The Atlanta Braves didn't come into the offseason expected to be the biggest spenders, but that didn't mean they wouldn't look to add talent to the roster.
They did that with two free agent deals, signing Robert Suarez and Mike Yastrzemski to multi-year deals worth a combined total of $68 million.
ESPN's Bradford Doolittle handed out grades to the Braves for these two free agent signings, and while neither was an "A" grade, neither got as low as a "C." The Braves $45 million and $23 million signings were met with praise, but also some questions.
Braves receive 'B' grades on Mike Yastrzemski, Robert Suarez deals
"The deal feels like a mild overpay given Yastrzemski's age (he turns 36 in August), the two-year commitment, and the Braves' payroll outlook." Doolittle writes. "The concern would be a sharp decline for Yastrzemski, as can certainly happen with a mid-30s veteran."
While there are some realistic concerns with Yastrzemski, Doolittle did share some overall praise for the contract: "Good player, good fit, perhaps one year too long on the guarantee."
Yastrzemski is a solid player, just like the grade the Braves were given for signing him to a two-year $23 million deal: a B-.
For Suarez, Doolittle gave Atlanta a "B" grade, thanks in part to the concerns over the payroll. This deal with Suarez, a three-year $45 million contract, has Atlanta right up against the luxury tax threshold, something Doolittle is concerned about.
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"Still," Doolittle writes, "it's something you don't want to do willy-nilly, and since the Braves already had Igelsias on hand, maybe a lower-cost alternative like Brad Keller or Seranthony Dominguez would have made sense."
Raisel Iglesias, already being on the roster for $16 million, made this signing a much more interesting one. To add to the intrigue, the Braves plan to have Iglesias remain the closer. So, Suarez is on the hook for $45 million to be a setup man and backup closer.
These two deals combine to form a "B" grade for the Braves, and while the $68 million total between Yastrzemski and Suarez isn't cheap, they're moves that will help Atlanta return to the postseason after a two-year absence.
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