Making the Atlanta Braves contenders with $35 million

Currently, the payroll of the Atlanta Braves is sitting around ~$100 million. Based off of last year’s total payroll number of $135 million, there’s still about $35 million that can safely be spent this offseason.

The Atlanta Braves aren’t contenders…yet. However, they can be, and there’s room on the books to do so. If used correctly, the available $35 million can make a world of difference, and this is especially true when trades are also a factor.

While I believe that the Braves could (and eventually will) afford a payroll of around $150 million, that cannot be assumed, so for our purposes here, payroll assumption will not exceed $135 million.

Now, $35 million is a good bit of money, but taking that money and using it to make the Atlanta Braves contenders requires a savvy approach. Cutting corners through signing several cheap, decent players, or crafting trades to save a few extra dollars. Personally, I wouldn’t want Atlanta to take the discount route, as those guys don’t always pan out.

With payroll-oriented trades, though, come hurt feelings. Occasionally, a guy that the fans love will wind up being more valuable to the front office as a trade piece than as a roster piece, and this is perfectly okay.

Fans tend to overreact when an exceptionally likable player is traded away, and they fail to realize that the return of the trade could have a greater impact on the team than the player that was traded away ever could.

This wasn’t the case with Andrelton Simmons and Craig Kimbrel. Austin Riley wound up being drafted by the Atlanta Braves thanks to the Kimbrel trade, so that trade may become a minor victory if he pans out as expected, but it’s possible that a fan-favorite could be traded in a deal that does benefit the team.

Without further ado, let’s dive into a couple of trades that could create a bit more payroll wiggle room and improve the MLB roster at the same time.

Make it HAPPen, Captain.

Like I said, some trades hurt, but they’re worth it in the end, and that’s true with this first trade proposal. Before lashing out at the seemingly foolish nature of the deal, think about how it could benefit the team, as opposed to what the team would be giving up.

Here’s the first proposal:

Nick Markakis, Julio Teheran, Ian Anderson, Kyle Muller & $5 million to the Chicago Cubs for Ian Happ and Javier Baez

The key to this deal is that the Braves are paying about half of Nick Markakis‘ salary in 2018. If the Cubs were to be stuck paying all of Markakis’ $10.5 million salary, they wouldn’t be as inclined to give Atlanta something of value in return.

In total, this trade would save the Braves about $12.5 million, increasing their potential offseason spending number to $42.5 million.

I’ve been super high on Ian Happ for a while now, and I can’t stress enough how well he would perform in an Atlanta Braves uniform. As if being a switch-hitter wasn’t enticing enough, Happ hit 19 of his 24 home runs from the left side of the plate, and SunTrust Park favors potent left-handed bats.

Happ has six years of control and could be the final piece of an outfield, along with Ender Inciarte and Ronald Acuña, that would be locked down for at least five years,

As for Javier Baez, he fills the temporary hole at third base, and once Austin Riley arrives, he could serve as the super-utility guy that many fans think Johan Camargo is going to be. Together, he and Happ would add just the right amount of pop to Atlanta’s lineup.

Giving up Julio Teheran is something many fans are bent on for quite some time. He’s had his ups and downs with the Atlanta Braves, but ultimately, his extremely team-friendly contract along with his potential to be a substantial number two or three starter makes him more valuable in a trade than on the roster.

Trading Markakis is self-explanatory, and Ian Anderson and Kyle Muller help balance out the deal, with Happ and Baez carrying a good bit of value. Anderson and Muller are a pair of prospects that will be in their age-20 seasons in 2018, and still, have a bit to prove.

Anderson still needs to fill out his six-foot-three frame, and Muller requires a bit more experience before his performance is accurately critiqued. However, a lack of experience does not mean that these prospects do not have upside.

The next trade proposal is a little easier to stomach, but I’m sure fans will still find a reason to be upset with it.

Mike Foltynewicz, Johan Camargo, Joey Wentz, & Alex Jackson to the Tampa Bay Rays for Chris Archer

The main thing the Atlanta Braves need in order to contend is a solid starting rotation. A great offense means nothing if starters are routinely giving up five and six runs per game. The Braves need an upgrade, especially if Julio Teheran is dealt.

It’s time to go after Chris Archer:

This deal might get Chris Archer. It’s a bit of a stretch, but if his slight drop-off in performance over the last two seasons is any indication, then his value may have tanked ever so slightly, but enough so that he can be acquired without giving up multiple top arms.

There is no more “year of the Folty.” Mike Foltynewicz doesn’t have another chance to prove himself before the Braves give up on him. 2018 is his make-or-break season, and given his track record, I’d rather not let him spend it in Atlanta. Sure, he’s talented, but he hasn’t shown that his talent translates into being a successful MLB starter. Perhaps a change of scenery is what he needs.

This doesn’t mean, however, that Foltynewicz doesn’t have value on the trade market. He’s under control through the 2020 season, and if he doesn’t work out as a starter next season, he would be a great addition to Tampa Bay’s bullpen. Folty could be one of the most versatile relievers in the game if he can keep his temper under control in high-leverage situations.

Fans may get sick to their stomach at the thought of trading away Johan Camargo, but hypothetically speaking, this deal would happen after the Braves acquire Happ and Baez from the Cubs, so losing Camargo wouldn’t be so bad after all. He built some value as he showed out at the MLB level in 2017, and I think he’s a tremendous sell-high candidate because his numbers don’t seem sustainable to me.

Losing Alex Jackson hurts, and losing Joey Wentz hurts even more, but if the return is Chris Archer, then I’m all for it. Jackson has shown power in the minor leagues and had a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League against some of baseball’s best prospects.

Joey Wentz, on the other hand, has been dominant so far in his brief minor league career, posting a 2.87 ERA through 175.2 innings so far, and he projects to be as good as Kolby Allard and Mike Soroka. Wentz is essentially the centerpiece of this deal, and if the Rays value him as much as the Braves do, he should be instrumental in landing Chris Archer.

This trade would cost the Braves roughly $3 million regarding 2018 payroll obligations, bringing the potential offseason spending total back down to $39.5 million, and this is where the free agent signings begin.

Possible 2018 Atlanta Braves roster

After making all of these moves, here’s how the Atlanta Braves’ Opening Day 25-man roster would look:

Lineup:

1. Ender Inciarte – CF
2. Ozzie Albies – 2B
3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
4. Ian Happ – LF
5. Javier Baez – 3B
6. Ronald Acuña – RF
7. Tyler Flowers – C
8. Dansby Swanson – SS
9. Pitcher

Bench:

Charlie Culberson – UTIL

Lane Adams – OF

Kurt Suzuki – C

Preston Tucker-OF

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Rotation:

1. Chris Archer
2. Lance Lynn
3. Sean Newcomb
4. Brandon McCarthy
5. Luiz Gohara

Bullpen:

Peter Moylan – RHP situational

Lucas Sims – RHP long relief

Max Fried – LHP long relief

Sam Freeman – LHP middle-innings

Jose Ramirez – RHP middle-innings

Arodys Vizcaino – RHP SU/middle-innings

A.J. Minter – LHP SU/middle-innings

Greg Holland – RHP CL

This roster certainly has the makings of at least a Wild Card contender, but if the young guys like Sean Newcomb, Luiz Gohara, and A.J. Minter have taken bigger steps than expected, the Braves could give the Nationals a run for their money in the NL East.

Next: Why the Yankees won't get Darvish

It’s a far-fetched idea, but we saw the Twins go from worst-to-first in 2017, so anything is possible.