:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48561101/usa-today-8701325.0.jpg)
Braves News:
Braves among teams interested in Yoenis Cespedes
2016 looks to be a rebuilding year for the Atlanta Braves, given the off-season teardowns they have undergone over the past two years. But, that apparently hasn't stopped the front office from sniffing around at some of the biggest names left in free agency. Former New York Met Yoenis Cespedes may be the biggest bat left on the market, but as January grinds along, the 30-year-old remains without a home for the upcoming season. Could the Braves swoop in and add him to the lineup?
This is an interesting development to say the least given, for starters, the Braves current roster. The Braves would almost certainly have to trade Nick Markakis, Hector Olivera, or Ender Inciarte to make a Cespedes signing make sense. Markakis would be ideal given the money he is owed would help allow the Braves to pay what would be a sizable chunk of money to Cespedes.
Could Ender Inciarte be on the move?
When the Braves first acquired Ender Inciarte in The Great Shelby Miller Trade of 2015, there was talks of the 25-year-old being out of Atlanta just as quickly as he came in. Alas, nothing became of the rumors -- until now. News broke on Wednesday that the Houston Astros have interest in acquiring Inciarte from the Braves, The idea is that Houston would move Gomez to the Braves in exchange for Inciarte. Whether or not a deal will come to fruition, seeing that and the Cespedes news drop on the same day is rather interesting.
Braves set to unleash fantastic bobblehead
Many great baseball players tend to have legends or historic tales that go along with them. Wade Boggs, for example, was rumored to have downed 70 beers in one cross-country flight (well, the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crew seems to think so). Atlanta Braves great Chipper Jones is no different -- and we've got photographic proof which will soon be made into a bobblehead. That's right folks, remember that time Chipper heroically rescued Freddie Freeman on his snowmobile? Well soon enough, you'll be able to have your own bobblehead version of the rescue mission.
MLB News:
Why this off-season makes no sense
When you really think about it, this whole off-season has been rather bizarre. And most of it is due to the outfielders. Jason Heyward - primarily a right fielder - signed in Chicago to roam center field. The Los Angeles Angels need an outfielder, and with names like Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes still hanging around free agency, you'd think they would make a move? From Denard Span to Alex Gordon, outfielders have made this off-season a little wacky.
Jason Heyward signed with the Chicago Cubs after winning back-to-back Gold Gloves in right field . . . ostensibly to play center. Alex Gordon returned to the Kansas City Royals, even though a more lucrative contract elsewhere was viewed as the likelier outcome.
The San Francisco Giants were expected to sign a slugging left fielder; they opted for Denard Span, a fleet center fielder. Span’s former team -- the Washington Nationals -- pursued Heyward in free agency before acquiring table-setter Ben Revere via trade.
In 2015, Marlins' second baseman put together one of the most impressive seasons in club history. The 27-year-old batted .333/.359/.418, and swiped 58 bags in the process. On Wednesday, Miami rewarded him for all his hard work. They signed Gordon to a five-year, $50 million deal. Say what you want about Miami's ownership and front office, but with Gordon, Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez in the mix, the Marlins have a solid core.