The Braves continue to do the unimaginable, staching their core long-term!
If the deal maxes out, it buys out 2 free agent years and totals $92MM. Unlike previous extensions with Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Orlando Arcia, Travis d’Arnaud, Charlie Morton and Matt Olson, this has a fairly significant amount of risk as Strider has already undergone Tommy John Surgery. As someone that has watched his training videos and the amount of work he puts into his lower half, I’m not too concerned with his elbow as his delivery and arm mechanics look effortless even when coming in hot at 100.
This deal marks the 10th core player that will be locked up, at minimum, through 2026. Those players:
The most wonderful part of the above tweet is the future is actually so much brighter than just those 10 as most of the active roster is locked up for awhile.
- Charlie Morton through 2023 with a club option for 2024
- Raisel Iglesias through 2025
- Eddie Rosario through 2023 with a club option
- Travis d’Arnaud through 2023 with a club option
- Max Fried through 2024
- Collin McHugh through 2023 with a club option
- Manny Pina through 2023 with a club option
- A.J. Minter through 2024
- Orlando Arcia through 2023 with a club option
- Tyler Matzek through 2024
- Kirby Yates through 2023 with a club option
- Dylan Lee through 2025 or 2026
- Jackson Stephens through 2026
- Ian Anderson through 2026
- Huascar Ynoa through 2026
- Kyle Muller through 2026 or 2027
- Bryce Elder through 2027 or 2028
So, the Braves are already past the point of building a 26-man roster by combining the 2 lists. Sure, AA is probably not wanting to run Orlando Arcia or Vaughn Grissom as everyday shortstops, but they could. There’s also plenty there to build an above average rotation and bullpen. That’s frickin’ nuts!
Calling Dansby Swanson and Max Fried!
At this point, many are wondering where the calls are for both Dansby Swanson and Max Fried and I think the proof is in the pudding. I cannot imagine Anthopoulos has went without reaching out to their agents. With 6 stars already reaching deals, they’ve surely been approached and maybe it happens before the season is over, or maybe both want to test free agency. Time will tell, but holy hell, what an amazing time to be a fan of this franchise.
Following up on my own @27 in the previous thread, players who were on the team this year played either last year or earlier this year for 17 of the 29 other teams. Four of them played for the Giants.
Ryan, how much additional risk is associated with Strider already having undergone TJS? Is there reason to believe he’s more likely to blow out again because he’s blown out before?
I’m hoping we didn’t use money on Morton and Strider that prevents us from signing Swanson and Fried …. I’m afraid the well has to have run dry … and hoping for these guys to stay healthy and we don’t get in any bad contracts that are guaranteed to guys that are hurt ..
The Braves have vastly increased revenues due to The Battery and the successful product on the field. They’ll definitely reinvest at least some of it back into the team. How much payroll expansion is anyone’s guess, but I’d expect it to be a big jump. Anything less will leave a bad taste with the fanbase and local citizenry that’s bankrolling their sketchy public/private venture.
@alex
The risk is in the age. He’s only 23 and to have undergone it so early in his career, there’s sure to be some sort of recurring problems especially when his reputation is velo. The hope is that the issues will need only rest and not knives.
Fried’s health since TJ has been a blessing to the Braves, but his reliance on a HUGE curve ball has, and will always concern me.
“staching their core long-term…” I see what you did there.
@2 – To me the risk is not that it’s necessarily more likely to happen, just that it’s harder to recover the 2nd time.
If I were a GM, I would just assume that over 6 years all my pitchers are going to need a TJ year.
@7 – Actually, as an internet rando I assume that over 6 years all pitchers are going to need a TJ year. As a GM I would probably commission some kind of mean time to failure study.
First of all…LOL Mets! Ha!
Secondly, I am a little surprised at this contract given his young age, TJ history and what can happen to a pitcher of his style. That said, I’m OK with it. Again, not my money.
Third, it is a pet peeve of mine, but the phrase is “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” There is no proof in pudding by itself. It is just pudding. So it may better have been said, the proof of the contract is in the Mike Hampton-ness of it. We will know in 6 years how tasty it was. 😉 (NB – I have given up on the pedantic pet peeves, by and large, but that one always gets me.)
The NFL has gone off the deep end on roughing the passer. The call in the Falcons game was bad, but the call against the Chiefs just now was downright egregious.
I’ve been thinking about the Strider deal all day. When was he set to become a free agent? Are they really getting a tremendous discount here? This contract seems to be about 90% of what he would expect if he stays healthy and pitches well for the next 6 years. Is that worth it from the Braves perspective?
@11
This is definitely not worth it from a pure numbers perspective unless he’s still a topflight starter in his FA years. What this gives the Braves, mostly, is cost certainty, and a pretty good deal if he does turn out to be a #1.
Tremendous discount? No. But I think it’s defensible.
Just for comparison, Charlie Morton just got $20 million, and Max Scherzer is making $40 million a year.
I dont think this deal is a wild bargain, but the level of ability that Spencer Strider just demonstrated makes this an understandable gamble. Again, even if he can pitch at that level for 25 starts a year, it’s worth it.
Good for the Braves & good for Spencer Strikeout… hopefully, he sees the mound vs. the Phils.
Today’s my 50th birthday and I just received a personalised, minute-long video message from Snit! This is so amazing. Love Snit. He recorded it a day before the first playoff game. One would think, he’s busy… So appreciative of this Braves organisation. Had to share. Now let’s go kick some Phillies butt. Go Braves and Go Snit!
Strider must be pumped about that deal. Again great timing going into playoff games. Not that he needed it but that may give him an extra edge. As said before, this Braves core is amazing. Can’t believe the great job AA has done with this organisation.
Happy birthday, Timo!
Go, Braves!
@15, what a cool present! Hopefully you figure out how to stream today’s game.
Good of MLB to take our fan base in Switzerland into account when scheduling these games.
Alles gute zum geburtstag… and go Braves!
Herzliche gluckwunsch!
OK, now that Strider’s been paid, I would like to see him put up a good start vs. the Phils (and then a good start vs the Dodgers!). Doesn’t seem like too much to ask in exchange for that big contract, right? I have to think that if Strider was too hurt to pitch in the postseason, the Braves would have simply waited until the offseason to sign/announce the deal?
I guess what I’m saying is, gimme summa dat spicy Strider action.
I would have loved keeping the money we gave Morton and make a run at DeGrom .. and still we dont have Swanson signed ..20 mil on Morton could have been spent a little better or maybe give him less .. but DeGrom would look good …
DeGrom
Fried
3.Wright
Strider
Up for grabs ….
Matzek is not on the roster and is in Texas “being evaluated.”
Firstly, happy birthday Timo. Our collective spirits may be slightly dampened by the (please select swear words of choice here) MLB international broadcasting policies
I did wonder why Phillies/Cards popped up on a screen in our local pub on Friday. and now I know why. Normally, I don’t need much of an excuse to go to the pub but that’s not possible this evening due to prior commitment – which is where the MLB subscription comes in handy
Anyway, go Braves
Game thread! Y’all ready?
https://bravesjournal.mystagingwebsite.com/2022/10/11/braves-set-nlds-roster/
Happy birthday, Timo.
50? Seems like a long time ago, perhaps because it was.
May your days be filled with peace and joy.
Get them today, Braves.