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Braves Outlook '23
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Anthony Franco
2:11
Hey everyone, hope you're all enjoying your afternoon!
2:12
Looking forward to talking Braves
Oz
2:12
Vaughn Grissom - a keeper or trade bait?
Anthony Franco
2:13
This is probably their most interesting question of the winter. Feels like a guy who could have pretty wide variance in how he's viewed by other depending on how they evaluate the defense. If a team thinks he can play an average (or even tolerable) shortstop, he's a really valuable target
2:14
I expect they'll at least gauge whether he can be a headliner in a deal for a controllable starting pitcher
Corey
2:14
Would you pick up the option on Rosario?
Tanner
2:14
Thoughts on the Braves parting ways with Rosario and going after Lourdes Gurriel Jr? Gurriel has a SO% of 17.4 compared to Rosario's 23.6. Gurriel also has power and provides better defense as well as the ability to play 1B. Adding back a left handed at bat like Robbie Grossman would benefit the braves if you part ways with Rosario and Pillar.
question from LF
2:14
Would declining the option on Rosario and instead signing Joc Pederson be an upgrade for LF ?
Anthony Franco
2:14
Just a sample of the many questions about left field in here
2:15
I would decline the option on Rosario. $9MM isn't terrible for that player but it's borderline. I'd at least want to keep my options open going into the offseason. If other options don't present themselves, he'd probably still be amenable to a one-year deal in that price range in December
2:16
Lourdes Gurriel's a sensible target. I'd rather have Rosario than Joc given the platoon/defensive limitations
Brave Soul
2:16
In hindsight, we should have traded Fried and Swanson and re-signed Joc Peterson after winning the '21 WS, and not traded for Murphy. How high would you rank AA as a GM? Snitker as manager? I'd like to see Snitker promoted to the front office and replaced by Washington or Weiss.
Anthony Franco
2:17
I think that's only true if you consider any season in which a team doesn't win the World Series a total failure. The 2022-23 Braves were really good, and Swanson and Fried have been key pieces of that
Swanson in 2022 only, of course
2:18
Anthopoulos is a top three GM for me, reasonable case for #1. I don't like ranking managers because so much of their job is in handling people outside the spotlight
Ryan
2:18
Max Fried: Extend, trade or just ride out the last year of service time?
Anthony Franco
2:20
Always depends on the number, right? If he's willing to take Rodón money or below, the team should jump on it. If his asking price is pushing $200MM right now, I'd let the season play out first
PhilWon’tKnuckleUnder
2:20
At $20 million, isn’t it time to move on from Charlie Morton?
Anthony Franco
2:20
$20MM feels rich but if he wants to keep playing, renegotiating around $15MM seems fine for both sides
Guest
2:20
Will Braves keep Lopez?  Will make a lot more $ than Arcia.
Anthony Franco
2:21
He's a non-tender for me. Projected arb salary pushing $4MM for a glove-only utility guy on a team whose starting four infielders play every day probably isn't worth it
Ryan
2:21
Does Acuna have the highest trade value of any individual player in baseball right now? (note: I know the Braves aren't trading him)
Anthony Franco
2:22
Hmm, I'd need more time to weigh him against some of the pre-arbitration superstars (Adley Rutschman, for instance) but my first instinct would be to take Acuna over everyone with contracts as a factor
Phillip
2:22
Kimbrel reunion a possibility?
Battery Dweller
2:22
What bullpen targets fit the Braves strategy? Matzek is coming back, but he is an unknown after TJ. McHugh, Jiminez, Johnson, are all likely gone.
Anthony Franco
2:23
Kimbrel reunion makes some sense if Iglesias doesn't mind moving back to the ninth inning. They could bring back Pierce Johnson
2:24
Pegging specific bullpen targets to teams is pretty much impossible, since a lot of them are interchangeable. But anyone below Hader makes sense there. Reynaldo López, Jordan Hicks, Hector Neris all throw hard and get strong results
ABravesFan
2:25
While rest from splitting catching duty with d'Arnaud was credited as the reason for Sean Murphy's fantastic first half, lack of consistent ABs was also often cited as for the reason for his bad second half hitting. The time share is probably the plan for 2024 but is this the model for more teams to follow?
Anthony Franco
2:26
Murphy was 10th this year in plate appearances as a catcher. A lot of teams are already trending in the direction of keeping guys rested
2:27
I'd probably give him an extra 30 or so PA's than he had this season. Getting into the 450 range seems fine
James
2:27
Should the braves look to upgrade from Arcia at SS this off season?
Anthony Franco
2:27
I think it's Arcia's job for another year. There are no free agent shortstops better than him this offseason, and the trade market is similarly thin
GT
2:28
Let's say Alex gets aggressive and creative in the off-season. With Fried entering his walk year and unlikely to sign, who is on the market as a controllable, durable pitcher who could help the staff. Also, what do you think the Braves need to do to add more grit, urgency and fire to their approach to the postseason?
Anthony Franco
2:29
Pretty light market for controllable starting pitching trade candidates, at least so far. There are a few teams that could shake things up -- White Sox with Dylan Cease, Angels with Patrick Sandoval -- but for now, I think it's more guys like Cal Quantrill and Paul Blackburn that I expect to move
Rog
2:30
Is it sacrilege to prefer the regular season and not care much about the playoffs?
Strider’s Stache
2:30
Curious about your thoughts on Strider’s post G4 comments. It’s easy to throw your hands up and say the playoffs are a crapshoot, but he’s got a point when it’s been two years in a row they’ve not looked like 100-win teams in the NLDS.
Anthony Franco
2:30
Got a handful of questions about the playoffs understandably
2:31
To Rog's point, the regular season tells you more about team quality. I feel pretty comfortable saying the Braves were 2023's best team. If that's enough to find solace as a fan -- especially in the immediate aftermath of a playoff disappointment -- then take it
2:32
At the same time, MLB (and American sports generally) value championships over team quality. The ultimate goal for everyone involved is to win the World Series and the Braves have disappointed in October for two consecutive seasons
2:34
I think Strider's right that blaming off days is a pretty weak excuse. It's easy to conflate playoff volatility with luck. I don't think the Braves were "unlucky" to lose that series. For those four games, the Phillies outplayed them. If they'd played 162 games, I don't doubt that Atlanta would've figured things out and won more than they lost
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