Free Agent Hitters That Make Sense For The Braves

00:00:22
Speaker 1: Oh to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My name is Sean Coleman. It's always a pleasure to be with you, and it's especially a pleasure to be with my podcast partner, Steven Tolbert. It's going to be a very fun episode here on this edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast, part of the Foul Territory family of podcasts. We are going to get into some pretty notable names in free agency that the Braves could target when it comes to position players, when it comes to hitters, and I think that there are going to be plenty of intriguing options that are going to be out there for us to discuss. Steven, always a pleasure to be with you. Ready to dive in to this really exciting topic. How's everything going for you on this holiday week?

00:01:04
Speaker 2: Yeah? What's up? Shown It's always good to be on with you, man. Yeah, Thanksgiving week. You know, we should start getting some action. Quite honestly, I'm I'm surprised the Braves haven't added. Obviously, they've made it. They've had a They've made a lot of news so far, but most of the most of it has been clearing money and subtracting. I'm a little surprised they haven't added. Alex is usually pretty aggresive in November, but it can still happen. You know, baseball offices are still open technically for probably another couple of days before they shut down for the holiday. But but yeah, we've got some interesting names tonight. And if you look at Alex's history, you know, trades versus free agents typically prefers free agents just because obviously it's just money you're giving up versus money and prospects. So that does make sense, and you know, when you're looking at targets, it's probably you know, it's probably more beneficial to go over the free agent guys first than the trade guys, just because it is easier. It's just easier to hand out money versus handing out prospects. So yeah, we've got some interesting names to go over tonight as to some guys that could maybe be added to help this lineup.

00:02:09
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and to your point, the Braves have been pretty busy so far this offseason, but it's been more about what they've been doing to clear payroll than it is adding potential pieces, which is a start contrast from last year, when the Braves seem more than willing to add on money and fellow a member of Foul Territory, the great Ken Rosenthal wrote about that for The Athletic Today also discussed it on his show Fair Territory as well. You know what to make of the Braves dealing so far when it comes to this offseason, They clearly are looking to save money wherever they can, and some may see it as potentially cutting payroll, which if you want to call it that, that's perfectly fine. Kin Rosenthal talked about it, you know, he mentioned that perhaps the Braves may be looking to miss the luxury tax this year after going into it for two straight seasons. I think that that has some logic to it. But I think in addition to that, the other thing that stands out to me, Stephen, is that one of the reasons why the Braves have made some surprising moves to save money is because if you compare where they are now with their off season plans versus six weeks ago, two big things stand out. Six weeks ago, the thought was that Spencer Strider and Ronald Acunya Junior could be there at the start of the season for the Braves. Now they're not. Six weeks ago. Rice of Iglesias and who and Joejimenez were a strength of this team. They were expected to be back as the back bullpen. Joe himantentually is going to miss the entire season. I get the idea of the lugs, you know, being a reason why the Braves could be cutting payroll. But I also think a big reason for this is because the Braves now have more important needs to feel than they thought that they had, and they have even more needs in terms of quantity than they thought that they had. I think that may be a contributing reason as well as to why this Braves team is cutting payroll in the anticipation they're going to have to make many moves this all season.

00:03:57
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I do think that's more. I think that's more of the reason, quite honestly. You know, if you just look at the numbers, you just look at the Braves payroll right now, they're at about one hundred and eighty million on guaranteed contracts. You know, once you add in the pre arbitration and the arbitration guys, it jumps up to about one hundred and ninety five million, one to two hundred depending on how many pre ar guys are on the team. Then you add in the player benefits, it's always about seventeen million. I mean, you know, luxury tax wise, the Braves are at about two hundred and fifteen two hundred and seventeen million dollars depending on what you look at. And the first tier of the luxury tax is two forty one for twenty twenty five. So you know, that means the Braves have about twenty five million dollars to spend before they get to that first luxury tax threshold, again depending on which one you look at. And that's not a lot of money considering all the things that Braves need to do. The Braves need a starter. They probably need a pretty decent starter. They you know, it's not just like a fifth starter. They probably need a guy that's closer to a two, maybe a three. You know, we talked about, you know, the Nathanivaldies of the world, who were gonna command probably twenty million dollars a year. And if you've only got twenty five million to spend, then you know, that's pretty much your off season. You're just gonna go bargain shopping the rest of the way. And again I've said it before, I don't think the Braves are doing that. I just I don't think getting under the luxury tax is the primary goal here. I think what you said is most important is that the Braves just have needs, and they have needs at a level that they weren't quite expecting. They don't they didn't. They knew they were gonna have to go get bullpen, but they probably weren't expecting to have to go get a high leverage reliever that's probably gonna cost quite a bit more. They knew they were gonna have to get an outfielder, but they probably weren't expecting on having to get such a high quality outfielder because of the year Jared Kelnikat and because we know Acunya is not gonna be around on opening day, might not be around for you know, the first half, you know, the first quarter of the season, and so now they need a really good outfielder. You know, it's not just the needs, but the quality of needs that they have and the amount of money they're going to have to spend. I'm sure they did not want to decline Travis Darnaut's option. They love Travis Darnaut. They I mean, you listen to snit talk about Travis darn No, it's like he's talk about talk about a family member. But you know, needs popped up and you gotta do what you gotta do. And I really think it's more about that they just have they have needs and they have money they're having to spend that they weren't exactly expecting to have to spend, and so they had to clear money first to do it. And I think that's what this is. I don't I said it on the last year. I don't think they're I don't think they're lower and payroll. I don't think they're just saving money just to save money. I think all of all of these moves are onto something, which is the next part of the off season where we see how they build it back up, and that's you know, those are the moves that we're waiting on. Yeah.

