The Braves burst out of the gates this winter with the signings of Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann, but it has been crickets in Atlanta ever since. Here’s the latest …
- Appearing at a team-sponsored event, GM Alex Anthopoulos discussed the status of the team’s roster-building efforts, as attendee and SB Nation contributor Stacy Marlow documented (Twitter links). Unsurprisingly, he did not divulge much in the way of specifics, but did provide some worthwhile snippets. Anthopoulos suggested the team was not heavily engaged on a “quiet” catching market, but would not rule out a move if the right opportunity comes along. He also seemingly reiterated a familiar stance on free agent outfielder Nick Markakis, indicating that the sides are still keeping an open line and weighing a reunion.
- The Braves relief unit is certainly an area of potential improvement, but Anthopoulos’s comments suggest he has been lying in wait in hopes of securing good value in that area. He says that he only just spoke with a free agent reliever for the first time recently, indicating that the club has not been in on the quality pitchers that have already signed — many of them for fairly hefty salaries. Anthopoulos added that his expectation is that contract demands will begin to drop as Spring Training approaches. As we’ve often discussed over the past two years, teams are exhibiting much greater patience in free agency. Whether players and their agents can match that discipline and regain some leverage remains to be seen.
- Most tantalizing, however, were Anthopoulos’s comments regarding one possible swap that’s evidently in the works. “There’s one trade concept right now that 70% of the deal we would agree to, the 30% is probably where we are going back and forth,” he said. “I don’t know if we are going to get it done, but the main piece of the deal I think we ultimately would be ok, it’s the add on.” Certainly, this not-yet-completed arrangement could involve any number of possible players, but it’s at least notable to learn that there could soon be some action.
- One significant factor in the development of the offseason for the Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription link), is the team’s hesitation to part with a draft selection to sign a player who declined a qualifying offer. There were six such players, only two of whom have signed to this point. Several are at least hypothetical targets for Atlanta, with the team reportedly showing real interest in outfielder A.J. Pollock. Rosenthal writes that the Braves are worried about the draft compensation that would be required to land Pollock — in their case, a second-round pick that’ll end up being sixty-something overall. Specifically, he says, the Braves “value the selection more than most clubs” because of the amateur talent penalties the team was slapped with in late 2017. If that is indeed a position the team itself holds, it’s somewhat less than compelling. The Braves certainly aren’t alone in valuing draft selections. Like their competitors, they must consider the future talent pipeline. It’s especially tough to see the club as uniquely situated when it still possesses a bounty of young talent at the major and minor league levels.
- One possibility that’s seemingly still on the table for the Braves is a move to land Sonny Gray of the Yankees. Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently discussed the concept, on the heels of a report from Jon Heyman of Fancred (Twitter link) that suggested the Braves could still be pursuer as the New York org again tries to make a deal on the veteran righty. As Burns explains, it’s not exactly a perfect fit, given Gray’s recent struggles and the Braves’ own needs, but it’s possible to imagine a match and the org has clearly shown prior interest. What’s most interesting, perhaps, is what a hypothetical acquisition of Gray would mean for Julio Teheran — another still-youthful, not-inexpensive starter who is looking to regain his prior form. Understandably, the Braves do not appear to view the rotation as the first order of business. The opening in right field no doubt remains the top priority, with some of the other possibilities discussed above arguably also rating as greater needs. All said, there’s still quite a bit of work to do this winter for Anthopoulos and co.
I think most Braves fans would be willing to try that swap as well. Saves us 14 mil or so since I think Julio has 2/23 left.
Please please please let the 70% trade be gallo or another COF!
I am hoping gallons and lecleric
*gallo
*Leclerc
Haniger?
Nah… he too expensive…they want a million prospects for that guy… gallo and lecleric… then they have money left to sign keuchel
I honestly don’t think I want keuchel unless we could somehow dump Julio and maybe oday salaries. Then I might offer him 4/60 but Phillies will prob offer more. Fine with me too. Haniger is def not going anywhere. Gallo seems to be our most logical fit and rangers need SP. I would love to snag a lot of other guys like Reyes or Margot from SD, Marte from Pit, winker from CIN, and I’d be ok with Peralta if he wasn’t too expensive, he does have familiarity with ender as well. Something tells me ARI front office is going to be wary of getting trade raped by the Braves again.
I honestly dont know know what the fascination is with gallo. Yea the guy hits 40 dingers a year, but is floating around the .200 mark and is mediocre in the field, He’d be nothing more than a bench player for the braves. i’d rather take a guy 15HRish batting 300.
Julio Teheran is owed $11 million in 2019 plus a $1 million buyout of a $12 million team option for 2020:
legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/na…
Why on earth do you want Gallo?
