Before acquiring Matt Kemp, the Braves looked into a deal for outfielder Ryan Braun, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports tweets. Braun, certainly, would have been the more intriguing addition, given that he has significantly out-produced Kemp this year, though presumably Milwaukee is much less interested in holding onto a big chunk of Braun’s salary to facilitate a deal. Atlanta GM John Coppolella acknowledged the importance of the financial component of the pact in recent comments, as Bowman reports. “We didn’t give up a draft pick, and we didn’t trade away any prospects,” he said. “So, we were able to stick with the plan that we had while still filling a major need for us with right-handed power.”
We’ll round up the remainder of the chatter on the eve of deadline day:
- Right-handed reliever Jim Johnson still seems to be the likeliest Braves player to be traded, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets. While the team would love to find a taker for shortstop Erick Aybar, though, there simply isn’t any interest in him, per the report.
- Chatter surrounding White Sox ace Chris Sale continues to suggest that he’s an unlikely trade candidate, but the mere possibility of a trade certainly warrants attention. The Rangers, Dodgers, and Red Sox are three clubs still working the phones to see if something can be worked out, per Heyman, who goes on to discuss some of the names being kicked around in possible deal frameworks.
- The Rays’ own controllable starters seem more likely to be moved, though that too is far from a certainty. Tampa Bay is still holding talks with many teams, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Meanwhile, the Cubs are at least still looking into acquiring a quality arm from that — or another — organization, Bruce Miles of 670thescore.com tweets. We also heard tonight that the Giants are chasing Rays lefty Matt Moore.
- Though the Yankees still haven’t fielded offers that it likes for outfielder Carlos Beltran, rival executives tell Heyman (Twitter link) that they think the veteran will be moved tomorrow. You can read up on the latest rumblings on Beltran right here.
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said over the weekend (on Saturday, to be exact) that his team is “50-50” to make a move in advance of the deadline, as Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. “We’ve got some things in the works, but nothing getting close to going over the finish line at this point,” said Luhnow, who also acknowledged the high price that starting pitching is commanding this summer. Houston doesn’t appear to have any real needs, strictly speaking, but is surely interested in exploring ways to bolster the roster — particularly in the rotation.
The Astros have a glaring need… Their lineup. The lineup they used against Detroit had 1 hitter above .270 and 3 hitters above .230. They also only have had 1 bench player the last 3 days and Rasmus, Castro, Marisnick and Gomez are automatic outs. If they don’t get a hitter they can forget the playoffs altogether. Unless you actually watch them on a daily basis you don’t realize how bad the lineup is after the first four hitters. Luhnow should have gone after Lucroy from the start. Wouldn’t mind Bruce or Beltran either, but they can’t stand pat. Prospects are prospects and they’ve become so attached to them now they won’t trade them. Go get a guaranteed hitter. They’re probably also scared about the Gomez trade last year. So many frustrating things about this organization.
Huge Astros fan here, watch all the time.
I agree the lineup is a glaring need, but so is the starting rotation. The fact of the matter is, they simply aren’t in a position for a deep playoff push this season. If they acquire a hitter, it’s more than likely going to be a rental. I think Beltran is the PERFECT player for Houston to add, especially if he can handle 1B. He’s even a guy I’d feel confident in trying to have around next year. Veteran leader, produced in playoffs before, and should be relatively cheap. I really like some guys in the minors for Houston, especially as far as SP goes.
Gomez last year was a terrible move. Even questionable at the time with the known hip issue.. The Giles trade hasn’t been great to them, either.
Lucroy would have been nice to have, but Castro is a great defensive catcher. He’s anemic with the bat,
I prefer them stand pat for this year, as opposed to over pay for someone to make a late push. Keuchel isn’t throwing well, McHugh, Fiers, or Fister either. McCullers has been a welcome shot in the arm that they needed. They simply aren’t a championship caliber team this year, especially with the production teams like Cleveland, Boston, and CHC are putting on the field.
