The Braves aren’t done looking for a controllable starter after missing on Jose Quintana, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (links to Twitter). Atlanta pushed hard for the southpaw, per the report, with the team dangling Ozzie Albies as a headliner — though Passan’s source makes clear that talks never reached an advanced stage. It’s interesting to hear that Albies was offered up, but that was surely a prerequisite to get in the door on Quintana. Whether the intriguing young middle infielder could also be on the block in trade concepts involving other pitchers isn’t clear, but it seems that the Braves are still looking to be aggressive in adding arms for 2018 and beyond.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson acknowledged that his organization will remain in a selling position unless things go “exceedingly well” before the deadline, as Marc Carig of Newsday writes. As the team sits eight games under .500, reaching a realistic position of contention would likely require a prolonged winning streak combined with stumbles from one or more front-running teams. Alderson reiterated that the club will not be looking to do more than cash in some expiring veterans, saying that a trade involving a core veteran would be “exceedingly unlikely.” Alderson also addressed some of his broader roster-building philosophies, including the relative value of defense in player evaluation, which you can read about at the above link.
- It seems that righty Edinson Volquez may not be so quick to return to the Marlins rotation as had been hoped. As Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter, MRI results on the veteran’s balky left knee showed patellar tendinitis. Skipper Don Mattingly suggested that it doesn’t look to be a significant long-term problem, but Volquez also won’t return from the DL on Sunday. There hasn’t been much suggestion that he’s likely to factor as a trade piece, though the injury further clouds that possibility. Given his hefty salary for 2018 ($13MM), Volquez could also certainly be moved in August.
- One Marlins player who very clearly is in demand is right-handed reliever David Phelps, as Spencer also reports. He’s “drawing far more interest” than is closer A.J. Ramos, per the report, with about ten teams inquiring on the former and only two or three asking about the latter. It sounds as if both have a good chance of changing hands, ultimately, but it’s not all that surprising to hear that the steady Phelps is in greater demand. Indeed, he could even be seen as a possible rotation candidate for 2018 by some organizations that would be interested in adding him to their pen down the stretch.
- Braves righty Arodys Vizcaino could well factor in trade talks as well. He’s throwing off a mound today and seemingly won’t be far off from a return, per David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). It had been a bit unclear just when he’d return, but it seems as if the talented — if somewhat enigmatic — reliever ought to have plenty of time to display his form for possible suitors. Veteran right-hander Jason Motte, though, may be headed in the other direction. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets that Motte is heading to the DL with a back strain. He may have held some interest to contenders, though his peripherals lagged his results in Atlanta (and the ERA had begun to creep northward anyway).
halos101
anybody remember braves fans saying that their team “wouldn’t be dumb enough” to trade albies straight up for quintana (which is insane)? Cause i sure do
noraj9
no
halos101
:/
realgone2
They just did that to see what the sox would say.
basilisk4
Nope, but as a Braves fan, really glad that didn’t happen!
halos101
i don’t get the braves obsession with giving up a huge deal for starters. Develop the young guys, find a core and then you can trade
BravesFan7241
Yeah but Quintana isn’t Chris Sale or even Chris Archer level. He’s not an Ace
halos101
yeah even if he was though i don’t think bows the time for the braves to do something big
bsteady7
Better than Archer
Priggs89
Quintana isn’t an Ace but Chris Archer is? Based on what? Strikeout?
*I don’t think either of them is, for the record.
AidanVega123
Please for the love of god don’t start this again…
JKB 2
No
fireboss
Passan backed off his first tweet almost immediately. He says it was discussed. Th Discussion went like this
White Sox” How about Albies?”
Braves “uproarious laughter”
Sox “so that’s a no?”
Braves “(still giggling) That was funny Rick , how about we get serious?’
