Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop, Adonis Garcia, Third Base Options?
By Jeff Schafer
Toscano cleared to play, but where is unknown
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Atlanta Braves outfielder, Dian Toscano, has officially been cleared to play in the states. He will probably get to play with a Winter League team this offseason to get some at-bats. Another guy getting some extra at-bats this offseason is Adonis Garcia. Yesterday he went 3-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI.
"Now that Dian Toscano has cleared all of the government hurdles that prevented him from playing this year, there is certainly reason to wonder how he might factor into the Braves’ plans over the next few years.A Braves official confirmed that the U.S. government has provided the final clearance for Toscano to be employed in this country. The 26-year-old Cuban outfielder signed a four-year, $7.5 million deal with the Braves in January, but he wasn’t cleared to enter the U.S. until July.Because Toscano spent all of this season on the restricted list, he will not receive the $800,000 he had been owed for the 2015 season. He is guaranteed $3.8 million over the next three seasons and has a $1.7 million buyout for 2019."
Braves prospect Sims gaining notice in Arizona Fall League
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Sims is pitching well in the Winter League and getting noticed. Sims has had an up and down season with the bus accident and injury, but hopefully can put that behind him. He had a decent season on the mound, but the Braves were hoping he’d be further along at this point. Hopefully these Winter League games will prove value as a top prospect.
"Pitcher Lucas Sims dropped from No. 1 to No. 10 on Baseball America’s Braves prospects list since a year ago, the result of trades and draft picks that brought a bevy of talent, coupled with the Lawrenceville native’s disappointing, injury-marred first half in 2015.But when the Brookwood High graduate visited with an Atlanta reporter before a recent Arizona Fall League game, Sims, 21, seemed entirely upbeat. And two days later, his confidence seemed well-founded when he impressed radar gun-wielding pro scouts with a crisp, dominant performance.Sims struck out four, walked none and allowed no hits in three innings Monday against the Mesa Solar Sox, topping out at 97-98 mph with his fastball, a couple of ticks above his velocity in the past. He trimmed his ERA to 2.45 through four games.“Right now I feel great about where my game’s at,” the former first-round draft pick said before Monday’s game, which followed an Oct. 27 start where he allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. The two performances helped earn him a spot in Saturday’s AFL all-star game."
MLB Free Agency Rumors
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: What will the Braves do this offseason? No one knows. The front office has said that pitching is the top priority. With the “maybe move” of Hector Olivera to the outfield, will the Braves be searching for a third baseman? David Freese is a possibility.
"Major League Baseball’s deadline for clubs to offer their free agents a qualifying offer of one-year for $15.8 million has officially passed. Teams had until 5 p.m. ET on Friday to offer a select group of players the qualifying offer and a record 20 players received such an offer according to ML Trade Rumors."
"Teams likely haven’t used the qualifying offer system that much is because it is rather expensive and a little complex. But with such a star-studded free agent class, it isn’t surprising that teams used the option.Basically, the value of the qualifying offer is determined annually by averaging the top-125 player salaries from the previous year. The players that receive the qualifying offer has seven days to accept or decline the offer. If the player declines the offer and signs elsewhere, his new team will have to surrender a top draft pick. However, the first 10 selections in the draft are protected – meaning the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago White Sox would surrender their second-highest selections if they reach terms with a QO-declining free agent as their top-picks are protected this year."