Release the Kimbrell!! ????

Looks like that was the only way to unload BJ (now Melvin Upton) and his contract. Kimbrell and BJ both in a package deal.

 

In my opinion, it may be the worst trade in MLB history.  I think Kimbrell had 3 years $33 million on his contract and Upton is the one with $42 million.  Kimbrell is well worth the $33 million.  WELL worth it.  The Braves basically got nothing in return.  They got to dump Upton and that's about it.  Not worth it to me.  I'm going to have a REAL hard time watching the Braves this year.  I just don't agree with A LOT of the guys they got rid of.  

I don't agree.  When an owner hires a new GM he does so for a reason. Its all about making a team better while saving money. You cant tie up that amount of money with 2 guys.

More than likely they are willing to take loses for the next few years and save a bundle of money. I would bet they have a Dominican player who throws high 90 almost ready. 

 

Without a doubt kimbrell is the best closer in MLB, never injured, but what would happen tomorrow if he blew his arm out?

 

They couldn't take that chance with a new stadium.

But what do the Braves need with a lights out closer for the next three years?  They aren't going to compete for awhile.  But they now have a boatload of young talent, as it matures, John Hart will definitely add pieces.  He's proven that many times before.

Dear Braves Fan,

 

Good luck with the rebuild!

 

Sincerely,

Long Time Astros Fan

41st pick is really what they got in addition to Wisler: http://www.rotoworld.com/playe.../7452/matthew-wisler

 

Hear there are horses in the stable in Gwinnett.

 

Fingers crossed.

TPM, any pitcher they bring up can blow their arm out.  You know that.  You pay a closer what he is worth.  Kimbrell is worth the $11 million a year.  Not only for his closing ability, but the fans he brings to the stadium and TV.  There are a lot of people that are Braves fans that come just to see Kimbrell pitch.  He is electric.  I think you'd be losing fans for the new stadium.  Just my opinion.  Upton needed to go, no question.  That may have been one of the worst deals in MLB history as well.  What a waste that guy was.

 

With Kimbrell, the only argument that may hold water is that the Braves may not be in that many close games in order to really utilize  him.  But, he still brings fans to the park.  I just read where the Braves will have 14 players who have never worn the Braves uniform on their roster.  May be more now with Kimbrell gone.  

 

I agree there needed to be change with the Braves.  But I just don't think Kimbrell was one of them.  How many times have you seen a club sign one of the best players in the game, in their prime and dump him the next year?  Why sign him to the big contract last year if you're just going to get rid of him?  There were 3 guys the Braves signed to be the face of the Braves for the next several years - in order to fill the new stadium.  Freeman, Simmons and Kimbrell.  3 young guys who could stay with the club and build around.  Dump Kimbrell?  I don't think I'll ever agree it was a good move.

Ditto 

 

Sincerely Long Time Cubs Fan who laugh at anyone elses rebuilding struggles

I agree the thinking is that why pay anyone so much if you will not have a winning product for a few years.

True baseball fans will come, or they should, I cant see not coming to the park because one player is gone.

Yes that milb pitcher may blow his arm off but the cost of losing him will not be as bad as losing a 11 million dollar a year guy you really don't need.

Why did they sign him, I guess they thought that things would be better but it didnt happen.

BTW,its KIMBREL.

First of all, how often do teams have the opportunity to have the best player in their position under contract in their prime?  Not very often.  Should every team get rid of their best player in their prime that they are paying a lot of money to because they may get injured?  It happens when that player's contract is coming up and they don't want to shell out the money.  But almost never happens when that player is in the beginning of their contract and is performing up to expectations.  It just doesn't happen.  

 

And the Braves have been doing this all off season.  McCann, I understand.  As much as I like him, he was asking for way too much money.  Besides, the Braves had David Ross and Evan Gattis.  Both are now gone as well.  Gattis was another guy everyone loved - and he didn't have a big contract.  Got basically nothing for him.  They have Bethancourt, but he is really unproven.  They got rid of Jason Heyward.  Well loved here as a local kid.  I get that too.  He was coming up for contract renewal and probably would have asked for a lot.  Tommy LaStella was only in the big leagues for one season, but he was one clutch player and everyone loved him as well.  Justin Upton produced.  Maybe not as much as some would have liked, but he was probably their top offensive guy last year.  Again, big contract, so OK.  Put it all together with Kimbrel on top of it, and it's a hard pill to swallow.  In my mind, Kimbrel (spelled correctly ) was a no brainer to keep.  

