The Braves “have some interest” in free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna, hears Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Atlanta joins the previously-known Cardinals, Reds, White Sox, Rangers, and Marlins in the early sweepstakes for the corner outfielder. Atlanta already re-signed Nick Markakis, but he could be in line for a lesser role after a subpar age-36 season. Alternatively, Atlanta could move Ronald Acuña to center field full-time should they acquire another corner outfielder, be it Ozuna or someone else. Signing the 29-year-old Ozuna, a qualifying offer recipient, would cost the Braves their second-highest draft choice and $500K of international bonus pool space.
More from the National League…
- The Marlins hired Eddy Rodríguez as catching coach, as first reported by Craig Mish of SiriusXM (via Twitter). Rodríguez, 33, is a former University of Miami catcher who made it to the majors for two games with the 2012 Padres. He retired as a player after the 2017 season, having logged parts of 11 minor league seasons. Rodríguez spent 2019 as the Angels’ minor league catching coordinator.
- The Reds plan to bolster their pitching depth this offseason, reports Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. While the club’s main focus figures to be offensive upgrades, GM Nick Krall stressed to Nightengale the importance of stockpiling arms. “Every year, most teams use seven or eight starters,” Krall said. “Most teams use 12 relievers that have significant time. You can’t overlook that.” To that end, Nightengale expects Cincinnati to add a starter and a reliever or two, although it isn’t clear if those additions will be via MLB free agency, trade, or a handful of minor-league free agent signings.
- Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza, Jr. is back to running at full speed, the 30-year-old himself tweeted. It’s a good sign, as Souza missed all of 2019 after tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee in spring training. That followed up a disappointing debut in the desert, in which Souza slashed just .220/.309/.369 in 272 plate appearances. Coming off back-to-back lost seasons and projected to make $4.125MM in arbitration, Souza could be a non-tender candidate this offseason. As MLBTR’s Jeff Todd recently explored, the Diamondbacks have quite a few difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks to sort out their outfield mix.
No.
4 different stories in this article. Care to elaborate?
No
No. He’s fine, with a one word comment. His name, wanting an at best average innings eater, proves that he does not know much about the Braves or baseball.
Average innings eater. Name 75 pitchers a contending team would rather have in the it’s rotation.
With or without dirt bike skills?
He’s a 2.0 WAR pitcher who gave up a lot of home runs in a pitcher friendly home park. He’s 30 and not worth the contract he’ll likely get this off season
Nope. He had a 3.2 fWAR last year and a 2.8 rWAR last year. WELL above 2.0 on both counts.
That number suggests all the teams will compete. I think he’s got a lot left, but why 75?
Had a feeling you would catch first comment. Still beating the MadBum Drum? That’s cool your consistent with it but would you be happier if he goes to another team and the Braves somehow get Cole-45? The only way i see the Braves would give up another draft pick is if it was Wheeler or someone higher priced.
I feel for the Braves it has to be down to Strasburg and Wheeler. I think those are the only 2 on paper it makes sense to sign long term and give up a pick for. They both have what the Braves and any other team ultimately wants, a proven track record and more importantly a boat load of stats against their NL East counterparts. Alot of years and experience between Wheeler and Strasburg in those parks. I would be happy with Madison as well. I think if Josh was gonna resign it would have already happened by now.
Madison may be a great pitcher but he doesn’t have almost a decade of constant experience against this division like Strasburg does.
What is proven about Wheeler and his 3.77 FiP? He’s never had a 200 IP season. And you’re going to set the franchise record for highest FA contract ever for him, while giving up your 2nd Rd pick? If that happened I’d be convince they have the homer goggles on and have to have everyone born on GA soil, like it makes a difference.
