It’s been a busy three months for new Braves president of baseball operations John Hart. Some moves that he’s made left fans and others scratching their heads and wondering if the Braves are rebuilding or trying to win now, when actually they’re attempting to do a little of both.
Hart discussed the team’s situation with Journal-Constitution Braves writer David O’Brien on Wednesday. This is the second of two parts of that interview, edited slightly for space.
Q. Could Dian Toscano, the Cuban free agent you signed, eventually provide a legitimate option in center field, as well as left field, the position where he’s played most?
A. I think so. This guy played in (Cuba’s) major leagues. He tried to defect three times, so he doesn’t have the big track record (like those who played for the Cuban National Team). That’s one of the reasons why he was affordable. We certainly like the player and feel he’s got a chance to compete for a job. In an ideal world he might be a guy that starts out at the minor league level. We’re still trying to fight through this whole visa issue. We’ve still got some things to do to make sure we can get this guy in here in time.
Q. Bigger picture: Are you and John Schuerholz and John Coppolella confident that when you move into the new ballpark in 2017, this grand plan will have you in a good spot, fielding a contending team?
A. Yeah, I do. I think it takes a little more time to get the farm system where you want it – that’s usually a three- to five-year sort of project, to really get the flow going where you have good depth. We’ve got some good young players in this system that we think at some point are going to be here. We just need to increase the depth level. That doesn’t always show up when you want it to, but I think over the next couple of years we’re going to be able to put some quality young players into the system. We do have a nice core. It depends on what we’re able to do, maybe, if we were to make any more deals (this winter) — the more upper-level talent you’re able to bring back, maybe the more it would impact sort of where we are in ’17…. As much as I’d like to say the couple of trades we’ve made are going to be impactful, I don’t know that we’re there yet. But obviously as we get closer to ’17, there’s going to be a little more emphasis put on it. But I think it’s going to be exciting. From my standpoint I’m never really satisfied that we’re all the way there.
Q. John Schuerholz said he doesn’t use the word ‘rebuild’ and doesn’t like to hear anyone else use it regarding the Braves. I guess it’s that fine line, where you’re trying to restock the whole organization, the minor league system and major league team, but also with an eye toward being a really good team when you move into the new ballpark?
A. Yeah, this isn’t Houston, where you’re going to go through two or three years of losing 100 games. I mean, that’s never been discussed. We want to be as competitive as we can, knowing that the contractual obligations that we have, and service-time issues we have with some players like (Jason) Heyward and (Justin) Upton, between that and the financial realities of what we’re dealing with, it’s a little tougher balancing act to always keep an eye on remaining competitive and trying to win, and at the same time keeping an eye on this great new stadium that’s coming in ’17. It’s not like we can just say, let’s just unload the club. Don’t want to do that. We’re not going to do that. It’s a little bit tougher because you’re not just sort of marching down one road, you’re marching down two of them.
Q. It’ not like you’re going to do as some have suggested and trade Kimbrel, trade Gattis, blow it all up…
A. No, not going to do that. We want these guys. There’s some young guys here who are going to be a big part in what we’re doing in ’15, ’16, and are certainly going to be here in ’17 and be a part of the core of that club. It’s who else can we keep putting around them, what kind of depth can we give this club. That’s sort of what we’re grinding with every day.
Q. Priorities for the rest of the winter? Get a starting pitcher and – well, I guess backup catcher, you can’t really doing anything there until you know the situation in left, as it pertains to Gattis?
A. Exactly right. I think the biggest priority is a starting pitcher. You’ve got (Nick) Markakis and Justin on the outfield corners. You’re hoping B.J. (Upton) is … you know. And then you look up at (third baseman Chris) Johnson and (shortstop Andrelton) Simmons. We’ll probably look a little bit at (Alberto) Callaspo (at second base); we might keep looking a little bit at another infielder, whether an everyday guy or an extra guy. And then you’ve got (first baseman Freddie) Freeman and Gattis. That’s the club. And the rotation, we’re four-deep with young starters. We’d like to add a fifth and even a sixth. And our bullpen, we’ve got (Craig) Kimbrel, (David) Carpenter, (Jim) Johnson, that’s a nice little back end.
Q. You’re OK to go with the current lefties?
A. Yeah, I think between James Russell; Chasen Shreve, who did a great job, and Avilan, who didn’t have a great year but dealt with a couple of injury issues. He didn’t throw enough strikes but we still like Avilan a great deal. (Shae) Simmons looks like he’s going to healthy, he showed very well last year. And (Juan) Jaime is out of options, that’s another big-arm guy that we look at. And Vizcaino that we traded for (from the Cubs). So I think we’ve got some inventory of nice arms.
Q. As for B.J., has (new hitting coach) Kevin Seitzer had a chance to talk to him or work with him?
A. Sometime in the next few days they’re going to have their first workout together. B.J. sent me a very nice text message that said, “I’m ready to go. I can’t wait to get started. I’ll be ready to go in spring training. You’ll see a different guy.” So we’re hopeful.
Q. Is it still preferable or important to get a veteran for that last rotation spot – Jake Peavy, for example — or at this point is it not so important because your young starters have experience?
A. That’s a great question. I don’t think it matters right now. A young pitcher with some upside, stick them into that 5-hole, I’d be just fine with that. Or if it’s a veteran guy. If we can’t find that, right now it’s a combination of James Russell and David Hale. If we can find a veteran guy that we like that can stabilize us for a year and maybe some of our youngsters down below develop a little bit, I’ll go that route. But if we can find a young guy that we like, a potential young starter that’s close, I wouldn’t be opposed at all to go that route.
