The Braves provided some notable updates yesterday on a pair of important righties, as MLB.com’s Mark Bowman was among those to report. Both top pitching prospect Mike Soroka and closer Arodys Vizcaino will need to rest their ailing shoulders for a few more weeks before returning to the hill.
Right now, there are about nine weeks of regular-season play remaining. The two hurlers will need not only to work through a throwing progression, but also undertake rehab work before getting back to the majors.
Getting all the way back to the majors would be an especially difficult proposition for Soroka, who has been on the shelf for about a month. Though he’s said not to be dealing with any structural issues in the joint, shoulder inflammation had already forced a stretch on the DL earlier in the year. Clearly, the club is committed to exercising caution, much as it might wish to have Soroka available down the stretch and into the postseason.
It’s a bit different for Vizcaino, who is a veteran pitcher entering his final season of arbitration eligibility. As a reliever, his path back will be shorter. While he has also experienced prior shoulder woes this season, the Braves will understandably be somewhat more aggressive with trying to get him back in game action.
As Snitker explained, there’s still good reason to think that Vizcaino will return, though risk remains:
“I don’t see Viz missing the year. I think at some point — because he’s a one-inning guy — we can get him back. I say that, but until we get him throwing, we don’t know.”
What’s most interesting about these developments is how they’ll impact the team’s deadline moves. Both the rotation and bullpen would clearly be better units with Soroka and Vizcaino, respectively. GM Alex Anthopoulos has said all along he’d like to wait until he has all the information needed to determine priorities. The decision point is now nearly upon him.
With regard to the rotation, the fact that there’s no longer a clear path back for Soroka makes it more likely than ever that the Braves will push to land an established, controllable starter. The unit has at least one hole, and that’s before considering the fact that all of the top four existing options have rather significantly outperformed their peripherals by measure of major ERA estimators. Young lefty Max Fried is moving back toward the majors on a rehab assignment, as David O’Brien of The Athletic recently tweeted, though he’s hardly a sure thing and arguably won’t be capable of delivering the kind of near-term impact the team needs (or, at least, wants).
[RELATED: MLBTR’s Top 75 Trade Candidates]
In the pen, it’s certainly encouraging to hear that the team can reasonably hope for a contribution from Vizcaino down the stretch. But there are no guarantees. And the relief unit was already an area that the Braves likely would have targeted for at least some improvement. From here on out, every game is a high-leverage one given the situation in the NL East, so late-inning arms will be of critical importance. Waiting and hoping for Vizcaino to return, then, likely won’t be sufficient.
Anthopoulos said just yesterday that he’s open to adding in multiple areas. In addition to the rotation and relief corps, he cited “a bat” as a possibility. (Improving the mix on the left side of the infield still seems the likeliest course in that regard.) The GM also indicated he’s interested in securing controllable assets if possible. Indeed, that may be necessary if he hopes to land impact arms, as there are relatively few rental hurlers that figure to represent significant upgrades and multiple other teams that will pursue them.
Braveslifer
I hear 29 other GM’s say to themselves, “that’ll cost them”
Friarfaithful117
Looks like a clean fit to acquire Tyson Ross and Kirby Yates.
bleacherbum
Be careful dude. I got eaten alive by Braves fans for proposing that in an earlier post.
BravesCanada
Because you wanted Riley. Why would the Braves give up their top pitching prospect who plays a position that they have a hole at?
For the right deal, sure. But the Braves would be dealing from their pitching prospect depth, not Riley.
BravesCanada
Position prospect, not pitching*****
paulnewman
For Ross and Yates, I would seek a package of young high upside prospects. ATL will not want to deal from the MLB ready pool and they have the prospect depth to dig deeper into their system.
Zach725
And dealing high upside prospects for ross wouldn’t be smart. There are way better names out there for them to get if they trade prospects.
paulnewman
The better names will cost you from the top 100, and probaby multiples. Pick your poison.
