1:53pm: This rumor is bogus, tweets O'Brien.
1:37pm: A potential trade of White Sox lefty reliever Matt Thornton to the Braves is picking up steam, tweets Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. However, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says this one's not happening.
Thornton, 35, posted a 3.32 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.45 HR/9, and 48.8% groundball rate in 59 2/3 innings for the White Sox this year. He's owed $12MM through 2013 on an extension signed in March. It's unclear whether Sox GM Kenny Williams would further deplete his bullpen depth after trading Sergio Santos to Toronto today, but relievers generally aren't crucial to a rebuilding effort.
okay….
Doesn’t make sense. Has to be a precursor to another deal or part of a bigger deal.
Now is the time to trade Venters. He’s been worked more than a single mom with 3 jobs.
But O’Flaherty is the one due for a raise. Venters is still making league minimum
I agree. This rumor makes little or no sense unless the Braves plan to flip him in a separate trade for a shortstop or back-up centerfielder. The Braves have extremely limited financial resources and they are considering using a big chunk of it for a reliever?????
The only other thing that could make sense is if they already have a deal in place to trade Jurrjens and need to move Medlen back into the starting rotation.
You may have just hit the nail on the head .
This makes no sense. Braves are loaded with very good, cheap relievers.
Love it. Thornton is a veteran presence that actually has talent unlike Linebrink.
This would have been a horrible move. Your knowledge on baseball is questionable at best.
How is trading for a veteran reliever that will probably have some eaten salary a bad thing? And don’t call my knowledge questionable. My knowledge is just as good as any other person that isn’t involved with the MLB.
I don’t believe Williams will pay for any of Thornton’s contract if and when he trades him. Thornton makes about what he deserves and if I was in Kenny’s shoes as a GM, I wouldn’t pay for any players that I trade since I’m rebuilding. Other than that, he IS pretty valuable. (Like what you said at the end of your last post in response by the way)
Thank you
If true, Wren has another deal in the works. This essentially means that one of Venters or Eric is on the block in said deal.
MOST LIKELY O’FLAHERTY OR MOYLAN SINCE THEY ARE BOTH ARB ELIGIBLE
Even though this rumor is squashed. I doubt anyone trades for a rehabbing Moylan.
Really ? The guy has a career 2.60ERA , is 19-9 , 0.5 HR/9 , 7.2 K/9 . If the Braves were to want to trade him , they would get a few calls .
not one bit. I can guarantee that Wren considers them about 95% untouchable. With the performances they have given, I wouldn’t blame him. No, if some deal gets done, it will be for prospects as the Whitsox will be in rebuilding mode.
Wren also said that any deal is possible to improve to them . I can guarantee that also .
well throw in Carlos and make the return worth it at least
I read the report and thought to myself that he (Quinten) may be a part of this deal and just not mentioned .
notsureifsrs aint gonna like this one bit!
This is a DUMB DUMB move on the part of both parties. Kenny Williams is dumb to move a great arm like Thornton. Plus the Braves need a RIGHT arm in the pen, OH they already got one….
I would argue its dumb to keep an asset like Thornton, and his $6M salary when your in full rebuild mode and looking to acquire young talent. Why keep him, to turn your 75 win team in 77 wins, for what. If they are going to trade Santos for prospects then they will do the same for Flloyd, Danks, CQ, etc. This is what a rebuild is, move the pieces that wont help you win in a couple years, get some salary relief, get some young talent here, and go from there. And frankly I dont understand why guys like you and people on message boards are so afraid of this. All team go through rebuilding periods, this is KW first in 12 years and your moaning like a little kid whose favorite player got traded. This is professional sports, lose the emotional attachments and see things like an adult. Thornton is a valuable commodity that has little use on a rebuilding 75 win Sox team, get what you can while you can get it and move on. PERIOD!
HAHA Im not even a Sox fan, Im a huge Braves fan. So what if your rebuilding. Dont trade your Vets for just prospects. Its KW fault he gave all that money to the Lefty. If this trade is true and the Braves get him, it wont be just Thornton, carlos is coming too, if not him than Rameriez is…
you’re missing the whole point of “rebuilding”….
Wren worried that O’Vembrel is overworked? Not really sure why the Braves would need to give up anything of worth to shore up their bullpen, and Thornton is worth something certainly. Very weird.
Hahah O’Vembrel. I love this website.
that has been around since forever
it’s O’Ventbrel
Kimbrel earned an extra two letters when he won ROY.
ah, good point
They ARE OVERWORKED. Fredi keeps pitching them everday. we need a guy that can take a good amount of their workload off their shoulders.
A better offense would do just that .
he could really help carry some of the workload at the back of our bullpen. Thornton, oflahrety, venter, and kimbrel are all really solid. But this isn’t really a need, and he’s not cheap. hmmm
Odd to go for ANOTHER bullpen arm (and a lefty at that), but if the cost isn’t high then I’d be a happy guy if it happens.
They must have left out the part where this is a package deal with Quentin included as well…
I would agree . There has to be something more to this .
