Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: News Round-up, Maitan
Braves Moving On From Toytown
CHARLIE FRAGO / TAMPA BAY TIMES
What appeared to be the case is now almost certainly true when it comes to the Atlanta Braves’ interest in Toytown, the former landfill that the major league team had proposed turning into a spring-training facility.
The affair is over.
Earlier this month, Braves representatives were no shows at the initial meeting between Pinellas County officials and SportsParka Partners, LLC, a consortium that included St. Petersburg developer Darryl LeClair and former baseball star Gary Sheffield.
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Today [FEB 18], the Atlanta Journal- Constitution reported that the team is now looking in Palm Beach County where the Braves trained from 1962 until 1997. The story quoted Braves president John Schuerholz saying that Toytown, the 245-acre mid-county site, was off the table because of MLB’s opposition.
Shortly after the Braves proposal for Toytown broke in September, MLB sent out a sharply worded statement basically telling the team to back off until the Tampa Bay Rays resolved their long-standing stadium stalemate.
Ed. Note: In previous updates, I held off on wording of this strength, as I believed that the Braves were still trying to keep their (dwindling) options open, but this writer leaves little doubt: The Braves will not be making a new Spring home near St. Petersburg under the current proposal. Schuerholz’ comments basically indicated that MLB forced the Braves’ hand away from the Toytown site, which now would seem to be the odds-on favorite for a new Rays stadium location.
Next: Little Doubt Remains Here, Either - Yay!
Cardinals Prepared To Exceed International Bonus Pool
BEN BADLER / BASEBALLAMERICA.COM (FEB. 11)
The latest team that could break its international bonus pool when the 2016-17 signing period opens on July 2 might be the most intriguing one yet.
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Several international sources believe the Cardinals are preparing to exceed their upcoming international bonus pool, joining the Padres, Braves and Nationals as teams going over on July 2.
What distinguishes the Cardinals from those teams is that Major League Baseball has yet to issue a decision on whether it will penalize the organization as a result of former scouting director Chris Correa pleading guilty to hacking into the Astros’ information systems. Correa’s responsibility as scouting director was to oversee the team’s draft, not the international department, so much of the focus in the industry has been on whether the Cardinals will lose draft picks as a result of the scandal.
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The Cardinals have been connected to multiple players they are likely to sign, including 16-year-old Victor Garcia, who could be the top-paid Venezuelan outfielder this year. They are also the team that sources say is most likely to sign 17-year-old Jonatan Machado, a speedy 5-foot-9 center fielder from Cuba with good bat control from the left side, by convincing him to wait until July 2 to sign.
Ed. notes: Okay, follow me on this one…
Two weeks ago (February 7th, specifically), I had a bit of panic as rumors of the Cardinals getting ready to dive into the International Market were surfacing… and as it was spelled out then, Ben Badler has echoed my thoughts at that time: basically if the Cards are going to be penalized – somehow – then the J2 International market represents a way for them to mitigate any expected penalties.
At the time, one of the Cardinals’ beat writers raised the possibility of going after Kevin Maitan, the prize of this year’s market that the braves are believed to have ready to sign… in another 4½ months. Even this week, other Cardinals blogs are still clinging to this possibility.
Three things:
- Note that in Badler’s writeup on the Cardinals (full text at the link above), Maitan’s name is not mentioned once… or even hinted at. That despite their connections to Venezuela.
- Any premium athlete will be expensive for them. The Cardinals, as pointed out by Badler) have the lowest bonus spending pool at $2,027,300. Even if they use trades to augment this, the best they’ll be able to do is get to just over $3 million. The Braves, by contrast, can get as high as $7.15 million. Big difference in spending power – even if you do plan on accepting overage penalties
- But finally, there’s this. Kevin Maitan has joined twitter. Guess how he chose to introduce himself to the world?
#instasize pic.twitter.com/fc5KiBXjcB
— Kevin Maitan (@MaitanKevin) February 14, 2016
That does calm my concerns – quite a bit.
Next: Meanwhile, Back as Disney...
Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (22) looks on from the batting cage before a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
In the Cages
Hector Olivera taking BP this morning on the main field. #Braves pic.twitter.com/GMETzc7XrF
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) February 20, 2016
Smooth swing. Below is a different sequence with Olivera… looks like his “knee twist” is reduced compared to last year. Situational calls are being relayed to him in this video – in Spanish:
Hector Olivera taking BP. #Braves pic.twitter.com/Hj0KELCUtF
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 20, 2016
VIDEO: Dansby Swanson taking his swings this morning as well. Kevin Seitzer calling out situations as well. #Braves pic.twitter.com/R3wUsZi1AR
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) February 20, 2016
Yes – two old catchers (although only one of them looks the part!) are in the house.
Next: Leaving Hammer Time Behind
Ah, Spring.