Atlanta Braves: signing Will Smith is just the start

After signing the top closer on the market – Will Smith – to a three-year contract this past week, the Atlanta Braves are showing they are going to be aggressive this winter.

What the Atlanta Braves did yesterday is so uncharacteristic it has me thinking this offseason is going to be wild for Alex Anthopoulos and company.

It has been seven years since the Braves spent money and multiple years on a free agent like they did on Thursday.

They sacrificed a draft pick for the privilege, too.

This is a sign that Anthopoulos is going all in; with the window of contending for a championship being wide open.

Now, I understand the Braves made an early splash last season when they signed Josh Donaldson and then mostly sat on their hands the rest of the offseason.

But signing a free agent to a multiple-year deal and also giving up the draft pick makes this different.

There are three layers to look at with this signing:

1.  Money the Braves have to spend
2.  The change in philosophy with draft picks
3.  Who are the options for the positions of need (SP, C, 3B) now?

The first thought on the Will Smith signing was “this makes no sense” but after thinking more, it just shows Anthopoulos is “going for it” this offseason.

Remember, we have heard multiple times that once they thought they were one piece away, Anthopoulos and the front office would go all in.

The Smith signing is the first step in that.

It seems pretty evident that Braves ownership is going to open up the wallet this offseason.

The Braves added to a position of strength and did so by $13 million. And they still have significant needs at catcher and third base, plus in the starting rotation.

Alan wrote a piece explaining how much salary the Braves approximately have tied up after signing Smith and he came up with $102 million. He estimated the Braves have anywhere from $30-$50 million to spend.

I would lean towards the latter more than the former.

A team doesn’t make this move unless they know they have plenty of dough to play with, as well a farm system that is still highly-regarded.

So if the Braves are able to resign Josh Donaldson at the often projected salary of $25 million per year, they’d still have $25 million or so left over to had a top of the rotation starter and catcher.

Alan’s piece gave several different scenarios that could play out via free agency. He didn’t even speculate on possible trades, which adds a whole new layer.

If they choose to sign a frontline starter (Madison Bumgarner or Zach Wheeler) that will cost them another draft pick, but it seems like that philosophy of being so clingy to the picks has changed.

Part of the reason might be the fact the Braves international signing penalties lessen to a 50 percent reduction in bonus pool money next summer… or that they might reap a compensation pick if Josh Donaldson ultimately chooses another home next year.

So maybe they think they can help the farm system that way.

Regardless, it appears the philosophy on money and draft picks has changed from what we have seen in the past.

It’s all hands on deck for the Atlanta Braves. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to get way more interesting from here.