERO chance you could get Donaldson for 3/50 unless he goes the way of Jose Bautista this year.
chesteraarthur
I wonder if this is the same person who thought the braves could get Holland at 5per
customcrown
You gonna put all of these up in the next six days or what lol
Not really interesting
when it’s midseason, returning to preseason
jbaker3170
You cared enough to reply so it’s interesting to you
realgone2
More trolls. Shocking.
samthebravesfan
I’m fine with giving them a B because all I cared about was them finding a space for Acuna. Everything else will essentially work itself out. I don’t care one bit that they didn’t set up to contend. The team actually tried that last season, or at worst put on an attitude that they wanted to contend at all costs and all it got them was 72 wins. I’ll take an evaluation season over anything else at this juncture, especially since Anthopoulos needs to work on setting up the team and the minor league system to endure having a dwindling amount of effective drafted or signed players.
Zach725
I give them a B because the best thing they could do was wait until the 2019 FA class and see what prospects develop
mpaoword
In my opinion getting out from under Kemp’s contract is worth a B all on its own. The rest of the moves may not have resulted in a sexy off-season Braves fans would’ve wanted, but the long-term effects of the move on top of the still remaining young talent in the system gives the team a bright outlook moving forward. On top of that, healthy seasons from McCarthy and Kazmir are just an added bonus. I don’t necessarily expect the Braves to make the post-season this year, but I think they’ll be competitive year-round and if McCarthy and Kazmir perform they can always be flipped for more assets.
RunDMC
Getting rid of Jim Johnson and Ian Krol is worth something. Wait and see what the law firm of McCarthy, Kazmir & Culberson can get us in short term relief or prospects if they can put up some decent numbers.
TradeAcuna
You look at their additions and cringe. But then you look further down and notice the subtractions, and you realize they break even. They still need to get rid of Hursh and Sims. Ruiz needs to go too however given how desperate they are for third baseman, he will likely remain with the team.
RunDMC
Hursh and Sims, the last 2 1st Rd failures from Wren. Cut bait.
bravesfan
I wouldn’t call sims a completely failure yet, like hursh. But I think most braves fans see that his long term potential with the braves might be a long relief mop up guy. So he’s pretty close to being a failure lol. Hursh will always hurt more cause of the guy drafted one pick after him and how successful he currently is. Comparatively speaking at least
R.D.
Marcus Stroman was taken right after Sims, that hurts no less.
k26dp 2
Aaron Judge was the pick right after Hursh.
elmore80
Please quit pissing around with Wisler and Blair! They gotta go!
afenton530
You should add the prospects lost in the scandal under notable losses
bravesfan
I mean in all honesty the scandals made this offseason a true F. Lost a GM with a good plan, great negotiator, and even though he did the international stuff a bit illegally, everything he did was huge for the braves. When you lose 11? International prospects, some really highly rated and some really developing into highly rated players, u didn’t have a good offseason.
That said, I graded base on how the handled such an unusual situation and made the best moves they could given their situation. AA came in, made a good deal to free future cash and give a spot open in LF. Only bad move he made was Schimpf. That guy is awful and shouldn’t have even been considered as a brave. Overall. I gave them a B, but a high C is reasonable as well
GarryHarris
The Braves dumped an overweight LF for two potential SPs, a potential super sub and one year of early financial freedom. .Also, considering the timing of their high quality of youth arriving in the Majors and only Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran and Ender Inciarte “promised money…” after the season, the Braves are set up pretty well.
kimofromkauai
Some mention should be made about a former LAD employee making a trade with his old bosses that was hugely beneficial to their getting under the luxury tax threshold.. The Dodgers dumped a truckload of crap on the Braves. I must admit that I am dumbfounded Kemp is still on the team but the whole deal has an odor in my opinion.. I would like to know what, if any, oversight there was in Atlanta regarding the new guy (AA) making a deal so helpful to his old team..
bravesfan
Why so focus on one element? The swap has a net zero effect for everyone. If anything, the braves get players that will be more help now and frees up a spot for our “super prospect” to play. Kemp was a very expensive always hurt defensive liability, who doesn’t always hit. Now, we basically take his entire contract, condense it in one year, have 3 players that can make a small impact now, and then next offseason we will have a TON of cash to put our team in real contention.
AA’s real judgment time will come next offseason. I 100% agree that this move is the right move. Unless Kemp wins the MVP by a miracle…then it’s the right decision
mikehills
AA has a keen eye for talent and he could be trusted (and do well) running any scouting department in MLB. But, he is certainly not a “top baseball decisionmaker” in any organizational hierarchy. The only success he had in Toronto was building up the farm simply to tear it down for a 6 month playoff run (that ended up giving them 2 windows of opportunity). Look at the Jays last year, look at them now.
Word to the wise Braves fans out there: when you start to see your foundation being torn apart for a run at a World Series just remember you have 2 seasons of potential and then back to the basement you go!
Jeff Todd
It wasn’t a statement about his abilities. It’s just that he’s at the head of the Braves’ baseball operations hierarchy.
tbones3141
Sign/trade for ace (Kuechel/Archer)
Sign one of MM/jDon/Harper (Riley @3B/LF)
Resign one of Flowers/Suzuki to pair with/Ajax
Name(order) Best stats
Albies – 280/350/30sb
Acuna – 280/340/25HR/30sb
Freeman – 300/400/35HR
MM/JD/BH – 285/385/38HR
TF/KS/AJ – 260/350/20HR
Riley – 255/330/20HR
inciarte – 300/350/30SB
Swanson – 250/325/15HR/15SB
Name – ERA/Whip/Wins
Archer/Kuechel – 3.5 /1.15/16
Soroka – 3.9/1.2/13
Gohara – 4.0/1.2/12
Newk -. 4.2/1.4/10
Wright – 4.1/1.2/10
Name – RP important stats
Vizzy/Folty/Minter – 45 Saves
Alot of this is best case scenario, I know. But I certainly think this is obtainable (more offensively and probably 2020 for SP stats).
But this team is a playoff team. We certainly have the money and specs to sign one big Batter and one trade/sign ACE. To be honest even if we replace the big bat for Blackmon, Pollock would still be close to the same.
Serious thoughts on this specific outcome and what we may end up doing?
tbones3141
Thoughts?