re: The ATL Thread 7/30: Braves acquire Matt Kemp

The players they traded weren't good but it wasn't a good use of assets. Peraza was turned in to Trayce Thompson and Wood certainly has solid value.

A 31 year old Cuban with no track record, a torn UCL and no position was a pretty terrible target.

That deal necessitated (if you believe we couldn't just eat Olivera's smaller contract) this one which has caused us to commit $50M to an average OF for the next 3 years in the middle of a re-build.

Olivera trade was the product of poor scouting. He was worth the price if he stuck at 3B for the scouting reports that multiple teams believed in.

You seem to not understand that some prospects don't turn out. I hate to be the one that informs you that most our top 30 milb guys will make no impact on the MLB roster.

Again, all of these trades have minimal impact on our roster for the years we are dealing with. We're talking about money we have to spend in years that we're not contending. We aren't a team that can just save money and inflate payroll later. That's not the agreement that we have with Liberty

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What's the purpose of acquiring Kemp for the next 3 years at $8.5M a year?

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He's worth around that much for his current production. He's making less than Markakis essentially. The braves are basically thinking that his current production + upside if he performs better is worth more to the organization while we're not contending than just cutting Olivera.

John Hart being interviewed now saying that we still have plenty of cap flexibility, so rest easy.

I hated Peraza for the same reason I hate Matt Kemp, he doesn't take walks.

That doesn't change the fact that we traded him for a $30M 31 year old when he fetched a controllable Trayce Thompson 4 months later.

Not sure if you knew this or not, but prospects have trade value. The Braves could probably trade Kolby Allard and Dansby Swanson for something pretty good tomorrow. They may never play a game in the big leagues but you can still trade them for guys who are in the big leagues right now. Shocking, huh?

I bet you were a big Jair Jurjjens fan.

We have to address catcher. I'm about as confident in Flowers' production this year as I was AJP's last year.

I think 3B is fine. I'm not a big Ruiz fan but I think he can provide replacement level for a few years.

Our outfield needs work. We shouldn't use Markakis and Kemp both for too long. One has to go for Smith and Inciarte to start at the same time. Kemp provides the better upside.

Until then, it's a waiting game for our farm system to work itself out. Tons of talent below AA that need to progress. I really don't think we'll see a good MLB club before '18

I absolutely see where you're coming from. I promise I'm not just toying with you.

We differ in expectations I think. I don't expect us to contend until '19 so it doesn't matter to me how we use our "cap" space until then.

The average fan is going to be pumped about Kemp. My dad thinks the Braves just got a MVP player. I'm just saying I don't think the difference between cutting Olivera and acquiring Kemp for 8m is much considering the circumstances

Next year's $9M doesn't matter to me at all. We will be shitty next year and there is plenty of money to spend. But I want as much flexibility as possible after that, especially considering that 17 FA class, and adding $8M / yr in salary obligations in 18 and 19 just isn't appealing to me at all.