re: ATL Thread | offseason hot takes + discussion

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AA saying we will cross the tax threshold,

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He said he would cross it if it were the right situation/deal.

ETA: They are only $3 MIL from the rax now so they will probably cross the threshold.

In AA we trust.

He ain't gonna give out excuberent contracts just to placate the fanbase. He has repeatedly said he wants an evenly distributed payroll and not one guy making a good bit more than the rest of the team.

And I respect him for it. He has stuck to that philosophy.

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Then why is Wash working with him at SS? The team seems to think there is at least a chance or they wouldn't bother.

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It increases his value 10x if he can feign being a big league SS, but Wash working with him for a week at a time during the off-season doesn’t somehow make me think the Braves will just neglect acquiring a proven option at arguably the most position on the field. I would be shocked if he doesn’t open the season as the SS in Gwinnett.

Much better chance Arcia is the OD SS than Grissom imo.

Looks like the Braves are using the AJC as a mouthpiece to brace the fans for Vaughn as opening day SS.

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@JustinCToscano
Vaughn Grissom's first workouts with Ron Washington are said to have gone very well. Grissom is scheduled to spend more time with Washington starting in a few days.

If Grissom is Atlanta's starting shortstop, he has a chance to be the 2023 version of Houston's Jeremy Peña.

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Bowman is now throwing out Elvis Andrus as a possibility and it's all just making me incredibly sad.

Salty charges $2m per letter in his name, so he's too expensive for us.

The Braves don’t have to do a thing. They will make the playoffs whether they spend big or not. Then it comes down to who gets hot in October. We did in 2021 and the Phillies did in 2022. Dansby had 2 great months and was league average the rest. No way AA is paying him like a 7 month player. Grissom will give us slightly less than Swanson at 5% of the cost.

Most folks don’t realize you gotta have stars mixed in with above average players. You watch - AA’s #1 goal is to sure up the bullpen which is the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th inning in this era. There are some stud relievers out there as FA’s that AA will sign for waaaaaay cheaper than if we signed Degrom or Verlander. With Elder, Soroka, and Anderson along with others on the farm we are set in the rotation. Now it’s just a matter of left field and/or DH.

And after the media says the Braves didn’t do anything this off season except sure up the pen we’ll be in 1st or 2nd all year. And then at the break we will have all the flexibility to make a trade. Ohtani has started saying he wants to play for a winner. What would you say if the Braves chill for now and then get Ohtani at the break? Or Trout?

From what I’ve seen these teams are making some silly signings that will them in the cellar soon. Turner is a great player but he isn’t all worldly.

What’s the latest on Luke Jackson? As much stress as he’s put us through, he’s still got some nasty stuff.

WS champs have improved their already robust lineup. Took a penultimate sweep to knock out the Mets and they’ve replaced their CY Young with another Cy Young. As far as I know the only other player they really need to replace is Nimmo.
Counting on your young players to improve is definitely a a legitimate philosophy. Just not one I prefer. Granted the lineup 1-9 could be black holes last year, there is a legit possibility of 3 consistent black holes in LF, DH, and SS. Hard to win in this era with that. And that’s assuming no sophomore slump from Harris. I’m going to give AA the benefit of the doubt but I’ll admit I will be a little disappointed if we don’t fill any of those holes with a stud.