The Braves have already grabbed headlines tonight by acquiring lefty Jaime Garcia from the Cardinals in a four-player trade, but here are a few other notes from around the division…
- While domestic violence charges against Mets closer Jeurys Familia may soon be dropped, that doesn’t mean he won’t face league discipline. That possibility must be considered by the organization as it charts its offseason, GM Sandy Alderson says, as ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin reports. Of course, it still seems unlikely that the club will be motivated to spend big on a new late-inning arm, particularly with Addison Reed capable of filling in for the ninth inning after an excellent 2016 season. It’s possible that a reliever, or perhaps some array of young talent, could end up moving to New York if (or, more likely, when) the team deals one of its left-handed-hitting corner outfielders, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports. The Mets’ strong preference is still to trade Jay Bruce rather than Curtis Granderson; it seems that the latter player may be expected to share time in center with Juan Lagares.
- Alderson also said in an appearance on MLB Network Radio today (Twitter link) that he’d be “surprised” if the Mets got involved with a top-level center fielder in free agency due not only to the draft pick they’d have to forfeit (referring to Dexter Fowler and Ian Desmond) and also due to the fact that the team has other needs on the roster. Following the re-signing of Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets are looking to move an outfielder, with reports indicating that Jay Bruce is the name they hope to shed. However, Curtis Granderson is reportedly drawing more interest, and FanRag’s Jon Heyman reports that the Orioles are among the teams with interest in Granderson (Twitter link). Baltimore doesn’t appear to have much interest in Bruce, however, he adds.
- The Braves put in a strong pursuit of righty Edinson Volquez before he went to the Marlins, ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted yesterday. The team’s interest in Volquez came after it had already landed both R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon, but the Braves have been said to be focused on acquiring short-term assets in the rotation or front-of-the-rotation arms that would require enormous trade packages. As such, it’s possible that Atlanta only had interest in Volquez on a one-year deal, but he received two years and $22MM from the Marlins. Atlanta acted quickly to grab another short-term rotation commodity with tonight’s Garcia trade.
- The Marlins, too, still appear to be shopping for arms, as Heyman reports that they have potential interest in free-agent right-handers Jason Hammel and Doug Fister. The Fish are also looking for bullpen help, Heyman notes, which has been a priority in Miami for much of the offseason. Tim Healey of the Miami Sun-Sentinel writes that Miami is hoping to keep right-hander David Phelps in the bullpen following his dominance in that role in 2016. “Ideally, if we can keep a deep bullpen, we can keep him as that multi-inning effective bridge to the back-end guys,” said president of baseball ops Michael Hill to Healey. “He impacts more games for us that way. But we know he has the versatility if he has to move into the rotation to do that seamlessly and not miss a beat.”
- The Nationals are still looking for a closer, tweets Heyman, but it’s likely that they consider Aroldis Chapman to be too expensive. The Nats are interested in a reunion with Mark Melancon, however, he notes, adding that Washington “loved” Melancon’s clubhouse presence in his short stint with the team following a trade-deadline rental this past summer.
bravesfan1998
Good deal bravos
BravesBoi
I’m not a huge fan of it. I would think we could’ve got it done with taking out either Gant or Ellis and putting in a lower level prospect.
chound
Well ummm, you would be wrong… It took both and Dykstra.
BravesBoi
I know what got it done, obviously. But you can’t say it would or wouldn’t have gotten done if they had offered a little bit worse prospect than one of the two of them.
dwilson10
I’m not a huge fan of the O’s going after Granderson. I know he fits what they are looking for since he is a RFer, lefty, good fielder, and a leadoff hitter, but he doesn’t hit for a good average and will be 36 to start next season. Most true leadoff hitters hit around .280-.290 or .300. It seems like he has a good batting eye but his bat isn’t what it used to be.
MrMet19
If I were you I’d love to have him. His OBP is on par with many other lead off hitters (he walks a LOT), and his clubhouse prescence is phenomenal. However, I, being a Mets fan, would loathe a trade of granderson.
dwilson10
I don’t follow the Mets but I just saw how his average was so low, it seems like he is a homerun or nothing guy that gets his fair share of walks.
burn0820
The homeruns mostly came in September. Grandy is a great leader in the clubhouse and on the field. He draws walks, puts the ball in play and will hit homeruns in the clutch. Don’t be fooled by the high strikeouts and low average. He plays a good Center Field and a great right field
BravesBoi
His OBP took a pretty significant hit this year. While his walks were down, so were his strikeouts, but I still don’t think that really helps him much if he doesn’t get his OBP back up next season. Pair that with his declining speed, and solid, but nowhere near spectacular defense, and I have to think Bruce’s ceiling is higher than Granderson’s, especially with the difference in age.
unitedmets
Mets need a closer and the Os are trading there closer and the Os need a outfielder… See where I’m getting
Mets get: Zach Britton
Os get: Granderson, Brandon Nimmo, Seth Lugo, Gavin Cecchini, and Cash
Fair or not enough for Britton?