00:06:55
Speaker 1: And the other thing to take away from Ken Rosendal's piece, which was really in depth, you know, he gave a lot of good you know thought into you know, what to make of the Braves off season so far, because it has been a bit different from what we've seen the Braves do in recent off seasons. But the other thing that stands out to me is that he mentioned that the Braves are going to look to be aggressive in the starting pitching market and potentially aggressive in the relief pitching market. But that stands out to me to say is this is that for the second straight off season, the Braves really do feel that they are going to have to add a significant arm. So if you're talking about them potentially having thirty million right now to work with that they want to stay under the luxury tax and they've got those three big you need to add significant start. He had a significant pin arm, and you add a outfielder. The thing that stands out to me is is that if they're going to be aggressive in the starting pitch market, that's where the majority of their money's going to go, like an Anthany Valdi or something like that, which means that they're either going to try to do go bargain hunting or do a BILO candidate when it comes to a reliever or an outfielder before we get into these hitters. I kind of want to set that president. That's the thought that I had. What are your thoughts, Steve? It it seems like that if there's going to be a significant move, it once again may be an arm by going to get a veteran starter in the free agent market.

00:08:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, if you were handicapping this, I mean, I yeah, I would say it's most likely the Braves spend the most of their you know, the highest portion of their payroll left on a starting pitcher. I think that's probably how I would handicap it. At the moment. I think there's a better chance they go give Nathan Avaldi twenty million dollars a year than any of these outfielders twenty million dollars a year. I think there's a better chance they go give you know, pick your kind of two number three starter quite a fifteen to twenty million dollars a year. Then you know Willie adamaz twenty five million dollars a year. So yeah, if you're handicapping now, and we're going to go over these hitters, because the Braves do need an outfielder that's on the de eyeable. But if you're asking me right now, where are they going to spend the most of their money, you know, for the winter, I think it's gonna be on a starting pitcher, and then they're gonna have to spend another chunk of money on a relief pitcher, unless they trade for somebody who doesn't make a ton of money, which is always possible. There are names out there, you know. We talked about that with the Baal or Hellsley, guys who you know, will cost you prospects but don't make a ton of money, and maybe that's the way you squeeze something in. But but yeah, I would agree with that where we sit now, and pitching is just more expensive quite honestly, top top end pitching is more expensive than pitching is the most expensive thing in baseball. So when you need a number two starter in free agency, you're gonna pay a lot to do it. And it's just the nature of yours. You know, Nathan Valdi is gonna cost you twenty million dollars a year. That's just the going rate. So yeah, I agree with that. I think I think it's most likely they spend big on a pitcher versus a hitter. But they are gonna add hitters, at least one hitter, maybe multiple hitters, And that's obviously that's what we're doing tonight. We're gonna talk about some hitters.

00:10:02
Speaker 1: So let's jump right into it. So the Braves, we know that they likely we know that the shortstop position and left field, the Braves need to add some type of upgrade offensively. When it comes to one of those two positions, it's much easier to add an outfielder than it is a shortstop who fits that description. The Braves need a left headed hitting outfielder. They would probably probably prefer someone who's got a decent to good approach at the plate, a pretty good on base percentage guy, doesn't strike out a lot, can hit for some power. Now those just those boxes that I'm asking to check. That's going to cost some money. I don't think that the Braves are not in the market for one. So too, so we'll throw him in. Tescalar Hernandez. He's going likely back to the Dodgers. He's probably going to be too pricey. We'll throw him out. But let's start. Let's start with some of these higher tier names, though, because the Braves could surprise people. You know, alex and Thoppless has surprised at times, and he's willing to potentially go you know, if there is something that he's been able to be open to doing short term contracts with twenty plus million average annual value, he may be looking to do that, and I don't necessarily know if these first few names are going to talk about fit that bial. They may require a bit longer contract, but they're at least interesting to discuss. And of course what I'm talking about, you're more talking about the level to start out with an Anthony Santander, says Santandier, maybe a Tyler O'Neill. I think that's kind of the second level of outfielder. Steven, what are your thoughts The thing that stands out to me power, power potential when it comes to those two hitters, and of course we know the Braves. That's a very very intriguing aspect for any hitter that they look to add.

