The Braves have agreed to acquire reliever Brad Brach from the Orioles, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun tweets. In return for Brach, Baltimore received $250K in international bonus pool money, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Both teams have announced the trade.
With the Orioles in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild and Brach set to hit free agency over the winter, the 32-year-old was an obvious trade candidate for the club. The right-handed Brach drew vast trade interest as a result in recent weeks, and he’ll bring an impressive track record to Atlanta – which will pick up the balance of his $5.165MM salary.
During his Orioles tenure, which began in 2014, Brach pitched to a 2.99 ERA/3.51 FIP with 9.42 K/9, 3.65 BB/9 and a 42.1 percent groundball rate over 327 2/3 innings. He hasn’t been quite that effective through 39 frames this season, however, with a 4.85 ERA/4.01 FIP and 8.77 K/9 against 4.38 BB/9, though he has logged a career-best 46.5 grounder percentage. Brach has also continued to bring respectable heat while posting an above-average swinging-strike percentage (12.7).
The Braves, who have surprised this season during a playoff-contending campaign, will benefit from Brach’s presence if he’s able to channel his past success. Even though the Braves are 55-47 and sit just 1 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Phillies and one back of a wild-card spot, their bullpen hasn’t been a strength this season. Their relievers entered Sunday 19th in the majors in ERA and 16th in fWAR, in part because closer Arodys Vizcaino has missed time on account of shoulder issues. As a result, the Braves have been aggressively seeking to upgrade their relief corps leading up to the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Brach’s the second notable bullpen pickup the team has made this week, in fact, joining just-acquired southpaw Jonny Venters. The Braves also landed Venters for $250K in international money.
Thanks to former general manager John Coppolella’s misdeeds, the Braves are unable to spend beyond $300K on any international prospect this year. Therefore, the money’s not difficult for them to part with if it means bolstering their playoff chances for this season. On the other side, the Orioles haven’t participated in the international market in recent years, largely because of ownership, but they’re committed to changing that as they rebuild. The money the Orioles acquired Sunday may help them sign Cuban outfield prospect Victor Victor Mesa, per Emily Waldon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Brach follows shortstop Manny Machado (Dodgers) and fellow reliever Zach Britton (Yankees) as the third proven veteran to exit the Orioles via trade this month. The team’s likely not done, either, as other established members of its roster have come up in trade rumors. Center fielder Adam Jones is part of that group, though he may deviate from Brach, Machado and Britton in finishing the season in Baltimore.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
World Series run here we come.
Don’t count your eggs before they hatch
I detected some sarcasm.
Chickens. Don’t count the chickens.
Don’t count your eggs before you make your omelet
You gotta break a few eggs to count your omelette
Wonder what the cost was
I don’t know, but I think we are about to find out
Fried chicken, grits, and sweet tea?
Hahahaha, lifetime meals for all the execs involved
Gohara
Lol
We paid salaries for Orioles to take Jackson, Wisler, and S Freeman
Just international slot money
International slot money. Can we beg them to take S Freeman and Jackson
Article just mentions $250k in Int’l bonus pool money. What am I missing? Is that it?
That’s all.
And salary relief. Seems the O’s really truly in on Mesa. I wonder how much longer before MLB declares him signable and if the guy we got from LA (Diaz) can help convince him to sign with us.
Unless Diaz is already friends with him, I highly doubt he has any influence on where Mesa signs. All 30 organizations have at least one Cuban-born player in their farm or MLB roster.
Good for Braves. Should help their bullpen
Venters and Brach… wow, these are winning moves
Would you prefer they trade several of their top prospects in a win now move? The Braves are just getting started, too early to go all in. They are trying to improve where they can while sacrificing as little young talent as possible. Atlanta has several needs around the roster, nothing they could of done would turn them into a serious title contender this season.