 

And I'm not even talking about all the other pitchers that they dumped.  The Braves strength was their pitching.  They've decimated that as well.  

 

You want to rebuild, fine.  Why not make moves that make sense?  They got rid of all these guys - that the fans loved - and they really just got a couple of marginal guys.  Markakis and Eric Young Jr.  

 

Most other teams that have retooled have gotten at least some positive reviews for their moves.  Some have retooled to rave reviews.  I have seen nothing good reviewed about the Braves "retooling".  The only talk is if they'll win 70 games this year.  

 

Maybe the Kimbrel move isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be, but add it to everything else they've done and it's the icing on the cake.  But, I still think it's as bad as I'm making it out to be.  Not sure I'll be able to change my mind about this one.

Without a doubt this was a good move for the Braves.  I am a long time fan, and unfortunately, they needed to make this move to get ready for 2017.  Freeing up 65 million is huge and should help in the future.  Getting rid of Upton is amazing, and adding the young guys to rebuild their farm system should help give the team flexibility going forward.  Having pieces to use in deals to acquire top tier talent should help a great deal.  John Hart has been a GREAT GM for a long time, and I think he knows just a little bit more than most on these boards. 

 

You have to give something to get something, and it sucks that we had to give Kimbrel up, but John Hart is making the best of a bad situation. 

 

Chipper Jones had some great tweets on this subject today.  Cheer on the new guys as they go through the learning process.  The future is bright.

I read that most feel that it is a good move. 

 

One thing about Kimbrel, he never could come through in those big playoff games. Atlanta was 17 games behind in their division last year.  No way chance in you know where would they be a contender in that division this year.

 

Maybe he wanted out? Why should one of the best be on a losing team?

 

Anyway, after all these years, MAYBE, the Marlins (home team) will get lucky.

 

Ironically son is off to watch Braves vs Marlins this afternoon.

The difference is this is not a "retooling".  This is a complete blow-up and start over rebuilding situation.  I think it was necessary.  Painful, but necessary.

I think this is where the business end of baseball sometimes baffles people (not intending that at the OP - just saying).  I sorta relate this to the Cubs getting rid of everyone last couple of years to free up and acquire young talent.  They will / should see the fruits of those moves this year and next few years.  Granted the Cubs weren't getting rid great players like Kimbrel but when they got rid of what they had the fans lost their mind saying management didn't care about winning.  Uhm hello - they weren't winning with them to start with so where is the huge loss.  I think this is where TPM is correct - why keep Kimbrel for so much money when he's not going to be used that much.  Let's face it - they aren't going to win many games so the opportunities for saves won't be there.  If they can trade him away and save that much money for later then it's a good move.  I see it as how bad did they really want rid of Upton instead of setting to get rid of Kimbrel.

 

These moves make you scratch your head sometimes but if you can remember them then in a few years you can look back and say "hey that turned out to be a great move".  Then again sometimes they don't work out.

What do personnel moves have to do with getting ready for the 2017 season?  Do they not want a winning team before they get there?  Or are you saying that they are freeing up money so they can eventually get some real players and dump all the guys they just traded for?  If they are freeing up money for better players, why are they not spending the money on those better players?  They are getting relative nobodys.

 

A truer statement could not be made.  

Only time will tell if John Hart is a hero, or a goat.

 

The problem for him is that now, if it fails, he can't blame Upton.

 

Confucius say: Always keep scapegoat around.

True time will tell, and you can't always be right as a GM, but I think John Hart has quite a history of making some pretty good moves.  As a life long Braves fan, that is what I am trying to believe.  Maybe I am "Drinking" the proverbial Kool Aid, but I think this situation will be rectified sooner rather than later.

 

On the fixing the team for 2017, I think they are dumping salary now, getting younger, more talented players in the pipeline, and if a good situation arises, they will pounce on it.  I am hoping that it is just a one year step back, but who knows.  With the freed up pay roll and better Farm System they should have more flexibility to do deals in the near future.  Take a step back this year, get better next year, and build excitement for the new ball park in 2017.

Well, the Braves had their first save situation already today. Could have been Kimbrel, but Grilli got the job done. 1 down, 161 to go!!

Grilli did a super job.

       
       


Yeah he did. His stuff looked like it had some pretty good life to it.

