Atlanta Braves being linked to Yelich, Realmuto from time of Winter Meetings

Suddenly, the rumor switch has been flipped and the Braves are being tied to the Marlins’ remaining stars.

It is being reported from multiple industry writers this morning that the Atlanta Braves have been chatting with the Marlins about OF Christian Yelich and Catcher J.T. Realmuto.

JP Morosi said this in his piece on the subject:

"The Braves have contacted the Marlins to express interest in trading for outfielder Christian Yelich and catcher J.T. Realmuto, sources said. While the talks have yet to advance, there’s little doubt that the Braves have the prospect depth to entice their National League East rival."

That’s been one of my points all along:  the Marlins obviously want – and would be entitled to – a top-shelf return for either of these players.  The Braves are one of the very few teams with the farm system to meet this kind of price… should they opt to go there.

So regardless of the level of actual interest, these clubs will probably continue to be linked about Yelich and/or Realmuto, simply because few others can muster the kind of prospects that would even interest the Marlins.

What if it’s Real?

In his treatment of the rumor, David O’Brien opined the following:

"Either Yelich or Realmuto would be under control long enough to be integral pieces for the Braves when they plan to be division contenders again, which realistically could come as soon as 2019 given the talent they have just below the major league level and the amount of money they’re expected to have available to add a few impactful pieces via free agency or trade a year from now."

I would have to disagree a bit on this point, and this is related to a post made here over the last weekend:  the NL East is in such disarray right now that it truly only takes a couple of serious moves right now to get into a serious division-contending place… or at least into 2nd place and Wild Card talk.

If the Braves were to acquire either Yelich or Realmuto – or both somehow – then this wouldn’t be about contending next year:  it would be about contending now.

You simply don’t use the number of prospects such a deal would require without completely buying in to the season and using the new players in an effort to win now.

I would argue that the reported inquires suggest that this is perhaps exactly what Anthopoulos is thinking as well:  he has an opportunity in this division and certainly wants to explore every avenue thoroughly.

Financials and Finishing

Here’s another quote from Dave O’Brien today:

"“But Anthopoulos said after taking over Braves baseball operations in November that he wasn’t likely to do anything “crazy” involving multiple Braves prospects until he had a better idea of what the team had in its farm system.”"

That’s all well and good, but as his history shows, Alex Anthopoulos has never been shy about making bold moves to improve his club.

What’s certainly true is that one man’s “crazy” may be another’s “move of strategic importance”.

Next off-season, there will be multiple top-tier free agents available on the open market.  But there won’t be 30 of them.  Some of the higher-spending teams are already trying to position themselves for that battle 11 months from now.

In the meantime, here are a couple of budding stars – perhaps at the next tier down – that are available on the cheap … at least in terms of finances (and the Braves are still in a decent position to add more payroll).

O’Brien throws open the speculation door in his thoughts:  suggesting that Martin Prado could come back in such a deal as well, or that Nick Markakis might be sent to Miami as part of a deal.  Whatever… I still have to think that while such moves could be part of huge swap, their focus is going to be on the prospects.

But Atlanta… could be thinking ‘bigger’.

Related Q&A

Morosi also cited a source indicating that the Braves would be interested in acquiring a free agent starting pitcher.  That suggests one of 2 possibilities, with related implications on each:

• If a ‘Lesser name’ – Atlanta Doesn’t trust newly acquired Brandon McCarthy or Scott Kazmir to ‘go to the post’ for the full season, and wants someone who can burn innings for them.
• If a ‘Bigger name’ – this would be part of the ‘go for it’ mentality.  Of course I’m not actually certain that Alex Anthopoulos knows any other way to operate.

Some of the implications:

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 1-5
• Braves News: Braves acquire Diaz, moves around the division, more
• Atlanta Braves 2012 Top Prospects Review: J.R. Graham
• Atlanta Braves Acquire Lewin Diaz from the Orioles
• Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 6-10

Qualifying offers.  The Braves, already losing a 3rd round pick from the 2018 draft, would lose their 3rd-highest available pick (Round 4) if they sign a Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb or other QO’d free agent, as a ‘Non-Disqualified Revenue Sharing Payee‘.  So, doing so means losing both their 3rd and 4th round picks in June.  To some extent, that almost makes the signing of such a free agent a bit less painful by absorbing the impact (a 4th rounder, which is less than the ‘normal’ penalty) along with the already-required 3rd round loss.

Oddly, adding another starter would actually allow the Braves to perhaps sweeten their offer to the Marlins by making a player from the current major league rotation available.

An acquisition of Yelich or Realmuto combined with another starter would essentially confirm the idea that the Braves do indeed want to ‘go for it’… and for a multiple year run, given the control they have over their existing core players.

Next: A Throwback read for Thursday

That’s a good place to stop for now – after all, this is all rumor and speculation until a trade is announced… but I wouldn’t stray too far from twitter in the meantime.