1. How would it affect a team's tv ad sales, ticket sales, jerseys/hats/etc., when they get rid of a big time player only 45-games into a season?
2. What does that do to fan interest when an ownership gives up on its players 45-games into a new season?
3. What does it do to fan interest when players continue to be traded around?
Why do we have a minor league system if 99% of the players will come FROM OTHER TEAMS? Why not cut out that expense and CANCEL minor league expense? Spend that money on quality at the major league level?
What happened to showing faith in YOUNG talent, bringing THEM up in lieu of simply swapping old, worn out players for other old, worn out players? To me, this is a decision on "how will we run this team". Will we develop within? In other words, do your dealing at the High-A level and AA level in lieu of swapping a "brown kettle" for a "brown pot" at major league level? And get the coaches who can make them better. And do this in lieu of signing a career .235 hitter for $11MM/year who can't even hit lefties. Or winding up with a Bummer who is obviously (and has been since last year) not just past his prime, but fully cooked. The loser acquisitions swimming in the cess pool of "old and worn out" has been the norm for the Braves since 2021. I vote "develop".
I agree with "develop" but this requires a really good scouting department to provide reliable input to AA et al in making decisions. AA has done well with acquisitions like Sale and Dubon but misfired with guys like Kelenic, Laureano, Bummer, and Yastrzemski. In spite of a few potential products like Ritchie, the Braves' minor league system is ranked low by every review I've seen. No GM has a perfect record but I'm not sure the Braves' have demonstrated a good enough front office and scouting department to rely on 'develop'.
On SPs… Go with the young guys. My recollections are that Ritchie (and this year’s Fuentes) look as good, if not better than AJSS, Schwellenbach and Waldrep in their first few ML starts. Dangerous to rely on my memory, but as a reminder Schwellenbach had a 5.74 ERA in his first 6 starts when he came up.
I ageee with Michael’s last comment. Let’s give the young players a shot. Especially when it comes to pitchers given the enormous injury risk. Using the farm system seems to me to be both lower risk and higher reward. The Blue Jays almost won the WS last year because they had Yesavage. He was barely a Top 100 prospect at the beginning of the 2025 season. He started WS games over Bassett & others. (btw… Bassett is sporting a 5.17 FIP / 5.96 ERA. Good job AA for ignoring the clamor to sign him).
I know Hayden Harris is scuffling a bit this year, but seems fixable and would like to see what he can do before we give up prospects for a lefty reliever.
And somehow we have to convince Yaz it’s still Spring Training before we give up prospects for an outfield bat.
"So when Dombrowski tells the media that trade talks are already heating up, sooner than ever in Major League Baseball, it draws attention..."
Have you considered that this may have just been self-serving on Dombrowski's part to try to stimulate the trade market given how badly the Phillies started? Because I sure have...
But for the sake of argument, let's say he's right...
It might be, yeah, but enough of the national reporters like Ken Rosenthal, etc., treated it like it was correct that I'm assuming they corroborated the story. Could be all manufactured by him and if so? Good job at getting this to be the new national consensus
I believe because the Doyers are so stacked they are trading prospects back. As in they are trading a strong AA or AAA player for a younger low A player because they have space for all of the prospects they have in AA and AAA. The Doyers ave a log jam when it comes to prospects generally speaking. Now I am not sure about certain posistions like SS or whatever. This may have changed, but I remember a podcast I was listening to speaking about this. It must be nice to have the biggest payroll and one of the best farm systems in the game...
1. How would it affect a team's tv ad sales, ticket sales, jerseys/hats/etc., when they get rid of a big time player only 45-games into a season?
2. What does that do to fan interest when an ownership gives up on its players 45-games into a new season?
3. What does it do to fan interest when players continue to be traded around?
Why do we have a minor league system if 99% of the players will come FROM OTHER TEAMS? Why not cut out that expense and CANCEL minor league expense? Spend that money on quality at the major league level?
What happened to showing faith in YOUNG talent, bringing THEM up in lieu of simply swapping old, worn out players for other old, worn out players? To me, this is a decision on "how will we run this team". Will we develop within? In other words, do your dealing at the High-A level and AA level in lieu of swapping a "brown kettle" for a "brown pot" at major league level? And get the coaches who can make them better. And do this in lieu of signing a career .235 hitter for $11MM/year who can't even hit lefties. Or winding up with a Bummer who is obviously (and has been since last year) not just past his prime, but fully cooked. The loser acquisitions swimming in the cess pool of "old and worn out" has been the norm for the Braves since 2021. I vote "develop".
Just my opinion.
I agree with "develop" but this requires a really good scouting department to provide reliable input to AA et al in making decisions. AA has done well with acquisitions like Sale and Dubon but misfired with guys like Kelenic, Laureano, Bummer, and Yastrzemski. In spite of a few potential products like Ritchie, the Braves' minor league system is ranked low by every review I've seen. No GM has a perfect record but I'm not sure the Braves' have demonstrated a good enough front office and scouting department to rely on 'develop'.
I agree with you on all points!! I think it was the GM between Scherholtz and AA that screwed things up.
On SPs… Go with the young guys. My recollections are that Ritchie (and this year’s Fuentes) look as good, if not better than AJSS, Schwellenbach and Waldrep in their first few ML starts. Dangerous to rely on my memory, but as a reminder Schwellenbach had a 5.74 ERA in his first 6 starts when he came up.
I ageee with Michael’s last comment. Let’s give the young players a shot. Especially when it comes to pitchers given the enormous injury risk. Using the farm system seems to me to be both lower risk and higher reward. The Blue Jays almost won the WS last year because they had Yesavage. He was barely a Top 100 prospect at the beginning of the 2025 season. He started WS games over Bassett & others. (btw… Bassett is sporting a 5.17 FIP / 5.96 ERA. Good job AA for ignoring the clamor to sign him).
I know Hayden Harris is scuffling a bit this year, but seems fixable and would like to see what he can do before we give up prospects for a lefty reliever.
And somehow we have to convince Yaz it’s still Spring Training before we give up prospects for an outfield bat.
"So when Dombrowski tells the media that trade talks are already heating up, sooner than ever in Major League Baseball, it draws attention..."
Have you considered that this may have just been self-serving on Dombrowski's part to try to stimulate the trade market given how badly the Phillies started? Because I sure have...
But for the sake of argument, let's say he's right...
I would like to put in an order for:
1. Front of the rotation starter
2. Big bat for LF
3. Power leverage left handed relief pitcher
Please and Thank you!
It might be, yeah, but enough of the national reporters like Ken Rosenthal, etc., treated it like it was correct that I'm assuming they corroborated the story. Could be all manufactured by him and if so? Good job at getting this to be the new national consensus
One thing i've noticed. The Dodgers and Yankees trade FOR prospects all the time.
I mean over the years.
The Braves don't trade for prospects. Or i missed it over the years.
I believe because the Doyers are so stacked they are trading prospects back. As in they are trading a strong AA or AAA player for a younger low A player because they have space for all of the prospects they have in AA and AAA. The Doyers ave a log jam when it comes to prospects generally speaking. Now I am not sure about certain posistions like SS or whatever. This may have changed, but I remember a podcast I was listening to speaking about this. It must be nice to have the biggest payroll and one of the best farm systems in the game...
Lindsay what is the level of player would you trade JR Richie for? Cam? Fuentes? Gil? Murphy?