The reality is, I’d take a guy whose been there done that over an inconsistent and honestly overrated pitcher in Wheeler. Granted, if the Braves do decide to go with the latter, it will not be a bad decision. The Braves need a tough demeanor on the mound, someone opposite of Faulty’s and Teheran’s, and stronger than Soroka’s. You can keep telling yourself he is no longer his old self, and I could rebuttal with Wheeler has done absolutely nothing in his career in big games and neither have most of the other pitchers. Cole and Stras are too expensive for the cheap Braves, hence why I ignore them.
I’m super confident Bum will thrive with the Braves and if he signs with the Braves, he will prove it.
MadBum brings more to the table then just analytic stats. He brings a leadership quality. A grind it out bulldog mentality that Soroka, Fried & Folty can learn from thru example.
I don’t understand how ppl on here don’t see that.
Yes he would be overpaid but the rest of the rotation would be underpaid. His leadership can’t be denied.
I think your wrong about the Braves NLCS. I feel the only explanation you can have for signing Will Smith is the days of penny pinching are over. Most people dont understand how big Liberty Media actually is. I dont know of another team with a owner with deeper pockets than the Braves. They own All of Formula One Racing. Sirius Radio. They were talking about buying up Fox Sports what last year. Wonder how far their new contract is going to flounder with Sotheby’s. People dont understand the backers that the Braves truly have.
Talk to be when they increase their spending past $180 mil. No one is saying LM has no money. They just don’t want to spend it.
Agreed Bumgarner would be a great leader mentally for the pitching staff. I think you have that backwards tho. Soraka is the single greatest mentality tough young pitcher I have seen. That man has ice water vains. I dont think its possible to teach that calmness and composure that Soroka possesses. Soroka could teach Bumgarner quite a few things to I’m sure.
You do realize under the terms of their ownership Liberty Media cannot use any of their deep pockets towards the Braves.
They have a very unique ownership thru MLB they are only allowed to use revenue from the Braves to actually run the Braves.
Liberty Media only owns the Braves for tax break reasons only and MLB allows them to own the Braves because at the time they purchased them as a throw in to the AOL Time Warner purchase the only person able to get an ownership group together fast enough to make a purchase was Mark Cuban led group and MLB good ol boys didn’t want & don’t want anything to do with him.
So please stop with the LM nonsense they have absolutely nothing to do with the Braves outside of formalities.
Terry McGuirk runs the show through MLB. The Braves are beginning to open their pockets a bit because of the diffrent revenue they have found ways to produce. But if that goes south Liberty Media cannot bail them out with outside money.
You must be very young and don’t remember a young John Smoltz or a young Andy Pettite.
MadBum’s pedigree speaks for itself
I love Soroka but you can’t put him into the same class until he goes out there and performs in the big spots. He just hasn’t had those spots yet.
I clearly said Soroka is the ACE but like Maddux was the Ace for all those years but any Brave fan would tell you they would rather have John Smoltz in the big moment
I think they are more comfortable with this front office and AA that they have maybe a couple tricks up their sleeves. I think it should be closer to 160-165 by mid season to allow for that boost to push it to your 180 by the end of the trade deadline. Seems like it would match about what they spent last deadline.
I dont think that LM likes owning a middle of the pack team and wish to boost this team fully but they had to get rid of the old regime and then it was finish Sun Trust Park. They have shown if they dont like something or feel something needs to change they arent afraid to jump when the time is right. I think they will surprise us all. Good or bad.
You really need to research how the Braves are run. There are tons of articles out there to read so you can get an understanding.
Liberty Media has absolutely no care whatsoever other than the franchise not losing value when it comes time for them to sell after the tax breaks run out.
I bet if you could ask John Smoltz who is further along in their maturity him or Soroka as that age I feel that’s kinda easy. Not that young myself thank you. Went to sleep every night listening to Pete Van Weiren, Skip Carey, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson on the radio. I feel if anybody should do a comeback with the Braves it should be Erin Andrew’s. My favorite Brave is Javy Lopez. How young do you think I am.