Let this year play out, see what we have in Bregman, Gurriel, and maybe see Martes or Musgrove this September. Let David Paulino get some more PT in the minors, and maybe a look at him next spring. AJ Reed may figure it out at first (or even Singleton or White, for that matter), Bregman may become the next Pedroia, Gurriel, while old, may be able to lock down Evan Longoria type numbers with ease. Maybe none of those are true. Maybe all are. We don’t know, but we have to see what they have and give them the chance. Go into the off season, shed Gomez, see what we’re working with, and address needs then.
Astros fan here also, I would love to see Beltran’s name on the back of an Astro’s jersey. Loved his game. I agree we need a hitter and he would DEFINITELY help us out. But I also think we need a good starter also. But anything can happen today so I’m anxious to see what they will do!
It is so refreshing to see a fellow Astros fan with this opinion. It’s exhausting just reading the stupid ideas people have to fix this lineup and to hear people talk about trading away the whole farm for people like Sale, etc. The Astros have SO many holes and trading away our farm for 1 or 2 guys isn’t going to win us a championship this year. Couldn’t agree more with your analysis, see what we have with the team and prospects to finish the year out and then take it into the offseason and try and make some big moves in free agency.
Other than suggesting that Beltran can place 1B, there are lists of smart ideas in this feed.
I’d love to see Beltran bat 2nd in the lineup.
I agree that were just not a championship caliber team. They could get lucky and go on a roll, but that has everything to do with the players we already have. Adding a player isn’t necessarily going to improve our chances enough to matter.
Standing pat or, even trading a couple of relievers, is likely the smartest move. However, it they can get Beltran for a fair price, he makes a lot sense and he would be fun to watch.
Freddie Freeman is the player that Houston needs to get them to the Division lead. Braves do not want to trade him as he is the team leader and top producer. Freeman hits for average and power and is excellent on defense and very astute as an infield leader. It would take a team’s three top prospects to get him at least. Nevertheless, Alex Bregman, AJ Reed and Kyle Tucker or Daz Cameron might pry him loose from the Braves. If the Astros want icing on the cake they can add Julio Teheran to the deal for Lance McCullers, Frances Martes and Joe Musgrove or David Paulino. That is adding 8-9 WAR for four years for basically prospects.
to Hell with that idea. I’m not enamored with prospects, and I don’t necessarily look at them with rose colored glasses, but I wouldn’t give McCullers up for Teheran straight up. Much less wanting two top pitching prospects with him. That’s completely and utterly asinine.
Teheran has a 12.4 WAR in in 121 starts. McCullers has a 4.4 WAR in 35 starts. McCullers actually has a higher WAR per start than Teheran does. Why would they trade the cheaper, younger, higher upside pitcher with major prospects for Teheran? Teheran has had 1 quality start in his last 5. McCullers has legitimate ace upside, Teheran doesn’t. Teheran was also only 1.5 WAR last year. In all reality, he’s a 3-4 WAR pitcher, and McCullers is that this year. That’s just a terrible, terrible, terrible trade suggestion. I mean terrible.
I can see the Freeman trade, kind of. I think that’s too rich for him though. Bregman is up and ready now, they may as well see how he pans out. No sense in trading him now. He’s started off cool, but if he hits and becomes a .280-.290 hitter with 18-22 HR pop, he’s not getting moved with major pieces for the MLBs deepest position.
Also, how is that adding 8 WAR?
McCullers is on pace for a 4.4 WAR this year in 33 starts. (He won’t make that due to season being short to injury). He was a 3.6 WAR pitcher last year if you extrapolate out to 33 starts.
Teheran is on pace for a 5.7 in 33 starts this year. He was 1.5 last year, and 3.9 the year before.
You absolutely cannot expect Houston to give up McCullers + pieces for Teheran, when McCullers WAR value is so close, and he’s still fresh to the league. McCullers FIP also suggests he’s pitching to an ERA you would expect, or even a slightly worse ERA than you’d expect. Teheran has outpitched his FIP 3 years in a row, but this year much more so. I would bet a second half regression is coming, and given that he has 1 QS in his last 5 starts, it may already be here.
So, AT BEST, that trade is adding the WAR of Freeman + 1. Given that McCullers may very well out perform Teheran down the stretch, and in future years, that’s a losing trade. You also cannot project the WAR of a guy like Bregman. He’s not just a project, he’s major league ready and in the majors.
