Braves: Cole Hamels effect on Josh Donaldson and roster construction

Scenario #2

Step One- Cole Hamels, CHECK.
Step Two – Sign Donaldson at $20-$25 million per year.

Now that the Reds have made a pact with Mike Moustakas, there’s really nothing left at third. So, let’s say the Braves go all-in on Donaldson and get him for the $23 million he was paid last year, but over three years with an option for a fourth. How would that look?

Projected Lineup

RF Acuna
2B Albies
1B Freeman
3B Donaldson
C   d’Arnaud
RF Markakis/Duvall
SS Swanson
CF Inciarte

Pitcher

Step Two- In-house pitching, we discussed this earlier. No second-tier pitcher.

This is an all in-house pitching staff since we spent all our money on Donaldson. We could potentially scrape the bottom of the barrel for someone, or come up with a trade, but for the sake of this article, it’s all in-house.

Projected Rotation
Soroka
Fried
Foltynewicz
Newcomb
Wilson/Wright/Anderson/Touissant/Luke Danes/Randy Poffo – we aren’t signing a free agent here.

Projected Budget with Donaldson and Hamels: $159 million.

Remember earlier about the revenue? This is possible, but will they go for it? Do you think the Braves could pass on Donaldson and an outfielder and go after one more big arm like Madison Bumgarner?

Which of these projections do you think are the best? Should we make a trade for Justin Turner, Nolan Arenado, or Kris Bryant? If you want to go that route, are you prepared to get rid of either Cristian Pache or Drew Waters? That’s a discussion for another time.

This should give you an idea of what our roster could look like if we do not sign a frontline starting pitcher. What are you thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.