He either hits a HR or strikes out, that’s it (defense sucks as well)
Dont watch baseball much recently?
Obviously you don’t if that’s all you have in rebuttal. Gallo’s horrible and Mack83 was spot on
Career away from TX .193/.292/.461 38.5% K rate
2018 away from TX .186/.285/.431 40.3% K rate
I know it’s hot there but do you really want that much of a breeze?
Um, not many Ranger games, but…
577 pa’s, and 103 hits. 40 of which were HR’s and 207 strikeouts. So, I’m pretty much spot on w/ my assessment. He doesn’t walk much to help off set either.
His biggest thing going for him is his salary.
^Mack if I didn’t know any better I would have assumed those numbers were courtesy of Chris Carter.
He’s also worth about 3 WAR a season. And the braves need a power bat to play RF. He’s above average defense in RF too.
And we dont have multiple teams investing time and energy into launch angle? Right or wrong, they are trying to get what? To get Home runs.
What are they sacrifising? strike out rate.
Who fits that mold? Hmmmmm.
So, I ask, yet again, watch baseball much?
For the record, I dont agree with high K for HRs, but people paid to do this have some evidence of its value, particularly in the Jr circuit.
Why not just give Duvall the role in the outfield then? Doesn’t get on base as often as Gallo, but he’s got a much better glove and overall not too much more valuable than Gallo.
I think that could happen in ST if no other deal is consummated before then and he hits a little better. He has to change his approach at the plate because SunTrust plays differently. It was too easy to hit homers in Cindy.
Why do people keep saying this? Both those years Duvall hit 30 or more he hit significantly better on the road. He even hit more homers on the road. Does everyone just make the assumption about Cincinnati ? How about checking stats ??
Why would I check stats? What a silly concept.
🙂
Gallo would fit just fine into the Braves line up. He actually plays above average OF. Those 40 dingers can do a lot of damage with 3 potential mvp candidates in front of him.
100% agree
You kind of left off the 92 RBI’s. I’ll take a guy any day that can play avg defense and hit 40 HR’s and 92 RBI’s in right field on this team.
Mazara ?
Gray for Teheran who says no? Personally I believe that the Braves would but Gray would be better in Atlanta especially since is from Braves country.
The Yankees say no because why would they ever want Teheran? He’s owed 5 million more dollars and wouldn’t make their rotation.
Anybody else disappointed in the Braves lack of spending this off-season? I understand Donaldson wasn’t cheap, but this Braves team is put together with so many talented, inexpensive, pre-arb players, it would be nice to see them add some more free agents. Brantley would have been nice. As would Andrew Miller or David Robertson.
Brantley is always injured
Same with Miller
Robertson would have been nice….
I really thought they’d go after McCutchen, but not give hem what he ended up with……I expected more like 2/28+……not 3/50 plus an option
Yep. McCutchen got paid a lot more than I was expecting. Phillies, I believe, are hoping for him to return to a higher level than he showed the last couple of years. If he hits .280 next year with his typically high OBP and plays good defense in right, he may be the steal of the off season, though. Dude was a perrenial MVP candidate not too long ago.
yes but he is a year older… i bet on him being the same or less than last year rather than bouncing back to his younger years… only thing that gets better with age is wine and Justin Verlander =)
…and Barry Bonds.
They don’t want to overpay. Their haven’t been many decent contracts handed out. There are still some quality RPs left and if he gets any 1-2 of them at s decent contract then we benefit from the patience. Don’t hold your breath for Kimbrel tho.
Why do you want them to spend just to spend? There aren’t really THAT many holes on the 2019 squad. They’ve got a need for RF, but until Harper signs, I don’t think they fill it.
I don’t get it. The Braves have a ton of talent that’s MLB ready, and they don’t NEED to spend a lot.
Brantley is not worth the $$ he got. He’s often injured as well.
Miller is good, not great anymore (needs to prove himself healthy & the Miller of old) for this cost. AA wants value. Not names.
I’d like to see Cody Allen brought in, as well as Adam Ottavino but from what I can see he’s asking a lot.
Don’t make a deal just to make a deal. Make a deal if it fits the team.
Agree! Most of the contracts that have been handed out so far have been overpays…
Gallo is a young player that hits 40 bombs a year…. there is room for growth if he starts hanging around the braves players and coaches
They’re a good, not great team. Their only true NEED right now is another outfielder. But realistically as last season showed, if they want to make a deep run into October they need 2-3 better arms in the bullpen, a better bench, and another starter. Camargo in a utility role will help the bench and no one would be wrong to think the rotation will improve organically. Getting those bullpen arms, an outfielder, and even another bench bat would go a long ways towards the Braves taking the next step as a World Series contender.
There’s also the trade deadline to see where area’s of needs are the highest. If they’re in the hunt, they’d shore up some holes then as well.
