Spring Training Rosterbation Thread

by fandave on Feb 19, 2026 10:21 AM EST

Since pitchers and catchers report today, perhaps the time has come for some serious rosterbation. Here are two questions for possible discussion:

Taking into account the team and the financial constraints that we have now, and assuming the primary goal is to maximize the Braves' chance of legitimately being competitive for the world championship in the upcoming 2012 season:

(1) What 25 specific man roster moves should be made, either before opening day or before the mid-season trade deadline?

and

(2) What, if any, 25 man roster moves do you think will actually be made?

I decided to post this thread based on a discussion on another thread as to whether Kris Medlen may have greater value to the Braves as member of the pitching staff or as a trade piece. The general thoughts I had on that specific question were:

The way I see the big picture situation right now, as spring camp opens, is as follows: The Braves’ braintrust obviously has short, mid and long term objectives, but the single most important objective is to position the team to strongly compete each and every season (insofar as realistically feasible) for a world championship. So, the number 1 priority is to field a superb 25 man roster with depth and versatility and capacity to withstand the rigors of the upcoming 162 game season. I believe that management obviously views the team, as constructed, as legitimately being in the 2012 mix for post-season play and thus a potential championship; and views the pitching staff is the single most vitally critical element of a deep championship run.

Go Braves!

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Comments

Here's one deal I see happening

Christian Martinez for Maicer Izturis

by Jay212033 on Feb 19, 2026 10:57 AM EST reply actions

June 1st

The Braves are considered anywhere from 1st to 4th in the NL East. If come June 1st, we are healthy and closer to 1st than 4th, Wren might trade for a future LF or CF. If come June 1st, Pastornicky isn’t cutting it and Simmons bat isn’t playing in AA, he might trade for a SS. If Chipper is struggling to stay upright, he might trade for a LF to cover for Prado at 3B.

If, come June 1st we are closer to 4th than 1st, there’s no telling what Wren might do. Everything will probably depend on the rotation’s health. Who’s tradeable.

Jurrjens, Hanson, O’Flaherty and Medlen are in or at arbitration after 2012, Martinez and Ascencio are out of options. I see those 6 as the guys on the hot seat. LF and CF are the most likely targets. SS could be, depending on Pastornicky and Simmons bat in AA.

"An insult is an insult either way you fucked up freaked out wierd people want to spin it"

PhillyBrave Jan 18, 2026

by bighop on Feb 19, 2026 11:22 AM EST reply actions

this

but I can’t see Wren trading any of our pitchers unless we can’t pass up the deal.

by Braves24 on Feb 19, 2026 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

There really is no way to know

we’ve got the pitching depth to be sellers, even if we’re in a playoff position come mid season. If we’re out of the hunt, we could obviously be sellers (of I guess Bourn, maybe Prado or Hinske, as well as some arms). But we’ve got the young pitchers to be buyers as well. There is really so many moving parts, from how guys return to health, how Pastornicky does, how Heyward and other bats do whether that’s a need or not, how the young arms improve and whether or not they are demanding a call up, etc, etc, etc.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 19, 2026 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Bourn

Great point. To offer him arbitration after the season in hopes of getting a draft pick if he refuses, the Braves MUST offer him $12.5M for 2013 according to the new MLBPA contract. That’s more than he might get on a multi-year FA deal. As a leadoff hitter, SB machine, above average CF, he could be real attractive to a lot of contending teams.

"An insult is an insult either way you fucked up freaked out wierd people want to spin it"

PhillyBrave Jan 18, 2026

by bighop on Feb 19, 2026 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'm not sure about this

Since 2009, he has been the third best CF going by fWar. He has been worth almost 19M in each of those years. Yes, he might not get that in free agency but I would be surprised if he didn’t get at least 14M a year during his next contract.

by Braves24 on Feb 19, 2026 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

He might

I’ve read that 5 yrs/$50M would be fair based on his skill set. Boras will probably start at a lot more than that. Just depends on which teams get involved. I figure the Nats will be at the front of the line, and they aren’t scared to spend money.

But, if we aren’t keeping him, he might be traded.

