There’s more buzz about potential trades and signings going into baseball’s Winter Meetings this week than recent years, and the Braves could be at the center of significant discussions after observers or bit players in recent editions of the industry’s biggest annual offseason gathering.
New Braves president of baseball operations John Hart has already pulled the trigger on trades — the big one sent Jason Heyward to St. Louis for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and a pitching prospect — and free-agent pickups, including last week’s big-headline signing of Heyward replacement Nick Markakis, grabbing him away from Baltimore.
Now, the Braves arrive at the waterfront Grand Hyatt for the Monday through Thursday Winter Meetings hoping to fill a few more needs — another starting pitcher, short-term second baseman, backup catcher — and armed with a couple of highly sought potential trade pieces in right-handed sluggers Justin Upton and Evan Gattis.
“We came (into the offseason) looking to add some pitching to our club, and that’s hopefully what we’ve done,” Hart said. “And to do it we had to trade one of our outfielders that we like in Heyward. It was a good baseball deal, we solved a pitching hole we had, and gave ourselves something for the future. We’ve also added a bullpen guy (free agent Jim Johnson) and (reliever Michael) Kohn as well; we like him quite a bit. So we’ve been focusing on the pitching.
“Now our focus with our big-league club is we’d like to add another starter, second base is an area that we’re looking at, and possibly a backup catcher. If we’re able to solve those three areas, I think we can get to spring training and field a complete club. But it may not happen at these meetings; it may not happen until we get out of Florida, until early April.”
Hart wants to keep Gattis and his four years of contractual control unless they get a trade offer too enticing to turn down. Gattis is penciled in to move from catcher to left field, but the Braves still aren’t certain of rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt’s readiness for the regular job, and there’s still a chance Gattis could end up catching some.
It also seems clear that Upton, in the final year of his contract, could be had in a trade, though it would cost plenty in return. Hart insists he would be content to keep Upton and expect another big year out of him, then get a compensatory draft pick if/when he signed elsewhere as a free agent next winter.
Hart is in a unique position of trying to keep the Braves competitive the next couple of seasons while building toward a better, more balanced team in 2017 when they move into a ballpark under construction in Cobb County.
“I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if I said we’re not taking a look at ’17,” he said. “But we haven’t made a move yet that would give anybody any reason to think that we’re even considering doing a strip-down (rebuild).”
He has shown, both in moves to re-shape the front office and roster, that he is not bound by sentiment or public opinion.
“If somebody comes along that can help us with a piece of that (objective), and be something that’s going to potentially impact our future, we’ll have to think about it,” Hart said. “But we’re not going (to San Diego) with the idea that we have a bat that we’re looking to move. We’re certainly going to be paying attention. If someone knocks on our door and has interest in one of our players and it can help us in the short or long term, if it’s in our best interests, we’ll take a look.”
Some outside the organization say they aren’t sure of the Braves’ objectives. Generally, teams in rebuilding mode aren’t concerned about remaining competitive in the immediate future. But the Braves are. They aren’t in strip-it-down mode. They signed players to long contracts last year including first baseman Freddie Freeman, defensive-whiz shortstop Andrelton Simmons, All-Star pitcher Julio Teheran and premier closer Craig Kimbrel.
“If you weren’t convinced before (Markakis signed), we’re certainly paying atttention to ’15 and ’16 as well as keeping an eye on ’17,” Hart said. “I mean, we’re the Atlanta Braves. We’re playing very close attention to what it is we do this year. … I’ve been on the media side of it (as an analyst for MLB Network), so I understand if people want to have their opinions. But at the end, we’re not (a total-rebuild) team.
“Look, we’re not a perfect club. I wish that I had five young players ready, waiting in the wings, and a little more money. But I’m not going to sit here and wring my hands over it. We’re trying to do the best we can with what we have to put an exciting and fun club out on the field that’s going to play well. And you need guys like we have to make that happen.”
He added, “Who’s to say this can’t be something like an 88-win club? Maybe the Nationals are going to be the favorite. But the last time I looked, there were a couple of wild-card teams in the World Series.”
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