Management still needs to throw the fans some bones. They are banking on fans coming in droves just because they have a new ball park to go to. That may work for a few series, but once the newness wears off and fans start looking at the team playing in that new ball park they aren't going to keep coming back.
Copolella said in an article yesterday that they plan on opening up the checkbook in 2017, and will aim for a top-10 payroll. I'll believe it when I see it.
As for Freeman, he's pretty much the last link to anything resembling the Braves "glory years". He's loved by the fans, he's still young, and he's under a team-friendly contract for the next 5 years. If they trade him, they'd better get a TON in return.
I'm not one of these folks who think that we have to have a bunch of all-stars. Hell, this time two years ago, I'll bet 9 out of 10 people outside of Western Missouri couldn't name a single Kansas City Royal. They're proof that Sabermetrics works, and that you can build a championship club with the right combo of role players. But it would be nice to be able to keep at least ONE recognizable face in the clubhouse during what we all hope will be a short transition period.
