The title says it all. I haven't posted on here in almost 6 years. However, I want to give this blog new life and imbue it with real Atlanta Braves news, thoughts, articles, rumors, etc. As I sit typing this, the Atlanta Braves are in the process of moving into their spacious new ballpark, Suntrust Park for the 2017 season. While that is big news in and of itself, the Braves have also made several moves this off-season to bring them back into contention.
The Braves started the off-season by signing the ageless wonder, R.A. Dickey, a knuckleball pitcher, to a one year deal with an option for 2018. They then proceeded to add another affable pitcher in Bartolo Colon, thus proceeding to give the Braves two of the oldest players in MLB. The Braves also signed super utility savant, Sean Rodriguez to a two year deal. He has quietly become a jack of all trades in MLB and could help spell many different positions on the Braves roster over the course of a full 162 game schedule. Finally, to shore up their rotation even further, the Braves traded for Jaime Garcia from the Cardinals. While, the oft-injured Garcia was ineffective in 2016, he had just come off a sub 3.00 ERA in 2015 and is a prime bounce back candidate.
The Braves did have to part with some interesting talent when they traded for Garcia. In what has become one of the most interesting pitchers to watch from the stretch, John Gant certainly was tough to let go of. While the trade that brought him over from the Mets did not make much waves, his ability to get outs was certainly noticeable. The Braves also had to part with Chris Ellis, whom had done an admirable job at Double A Mississippi and Luke Dykstra, a minor leaguer with singles power and a high OBP.
The Braves also made some under the radar moves when they acquired a flame throwing right hander, Luke Jackson, from the Texas Rangers for Tyrelle Jenkins and minor leaguer, Brady Feigl. Jackson will have a chance to vie for a spot in the Braves bullpen in 2017, but will more likely begin the year in Double or Triple A. The Braves decided they weren't done, however. A noticeable weakness in an otherwise strong farm system, the Braves added to their outfield pool when they traded with the Seattle Mariners for minor league outfielder, Alex Jackson. Jackson will begin the year likely in High A or Double A. Once a first round pick of the Mariners, Jackson's talent has never translated to the field. The hope is that a change of scenery (and possibly a positional change) will allow Jackson's first round talent to shine on the field.
The Braves, surprisingly, paid a steep price to acquire Jackson's talent and promise. The Braves traded highly touted minor league right-hander, Max Povse and Rob Whalen. Povse appears to have the makings a rotation regular, while Whalen did a serviceable job in five starts last year before being shut down with what was described as arm fatigue. In return for Povse and Whalen, the Braves acquired the former promise of Alex Jackson and PTBNL, Tyler Pike. While Pike was a nice inclusion in the deal, the balance of the deal rests on Jackson cutting down on his strikeouts, tapping into his mammoth power and making the transition back to catcher from the outfield.
The rest of the off-season saw some other minor deals struck, as former Braves, Eric O'Flaherty and Jordan Walden, signed minor league deals in the hope of resuscitating their careers. All in all, it has been a good, not great, off-season. The biggest deals yet to come may involve a starter pitcher of the ilk of Jose Quintana, Chris Archer or some pitcher that the Braves have previously not been connected to. The Braves have also been connected to Brian Dozier, which would add some more RH power to the Braves lefty heavy lineup. However, if I were John Coppollela, I would go into the season and see what they have from some their top prospects before making a trade of the magnitude that would transpire with Quintana, Archer, or Dozier.
We'll see where the Braves are with their roster reconstruction come spring training. Until then, Let's hope for good health and recuperation for some of the Braves minor leaguers. I'm looking at you, Ozzie Albies.