There is absolutely no way in Hell Houston should want any part of that Teheran deal you suggested. The Freeman one, I can see, but Bregman + Reed, Tucker, and Daz is an extreme over pay. 1B is the deepest position in the league. Of course, you probably just named them from knowing their names because they are top prospects. Reed, Tucker, Daz, and another minor leaguer or two, fine, I buy that. But Bregman + all those guys? Hard pass.
Lol Freddie Freeman is not worth our 3 top prospects.
It’d be nice to get Archer back but I shudder to imagine what it would cost after the Chapman deal.
The Astros absolutely need one of the Rays starters or Sale (if he is attainable in a package from them, which is obviously not a given). Their rotation is extremely shaky to say the least- even if they made the playoffs, you’ve got McCullers and then what after game 1? Kuechel has regressed tremendously, there’s just not enough depth in the rotation. They have to do something.
They do, but not for this year. They aren’t a playoff team. Even after Sale/Archer/Moore/whomever, they aren’t ready to compete. The batting lineup and pitching rotation are both very suspect. Houston can kill you with the long ball. Even with a big acquisition, they may not snag a playoff spot. Stand pat, see what the younger assets can do, and grab an arm this winter. I think the lineup will be OK. Correa has been up and down this year, Bregman has started off awful, and Springer is just entering his prime. No reason Bregman and Correa can’t both hit .280’s next year, Altuve will keep rolling but not to the tune he is this year, and Springer should be capable of .260 or .270 with good HR and SB totals. Gurriel also has some nice offensive upside, though he is aging.
If Gurriel and Bregman can figure out MLB pitching, they will have a formidable lineup. I’d like to see Beltran come back to town, for next year too even (if he will and can play 1B).
No way that the Astros swing a deal for Sale without Bregman + a ton more going back to Chicago
Definitely agree. Bregman, Martes, Musgrove + pieces still. Look at what Atlanta got for Shelby Miller. Granted, HUGE over pay, terrible trade for Diamondbacks (even at the time), but Sale is worth much more than Shelby Miller.
Houston getting Sale would be awesome. Even at the cost of Bregman + much more. However, I’d be more than happy with looking a little cheaper on the SP scale.
I was harping all off season about how I wish they would sign John Lackey. Too bad the market is so terrible after this season.
Do the Astros have a young near ML ready 3B in the minors? Maybe they could match up for Beltran
Colin Moran
That’s actually not a bad idea. Moran for Beltran – I’d be happy with it, but the way Cashman has been dealing, I think he’ll hold for something better.
On second thought, they still need arms. Any one of Paulino, Whitley, Musgrove would work for Beltran.
There’s absolutely no way Houston moves one of those arms for Beltran. They aren’t ready to win this year. Even getting Beltran doesn’t fix their shaky rotation. Musgrove is MLB ready, and Paulino will be next season. Whitley is far away, but too much upside for a rental. If Houston was actually in it right now, or the rotation was pitching better, it’s another story, but it will take a substantial chunk out of their farm to acquire both a SP and hitting. Beltran, while I’d love to have him, is 39 years old and has played 109 and 133 games the last two years. He’s hitting at a far better clip this year than he did the last two as well. He’s worth getting, but he’s definitely not worth parting with a young arm like any of those guys.
I could see Moran, or Moran + another small piece. I absolutely cannot see moving guys who have been throwing like Paulino and Musgrove in the minors,
Also – why trade Whitley for half a season of Beltran? If you are OK losing a first round pick, sign a guy tied to a QO this offseason, a la Ian Desmond, put him in center, and have him for years to come. Heck, sign anyone at a position you know you need, and you will have.
I am a huge Astros fan. I will be very disappointed if they make a big move at the deadline for a guy who is a rental, given I truly do not believe they are made up of what it takes to do well in the playoffs (especially this year). Selling the future for the second wild card spot, and losing out in the WC or DIV rounds… man, that’d be sickening. And it’s what I’m afraid would happen.
I’m not against trading Moran and possibly a lesser player for Beltran. Heck Gurriel and Bregman can handle the hot corner.
Morin plus another piece for Beltran is a steal for the Astros.
I would love to wake up Monday and see Beltran gone.
