The Mets had a meeting with Wilson Ramos and his camp today, the New York Post’s Mike Puma reports (via Twitter). While the Mets are known to be exploring the catching market, some reports characterized Ramos as something of a secondary target for New York due to concerns about his lengthy injury history and his defense. Still, it can’t hurt for the club to touch base with Ramos to see if there’s a fit, especially since talks between the Mets and Martin Maldonado (reportedly atop the team’s list) had yet to develop as of last week.
Here’s more from around the NL East…
- Like pretty much every Phillie not named Aaron Nola or Rhys Hoskins, Cesar Hernandez has been mentioned as a potential trade chip this offseason. The Phillies, however, aren’t looking to deal Hernandez since they feel the second baseman will rebound in 2019 with better health, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports (Twitter link). Hernandez spent much of the second half playing through a broken foot, which certainly contributed to his drop in production after posting above-average numbers in 2016-17. With Hernandez seemingly remaining at the keystone, Scott Kingery will remain as a super-utility player.
- The Phillies have kept up an “ongoing dialogue” with free agent southpaw J.A. Happ “over the last several days,” The Athletic’s Jayson Stark tweets. Philadelphia isn’t the only NL East team in on the veteran lefty, as Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman describes the Braves as an “under the radar” contender for Happ’s services. Atlanta still seems to be in the running as Happ’s market is beginning to narrow. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has already acquired Happ once before, trading for the pitcher in 2012 when Anthopoulos was the Blue Jays’ general manager.
- Some teams have the impression that the Braves would be open to trading Mike Foltynewicz and Ender Inciarte, though Foltynewicz isn’t available, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports (Twitter links). While Atlanta has enough young pitching that a Foltynewicz deal is palatable on paper, moving a controllable young arm coming off a breakout season is highly unlikely. The team wouldn’t make such a move unless it received a ton in return, or unless the Braves had confidence that they would acquire another frontline pitcher in a separate trade. Moving Inciarte is perhaps more feasible, as Ronald Acuna could take over in center field. Speaking to reporters (including Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) today, Anthopoulos indicated that he hadn’t closed the door on deals involving players on the Braves’ 25-man roster.
- In a mailbag piece from Burns, he notes that Carlos Gonzalez has interest in joining the Braves, “though that may not be mutual at this time.” Atlanta has an outfield vacancy due to Nick Markakis hitting free agency, though Gonzalez might not be one of the top choices on the Braves’ board, if he’s under consideration at all. Gonzalez rebounded from a very poor 2017 season, though his 2018 numbers at the plate (96 wRC+, 99 OPS+) were still below-average.
- There haven’t yet been any talks between Don Mattingly and the Marlins about a contract extension, the manager tells MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. Mattingly is entering the final year of his current deal, and indicated that he is more focused on the upcoming season than his future status. “I like it here. I want to be a part of what we’re doing and building it,” Mattingly said. “But, again, I’m just kind of at a point where I’m pretty comfortable with myself, where I’m at.” Mattingly, of course, was hired when Jeffrey Loria owned the Marlins, rather than the current Bruce Sherman/Derek Jeter regime, though the veteran skipper wasn’t one of the many in-house names replaced during the new ownership group’s wide-ranging overhaul of the franchise, both on and off the field.
TradeAcuna
Trade Faultynewicz
xabial
Why? I don’t get it. Dude finally put it all together.
TradeAcuna
He is a perfect example why stats alone don’t tell the whole story.
baseball1600
Braves fans will try to tell you he’s an ace. Realistically he’s a no.3 starter who had an outlier year. Basically a Nathan Eovaldi.
anthonyd4412
Last I checked, you need a #3 starter in a 5 man rotation
baseball1600
The subject of the matter is that he is not an ace. No one said he doesn’t have value.
RunDMC
Eovaldi just got a 67.4MM deal – I’d be happy with a rotation that had him at #3 – especially coming off how well he pitched for BOS in the playoffs. If Folty = Eovaldi, we’re paying Folty a fraction of that, under team control through 2022.
Until AA gets the upgrades, you don’t trade him unless the upgrade is included in the deal (i.e. Kluber, etc.).
steelerbravenation
Any realistic Brave fan would not say Foltynewicz is an ace but he is better than the average 3. With that being said I would not be opposed to them moving him for the right return and an acquisition of a better SP.
I actually was hoping the Braves would transition him to closer and try to get Kluber. Only problem with that is his control the same problem he has as a starter.
DarkSide830
Point is you need a rotation to contend. While you may be able to trade him and get better players in the long run, he’s still a solid SP on a contending team. No reason he would be traded. I support AA 100% here.
RunDMC
Folty does NOT have the makeup of a closer. He gets rattled too easily that I would not/could not give him the ball in the most important innings. That’s why he’s not an ace, not because of his continued lack of control, which improved this season.