00:11:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, Santander is definitely, you know, in that next tier of hitters. If you take Sodo out, you know, Soto's and a tier by himself of course, and the Bridge are not going to be on one Sodo, you know, But then that next tier of hitters is probably ti Oscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander, and Tyler O'Neill. It's probably that group. And I agree with you ti Oscars everything I've read, he's going back to La. He loved La obviously, they just won a World Series and I think they're gonna make him a priority and he was a big part of that team. So I think Santander is the first guy if you if you kind of rake them by best to worst, I think the Santander is the first guy you get to where the Braves could realistically sign him. And he's very interesting, right. He's a switch hitter. Again, it helps the Braves who need more balance in their lineup to have a guy who can hit lefty and you know hit lefty well, you know, he's a switch hitter that does not have big splits. He hits both left handers and right handers very well. If you look at the last three seasons with Baltimore, he just he just gone. He's gone nuclear the last three years. Got like a one to twenty five or one thirty WRT plus over his last three seasons with Baltimore. One hundred and five home runs over three years. Obviously you can do the math. It's about thirty five home runs a year. He hit forty four last year. He's not a great defender, right, If you're going to do a knock on him, he's not a great defender. You know he's gonna be a left field type for you for sure. But you know Azuna is gonna be gone in a year probably, I mean I would, I would guess. I don't think they're going to resign Azuna. So if he has to play left field for a year and then switches to that DH roll, it's not the end of the world.

00:13:21
Speaker 1: Excellent point.

00:13:23
Speaker 2: Yeah, And he's a but he's a masher. I mean, he's just a middle of the order masher. And he's a difference maker, right, he checks a lot of boxes. And again he's he's a switch hitter. So it helps you on that side. Now, if you look at the money, you know, if you look at like MLB trade rumors, the two I look at our MLB trade rooms at Fancrafts, those are the two that have done it for the longest. Is kind of the two that I trust the most. But if you look at those two services, both of them have contend they're at four years in eighty million, so twenty million a year. That's right at the level that the Braves keep their best players at, and that would obviously fit right in now, that would be the biggest free agent contract that Alex and Thoppolis has ever handed out. To date, the biggest contract he's ever handed out is the four years and sixty four million that he gave Marcelo Zuno, and obviously this would be bigger than that, so that's notable. We got to say that he doesn't typically hand out contracts this big and it would cost him. You know, I think that I think that number is probably pretty right. I think that's gonna end up being very close to what son Tyn Derek gets. But that guy just checks a lot of boxes and he's a force in the middle of the plate both sides of the plate. Can hit lefting and can hit lefty pitching, can hit righty pitching. You know, tons of power, and you can move him over to DH once the the outfiteld defense slips enough, so you know, out of that second tier, that's probably the most interesting guy to me. I don't know how you feel, Sean. I don't know if you're a son Tan Derek guy, if you prefer a guy like Tyler Neil. But looking at both of them, you know, Tyler o'nil is obviously a right handed pitcher. He's also not a great defender. He doesn't it's not the same level of hitter to me. To me, Toler and Neil is more of a lefty masher. If you look at his career, he's got pretty big career splits. Obviously, he's right handed, so he's gonna hit left handed pitch it better, but he hits left handed pitching substantially better than his right He's he's pretty much been a career average hitter as a as a against right handed pitching for his career. So it's a much bigger platoon guy. He doesn't help you against right handed pitching nearly as much as Santander does. So, you know, if you're looking at that next tier of guys, I think Santander is the easy choice. Twenty million a year, I think is very doable. It's a reasonable contract for a guy who's gonna sit in the middle of your order. Yeah, out of that next tier below Soto, that's probably the first guy on my list.