So if that is how LM conduct themselves why did it buy F1 racing at 4.6 Billion. That’s a B not an M. Seems like they care about their assets and how they operate and run. If LM doesn’t care about what it puts in the market that would seem silly and counter productive to their end goal as a Conglomerate. If anything they need to hold it.
And you need to research how to create a roster. Because those 5 options you suggested are T E R terrible.
Soroka never pitched in a WS before. We still don’t know how strong he is, but he is certainly capable.
MadBum would bring “leader quality” for sure. But are you willing to give up another draft pick and give him a 3 or 4 year contract for that? I wouldn’t. He would be a great addition for 1 or 2 years max. But he won’t take that, and the braves won’t do it either. So it was a nice thought, but not gonna happen now.
The Braves should beg to have any of their future draft picks turn out to be like Bum or better. Chances are very slim.
I do understand though that casuals don’t care about championships and prefer to have great prospects rather than great MLB teams. I get it!
calltothepen.com/2018/01/06/atlanta-braves-rumors-…
This is an article that clarifies why Liberty Media owns the Braves
Spot on, Run
I’ll give it to Soroka. He knows how to ride a dirt bike, or smart enough to stay away from one that alters his career.
That’s amazing RunDMC. I didn’t mention any of your rant above except for the contract bit. I don’t think Wheeler has the stats for the contract he is going to get. I don’t. If it comes down to Wheeler or Bumgarner i hope AA chooses option C and sharks the trade market.
This obsession with Bumgarner is bewildering to me tho NLDS. Do you work for him in some outside capacity? Would seem like an easy way to puff out his chest. That’s that bulldog mentality
Its ok gentleman, I understand we haven’t had these feeling in awhile but its the Braves actually spending again. It just has a different feeling but it will soon return. It been awhile since Atlanta has spent some Crazy Money. Bringing back the days of old seems the only way to keep relevant in this division. Days when you go and trade for a straight masher like Andres Galarraga. A power hitter so fierce when he swung the bat the infield ducked.
I think the comments from the Philies have lit the fire under the entire NL East now that the Mets, Nationals, Braves and Marlins are all starting to spend stupid money. It seems the Marlins have been sniffing around actual upgrades on the trade market here lately, and as good as their pitching core is getting. I don’t know if you guys saw but about the half way point it got incredibly harder to play against the Marlins at Marlins Park for every team that showed. Didn’t see many blowouts. How Many games did you see for teams go in their and the score is 0-0 going into the eighth. They are sneaking up and its time for Jeter to start showing the fruits of his labor.
By the way Marlins, personal shout out the ballpark looks 1000% better with the revisions in left center. Not to mention the areas is now profitable to the park. Never really saw anybody go within 30 feet of the statue, The person who got closest to it was the center fielder. .
Who cares dummy.
While I agree more with you, steelbrave, than Nebraska, I expect there’s some gray area as well. I will say the time is now to make a deep Play-Offs push. I do have more confidence in AA this off season based on his late in-season moves last season and the quick Smith acquisition. It was torturous watching the pen implode last season but obviously not uncommon for many teams. I’m excited, Chop on.
Smoltz in ANY big game, whether as a closer or starter.
1. Sign MadBum he would not be the ACE Soroka is but his leadership for the young staff would be invaluable. Like Charlie Liebrandt for the early 90’s Braves or Jimmy Key got the Yankees in the mid 90’s.
2. Sign either Alex Avila or Jason Castro to split time with Flowers.
3. Sign Ozuna to bat cleanup and play LF. Provides a big trade chip in Waters or Pache come the deadline & he will be cheaper than Donaldson. Play Camargo at 3B until Riley figures things out in AAA.
4. Non tender Adam Duval
5. Trade Ender Inciarte with the CF market as bad as it is he becomes the 2nd best trade option behind Marte.
Reds, Mets, Padres, Giants, Jays possibly Yankees could all use CF options. Would free up some money and probably get a better return than his season dictated. Maybe package him with Shane Greene snd free up even more money.
