The Braves have traded right-hander Touki Toussaint to the Angels for cash considerations, the Angels announced. To make room on the active roster, Jack Mayfield was designated for assignment.
The Braves had to make a move with Toussaint, whom they recently designated for assignment. Atlanta had high hopes for Toussaint, but things did not break his way and he’ll now have the opportunity for a fresh start with a perennially pitching-hungry Los Angeles organization.
Toussaint has not pitched in the Majors this season. He owns a career 5.46 ERA/5.37 FIP over 145 career innings spanning four seasons. He has pitched both out of the rotation and the bullpen for Atlanta since his debut in 2018. This season, Toussaint has a 6.26 ERA in 41 2/3 innings in Triple-A.
The Angels will see if they can get Toussaint on the right track. He made Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list in 2015 (#71), 2016 (#90), and again in 2019 (#53). Despite the promise, Toussaint hasn’t been able to carve out a regular role on talented Braves’ teams.
As for Mayfield, the 31-year-old infielder is hitting a mere .186/.230/.271 over 74 plate appearances. He’s been a player that the Angels have turned to often this season. The right-hander has also played for the Mariners and Astros in his career. He’ll have to pass through waivers now before the Angels can outright him to Triple-A.
This is really a true shame… Braves we’re overly committed to making him a starter or a long reliever, but anyone remotely connected to the industry knew he needed to be a short reliever and commit to it. Good luck kid. Braves have struck gold with a ton of prospect but there are just as many they have mismanaged and touki is a perfect example of that
Are you saying the entire Braves organization is dumber than “anyone remotely connected to the industry?”
*Spongebob rainbow meme* hyperbole
Long relief- does that even exist anymore?… but I see what you’re saying.
Tampa?
He’s the opposite of a short inning pitcher. He can’t throw strikes to save his life and walks 2 batters per inning.
He’s actually much better giving him a chance to settle in (if by some miracle his command is on) and ride him for an actual start.
If you look at his game log he had plenty of 5-6 inning starts where he only gave up 2 runs when his command was on. It’s not like he tan out of gas and gave up runs. You could tell in the first inning whether he would have a good day. On the flip side many of his bad games started almost immediately with free passes everywhere
Maybe you forget they tried him as a reliever in 2019? Yeah that was a disaster. Definitely not designed to be a reliever whatsoever.
@bravesfan, it’s a funny game. Here r the Braves, who are in the middle of the playoff striking out on Tussiant and my last place Orioles having success with guys like Lopez and Tate. Finding quality pitching depth I’m thinking is an advance scouts toughest assignment?
Had a feeling he and maybe Newcomb would find their way to Anaheim before season’s end…
The Angels traded Newcombe for Simmons
Yeah?!
As a Braves fan I hate this. But maybe a change of scenery will do him well. Such great stuff. And the name is 80 grade obviously.
I always saw him as a high leverage reliever. His arsenal would play great in shorter, late inning situations you would think.
His stuff is too good. He can’t throw strikes with it. He always gets behind in the count and has to cheese something middle middle and that is not a recipe for success for a late-inning reliever.
Hi
Another player who should have never been on the 40 man roster released. What takes this team so long?
This coming from an Angel fan is rich. The team that employs like 7 Quad A SSs.
Uh, I think he was talking about Jack Mayfield…
Hard to believe anyone thought I was talking about the World Champion Braves.
Some fans just react and take offense without trying to discern.
@halos11fan
it is kinda funny because in their taking offense they named exactly what you were saying is the problem 🙂
I’m pretty calm actually, Brian.
Few reactionaries are calm and you were without question a reactionary.
Calm down kid, he wasn’t taking a shot at your Braves. Have someone explain the comments to you before you reply with your little snarky remark.
At least they aren’t paying him something like $28m to not be around anymore like the Angels are to Justin Upton.
I truly believe the Braves are making a big mistake. HUGE
He’s had yeas to figure it out. How much longer did you want for them to wait?
Cut the cord. He has 1 pitch he can’t harness. He may end up as another Lucas Sims, but let the kid have a fresh start with someone familiar with his talent (Minasian). He’s a great presence with a great attitude.
No they didn’t
If he can harness his stuff he can be a force as a late inning guy.
Doesn’t that apply to EVERY failed pitcher though?