00:15:47
Speaker 1: I like Santander and I like Tyler O'Neal both. Tyler O'Neal, you know, being you know here in in in the mid South, you know, having you know, being a little bit closer to the Carbals. He was so tantalizing when he was when he was on, he was injured a lot. Now I know that there must sub been some you know, disnect when it comes to him and for instance, the Cardinals organization. But the thing that I'll say is is that I'm Tyler and Neill has always been intrigued. But here's my first thought when it comes to Santander as well as Tyler O'Neill, I don't want to pay them three plus million dollars, three plus years and twenty plus million dollars when I feel that there are other hitters you can come and bring in on short term contracts. I still believe in the Brave's ability to get more out of hitters here than they had in other places. I would rather go a bit cheaper and maximize a hitter's ability, especially a left handed hitting outfielder, than pay premium price for a player like an O'Neal with his injury history and with his inconsistencies, or an Anthony Santander who may just be a DH after next year. So I think both the very intriguing names, I just don't know if they're the best value, which brings me to my nextier and the most exciting one in my opinion, Alex sith we need left handed hitting. Ken Rosenthal mentioned that we like power, we like familiarity. One of these names, Alexanthopolis, is already traded for. He knew him in La, he brought him into Atlanta. We know how big of an impact this player made on and off the field when he was here. Of course, I'm talking about Jock Peterson, but John Peterson also has more familiarity than just and thoughtless in the Braves organization now, because remember we hired two executives. We hired two former front office front office staff from the San Francisco Giants and brought them into Atlanta, so they have familiarity with John Peterson. But another very intriguing name and someone who I've always loved hitting at the plate when he's on, is Michael Conforto. So when I'm talking about guys you can bring in, when I'm talking about guys who could play left field, left handed hitting back, left handed hitters who could probably do better here than they have another places, and to have the familiar with in multiple ways, Michael Knforto and Jock Peterson probably a bit shorter term contracts, probably around fifteen million or less, per year. Those to me potentially offer the best values to fit the needs that the Braves had. That's the tier I'm shopping on. Steven.

00:18:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, Conforto is a guy that I've been trying to get the Braves to sign for like three years. One of my favorite players, quite honestly, always undervalue. You know, he's got like a three fifty career on base percentage. He's just a really high played, disciplined guy. You know, he's always underperformed his expecting numbers, in part because he's been you know, he's been in San Francisco the last I think last year, of course, and that's one of the best pitchers parks in the world, and certainly one of the worst hitters, and especially if you're a left handed hitter, it's it's miserable place to hit. And you know, Conforto is just he's a high quality hitter. The guy I kind of compare Conforto to a little bit, although he is better defensively. Offensively, Conforto reminds me a lot of Scharber. He's a guy that is such a good hitter and such a and so good at plate discipline that he could actually bat lead off for you. He takes so many walks. He has great command of the zone, but he also has serious, serious power. He just reminds me a lot of Shorber. And he's a better defender than Shorber. He's younger than Shorber. He could still play left. He's not a great defender by any means. I don't I'm not gonna say that he's I would say he's average to below average. But again, you've got that DH spot opening up after twenty twenty five, most likely with Azuna leaving. He didn't have a huge year last year with San Francisco, but again his his expected numbers were much higher than his actual numbers. And he's you know, that's arguably the worst hitters park in baseball is that park in San Francisco. So you get him in truest like you know, where left hander and hitters can really eat. Michael Conforto just solves a lot of problems for you. He solves the top of your lineup. You could bat him leadoff, you really could. You know, when Acuna is not there, you could bat him leadoff. He's that good. He's he's got that much plate discipline. Again, he's got like a three fifty career on based percentage. If you look at the contract, the contract is very appealing. Vangrafts has him at a one year twelve million dollar prediction. MLB Trade Rumors has him at a two year eighteen million dollar prediction. I think is right. Again, that's very appealing. You know, it saves money, especially if you're gonna have to go big with the starter, like like we both think they're gonna do. You know, if you can get Conforto for one year twelve or two year eighteen, that's a ton of value. And again, I think he's a guy that could sit at the top of your order, could even sit in the middle of your order if Acuna is there. Just checks a lot of boxes. You know. The problem with Jock is that he hasn't played defense. You know, it's it's gonna be another Jorge Solaier situation. He DHD exclusively last year with Arizona. I love Jock, of course, we all love jo and he had a monster year. He had a monster year for Arizona. He had like Marcelo Zuna level offensive year for Arizona last year. I'm not sure how many people know that, but uh, but where do you play him becomes a serious question. And if you're going to have another DH on the lineup, then you know people are gonna say, why didn't you just keep Solaire. So I do love Jock. I just I don't know where you play him. Conforto you can play and left, and you can even probably play in right field considering how small right field is in Truest Park, and and then he wouldn't kill you. He's much better than Solaire in right field. I can tell you that. So yeah, my favorite guy on this list by far, and he's been my favorite guy for probably two or three years now, is Michael Conforto. That's the guy I want the Braves to sign. That's the guy that I think can help the Braves at the top of the order. Big walk rate, you know, commands the zone, good power, good on base percentage, low contract, you know, not not a ton of commitment. Just makes a ton of sense. I think he could be your version of Kyle Schwarber, and I think the Braves desperately need that. It's clear when Acuna's not in there, how much they struggle with on base. We've talked about it at nausea and they need more on bass, they need more play discipline, they need more left ended hitting. Conforto checks all those boxes.