A team going nowhere doesn't need a high priced closer. The Braves played we'll give you Kimbrel if you take Upton. The Red Sox did the same thing a few years ago. Take Crawford and Beckett off are hands and you can have Gonzalez (who was a whiner anyway). In Boston we jokingly call it "The Punto Trade." He's the guy fans would have liked to keep.

I thought it was a good trade for both teams.  San Diego got a piece to the puzzle they were missing (they appear all in this year) in a very competitive NL West,  I wouldn't write off Melvin (BJ) Upton just yet.  I recall a few years ago the Red Sox got Josh Beckett, and Mike Lowell's contract in a package deal.  Nobody knew it at the time but Mike Lowell was going to have a tremendous bunch of years in Boston (and become World Series MVP).  Beckett had a few good years as well as their ace.  Lowell remains one of my favorite Red Sox players of all time.  His life story is incredible.

 

The Braves got the opportunity to hit the reset button and purge some contracts that were holding them back from investing in areas they want to invest in.  John Hart knows what he is doing, and he has been doing this a long time.  If there is anybody who can get what he needs for his ball club when doing with all of these younger, aggressive, less experienced GMs, it will be John Hart.  He took advantage of a market opportunity to get what both sides needed....that is what he is supposed to do.

bballman,

Not a bad opening week for the young Braves!

Marlins....

 

No, it's not at all. Pleasantly surprised. As I'm sure everyone else in the baseball world is. Still early - but, sure hope they keep it up.

162 and 0, here we come! (Lifelong Braves guy, born in Atlanta.) We actually named Ryan after one of my favorite Braves - Ryan Klesko.

I loved Klesko!!

Me too, and although my Ryan Bats Right, he does throw Left!

I loved the way he played, and how hard he swung the bat!

All out all the time. Kind of like a slightly more civilized John Kruk.

The news of this trade hit me hard since I do enjoy watching the Braves here in my backyard. Kimbrell just made you look forward to the 9th innning in a close game feeling just a little more confident. That "it" factor was what happened when he came out the gate. The only good thing that came from trade was dumping Upton with him. 

 

What I didn't understand was how the next day after the trade one of the players we received in the trade was immediately put on "designated for assignment".....? What could that be about I wonder?

Part of the salary dump / swap to get rid of Upton was to take Quinton and have the Braves eat his salary.  Nothing other than that.

When a team is in a rebuild mode as the Braves certainly are, the last piece to be added when the team is ready to win again is a high dollar closer if one can't be developed internally.

 

Kimbrel is at the top of his game and had the most value he will probably ever have. Unfortunately for the Braves, as much as they needed to add young pieces, they needed to dump the Upton contract. Therefore, they added by subtraction, freeing up money and getting rid of a player that for whatever reason is never going to be the player people first thought he was. He has declined in virtually every way over the last SEVERAL seasons. They also picked up a few lesser pieces in the trade.

 

While I can see Braves' fans being disappointed because Kimbrel is the best at what he does, I honestly feel closers as a species are somewhat overrated and even a good one is good enough for a winning team and a great one is just a waste on a five hundred ball club as the Braves are likely to be for a few years.

Designated for assignment means they took him off the ML roster, maybe hoping that someone might pick up the player.

 

The poor guy was just a pawn in the trade who got screwed (no other nice way to say it).

 

I believe he still gets his 8 million bucks though, so I wish I could get that screwed...

I've always liked Carlos Quentin. at one point last year I was hoping the Red Sox would take a shot at trading for him. I first saw Quentin on a baseball program called "The Show" on Mojo Network. it was a six week series on the D'backs top prospects - Quentin, Chris Young, Brian Barden, Bill Murphy, Dustin Nippert and Mr Jenny Finch aka Casey Daigle. Quentin and Young made it. The rest had brief opportunities in the majors. Nippert ended up in Korea.

 

i remember when Quentin was called up on the program. He was sitting in his hotel room counting his per diem for the road trip. He said, "Wow! This is more than my minor league paycheck."

What I meant is players get no say in this process.
Looks like he was DFA as planned hoping an AL team would pick him up as DH or to use in another trade. 
DK saw Shelby Miller monday in miami. All positive stuff for the young braves.

1st chink in Grilli's armor last night. Gives up a 3 run bomb to Uggla - of all people - for the loss. He's done exceptionally well until that.

The Braves, however, are starting to play like everyone thought they would. Not looking very promising right now.