I don’t want them to unload top prospects for rentals/mediocre players. The Braves farm system is incredibly deep and when you see how cheap familia, Herrera were, it makes it tough to be excited about a move for venters/brach. I will say, getting Brach for just international money that we can’t really use is nice though.
The money can be used.
Not on players getting a signing bonus over $300,000, though.
The Phillies are also just getting started, and Washington isn’t going to disappear. They should jump on a significant/controllable piece like deGrom while they have the opportunity.
How do you know they haven’t tried? Maybe the cost is just higher than they’re comfortable with. Don’t mortgage the farm for one person not named Trout or Kershaw.
2019 is the year to spend on FA’s and such, when more money is available. 2018 is a year to enjoy being early in the rebuild process.
I mostly agree with this statement, however at this point in time I think I’d rather mortgage the farm on Degrom than Kershaw. He’s injured all the time anymore and will just get older and more expensive.
An impending free agent, Brach has 11 SV, 4.85 ERA… I like that he’s 6’6 though Lol
Moral of the story.. Shouldn’t cost much! Would not surprise me if he does better with a new team.
Fire sale!!! Get them while they are . . . Luke warm?
Awesome, finally got rid of Brach.
Next is Jones if Wavies no Trade cause.
I’d be surprised if he goes anywhere. All that I have heard is he won’t waive his no trade.
Iirc jones bought a new mansion in the baltimore area this year. I think it was cal ripkens old place. I agree and doubt jones is going to waive his 10-5 rights for a trade.
Please Braves included Sam Freeman in the trade.
Haha I don’t think we could pay them enough money to get them to take Sam lol
chill Joshua
My mom would agree. She called me yesterday just to complain about him.
Any country music fans will be happy. He’s married to Jenae Cherry.
This is a superb troll as country music fans can’t read.
That’s about as ignorant as you can be.
Also a joke
it’s pronouncikated “ignant”
I can read
I cin aslo reed
bye sam freeman. please let this be goodbye
YES
Braves pen needs this move bigtime! Hopefully another pen arm and a young controllable starter are in mix before deadline….
What the freak can atl trade for a good controllable arm without giving up value to them as the rebuild?
Maybe trade Tyler Flowers to Boston for a guy like Jordan Weems.
It’s like some fans don’t understand the business side of baseball.
Brachs been great the past few years, but he’s struggled a ton this year. Hope the best for him in Atlanta
I want to wish the international slot money good luck in Baltimore. Good player but never had much use for the Braves.
He won’t play in Baltimore either, every time they get international slot money he rides the bench and never gets properly used.
LOL
Time to get Archer now!!!
Please no… unless it’s an underpay for his overratedness
Looks like O’s getting back
International $$
Just read on Twitter that it was international signing pool money sent in return. Same as Venters.
We all thought Freeman was gone after Venters don’t know who AA gave up but we will need more than this
As a Braves fan, I don’t get going after rentals. This is not a WS winning team. Too many issues that need to be addressed that can’t all be done by the deadline. And the youngsters need more time to develop. 2019 is much more realistic, so why get anyone who is a FA at the end of the season
They’re rewarding the players with the chance in October. Braves have played well and put them on the path to the playoffs.
Especially with international money, won’t cost anything the Braves can use.
May turn into more than a rental…Brach lives in Nashville and may view Atlanta as a place to sign next year….low risk, low cost move!
You’re joking right? They are 1.5 games out of their division, and 1 game out of the wild card. Why not make a few moves to give yourself a better chance at the playoffs??? It’s probably between them and Philly for the division, so why not make a run for it???? Sure, they are going to better in ’19, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make a good run in 2019… Anything can happen in the playoffs. I doubt they would get too far this year, but it’s good to see what you can do.
they’re not been great in the past month or so, and losing 3 of 4 to LA at home, whom we might very well play come the postseason, are exhibits 1 and 2.
