The Braves and Angels have lined up a swap of change-of-scenery candidates. Atlanta announced the acquisition of infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi for minor league first baseman Evan White and reliever Tyler Thomas. The Braves’ 40-man roster count is up to 36; the Halos will be at 39 once they finalize one-year free agent deals for Luis García and Adam Cimber.
It’s an odd fit for the Braves, who aren’t in need of catching help. Atlanta has Sean Murphy as their starter and re-signed Travis d’Arnaud to an $8MM deal to work as the backup. Stassi gives them a third experienced, fairly highly-priced catcher. Since it’s unlikely they’d want to carry all three — none of whom can be sent to the minor leagues — Mark Bowman of MLB.com tweets that they plan to flip Stassi elsewhere.
Atlanta has already moved a trio of players whom they’d acquired in previous offseason trades. Right-hander Jackson Kowar, added from the Royals for Kyle Wright, went to the Mariners in the deal that brought in Jarred Kelenic. As part of the Kelenic trade, the Braves agreed to take on salary on the underwater contracts for left-hander Marco Gonzales and White. Gonzales was dealt to the Pirates for a minimal return on Tuesday, while White is now himself shipped away in this swap with the Angels.
Now they’ll try to move Stassi, who is under contract for $7MM next season. He’s also guaranteed a $500K buyout on a $7.5MM team option for the 2025 campaign. The Halos had signed him to an extension on the heels of a combined .250/.333/.452 showing between 2020-21. That contract didn’t work as the organization envisioned. Stassi slumped to a .180/.267/.303 line over a personal-high 375 plate appearances in 2022.
The 32-year-old didn’t appear at all in 2023. Stassi began the season on the injured list with a left hip strain. While he recovered from the hip issue midseason, he remained away from the team to attend to a family issue. After the season, Stassi and his wife Gabrielle revealed their son had been born three months prematurely in mid-April and had spent the past few months in NICU. In November, Angels GM Perry Minasian told reporters that Stassi was planning to play in 2024 (link via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register).
In the season’s final month, the Angels had placed Stassi on the restricted list. That ensured he wouldn’t be paid for the last few weeks as part of the organization’s ultimately successful effort to limbo below the luxury tax line. There’s no public indication that affected the franchise’s relationship with Stassi, but he also seemed an arguably superfluous part of the roster. Logan O’Hoppe has emerged as the top option behind the plate with Matt Thaiss backing him up.
Fletcher likewise signed an extension that hasn’t panned out. The glove-first infielder inked a $26MM guarantee in April 2021. At the time, the Angels envisioned him as a long-term starter at second base thanks to a strong showing in the shortened 2020 season. That looks like an anomaly, as Fletcher’s offense has evaporated in the three years since then. Going back to the start of the ’21 campaign, he’s a .259/.296/.327 hitter.
The Angels twice ran Fletcher through waivers this year. He played in only 33 MLB games while getting into 85 contests at Triple-A Salt Lake. Fletcher made a ton of contact with minimal power impact at the top minor league level, hitting .330/.382/.428 with a microscopic 6.3% strikeout rate across 380 plate appearances.
Fletcher will make $6MM next season, is guaranteed $6.5MM in 2025 and will take home at least a $1.5MM buyout on a ’26 club option. That’s well above what he’d have received were he a free agent this offseason. He’s a plus defender at each of second base, shortstop and third base. For the Braves, he’ll serve as utility infield depth behind Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia and Austin Riley. It’s a role that had been played by Nicky Lopez in the second half of last season, but Atlanta packaged him in the Aaron Bummer trade with the White Sox.
It’s strictly a financial move for the Angels, who also clear two spots on their 40-man roster. White had been a highly-regarded prospect during his time with the Mariners. Seattle signed him to an extension before his MLB debut. That didn’t work, as the righty-hitting first baseman turned in a .165/.235/.308 line in 84 big league games between 2020-21. White hasn’t played in the majors in two years and has barely played in Triple-A because of various injuries, including multiple surgeries on his left hip.
Atlanta passed White through waivers just yesterday. The Angels will take on the remainder of his contract: $7MM next season, $8MM in 2025 and a $2MM buyout on a ’26 club option. He’ll likely start next season in Salt Lake.