Wow. Well I can see that there are no post season aspirations in this set up. Hmmmm. Might as wave bye to 2020. Each of these options have the same thing in common with each. They are all Cheap options and belong nowhere near a post season bound roster. Thanks try again.
You want to trade Ender, who has absolutely no trade value right now and non-tender Duval?
Package him with Greene you say, both have zero trade value unless we include money on those deals.
Why would the Braves do most of this? Non tender Duvall? You crazy. If we were gonna do that, should have done that last year before the season.
The 91 Braves had 6 signings that transformed them
1. Pendleton to play 3B
2. Charlie Liebrandt to lead the young Glavine, Smoltz & Avery
3. Rafeal Belliard to provide bench depth
4. Sid Bream to be a clubhouse leader and be a teacher to the young position guys how to be professional
5. Berenger/ Pena to strengthen the back end of the bullpen
All these guys got signed for as much as they brought to the clubhouse as well as what they brought to the field.
Same with the Yankees when the brought in guys like Wade Boggs, Jimmy Key, Jeff Nelson, Toni Martinez and Joe Girardi too name a few.
There is something to be said for strong leadership over a 162 game grind. Professionals in the locker room guys can go to when the rigors of the season start wearing on the young guys.
That’s what Markakis was brought here for and they had to overpay to get him here. His body is just broken down but everybody in that locker room loves him.
I would love to keep JD but teams with deeper pockets are going to overpay for him and what he brings.
Pitching staff needs that leader and hopefully it’s MadBum.
Markakis has quietly put up one of the most steady and best careers for an OF over the past 10/15 years. He could finish next season with 2500 hits which is an impressive feat in itself. But he has also been surprisingly consistent even into his mid and now late 30s. If he can actually continue this level of production over the next few seasons (and assuming he wants to continue playing past that) he even has an outside shot at 3,000 hits. Sure it’s highly unlikely — but given how quietly he has put up the numbers he already has thus far in his career it’s impressive to say the least!
I wish to see him get to 3000 but don’t feel that’s gonna happen with Atlanta. If he was on another roster he could possibly reach that elusive 3000 milestone. He doesn’t have a roster spot on the Braves for next 3 to 4 seasons to hit that mark tho.
The only was the Braves sign Ozuna is if Donaldson signs elsewhere and we fail to get Moustakas to replace him. Even then, other teams have to pass up on giving him a long term deal and basically fall in the Brave’s lap. Very unlikely.
NO BRAVES! No!
The Braves have according to reports had interest in at least 5 or 6 of this year FA class. Ain’t the off season wonderful. Watch they won’t sign any of them.
They already got Will Smith. I expect them to get a starter. That’s about it though… maybe a bench player.
Yea I expect a starting pitcher, another cheaper catcher, and 1 more position player rather it’s 3rd or OF I have no idea
Unless ozuna just wants out of st Louis, he should have taken the QO. His production dropped quite a bit and his defense is a negative now. He might have trouble finding a big contract this winter. I think I picked texas for him.
Getting Ozuna seems like a colossal waste of money and draft pick.
100% agree.
Sounds like Ozuna’s camp is trying to inflate his demand. As another poster said, the only way he makes sense in ATL is if Donaldson signs elsewhere. The Braves still would have to get a TOR starter or veteran innings-eater via trade.
Apologies for double post
“Signing the 29-year-old Ozuna, a qualifying offer recipient, would cost the Braves their second-highest draft choice and $500K of international bonus pool space.”
I thought the Braves would only lose the lowest of their three top picks for signing Ozuna since they already lost their second for signing Smith. That would be either a 5th, or a 4th if someone else signs Donaldson. Not sure on monetary loss for the second QO signee.