Acuña Matata
I wish people would stop lumping Braves fans together as some package deal. I still think Folty should have been our closer.
That being said trade Ender, move Acuña to center. Resign Markakis, sign Brantley (far more plausible prior to Donaldson).
You can go real crazy and trade Ender and Dansby. Move Albies or Camargo to SS.
ffjsisk
He definitely has ace stuff, he’s just got to stop nibbling and stay in attack mode. Way to many 3-2 counts and doesn’t pitch deep into many games. But he’s improved every year. No way I’d deal him.
RunDMC
Why do you hate defense so much?
RandyRocks
Why trade Ender and re-sign Markasis. All we need is a LF with a little power. And a SP (Ace type SP). Somehow get Zack Grinke. If the Dbacks pay a big portion of his contract.
Syndergaarden Cop
what’s “your” team?
RandyRocks
I know he’s not an ace. The Braves are loaded with SP. 2-5. They need an ace. But Foltynewicz can be a solid 2-3.
NL_East_Rivalry
And lumping people together because a few unwise fellows is telling. You’d be best to understand that the few do not represent the many and that each fan base has their bad eggs.
Erie4312
No.2
Acuña Matata
Because Markakis is a doubles machine who also knows how to go deep into the count. That why he hit cleanup. It wasnt for power (though he might finally be fully healthy from the neck surgery) it was because he could bring in albies, Acuña and Freeman. With Donaldson you can move him deeper into the lineup. The opposing pitchers will have to throw to someone.
1. Acuña
2. Albies
3. Freeman
4. Donaldson
5. Brantley/Markakis
6. Markakis/Brantley
7. McCann
8. Dansby
That 1-6 is nothing to sneeze at. Assuming they can all stay healthy (the IF) youre set
Erie4312
Honestly Camargo could play OF
And we could foxus more on pitching
PhanaticDuck26
Enciarte, Folty, plus another arm for Kluber
Bill Rea
Yes, now you’ve got it!
Acuna
Albies
Freeman
Donaldson
Camargo
McCann
Inciarte
Swanson
KLUBER
tomb1313
No way your not improving the team much its a small upgrade considering what u have to give up. Kluber & u need to keep Folty as the #2 & Newcomb #3 Gausman #4 Fried or Touki #5 and by the end of 2019 Folty could be a top 10 MLB pitcher.
hockeyjohn
The other arm would have to be one of your top prospects. Folty is good, but he won’t pitch as well in the American League facing the DH rather than the pitcher each night. If Cleveland made that deal, Folty would be a 4 behind Bauer, Carrasco, and Clevinger. Inciarte is a CF and we have CF covered. Cleveland is looking for corner outfielders. I love Atlanta’s pitching, but Atlanta does not have the outfielder the Indians are looking for. A three team trade, I think, is the only way that the Braves get Kluber.
Knowthemarket
Okay. If we aren’t going to go by stats alone, why don’t you fill in the gaps for us. What ELSE should we go by?
cubsfan2489
Cashman is gonna swoop in and grab Folty! Not.
tomb1313
No way. Folty has ACE stuff finally has a break out year has 4 years of control left. & is better than 95% of the pitchers the Braves have checked into. Gray,Lynn,Harvey,Greinke, & on & on.
DarkSide830
Haha get Cesar out of here, He still has some trade value and is really just holding Kingery back at this point. Two years late is better than never.
Pax vobiscum
At 9 million per year, not going to get much back in return. Might as well keep him until Kingery proves he can hit major league pitching consistently.
DarkSide830
If you’re talking contract, there is no reason the Phillies can’t send a measly 18 million with him.
PhanaticDuck26
@pax, agree 100%. Kingery needs some more at bats before we all write him off, but it is not a bad idea to go in with Cesar penciled in as the starting 2Bman. The market is just flooded right now w 2B-types too similar to CeHe, so the Phils would get very little return in a trade. They would be smart just to hold onto him and avoid a situation where they depend 100% on Kingery at 2b; you know the second Kingery starts strugglin’ the fans would be whining about the trade of CeHe. Depth is important; it’s one of the main reasons why the Dodgers would be competitive even without a huge payroll…
RiverKKiller999
If anyone needs traded, it’s Teheran.
steelerbravenation
I don’t agree I wouldn’t be opposed to any of the 4 being traded as long as at one point somebody better is taking their spot.
steelerbravenation
I don’t agree I wouldn’t be opposed to any of the 4 being traded as long as at one point somebody better is taking their spot. Think about the return Foltynewicz would bring back. Could use some of those pieces to get a Kluber.
