Given the Atlanta Braves mid market payroll stature and the quality of outfielders available this Hot Stove season, it was going to be challenge for the Braves to acquire a upper echelon free agent this winter.
Plenty of ideas have been speculated or wished for. Fools like myself have long dreamed of any possibility that Atlanta would look to spend on Jason Heyward, the former top prospect for the Bravos, who of course, kicked off the mass exodus of quality offensive talent John Hart and John Coppolella shipped out to pivot the Braves to be able to contend long term more quickly than playoff juggernauts on the rise like the Astros, the Cubs, and the National League champion New York Mets were able to pull of after similar situations in their organization. Others dreamed of slightly less costly additions, like Alex Gordon, being able to buy into the plans that John Squared have laid for the Braves and move their careers into Braves Country.
But Wednesday’s early morning news that the Braves would be transitioning Hector Olivera to play left field effectively ended everyone’s dreams, as the 30 year old Cuban, who was acquired in the trade deadline deal that saw the Braves ship out Alex Wood among others, is obviously very much a big player in Atlanta’s long term plans.
Atlanta was always going to have a difficult time courting free agents, but now that may not be a big problem for them this offseason. Before the transition, left field was seemingly going to be handled by a combination of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, and as of the moment, maybe Adonis Garcia. This obviously already handcuffs the veteran duo’s playing time: which is good for the Braves, as both have 2017 vesting options tied to plate appearances.
Outgoing writer Ryan Cothran ran a fantastic article series here on Tomahawk Take called Armchair GM, where a few people attempted to hypothetically court free agents within the Braves’ rumored payroll constraints. Understandably, most did not include the aforementioned upper echelon free agents.
But is it possible for Atlanta to compete in this market? It is very possible, but understandably, they are very cautious when it comes to potentially handcuffing payroll long term again. This is basically what cost Frank Wren his general manager job. I think it might even be more possible and attractive for the team to accomplish this using a very rarely seen contract structure in this day and age: front loading.
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