Thomas is a left-handed pitcher who turns 28 in a few weeks. The Braves had just selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft out of the Mets organization. The Fresno State product has appeared in parts of six minor league seasons. He has a 4.30 ERA over 130 2/3 career innings at Double-A with scant experience at the Triple-A level.
The Braves agree to take on an extra $6MM next season, while the Halos are assuming an additional $1.5MM between 2025-26. Atlanta is also assuming $6MM in luxury tax obligations for the upcoming season. A traded player’s luxury tax number is recalculated as the average annual value of what remains on their contract at the time of the trade (including option buyouts). Stassi is guaranteed $7.5MM for one season, while the remaining $14MM over two years on Fletcher’s deal is a $7MM average value. White is due $17MM over two seasons, an $8.5MM annual hit. There’s a $6MM gap between the $14.5MM which Atlanta is assuming versus the $8.5MM they’re shipping out.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the terms of the trade.
Images courtesy of USA Today Sports.
What is Anthopolus cooking?
No loss for the Angels here. Looks like a salary swop.
Agree Angels weren’t going to do anything with these players. Braves might though.
Looks like he’s just done a master class in how to do whatever the heck he wants
I’m sad
Maybe he’ll get a chance there Fletch.
We all deserve a second and third and fourth chance
He had plenty of chances in LA. If he sticks in ATL, they’ll be even fewer given the stacked infield they have already. 2200 plate appearances. OPS+ of 86. Gets on base at a decent clip, but basically a singles guy otherwise. Certainly not a terrible player, but not a player anyone should miss, personal feelings aside.
I love him like a brother
I can tell you first hand David is a great human being. I live in the neighborhood where he grew up in Cypress. My daughter was dating the incumbent Shortstop after he graduated from Cypress High. He’d always come back and give his time to the school and help.
I thought he was the glue that kept the Angels together for a few seasons there. Never showed in his stats, but his hits were timely and clutch until the core injury. Took him a while to recover and tried at the MLB level. Nothing left to prove at AAA. His contact skills are still evident. I’m sure we will see him in MLB again. Best of luck David.
Fletch, you are no longer Fletch…Nor “Fletch Lives,” (as Gubie used to say). You are henceforth known as: “AdellFan69!” Learn to love it! I will miss him too….And he will win a batting title and make a few all star appearances in the ATL, but he is gone to us now my son…
I’m not sure who you are talking about winning a batting title and so forth, David Fletcher will be lucky to get in one or two innings per week with the Braves.
When he hits .456 in spring training they won’t have a choice but to have him on the opening day roster…When he keeps hitting, they also won’t have a choice but to keep playing him =)
Maybe Shohei will join them in Atlanta.
Notani signed with the Dodgers
Acquiring White and managing to trade him away over a span of days (and not for nothing) might be one of the more underappreciated moves this offseason. This is no small feat
True. He spun one bad contract into 2.
He spun sunk cost into a utility backup infielder capable of playing shortstop and a catcher who might be able to bring back more than White should have been able to. Or maybe even flip D’arnaud for value. White should have been untradable as it is basically guaranteed he will not contribute anything at the major league level at this point.
AA got Kelenic (LF) & Fletcher as utility IF for less than 7M in ’24. Pretty impressive.
I like how he’s reconnected with his former AGM (Minasian) to get some spare parts and provide some salary relief, after the previous year’s Iglesias trade. I wonder if he’ll ever match-up with Dana Brown in HOU.
They look like throw ins for a Glasnow rental. The Rays could use another catcher, and they could always figure out to do with another MI.
Truth,brother!
Who is going to trade for Stassi and his 7m.
Probably a few teams would.
Idk, but he seems like a 3m player not a 7.5m. I don’t think they are going to have a lot of fun getting rid of him. Maybe they trade in or the other two and he becomes the backup.
This looks like a bad contract for bad contracts swap. Not sure anyone benefits from this.
Catchers even back ups are always in demand & if AA decides to throw a couple bucks in to move him so be it
Just fellow Brave fans please don’t expect the return on Stassi to be monumental
The Dodgers just paid Heyward $9M to be a part time bat. Inflation’s ah bish. =)
Well, it’s a heck of alot easier to trade a light hitting $7mil catcher than it is to trade a light hitting $7mil DH…lol
AA strikes again!!
All the while he was also able to add a very solid fielding utility player that’s capable of playing good defense at SS, and who is also capable of handling some spot starts if anyone needs rest or goes down with an injury.
