Atlanta Braves Browsing Not Shopping At GM Meetings

Trades Will Happen

That position doesn’t mean they won’t trade prospects. Mid-level prospects are going to be dealt to make the team incrementally better now. Things like trading for role player pitchers is always an option.

Dealing a potential impact arm isn’t on the table unless and until it’s a move that puts the team over the top for a championship. That’s not what the 2017 season looks like now.

Signing role player pitchers on one or two-year deals also allows those prospects to grow at their own pace. The Braves changed the pitching development system this off-season because they felt some of the seedling’s growth was stunted by being rushed to the big leagues too soon. The Tigers found out about that in the early 2000s.

His statements confirm my belief that they are shopping for undervalued free agents like the one’s I discussed a few days ago. Who those will be we’ll have to wait and see but we may not have to wait long.

Always Open

The John’s are not adverse to moving early to get a deal done and this years is no exception.

"“We’re open (to moving early on a deal. . . There could be a great deal that we would have to explore further. If something makes sense for the Braves and will make us better in the short term and the long term. . . we’re not going to wait around for any type of artificial date. . . .The best time to make a trade is when a good trade is offered to you. We’re always trying to find ways to get better.”"

In fact Coppy said during one of the final Braves TV broadcasts of the year that they had been discussing moves with other teams. Those deals may start to come to fruition this week or next week or may not happen at all but deals will be made.