2015 Atlanta Braves

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Olivera is under control for 5 years for $32.5 mil and isn't really a prospect; he'll almost certainly start on the major league club. Small sample size, but the guy has wrecked so far in the minors. It sucks to have to give up Wood too, but Olivera has the talent to be an upper echelon player, fast. Peraza, best case, is a slap hitting defensive shortstop with speed. I don't think the Dodgers would ever take Peraza or Wood for Olivera straight up, especially considering the dodgers have already paid olivera $28 million.

I'm excited because we finally have a power bat, and it's a guy that plays a position of need, is dirt cheap, and isn't just a power hitter.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Chip Douglass]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Just to throw out another data point to make you guys feel better: the Dodgers signed Olivera for 6/62 (with $28 million of that being his signing bonus) even though Justin Turner was a monster for us last year. I didn't really think we needed him to begin with, but we signed him anyways.

And a FanGraphs writer I read thinks Wood is a long-term health risk because of his mechanics. From what I've seen, his delivery seems a bit funky, but I've never been a huge fan of the "Player X has bad mechanics and is an injury risk" analysis. Are there any Braves' fans who want to comment on that?

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Just to throw out another data point to make you guys feel better: the Dodgers signed Olivera for 6/62 (with $28 million of that being his signing bonus) even though Justin Turner was a monster for us last year. I didn't really think we needed him to begin with, but we signed him anyways.

And a FanGraphs writer I read thinks Wood is a long-term health risk because of his mechanics. From what I've seen, his delivery seems a bit funky, but I've never been a huge fan of the "Player X has bad mechanics and is an injury risk" analysis. Are there any Braves' fans who want to comment on that?

The Braves big concern is that a) he already had TJS, b) he has a funky delivery, and c) his velocity has really dropped significantly. I like Wood, however, even with all that. Hate to see him go

[Chip Douglass]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Yeah, I noticed the drop in strikeouts and wondered if there were any issues that would cause the Braves to unload him.

Anyways, I guess the conclusion to draw is that if you're a Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman and you can't see the field, you get unloaded to the Braves.

[decga]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Yeah, I noticed the drop in strikeouts and wondered if there were any issues that would cause the Braves to unload him.

Anyways, I guess the conclusion to draw is that if you're a Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman and you can't see the field, you get unloaded to the Braves.

It seems to me that we are getting rid of our homegrown talent, because they are not being coached up...

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

So we also unloaded what's left of Arroyo's contract on the Dodgers? That Toussaint trade looks really good now.

Edit: DOB says we're still paying some of it.

[p_rushing]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

The Braves big concern is that a) he already had TJS, b) he has a funky delivery, and c) his velocity has really dropped significantly. I like Wood, however, even with all that. Hate to see him go

I'm fine losing Wood for those reasons, but not both players for a 30yr old player that is yet to play in the majors and has a history of injury problems.

I know both of the players the Braves gave up may have some issues, Peraza not being called up this year probably was a hint that they didn't value him much, but they got a player with issues also.

Hopefully it is a sale high trade and the Braves get 2 players back who are on the roster for years to come.

[aukevin]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Seems like a lot, good starter and #1 prospect for the guy. Hopefully he provides 4 solid years for the Braves. It's going to be important that either Peterson or Albies work out at 2B.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Maybe. Olivera has only played in his career 661 pro games because Cuban seasons are shorter. So I think he'll start his decline later, but it's impossible to know. He does have the thing with his elbow, but the Dodgers and Braves medical staffs have both looked at it and signed off. If he ever does need Tommy John, it actually adds a year to his deal at $1 million.

All that said, I think we have a pretty good idea now, with the recent success of Cuban defectors, that the pitching there is really damn good. And dude hit .323/.404/.507 there. That's insane. And then, quickly running through the minors, he's hit .348/.392/.493 with no dropout as he moved up; in fact he got better the more he saw American pitching. Worst case senario, in my mind, is he's a .300 hitting 15 hr guy that gets on base and hits a lot of doubles. For about $6 million a year. Plus, we got a guy that supposedly could become an upper echelon lefty reliever, and a pick that will possibly end up being top 30.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[decga]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Everyone is saying this guy will at some "POP" to our lineup. 15-20 hrs, we have that in Freeman. Hell Chris Johnson could give you that kind of production if they would have committed to playing for the jump of the season. Isn't Chris 29 or 30 yrs old himself?

It is apparent Mr. Hart is bringing in his guys. Although he is probably not going to be affiliated with this club in 2017 or beyond.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Everyone is saying this guy will at some "POP" to our lineup. 15-20 hrs, we have that in Freeman. Hell Chris Johnson could give you that kind of production if they would have committed to playing for the jump of the season. Isn't Chris 29 or 30 yrs old himself?

It is apparent Mr. Hart is bringing in his guys. Although he is probably not going to be affiliated with this club in 2017 or beyond.

Chris Johnson? No way, no how. Guy had his 'career' year for us two years ago and he's done...

Look, I am pissed with the way the team on the field is playing right now...just awful since getting to 42-42. The players who are playing right now need to be held accountable because they aren't getting it done at the plate, at all.

