Does JD deserve blame for not getting a bat?

[pegasusredleg]

You sign McGann ... makes it whole lot easier to sign a Garza.

I may be wrong, but I think there were rumors the Braves were willing to re-sign McCann or he had some option he could exercise. Someone here will know, but it seemed he was leaning on being a Brave again.

 

[Windingmywatch]

The only thing I hold against the FO is that they knew since January that Cruz might miss 50 games. Their best contingency plan has been Joey Butler and Engel Beltre at this point. That's not very good planning, but they didn't want to mortgage the future, and I can respect that.

Not sure you can call that planning. I think you would agree that they expected more from Berkman ... and AJ. I also think they didn't expect to lose Harrison or have Soria delayed 2 months. They loaded up spring training with veteran guys to compete for Colby's spot ... and lo and behold Tepesch won it. They didn't plan for Ogando to go on the DL ... twice ... forcing Grimm to be a full time SP.

Am sure they saw the potential risk associated with Cruz suspension ... but whether you call it bad planning or not I am not sure you can manufacture a COF backup plan ... given the shortage of available quality talent ... that would be worth the value to get it.

Loss of Cruz will affect TEX no question ... but not as permanently affected as a bad trade overpaying for a bat at the deadline that might not matter anyway.

 

[TheRangerDude]

I don't hold anything against JD or the FO for not making a move at the deadline even with Cruz's suspension coming. I mean, there really wasn't anyone that great out their available, at least no one I saw making a huge impact. Sure, a guy like Rios or Pence would have been nice but would they really put us over the top? I say no and not for what it would have cost. Now, what is nice is we kept enough high profile prospects that should a guy like Stanton, Price, or even Cargo (I really doubt him tough) become available, we will have the pieces to get a deal done. I think JD did whatever he could to try and make an impact bat available but it just wasn't there and I feel like its wise to save some of the prospects for more of an impact trade later on down the road. Also, as we have seen this season, he really can't have enough depth.

 

[RevSader]

What happened to the pitchers has nothing to do with not getting a bat though.

I don't know how they could have expected Berkman to be better than he was. He had no leg to stand on, but I honestly don't know how he passed the physical that cleared him to play. But obviously you don't pay a guy that kind of money if you think he is going to suck. Maybe they were being hopeful, or maybe it was desperate I don't know, but to me that doesn't seem like a great idea.

So their plan didn't work, and now they are in a spot hoping that what they have is good enough. I think will be just enough, but time will tell.

 

[Hambombs]

Possibly no better than having Martin and Beltre in the OF.

Actually better. Beltre hasn't proved anything yet. Also Ellsbury has more doubles and homers than Leonys this year not by much though

 

[Hambombs]

I'd like to have choo also. A good replacement for murphy or Cruz.

I really would like a guy that has a 400+ OBP

 

[Hambombs]

Ellsbury 4.4 WAR Martin 1.4 WAR

 

[Windingmywatch]

Ellsbury 4.4 WAR Martin 1.4 WAR

Is there a park adjustment to WAR that accounts for the tricked up foosball park Ellsbury plays in?

 

[Hambombs]

Is there a park adjustment to WAR that accounts for the tricked up foosball park Ellsbury plays in?

Maybe. It is kind of unfair to compare ellburys 500 at bats to Leo's 325. But still assuming Leo gets to 3 WAR In 500 at bats Ellsbury is still better even with time missed on the DL

 

[Windingmywatch]

I may be wrong, but I think there were rumors the Braves were willing to re-sign McCann or he had some option he could exercise. Someone here will know, but it seemed he was leaning on being a Brave again.

Club option was this year ... he's a FA for 2014. Will they try to resign him ... undoubtedly. He makes $12M this year. He's 29. He's going to want three years minimum which would be about when Alfaro ought to be ready. Somewhere between $14-18Mil and 3 years is where he might go. Who can better afford him ... ATL or TEX ... or who? (Isn't that what Napoli wanted but didn't get?)

Alternatively ... Saltalamacchia will be a FA too.

