Offseason Roster Thread 2025-26

[Orgfiller]

2 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Really glad the Jays passed on Suarez at the number. There’s like 3 relievers in Baseball that deserve to make 15+ million a year and he’s not one of them. If you’re not Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, or Mason Miller you’re not worth that money.

Considering 3 non Diaz relievers this offseason have already gotten 15M+ AAV, you should maybe consider recalibrating your perception of what market value for these guys is around the league.

[Jonn]

2 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

Considering 3 non Diaz relievers this offseason have already gotten 15M+ AAV, you should maybe consider recalibrating your perception of what market value for these guys is around the league.

If other teams want to do thar more power to them. I’n glad our front office doesn’t get in on that market. Unless it’s for someone truly elite it’s a big risk. Such a volatile position.

[jmomcc]

1 hour ago, Pendleton said:

I haven't really looked closer at Brad Kellar's outstanding season under the hood but he has to be one of the most intriguing RP options remaining if the success is sustainable. 

 

From the left side, Sean Newcomb is also on that same vibe. Likely not going to cost as much as some of these proven high end relievers but he certainly was lights out as a RP last year. 

 

 

I love the idea of newcomb. He would be our best leftie immediately and can start as well. I think a team like san diego might just sign him as a cheap starter though. 

[Orgfiller]

2 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

I love the idea of newcomb. He would be our best leftie immediately and can start as well. I think a team like san diego might just sign him as a cheap starter though. 

I'd be pretty scared of Newcomb. Not sure how much I buy him suddenly fixing his command, and the stuff doesn't pop off the page. Stuff+ is about average, with all of his fastball shapes being mediocre, and poor Location+. He has a lot of Little like characteristics, except the fastball isn't special if located well.

[jmomcc]

12 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

I'd be pretty scared of Newcomb. Not sure how much I buy him suddenly fixing his command, and the stuff doesn't pop off the page. Stuff+ is about average, with all of his fastball shapes being mediocre, and poor Location+. He has a lot of Little like characteristics, except the fastball isn't special if located well.

His sinker and curve are both good pitches in my opinion and he has better command. 

[Pendleton]

Not the largest sample but Brad Keller in 17 innings of high leverage, held opponents to a slashline of .158/.273/.281.....which somehow resulted in 9ER

[jmomcc]

1 minute ago, Pendleton said:

Not the largest sample but Brad Keller in 17 innings of high leverage, held opponents to a slashline of .158/.273/.281.....which somehow resulted in 9ER

Yea Keller and Rogers are to me sneaky elite additions. 

[Pendleton]

Just now, jmomcc said:

Yea Keller and Rogers are to me sneaky elite additions. 

High groundball rates play well for us 

[Orgfiller]

6 minutes ago, jmomcc said:

His sinker and curve are both good pitches in my opinion and he has better command. 

I could be proven wrong by the TJStats models, but Stuff+ on fangraphs grades his sinker at 97, albeit they think he commands it perfectly which shoots up the Pitching+ model on it. Curve wise it's the opposite, a near elite grade on the raw stuff but poor location of it leading it to be a below average offering. Just sounds like the kind of guy that can easily be awful if the command backs up again, and there's a long history of that being a problem for him.

[jmomcc]

6 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

I could be proven wrong by the TJStats models, but Stuff+ on fangraphs grades his sinker at 97, albeit they think he commands it perfectly which shoots up the Pitching+ model on it. Curve wise it's the opposite, a near elite grade on the raw stuff but poor location of it leading it to be a below average offering. Just sounds like the kind of guy that can easily be awful if the command backs up again, and there's a long history of that being a problem for him.

Fair but isn't that a good combo compared to little. He can throw the sinker for strikes which allows the curve to play. 

If little could throw the sinker for strikes then guys couldn't lay off the knuckle curve. Although he couldn't really throw either in the end. 

