AA has done it again, ladies and gentlemen. Reynaldo Lopez, a coveted relief pitcher at the trade deadline, has signed with the Braves.
Seriously…I have no idea how AA keeps getting these deals: $4MM in 2024, $11MM, in 2025 and 2026, and an $8MM club option for 2027. However, there’s more to this deal as AA wants to alter Reynaldo’s role.
My guess is the team plays it by ear with Reynaldo. They’ll let him give it a go this offseason and see how he fares in spring training as a starter. If he shows the ability to stick in the rotation, he’ll stay there. What’s more is that the Braves are preparing to offset SP injuries and/or lack of quality arms by having a reliever stretch out to multiple innings. There seems to be a movement among the org to steer clear of the carousel of non-competitive starts like we saw from Dylan Dodd, Jared Shuster, Kolby Allard, Michael Soroka, and Yonny Chirinos.
Even if the Braves decide that Reynold will be a reliever only, this is a good deal for a guy that can be plugged in for multiple innings while getting great results.
AA Was in On Nola
We all know by now that the Phillies re-signed Aaron Nola. However, many might not know this tidbit:
First off… I’m glad AA didn’t land Nola. I just don’t have faith in him, especially at a contract that length. However, this goes to show that the Braves are willing to spend and weren’t even at their peak offer when Nola re-signed with Philly.
The future remains bright.
AA has specifically stated that he’s interested in acquiring pitchers who can get plenty of whiffs, and Lopez seems to fit that description. He hasn’t been utilized as a starter since 2019, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can be stretched out and added to the rotation eventually. Even if that doesn’t work out, though, he’ll help to further strengthen an already stacked bullpen (having Jimenez, Johnson, Minter, Iglesias, Bummer, Matzek, and Lee all in the same pen is just awesome).
AA has specifically stated that he’s interested in acquiring pitchers who can get plenty of whiffs, and Lopez certainly fits that description. He hasn’t been utilized as a starter since 2019, so it’ll be interesting to see if they can stretch him out well enough to add him to the rotation. Even if that doesn’t work out, though, he will help to further strengthen an already stacked bullpen (having Jimenez, Johnson, Iglesias, Minter, Lopez, Bummer, and hopefully Lee and Matzek all in the same bullpen is just crazy).
Elder + Grissom + others for Cease
Do it in a heartbeat. Elder’s stuff will turn into a pumpkin, Grissom doesn’t have a position, and we’re in WIN NOW mode.
Agreed, Chief. Grissom is more valuable to another team as a SS vs to us as a mediocre bat in LF.
Grissom+others+maybe Elder for one year of Soto in left (& would we still get a draft choice when he goes FA?).
I wouldn’t dream too big. I think, as usual, AA strikes early and makes most of his deals early. However, there always seems to be one late move remaining. Something out of the blue. As it currently stands Grissom is our LF and AJSS/Waldrep are our 5th SP (I like Vines and Winans too) and the bench can be filled from AAA or MiLB signings. I suspect something will change about this but what it is I could not predict.
I would suggest something like trade Grissom/Ozuna and whatever for Cease and sign Soler and Kiermeier. Fill the bench with Wall, Williams, Waddell or some other MiLB signings. Maybe even that is dreaming too big. Secondarily, keep Ozuna and don’t sign Soler. Maybe Grissom/Schwellenbach and other throw-ins would be enough.
Ready for some rumor mongering? My financial advisor (also my company’s main banker) has a lot of current and former baseball players as clients. One of whom sits on the board with AA himself. This is what he hears (so third-hand info, and about a week and a half out of date):
-The Braves hope to acquire two starting pitchers this off season, but are dead focused on at least one.
-The Braves are solidly “in” on Yamamoto, but cautiously. The concern is all the 160+ pitch complete games.
-The current focus is solidly on Snell.
-Sonny Gray is not a current priority.
-They are much higher on Grissom than any of us would have thought and seem serious about starting him in left field, with the idea of moving him back to the infield later. They believe he has the hands to hit at the big league level and will develop power.
-They intend to upgrade both the bench and minor league depth.
For the record, almost none of that makes a lick of sense to me, especially Snell.
If they want to bring in guys cheap with upside, I like the non-tendered guys, Lewis and Senzel, and also Meadows. All three are from the Atlanta area and had down years. I think they are better upside plays than Hilliard and Luplow were, I like the youth and pedigrees. They could really help cover LF and the bench. I’d be happy with one solid SP.