That last bench spot or second to last spot, depending on how many position players they keep on their main roster, was one of their final remaining holes AA needed to fill to complete their roster.
They could possibly use one more power bench bat that’s at least capable of playing the infield corners, but, at this point, that’s more of a luxury than anything else.
Plus, I’m sure Murphy, Riley, Fletcher, d’Arnaud, or even Ozuna can handle 1B if it really comes down to it.
Honestly, their lineup is set, their bench is now set, and their bullpen is overflowing with talent, so the only area that needs some work is their starting rotation.
They’ll already have:
1. Max Fried
2. Spencer Strider
3. Charlie Morton
4. Bryce Elder
Other ML option is continuing to stretch out Reynaldo Lopez, or use him as a two to three inning opener.
And then, in AAA they’ll potentially have Ian Anderson and Huascar Ynoa finally coming back healthy, but he will likely need an extended spring training and to start off on a low pitch count limit, and slowly work his stamina back up. That said, they probably won’t be a legitimate option until around May.
Their Opening Day options that should be ready to go of called upon are Darius Vines, Alan Winans, and Dylan Dodd. Each of the three made their major league debuts last season to mix results. Aside from two starts, with one having pitched on 9 days rest, Alan Winans had an excellent showing, and proved he was certainly capable of filling in for someone for a start or two if need be. Dodd had an awesome spring training last season, which earned him a starting spot in the rotation, but he wasn’t ready and was too inconsistent. Darius Vines was by far the most impressive featuring a nasty change-up, and proved he could be a potentially reliable depth piece that they’ll plan to keep ready at all times for an eventual call-up.
Then, the Braves have two young Wildcards in 21 year old AJ Smith-Shawver and 22 Hurston Waldrep. Smith-Shawver is on their 40man roster, but Waldrep isn’t currently on their 40man roster.
Either way, both found success in a limited sample size in AAA last season, and both should now have their first full season at the AAA level. Smith-Shawver was able to climb all the way up from A-ball to making his ML debut in his first professional full season, and in just a matter of months after the draft Waldrep was able to climb up to AAA as well making a few appearances.
It was two incredible debuts of sorts, but the future is extremely bright for these two young stud starters, and they could easily potentially slot behind Fried and Strider next season as their potential #3 & #4 starters for the foreseeable future. They both have some immense “stuff,” and they’re both able to generate a ton of swings and misses using their above average fastballs, and their go to off-speed offerings. Waldrep rated as having the best off-speed pitch in the draft with his split-change and it is ABSOLUTELY FILTHY!! If you haven’t ever seen it, I HIGHLY recommend looking it up. It’ll amaze you how a guy can even get that much movement on a pitch. It really isn’t fair to his opponents.
Anyways, like I said, the Braves will have PLENTY of options moving forward for someone to earn that 5th starters job, but if they truly want to make a deep playoff run, they’re going to have to guard against any of their main guys getting hurt. The best way to do that would be to add another starter that you’d be comfortable and confident in starting a playoff game…
Probably their most realistic options are either Glasnow or Bieber, but they’re likely out on Dylan Cease unless the White Sox get realistic on a potential return. They’ve reportedly asked for Grissom, Smith-Shawver, AND Waldrep, but that’s entirely waaaay too much for a pitcher of Cease’s recent performance and inconsistencies.
I trust AA to figure it all out though. As most GMs are playing checkers it just feels like AA is playing chess!! lol
Don’t discount the dark horse Schwellenbach. Very possible he could be ready by mid season. I value him much higher than the law firm of Winan, Vines, and Dodd.
@richardc Or perhaps this is why they made this deal with the Angles, to get a catcher they could trade to the White Sox? The only catchers the Sox have are Korey Lee and Carlos Perez, and both of them have provided negative WAR each of their 2 seasons in the majors., so neither has shown to be reliable as both haven’t hit, and both have negative Framing metrics. Stassi has very good Framing metrics, and has been an above average hitter in 3 of the past 5 seasons he’s played.
Check out the brain on BDJ. Who’s winning the 8th race at Pimlico?
Meth?
Wonder why the Braves aren’t in on Ohtahni?
Probably because they already have Ozuna, a comparable hitter for 25% of the cost.