Sox “what about Acun…
Braves “click”
halos101
uh according to passan the package revolved around albies but never got serious
NL_East_Rivalry
I think he is confused with Acuña. Braves were trying to get Quintana for Albies + but the CWS insisted on Acuña. Drove the price up and set the market, so if the Braves are trying to get a starter they only hurt themselves. Can never be too sure with JC
pplama
Except it wouldn’t have been Albies straight up.
halos101
ik that but braves fans were saying they wouldn’t trade albies straight up if they were the gm.
pplama
They might want to check his splits as he’s climbed the ladder in the Minors.
desoxu
nice
kj2001
Pisses me off that the braves are willing to just move Albies just like that. All they’ve done since starting this rebuild is Draft and trade for pitching. I just don’t understand why there trying to trade for controllable pitching….. all I can say is there pissing me off though
Dillon Carroll™
u gotta give up talent to get tslent. fact it camarho has made albies somewhat expendable
RunDMC
Consider we are in Year 3 of a rebuild and they’ve drafted high school arms that take 5+/- years in top parts of the draft. We are at the precipice of seeing what some of our prospects are about with Newcomb only a few starts under his belt. They’re trading for controllable pitching because it’s the most expensive on the free agent market and they have the depth to do so. Garcia is gone next year, Dickey has an option but there is no other pitcher that closer to ML. Getting someone like Q could have made fellow countryman Teheran better while not relying so much on developing arms. FO has proven they will overpay for inning eaters even if they are 43 years old and it’s an obvious overpay. Switch to decaf and simma down. It’s going to be ok.
Overbrook
Building a pitching staff is tough. building it thriwing just prospects out there is near impossible. Braves obviously want to win next year. And they may be able to help.
WAH1447
Plus Albies was signed when frank wren was running the team so they might not be quite as attached just like with Pereza
realgone2
Wren stench
jbaker3170
I don’t buy it. Never read a single report that says Albies was “dangled” in talks w/Chicago. If this was the case, why didn’t this very website ever report such a story?? Because it never happened. Keep in mind that this is the same site that said Atlanta was the front runner to sign Yosmany Tomas, a deal was imminent, etc and obviously that didn’t happen
Bungalows
First of all the Albies thing is from Rick Hahn himself secondly just because your a front runner doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen
petfoodfella
Pitching wins championships. Just about everyone can hit a fastball, but there aren’t that many pitchers that can give you 7+ and a chance to win every day.
Developing young guys is part of the plan, but you do need some established players mixed in there.
Don’t worry, the professionals are handling it.
vrezh
It’s a clubs style or philosophy. Every club is different.
scotiansoldier
Sounds like Sandy is exceedingly fond of this word.
MikePLV10
I believe Acuna was a shortstop converted to Cf.. with Ender locked in there, BRAVES may shift Acuna back to the infield if a trade happens.. just a thought.
braves25
Or they leave him in the OF and he plays RF!
RunDMC
With an OF of Kemp and Markakis, they better be readying the replacements and not shifting them to other positions. Kemp has looked awful of late, and even worse in the field.
MikePLV10
Kemp needs to be a DH.. that would be the guy to go. Markakis moving to left and Acuna in right, I could see that..
bravesfan88
Not even close bud..I know you’re saying it’s just a thought, but it is one that won’t happen..
Acuna is and always has been an OF’er. If anyone takes Albies place it would be Camargo…Also, trading away a stud 20 year old in AAA is just dumb, especially for a finesse guy like Quintana…He isn’t even a true #1 or 1b…
Allard and Soroka are not far off, and both are only 19 and dominating the AA level…Acuna is 19, and just got done dominating the AA level, and already hit a BOMB in his 2nd AAA at-bat…Let them continue to grow!!
Also, the Braves have several young arms to add to their bullpen to strengthen that aspect of their team..
They need to let their young guys come up, and take their lumps and continue to grow. Then once they’ve established a really solid young core, THEN they can trade away their younger prospects…
But the last thing they need to do is trade away future stars before they have seen the fruits of their labor…Acuna, Albies, Allard, Soroka, Minter, Morris, Peterson, Dirks, Sims, and Riley etc. All of these guys are going to make a significant impact in the NEAR future, most in just 2018!!…Let them grow together, with the teams current veterans, and then decide what your team needs…
The Braves DO NOT NEED to rush to contend…Let it happen through Free Agency, but mainly from within…Bring up your prospects, see what you have in them, then add a guy here and there from Free Agency…Then, come 2019, if they need to make a trade, then they can trade from their younger, prospects…
Please Coppy, you’ve done such a good job, since taking over….DON’T screw it all up now, when your team isn’t even ready to compete, especially with so many guys on the cusp of making their debuts!!