00:22:18
Speaker 1: So take this with a grain of salt because I don't put too much emphasis on this, but you know, Baseball Reference Stephen has that it's always fun to look at this. They have that similarity of batter metric or whatever it is. I don't know all the details of it, but it's always fun to see who these players are most compared to the most. The second most comparable player and he is in terms of his career ARC for Michael Conforto is Jorge Celaire. The most comparable player for jorgees Celaire in terms of his career ARC is Michael Conforto. And John Peterson is listed on those lists for both those players, and both those players are listed on the list for John Peterson. You have very similar type of skill sets. But here's the big key in my opinion, you have left handed hitting approaches that can do damage against right handed pitching. I think an underrated part of poor Hee Silaire's overall game. He does very well against right hand and pitching. I love por Haesilaira as the hitter. You just couldn't manage it when it comes to the outfielder. And that's why I think Michael Conforto, in my opinion, if you could get him at two years, thirty million, whatever it may be, maybe you could sign him for ten million this year, twenty million you know in year two, you know, and give him a little bit of the pie that's left by Ozuna moving forward. Those are the type of things that you could potentially do. If Michael Conforto is a brave at the end of this offseason, that alone, to me, has put us in a very good position for this to be a successful offseason. I agree with you, Stephen. I think that he would be a great addition. If we could unlock his potential, it could be a lot of fun. Which brings me to my next tier of hitters, and I bring up these hit potentially is bounced back candidates. These are more hitters who I think over the past couple of years, probably their names have been a bit better than their actual values because a few years ago they had an intriguing you know, a year or two and they've just not been able to live up to it until then. One is Alex Perdugo, who's a left handed hitter. I think he's probably in recent years he's been more defense than offense in turns of value, and even that has kind of taken a step back. The way that his numbers has regressed is not too encouraging. I put him kind of on the back burner. But if there was another outfielder who to me would be very very intriguing. If you were to tell me this player is going to be in Atlanta Brave by the end of the off season, I would get very excited, very quickly. His name is Max Kepler, former outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, someone who's always had some very intriguing offensive potential. Kind of an underperformer throughout his career, been down this past year. But those level of guys, Steven, if for some reason we just did not have the money to go get a come forward to her Peterson, that level probably makes sense for the Braves to shop at his will, your thoughts or anybody else you want to add to that level a potential bounce back candidates that the Braves could once again work their magic with.

00:25:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, Kepler is definitely that guy. Like Kepler is definitely the bi Low work with him. He had a down year in twenty four, but you know the year before that he was very good. Kepler's been around forever. You know, we were talking before the show, but in my mind, you know, Max Kepler is like twenty seven, but that guy debuted in like twenty fifteen. Max Kepler is like thirty two years old at this point, and so you know that's part of it. But he's going to be very cheap. He's a really good defender, especially somebody on the wrong side of thirty. You know, outfould defenses is usually a young man's game. Normally, when you get past thirty, your defense just falls off the mountain. But he's a very good defender. He does hit right handed pitching well for his career. He's not terrible against left he's either actually he's been a pretty solid hitter all the way around. But he just didn't have a great year in twenty four and so you know that stinks for him in terms of timing. Of course, as he's hitting the free agent market. There was actually talked last year that the Braves might trade for Max Kepler, just because you know, before they did the Celtic move, we were kind of in the same spot. Where they needed a left handed left fielder. Obviously, Kepler had one year of team control left with the Twins. That made a lot of sense At the time. Kepler was coming off a much better season in twenty twenty three, so it made more sense. Obviously in twenty twenty four, he just didn't have a great year. But you know, expected numbers are still decent left handed. Again, there's a theme. I think the Braves Desk would need a left handed another left handed hitter, Santandrek and Ferto Kepler. I think any of them would help. But Kepler's definitely your bi low. You know, if you go big on a starter, you go big on a reliever. You don't have a ton of money left. You want to get some upside, but you don't want to spend a lot of money. Kepler is gonna be one of those. Kepler's not in the top fifty free agents on either side, so he doesn't have a contract prediction. But my guess is Kepler's gonna sign like a one five, one year, five million dollar contract, one for you know, one year, four million kind of something like Adam Devall signed last year. You know, he's gonna have to wait in line, he's gonna have to wait for all these other guys to sign before anybody kind of comes calling. If it goes really bad for him, it could be a minor league deal. I don't see that. I think he's got more upside than that. But it would be a very cheap move. It would be very inexpensive. If you've got other stuff you gotta do and you just don't have a lot of money left, then that you could do worse than Max Kepler. But yeah, out of that group, he's probably the most interesting to me, just because he does have track record, He's got some interesting profile stuff, batttball stuff, expected numbers. So yeah, that's the that's the If you're looking for the bargain bin with upside play, it's probably Max Kepler.

