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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Walter’s New Ride

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Tur ner (10) connects for a single in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs in game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Tur ner (10) connects for a single in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs in game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Morning Chop Recoil:  If You Can’t Trade for the Pitcher You Want…

So all of that gloom and doom from the previous page aside, WHAT ELSE could the Atlanta Braves opt to do to bolster its ranks?  Here are three whacky ideas… with the disclaimer that all of this is pure speculation and based on no rumor anywhere:

JUSTIN TURNER

More from Tomahawk Take

Justin Turner.  In recent days, the Dodgers have been discussing going after Chris Sale themselves… along with third baseman Todd Frazier.  That would leave Justin Turner with one significantly less possible suitor for his free agent services.

Turner would still be expensive… probably at least 4 years and something around $16 million apiece for someone who is easily the best hot corner man on the market.  Despite his 32nd birthday coming up tomorrow (11/23), he’s projected at a 3.9 fWAR for 2017.  That still leaves a lot of room for regressing while still playing at a significant level.

If the Braves don’t feel that either Adonis Garcia or Rio Ruiz will quite ‘make it’, then a Turner contract would be a nice gap-filler until Kevin Maitan arrives.

Of course Turner’s contract would come with that pesky Qualifying Offer, so don’t hold your breath on this one… or the next two, for that matter.

WILSON RAMOS

Let’s face it, we don’t really like the free agent catching options out there.  If Castro opts for another club, then Ramos might make some sense if the Braves believe he can fully recover from his ACL injury…. which is no small “if” clause.

This could require a very creative contract… such as a 1 yr deal that has a vesting option which activates an additional three years if he successfully makes it through 2017.

If they don’t like that, then maybe Coppy should review Fred’s trade ideas from October.

JUSTIN VERLANDER

I’m going to beat this dead horse a little longer… and why not?  Heck, Jim Bowden somehow thinks that the Braves would be interested in Zach Greinke and his crazy player-friendly contract, so why wouldn’t Verlander be a fit?

If the White Sox wouldn’t take whatever Coppolella offered, then perhaps the Tigers would be interested.

Heck, while Chris Sale was putting up ERA+ numbers of 156, 140, 137, 173, 114, and 120 over the past 6 seasons, Verlander did 172,161, 120, 85, 118, and 136 in his past 6 seasons.

Both pitchers have 3 years of control left… Verlander a fourth year if his option vests for 2020.  But maybe the Braves might see if the Tigers would take their Sale package and knock $8-10 million off the price of Verlander… making him cost $18-20 million a year.  Maybe?  Could that no-trade clause go away, too?  Didn’t think so.

Do the Braves really have the money left to spend $16-20 million on any of these guys?  It’s not clear that they do after spending $20.5 million on Colon and Dickey, but they were apparently willing to pursue Chris Sale and his $12 million deal, so none of these would be a horrible reach beyond that.

Next: Waiting for Castro

So just call this our little way of helping out the team.  You’re welcome.

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