2015-2016 Offseason Thread

[biggentleben]

I sadly have to post this with my favorite player leaving my favorite team.

 

The Braves traded Andrelton Simmons and Jose Briceno to the Angels for Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb, Christopher Ellis, and cash.

 

Sucks.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

NO WAY

 

My impression of Simmons was that he was the next Ozzie Smith! What the hell? How do you trade a guy like that?

[biggentleben]

 

NO WAY

My impression of Simmons was that he was the next Ozzie Smith! What the hell? How do you trade a guy like that?

 

My point exactly. My favorite player, who happens to wear my favorite number, on my favorite team. Now gone. Damn.

[bird]

My sincere condolences. Been sad myself since Duensing's release.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Sarcasm noted before and after edit, thanks.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I admit I don't know a whole lot about those guys Atlanta got in return. But that feels like a "trade Sano for peanuts" type of deal. Twins fans might question their fandom after something like that.

[biggentleben]

 

I admit I don't know a whole lot about those guys Atlanta got in return. But that feels like a "trade Sano for peanuts" type of deal. Twins fans might question their fandom after something like that.

 

Newcomb is akin to Berrios in prospect rankings, so he's very well regarded, but the Braves already have a large amount of pitching prospects after last offseason's overhaul.

[dgwills]

 

NO WAY

My impression of Simmons was that he was the next Ozzie Smith! What the hell? How do you trade a guy like that?

Looks like they're in full rebuild mode. Personally I think it's the right move for them. Probably hoping to be back in contention when they get that new ballpark. Angels will be looking pretty tough next year.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Does Atlanta have some other shortstops in the system? Aybar has got to be in his 30s (which obviously is not a deal killer for a glove-first position, but still.) Andrelton Simmons seemed like one of those irreplaceable guys.

[jsteve96]

 

I sadly have to post this with my favorite player leaving my favorite team.

 

The Braves traded Andrelton Simmons and Jose Briceno to the Angels for Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb, Christopher Ellis, and cash.

 

Sucks.

i'll tell you this. you're gonna enjoy Sean Newcomb more than you ever did Andrelton! he's the real deal. Akbar can at least hit

[biggentleben]

 

Looks like they're in full rebuild mode. Personally I think it's the right move for them. Probably hoping to be back in contention when they get that new ballpark. Angels will be looking pretty tough next year.

 

No, no way they can compete in 2017 without spending some major money.

[biggentleben]

 

Does Atlanta have some other shortstops in the system? Aybar has got to be in his 30s (which obviously is not a deal killer for a glove-first position, but still.) Andrelton Simmons seemed like one of those irreplaceable guys.

 

Aybar's a one-year rental. The Braves' top prospect is Ozzie Albies, another player from Curacao who is only 19, but he would have finished the year at high-A if not for an injury, and he's absolutely the real deal. Defense just barely a tick below Simmons (though not the arm, though I don't know if anyone has ever had his arm at the position), and offensively a much different profile, but good OBP/speed guy with gap power right now.

[biggentleben]

 

i'll tell you this. you're gonna enjoy Sean Newcomb more than you ever did Andrelton! he's the real deal. Akbar can at least hit

 

Andrelton had a higher OBP in 2015, nevermind the worlds better defense.

 

And no, I doubt I'll enjoy any pitcher as much as I enjoy an everyday once-in-a-century shortstop every day.

[jsteve96]

 

Andrelton had a higher OBP in 2015, nevermind the worlds better defense.

 

And no, I doubt I'll enjoy any pitcher as much as I enjoy an everyday once-in-a-century shortstop every day.

simmons hitting was horrible, please look at Newcomb's resume before you decide that

[dgwills]

 

No, no way they can compete in 2017 without spending some major money.

 

Umm. Maybe the ballpark will take longer? You're right of course. They have some bad contracts to deal with. I do like their pitching prospects.

[jsteve96]

Great move by the GM. replace simmons with someone who can hit better yet plays pretty good D. while getting a future Ace

[biggentleben]

 

simmons hitting was horrible, please look at Newcomb's resume before you decide that

 

I've seen Newcomb pitch before.