00:28:04
Speaker 1: So then let's stay in that bargain bin because I do agree with you. Out of all these names, I'm going to be honest with you, come fourto's one, Max Kepler's too. Those are the guys that to me check those boxes that also allow for you to go get that significant arm that you're looking for. But let's say the Braves just go completely a different route than we expect. We continue to hear from multiple sources that the Braves have some level of interest in shortstop Williadamas. Now, the thing is that half of baseball rightfully so has interests in Williadamas. Willy Damas is likely going to get a Dansby Swanson level contract, if not a bit more. I don't expect for the Braves to go get Willi Adamas, but him. Hassan Kim, formerly of the Padres, is another really fun name. Another guy who could be a bounced back candidate. Another guy if we could bring in and could have a successful year here, could we work out an extension with him and keep him here long term? That would be a lot of fun. Stephen. The intrigue of potentially getting that level of shortstop talent is certainly out there. Your thoughts on that probably not worth talking about that much because I just I just don't see it happening. But at the very least you could see the logic behind the brain's going to do it if they can find the right deal.

00:29:21
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean they need a shortstop. So just on that alone, you would say, well, we got to talk about shortstops because they need a short sum Orlendosia is a bench piece. You know, he's paid like a bench piece. He accepted a bench piece contract because that's what he is. And you know, the entire argument for starting orlandoor Sia is, well, let's just make the other eight hitters in the lineup so good that you can bat him ninth and it's not going to hurt you. Like, that's the best argument for him is build up everybody else and then you can live with him at at nine. That's not a great argument, of course, for an individual player. Basically, you know, he sucks so bad that we have to build up the other eight guys to swallow it. So they need a shortstop, and Willi Adamas is the best, you know, probably the best outside of Sodo. Sodo is the best hitter on the market, but after Soto, it's probably Williadamas is probably gonna be get the second biggest position player contract in this free agent market. He's very good. He's an all star level shortstop. It's gonna be very expensive. We're talking, you know, you're talking nine figure contract. You're talking in the hundreds of millions. You're probably talking. My guess is he signs very similar to Dansby. I think He's actually a better value than Dansby, though, because Dansby's value was so tied into defense, and defense does not age well. Typically, Adamas is more of an offensive hitter. I mean, I'm more of an offensive prospect. You know, You're you're accounting on offense more with Adaminas, which means you can trust it a little more. In my opinion, I think he's probably gonna get like one eighty hundred and eighty million, six years, seven years, something like that. It's gonna be very, very expensive. It's gonna be twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven million dollars a year most likely. I just don't know if the Braves can stomach that when starting pitching is such a big deal and such a big need and so expensive on the free agent market. Now, if they get lucky and they get some sort of trade, you know, if they get somebody that's really good, that doesn't make a lot of money, then that's something you can do, right, Like, if you use that, Let's just throw a crazy scenariout there. Let's say you use Drake Baldwin. You know, let's say it's a you know, Garrett Crochet, Drake Baldwin, trade of some sort, right where you get a really good picture that doesn't make a lot of money. Right, if you've solved that need without spending the money, then you can probably shop in that aisle for shortstop because you don't have to for pitcher. But if you're gonna solve your starting pitching problem through free agency, I just don't know if you can be in the Willia of Damas market too. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would have to see it to believe it, quite honestly, if they didn't have such a big need at starter, if they didn't have this Joe Jimenez injury, maybe maybe it can happen. But with those being the reality, again, unless you're gonna trade for a guy who's a really good starter doesn't make a lot of money, I just don't buy it. I don't buy it yet. And again, you're gonna be competing with some very big team. I mean, the Dodgers are interested with Domins, the Mets are interested, the Red Sox are interested. Like these teams can write checks that you probably can't, so you know that matters here. So I would be very surprised if it happened. My guess is if it did happen. It's because the Braves have figured out starting pitcher somewhere else outside of the free agent market and got a solution that way. But we'll see. I could be wrong. I mean, they could sign a Domas tomorrow for all I know. But my guess is they're gonna go big on starter, go medium on left field, and then try to trade for somebody who's a high leverage reliever doesn't make a lot of money. Like, if you ask me, Steven, how are they gonna allocate all these resources? I then they're gonna go spend twenty million plus on a starter like a Voldie. I thenk they're gonna try to get a guy like Conforto for ten million a year, twelve million a year, maybe fifteen, And then I think they're gonna try to trade for a reliever who doesn't make a ton of money, maybe like six seven million, and allocate the resources that way. I think there will probably still be above the luxury tax but not into the second tier, and payroll will be you know, around two hundred and forty million something like that. But I could be dead wrong on all of that. That's just my prediction. That's my guess. But you know they're gonna get it. They're gonna add offense, They're gonna add a hitter of some regard. I can promise you that. Now we just gotta find out who it's gonna be.