MikePLV10
I was thinking of when the braves SS Peraza to the OF before they traded him.. my mistake
casmith12
I absolutely agree with you Bravesfan88. I’m not sure why people are trying to rush the rebuild. I think fans can wait a few years of rebuilding for another decade of dominance. No need to make a move right now for any high end pitchers. Maybe in a season or two, but not right now. I’d rather keep prospects and miss the playoffs, then to move prospects for a pitcher and lose in the 1st round.
casmith12
I seriously doubt they’d move Acuña to the infield at this point. He’ll most likely play RF until Inciarte’s contract is up. I’m guessing they’re dangling Albies because of Camargo’s emergence as a capable MLB hitter.
braves25
With what the Cubs gave for Q….how close would Albies, Ian Anderson, Max Fried, and Wisler/Blair come to getting Sonny Gray?
MikePLV10
3 top 10 BRAVES prospects for Gray..? He has been injured and his numbers the last 2 season haven’t been good.. I think it’s an over pay. I could see 3 top 10 for Archer..
Priggs89
Sure, if those 3 top 10 are their top 3… Archer isn’t available unless you’re going to send over A TON.
RunDMC
I wouldn’t mind doing that if they hurry up and promote Acuna so he wouldn’t be one of those top 3 prospects…
MikePLV10
Well, I don’t think much more. Considering it only took 3 of Bostons top 10 to get Sale (who is better than Archer!) MLB top 100 Moncado is rated 1 now and Albies is 7, but Yoan is owed $30mill. Kopesch is rated higher the Andersen, but also comes with a 50 game banned substance suspension and a broken pitching hand from a spring training fight with a teammate. The others are a wash.
Priggs89
Lol. And THAT is how you scam the system. Well played, sir
Priggs89
You’re missing one key factor – the White Sox were actively selling; the Rays are not. That’s why I think it’d cost more for someone to actually get Archer.
MikePLV10
I never said Archer was being shopped! I just pointed out that The price proposed for Gray was to high, it was closer to the price it may take to get Archer..
MikePLV10
Judging by that last “scam the system” comment, I am assuming you believe Archer is better the Sale?
Priggs89
I know what you were saying. And I’m saying that the package you proposed for Archer wouldn’t be enough (because they aren’t selling). If they were selling, like the White Sox were, then it could work. But seeing as they aren’t, it’ll take more than that to pry Archer away.
Priggs89
That couldn’t be any further from what I believe.
therealryan
#25 Albies is much closer to #74 Calhoun than he is to #1 Moncada. If you were going to trade for Archer, who isn’t available for obvious reasons, you would need to start with Acuna and then add two more of your top 100 type guys. Archer isn’t better than Sale, but when you take into account his longer and cheaper control he is as valuable, if not more.
MikePLV10
So then we agree, the price is to high for Gray, would be close to fair for Archer (if he was available) and Sale is better than Archer.?
Priggs89
Sounds about right to me
pplama
Mike, “top 10’s’ aren’t equal, Moncada is not owed $30mil Albies has fallen on all updated lists and Anderson is no where close to Kopech as a prospect right now, or last Dec. Go to bed.
seth3120
Thanks Ryan. I’m reading these comments and the comparison between Archer and Sale and hoping someone will point out the remaining years of team control. Same years of control and same costs per year then Sale is better than Archer without question. Factor in the control and I’d take Archer personally unless maybe I’m in that end of a window to win with the current roster situation and going all in to try to win it all this year.
chimaverick
But Boston picked up all of the money owed to Yoan in the Sale deal
therealryan
Oakland couldn’t say yes fast enough if that was the offer for Gray.
braves25
Maybe you are right! As a Braves fan I do not want to give up that much, but you have to give up things to get things…Obviously Archer is the 1st choice but he isn’t available. Gray is probably the top option available now.
I personally hope Atlanta stands pat on that until the off season..then try to get Archer again!
casmith12
Absolutely no chance on that trade. That would be an awful trade for the Braves.
TradeAcuna
The Cubs are the true MVPs here for getting Quintana. Trading Albies for Quintana would have been a mistake!
bsteady7
Are y’all being serious? You wouldn’t take Quintana for Albies
TradeAcuna
You don’t trade your top positions players for mid tier starters.
bravesfan88
Correct!! The Braves already have a slightly less consistent Quintana in Teheran…Two of them, gets them nowhere!!
Albies will be a stud 2nd basemen, it isn’t like Quintana is a game changer…You don’t take that risk, when you aren’t even a real contending team yet!!
Even if Albies only becomes am average starting 2nd basemen, it’s worth the risk of keeping him and seeing what happens, rather than trading for someone who doesn’t significantly alter your teams outlook
JKB 2
Why not oh wise one.