That said, while Hart keeps saying the word "retool" let's be honest and admit this is a REBUILD. When you look at the talent that Hart and company have acquired over the last 9 months it's staggering. Our draft was solid and we have Max Fried coming back next year, Chris Withrow, Paco Rodriguez is solid, etc. We all have complained that we need to trade some pitching for a bat...well, he did that and if we had to trade a young pitcher, Wood is the guy I'd let go. He has outpitched his numbers so far and IMO had the lowest ceiling in our rotation. I have NEVER been sold on Peraza...every time I watched him play he looked over matched. I do not see him being an impact major league player.

As hard as it is going to be to watch the last 55-60 games, the future is very bright and this farm system is deep. Doesn't meant they all pan out, but it will be fun to see where we go from here.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Just a follow up to my post above...was just curious what Braves fans across different forums are saying on this trade and I'm really surprised at the angst. It's pretty short sighted, IMO...consider the following list of pitchers:

Shelby Miller, Matt Wisler, Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, Mike Foltynewicz, Manny Banuelos, Max Fried, Williams Perez, Tyrell Jenkins, Touki Toussant, and Kolby Allard. That is ELEVEN pitchers for 5 slots that we need to figure out in the next few years...

I liked Alex Wood...I really did. I think, however, that he's a ticking time bomb. One of the things that Hart has done since he came in is demand that every pitcher's mechanics get evaluated to determine propensity for TJS AND they are monitoring each pitcher's performance in terms of pitch velocity and movement. One of the things that they have learned that one of the precursors to needing TJS is often a dip in movement and velocity. Wood has dropped nearly 2.5 mph on ALL of his pitches in under 2 years, an indication that his elbow is weakening. It may never happen, but with his mechanics and those indications you trade him.

We can complain that he got a 30 year old hitter, but honestly, as I've been researching Oliveras over the last day or so I'm convinced he's instantly the best hitter outside of Freeman in our entire organization. That isn't saying much, but when you basically give up Wood/Peraza to get that, two young pitchers who have potential, and a great draft pick, IMO, we fleeced LA/MIA (I know I'm in the minority).

Braves fans can kick and scream about this, but I think John Hart is doing an amazing job.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Everyone is saying this guy will at some "POP" to our lineup. 15-20 hrs, we have that in Freeman. Hell Chris Johnson could give you that kind of production if they would have committed to playing for the jump of the season. Isn't Chris 29 or 30 yrs old himself?

It is apparent Mr. Hart is bringing in his guys. Although he is probably not going to be affiliated with this club in 2017 or beyond.

You can't have 1 guy in your lineup with power. And you need power. Freeman has never hit more than 23. That's actually not all that great for a 1b; In love Freeman, and he does a ton of things pretty well, but his power is pretty average for his position. 3b is a power postion, and Johnson has never hit more than 15 in a season, and that was playing in Houston/Zona, great hitters parks. And he's hit 1 hr this year. Markakis in RF (another power position) has hit 1 hr. Maybin is looking like he'll get double digit hrs for the first time in his career this year, and longterm, him and mallex Smith (who is a less than 5 hr guy) figure to fill out the of with Markakis, barring getting another bat. I don't see anyone on the free agent market the next couple years that could be a productive player at 3b, there's no one in the system, and this guy comes at about $6 mil a year.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Donkey, what's up with your avatar?

Keeping it for old time's sake?

I pretty much only use tapatalk, and have no idea how to change it here haha. Plus, I can't really see it. I should change it though. I think I set it in 2011.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[decga]

Re: 2015 Atlanta Braves

Just a follow up to my post above...was just curious what Braves fans across different forums are saying on this trade and I'm really surprised at the angst. It's pretty short sighted, IMO...consider the following list of pitchers:

Shelby Miller, Matt Wisler, Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, Mike Foltynewicz, Manny Banuelos, Max Fried, Williams Perez, Tyrell Jenkins, Touki Toussant, and Kolby Allard. That is ELEVEN pitchers for 5 slots that we need to figure out in the next few years...

I liked Alex Wood...I really did. I think, however, that he's a ticking time bomb. One of the things that Hart has done since he came in is demand that every pitcher's mechanics get evaluated to determine propensity for TJS AND they are monitoring each pitcher's performance in terms of pitch velocity and movement. One of the things that they have learned that one of the precursors to needing TJS is often a dip in movement and velocity. Wood has dropped nearly 2.5 mph on ALL of his pitches in under 2 years, an indication that his elbow is weakening. It may never happen, but with his mechanics and those indications you trade him.

We can complain that he got a 30 year old hitter, but honestly, as I've been researching Oliveras over the last day or so I'm convinced he's instantly the best hitter outside of Freeman in our entire organization. That isn't saying much, but when you basically give up Wood/Peraza to get that, two young pitchers who have potential, and a great draft pick, IMO, we fleeced LA/MIA (I know I'm in the minority).

Braves fans can kick and scream about this, but I think John Hart is doing an amazing job.

Well I am kicking and screaming... I have just a wait and see approach. Maybe Markakis can regain some his power. Maybe we can truly find LF they can hit and play defense. I think Shelby or Teheran could be traded next. Miller can get us a Major League ready OF bat, but it has to be a playoff contending team.