00:33:52
Speaker 1: So then let's in the as we wrap up this edition of the Hammer Territory podcast, let's have a bit of fun. Say they go the route of signing a big shortstop. They just don't have a lot of money to go get that type of outfielder. And that's what Ken Rosendal kind of alluded to, you know, the braves kind of waiting, you know, to see if they can find a name that could be a bargain. There's a couple of other left handed names out there that are intriguing to me and Steven in general. I'll structure this question as to who stands out to you as an intriguing bargain basement type out filder one to me is Jesse Winker. I continue to feel that Jesse Winker would be a fun addition to this lineup. Now, there's a couple of things. Jesse Winker is a statue out in the outfield, and he also is not the most well thought of globouse presence when it comes to baseball, and I think the Braves, you know, are going to value both of those things. Which brings me to a player that we discussed at the trade deadline, an old friend who if he came back to Atlanta I would be more than happy to see happen if we made the significant moves elsewhere. That is Jason Hayward. We had a bit of a bounce back year last year as well. Thoughts on those names, are any other names that you feel stand out as being that quote unquote bargain bargain if we went bargain shopping that level of outfielder that you think could be a good value signing for the Braves.

00:35:15
Speaker 2: Hayward's a good one, high high character, high high clubhouse guy, still got some pop, can hit right handed, bitching, can take walks. That's not a bad one. Outside of just the nostalgia of it, I don't really care about that, but just on the field, it doesn't make sense, you know. Brian day La Cruz has always been a guy that has some traits that Alex likes, hits the ball hard, has good expected numbers. You know, did have a great he got traded to the Pittsburgh midseason and just fell off a mountain. I'm not sure what happened. I don't know if he was hurt or what, but I mean, he had just he had a miserable second half of the year. That's gonna tank his value and so he's going to be very cheap. But always a guy that that we've liked. Dylan Carlson another guy that's a ton of potential, a ton of pedigree, had some interesting years with Saint Louis, got traded to Tampa again, fell off a mountain. I'm not sure what happened in twenty four to Dylan Carlson, but it's gonna you know it, obviously it it's gonna end up costing him a lot of money because he's gonna be very cheap on the free agent market this winter. But that's another guy that I wouldn't be stunned if they took a flyer on. There's definitely some interesting names. I do want them to aim higher, of course, to start with, but yeah, if you get to that point where you need a guy like that, that you could I mean, with these deals, all you're looking for is a twinkle of upside. That's all your your you know, it's a lottery ticket. You're just is there anything I can bank on? Is there anything I can wish on? Hope on? And all of these guys have something that if you get it to click, have some potential. You know, Kelnick is in that same boat. I mean, Kelnick's got talent, he's got pedigree, got potential, but he's just he's never been able to put together. So you know, you've got a guy in your own roster that probably fits that category two. But yeah, I want them to aim higher. Of course I want Conforto. I mean that's the guy I want. I've wanted Conforto for three years now. I just think he could be there. Kyle Schwarber and I have a I personally put a ton of value and having more on base on the team. I think they've I think they've sacrificed too much on base for slugging, and last year when the Homers weren't there, it was evident that they've sacrificed too much on base for slugging, and I think they need to get back to some on base and Confordo is just an on base guy, and that's that's what I want. And he's left handed, which is also what I want. So I hope they get Conforto. If you know, if we're taking in content, we don't care about contract, then give me some time, Dare. But he's gonna make twenty plus million a year and you still got to add a starter or so if you add in contract expectations, I want Conforto. I think he checks every box, and you know, I think he I think he makes a ton of sense for you because you can still do everything else on your wish list. But we'll see what they do. It's going to be interesting. Plenty of names out there and none of them have signed, so every option is still on the table, trade options we've talked about before. But yeah, out of all the names we talked about tonight, Conforto is definitely the guy I want.

00:38:25
Speaker 1: So, Steven, I think I'm going to start a new tradition with you, off season off season tradition only. I'm going to end each of our episodes with a fun question that I that I think that that that that the masses will enjoy your answer on. So, Steven Tolbert, you were on the clock, who has the prettiest yeah of any left handed hitted left handed hitting outfielder that has ever put on a Braves uniform.

