Questions For 2017

[Edwards Kings]

"Jon Gray fanned 10 while giving up four runs in four innings Friday in a loss to the Dodgers.
Gray is the fifth pitcher ever to strike out 10 while working four innings of less. All five of those outings have come since 2013. Along with the 10 K's, Gray have up two homers and three walks to the 19 batters he faced. He also hit a batter. It took him 106 pitches to get through those four innings. Considering his workload this year, he probably should have been pulled earlier."

I thought this bit about 10 k's while working four innings or less was telling.

But on to the topic that everyone is most concerned about...the Atlanta Braves! Did you know:

The Braves will not lose 100 games this year (you take your small victories where you can)
The Braves are 26-23 since August.
Fifteen of those losses were by two runs or less (65%)
Forty-one of their losses this year were by two runs or less (45%)
The Braves have only five players under MLB contracts for next year ($50.8m only since the Dodgers and Padres are picking up a portion of Kemp's salary)
One of those players is Markakis ($11). I do not think the Braves will hold onto him and Kemp but they could given Kemp's hips.
Inciarte hits arbitration for the first time. Vizcaino the second. No one else that matters has even hit arbitration.
Key parts of the Braves offense going into next year include Kemp, Markakis, Inciarte, Mallex Smith, Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson. Second base (I think Albies, who took a step back a bit this year but is only 19, will probably start in AAA to begin the year), third base (I STILL think Adonis Garcia is better as a sub), and Catcher (wither thou goest Brian McCann) are open to me. Not much in FA market, so trades possible. Patch work, especially at 2nd and 3rd likely.
Vizcaino and Mauricio Cabrera will anchor the bullpen. Krol, Withrow, and Jenkins probably the main MR.
Teheran, Wisler, and Foltynewicz are probably the two, three, four guys. Blair (yes, I still think he is viable) and Williams Perez fifth? A good spring could see Newcomb (but man, those walks) break camp with the big boys. Allard, Anderson, Soroka, Wentz, Toussiant, Fried, and Muller are all a ways away. Only Fried(22) is older that 20. In short, the Braves need a #1. Not much out there in FA land that isn't tied somehow to an option. Expect a trade/rental.

Better next year. Competitive even.

[headhunters]

i think it is more likely braves dump the 5 salaries and rebuild again than actually try to win. you will know if they are trying to win if they land sale.

[headhunters]

off topic- i think my head is going to explode if i hear another "expert" talk about the great rebuild by the cubs through the draft. they have exactly one stud they drafted and- like mj- he was just sitting there for them to draft. theo made some unbelievable trades and free agent signings-THAT is how the cubs were built. ripping off the genius in oakland is an annual pastime for theo. of course there is heyward- but no one is perfect.

[Edwards Kings]

i think it is more likely braves dump the 5 salaries and rebuild again than actually try to win. you will know if they are trying to win if they land sale.

Teheran at $6.5, $8.2, and $11.2 over the next three years? Probably not traded in his age 26 and 27 years. Maybe in his last year, 2019.

Flowers is one year $3.0 ($300 k buy out for 2018), so not too bad for a back-up catcher. Probably not traded.

Already mentioned Markakis, so it would not surprise me. But this will be the fourth year in a row he will have appeared in 155+ games and 600+ AB. Not All-Star production, but steady, reliable, more valuable in the real world than fantasy. Tough to replace for $11m. Outfield is crowded.

Freeman made it through 2016, which I wasn't sure he would, but now he has had his best year, is 27, and trading him will alienate the fan base, such that it is. Probably not.

Kemp will not run anymore, but with LAD and SD paying a good part of his salary over the next three years, he may provide a middle of the order bat. Not many of those available.

I guess they could trade some or all, but if they haven't or didn't during the fire-sale earlier, I am guessing they will fill in the holes by other means.