Strat-O-Matic Baseball 365

Braves traded one of the best if not the best closer in the game. And one that was only 25 years old and thus just entering his prime. Have read Grilli will now take over as closer. Not sure who this promotes to primary setup man.

http://m.padres.mlb.com/news/article/116490822/padres-add-all-star-craig-kimbrel-melvin-upton-jr-in-deal-with-braves

Others may have already arrived at this conclusion. But seems obvious to me now the Braves do not believe they can compete this year and maybe not for the next couple of years. I am not a Braves fan so do not follow them as closely as some other teams. But I do not see any other conclusion from this than the Braves front office has already given up on this team.

They are trying to have Jim Johnson stage a comeback as setup

They basically built a team, saw it was not going to win, and decided to start over and rebuild ASAP.

Their farm isn't good enough for that, but getting a high draft pick the next couple of years might make the relevant again in 4-5...

You don't need an expensive closer on a 70 win team. Weird offseason for them. It looked like they were going to rebuild with the first Upton trade and then signed Markakis.

Maybe the Padres lost out here. The Braves gave up Kimbrel but you can always find a guy to save games. Look at Grilli coming in at 106 years old and closing out the first win. I would trade a closer unless it was Rivera.

The Braves look like a combination of a Little League team and Old-timers--lots of young faces and over-the-hill types.

With 3 years (and a fourth option year) left on Kimbrels contract, I think Hart was too desperate to get rid of Upton's contract. It has to have a sobering effect on the players as to what the management thinks of them. If I were Simmons or Freeman, resigning with the Braves when contract time comes would not be an option.

I understand the logic from a business point of view---except now the off-season signing of Markakis makes no sense to me what-so-ever.

Speaking as a Mets fan, couldn't happen to a better team.

I would trade a closer unless it was Rivera.

I understand that thinking. But in my view Kimbrel is Rivera except he still has a decade of dominance left while Rivera is retired.

With 3 years (and a fourth option year) left on Kimbrels contract, I think Hart was too desperate to get rid of Upton's contract.

The control of Kimbrel for 4 years makes trading him away worse. I think you are right though. The Upton contract has been such a bad one getting rid of it apparently was more important than anything else.

But from my point of view if you plan on being competitive any time in the next 3 years I want Kimbrel on team. He is not just a closer right now I cannot think of anyone who is more of a sure thing. I know a lot of people say you can manufacture a closer but I have seen plenty of otherwise good teams have seasons go down the tube because they never found a reliable closer.

That Markakis deal really is confusing. Why shell out money on a free agent like that if you know you are going to fire sale rest of team. I would hate to be a player in Atlanta right now knowing the front office was not making a legitimate effort to put a winning team on the field.

As a Cubs fan, we can empathize with you on rebuilding.

as a lifetime ATL resident and Braves fan I have one question


why couldn't the Kimbrel/Melvin JR deal get done 2-3 months ago!

Braves could have kept Justin and Jason...Gattis etal. Dumped the Melvin contract and only lost the games best closer in the process.

True we would not have restocked...and we certainly have done that.....but we still could have been competitive and still looked young and fresh headed into 2016 and the new park. Simmons/Freeman/Heywood and Upton would all have been 28 or younger in 2016 and would perhaps still enjoy some financial flexibility.