MLB Rumors: Atlanta Braves offseason is well underway

The Atlanta Braves season ended less than two weeks ago, but Alex Anthopoulos is already preparing for 2024. When looking at this Braves roster, it's tough to find a tremendous weakness. However, Anthopoulos already suggested Atlanta needed to improve the bullpen from the outset, and he has done just that by re-signing Pierce Johnson, who is one of the few Braves relief pitchers who throws at a high velocity.

Johnson was acquired this season from the Colorado Rockies and quickly figured things out in a competitive environment. As the press release mentions, Johnson had a sub-1 ERA after he was sent to the Braves from the hitter-friendly Coors Field. As Anthopoulos said, Atlanta needs to improve its pitching depth, and one way to do that is keeping some promising hurlers around:

"I think all your points that you brought up about the ailments two years in a row going into the postseason with some things that have come up with the rotation, I think (are) extremely fair. I wouldn't argue. Look, those are the facts. There's no doubt about it, we had a great season, but there's no doubt we were definitely banged up. In terms of how that would shape or influence our offseason, I think the same thing (as usual). I'm going to be very guarded with our potential offseason plans," Anthopoulos told David O'Brien of The Athletic.

Anthopoulos was very guarded about the Braves plans, but if Johnson's signing is any indication, more moves will be made shortly.

MLB Rumors: There could be a hiccup in Mets-Craig Counsell negotiations

The New York Mets have an immense financial advantage over any other team as it pertains to bringing in a manager of their choosing. David Stearns voluntarily let Buck Showalter go despite his veteran presence and favorability in the locker room in hopes of pursuing a manager like Craig Counsell.

Counsell was finally permitted to speak with other teams on Wednesday, something that had previously been forbidden until his contract with the Brewers ran out. Milwaukee, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, wanted to get in Counsell's good graces in case there's a chance he returns in 2024.

As The Athletic reports, Counsell and the Mets will sit down to discuss the bare bones of what the Mets job would look like. Once it becomes clear that New York is the fit for Counsell -- which sure seems like the case right now -- a contract will be negotiated. Counsell wants to reset the market for managers, something that hasn't been discussed enough up to this point. Managers are often underpaid, despite the stress level and importance of their job.

Will Sammon connected Counsell to the Cleveland Guardians, and even said he could return to the Brewers. The Mets are expected to conduct an extensive search of their own, so by no means is this a done deal.

Were Counsell to land elsewhere, it would reflect poorly on a Mets organization which brought in the manager's front office counterpart in Milwaukee -- the man who hired him once before -- only to fail to do so this time around. However, there are plenty of intriguing openings available, including Houston.

The Mets will have to pay up, just like everyone else.

MLB Rumors: Yankees trade talks for Juan Soto intensify

The New York Yankees fell well short of expectations in 2023, and in doing so created a need -- Brian Cashman much change the conversation around this team prior to next season. Minor decisions, whether it be a small trade of free-agent signing that doesn't move the needle, aren't good enough.

Cashman and the Yankees haven't been ones to trade away top prospect capital in the recent past. They've balked a deals that included Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, Jasson Dominguez and more. Yet, with Juan Soto available for the right asking price, Cashman and Padres manager A.J. Preller are talking.

Soto represents exactly what the Yankees need -- a powerful, left-handed bat who can play the outfield with Aaron Judge. He'd also come at a steep asking price in terms of prospects and, eventually, money. It should also be noted that the Padres are not committed to dealing Soto.

Preller said that the team's 'first path' would be extending Soto, though he won't rule anything out. "We've never been a group that says no to anything," Preller said. "I wouldn't read into that. That's just kind of the way we operate."

So, Preller is willing to answer the phone. Whether Cashman can make him listen is another question entirely.