I don’t think Every pitcher is applicable but with Touki it’s different. His stuff is so pure and moves so much but he can’t get it all together. Very deceptive delivery and mechanics. Just couldn’t string it together. Filthy stuff for sure.
Cosmo2: I couldn’t agree with you more. I mean a guy who couldn’t cut it as a starting pitcher is (transformed into) the ONLY player to be unanimously voted to the HOF. For those who are to young to know who I’m referring to, it’s Mariano Rivera.
Anybody who actually thinks this clusterf—- of a franchise can fix anyone is laughable. There’s a reason why this team always has room for other teams’ failures. There’s also a reason why it never works out.
The Braves should have offered Duvall or Ozuna to the Angels as well.
If the Braves trade Ozuna (they won’t) he will burn them in the playoffs
Placing my bet his defense will not offset any of his offensive productive nights.
~DH~
Dude, the Braves still play Ozuna in LF despite having a DH option. It is a lost cause similar to Acuna staying healthy and Olson being better than Freeman
That’s not what a team who would trade for Ozuna would do though. The Braves are stuck with RAJ at DH often due to injury concern. Plus Contreras and Travis can’t catch at the same time
You’d be wise to give Olson some time; pretty sure he’ll come around.
Not sure if you’re new here, but this Duvall good hitter clown guy is anything but wise. If you’d like to see utter stupidity, stay tuned for more of his stuff.
@Your team should trade for Duvall. Apparently, he is a good hitter Give it up!!
You’ve become Metsfan22. Stupid posts just put up for reaction. Even the other Braves fans think you’re dumb.
“Especially the other Braves fans think you’re dumb.”
Fixed it.
Everyone on this forum and
“Especially the other Braves fans think metsfan22 is dumb.”
Improved it.
“Especially the other Braves fans think [your team] is dumb.”
He’s the former [Acuna is bad] account and NLBravesMustTradeForMadBum
What happened to MetsFan22
Why not through in Acuna since he’s so overrated?
The idea that the Angel can take him on and “get him on the right track” is pure comedy. As if they haven’t tried this every year for the last 5+ years with other arms. When do pitchers ever come to the Angels and turn things around?
Haha so true. But Bundy and Cobb come to mind as short-term successes.
Isn’t it hilarious too how the somewhat successful signing end up hitting free agency and leaving.
Almost like they enjoy being well below mediocre on the bump.
Actually the Angels haven’t tried since the 60’s.
As an Angel fan you are correct. They have no track record whatsoever developing pitchers
Weaver, Lackey, Washburn, Abbott, Sandoval, KRod. Percival, Adenhart, Skaggs, etc
Majority of those names are from previous ownership. Sandoval I give credit to Houston. Skaggs, Adenhart (RIP). You’re absolutely right about those names, but isn’t it funny how only 9 come to mind? In the entire franchise history, 9.
Nolan Ryan was an after thought with the Mets who the Angels Developed, Frank Tanana won over 250 games, Andy Messersmith, come quickly to mind.
Yea that’s not an impressive list
K-Rod
Plus Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana, Dean Chance, Clyde Wright, Andy Messersmith, Mike Witt, Kirk McCaskill, Chuck Finley, Bryan Harvey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Garrett Richards. They also had but traded Dennis Rasmussen, Roberto Hernandez, Mike Clevinger, and Patrick Corbin.
If one were to look at all-time ERA leaders, the Angels have the 5th best ERA, and even the most regular season wins among expansion franchises. Although the Astros do have the most playoff appearances among expansion clubs at 15, but that is because of their current 7 year run. Angels were also at the top of that list for quite a while before that. The reason I’m isolating expansion on this is out of fairness, because teams that have been around for over 100 years have a leg up on having enough time to improve and even regress. Expansion franchises even make up most of the bottom half of MLB in terms of all-time ERA. And the Astros are an organization that is proving that, with time, expansion teams can eventually insert themselves among the all-time leaders in many categories. The Angels have just gone through a big lull period over the past decade that even the Dodgers were going through 20 years ago in the Rupert Murdoch days. It can happen to any franchise. It’s even happened to the Yankees.
Well said. Thanks.
Finley,Mike Witt,Ervin Santana Matt Shoemaker.
How often does any pitcher who can be acquired for cash considerations turn it around on their new team and become particularly worthwhile? If the chances of him becoming much better we’re particularly good, he wouldn’t have been traded, or at least the Braves would’ve asked for more in return. He’s a lottery ticket at this point, or at least just another BP arm and little more.