In a perfect world, Nova, Tex, Arod, Ellsbury and just about anyone else. Yeah, Ellsbury is a long shot, but I can dream, yes?
Haha.
That would be a dream come true, if the Yanks went into a full rebuild
I would it to get past 4pm and a Hundred of Trades have been made.
SO thankful the Braves passed on Ryan Braun. He’s one of my least favorite players after the PED incident!
Agree on Braun, while he has pop and slightly healthy, rather have Kemp and what comes with him. I think even next year, teams will be hesitant to deal for Braun.
I don’t know about that. Good bat. Whether or not a man takes PEDS if he can hit he is in the lineup. The problem will be his contract that a team won’t want to eat up
That was my biggest positive on the Kemp deal, gave up a contract we didn’t want but most importantly didn’t lose any youth.
I’m actually wondering if John Schuerholz (who is currently on the MLB rules committee) whispered some bug in Coppy’s ear along the lines of “the NL teams will soon need a DH”?
LOL because it seems that Kemp would be the prototypical fit for the Braves if the NL adopts the DH in the near future.
And does that near-future have President Trump and the western wall of America protecting us from the terrorists?
Haha you guys crack me up. Can you imagine the dramatic effects DH in NL would do to all of baseball and trades in particular?
There was a very interesting article on PIT trading Austin Meadows for package involving Vizcaino, Cabrera and Aaron Blair. I can’t imagine PIT trading one of the top prospects in MLB in Meadows for an injured closer (and possibly another closer in Cabrera) along with a starter that’s struggled in a small sample size, though has a lot of upside.
As a Braves fan, I would take this deal in a heart-beat. Problem is, it is rather light. Granted Blair has faired well in AAA lately, Viz won’t help Pit for another few weeks and Cabrera is a rather wild-card. I think if you want to talk Teheran for Meadows, McGuire, and another piece, that would be a great deal for both sides.
Agreed – might be something different if Viz was healthy. But it’s still too soon to cash in on Cabrera.
As a big Yankees fan, I don’t want them to give up trade all good players, instead of Beltran,they should trade Gardner and Rodriguez.
I don’t want Beltran traded because of his great stats he is one of the Yankees best batters and players.
Beltran is a rental and is most likely leaving at the end of the year (due to multiple guys who can play DH on the Yankees). And trading Rodriguez is a pipe dream. No team is going to take him. He might actually be the most untradeable player in the game right now.
Brett Gardner or Alex Rodriguez
Quintana and Frazier to the Astros for one top hitting prospect and one top pitching prospect.. Astros can give the Sox a list of hitters, pitchers, and let Sox pick one from each list. Maybe throw in Valbuena or Preston Tucker.
Quintana is going to go for more than what you said for him and Frazier. You are looking at probably 3 top 5 prospects plus an additional 3 or 4 prospects for those 2. That is the current price going. We saw what the Yankees got for 2 relievers, Its going to be alot more for a controllable left handed starter.
I agree with MJ. I would expect to see one of Martes or Musgrove and then Paulino leave for Quintana, and that’s just getting started.
I’m comfortable with Houston letting the minor league guys play this year out, compete in ST, and see what happens. I think if they do nothing, they’ll be as good as they are next year, and have a better idea of what they need next years trade deadline. Let the hitting or pitching solidify itself before making a splash and a push.
Quintana alone would cost WAY more than 2 top prospects as he is under team control through 2020
The Astros don’t need Frazier with Bregman and Gurriel.
A team doesn’t have to all bat for high averages to get to the WS and win. But other things factor in, obviously… And the fact that, if you are a fan, you can bite your nails and live in torment like we do for our Giants, watching small ball, good pitching, good defense. When we are on, we aren’t a power/home run team, and we play fundamentally sound baseball.
If the Astros want to make a push, go for Archer, Pearce and Cedeno from the Rays. Archer is controlled for 5.5 years, Pearce has been hitting better than Beltran and has played 1B, 2B, 3B, RF and LF in MLB and Cedeno is a LH set up man with 3.5 years of control. It would cost the Astros and arm and a leg, but fill many needs this year and moving forward.
God the haul they would have to give up.