Anyone who makes the playoffs is a WS Contender. They don’t need to go crazy and over spend to satisfy fans’ needs to have a transaction a day.
My concern about Camargo: is he as effective a hitter off the bench vs when he’s playing every day and his timings on..? As we seen with Duvall last half the season; some guys aren’t cut out for sporadic AB’s and need their timing.. Time will tell, but there’s nothing worse than your bench striking out in the usual big opportunity they’re presented time after time.
I think the theory is that he will play 4-5 days a week, moving between several positions. I think they should be getting Swanson some work at 2B and the outfield as well. I can see Camargo outhitting him and taking the starting job at SS.
@mack83
To be truly competitive in the improving NL East, they could have spent a little more.
Brantley is worth every penny he received; although, as you point out there are health concerns. He still produced nearly 4 WAR last season, and for his Astros contract to be an overpay he would have to produce less than 4 WAR combined over the next two seasons. I’m not a betting man, but I will take the over on that one.
Miller had a single down year related to injury, but comes with a long track record of complete domination.
Cody Allen looked like an A ball pitcher trying to get outs against a MLB all-star team at times last year.
Ottavino is tremendously inconsistent year to year, and even though he produced good results last year, his walk rate was alarming at 4.4bb9. The year prior it was 6.6bb9. You would rather have him than Miller, Britton, or Robertson?
no… i would rather put some of the young arms in the bullpen and see how they do. make moves at the deadline if need be…. plus having Oday there will help the pen
Stop overstating Gray’s struggles as if they are all encompassing. He struggled in Yankee Stadium, probably because its a bandbox. He was perfectly solid on the road and there’s every reason to believe a change of scenery would help his home splits.
I won’t be heartbroken if the Yankees hang on to him because I think he has something to prove in 2019,
I agree 1000%
Except the 4 starts he made away from yankee stadium were all against KC and Baltimore. Worst teams in the league. I agree a change of scenery and coaching might benefit him and as a Braves fan I would take him, but I wouldn’t give the Yankees much more than allard for him.
50% of his road starts were against Baltimore or Toronto. He also has a start against KC and a 3 IP relief appearance against CWS further tipping the scales to a substantial amount of innings against teams who lost 90+ games
Congrats on a solid draw of very low quality teams to make it appear he’s some perfectly fine pitcher
Now was he worse at Yankee stadium? Absolutely, not denying that.
But he was not fine away from Yankee stadium either. That’s incredibly misleading when you dig deeper.
His ERA against above .500 teams on the road sat at 5.40.
Now I certainly expect an increase against better opponents but the Braves need an ace who can lead them against tough opponents in October, not beat up on the bottom feeders to make him appear effective.
Gray is a 4+ ERA pitcher with any team he goes to. His 3.07 road ERA is 50% coming from Orioles and Jays as his opponent which is what all Gray touters are choosing to just completely ignore.
If you look at Gray in his last 4 years you wonder if he is on again off again. He wasn’t pitching in Yankee stadium in 2016.
This 70% completed trade…damn it would be nice if it was for Mitch Haniger.
I would rather not pay the asking price of haniger
Why not? Haniger put up a MUCH better WAR than Bryce Harper. Most teams could only hope one of their PROSPECTives puts up a 6+ WAR season. If I have a chance to get that player on my contending team, I do it. I tell ya…. People over-value their prospects so bad.
1,000% agree with you. But I’ve been around long enough to watch plenty of “can’t miss” prospects miss badly.
It makes sense for it to be an outfielder or JTR. I doubt very seriously the70% there comment was in reference to Gray.
Agreed
Yeah, JTR was where my mind went. I wonder if the 70% is Flowers and either Riley or Camargo then just needing the last 1/3?
I really don’t like how Braves fans have completely flipped on Teheran over the last couple of years. For all the crap thrown at him. He finished with a sub-4 ERA and a 2.2 WAR last season. Literally if the guy can zero back in on his walks/9, he’ll be back to that 2 starter he was a few years ago.
He’s Jair Jurrjens 2.0
Jurrjens had nagging injuries combined with inconsistencies. Teheran had been healthy for the most part.
The “inconsistencies” is what makes me compare the 2. They both relied on a good change up and lost velocity quick.
He’s had the #1 SP tag for so long that he carries that expectation and hasn’t lived up to it. I don’t know what his spin rate has been, but based on veery little movement his ball has, it needs to be improved. He throws a very straight FB and has to get better movement.
Not sure that you understand spin rate. Generally a higher spin fastball is flatter and looks like it rises. It’s also incredibly hard to change spin rate. What was more concerning to me was that we would see 87 mph fastballs from him last year, when he threw relatively hard earlier in his career.
That’s a big if. His control and velocity has gotten worse.