I should add that Ozuna is not a good use of money anyway. Would much prefer a SP or 3B. We are good enough at OF to win a WS. Acuna, Ender and Markakis with others rotating in is absolutely doable. We are NOT fine at 3B. Ozuna’s bat does not overcome his horrible defense. I would rather see Charlie, Johan or Riley out there. Even if Pache isn’t ready offensively, his defense would be so much better it would offset Ozuna. So save that money and get another frontline pitcher.
Signing Ozuna and Smith either way makes them lose 2 picks. But if someone else signs Donaldson, they gain back.
If Donaldson signs elsewhere, the Braves could make the move for Ozuna and it would be solid if they then shift to sign Moustakas, who doesn’t have compensation attached to him. It would be a good pair of complementary moves if they did that. Might even make them better than if they sign Donaldson to a big AAV contract.
You basically just repeated what I said, but didn’t clean up the question. I was simply stating the article is incorrect as the Braves already lost their second pick when they signed Smith. You can’t lose the same pick twice, so the article should be corrected.
Marlins news is getting a bullpen catcher? Meh.
As for Ozuna to all of the potential suitors, the best money for him would be the White Sox, Rangers, and then Reds because these 3 teams are desperate to improve, and a bat like Ozuna helps.
The Cardinals make the most sense for him and them because he is now familiar with playing there. Along with the draft compensation, that’s the edge the Cardinals have over the Braves in pursuing him. The only way I see him decidedly leave them without caring about money or winning, it would be because he just wants out of St. Louis, which would be a red flag considering how that franchise is run well.
As for the Braves, for winning, this too is a great option for him. However, I only see him going there over the rest due to being overwhelmed by money elsewhere or him wanting to still win, but wanting to just leave St. Louis for some reason.
As for the Marlins, if he signs here, it’s because he’s not getting the market offers he wanted. The Marlins aren’t signing him and losing a draft pick unless they can get him for an absolute bargain price because they aren’t ready to win, aren’t in a situation to give up draft picks unless it’s worth it, and it would have to make sense to go with Ozuna in a longer term deal instead of waiting to see some of their OF prospects develop. He’s not coming back to a rebuild unless he’s not satisfied with the situation and offers elsewhere. This is a long shot of happening.
I think Arizona should keep Souza and see what they get out of him this year. If he rebounds, they can trade him at the deadline. If he struggles, they lose out on the ~$4MM but that’s not a huge blow considering the upside he has when healthy
Souza Jr. and Lamb have provided almost no production in 2 seasons. If they were to be non-tendered it would go almost unnoticed. As two of seven players in their final year of arbitration, Souza and Lamb are very unlikely to be back next season even if tendered. The Dbacks are likely to address some of those seven this offseason so all seven don’t have to be addressed at one time next offseason.
I don’t think the Braves will pursue Cole, MadBum, Strasburg, or Wheeler. The first three on this list will be due to not willing to provide years on the contract. Wheeler has bad medicals. What I could see the braves doing is using their trade stock to pursue a high upside front line starter. Perhaps the Reds might make some of their rotation available. Indians also have some intriguing arms….
Why would the Reds make anybody in their rotation available???
And for all the Braves can’t lose the draft picks
Would you rather lose a draft pick to sign somebody in a position of need or trade prospects to get somebody in a position of need ????
Kluber will cost prospects
MadBum will cost a draft pick
I myself would rather Kluber but either way something has to be given in order to get something of need.
And I got news for some of these delusional Brave fans in here teams are trying to build their own franchises up to compete
Why in the world would the Reds move a rotation piece to the Braves ??????? Why
@steelerbravenation
I read an article yesterday about someone proposing a trade with the Braves and Red.
Braves get:
Luis Castillo
Tucker Barnhardt
Amir Garrett
Reds get:
Pache
Wright
Wilson
Contreras
Toussaint’s
I personally don’t know that either team would do this trade. It comes down to, how serious the Reds are about contending in 2020? If they want to contend in 2020 this trade is not doable. If they are ok extending the rebuild for a huge package like this, then is Atl willing to gut the farm?