00:38:53
Speaker 2: Sorry you were breaking up. What was the question?

00:38:55
Speaker 1: No, no, no issue at all. Of all the Braves outfielders that have hit left handed franchise history, who has the prettiest swing.

00:39:02
Speaker 2: Oh, prettiest swing left handed outfielders that have pretty swings? David Justice, David Justice. David Justice had a it wasn't quite like Griffy, but it wasn't far away from Griffy. It was a very sweepy, kind of upright swing. I think David Justice would have to be one on my list. Freddy had such an ugly swing quite honestly, it was like a you know, he was always trying to hit the ball to the.

00:39:31
Speaker 1: Outfielder.

00:39:32
Speaker 2: Oh, outfielder, I'm sorry outfielder. Okay, Well, then David Justice obviously played right field. David Justice be one trying to give you another name if I could think of one real quick. Ryan Klusko had a really violent.

00:39:44
Speaker 1: Swing before without the.

00:39:52
Speaker 2: Let's go, I mean he was he was just a masher. I mean, I don't think there was nothing about Clusco's game that was pretty. It was just violent.

00:39:59
Speaker 1: It was ever, if there was and I know that Tom Glavin is recognized for his hockey background, but if there was ever a left handed hitter that took a hockey slapshot approach to hitting the baseball, it was Ryan fricking Clusco. That was the answer I was looking for.

00:40:14
Speaker 2: Do you know who HUDs? Everybody thinks the answer to this is Griffy, But do you know who has the prettiest left handed swing of any outfielder ever? In my opinion, it's not. It's not Griffy, all right, Carlos Gonzalez of the Car of the Rocky. Go look up. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go look at Carlos Gonzalez highlights with the Rockies and tell me that is not the prettiest swing you've ever seen. It was like the most It was just like butter.

00:40:41
Speaker 1: Well so so it was kind of like Freddy's right, like Carlos Gonzalez's swing, like the vertical, like the bat, the sweeping of the bat in a vertical sense versus you know, Grippy's was more sweeping through the zone. But Carlos Gonzalez's ability to lift those low balls in Colorado with you, Carlos Gonzalez has one of the prettiest wings I've ever seen. He was if you want to and.

00:41:05
Speaker 2: There's something about it. I don't know why, but there's something about a left like left handed swings are just better looking than I don't know why, but left handed swings are just better looking than right handed swings.

00:41:13
Speaker 1: If you want to talk about a player who when he was on one so too like, he was at a one so too level.

00:41:20
Speaker 2: It was a superstar. Yeah, yeah, I don't know what he he fell off a mountain quick. I don't know. Playing in altitude as all sorts of They've done all sorts of research about and everybody thinks playing it outitude as an advantage, but there's been all sorts of research about how much of a disadvantage you are anytime you're on the road because of how drastic it it changes your body. And I think these guys, I don't think these guys age particularly well either. Nolan Arnatto is going through that right now. But but yeah, Carlo Cargo was my favorite swing of all time. I admittedly I wasn't old enough to really appreciate Griffy, but for the guys, I I was old enough to appreciate. Cargo had the prettiest swing I've ever seen.

00:42:00
Speaker 1: And if I if I remember correctly, I think he became a Rocky because the A's traded.

00:42:04
Speaker 2: Him Matt Matt Holliday and then he wind up.

00:42:07
Speaker 1: Signing with Cardinals. So so yeah, so but hey, Hey, that was a great move for the Rockies, not so good for the A's and of course the Braids know you know when the A's may not so good decision when it comes to Hey. But the reason I asked these questions, Steven, it always is a good way to end these episodes because it leads to even more fun conversation. Steven, do you have anything else for us as we wrap up this edition on the Hammer Territory Podcast.

00:42:32
Speaker 2: No, just happy thanks Giving to everybody. Of course, I think we're going to do a show. I think they have a show planned for Friday. I think it's Brad Scott maybe doing.

00:42:40
Speaker 1: A mill bag.

00:42:43
Speaker 2: I'll be out of town. But obviously, if anything breaks, we'll get some content out of some sort. You know, I don't expect anything to break in the next couple of days, but that's exactly when stuff breaks is when you least expect it, especially with Alex, so whatever happens, we'll be on top of it one way another. But if we don't, obviously, everybody have a happy Thanksgiving.

00:43:01
Speaker 1: Until next time, we'll talk to you again soon. For Steven you can find him at be Underscore Outliers, myself at Stat's Sac Until next time, go Braze, we'll talk to you against