As someone that drove from NYC to PHI to watch his debut, I’ve wanted him to take the next step and he never has come close. He’s a rotation’s #4, if even that, with a steady slip in velocity while not developing other pitches. Anibal Sanchez worked with him in 2018, but even then not that much better in production. He’s in his prime and throwing 88-89 mph with little movement. Who would be happy with that when Bryce Harper is hitting almost .500 lifetime vs. him?
For the price, he’s fine as a 4-5. Problem is, we’ve got 12 young guys we need to try in that 4-5 range. If we get a legit 1, he has to be the odd man out. I think they’re will be a decent market for him.
Really nice to see a Braves fan say something positive about Teheran. I get the impression sometimes my fellow Braves fans think we are just waiting to get the next round of Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz. That it’s not a matter of if but when.
We may never see that kind of dominant trio again but if it did, Teheran would still be a welcome addition. He has value because he is never injured. How many starters can you say that about? Even if all he does is repeat last year’s production line, a league average pitcher that is never injured is valuable, especially if you can put him in the three or four spot.
If Teheran had value he would he a legitimate trade piece, and there would not have been the issue of putting him on the playoff roster. Guys who throw in the upper 80s with little movement and who lack control aren’t legit starters for contenders. .
I mean who really wants a pitcher who started 31games and threw 175 innings and had a BAA of .198 in 2018?
Oooooh oh ooooooooooh, oooh oh oooooooooh
Que the lets send Teheran to the Yanks for Gay and Frazier….. Please stop trying to deal Teheran. He’s a failed starter in the weak NL East, wtf would he be of any value to the Yanks. I much rather keep Gray.
Ditto, the Teheran trade proposals have dominated this site for the last few years.
It’s been obvious to anybody who doesn’t watch the Braves full-time that most Braves fans want to trade Teheran, because they see the writing on the wall for this guy, and want to get as much value as a guy can that has had the #1 tag slapped on him.
Easy there John Rocker
Surprised Markakis hasn’t found a home yet. It’s stunning to think that he is 5th in active leaders for hits (Ichiro is pretty much retired so he’s really 4th).
That’s because he’s old. We saw that in the 2nd half.
What you saw in the 2nd half was a guy hitting cleanup that had no business hitting cleanup. Markakis is not a cleanup hitter but he was the best option. I really believe he would be a great 2 hole or 6 hole hitter. But with Freddie hitting 3rd probably 6 would be best.
Touki and Alex Jackson for Gray, Ellsbury (yankees pay his contract down to 5 mill/y) and Yankees throw in a prospect (maybe Freicer Perez or Glenn Otto). Deal? No Deal?
F#### That… no touki in a deal for Gray
No freaking way. At all. I don’t think we should move Touki at all, but if we did, it better be for someone huge. Gray is alright, but not worth that at all
Why on earth would the Braves want ellsbury? Even if he was free I wouldn’t take him. Touki is not going anywhere and is likely our #5 starter depending on sorokas shoulder and who has a better ST. They both might be in the rotation and move Julio to long relief. If we made a deal with Yankees it would be gray and Frazier for some lower end prospects. Allard and maybe muller or wentz.
I like Joey Wentz and Kyle Muller from the Braves
I wouldnt give up any top 30 prospects for Gray LMAO…. he is not worth that…. 1 year of control and coming off a horrible year…. if the yankees trade him for something like Tehran, thats fine… for anything more, they can keep him
Yankee fans and Padre fans seem to have no concept on the value or lack of value of their players. No one is going to take Ellsbury and that contract. You also are not getting Touki + for Gray and Ellsbury. No way, None. Gray has limited value and Ellsbury has negative value. Paying down Ellsbury gives just limited value. Two limited value players for a top prospect + is totally unrealistic.
Frangraphs had Gray with a 2.8 WAR in 2017 and 1.7 WAR in 2018, he is a bargain at 7 million. That’s his value, plus he is in his prime years with no injuries. The Yanks should hold on to Ellsbury, they got 15 million in insurance money for him last year, I would much rather pay him 5 million not to play than pay Heyward or Fowler what they make to play.
That’s a terrible deal for the Braves. Yankees aren’t getting anything for Gray but a bag of chips.
Looks to me the Braves don’t wanna win
They want to win beyond 2019 rather than make moves to potentially close that window sooner than needed.
Just bring back Markakis for 2 w/option
Sign Adam Warren & Justin Wilson
Trade for JTR & Conley (Pache, Allard, Wilson & Demeritte)
Keep Teheran if anything else he provides innings and pitches every 5th day.
1. Folty
2. Newcomb
3. Guassman
4. Teheran
5. Touki/Soroka/Gohora
Pache, Allard & Wilson? come on. NO
For an all star catcher actually best in the game right now & a LHRP with years of control
How the bullpen isn’t top priority blows my mind. Yes we need a RF, but that bullpen is brutal.