A lot of good teams have lost 3 of 4 to LAD at home. Keep calm. WSH might possibly be sellers, PHI isn’t stomping on anyone’s necks and ATL just saw 2 great starts from young southpaws Fried and Newcomb. Can’t wait to see reinforcements come in in Touki, Allard, Gohara (struck 10 in 5.2 IP Sun at AAA), etc.
Maybe, thats why they made moves that cost them nothing
So being in the hunt with a chance to get into the playoffs should be ignored?
id rather keep our prospects than get a rental. this trade i suppose is OK bc it was just slot money
They’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If they do nothing they satisfy people with your thinking and piss off fans that want to see them make a run to the post season.
i didnt say do nothing. rentals are my concern
Bullpen rentals are the best kinds of rentals. The Braves aren’t locked into a long-term overpay like the Phillies were with Papelbon, or the Rockies and their super-(bad)-bullpen. The Braves can’t spend that international slot money anyway. They basically got Brach for nothing, with no long-term commitment or expensive contract.
Agreed
That’s true and that’s why they shouldn’t listen to fans on this and they should do what they thinks right. Which hopefully means not over paying for anyone especially a rental now
When you aren’t really going to use your bonus pool… rentals work!
Because they look to be a playoff team and anything can happen in the playoffs. Especially since the Braves are facing penalties on international signing practices this is the perfect trade to improve their biggest weakness in the hope of catching lighting in a bottle for the playoff run.
You also have to remember that they’ve literally given up nothing for these guys. They traded away money they’re not allowed to spend, so they got these guys for free.
Can we put a limit on “playoffs/world series bound” comments on these trade posts? Talk about played out and unoriginal.
Same with trading for “a bag of balls”
Only gave up International money which they can’t really use anyway. Did Angelos die?!
Surprised the O’s didn’t get a single prospect back
couldn’t find one that would pass a physical
The most shocking thing about this deal is that Baltimore ACQUIRED international bonus money.
Exactly.
Talk about a new day in Balt
“Their relievers entered Sunday 19th in the majors in ERA and 16th in fWAR, in part because closer Arodys Vizcaino has missed time on account of shoulder issues..”
No, it’s mostly because they persist in running Sam out there. He was good last year but he can’t find it this year.
Wow. Very light return.
I’m just shocked you guys thought a right handed rental reliever with an ERA approaching 5 would bring anything back. He has a strong track record but he doesn’t have any injuries to blame on his performance. He’s just been bad.
Even with his numbers this season he’s probably still an upgrade over 2/3rds of Atlanta’s bullpen
International slot money???? O’s going to flip that to a team that will actually use it?
Didn’t give anything up but money we couldn’t use anyway the 2 moves were great moves as long as they are a part of something else 2 more days to find out
Why would the O’s never sign international guys
Do they even have an international scouting system?
Orioles trading FOR international bonus money is the real story here…
So long I have wished my team would look into the international market like EVERY OTHER TEAM.
I’m guessing Connor meant to say John Coppolella’s misdeeds, not misgivings.
I bet Baltimore won’t hold this up pending physical/medical
Duquette is trying to make a statement with this move. Wow
only bonus money? surprising
AA saving S Freeman to add to a better package in move for SP.
S Freeman will be part of a massive trade to Angels for Trout 😉
If anything, these past few moves signify the Braves lack of care to go for it this year. While fans will continue to reassure themselves with the systems farm, the opposing teams in the division will actually put out quality on the field rather than a bunch of overhyped prospects.
You are clueless.
Damn, Baltimore literally giving its players away to whoever will pay the salary, way to rebuild in the slowest way possible
Really? You thought a right handed rental reliever with an ERA close to 5 would bring back an interesting prospect? In what world would that ever happen? We got solid prospects back for Machado and Britton. This is just a nonsense comment.
Definitely a steal for the braves
Hope he pitches better, but i was freaking we would give up a top 30 prospect for him
If this is the cost of one of the better rentals players available, I withdraw all of my previous concern over the Pirates trading for rentals.
Good get by Atlanta, Brach’s a fiery competitor that needed a change of scenery. Not suited for closer role but will do well as a setup man.