 

Simmons had solid bat control, but he struggled to make great contact when he put the ball in play. He very seldom struck out and had a better OBP than Aybar last season. Definitely a better fit for the lineup the Braves were putting together. Please do not try to tell me what I have seen and have not seen with the team I not only follow, but cover and write about.

[biggentleben]

 

Umm. Maybe the ballpark will take longer? You're right of course. They have some bad contracts to deal with. I do like their pitching prospects.

 

Nah, the contracts aren't the issue. They'll be rid of basically anything but Freeman and Markakis after 2016. The ballpark will be opening in 2017. They're even wearing a patch next year to commemorate the last season at the Ted. The pitching is very solid at the AA/AAA level, but the stud hitters they got into the system were all from low-A on down last year, so they're likely 2-3 years away at the soonest.

[biggentleben]

 

Great move by the GM. replace simmons with someone who can hit better yet plays pretty good D. while getting a future Ace

 

Newcomb will rank at the top of the Braves pitching list, but there are a half dozen "future ace" types already in the system. They certainly didn't need to acquire one.

 

Also, you keep making this hitting point. I do not think hitting means what you think it does:

 

Aybar over the last three years: .273/.308/.366, 92 OPS+, 1.5 TOTAL defensive bWAR

Simmons over the same time: .252/.301/.357, 84 OPS+, 12.4 total defensive bWAR (worse single season was 3.5)

 

Aybar had an OBP 20 points lower than Simmons last season.

[jsteve96]

you had 0 future Aces. now you have 1

[biggentleben]

 

you had 0 future Aces. now you have 1

 

You can believe that. You're wrong, but you can believe that. I'll politely direct you to my top 100 Brave prospects post in this forum. I've spent hundreds of hours reviewing Braves prospects. I'd personally put the guys with upside of a #1 starter at 6 in the system before the deal, and honestly, while Newcomb would rate higher on my own list due to his proximity to the majors, he's still not the most talented lefty in the system. Kolby Allard with a full season could easily leapfrog Newcomb.

[jsteve96]

 

You can believe that. You're wrong, but you can believe that. I'll politely direct you to my top 100 Brave prospects post in this forum. I've spent hundreds of hours reviewing Braves prospects. I'd personally put the guys with upside of a #1 starter at 6 in the system before the deal, and honestly, while Newcomb would rate higher on my own list due to his proximity to the majors, he's still not the most talented lefty in the system. Kolby Allard with a full season could easily leapfrog Newcomb.

hard to call Allard a future Ace when he played in RK ball....

[jsteve96]

 

I think Ben has a point. I'm not sure what the point was with all the disagreement.

my point was the braves system didn't have an ace, now they do..  

[bluechipper]

How about Colby Rasmus becoming the first player to ever accept a qualifying offer. History!

[biggentleben]

 

How about Colby Rasmus becoming the first player to ever accept a qualifying offer. History!

 

Intriguing. Not terribly unsurprising, though. Outside of his playoff heroics, what were the reasons someone would consider paying Rasmus $15M even over 2 seasons?

[biggentleben]

Back on point, to catch up:

 

The Padres traded Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners likely to close for the M's in exchange for two minor leaguers, neither of whom were in the midseason top 10 for the Mariners.

 

The Braves re-signed AJ Pierzynski.

 

Nothing else is confirmed quite yet.

 

[TheLeviathan]

How about Colby Rasmus becoming the first player to ever accept a qualifying offer. History!

It was bound to happen. Some here suggested we offer Plouffe a qualifying offer. I have no doubt he'd follow the same path as Rasmus: stay where you like it for one huge pay day and then go get a multi-year deal later.

[DaveW]

This trade makes very little sense for Atlanta, I get you got some good players back, but Simmons seemed like a guy to build a team around.

 

As far as qualifying offers go: average players like Rasmus and Plouffe will take those, and honestly, it's a win for the ball club as well.

[biggentleben]

 

This trade makes very little sense for Atlanta, I get you got some good players back, but Simmons seemed like a guy to build a team around.

 

...and an avatar.

[nicksaviking]

I like Newcomb and was all for the Twins drafting him.  It sucks to lose a favorite player, but you might have a Jon Lester in return.