The Atlanta Braves Chop: Morn on the Cobb

It is Thanksgiving week.  For those inclined, it is also Black Friday week.  Does that portend anything new on Sale for the Braves?  Or are those rumors a mere passing fancy?

Yes, we all want to know when the next shoe falls in the Atlanta Braves off-season edition of Build This House.  But even as news of various attempts to find frontline starting pitching have been made, we get word that the going is slow.

Here’s the word this morning from Braves’ President John Hart:

I include the second bit from Rosenthal because of the odd-sounding finish to Hart’s money quote.

“Mindful of not accelerating [their] rebuild too quickly“… that is a statement almost demanding a follow-up for clarity.

Before the 2016 Spring Training, John Coppolella noted that the Braves’ vision for the rebuild was ‘ahead of schedule’.  I suppose we should be forgiven for the next thoughts we had as fans:  that the momentum might actually continue and we’d have a legitimately contending team in 2017… especially if a frontline starter could be acquired.

I frankly don’t get the notion of accelerating “too” quickly.

Yes – there’s the chance of leaving holes in the farm system that have to be patched with expensive veterans… oh wait, we kinda just did that with Dickey and Colon.  But it is rare (if not impossible) that you can build your entire team from just 2-3 drafts.

You will have to acquire outside talent; you will have fill gaps.  It’s part of the process.

I don’t know if Hart was just making up a line there or if there’s more to it than that.  I do believe that they “aren’t close” on dealing for a pitcher.  Those with such assets have little motivation to act early unless it’s obvious that one team has gone over the top with a trade offer… and that’s not the Braves’ style.

So I expect Coppy is staying on the hunt for seasonal bargains… but the doorbuster specials are going to be hard to come by, so don’t be too shocked if a “lesser” product doesn’t end up in the shopping cart.