MakeATLGreatAgain
Because we need a guy on 2b, not a #2 starter. We need a #1 starter.
I really want no one on the market right now apart from Verlander, annnnd that ain’t happening. And I’m very thankful we failed at getting Quintana, because I do not want to overpay for a guy who might not make a big difference in the rotation. I doubt Sonny Gray would either, or Archer or Cole.
pplama
Everyone you don’t want is better, and much less expensive, and younger, than the one guy you do want
MakeATLGreatAgain
He’s a proven winner and can teach the rest of our staff a lot. We have plenty of young guys in our system coming up, and having Verlander there for them could have unforeseen advantages, not to mention what he could do for Teheran, Folty, and Newk.
Yes he’s having a bad year, but he had a almost Cy Young season last year. He’s a little old, sure, but I don’t see being 34 being too big of a disadvantage for a guy like him, plenty of pitchers have performed at that age. A scenery change may not be bad for him either, and he has everything but a ring, and he probably won’t get one in Detroit.
The money and the package to get him is where it makes it look like a bad idea, I get that, and I have ran the scenario through my head 10000 times. But if Detroit would eat some of that money up for us, I’d be willing to give them what they want apart from Acuna.
Gray is injury prone, Tampa is not going to deal Archer unless they start to really suck, and Pittsburgh doesn’t have to deal Cole either. Yes, they are all fine and good, but I think Verlander could make a bigger impact on a team than they could.
It’s a crazy idea, and it looks horrible on paper, I know. But think about it for awhile, and it doesn’t sound as dumb as you’d think.
pplama
It really is as dumb as you think. Really.
seth3120
Who is in the Braves rotation? Gray, Archer, or Cole wouldn’t be a huge upgrade? You also need to remember these guys have some cost controlled years left. So the money saved by not signing a guy of similar production can be used to fix another need maybe another starter. So I’d say those would be very good additions to the Braves rotation now and in the future.
RunDMC
No, still much dumber than you suggested.
MakeATLGreatAgain
There’s a chance that they might not be a huge upgrade. We need whoever we get mainly for next season, and who knows how any of these guys will be doing next season, and that’s why I have concerns with Gray. Gray is the most realistic of the group for us because he’s going to be the cheapest, but he hasn’t been great for the last 2 seasons. TB and Pittsburgh will be asking more for Archer and Cole than Chicago did for Quintana, and I’m not sure if I’d want to get rid of a package of high ranking guys for them.
Yes they would be upgrades, but none of them are just head over heels amazing. There’s a very slim chance we see the postseason this year, and I wouldn’t mind just waiting until the offseason to grab a pitcher, because there may be better and cheaper options then. If Teheran could fix his pitching at home, and along with Folty, we already have guys to fill the #2 and #3 spot. I don’t see how another #2 or #3 pitcher will give us the advantage we need to win, and realistically, these guys on the market now are just middle of rotation guys.
Verlander will not happen though, that’s just me being a optimistic fanboy for him.
JKB 2
It sounds dumber then you think. You thought about it 10,000 times and still want to give away Acuna in that terrible trade?
The only smart thing you said is that “its a crazy idea” and “it looks horrible on paper”. Well its actually worse then that!!
JKB 2
You think JV is an ace? Oh my god!!
MakeATLGreatAgain
I wouldn’t give Acuna, I said anyone apart from Acuna, probably not Albies either.
I’d package them up a lot of our lesser prospects and depending on how much they wanna knock off the contract, that would determine what higher prospects they get.
seth3120
Don’t you need guys like them too? I understand they aren’t studs but you’re going to need guys like them too and let’s face it this is what cost controlled guys go for these days. Pitching takes time to develop and you’ll need to be willing to let prospects go to go along with the prospects you develop and bring up to the majors. I think getting a guy like Sale would have been a mistake for you because you aren’t quite there and he doesn’t have the kind of control these guys have. The Braves are close and a couple of these guys would help a ton solidifying the rotation. Maybe when you were ready to take the next step you really go after that number one guy even if he isn’t under team control as long.
pplama
Jimenez over Albies was the right choice. Acuna or hang up the phone..
steelerbravenation
Everybody is focusing on Quintana, Gray and Archer I think if the Braves are open to moving Albies that opens things up to a lot of diffrent scenarios. Would you trade a package centered around Albies for Stroman ? Or how bout Cole ? And I don’t necessarily believe that Albies was intended to be moved but his name got the White Sox on the phone.