 

[terpsfball09]

I'd welcome Salty back with open arms. He's a great teammate, and he'll be very cheap. Probably as much or perhaps even less than AJ was this year. Sign him for 2 years with an option for a third year, which should give alfaro time to get ready, then sign MG. I'm afraid if we sign McCann that we won't have the money to get MG

 

[TheRangerDude]

I'd welcome Salty back with open arms. He's a great teammate, and he'll be very cheap. Probably as much or perhaps even less than AJ was this year. Sign him for 2 years with an option for a third year, which should give alfaro time to get ready, then sign MG. I'm afraid if we sign McCann that we won't have the money to get MG

Who is MG? Also, I think the Rangers are about to have a lot of money freed up with Murph, Cruz, MY, and Nathan all coming off. I could be wrong though. Either way, if we cold get McCann I would take him. Buck is also a FA and the Rangers showed some interest in him a few seasons back. I guess Salty would be OK too but I'd prefer McCann over any of them.

 

[jta4437]

Actually better. Beltre hasn't proved anything yet. Also Ellsbury has more doubles and homers than Leonys this year not by much though

He said possibly, that's implying that Martin could have a breakout season next year and Ellsbury gets hurt AGAIN

 

[jta4437]

Who is MG? Also, I think the Rangers are about to have a lot of money freed up with Murph, Cruz, MY, and Nathan all coming off. I could be wrong though. Either way, if we cold get McCann I would take him. Buck is also a FA and the Rangers showed some interest in him a few seasons back. I guess Salty would be OK too but I'd prefer McCann over any of them.

Matt Garza = MG

Signing Garza and McCann and Choo is completely doable

 

[terpsfball09]

Who is MG? Also, I think the Rangers are about to have a lot of money freed up with Murph, Cruz, MY, and Nathan all coming off. I could be wrong though. Either way, if we cold get McCann I would take him. Buck is also a FA and the Rangers showed some interest in him a few seasons back. I guess Salty would be OK too but I'd prefer McCann over any of them.

Matt Garza. TBH, Salty is an above average catcher in the league right now. I think he'd be great for us. He would be pretty cheap too. Sign him, then you have enough money to get MG and another good FA outfielder.

 

[jta4437]

Matt Garza. TBH, Salty is an above average catcher in the league right now. I think he'd be great for us. He would be pretty cheap too. Sign him, then you have enough money to get MG and another good FA outfielder.

You could get McCann, Choo and Garza, we have money we didn't spend last year plus the money coming off the books this year

Salty is a platoon player, he can't hit LHPs

 

[TheRangerDude]

Matt Garza. TBH, Salty is an above average catcher in the league right now. I think he'd be great for us. He would be pretty cheap too. Sign him, then you have enough money to get MG and another good FA outfielder.

LOL, Garza how did I not know. Anyway, I think we will see them make a run at McCann and see if they can get him on a 3-4 year deal. I feel like if they can't get him at the range they want, they will probably move on to someone else like Buck or Salty. It's hard to see them going to hard for Salty though, given how easily they traded him away. I can also see them going for guy that is really just good defensively like they have in the past. Either way, I would like to see them resign Garza as you said and also Cruz. As well as get another solid OF, maybe even by trade. But I realize that's a lot to ask but they should have the money to do it. I guess it really all rests on what sort of contract Garza is going to command. Luckily, there are a few other big name starters on the market too, so maybe they will work in our favor. Oh, and I forgot, Berkman and AJ are coming off the books to. So yeah, thats even more off the books.

 

[Hambombs]

Matt Garza = MG

Signing Garza and McCann and Choo is completely doable

Yeah on a paycut. I don't think they wanna do that though

 

[jta4437]

Yeah on a paycut. I don't think they wanna do that though

Not really, plenty of money coming off the books, and there's money we could've but didn't spend last year

We're committed to 134 million now, 73 million next year

 

[jta4437]

Not really, plenty of money coming off the books, and there's money we could've but didn't spend last year

We're committed to 134 million now, 73 million next year

Free Agents: Garza, Lewis, Nelson Cruz, AJP, Murphy, Soto, Baker, Frasor, Cotts (missed him the first time)

Arbitration eligible: Feliz (Year 2; made 2.9 million last year), Moreland, Ogando, and Gentry (Year 1)

Garza of the free agents is the only must have, Cruz maybe and Soto & Soto as bench players, maybe Frasor and Cotts in the BP, but none will make a ton of money except Garza, Cruz might get a decent deal, but reasonable, but you don't overpay for Cruz at all at this point