Folty
jdgoat
No for the love of God don’t keep the Julio Teheran trade Timor’s going for the fifth straight year.
alc47
I like Ramos and his bat a lot, still think we would need a strong defensive catcher with a good arm to catch Syndergaard even if we sign Ramos.
steelerbravenation
As a matter of fact I would like Guassman traded more than any of them but he probably would bring the least back
Acuña Matata
Lol why? He reinvented himself overnight in Atlanta.
bjupton100
I would trade him and Ender if I were the Braves. Folty, Ender plus for Haniger. Obviously some major pieces along side but two MLB players who would be easy to flip at the deadline along with the other pieces could easily add six blue Chip pieces to the Mariners.
DarkSide830
No reason the Braves would give up two big pieces to get back only one in their current position. Again, its not about the value of the return rather then what is most useful now. A MOTR starter and a solid to pretty good OF would not merit Haniger for a contender.
chief 2
Hate to say it, but your user name says it all if you’d be willing to give up Folty and Ender for Haringer.
bravesfansince98
Hanover ain’t that good man jeez I’d rather get cargo or McCutchen
adshadbolt
Is it 2012 ur thinking of?
steelerbravenation
He is only signed I believe for this year and I think he can be used to fill a hole in RF or a closer. I believe his value is higher than Teheran’s. But again a better pitcher must be acquired too though.
steelerbravenation
Foltynewicz & Ender would get you Kluber I think.
hockeyjohn
You Think? I think the Indians would hang up so fast. Good night Steeler. You obviously need some good rest.
Straight Outta Idaho
I think you are correct. I’d make that trade in a heartbeat if I’m the Braves. And I’d take that trade if I’m Cleveland. Sure, you give up an ace, but you get a solid rotation piece in return and a 3-time gold glover on a team-friendly contract. Both the players Cleveland gets in return would create financial flexibility, which is what I’ve heard they are looking for.
If you’re Atlanta, you get an Ace, and you have a whole Farm System of Foltys waiting to fill in. If Gohara rebounds, he’ll out pitch Folty any day of the week.
Yeah, I think if you are either team, you’ve gotta make that trade.
RandyRocks
I like to see the Braves go after Sony Grey
Erie4312
Sonny Gray could definitely be able to pitch better at ATL rather than NYY
Wouldnt cost too much either, maybe a top 100 prospect and others
Rebuild it
If its going to cost a top 100 prospect to get him itd be a hard pass from me dog. I know the yanks gave up a chunk to get him but his value seems really low
reflect
Didn’t JA Happ used to play for the Phillies too? Weird to mention the AA connection but not the Philly one.
Marc (Phillies Phan)
Yes, he was sent to the Astros in the Roy Oswalt deal.
Erie4312
Peralta and Greinke plus 15mil over Greinkes last two years for Gohara,allard, waters and Teheran
Erie4312
Continuing, Riley, Duvall, Darren O Day(7 mil off) for kirby Yates
1. Inciarte
2. Acuna
3. Freeman
4. Donaldson
5. Peralta
6. Albies
7.Flowers/McCann
8.Swanson
1. Greinke
2. Folty
3. Gausman
4. Teheran
5. Soroka/Touk/Wright
Sobotka
Vizcaino/Minter
Yates
bhambrave
Not just no, but…
Erie4312
?
bhambrave
Not just no, but H*ll no. Too much to give to Arizona, especially if they are only kicking in $15M. More like $40M-$50M. Yates only has two more years of control. I wouldn’t trade 6 of Riley for him. Duvall and O’Day are non-factors.
Erie4312
then make it 25M, Tehran adds in around 11 mil, Peralta hit 290 with 30HRs
Riley and O Day (7 mil is kind of a factor for Stammen and Yates
bhambrave
Skip Peralta. Teheran for Greinke and $30M. Skip Yates.
Rebuild it
If im trading riley and all i get is kirby yates i deserve to be fired. Thats all
Straight Outta Idaho
Here’s a thought: If Atlanta offered to take on the majority of Greinke’s contract, then it’d have to minimize the quantity or quality of the prospects going to Arizona. Atlanta’s got the flexibility to do it. What’s an acceptable offering, assuming Atlanta eats most, if not all, of the contract?
Personally, I Like Teheran and a couple low-level prospects for Greinke. If AZ is trying to get out from under that contract, this offering has to look good, right?
john morris
I like what we have done so far, but how about this deal: Package 1-2 prospects with Inciarte for a top line starter (Bumgardner,Grienke,Keuchel….) and fill the outfield vacancy spot with the biggest signing ever.. HARPER!!! Realistically not going to happen. If we were to trade Inciarte there would be 2 front line starters and decent outfielder needed to have that open.
bravesfan
Braves better not trade folty and really shouldn’t trade ender either. It seems completely outrageous that this is even a consideration on reporting outlets much less AA would even consider this. He better not trade him unless it’s some ungodly deal. Ender is much more negotiable, but the price tag is still very very high