More experience this year, hopefully less work w/ more innings from starters. They’ve got to stop going to the pen with one little hiccup in the 4th or 5th innings.
These starters need to go 6, at least.
The bullpen could use an upgrade, but it’s not “brutal”. We need to see how O’Day is gonna pitch, plus we can also use Fried as a reliever. Last year the bullpen had better than a 2 WAR. Most of their problems came from too many walks, which the Braves believe is a correctable problem.
I’m also curious to see how O’Day does in Atlanta. I think he can provide some leadership to the rookies and younger guys. That’s what the bullpen lacked when Viz was hurt.
If you’re relying on O’Day to save your bullpen you know you have a bullpen problem.
This is not going to be fixed by doing nothing and letting internal options figure it out.
And it’s only going to get worse beyond next year when Vizcaino is gone. This FA class had a number of quality back end options so there really should have been no hesitancy about giving out 3-4 year deal to someone when you consider the internal options aren’t promising and the one consistent option (when heathy) Vizcaino is leaving after this year.
As bad as the bullpen was last year and probably will be again this year, it’s gonna be even worse in 2020 if this mentality of do nothing and sort it out internally sticks.
I was talking to a Jays fan the other day who said AA doesn’t know how to build a team in terms of being able to add in the smaller pieces, he’s only good for making the flashy splashes, such as a Donaldson signing while acting like the bullpen doesn’t need addressed
His comments starting to make a lot of sense from what I’ve seen.
Internally you have Minter who will eventually take the closers role. The problem with the bullpen was the youth. They wore down by the end of the year. I do agree there needs to be a couple more arms to come in but I don’t think the bullpen is in as bad a shape as people on here make it out to be.
I thought Britton woulda been a great fit & Robertson as well. Other than those 2 I don’t see another available RP worthy of an overpay. I would rather see who is left and get some arms on an underpay.
The young guys just gotta throw more strikes and that comes with experience. Let the young guys pitch.
First month of the season last year the bullpen had the best ERA in baseball then all the innings pitched caught up with them. Same thing after the allstar break for about 3 weeks when they got some rest until all the innings caught back up with them.
Braves are keeping Markakis as a backup plan if the trade thats 70% complete falls thru. They are bring Heyward back – the 30% that needs to be worked out is how much $$ cubs send and which SP or two Braves send back ( hopefully ones with options so that cubs can stash them in minors for next year when Hamels is gone) Just a guess
Stupidest idea ever. Heyward is not coming back to Atlanta. wow.
I believe anyone in their right mind would take Markakis over Heyward at this point. Heyward never became what we thought he was. And he has a hefty price tag. Give me Ol’ Reliable Nick any day.
I’m a big Heyward fan, don’t get me wrong. We went to the same HS. I watched him throughout the minors. Just not a good fit for the Braves, or any budget conscious team at this point.
Cubs would have to pay 50% of that contract (at least) to move him. Even then…..a team would have to hope that Heyward somehow remembers how to hit..
He was such a Beast as a young player. Then the Braves decided to make him a leadoff hitter who steals bases…???
Isn’t it possible that they are the ones who “wrecked him” in the First Place?
Heyward wrecked himself with his HR swing every at bat after his rookie season. Watch his rookie year. He was hitting gaps and turning singles into doubles.
Second year? Swinging for the RF fence. If he’d go back to his rookie year tapes, he could find something I think. his swing is fugly now though
I think injuries messed up Jason. I know he’s had thumb and wrist injuries, and iirc, a shoulder injury when he was with the Braves.
And that God awful dip in swing.. Maybe an adjustment like a Acuna made could do wonders for him, I’m sure they would have figured it out by now though.
@kbarr888 there were numerous back channel comments that after his rookie season Heyward was borderline uncoachable because he was too confident in his own abilities. This was especially true from a hitting standpoint.
Supposedly though Heyward is much better at taking instructions now, but apparently it hasn’t cured his woes.
that dude is probably a cubs fan LMAO
Thank you… Might as well invite Brian jordan to spring training if that’s the case.
BRO, nobody is trading for Heyward unless the cubs are picking up like 80% of that contract
Cubs would have to eat all but a couple mil of Jheys contract. No way that is the trade. They would not give up prospects for him. Certainly not any of our top SP. We traded him to STL cause we knew he wasn’t worth the money.
On the Teheran side, why not trade him to San Diego for Wil Myers? Myers plays LF or RF w/ Acuna in the other and he’s a decent pickup for a problem. Money favors Atlanta a bit, but San Diego has a better park for Teheran to pitch him (hr prone) for half his season or more.