………………why?
Hey Wren, why not bring up Quentin if you keep talking to Williams.
seems odd for both sides depending on who else is involved. Could be a Quinten deal but they are keeping that part quiet, never know this time of year
dammit boston
hey braves, want jed lowrie for thornton? eh? eh? fine
Kimbrel
Venters
Thornton
O’Flaherty
Vizcaino
Moylan
Medlen
…filthy
dude that is ridiculously filthy
Moylan out for a bit. Put Varvaro, Gearrin, C. Martinez or Hoover in there
I am a big fan of Thornton and have long believed he would be a great addition to the Braves bullpen, that being said, the White Sox better be picking up a big part of his tab if we are trading for him.
So exciting, I wonder if there are any other white Sox players in the deal!!!!!!!!!
Alexi Ramirez
Quentin and Thornton both good amount of salary eaten by White Sox, for Minor and Delgado.
Uh, no!! Two top young pitchers for a rental player and a relief pitcher?? Dream on.
Fine then.. enjoy 7man pitching rotation with 3rd place in NL East.
^^^^That guy is clueless! 3rd in the NL East?? how So?? Maybe 1st! Dont hop on the Miami team just yet, the just signed an injury prone player to a 100+ contract! Yep there goes your wiggle room when they need it. Phillies are getting old, Howard will never be the same again, plus he wont play until May or June. 7 man rotation? Really? DO you watch baseball?? Minor may be on the move if any pitch besides JJ is, Delgado isnt goting anywhere. the only thing i agree with you on is that the Sox will be eating salary if he is moved
Fine then…..enjoy last place in the AL Central.
Ozzie Guillen , is that you ?
No
Quentin and Thorton for Jurrjens , Matt Diaz , O’Flaherty ?
trading thornton would free up about what rios makes next year, so i don’t see how this would be a bad move for the sox, esp if they can get a prospect back. they’re depleting payroll around the sunk costs. wsox are looking more and more to be in the same boat as the cubs, with a few more tradeable assets. it’s a race!
Not even close, Stewie. Thornton will make $5.5M in both ’12 and ’13. Rios will make $12M in ’12 and $12.5 in ’13. Plus, there is no reason for the Sox to “eat money” on a Thornton trade – he gets about what he is worth. Now, why would the Braves go there is another question.
i meant thornton makes over the next two years what rios will make next year. never said the sox would eat money, either.
i really, really hope this thornton talk is just part of a bigger deal that includes Carlos Quentin.
you can bet your last dollar that theres more than just thornton included in the deal
I really doubt Moylan is around next year.
oh my god, we would of made the playoffs if we had him on our team last year. We would of won atleast 4 or 5 more games if O’ventbrel wasnt overworked. This is simply for more depth, makes plenty of sense for the braves, but it doesnt appear as if it will happen.
Not even counting Martinez, Vavaro, Gearrin, Asencio and Hoover who all could make some MLB pens.
It may seem excessive but while we have a ton of starting talent all of it has some sort of age/injury question mark and a deep pen could be vital to a deep playoff run.
How is Thornton not a tradeable asset? He is a quality back end left reliever who has little use to a rebuilding mid 70 win Sox team. And he makes $6M next year, Rios makes $12.5. If Rios was tradeable he would be gone too, but we all know he has zero trade value.
Thorton for Heyward?
Thorton, Quentin, + prospects for Heyward and mid-level pitching prospect
No deal, giving up way too much for Heyward. Thorton straight up.
Heyward>>Thorton
lol.
Your both crazy! Heyward is only 21 years old! Easy on the trading thing with him, if anything he spends time in AAA or AA to wake him up.
It won’t take going to the minors . He will be fine this year .
Hahahahahaha….hold one sec . I have to pick myself off the floor . Woops , I slipped again…..hahahahahah .
Glad to see we are answering the signing of Reyes.
my guess is that its thornton and carlos quintin together for a pitcher from the minors of the braves.
Quentin won’t be in this trade for just “a pitcher from the minors of the Braves.” What happened to the Beachy talk? Is he off the table now?
I would say ‘YES’ .
Meaning that he is off the table . At least for just Carlos .
I hope you mean at least one decent prospect each. Both of those guys for one talent that is not yet major league proven would mean Kenny W has TRULY lost it!
I did mean a top prosopect like beachy or minor
Still wouldn’t do it. Maybe add a role player. But I would never trade two quality major leaguers for one prospect. And, more importantly, I know Kenny wouldn’t either.
I don’t think Beachy is going anywhere . Minor if the price is right .
Sounds ggod to me .
notsureifsrs is really gon like this!
My hopes. What have you done to them? :'(
If KW can take a couple of major steps towards rebuilding the team simply by dumping relievers, it will be a very good week.
haha DOB —- basically saying “you people are crazy”
Cowley fail.
Quentin should be easy to get… he is blocking a spot for the White Sox in the outfield and they need to get some of these contracts unloaded.
That was a nice 16 minutes.
Since we are talking to the Chisox, we might as well get Ramirez.