Friarfaithful117
I saw that, I would aim my sights a little lower on prospect returns though. If we could grab Joey Wentz and Drew Waters for the both I think I would pull the trigger. Of course acquiring Riley or Pache would be preferred but I don’t see the Braves parting with their upper level position players. Padres and Braves are a tougher match up because both systems are skewed toward pitching.
Zach725
I don’t even see the braves parting with waters
Sirsleepit
Ross and Yates aren’t going to get you a top 100 prospect if Hand AND Cimber only got meija.
Friarfaithful117
Wentz is fringe top 100, not on MLB Pipeline but 84 on Fangraphs.
From Fangraphs chat yesterday:
“Ed: What type of return would Kirby Yates net?
Travis Sawchik: I’d want another top 100 prospect”
Yates has been great this season with fWAR of 1.3 (number 18 for relievers) and still has two years of arbitration left. Still have to give up value to get value. I may have Yates a little higher but still should net a good prospect. Ross is one of the top rentals remaining. What package would you give up?
SuperSinker
I’d just go after expiring contracts like Familia and avoid paying money for right handed relievers without track record.
Zach725
Seeing as this is the first year Yates has been really good and the fact that he is 31, and Ross hasn’t exactly been outstanding, I would probably offer Demeritte, Derian Cruz, Tucker Davidson, and a lottery ticket.
Friarfaithful117
Over the past two seasons he has an ERA of 2.77 and FIP of 2.88 with a WHIP under one over 94 innings good for 2.1 rWAR. He has changed his pitching by switching from a slider to a splitter. So not exactly no track record.
Friarfaithful117
Not a bad offer, its a little light from what the Padres would get back based on Yates becoming a big part of a solid bullpen. I think the Padres would rather take one or two guys a little better regarded.
bleacherbum
Thank you for the stats to back it up. I was at work and couldn’t provide them earlier when people were outraged that I suggested the 18th best reliever in all of baseball, a solid number 4 starter and a third baseman who is young, controllable but most importantly has 18 bombs, for a third baseman who still isn’t ripe yet on a team who is winning now.
If my team were lining up a playoff push for the first time in a little while I would be a little more urgent. Don’t be Milwaukee last year sitting on their hands while the cubs passed them by smiling and waving. The Phillies are for real and the Nationals are the Nationals. So keep passing up very good trade proposals because your organization is too good for the players being offered and let’s see where you are at the end of September.
Zach725
Look at how good the Brewers are this year, because they didn’t dump every prospect they had.
jkurk_22
Delusional padres fan
bleacherbum
Your fan base makes it really easy to root against you. I personally hope the wheels fall off and you guys have an epic collapse down the stretch.
Stop puffing your chests out. You guys have a bunch of faded division championship banners hanging in the outfield from two decades ago, whooptie freaking doo.
Ladies and gentleman, now introducing the Dallas Cowboys of Baseball, showing off their antique rings and acting as though other teams get nothing in return for their quality assets but their scrap heap garbage, give it up for the Atlanta Braves!!!
Walking these talented prospects to the stage is no other than the GM that drafted them Coppy! Welcome Coppy! Wait.. what? Oh yeah nvm.
Nick Lastname
Someone’s having a bad day, huh? It sure is nice looking back at all those division championships, pennants, and world championships as a Braves fan. Too bad Padres fans cannot relate.
jkurk_22
You’re the one coming at us with trade proposals that we don’t want… it might be different if it was the other way around, but I think it’s pretty mutually agreed upon by us Braves fans that Villeneuva/Ross aren’t really needed or wanted. Yates is good, but again, we’re looking to move our pitching depth. So maybe we don’t line up with the Padres. So? We’ll deal with someone else. It’s not deal with the pads or else lol
RunDMC
IF you proposed a Villeneuva-for-Riley trade (with other parts), it makes no sense. Already Villeneuva isn’t an everyday player, being a better platoon because he cannot hit RHP (NL East: Nola, Thor, deGrom, Scherzer, Strasburg, Arrieta). And you want that manning your hot corner?
