Braves assistant GM John Coppolella tells MLB.com’s Mark Bowman that the club is still working to put a winner on the field at present, though it won’t lose focus of its longer-term needs. “We don’t want to lose 100 games or put our fan base through any type of extended suffering,” he said. “We are trying to walk two parallel roads: making this team better and building for the future. So, it’s one eye on the present and two eyes on the future.” While that means that the club will weigh present needs in considering trades this summer, it still appears unlikely that Atlanta will be a significant buyer. Instead, it seems, the club may not be aggressive in moving veterans if it’s still in playoff contention — an easier decision, perhaps, given that the Braves moved their best shorter-term assets before the season. “When we get to the Trade Deadline, we won’t look to ship out everyone who is on a free-agent contract or everybody who is over the age of 30,” he said. “We’re going to look to make good solid baseball trades that will be made in the best interest of this franchise. I don’t know if we’ll be as active as we have been previously. We’ll see what comes up at the Deadline, but by no means will we totally gut this team.”
- The Mets’ long-term plans at short probably will not involve Wilmer Flores, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com suggests on Twitter. New York will either fill that slot via trade or turn to 24-year-old Matt Reynolds, who is currently in his second stint at the Triple-A level. Of course, it’s worth noting that the organization has an even younger option in Gavin Cecchini. The 21-year-old is enjoying his best season as a professional at the Double-A level, where he’s slashing .285/.340/.423 over 262 plate appearances.
- The Phillies’ front office announcement today also revealed something about the club’s ownership situation, Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. John Middleton — who owns the single largest stake in the club (48%) — was front and center during today’s press conference, putting a new face on the organization. “We spent $18 million buying our initial interest in this team,” Middleton explained. “We’re a long way from $18 million now, so you have to take a greater role in the team. You have to.”
- Phillies president-to-be Andy MacPhail emphasized that he is prepared infuse analytics into the organization’s decisionmaking, as Nick Suss of MLB.com reports. With Middleton noting the importance of updating the club’s use of data, including a customized system that the club expects to bring on line in September, MacPhail indicated that his aim is to harness statistical analysis with a focus on the people performing and utilizing it. “The more experience you have with it and the more you get a better sense of which formulas really are predictors of performance and which ones aren’t, it’s something that knowledge accrues over time,” MacPhail said. “But I think it’s absolutely essential that you marry that with the best human intelligence you can. Bodies change. Weaknesses get exposed and they get exploited. People make adjustments. So you need to look at every single facet that is possible when you’re making player evaluations.”
Wonder if Macphail steps in and trades Hamels & Howard before the deadline…..
He does not really have a say in anything this year. He is under an evaluate and learn period for next 3 months. That being says, Gillick is running this show currently and he will definitely use MacPhail as an advisor in this period.
Love what Hart and Coppy have done. I don’t think the Braves will make the playoffs but as a fan, appreciate the effort to try, while keeping two eyes towards the future. I will be interested to see what kind of moves they make before the deadline.
The Mets will,find some way to,get a SS at deadline even if it’s Zobrist type and offer Montero as start to package. Matz is off limits.
Seriously, how is Atlanta so good? They literally traded their entire outfield, starting catcher, and world class closer for barely any major league ready talent, and are still in the midst of a race
Clearly you don’t understand the power of not having Melvin Upton Jr. on the team. But seriously, they should be the Phillies right now and are still right there. There is no way I see them being buyers at the deadline though.
“They literally traded their entire outfield, starting catcher, and world class closer for barely any major league ready talent”
Huh?
Reexamine the trades there. With exception to the Gattis trade, John Hart was careful to ensure that he was receiving MLB-ready talent in all his deals.
“[John Middleton] owns the single largest stake in the club (48%)”
But I thought David Montgomery has the largest stake?
That changed quite some time ago. It happened not long before (if my memory is correct) Montgomery stepped down because of his medical condition which also fueled rumors that Middleton was making a play to become a majority owner. I am not defending RAJ as I know the Phillies could do much better without him but things have run much smoother since Montgomery stepped down. At has been widely reported that he was a puppet master and the one behind the huge contracts and early extensions of Howard etc. He also insisted on keeping aging players but as GM, RAJ gets all the blame.
Yes. You get it. A lot of the moves made previously were pushed by Monty.
To be fair…Howard was running neck and neck with Pujols, and if he wouldn’t have completely fallen off a cliff he’d have had just about the exact right contract length…while Pujols will be driving a golf cart and still be getting paid.
The new data system in Philly will be named Fanatalytics
Alderson’s project of Flores is pretty clear right now, look at how he is falling apart, he can’t even handle a half-year playing in the major leagues. Thank you Sandy for your excellent work as a General Manager. The Campbell’s, the Flores, Cecclini are all duds!