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Atlanta Braves Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: What Did We Learn?

By Philip Tapley Jr.

Apr 6, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (left) talks with Braves president John Schuerholz (right) prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (left) talks with Braves president John Schuerholz (right) prior to a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 28, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) in the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) in the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Braves were only bidding on Cespedes to drive up the price for their competitors in the NL East.

Right off the bat, this sounds more likely. Clubs are suspected of doing this sort of thing pretty regularly, and why wouldn’t the Braves do it if they could pull it off? Unlike option #1, this has real potential for competitive advantage. If the Mets and Nationals have to spend more on a player because of the Braves inflating his market value, they will have less money to spend on someone else that they could deploy to beat our Beloved Bravos. Plus, it seems like a pretty fun and rewarding way to stick it to your rival just because you can.

“threatening to make it rain on the division with lucrative contract offers isn’t really in the Braves’ toolbox.”

However, there is reason to doubt #2 as well. How much could the Braves really push up the value by bidding on Cespedes? It’s well-known that Atlanta doesn’t have deep pockets (deeper soon!), and even matching what was early on suspected to be the outfielder’s market value seemed like it would be, well, un-Braves-like. Maybe feigning interest in a player can make other clubs anxious, and therefore more likely to sweeten their package for a player. But threatening to make it rain on the division with lucrative contract offers isn’t really in the Braves’ toolbox.

I’ll grade the likelihood of this explanation at a 2.5. Plausible, but unlikely due to minimal impact.

Next: Cespedes Taking The Bait?

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