People always trying to give that rat infested company Disney credit for 02, is still funny to me. The only three players drafted by Disney on that 02 WS team was, Jose Molina, Troy Glaus and John Lakey. The only international signing Disney made from that 02 team was KRod. Majority of those players were drafted by Gene Autry. Bill Bavasi drafted most of those players. From the 02 team. But he doesn’t get mentioned.
AA spend that $ 20 wisely , good luck Touki , the Angels need arms , maybe this is his lucky break ?
Wade and Mayfield have been DFA’d. When is Velazquez’s turn!?
When they can find someone to play short. HUGE mistake by Perry.
When is Perry going to do something that works? It’s obvious he wasn’t the brains behind the Braves.
Perry is a mere puppet. Why do you think Arte refuses to hire a real GM with experience? He mustn’t have anyone that talks back or differs from his views.
He might be. But he went into last year with a laughable bullpen and he went into this year with a laughable middle infield. And when I brought this stuff up in the Spring of each year, I received more venom from Angel fans than the GM.
I don’t blame Perry for the pen, at least he tried. I do blame him for that joke of a middle infield.
I hate these unforced errors.
I’ve agreed with you and believe Moreno is the issue. He will not own up to his heavy hand mistakes and pump the payroll over 200 million.
I appreciate the spending but if he forces a GM to over pay on contracts that handcuff the organization instead of waiting for the final year of the deal bump payroll up to eat the deal. I’m tired of excuses.
Halo11Fan;
I like Minasian, but his taking on Braves rejects is starting to be like Preller taking on Rangers rejects.
Who will play short?
So the Diamondbacks won that trade right?
This was a rare example of everyone losing.
Well if Atlanta invests that “cash considerations” wisely it could see a 200-300% return!! WINNING!!
Nah, Braves got some good rain delay filler with stories about Bronson Arroyo and his grunge music guitar playing.
Toukki has a 10% chance of figuring it out. The Braves have given him several opportunities, not sure where the mistake is being made.
Also, prospects are a roll of the dice. Just because he was a 1st Rd pick really doesn’t mean much.
I wonder how the Angels intend to deploy Touki – SP or RP? I’m not very familiar with him, but several Braves fans have commented above that Touki would be best served in the BP.
I would think bullpen, but like you, I’m not familiar with how he was used or developed with the Braves.
They deployed him to AAA where he will stay.
A few others have mentioned it but I can’t see him being an effective RP. He has good stuff, he just has no control of it way too often.
Unless the Angels unlock something the Braves couldn’t, I think he’s destined to be a mop up pen guy that might make for a spot start option.
I might have tried Mayfield as a pitcher first.
I wonder if he was ever working in the coal mine.
It is what it is. I hope the best for Touki, but all I see is AA getting ready for the trade deadline
Notice a tad of desperation by Minasian. He is signing inconsequential players in a sterile effort to right the ship. The team has crumbled and the team star with it. There is no cheap solution to what troubles the Angels, the team needs wise investment, not a reactive investment. Mr. Moreno should consider concentrating on the team instead of the peripheral construction and development factors.
So what your saying is if the team has identical offers for Wilson Contreras and Francisco Alvarez they should go with Wilson Contreras for the 2 months? Its silly to not look for a potential to stash in AAA while still improving the main roster especially when cash is the only thing it cost you.
Touki cost nothing but basically a 40 man spot and can easily be cut. Sometimes you catch that lightning in a bottle. Hell look at R A Dickey. Mid 30’s minor league signing turned into a cy young winner. Am i saying that will happen with touki, heck no but maybe a couple games down the stretch he becomes a lights out pitcher and gets you those couple games. If not you cut him for a couple bucks.
Toussaint had a bright future and it seems like the Braves messed it up.
How so? Guy has a ridiculous curveball that he couldn’t control enough to get away with sub-par secondary pitches. He had more then enough chances, like Bryse Wilson, and couldn’t put it altogether. Still has a bright future.
I’d argue as good as the curve is, the secondary pitches would work *if* he had any control. Thing is he doesn’t, so here we are.
Yeah, the Angels(of all teams) are gonna fix a broken pitcher!
P.S. Didn’t Mayfield bat clean-up for the Angels at a point this season….hahaha!!!
Why do you think Maddon got fired? He thinks he’s the smartest man in the room. He’s not. Mayfield should have never gotten one AB.
