Morning Chop: Sims, Free Agents Atlanta Braves are Sure to Ignore
Oct 31, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon hits a RBI single against the New York Mets in the fifth inning in game four of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
A record-setting twenty players were honored with a leg-shackle yesterday: the dreaded Qualifying Offer. Each one was handed the perfunctory 1-year contract offer for $15.8 million. Their names (provided via MLBTR.com) are…
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- Brett Anderson, SP (Dodgers)
- Wei-Yin Chen, SP (Orioles)
- Chris Davis, 1B (Orioles)
- Ian Desmond, SS (Nationals)
- Marco Estrada, SP (Blue Jays)
- Dexter Fowler, OF (Cubs)
- Yovani Gallardo, SP (Rangers)
- Alex Gordon, OF (Royals)
- Zack Greinke, SP (Dodgers)
- Jason Heyward, OF (Cardinals)
- Hisashi Iwakuma, SP (Mariners)
- Howie Kendrick, 2B (Dodgers)
- Ian Kennedy, SP (Padres)
- John Lackey, SP (Cardinals)
- Daniel Murphy, 2B/3B (Mets)
- Colby Rasmus, OF (Astros)
- Jeff Samardzija, SP (White Sox)
- Justin Upton, OF (Padres)
- Matt Wieters, C (Orioles)
- Jordan Zimmermann, SP (Nationals)
There are actually a couple of players on this list who might be inclined to accept the QO this year. Anderson and Chen come to mind immediately. While we will wait and see about that over the next week, this list actually represents an entirely different look to me.
It’s the list of players that the Atlanta Braves won’t be talking to.
Twitter was abuzz yesterday morning when Peter Gammons released this tidbit:
No, the Braves are not going after Matt Wieters
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) November 6, 2015
That wasn’t a news flash here, as we’ve discussed the reasons why not. But not just with Wieters, but the rest of this crop of free agents, the Braves stand to lose a lot if they pursue any of them:
- It’s the lost draft pick. Sure, it’s not their protected first rounder (#3 overall), but it’s the next pick they would lose this time… which should be around picks 35-40. Back in June, a pick similar to that turned into Austin Riley.
- It’s a large commitment of dollars – obviously.
- It’s also the time: the multiple-year contract that such a free agent would command. Unless you think the organization has a serious, multi-year hole that needs a fill (and yes, the catching position could qualify here), then that puts up a block to prospects who could reach the majors.
But of course the one thing that has to be balanced here is performance – at least the perception that these elite 20 will provide a team with better on-field results than what many already have going for them. There’s the rub – and the enticement of free agency: all you have to do to get one of these guys is to out-bid ‘the other guy’. No struggles with trades. No lost prospects.
But if Atlanta and John Coppolella are going to stick with ‘The Plan’, then none of these 20 will get a phone call this off-season.
The Plan is all about building a true pipeline – a feeding system of young players that grow into major leaguers. They are built chiefly from draft picks, from scouting, from targeted moves. Sure, there might be a strategic signing here or there (e.g., Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski). But going after the top free agents – at least at this point – doesn’t fit the mold.
Other free agent players might: Doug Fister, David Freese (him in particular) could be targets for Atlanta over the next couple of months.
With all that said, let’s take a look at a particularly interesting quote from yesterday.
Next: Open to Anything