Because the Braves generally find value not wildly dumping money. Generally* Ozuna contract was looking like a nightmare but is palatable after his season last year.
Apparently he just enjoys being a middle man.
Seems like hes bored and playing poker.
Nine dimensional chess.
LMAO
This is AA’s initial step in an elaborate plan of action to lure Brock Stassi to Atlanta.
bing.com/images/create/a-headstone-with-the-los-an…
Lies the Los Angeles Angels
April 11, 1960 & December 9, 2024
RIP
STOP LETTING AA COOK!
What did he do so great here exactly?
Fletcher is cheaper than White and fills a bench spot as a defense first INF. Stassi stinks but they probably just flip him or TDA.
Unless they can get someone to pay Stassi’s contract they just took on more money for absolutely no gain in value. Fletcher stinks too
Fletcher stinks, but Evan White is completely useless. The Braves can actually make use of Fletcher. I would imagine they try and deal Stassi with ~half retained. Slight increase in cost for this year, but less next year.
Fletcher basically provides negative value if he plays
Fletcher has never put up negative WAR in his major league career.
Stassi doesn’t stink, he’s a decent catcher and even better back up. He’s just been hurt a lot (like most Angels players) the last 2 years.
But they already had that guy in Nicky Lopez and they threw him in the Bummer trade. I don’t doubt AA at all and he’s probably got something planned, but he’s making a lot of trades that don’t really seem to make any sense.
Are you bragging on his .1 war this season?
At this point fletcher will basically provide negative value. We’re projecting forward, not looking back….
WAR is a cumulative stat, and he barely played. I’m not saying that he should be a starting player anymore, but saying that he has negative value is simply wrong. He still has value as a glove-first utility infielder. You can argue that he is overpaid for that role, but as a baseball player he still has value.
That’s completely incorrect, since 2018 he’s basically been a 3.0 WAR per 600 plate appenace catcher.
I don’t get it, but I’m also not an MLB GM/President. No concerns given AA’s ability to make a move to facilitate a later one. He’s been good about that.
Yeah I think it’s going to be hard to move stassi at that price.
So throw in a couple $$$
Kolten wong was a glove first player who provided positive value every year. Until last year he didn’t. Can anyone project forward? Fletcher was never even the hitter that Wong was, his ~70 wRC+ is atrocious and needs incredible defense to provide any positive value. He’s basically been a replacement player the last 3 years when he’s been on the field. You’re trying to quibble over a few decimal point of WAR? Whether it’s -0.5 or -0.2 or 0.0 or 0.2 he’s basically wasting a roster spot
Fletcher would be an upgrade over Mastrobuoni as the Cubs’ 4th MI, and Mastrobuoni still has options. If the Cubs deal Morel for starting pitching, I could see them acquiring Fletcher as long as the Braves eat some salary (or take the rotting carcass of David Bote).
Yeah but they dont know Fletcher stinks yet. They need him to get 200 AB to see.
He’s more likely to field a combination of 200 ground balls and infield popups as a defensive replacement than he is to get 200 ab’s.
Nashville!!!! It’s been a long time amigo! Hope you are keeping those God forsaken PIKERS at bay!!!! Hope all is well my man!
Trumbo!! No pikers here. Didn’t know you changed your name. Good to see you!
HAHA So happy you remember me old friend. I didnt’t have much of a choice my friend. Had to do the old switcheroo. We’ll keep that between us though haha Where do you think Shohei will end up?? Personally, I want Trout to talk him into staying in Anaheim haha Good to talk to you too buddy!
P.S. I haven’t heard from our pal Yankee Clip in a long time…Is he still roaming the halls here? Samuel either haha
baseball-reference.com/players/s/stassma01.shtml
1.5 WAR over last 5 seasons, the last of which he missed entirely.
@BaseballsLife
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&ind…
Baseball Reference has a god awful WAR model. Even so, over the 6 years, 5 of which he played from 2018 on, he’s 20th in WAR out of all catchers at a 6.3.fWAR. So he missed a full year, and yet he’s a top 20 catcher over the past 6 years.
It’s not that he missed a season, it’s also the season before that he played he was terrible
That’s funny, I project forward saying the Jays need more than Ohtani and you make a silly point about this trade as if Evan White was supposed to net a return of prime Mike Trout. Your comments to Darkside were not necessary. AA is a bold trader with more moves that will be better than this one. Count on it. Pay attention.