Joe Orsulak
Way too much man
chesteraarthur
for the O’s?
elgranrojo44
Brah, Britton had a couple good years… that’s wayyyyy too much for a reliever lmfao… you buggin
gorav114
Nah brah, u bugging. Britton is not a top five reliever or even top three. He is the best closer in baseball and comes with no baggage, no injury history, and relative youth. If the Os trade him, which I think they should, he will easily bring back at least the package proposed above. I’d even say same package but the Mets will pay Granderson salary for ’17.
dwilson10
Not enough. I saw a proposed trade of Britton to the Cubs and in return, the O’s would get Happ, Candelario, Underwood, and Cease.
reflect
But those are all prospects/rookies. There’s a premium on players who’ve proven themselves at the major leagues. Granderson is worth a lot compared to a prospect-centered offer. Lugo is also a proven starter (as in, proven to at least be good enough to make it).
If you replace Lugo and Granderson with prospects the offer becomes more reasonable.
reflect
How about just Granderson and Cecchini only
Or Grandy and Nimmo only, if you prefer that.
reflect
How many years is Britton locked up for?
chesteraarthur
I believe 2
burn0820
Granderson, ceccini and cash and a low level prospect maybe for Britton. No way the Mets would the Mets give up a 30 homerun hitter, a proven young starter and two high level prospects for a closer not named Chapman.
JT19
Have you seen the numbers Britton put up? He had a sub 1.00 ERA. Too lazy to look it up but I’m pretty sure his FIP was below 2.00. He doesn’t carry the Chapman name value, but he’s just as good. He’s locked up for another year under arbitration and has established himself as one of the top 5 closers in the league. A trade for Britton starts with two high level prospects (or one really high level prospect) at least. The Mets don’t need Britton, but don’t expect to acquire him for scraps.
JT19
Exactly. Granderson has some value, but considering he’s old and has one year of control, he doesn’t replace a top prospect. He maybe lessens the quality of the top prospect being sent in the deal, but by no means is Granderson a headliner that can be considered a close enough deal if another mid-level prospect is thrown in.
BravesBoi
I think that should be pretty close to good, but I don’t think it’ll happen. Britton is a very underrated closer, and I think they’ll keep him. But I don’t think any of those Granderson plus 1 trades would work. He’s getting old and declining. So he’s not much of an incentive to trade a lockdown closer
metseventually 2
Would love to see the Mets outfield as Cespedes-Fowler-Conforto next year…
ExileInLA 2
Why is everyone so down on Lagares?
BravesBoi
I’ve thought the same thing. He is a great defender, and while he has never been great offensively, they don’t really need him to be. If he produces league average on offense, which I believe he is capable of, paired with his defense, he may be their best outfielder. Besides some guy they just signed
Howard-NY13
Britton for granderson, nimmo, cecchini
jacobsigel1025
And then New York will still have a quality outfield in Cespedes, Bruce, Conforto
dwilson10
I’m sure the O’s would want young pitching prospects in return. I could see something like Granderson, Dunn, Nimmo, and Szapucki for Britton. This isn’t as crazy as most of you will think it is. Britton is coming off the best season ever for a closer, is reasonably priced at a projected $11-12 million, still has 2 years remaining before free agency, and is only 28 (29 by the start of next season). I’m not saying this because I’m an O’s fan but he is better than Chapman and Miller and look at the returns the Yankees got for them. Miller was headlined by the #15 overall prospect in baseball along with the #78 and Chapman (who was a rental) was headlined by the #17 prospect in baseball. Britton could easily get the O’s a return like this from the Mets, or any team interested in him.
BravesBoi
I think since Miller isn’t a closer he has more versatility in being used pretty much any time in a game instead of just hoping your relievers hold the lead until the 9th inning for your closer so I think he may be viewed by some as slightly more valuable. But I do think Britton is a top 3 closer in the game and if traded should bring in a pretty big haul for his age, cost, and repeatedly great production.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Doesn’t seem like it will take much to land Jay Bruce. I’d like to see the Pirates offer up a lousy prospect for him.
The Pirates have NO power and it doesn’t stand to get better trading McCutchen. They have few left handed bats.
They could use Bruce in RF or at 1B depending on who fits better where between him and Josh Bell.
Polanco, Marte, Bruce is a solid OF.
hojostache
There are multiple teams (3+) considering Bruce…so there is a market for him.
Bruce was T-4th for OF in HR in MLB.
He was also tied w. J. Donaldson, B. Dozier, and K. Seager last year for RBIs.
Bruce’s defense is poor and he is streaky, but he puts up #’s and what team could pass on a 30HR/100RBI guy? He will be able to secure a solid BP (7th/8th inning guy) or a couple of mid-level prospects. PIT can keep their “lousy prospect” because Bruce will garner far more than another team’s leftovers.