Riley isn’t a sure-thing, but while he doesn’t have the power stroke that Villeneuva has shown at the ML level, he also doesn’t have the holes he has — and he’s not that far off. I could see him winning the job out of ST 2019 (if they haven’t acquired a stopgap).
bleacherbum
This all becomes a moot point when Donaldson signs with Atlanta in the offseason. No way AA passes on another opportunity to have him. He actually fits that roster very well and could put up huge numbers if he can stay healthy. Villanueva would in turn be his backup and probably get a handful of starts when the eventual DL stints happen for him.
Oh and what do you know, Kirby Yates is still saving games while Donaldson is hitting bombs.
Meanwhile Austin Riley is in San Diego. Boo hoo
RunDMC
Donaldson has as good a shot of staying healthy as Villeneuva does of hitting a righty (.178 AVG) — so not so much.
Zach725
Donaldson can’t stay on the field to hit bombs.
bleacherbum
Hahahaha okay fine fine go get Moustakas then lol
BravesCanada
Or we go get neither. Camargo has out played Moose this year. Donaldson may never be healthy again. You are more and more delusional with every post.
bleacherbum
Dude I’m joking. Saying to go get Moose is a term of a goodbye. Go get Moose = Go kick rocks. If the Padres offer is so bad then “Go get Moose”, understand now?
Looks like I struck a nerve with the ONE Braves fan who happens to live in Canada if you screen name is leading me to believe so. Lol sorry dude! Donaldson is a terrible idea, should have never brought it up. Don’t know what in the world I was thinking.
Zach725
Donaldson would be a good signing if he could stay on the field, but he can’t. I’d personally trade for Eduardo Escobar.
bleacherbum
The Braves can get creative if they don’t like the free agent options. Marwin Gonzalez would be an interesting option that I think Houston would part with in order to get everyday time at the same position. He would cost some prospects but he would fit.
Zach725
Marwin is a free agent in 2019
elmore80
Garcia, Davidson, and Soria for Inciarte,Fried and Sims and maybe Allard. Good for Braves and White Sox.
Zach725
No it’s not good for the braves. Why would they trade a gold glove player, their top position prospect, for a .270 hitting OF, a .220 hitting power bat (which you can find on the FA market), and a average reliever.
zwaves
Obviously not good news, but the Braves are in an enviable position with the talent they have at the big league level and the depth of pitching prospects they have in the minors. They can trade a couple of those high upside pitchers without batting an eye.
inkstainedscribe
Heretical idea: Sell high on Fried and Allard to get controllable players (catcher/Realmuto? reliever? RF?)
Fried looks like a stud, but he also has recurring blister problems. They may keep him from being a 30-start guy.
Allard is sharp as a tack, but his fastball tops out in the upper 80s. You worry a guy like that who’s slightly off will get lit up, especially in a homer-friendly park like SunTrust.
You don’t give these guys away, but you make them available and try to get a king’s ransom for them.
Eddy Treadway
SunTrust is actually one of the harder places to hit a home run. At least that’s what the results have shown even including the rash of offense the very first two months of the park’s existence
petfoodfella
“SunTrust is actually one of the harder places to hit a home run”
Julio Teheran – “watch this”
RunDMC
I really think as soon as this posted Realmuto took Teheran deep in MIA. Good job.
RunDMC
No one is giving up a king’s ransom for an unproven prospect. They may be a part of a king’s ransom, but I don’t know if I’ve seen a “king’s ransom” given up for a little-proven or unproven prospect, no matter what their prospect ranking is/was.
RunDMC
Wait – wait – wait….Fried won’t be able to “deliver the near-term impact the team needs”? Fried struck out 11 in 6.2 IP vs. STL. His last AAA start he struck out 10 in 7 IP.
Yes, he is inconsistent, but part of that can be blamed on ATL’s yo-yo development of him from RP to SP. If he got consistent starts without injury (not on the Braves), he arguably has a higher near-term impact than even Soroka (he should be more consistent in the end, when healthy).