Toughest part of Atlanta Braves rebuild is upon us: who to keep, who to trade?
A full top-to-bottom rebuild for a major league club is a massive undertaking, and requires years of hard work and patience by all involved. Unfortunately, the last bit is the hardest.
The Atlanta Braves organization has been in full rebuild mode for even longer than the front office would originally admit, but the tree is starting to produce fruit.
Back before the 2015 season, manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team was “retooling.” As Mr. Shirley said in Christmas Vacation, “retooling!? I’ll retool you!” And by mid-May of 2016 that’s exactly what the Braves did to Gonzalez, firing him before the All-Star break.
General manager John Coppolella and senior adviser John Hart have been hard at work over the past couple of years, drafting top talent, making trades, unloading bad contracts, all while still trying to field teams that don’t lose a ton of ballgames.
With the Atlanta team showing tangible improvements under Brian Snitker, and with a farm loaded with solid prospects, the hard part is behind us, right?
Nope.
The hardest part of any rebuild, if things are done correctly, should always be near the end. The toughest decisions surround what do to with all the talent that has been hoarded.
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The Braves currently have a good problem: Atlanta has an embarrassment of riches at both the major and minor league levels. While the Yankees have been calling up prospects left and right, the Braves have been patient, and that’s because most of the veterans they amassed of late have produced.
It’s almost frustrating in a rebuilding season to not see more talent called up, but that’s the product of a job done almost too well in the free agent market and trade wire. Matt Kemp, Brandon Phillips, Kurt Suzuki, Nick Markakis, Matt Adams, and even R.A. Dickey of late… these are guys that shouldn’t have done a whole lot more than ‘not lose too many games’. That hasn’t been the case, and that’s a good thing in the long run.
Other than Bartolo Colon‘s pitiful performance making way for Sean Newcomb, and the Freddie Freeman injury, there hasn’t been a ton of movement for the Braves besides in the bullpen.
In nearly any other organization in baseball, Ozzie Albies would have long been in the majors, and Mallex Smith would be roaming center at least through his first contract. When Coppy swindled Arizona out of Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair for Shelby Miller, the Braves got two defensive dazzlers and a decent pitcher.
Related Story: Braves Prospects, Coaches and Executives Talk Rebuild
When Freddie Freeman‘s hand was broken, Braves country took a collective gasp, and then Atlanta all but stole Matt Adams from the Cardinals for a low-A third base prospect. Adams panned out and then some, and has hit well enough to move Atlanta’s franchise face across the diamond to third base. Is that a bluff to raise Adam’s stock for a trade? Who know, and who really cares?
Speaking of panning out… Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips just won’t quit, and Nick Markakis has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball, while Jason Heyward fizzled after his $178 million contract.
Adonis Garcia went down this season as well, but it was next man up for the Braves as Rio Ruiz and Johan Camargo did far more than just fill in, likely leaving even more tough decisions for Atlanta executives down the road.
Not even touching on the stockade of top pitching talent in the Braves farm system, Atlanta’s front office has a boatload of difficult decisions to make, and meanwhile the team on the field is all of a sudden on the radar as a possible playoff contender.
Next: Halfway through the season, the Braves ARE contenders
The most vital part of Atlanta’s rebuild is upon is, and will be for the next several months. Who do the Braves keep, and who do they let go? Enough wrong moves in this area and it was all for nothing.