The return doesn’t look great but keep in mind Atlanta is also paying the remainder of his salary saving a few million bucks and padding their international money to sign Mesa.
Why is he not suited for a closer role if he’s a “fiery competitor”? That seems like the perfect spot for that kind of guy…
Brach is no closer. Horrendous in the role.
Baltimore taking international pool money? Must be getting ready to trade that and someone else for a better prospect somewhere.
Baltimore usually trades its bonus slots for 25 year old AA players. Now it acquires a bonus slot for a former All Star, still very useful, major league reliever. Talk about a net loss.
Solid move for the Braves. Change of scenery will do him good. And with Allard coming up, please tell me Freeman and Moylan will both be gone in the next couple of days
I’m surprised the “international slot money” guy passed the physical
Forced.
Ik ik
For everyone saying this is a loss for the O’s. Signing 17 year old foreign players costs 20-60k most of the time. They could end up with 3-5 solid signees with this cash. Schoop signed for 30k. It’s a rebuild…
José Altuve signed for 15k
I agree, its a big gamble hoping they turn out good. Just ask Rusney and Thomas
Yeah, but 98% of those 20-60k signees do NOT become Schoop. Sure you could hit, but you could also sign 5 guys that never make it out of Dominican rookie ball. That’s a big gamble for a solid rental piece.
Brach was a solid pitcher but he isn’t right now. He hasn’t been solid all season. He’s been tuned up to an ERA around 5 and he’s a reliever. It’s a good upside grab for ATL but it’s not bad for the orioles to gain some extra cash. He’s not worth much more right now.
Selling your 401-K to buy lottery tickets? Big gamble. Leaving a corporate executive position to become a green beret? Big gamble.
Sending a slow runner home in a one-run game with your best bat coming up? Moderae gamble.
Trading a middling reliever in a rebuild to add space to sign more international players, who will have 3 or 4 years to become good enough to get to the states to produce at sub-minimum wage rates? Not much of a gamble at all. Could add a second DSL team for about nothing per year, and get 35 more kids chance to get Stateside Good.
Yankees got 1 million and 1.5 million on their recent trades. Was this a steal for the Braves?
Baltimore will now flip that international slot money for a non prospect rather than use it to acquire talent.
That was precisely my thought. Unless someone in the FO slipped something into Angelos’ drink to get him to sign off on the deal and plunge into the international market, that slot money will be forwarded elsewhere in short order.
Braves not giving up much, maybe some of Liberty’s profit margin. Maybe Bach and Venters do enough they are around next season?
Good deal for Atlanta. Now they need a starting pitcher.
Great move. Now we can outbid the Marlins for Mesa. Maybe some of you should check into what’s atcully going on right now with the Orioles.
^ This ^
Typical Orioles trade, ” here have a good player for nothing”
Brach has been a below average reliever this year, who’s contract is up at the end of the season. What did you expect, a blue chipper in return?
This may be Part 1 Of a longer story for Orioles. Part 2 would be #1 international prospect, Victor Victor Mesa.
This is a strong indication the Os really are serious about Victor Victor Mesa, which is exciting for Os fans! This might literally be the FIRST time the Orioles have traded for international slot money. If they get him, it may be the FIRST time they pay a significant price to land an internationally hyped player. They already had an edge because they have their full international bonus pool available at 5+M. This only adds to that.
And perhaps the additional International Slot money can also get his brother, Victor Mesa Jr.
Duquette mentioned that they may be announcing a few signings this week from Venezuela and DR. So we may be talking about multiple int’l signings! Things are changing in Baltimore!
I’m puzzled at how a quarter million got this done.
Because Brach hasn’t been good this year and the Braves take on the rest of his salary this year as well.
Keep pushing AA, but “Hold the line!”
Doesn’t matter who you have in the bullpen when aforementioned bullpen is mismanaged. Sam Freeman being one such example…..