braves25
I believe Albies name was probably seriously considered by Atl! 3 top bats are Albies, Acuna, and Maitan. They will have to move 1 of those 3 to get a pitcher. Albies is my choice to trade
Braves Homer
Trading a bat is the last thing they need to do. In fact trade for more bats because the lineup we have now will be gone next season or two. Kemp, Markakis, Phillips, Adams, Suzuki, Garcia, maybe Flowers won’t be retained or traded. Inciarte and Freeman are the only sure bets at this points. Hopefully Swanson keeps developing and Flowers sticks around but that’s a lot of holes.
braves25
Stroman does intrigue me some though! I could see Atl involving Albies in a trade for him as well. 3 years of team control is going to cost some talent so Albies would likely have to be included.
pplama
If the Braves are looking for a long term TOR guy, they should go for Fulmer.
Albies, Allard and Anderson gives you 5 years of one of the best in baseball.
braves25
Fulmer will not be traded! The Cubs asked about Fulmer and they wanted Ian Happ and Eloy Jimenez along with more! So Albies, Allard, and Anderson wouldn’t be enough for the Tigers to make the trade and too much for the Braves to make the trade.
Larry David's Joe Pepitone Jersey
I never would have guessed that Alderson values offense over defense. /sarcasm/
steelerbravenation
Markakis is signed for more year after this and Acuna will replace him.
Kemp is signed for I believe 2 more years and Pache will replace him.
We need a 3rd baseman until Maiten is ready. Demeritte could be that guy. But he seems to have taken a step back this year.
Albies replaces Phillips next year.
Swanson is here as is Freeman & Inciarte for the now and the future.
The wild card is Flowers and the catching position in general. If Jackson is being groomed as the catcher of the future.
RunDMC
Flowers has a team option that will be picked up. I like Moustakas at 3B in free agency for not an outrageous amount/years. I think Demeritte ends up at 2B and traded if he puts some things together. Highest priority needs to be to trade Phillips, Garcia, Adams, Vizcaino/Jim Johnson.
bhambravesfan
I would rather trade a haul for Carlos Martinez
pplama
Cards don’t need to rebuild nearly a badly as the Tigers.
Might actually be able to get Fulmer. Can’t imagine what he could do in the NL.
RunDMC
They won’t trade a future piece before getting rid of dead money in Verlander and to a lesser extent Miggy — not likely.
pplama
Probably true. But I think the Tigers are making a mistake. Wilson, JD, Kinzler and Fulmer could remake their system. They can rebuild around those dead contracts the way the Indians did around Swisher, Bourn and Masterson.
When they get close to contending, VMart, Zimmerman, Sanchez, Verlander will be off the books and they can worry about trying to dump Upton, and Miggy.
mikeyank55
Make Trader Dave take them. He loves overpriced over-the-hill players
seth3120
Not a chance the cardinals trade Martinez. He just extended to one of the most team friendly extensions in recent memory. Even if the Cardinals go for a decent size sell off he’ll be under control in some prime years of his career when they rebound. Forget Martinez the Cardinals would have to have someone offer something extremely ridiculous to get them to part with him
84braves
Can we just trade Albies, Gohara, Riley and D.Peterson to the A’s for Gray and get this over with.
Then we can “buy” Fisher from the Astro’s by paying 90% of Garcia contact plus a low level spect.
Then trade Markakis in the offseason to open a spot for Fisher. Then at the dead line trade Kemp for a spect that we’ll probably have to buy with most of Kemp contact.
The by July of next year you have an Outfield of Ender, Acuna and Fisher
This also doesn’t included what might happen with Phillips, Adams and Teheran
84braves
contract*
southi
Obviously I don’t have a say in it, but as bad as I would hate it I could understand including Albies in a package for Quintana (or Stroman or Fulmer for that matter if they were available), but no way would I consider him as part of the deal for Gray. Gray has a year less control AND injury question marks.
Someone will pay the price Oakland wants for Gray, especially with the Yankees, Cubs, Brewers and Astros all in the mix. I just don’t want the braves to get caught in the bidding war for him.
casmith12
I hope the Braves sit tight on making a trade for a high end pitcher this season. I’ve got no issue with trading prospects for a 1-2 pitcher in the future, but not right now.
No need to give up a few top 10’s to get a pitcher, then lose in the 1st round this season. Don’t rush the rebuild.