[Bob_Gratton]

1 hour ago, Jonn said:

A Rogers and Fairbanks combo could be intriguing. Probably come in less combined than Suarez as well AAV.

Talk about 2 pitchers that come from dramatically different arm angles.

I doubt Fairbanks get less than 10m annually, because the market for good reliever is low now. Why no trade for Hader? Houston no serious contender this year, so they will want rebuild.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I love when fans say why not trade for so and so like it's solely up to Atkins to trade for Hader. It takes two to tango fella and if Houston doesnt want to trade him that's all there is to it.

Hell, sometimes it even takes 3 to tango if the player has trade protection and has no interest in being traded to your team.

[Bob_Gratton]

3 hours ago, mphenhef said:

And this doesn't even include a bunch of others on the 40 man..Nance, Bruihl, Schullz, etc

I doubt Yimi will be good this year, I am afraid he will be our 2026 Chad Green. So the only reliable relievers for the last innings we have are Hoffman and Varland.  Little, Rodriguez, Fischer, Flu, remain gambling, they will need to prove  themselves again.

[Bob_Gratton]

3 minutes ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I love when fans say why not trade for so and so like it's solely up to Atkins to trade for Hader. It takes two to tango fella and if Houston doesnt want to trade him that's all there is to it.

Hell, sometimes it even takes 3 to tango if the player has trade protection and has no interest in being traded to your team.

Depend of the offer, let's say Atkins offering Fischer, Nimmala and King, maybe this can be enough

[Spanky__99]

5 hours ago, BTS said:

Hoping for Tyler Rogers now that Suarez is off the board. I could also get on board with a 1-year Kenley Jansen deal. I guess Fairbanks kind of rounds out the top tier of available remaining arms?

Wait, what? Who signed old man Suarez? 😓

[Spanky__99]

2 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

Considering 3 non Diaz relievers this offseason have already gotten 15M+ AAV, you should maybe consider recalibrating your perception of what market value for these guys is around the league.

T - Rekt! 😅

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Bob_Gratton said:

I doubt Fairbanks get less than 10m annually, because the market for good reliever is low now. Why no trade for Hader? Houston no serious contender this year, so they will want rebuild.

Holy F*ck, every post you've made since joining the forum is borderline Shortbus sh*t, make like a tree, man?

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Bob_Gratton said:

I doubt Yimi will be good this year, I am afraid he will be our 2026 Chad Green. So the only reliable relievers for the last innings we have are Hoffman and Varland.  Little, Rodriguez, Fischer, Flu, remain gambling, they will need to prove  themselves again.

You're a Chad, bird... Iggy you go!

[Jonn]

Only concerns I have with Yimi is health. He seems to take a couple trips to the IL every year. Now that the Bullpen actually has some decent depth they shouldn’t push him at all this Season. No back to back outings. Limit him to 3 times per week. Whatever keeps him healthier because he’s quite good when he is.

[Bob_Gratton]

3 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Only concerns I have with Yimi is health. He seems to take a couple trips to the IL every year. Now that the Bullpen actually has some decent depth they shouldn’t push him at all this Season. No back to back outings. Limit him to 3 times per week. Whatever keeps him healthier because he’s quite good when he is.

Should tell this to JS. Hope he's cured from his addiction to over use relievers. Otherwise be prepared to see Varland, Yimi, Little, Hoffman very often, too much often in some case:XD

[Stangstag]

3 hours ago, Jonn said:

If other teams want to do thar more power to them. I’n glad our front office doesn’t get in on that market. Unless it’s for someone truly elite it’s a big risk. Such a volatile position.

I agree with the idea of not spending big money on RP.

But what exactly are you considering “truly elite”, because Suarez is definitely up there and has more saves than anyone over the last 2 seasons.

This is RP stats for 2024+2025

[max silver]

27 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Only concerns I have with Yimi is health. He seems to take a couple trips to the IL every year. Now that the Bullpen actually has some decent depth they shouldn’t push him at all this Season. No back to back outings. Limit him to 3 times per week. Whatever keeps him healthier because he’s quite good when he is.

