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2023 Atlanta Braves Season Thread: wheelin & dealin

This is good stuff. Interviews with Bruce Benedict and a young Chris Mortensen. Cameos by Rick Mahler and Terry Forster. Even more ironic when you consider that Benedict later became a high school and college basketball ref.

 
Braves sign reliever Reynaldo Lopez to a three-year deal for $30 million. Seems like a hefty price for a guy who has had an up and down career so far (he did have a good 2023 season).

Lopez can start or pitch out of the pen.

So far, to bolster the pitching staff, the Braves:

  • Re-signed Joel Jimenez (three year; $26 million)
  • Re-signed Pierce Johnson (2 yrs; 14 million)
  • Traded for Aaron Bummer
  • Traded for Jackson Kowar (who pitched against WF in the 2017 UF/WF Super-regional)
  • Signed Reynaldo Lopez (3 yrs.; $30 million)
From MLBTR:

"As things stand, the Braves’ rotation includes Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder. There’ll be competition for that fifth spot, likely including Lopez but also featuring top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, veteran Ian Anderson (who’ll be returning from Tommy John surgery), southpaw Dylan Dodd and righty Huascar Ynoa. The Braves have been linked to some free agents of note thus far, and if they succeed in signing Sonny Gray or acquiring another veteran starter, that’d likely push Lopez more firmly into the bullpen.

If Lopez ends up in his more familiar bullpen role, he’ll join a comically deep group. In addition to the aforementioned Jimenez, Johnson and Bummer, the Braves will deploy Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter and Tyler Matzek in what’s shaping up to be one of the most experienced and most talented collection of relief arms in the Majors."
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Lopez can play that swing role like you mentioned, so the question is whether $10mm per year is the going price for 100-120 league average (maybe better) innings. I'd guess that's the volume they're shooting for.
 
The Lopez deal is back loaded. He gets a signing bonus and $4 million in 2024; he then is owed $11 million in 2024 and 2025.
 
Pilchard said:
The Lopez deal is back loaded. He gets a signing bonus and $4 million in 2024; he then is owed $11 million in 2024 and 2025.
Click to expand...
I remember reading that. 4th year option for $8mm with a $4mm buyout. I suppose they could stretch him out and if he can go back to 180 innings per season keep him or flip him in 25/26.
 
“The Braves opened the MLB Winter Meetings by completing a five-player trade with the Mariners on Sunday night. They received Jared Kelenic, left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White in exchange for right-handed pitchers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips.”

Kelenic has been a highly rated prospect for years, but it has yet to translate on the MLB. Believe that the Braves plan to platoon Kelenic and Grissom in the OF
 
This is a great move. Kelenic has HUGE upside and could be great on a team where he’s not the focal point (yes, I know the M’s have Julio). AA is already shopping Gonzales reportedly.
 
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