Not worth it
Freddie Freeman is the player that Houston needs to get them to the Division lead. Braves do not want to trade him as he is the team leader and top producer. Freeman hits for average and power and is excellent on defense and very astute as an infield leader. It would take a team’s three top prospects to get him at least. Nevertheless, Alex Bregman, AJ Reed and Kyle Tucker or Daz Cameron might pry him loose from the Braves. If the Astros want icing on the cake they can add Julio Teheran to the deal for Lance McCullers, Frances Martes and Joe Musgrove or David Paulino. That is adding 8.0 WAR for four years for basically prospects.
to Hell with that idea. I’m not enamored with prospects, and I don’t necessarily look at them with rose colored glasses, but I wouldn’t give McCullers up for Teheran straight up. Much less wanting two top pitching prospects with him. That’s completely and utterly asinine.
Teheran has a 12.4 WAR in in 121 starts. McCullers has a 4.4 WAR in 35 starts. McCullers actually has a higher WAR per start than Teheran does. Why would they trade the cheaper, younger, higher upside pitcher with major prospects for Teheran? Teheran has had 1 quality start in his last 5. McCullers has legitimate ace upside, Teheran doesn’t. Teheran was also only 1.5 WAR last year. In all reality, he’s a 3-4 WAR pitcher, and McCullers is that this year. That’s just a terrible, terrible, terrible trade suggestion. I mean terrible.
I can see the Freeman trade, kind of. I think that’s too rich for him though. Bregman is up and ready now, they may as well see how he pans out. No sense in trading him now. He’s started off cool, but if he hits and becomes a .280-.290 hitter with 18-22 HR pop, he’s not getting moved with major pieces for the MLBs deepest position.
McCullers is not key to the deal. He is listed as their number four starter on the depth chart so maybe the Stros have the best rotation in baseball already. Julio is going to produce 4.0 WAR for five years for only $40 million so that is a $100 Million value. Actually any current starter could be substituted in the deal I proposed.
There’s no way in Trump’s America that Teheran and Freeman both get traded, and in the same deal. Though Bregman is nice, he hasn’t done anything in the majors nor has AJ Reed. Coppy has stated that he wants MLB talent going forward. Springer, Correa (I know, untouchable), McCullers fall into that category. Freeman has a good contract unless he totally bombs. Teheran could pitch his career-worst and still be a good deal going forward.
Who cares where he’s listed? Open your eyes and watch. He wouldn’t have been listed as the clear cut 2 had he not started the year on the DL. He was their top pitching prospect.
Your rotation “ranking” means very, very little. Did you seriously just look at the depth chart and assume that he’s their 4th best pitcher?
McCullers will be, by far, the hardest to obtain pitcher on that staff. By far, and it’s not even close. He’s not even arbitration eligible until 2019, or a free agent until 2022. That’s another 6 years of team control, for much cheaper than what Teheran is signed for.
Also – this will be the first year Teheran has ever produced a 4+ WAR. To say he’s going to do it for the next 5 years? Laughable.
Agree. Freeman is a great get. I buy that part of the trade. The Teheran part, there’s just no way.
How is that adding 8 WAR?
McCullers is on pace for a 4.4 WAR this year in 33 starts. (He won’t make that due to season being short to injury). He was a 3.6 WAR pitcher last year if you extrapolate out to 33 starts.
Teheran is on pace for a 5.7 in 33 starts this year. He was 1.5 last year, and 3.9 the year before.
You absolutely cannot expect Houston to give up McCullers + pieces for Teheran, when McCullers WAR value is so close, and he’s still fresh to the league. McCullers FIP also suggests he’s pitching to an ERA you would expect, or even a slightly worse ERA than you’d expect. Teheran has outpitched his FIP 3 years in a row, but this year much more so. I would bet a second half regression is coming, and given that he has 1 QS in his last 5 starts, it may already be here.
Typical Sale or Quintana Comment-Section-Trade-Proposal Discussion:
Commenter A: “Universally top-ranked, projectable prospects W,X,Y,Z should be close.”
Commenter B: “The Sox would laugh at that proposal. Any Sale or Quintana trade starts with the Sistine Chapel and Buckingham Palace, but that only gets the conversation started.”
Beltran for Puig straight up!!
