We need to throw some money at the FA pitching market. I am similarly concerned. This includes getting some guys in the pen who can throw gas. Weirdly, I don’t really want Fried to be one of the guys we go all in on. He is constantly hurt and, aside from ‘21, has been very disappointing in the playoffs. Maybe we throw money at Nola.Should we be concerned about future starting pitching? Seems like it.
- Strider - solid
- Fried - FA, and we've seen how that goes with our big names
- Wright - out all of 2024, who knows if he'll be the same
- Morton - one more year, if he takes it
- Elder - massive regression, future cloudy
- Anderson - done in the bigs?
- Soroka - done in the bigs?
- Ynoa - done in the bigs?
- Smith-Shawver - promising but who knows
- Shuster - maybe, but who knows
- Allard - maybe? doubtful
- Waldrep - promising but probably a year or two away
Trade a couple for a top lefty who's ready now? Not that they grow on trees, but seems ideal.According to MLB pipeline, the top 7 prospects in the Braves system are all RHP. Really unusual, but the lineup is set for awhile. Unfortunately, except for Smith-Shawver, none of the top 7 have an ETA before 2025.
Braves top 30 prospects
I don't know if he will be any good but Waldrep is not pitching the next two seasons in the minors.According to MLB pipeline, the top 7 prospects in the Braves system are all RHP. Really unusual, but the lineup is set for awhile. Unfortunately, except for Smith-Shawver, none of the top 7 have an ETA before 2025.
Braves top 30 prospects
Farm system isn't strong enough to trade for a meaningful difference maker of a SP. Fangraphs has the Braves with the 25th best farm system, without any particularly high value prospects.Trade a couple for a top lefty who's ready now? Not that they grow on trees, but seems ideal.
Sure. I just meant I’d prefer not extend him now and use that money elsewhere both now and when he comes up as a FA.Fried was a Super 2 and is not a FA until after 2024.
Dodd isn’t a top prospect. He was just the most MLB ready. I think he basically is what he is. I do think Vines showed some promise.Farm system isn't strong enough to trade for a meaningful difference maker of a SP. Fangraphs has the Braves with the 25th best farm system, without any particularly high value prospects.
Maybe they could build a deal around Vaughn Grissom in order to get a SP of some kind, but I think it's way more likely that the Braves find a Morton-like replacement in FA and do their genuine best to re-sign Fried.
A lot of the future prospects of the Braves SP rotation rely on Waldrep turning out to be a mid-rotation type of guy and some combination of Wright/Soroka/Dodd/Shuster getting back on track.
I didn't say that he was a top prospect. You don't need to be a top prospect to pitch successfully as a SP#4 or SP#5 for a few years, which is what I'm hoping forDodd isn’t a top prospect. He was just the most MLB ready. I think he basically is what he is. I do think Vines showed some promise.
There's a few guys here that I could see the Braves going the Charlie Morton route with (short term contract with high AAV). Could also chase after a rebound with Giolito for cheaper than he would have expected to be.2023-4 MLB Free Agent starting pitchers (some intriguing possibilities, but a lot of guys on the downside):
STARTING PITCHERS
Shohei Ohtani (29 years old, 18.4 WAR)
Aaron Nola (31, 10.2)
Blake Snell (31, 7.7)
Sonny Gray (34, 7.6)
Jordan Montgomery (31, 7.0)
Clayton Kershaw (36, 6.2)
Alex Cobb (36, 5.4) -- club option
Marcus Stroman (33, 4.8) -- opt-out
Kyle Gibson (36, 4.4)
Martín Pérez (33, 4.4)
Julio Urías (27, 4.4)
Charlie Morton (40, 4.2) -- club option
Michael Wacha (32, 4.1) -- club option/player option
Eduardo Rodriguez (31, 3.7) -- opt-out
Kyle Hendricks (34, 3.1) -- club option
Seth Lugo (34, 3.1) -- player option
Zack Greinke (40, 3.0)
Ross Stripling (34, 2.9) -- opt-out
Lucas Giolito (29, 2.8)
Michael Lorenzen (32, 2.7)
Mike Clevinger (33, 2.6) -- mutual option
Andrew Heaney (33, 2.5) -- opt-out
Rich Hill (44, 2.5)
Tyler Mahle (29, 2.5)
Lance Lynn (37, 2.4) -- club option
Drew Smyly (35, 2.3) -- opt-out
Corey Kluber (38, 2.2) -- club option
Carlos Carrasco (37, 2.1)
Sean Manaea (32, 2.1) -- opt-out
Frankie Montas (31, 2.0)
Alex Wood (33, 1.9)
Jack Flaherty (28, 1.8)
Johnny Cueto (38, 1.7) -- club option
Noah Syndergaard (31, 1.7)
Wade Miley (37, 1.6) -- mutual option
Kenta Maeda (35, 1.5)
Zach Davies (31, 1.2)
Jake Odorizzi (34, 1.2)
Vince Velasquez (32, 1.1)
Matthew Boyd (33, 1.0)
James Paxton (34, 1.0)
Luke Weaver (30, 0.9)
Luis Severino (30, 0.8)
Brad Keller (28, 0.6)
Hyun Jin Ryu (37, 0.5)
Chase Anderson (36, 0.3)
Julio Teheran (33, 0.3)
Chris Flexen (29, 0.2)
José Ureña (32, 0.2)
Madison Bumgarner (33, 0.0)
Chad Kuhl (31, -0.1)
Dallas Keuchel (36, -0.2)
Tommy Milone (37, -0.4)
Drew Rucinski (35, -0.6) -- club option
We don’t need SP4 and 5 though. Look what we did in the regular season this year. We need 1’s and 2’s who will actually pitch in the playoffs.I didn't say that he was a top prospect. You don't need to be a top prospect to pitch successfully as a SP#4 or SP#5 for a few years, which is what I'm hoping for
If you see a realistic avenue for adding an ace SP (in addition to Strider and Fried for 2024) to this Braves team I'd love to hear about it. Considering the already committed payroll and the weak farm system, I don't think it's possible. The best bet is Waldrep hitting his ceiling or somehow finding the money to re-sign Fried.We don’t need SP4 and 5 though. Look what we did in the regular season this year. We need 1’s and 2’s who will actually pitch in the playoffs.
The money is there. They just have to use it and be okay paying the luxury tax.If you see a realistic avenue for adding an ace SP (in addition to Strider and Fried for 2024) to this Braves team I'd love to hear about it. Considering the already committed payroll and the weak farm system, I don't think it's possible. The best bet is Waldrep hitting his ceiling or somehow finding the money to re-sign Fried.
The Braves have gone all in on extending and committing money to the core of their offense, so that's going to need to be the part of the team that carries them through the playoffs. Hasn't worked at all so far this year.
Austin Riley gets a $6 million raise in 2024. Sean Murphy gets a $5 million raise in 2024, and then another $6 million raise in 2025. Fried will get a significant raise in 2024 based on Arb, and if they want to re-sign him for 2025 it will be another significant raise. In 2025 Strider jumps from $1 million to $4 million, and in 2026 that jumps to $20 million.The money is there. They just have to use it and be okay paying the luxury tax.
I do wonder if that's going to be the plan next year. Tell him right now that his future as a Brave relies on him passably playing LF and see what he looks like in the spring. My understanding is that he was fairly terrible out there (in limited action) this year though.Whatever happened with Grissom as an outfielder? Or he just could be trade bait?
Hope the Braves pull it together today in Philly.