The off-season conversations are still happening, so could the Braves still swing 1 more big deal?
We keep having to remind ourselves… it’s still early. Counting today, the Winter Meetings begin in 3 days, though, and the Atlanta Braves have already made one big splash. But we want ‘more’… since we fans always want ‘more’… and perhaps because the NL East is pushing for more, whether there’s reasons to resist such urges or not.
But as Fred reported yesterday, there appears to be a pulling back of the reins by Alex Anthopoulos – a lowering of expectations based on financial considerations.
Here’s the original note about that again:
#Braves' Anthopoulos: "We spent a good chunk of our offseason dollars on Donaldson and McCann, and we still have money to work with, but we have to be a little more selective now because we made those moves..." Said they aren't currently close to making another signing or trade.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 6, 2018
The mantra we’ve always heard – regardless of who was running the Front Office – has been ‘we will always have the resources to obtain any player that we feel will help this club win.’ But this does represent something of a change.
So now… what’s going on?
Yes, there is something still going on…
#Braves' Anthopoulos said team is currently engaged in conversations about starters, but not relievers.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 6, 2018
We’ve heard speculative rumors about connections to Cleveland and a small handful of other pitchers, but there is one starting pitcher in particular that we might want to watch the progress of over the next week or so.
Zack Greinke
Now stick with me for a bit here, for yes: I know his age. I know about his contract. I get all that… but I also know that the guy can still pitch. Get him out of that hitter’s park in Phoenix and he could still be a bulldog for the Braves. Sentimentally, he’s also from my original backyard – Apopka, Florida…. but that’s not why he fits for Atlanta
But we can’t afford him, right? Yeah, I’ll definitely get to that.
The more important part is that Greinke’s contract has a 15 team ‘no-trade’ provision. That needs an extended discussion…