When the Yankees get the Cubs’ top prospect, another fair prospect, a useful albeit struggling pitcher, and a player to be named later for a rental, do you really blame the Sox for wanting a lot more than that for a pitcher controllable for three more years after this one? As a Sox fan, though, my price wouldn’t be Sistine Chapel / Buckingham Palace high. I don’t like the Rangers’ supposed package because Gallo strikes out half the time he goes to bat and Profar seems to have regressed, but Sale for Benintendi, Moncada, and Swihart is a deal I’d probably do. Or you can take out Moncada, add Devers and a couple mid-tier prospects and it would be worth considering.
Overall, I want the White Sox to trade everyone they can except Fulmer, Anderson, and Rodon for all the decent-to-good prospects they can. After Sale and Quintana, both Abreu and Eaton are on team-friendly contracts with years of control and could bring back good prospects. Would love a fire sale that sets them up with the league’s best farm system and prepares them to hopefully be what the Cubs currently are a few years down the road.
I find it odd that the Braves checked in on Braun, but not Bruce. Would have given them the power bat they wanted.
Kemp=RH bat
Bruce=LH bat
Braves should try to get a deal with the Yankees where they package Brian McCann(17,17.17,15 thru 2019) and Chase Headley(13,13,13 thru 2018) with enough cash to pay 60% of their contracts. That would be around $60 Million cash. Braves would send MLB top 100 LHP Kolby Allard and RHP Touki Toussaint with catcher Lucas Herbert and 3b Austin Riley. The Braves package is a projected $120 Million Value.
Braves would be ready to compete in 2017. Yankees would have best farm system in MLB and clear significant payroll from next three years.
“please take our horrendous contracts for aging players. We’ll pay you as if you are only taking 1 of them. Give us a cluster of top prospects”
Guess this means something but who could tell what?
No way Atlanta makes that trade.
Why do Braves fans want McCann back? He’s not that good anymore, hitting in a shoebox of Yankee stadium.
@cdb29349 I don’t understand it either. Ramos is our guy, He would cost barely more than McCain and is way younger, with better defense. Also no prospects given up. Hell we have 70 mill that we will have to spend (rough guesstimate on the 55 mil or so we have on the books next season) I’m sure a 18 mill/year catcher for 4/5 years would be fine.
Even if it’s pushing 23 mill, still wouldn’t be a bad deal.
So the astros #*•! The bed and make no upgrades whatsoever ? They are not deserving of the postseason after this . They should have got lucroy in december now we just gave to face him multiple times for the next couple of seasons lunhow is extremely disappointing just another wasted season.
WTH? I see an Astros team with TONS of young talent now emerging in the show and some excellent arms and bats on their way THIS YEAR, sure Alex hasn’t produced the numbers in his limited time since the call up but he has showed VERY respectable skills at the hot corner and has hit the ball well they just haven’t been landing for him. Expect him to come around soon…..but keep in mind here this kid was just drafted last year! And really what have we learned about these deadline trades….. i.e. with Gomez …. there just isn’t any reason to mortgage the future for some rentals that may still not get you to the playoffs when the smart the to do is shed some weight here or there and pull some small deals to help replenish the farm system that took a hit in the Giles and Fiers , Gomez trades…… On a footnote , Gile will be closing before the end of the year. Kid has the stuff and is finally getting it back together…. Bottom line is the Astros are playing for multiple championships not just to get to the postseason this year again….. I for one am proud of what they have done and hope they stand firm this year and just see what happens. It will be fun to watch if your a true Stros fan.
Whoever that was that even mentioned trading Lance McCullers cant be serious , I cant imagine any trade involving him for many years! He is a legit top of the rotation guy , just wait till we get a look at Musgrove here soon and then Paulino behind him maybe next year. Then we have Martes , lots of great arms ! I see us having a solid rotation for the future with a mixture of those arms. We are extremely fortunate to be in the spot we are in, Playing good baseball and getting some kids playing time while we are at it HELL we could still possibly sneak into the playoffs who knows, I see some possible offseason moves coming after we get a better look at some of the kids this year but hopefully nothing crazy., as for now with the injuries and the youth we have , we are in a unique position. Best to play it safe. Just my 2cents