"An insult is an insult either way you fucked up freaked out wierd people want to spin it"

PhillyBrave Jan 18, 2026

by bighop on Feb 19, 2026 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

right

I’m just saying if we are in the playoff race, which I think we will be, I don’t think Wren would consider trading JJ for example unless we are blown away by the offer.

by Braves24 on Feb 19, 2026 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed, but if he's pitching well

we could very well be “blown away” by a team desperate for an arm (with a year of control after this season) and we couldn’t sacrifice much if Teheran or Delgado (or both) have continued to improve in AAA and are ready to hit the ground running in the bigs.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 19, 2026 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

My bold predictions are: No moves will be made between now and opening day, with the possible exception of a small move to pick up a cheap RH 4th or 5th OF with some offensive upside. And Jurrjens will be dealt at the deadline to an AL team for a positional top prospect.

by fandave on Feb 19, 2026 12:18 PM EST reply actions

There's probably still time to pick up the phone and call J.D. Drew....

Braves will be fine. I'm not worried.

by Bronn on Sep 18, 2025 4:26 PM EDT

by Bronn on Feb 19, 2026 2:15 PM EST reply actions

Would he take a minimum deal?

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 19, 2026 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

The only issue with Drew is that we already have Hinske, and we need a backup for Bourn. I would be ok with Drew if the team shares my belief that Heyward could cover CF on the days Bourn needs a rest. If we went with Drew, we wouldn’t have any speed coming off the bench when we needed a pinch runner.

by rxadam on Feb 19, 2026 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

I think Drew would give more than Diaz

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 19, 2026 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

He would, but we'd still have to pay Diaz $2 million

Also, who would PH against LH pitching? I like Ross, but we can’t use our backup catcher as a PH every game.

by rxadam on Feb 19, 2026 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Look at the minor league free agent list

…and you’ll see a lot of guys who are maybe more valuable than Drew that took minor league deals. I don’t think a major league deal would be required.

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by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 1:20 AM EST up reply actions

They are willing to take such deals, is Drew was more the question...

not is he worth more than a minor league deal, but would he accept a deal that wasn’t guaranteed for a couple mil and guaranteeing a MLB roster spot.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 20, 2026 6:32 AM EST up reply actions

I know

just bugs me a bit to see that list and wonder why a few of those weren’t for the Braves just to give them a shot…

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by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 7:43 AM EST up reply actions

you’ll see a lot of guys who are maybe more valuable than Drew that took minor league deals

Like who?

by Braves24 on Feb 20, 2026 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Jon Garland
Scott Linebrink
Jeff Francis
Russell Branyan
Conor Jackson
Mark Teahen
Carlos Guillen

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

To name a few

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

We have no need for more pitching , so I’m not sure how missing out on the names above will hurt us. Not to mention I would take all of our internal options over the players you mentioned. Hinske fills the role Branyan would fill. Same can be said about Mark Teahen except he can play third base. Diaz fills the role Jackson would play but hits lefties better and I’m not sure how Guillen would help. Seems to me we didn’t lose out on anything and I don’t see how any of these guys could be more valuable than Drew

by Braves24 on Feb 20, 2026 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

Any of them

…could be more valuable. Drew’s not exactly great now, so any of those guys could be more valuable.

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

And it's not just about the Braves

….in general for the team that picks them up, those guys could be more valuable.

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 20, 2026 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

that makes things different

I was talking about the Braves, but I would still take Drew over all of them

by Braves24 on Feb 21, 2026 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

I'd love Jackson, or Teahen or Guillen

and I’ve said it a lot this winter, but I just don’t have any faith in Diaz to perform better than he did last year (which was abysmal).

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 20, 2026 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

What I loved about those guys

More specifically, Teahen and especially Guillen, was their ability to play multiple positions, including a hot corner position where we have a soon-to-retire legend that will likely miss 30-60 games this year. For a minor league deal, it’s just nuts NOT to get involved.

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 21, 2026 8:42 AM EST up reply actions

Of course,...

how do we know we weren’t involved and they chose elsewhere?

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 21, 2026 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

not really

considering we have Prado and they are probably worse than a Hinske/Diaz platoon offensively

by Braves24 on Feb 21, 2026 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

I don't get that

Last two seasons:

Teahen 77 OPS+, 439 PA
Guillen 93 OPS+, 377 PA
Jackson 79 OPS+ 631 PA

Diaz 86 OPS+, 512 PA

I’d say there’s as much chance any of the first three achieve a 100 OPS+ in 2012 as Diaz, and they are all similar in defensive value as well. For what we’re paying Diaz, it bugs me to see guys, especially like Guillen, sign for a minor league deal.

Hey! I’m new.
by ChopMaster on Jul 7, 2025 10:24 PM CDT (joined Jul 19, 2025)

Twitter: @biggentleben

by biggentleben on Feb 21, 2026 2:13 PM EST up reply actions