It would fill most of the major holes for the Braves. Give them an ace caliber starter, another lefty reliever, as well as an upgrade at catcher. This would also leave the money necessary to resign Donaldson and keep that bat in the middle of the order. There would still be money to spend on another SP as well. 25 mil for Donaldson and 18 mil for Bum.
Castillo
Soroka
MadBum
Fried
Folty
That would be a really nice rotation as well. Is it worth it though losing Pache, Wright, Wilson, and Contreras.
We finally get what we’ve needed for years and never had – an Enforcer, in Amir Garrett. Not since Pierzynski have we had an enforcer to escalate without cause. Send him out after Acuna gets plunked and ATL will finally have the return of WWE. OHHHH YEAHHH!!!
I can see Mahle available but no one would want him
The other 4 won’t be going anywhere
The Reds would never make this silly trade.
Sorry man, Reds are buyers. They’re almost the frontrunner to sign Grandal and they finally have some space to add talent, especially with extending Gray and the emergence of Castillo, combined with the rookie year of Aristedes Aquino (the name of a Greek god that vacationed in the D.R.). I can’t see them selling on much of anything outside their closer, though that would be selling low.
I agree with you about the Reds being buyers!
Reds are trying to compete. They ain’t messing with the rotation unless it’s an addition.
I believe they will sign DiDi as well as Grandal
Reds FO: “We are a baseball team and we want to be good!”
In my opinion, if the Braves do end up signing MadBum (which I don’t think they will since they already lost a draft pick), it will be a fall back plan because they couldn’t get another team to bite on a trade for an upper tier SP.
As for ozuna, please don’t do that Braves. Not unless it’s a Moose type thing where no one else signs him and you get him for like 5m.
My ideal scenario is for the Braves to somehow pull of trades for an SP 2 type, trade for Mancini, sign Moose, and sign Grandel. Or sign Donaldson and sign a cheaper catcher like, idk, Castro?
They have too many spots to upgrade. Spending a pile of cash on Ozuna does not address that, as good as he is
He’s not good though, and he had a major regression year. If we could feel more confident that we’d be getting the old him, then I’d be happy
Agreed. The only thing Ozuna checks for me is RH power, and that is only of JD did not come back. His D is atrocious and he’s not the player he was.
Don’t know what you mean when you say ” They have too many spots to upgrade “.
Sidewinder- We need to cut bait and sign a dude who can play regularly.
Please please let this just be the Braves checking in on a player and someone overreacting.
TRADE FOR MARTE!
If you are going to give up another draft pick it has to be for Cole or MadBum…I prefer both. Yes it is possible. A rotation of Cole, Soroka, MadBum, Fried, and Folty would be awesome!
I don’t think the Braves will sign Ozuna. I also don’t believe they will be in on any of the FA TOR types. The fact that they went and spent early to lock up the best available pen arm suggests to me that they will be letting guys like Nuke, Wright and Wilson get starts- the emphasis on the strong pen both to prevent losses and to salvage bad starts while these kids are getting seasoned. I would not be surprised to see them ignore the ACE acquisition for now and use $$$ to load up on position players (JD or Moose, Grandal, RH OFer bat other than Ozuna). I think in this scenario, the plan will be to let the offense and the pen get/save WINS and then they go get the ACE at the ASB for a postseason run. This is the only thing that makes sense to me given the limited payroll we’re working with and the big spend on the pen so early.
Just have a bad feeling about Ozuna. Feel like teams should be reluctant to invest more than 3 years and/or 50mil on this guy. Maybe in the right situation he puts up numbers similar to 2017 but I’d have to pass if I was a GM, especially with a QO attached. Corner OF needy teams would probably get better value out of a Corwy Dickerson or Kole Calhoun on a 2/20 or 2/25 type deal.
What ever happened to Ender Inciarte?
Reds will likely add pitchers not sell off pitching unless perfect trade comes along,add a starter and LHP for bullpen