Those of you that have been with us throughout the rebuild understand the journey that the last four years has been. The Atlanta Braves may have arrived a year early but returning to the playoffs along with the arrival of Ronald Acuña Jr and the rest of the team’s young core was a great feeling that many of us simply can’t shake.
Below is our list of the most read posts on the site over the last 12 months. I admit that I am a bit surprised. The subject matter is basically unchanged. You guys really love your prospects, the MLB Draft along with free agent and trade rumors.
Thank you to everyone who visited Talking Chop in 2018 and we hope that you will sticking around with us for many more years to come.
10. Braves not planning on extending qualifying offer to Nick Markakis, per report
Not a surprise in the least but the first report from Fancred’s Jon Heyman that the Braves were not planning on extending a qualifying offer to free agent Nick Markakis. Given Markakis’ solid 2018 season, there was at least some thought that Atlanta might think about keeping him on board for another season but a $17.9 million price tag was just too much. As of this writing, Markakis is still a free agent and Atlanta still has a vacancy in the corner outfield so we may not have seen the last of him after all.
9. The Braves ‘make a lot of sense’ for Bryce Harper, according to friend of Bryce Harper
A juicy rumor from last April linking the Braves to one biggest free agents on the market in Bryce Harper. Atlanta made a splash this offseason with the addition of Josh Donaldson but do not appear to be in the Harper chase.
8. The Braves have a real logjam in the minors, and its becoming a problem
Atlanta again had one of the best minor league systems in all of baseball in 2018 and with so many prospects, particularly in the pitching department, a logjam was starting to develop. Our own Eric Cole took a closer look at the situation that many would deem as a good problem to have for the Braves.
7. Braves appear to be at least listening to offers for Dansby Swanson, per report
How desperate were Braves’ fans for news at the Winter Meetings? This nugget about trade discussions involving shortstop Dansby Swanson and to a lesser extent Ozzie Albies wasn’t written until December 11 but here it is as the seventh most read post on the site this year.
6. Is Atlanta the new destination for big name free agents this winter?
Atlanta climbed back to the top of the NL East in 2018. With a young core and improving financials, they look like they could be poised for greatness for years to come.
5. Braves News: Bryce Harper again linked to Atlanta
Riffing on the Harper article that sits at No. 9, our news roundup from April 6 added a nugget from Jon Heyman who described the Braves as a “great fit” for Harper.
4. Braves to acquire Kevin Gausman, Darren O’Day from Orioles
The big move from the July 31 trade deadline. The Braves acquired right-hander Kevin Gausman and injured reliever Darren O’Day in exchange for prospects Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Brett Cumberland, Evan Phillips and Bruce Zimmerman along with international signing slots.
3. What should the Braves do about Dansby Swanson?
Dansby Swanson improved greatly defensively but his offensive performance once again fell shy of expectations in 2018. In August we examined his place as a part of the team’s core which is a debate that could continue over the next couple of seasons.
2. A big move is coming for the Braves
Alex Anthopoulos has resisted to this point but it still looks like a big move could happen for Atlanta at some point in the near future. The team has a ton of pitching prospects either at or on the cusp of the big league level. They have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto and have a desire for a true top of the rotation level starting pitcher. It may not happen this offseason but expect the Braves and Anthopoulos to push some of their chips to the middle of the table at some point in an effort to get the team over the hump.
Once again the most viewed post on the site was this season’s Draft Pick signing tracker. There was an unfortunate twist with the tracker this season in that the Braves failed to sign top pick Carter Stewart but that didn’t stop this article from reclaiming the top spot.