You do realize Petco Park is more of a hitter’s park than SunTrust right? In 2018 Petco had a .983 HR rate where SunTrust had a .802.
Guess I didn’t realize that, hard to imagine it could be worse for him 😀
I know right? His best bet is Marlins park. There’s a catcher down there I wouldn’t mind having in a Braves uni 😉
The rate has more to do with the players playing in the park than the actual park itself.
True, but I don’t think he’d do much better at Petco since they moved the fences in in 2012. He needs to pitch somewhere huge like SF or Miami.
SF could work. if they had anything worth a damn to send back lol
Julio would definitely fair better in Seattle SF or SD. They are large cavernous fields and JT has issues with fly balls that turn into HRs. Obviously we’re not getting Haniger but I could see him as a piece to get will smith from SF or maybe Franmil Reyes or Manuel Margot from SD. Margot isn’t even listed as a starter for SD right now.
That sounds good!
How about Margot Robbie from LA? I wouldn’t rule Haniger out for the Braves, not at all. Steve Adams said in a chat that he feels they want to move him but just haven’t found an offer they like yet. I agree, I feel like the “blow us away” comment is just posturing. It’s Dipoto for God sakes. He’d trade his grandma for the right price.
The Braves easily have the kids to get it done and from their perspective it wouldn’t even sting that bad. When are they going to use it? You can’t have 15 starting pitchers. Go get your young, extremely cheap All-star RF. Heck, trade him for a bounty of plans don’t work out. Win-win.
I’m sure all the fellas are feeling Margot Robbie.
Who is Steve Adams ????
What insight does he have ?
Uhhhhhh….. The dude who owns this site?
Steve Adams writes for this site and does a chat every Tuesday afternoon.
I know who he is but what makes him a so called expert or in the know ? I don’t see him on TV or writing for publications for years to have a national reputation like Rosenthal, Gammons, Heyman etc.
He states his opinion on here like everyone else. No disrespect to Steve Adams but his opinion is just that an opinion.
In fairness to Julio, I think his SunTrust issues have become largely mental.
He got off to a real bad start in 2017 in the new stadium when balls were flying out and it’s in his head.
Look at his Coors numbers, he dominates there. SunTrust is more mental for him at this point than park factors related imo
Myers contract from 2020 – 2022 is over 20 million a year with an option in 2023. Myers is also a negative asset with that salary.
Eh, change of scenery and a solid “you’re our RF’er” will help him. San Diego has him bouncing all over the place. I’d still do it. Even w/ the $20m
You would have to think SD would throw in some money on a Myers for Teheran trade.
When Teheran first came to the Majors his fastball would sit at 92-93 and could reach back and touch 94-95 and that made his change up much better. Right now if he has a 90-91 fastball you know he will have a good game, but if it’s only at 89, he’s gonna struggle. But I have to give him credit, even when he doesn’t have it, he fights and doesn’t give in to hitters. There were plenty of games where he just didn’t have it and was able to go 5 innings where he only gave up 1 or 2 runs and Snitker would let him pitch the 6th just to get destroyed.
a change of scenery might do them both some good. if i were Atl id want a little something extra like a low level minors scrub
Of course, I’m sure there’d be more to it than just a straight swap.
I’m all for the Braves trading for Gray. They can deplete some of that farm system for someone who most likely will also struggle in a newly retooled NL East.
retooled? that’s funny.
Harper could be leaving (same for Realmuto), Carlos Santana left the division – you still have Hoskins, Jean Segura, Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie, Robinson Cano, Yoenis Cespedes (until at least midseason), Conforto/Nimmo, Rendon, Juan Soto, Trea Turner, Brian Dozier.
Honestly, those offenses don’t look scary, especially if you’re used to playing BOS, TOR, BAL, TB regularly. NL East has some great pitching, but the offenses have a lot to be desired.
TOR and BAL were tough offenses last year? News to me.
Even with a DH TOR managed all of 30 more runs last year than PHI or NYM
Idk why a 3 team trade with the padres reds braves is too hard.
Padres would love senzel or Suarez (reds) or Riley (braves) to fill 3B long term
Braves would love yates stammen renfroe(padres) hughes(reds)
Reds would love any number of padres and braves mlb ready pitching prospects.
the braves would LOVE Renfroe? if that was the case they would have him already…. he is Adam Duval 2.o
Yea no thanks on Renfroe or Myers. I’d take Myers if they paid about 40% of his contract. They certainly aren’t giving up Riley to fit those needs with mediocre players. They are supposedly super high on Riley. I’d still like to see a trade for kluber happen. I think pache/Wright/allard and a wild card would be close.