Fingers crossed the elbow surgery to clean up some scar tissue does the trick to allow Yimi to enjoy a full healthy season.

[Jonn]

2 hours ago, Stangstag said:

I agree with the idea of not spending big money on RP.

But what exactly are you considering “truly elite”, because Suarez is definitely up there and has more saves than anyone over the last 2 seasons.

This is RP stats for 2024+2025

I don’t question him being good. He’s very good. He’s also 35 and doesn’t miss bats at the rate of other elite options. I don’t think it will be a bad deal for the Braves. At 45M over 3 years I would prefer our resources get invested elsewhere. I feel like you could bring in 2 quality relievers for under 15 combined.

[Laika]

Jays have the 7th best projected bullpen 

The Varland trade was a big investment and that is probably their one big reliever addition for 2026 right there. He's as good as Suarez. 

Really no need for a big signing. Just get someone cromulent, proper depth. 

[Eat My Shatkins]

The more I look at the Jays depth on FG the less I want them dumping cash into the BP (unless money is no concern), They have a decent BP on paper and a plethora of mud to throw against the wall, so to speak. Guys like Tiedemann, Francis, Bastardo, Schultz, Fluharty, Miles, Bruihl all on the 40 man but not even  on the MLB roster at this point. YRod still kicking around, at some point Bloss comes back, studs like Stanifer and Perez are in AA and could very likely make their debuts in 2026 and may even start out as relievers. I wouldn't be sad if they brought in Fairbanks or brought back Seranthony on fair deals though.

Now go get Tucker FFS

[L54]

57 minutes ago, Jonn said:

I don’t question him being good. He’s very good. He’s also 35 and doesn’t miss bats at the rate of other elite options. I don’t think it will be a bad deal for the Braves. At 45M over 3 years I would prefer our resources get invested elsewhere. I feel like you could bring in 2 quality relievers for under 15 combined.

Jonny I agree with you. I think our bullpen is fine as is and would be totally satisfied adding one of the second tier guys. I’m sure Diaz and Garcia will both end up working out fine, and I guess if in a perfect world they weren’t paying Berrios and Santander 40M they could make sense but for now a hitter has to be priority number 1 

[Stangstag]

Tucker/Bo move the needle far more than any RP signing would. 

The bullpen is fine. 

As of now, we have a Bo-sized hole in the lineup, and room either at 2B/3B/OF to add someone.

Bo or Tucker is a must IMO, or at the very least Bellinger 

[Bob_Gratton]

16 hours ago, Stangstag said:

Tucker/Bo move the needle far more than any RP signing would. 

The bullpen is fine. 

As of now, we have a Bo-sized hole in the lineup, and room either at 2B/3B/OF to add someone.

Bo or Tucker is a must IMO, or at the very least Bellinger 

Bullpen is no fine, we need a #1 closer. And we need  add Tucker too. Otherwise Tucker will sign with the Dodgers, so no need sign Bellinger if Dodgers get Skubal and Tucker.

[mphenhef]

1 minute ago, Bob_Gratton said:

Bullpen is no fine, we need a #1 closer. And we need  add Tucker too. Otherwise Tucker will sign with the Dodgers, so no need sign Bellinger if Dodgers get Skubal and Tucker.

I don't think there is any closer left on the market who is arguably better than Hoffman.

[Funky]

On the bullpen side of things, I’d be happy if they sign somebody like Fairbanks right now just to give us another great arm in the pen and then see what happens in the regular season.
 

Some both guys are gonna disappoint, some more surprise and excite and who knows what other teams will make available after free agency

One more quality guy in the bullpen that can pitch the eighth or ninth gives us a lot more options. In case one of our upper end guys start slumping.

I haven’t seen any talk about Sir Anthony coming back. Is there just no interest between the two sides? I know he may be a tier under but over a full year. I still think he provide some value.