That’s more on the GM then. The manager, any manager, can only play the 26-28 players the GM/ownership gives them.
The same could be said for Velazquez, Wade, Rengifo, Duffy, Leguares, etc.
That 0-14 streak is more about roster construction than the manager.
So, if the problem is our GM (which, I agree, his roster construction is/was questionable at best) whose in the middle of a 4-year contract, should he be fired as well?
Sadly Minasian has gambled much in the same way that Eppler did. But, with the money he doled out to Syndergaard, Loup & Tepara…his “solutions” have been anything but cheap. As, yes, now, with the team, again, circling the drain…he is being reactive with these signings with the hope to not only salvage the season but his reputation as well. With the latter looking more repairable of the two as, I’m sure, he’s banking on getting some quality prospects in return for Thor or eventually Ohtani who (let’s stop kidding ourselves) surely won’t be sticking around at this point.. Which, in retrospect, is hugely “cheap” in its scope especially for someone who, supposedly, along with his staff (which, btw, Eppler never had) did a “top to bottom’ assessment of the roster & farm. That, if competent, calls his pre-season roster building abilities into question & makes these “flat-footed” moves now all the more troubling.
The issue with the Angels is the worst one to have: the owner.
It’s an Arte problem.
Nothing wrong with the Thor, Lorenzen or bullpen signings…. They just didn’t work out. But Thor has been good.
The Angels will lead the league in DFA’s this year.
…and strikeouts and sadness.
Before the Angels try to get Toussaint on track, they should try to figure out how to get the rest of the team on track.. We were our scored 21-4 in Houston and struck out 20 times last night alone. What are we doing at this point? These small tweaks are meaningless.
Prov356 said it all…Worrying about a hangnail ,as the arm is being amputated..Angel fan for 50 years here..of all frustrating seasons,this takes the cake.From optimistic start to the pits..Season highlight was watching the 2002 team reunion..Sucks that Maddon took the fall IMO…Phil Nevin?? As The Prez would say ” C’mon,Man”
I’m thinking there was more behind the Maddon firing than the 14 game losing streak. There has been no improvement in performance yet no one else has been fired. This team needs a complete overhaul from coaches to players. I’ve never been a fan of the :”rebuild”, especially with Trout on the roster, but something drastic has to happen. We can’t keep doing the same thing every year and expect a different result.
The Angels are not doing the same thing every year. They added bullpen pieces, they have never done this before, they drafted 20 pitchers, they have never done that before.
They have too many bad players on the roster. I brought this up prior to the long losing streak and was slammed.
It’s these unforced errors that are troubling.
Halo – They are doing the same thing in that they are adding mediocre talent every year and expecting them to ride the Trout train to victory. This last winter they acquired bullpen arms, which is good, but no one who was really earth shattering. Thor had potential and has been decent-ish.
But as they often have done, they ignored gaping holes, this year at shortstop and catcher and right field expecting AA and AAA level players to platoon their way to success. So it’s time to change tactics if the front office is serious about winning as they say.
I agree. They play the stars and scrubs card every year. Half their team is not major league worthy.
They did something a little different with their pen this year and it didn’t work out.
They are doing the same thing every year as far as shopping at dollar tree..We patch together a half ass staff, with 1 yr contracts and prayers.(Tehran,Bundy,Cobb,Lorenzen,Thor..etc ,etc.We go without a legit SS. And we always go for a Big washer up free agent at their Apex,instead of Robbie Ray type..as far as drafting 20 pitchers,I don’t think anyone has ever done that..Reeks of desperation,no? I miss Bill Stoneman!
The Angels play the star and scrubs game every year. I agree with that. But didn’t I imply that with my post? I’m a big fan of having average major league players and a few stars, the Angels don’t seem to believe in average. They take a lot of flyers.
Yeah..I agree with that..need more Kole Calhoun Ben Zorbrist types..Look at the 2002 team..almost all solid home grown talent..Free agency has not been the Angels friend..Lyman Bostock,Mo Vaughn,Gary Mathews Jr ,Josh Hamilton,Albert Pujols,Anthony Rendon.Not to mention all the mediocre pitchers..
I was happy with the Loupe ,Tepera and Bradley moves..Like you said, it didn’t work out,but it made sense..Unlike Lagares & Company ..Oh well..maybe next year( again)