Playing along with the 3 team trade discussion, Margot would be the right Padre OF for the Braves. Gives the Braves a 3rd CF to fortify the defense, and is a bat with upside. I’d kick the tires on Franchy Cordero, who has awesome upside but no big league track record. No to Renfroe.
i also like Margot or Cordero but not for top prospects… throw them Tehran, 30 or later prospect and some cash
Cleveland is looking for MLB ready talent to fix weaknesses in the outfield and bullpen as well as prospects. . I like Atlanta’s prospects, but we don’t match up well because both teams need an outfield and bullpen help. Atlanta would need to get a third team involved.
I think that the Indians would be interested in Pache. They’ve been looking for CF for a long time. Maybe not.
I feel like SD may be on the verge on giving up on Margot even though he’s still young. Unless they trade one of their other OF.
Pache is not MLB ready. I didn’t say he wasn’t a good prospect or that the Indians would not have interest.. The trade proposal I responded to did not have a MLB ready outfielder that the Indians must get in a Kluber trade. That is the point that I was making.
Renfroe is Adam Duvall 2.0 before he fell off the planet
Duvall was a good player before last year. I think anyone would have been happy to add him last December
It’s the same with Renfroe. I don’t understand the hate around him. He could probably had relatively cheaply and has high upside since he hasn’t truly reached his potential yet.
70% chance that the Braves might make a trade is the most exciting thing to happen in the last 2 months.
Donaldson is gonna bring veteran leadership to the club house and potent bat to the line up. McCann is gonna help the pitching staff mature… the braves have done good so far…. as long as they dont stop here they are winning the division again.
I dont think the phillie, mets, or nats made a better signing then the Donaldson signing.
tehran has more years of control than gray, who is a fa at seasons end. I dont envision a trade for either pitcher(s) happening until sometime mid to end spring training, when all the players are sorted out and who is and isnt injured.
Castellanos for a top 10 and 2 top 20s…
NO WAY! Less than a top 30 pick for him also…… dont pay what the GMS want… pay what the market calls for… nobody is doin any deals becuz asking prices are too high… patience is a virtue… keep waiting until the right deal comes along
I want something to happen NOW also, but AA is doing the right thing… honestly, Duval could actually be ok if AA upgrades at other spots. ST will say alot about Duval and his place in the line up
20s are settled, 10 isnt. 2 sticks, 1 arm, arm likely one of the 20s
The Braves don’t have many “sticks”.
Guys that can’t play defense and are on expiring contracts don’t normally have too much trade value for NL teams. Castellanos best position is DH. He wouldn’t bring too much from Atlanta.
Trade Julio, O’Day and Allard for Greinke. D’Backs pay Greinke’s deferrals and bonuses. That would lower Atlanta’s commit to Greinke to essentially a wash in 2019 and about $20M per year in 20 and 21.
I think the only way for the Dbacks to move Greinke is to attach Peralta. Greinke had good results last year, but how long is it going to last. Remember last spring training when he was having trouble getting his fastball past 80mph and he openly wondered if he would or could be effective?
I could EASILY see the deal Anthopoulos mention as about 70% complete as being one that included Greinke and Peralta headed to Atlanta.
southi. That 70%/30% comment made me think of the Dbacks Greinke and Peralta too. I think they discussed Greinke, the 70%, and wanted the Dbacks to throw in Peralta, the 30%, but the Dbacks balked.
I can see Greinke and Peralta, with the Dbacks taking back Teheran and 3 or 4 of the Braves stockpile of pitching prospects. Teheran is Not highly regarded anymore, so the Braves would be dumping his salary to buffer Greinke’s salary. The Braves get a legitimate TOR Ace, but need to pay the going rate for an affordable Greinke who has only or fully, depending on your perspective, a 3 year contract.
In my opinion the Braves and the Diamondbacks probably agree on BOTH Greinke AND Peralta as well as probably two prospects going back to Arizona. The hang up is probably who is a third piece (or possibly 4th) going back to Arizona. That could potentially be a pretty big disparity if Arizona is insisting on a guy like Wright, but Atlanta wants to only include someone like Allard as the last piece (and I’m just using two guys with definite different values for example).
Forget 3 or 4 pitching prospects. Not going to happen, unless Az eats a huge chunk of Greinke’s salary.
Bhambrave don’t assume someone meant high rated prospects. I may have mentioned Wright, but I specifically said that I only used Wright and Allard to illustrate known prospects with definite different values.
If I actually had to GUESS a possible return for Greinke, Peralta and $30 million then I’d say something along the lines of Gohara, Wilson, Ynoa and Alex Jackson (who in my mind has very little value). Of course if the Diamondbacks pay less money then the prospects in value and number drop accordingly.
I think it’s the other way around. The hang up is how much of Greinke’s contract the D-backs. Out of all the rumored trades of the Braves this does sound like what they might be close on.
