re: The ATL Thread: Offseason Edition

AJ? Well, I guess he will be ok to catch once a week. I've heard nothing but terrible things though about how bad of a clubhouse guy he is, and how big of a jerk he is.

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However, at what point do you look at someone other than Freeman and say we really shouldn't trade this guy, he's a face of the Franchise.

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Very good point, however I believe we all said that about Heyward. Kimbrel or any closer for that matter, should never be "the face of the franchise." If the Braves are in true re-build mode attempting to put together a winning team by 2017, then there is no feasible reason to keep a player like Kimbrel on your roster.

A.) His save opportunities will be few and far between when your team is only winning between 60-70 games for the next 2 years

B.) We literally have 2 other EXTREMELY qualified guys (and Shea Simmons who is somewhat qualified) who could immediately step in and become the closer on an average team. We are not looking at a playoff race or anything.

C.) Kimbrel has a very team friendly contract including a $1M buyout option in 2018. I am willing to bet that if the Braves made Kimbrel available via trade we would have offers from every single club out there. The return on Kimbrel would be INSANE and would catapult our re-build mode.

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We will be paying B.J. Upton, Nick Markakis, Craig Kimbrel and Chris Johnson a combined $50.3 million that year.

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My God.

Hello 1980s.

Hoping for a late Christmas preasant of BJ, Johnson, Gattis and Kimbrel being traded. We'd be in great shape moving forward if we could do that.

Braves acquire LHP Manny Banuelos from the Yankees in exchange for David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve. Banuelos is the Yankees 9th ranked prospect according to MLB.com.

He was ranked as the 29th best prospect in all of baseball as recently as late in 2012 prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery which caused him to miss all of 2013. He is seen by most as a middle of the rotation arm with the upside of a #2 if he is able to regain his pre TJ form.

Pleased with this deal.

Yea big fan of this deal. Relievers are so fickle.

As much as I may disagree with some of the moves at the major league level this offseason, the system is no doubt being upgraded. I feel like this regime will draft pretty well and do pretty well in the international market too.

I have no doubt we will have a top 5 system again in the next 2-3 years which is huge.

Braves make the playoffs this season, frickING BOOK IT

I like the move to get Manny. I mean, why not? Kid has some nice upside.