I think this could be the trade AA is talking about. The 30% hang up is how much Az pays of his remaining contract.
if Machado is only getting offers for 7 and 175… the braves should kick the tires on him… give him SS and trade Swanson to the Marlins along with a couple other pieces and get JT
I would not be surprised at all to see Dansby traded in a Realmuto deal after hearing that AA tried to trade Swanson to teams who called about Carmargo. He would make a lot of sense as a pivot away from Albies.
I wouldn’t mind Machado at this rate, but I imagine an LA or NY team would dig into their couch cushions and sign him at this price if it ended up being close to his final offers.
But as much as people are screaming conspiracy, most teams still cant afford to gamble 25 mil a yr for most of a decade on any one player and still expect to be flexible enough year in and out to compete. The same handful of teas are the ones ruling FA every year and most of them just dont seem as motivated this offseason to make big changes.
Braves should sign Machado, trade Flowers, Swanson, Pache and Allard to Marlins for Realmuto
The only problem I would have is MM is a terrible SS. He truly should play 3rd. I’d love his bat in the Braves lineup though.
Play him at SS in 2019 and move him to 3B in 2020.
Machado as a Brave? No thanks. I’d take Harper anytime over the no hustling dirty player.
Yeah like Andrew Jones was known to bust it out the box on every play. Stop the nonsense him not hustling is the biggest joke.
Do you want that guy sitting in your locker room influencing all the young guys, though? Doesn’t seem like he’d mesh well with Donaldson, either, who is known for being a win at all costs, hard-nosed, never ever not hustle kind of guy.
in one word…YES =)
Dude can rake…
I hope the Braves don’t trade Ender. He needs to stay unless they get Trout in return.
He won’t be traded unless it’s for a key piece (i.e. ace or corner OF). We can ill-afford to fill 2 OF vacancies unless the replacement is included in the trade, which is not likely unless it’s Haniger (aka poor man’s Trout).
AA, waiting on spring training wire waver time. Maybe Pache can play some of with Duvall is Markakis is deemed to expensive. Could be or he would be back in Baltimore by now as a fan favorite in his twilight.
Bullpen has been poor for 5 years, if AA can’t see that he should just resign now.
At some point Atlanta has to use their prospects or trade them, other clubs want youth for veterans like Greinke or Gray.
I dont even feel like they have to make another move to contend… but it would be nice to have another sexy name or 2, be it OF, C, or SP… no relievers!
the answer is putting some of the prospects in the bullpen… thats whats goin down! they dont need to pay for relievers until July at the trade deadline. I dont want ottavino, kimbrel, or any other FA… if there is a trade for 1 or 2 fine… but to give a contract, NO WAY
A couple points:
1. Braves fans are severely underestimating the addition of Donaldson at 3B. He liked working with AA and this could be a massive addition.
2. Anthopoulos is apparantly trying to potentially save the 60th (ish) overall amateur pick and NOT sign a qualified FA after the year they just had?!?!?!?!?!
What?!?!?!?!?!
Come on! The system has proven to be, somewhat surprisingly, very strong and resistant to the penalties they got hit with. If it’s more flush and we know AAs track record then let’s say either Kuechel or Pollack are going to be Braves. Or…Manny or Bryce!! Go get em!!
Jason Heyward and Addison Russell w/ the Cubs picking up 50% of Heyward’s contract for Swanson and a MiL to be named later.
Why???
No. Just no. Why do cubs fans think they can dump a player they were stupid to spend 100mil on after the Braves didn’t want him? And then you also want to give us a player that will prob be banned for domestic abuse for a #1 overall SS? Gee thanks. Y’all are too kind.
Why would anyone trade anything of value for Addison Russel and his problems? Also I don’t think you would get a Swanson plus for 50% cost of Heyward. Sorry, both are negative assets.
keep your trash
Frangraphs had Gray with a 2.8 WAR in 2017 and 1.7 WAR in 2018, he is a bargain at 7 million. That’s his value, plus he is in his prime years with no injuries. The Yanks should hold on to Ellsbury, they got 15 million in insurance money for him last year, I would much rather pay him 5 million not to play than pay Heyward or Fowler what they make to play.
If he is so good, the Yankees should keep him. They want to get rid of him because he is not very good,
No on Gallo for the same reason I don’t want him on my fantasy team. All he has to contribute is power. One tool players, especially in that category, aren’t getting you too far over time.
Yes on trading (or releasing) Teheran. Unreliable. You never know which guy will show up on any given day.
No on Machado and Russell for character reasons.
No on Hayward. He was never the same after being hit in the face.
Give Duvall the gig in RF unless you land a premium guy. Markakis had his day in Atlanta, but he’s pretty much done now.
Still would love to see the Bravos deal for Kluber. That would set them up for a championship run.