Considering no C depth league wide, they’ll find a taker on Stassi who was a change of scenery candidate. They would have had to pay Evan White regardless, but not now. Fletcher will be a utility IF, who at least would have been an upgrade to the glove-only role of Nicky Lopez last year. With Fletcher, they don’t need Grissom as a utility IF, and more than likely can use him as trade bait, in the right offer. CHW can use some C depth.
@RunDMC Upgrade how? Lopez has arguably been the best defensive shortstop in the game the last few years. Heck he even produced a 6 fWAR season couple years back. I don’t really see it as an upgrade, just a replacement. But yeah the 2 catchers the Sox have right now have produced negative WAR each of the last 2 years.
Nothing at all. Traded bad players for bad players. Don’t get the love for AA.
He’s extended an enviable core of players on team friendly contracts.
Why? Are they moving d’Arnaud?
Maybe an injury?
I think he’s depth for any injury, if any of your outfielders or Ozuna get hurt, you can call him up as 3rd catcher and DH d’Arnaud
They have have Lord Chadwick Tromp The Great in AAA. He always cooks when he’s up.
@dand but you cant call him up as he is already on the major league roster and has no options to be sent down.
Maybe getting a catcher that has caught with Otani?
They’re flipping Evan White’s contract in this deal, so maybe they’d rather be on the hook for a catcher with Olson at first. Catchers are trickier to find in the event of an injury. Also, Fletcher could be the new “Nicky Lopez” on the roster, so it could just be a bad contract swap that nets them an infielder they want.
But I do think it opens the door to a d’Arnaud trade if catchers are in demand and someone gives AA an offer he can’t refuse. I’d guess they’re not trying to get rid of d’Arnaud at any cost, they’re just hoarding catchers and seeing if someone wants to pay a premium in a trade
Assuming health it means having 3 catchers on the roster. Maybe Murphy and dArnaud can share DH with ozuna? Stassi doesn’t have enough bat to DH him
Or Ozuna can play LF some as a platoon with Kelenic on days when the regular catcher needs a rest. I know Ozuna is not a great outfielder defensively but he isn’t the worst option for a few games with Harris playing CF.
I do believe that the Braves wanted to unload the white contract and fletcher was a utility depth type player they can hide on the bench like they did Culberson last year. Stassi likely gets traded in another deal. Perhaps even the Fletcher trade opens up a Grissom inclusion in a trade as well.
Highly unlikely.
Maybe I’m partially trying to wish it into existence, but they could be lining up a trade for Glasnow with this move. The Braves have some pitching they could deal to Tampa, and now they could potentially move a catcher along with it.
I wouldn’t read much into it other than shuffling some $ around and exchanging a useless player for 2 useful ones.
What are odds of Tampa like this guy better than anyone else available and were unable to trade with LA themselves.
Likely Stassi will be traded for something better.
Who is trading for stassi at 7.5m.
Stassi’s been a 3.0 WAR per 600 plate appearances catcher since 2018, so I would guess there would be a few that would take him.
Stassi has a total of 1.5 WAR in his 5 seasons with the Angels.
baseball-reference.com/players/s/stassma01.shtml
I think there’s hope for Fletcher.
He’s horrible
You’re horrible too buddy
So was your mom
He’s not horrible, his contract is, I think he’s the victim of poor LAA coaching.
Victim of poor LA coaching? In what universe? How can you even justify that? He’s just a terrible hitter lol
Fletcher is a usable utility piece. And the Braves lost nothing in the swap.
Usable if he never has to hit
Fletch Lives!
I bought Fletch as the roller skating charismatic religious cult leader. Less so as the Laker or TV evangelist
Interns were playing MLB The Show in real life and tried to get the money Math to add up but failed.
I actually don’t love this one for the braves
AA moved Evan White’s contract and if he can find a taker for Stassi, then he turned a 15M sunk cost into a 13.5M injury insurance player.
Braves using their money in some weird ways. I don’t get it.
What is there not to get? Unload White who was overpaid by Seattle and not needed for the perfect utility infielder and catching depth… Insanely smart … Not every move has to involve a star
How much money have the Braves added in payroll?
How much talent?
Seems like Anthopolos is making moves just to show everyone how smart he is.
he brought in a utility guy and got rid of white. he gained an asset for the mlb team and a catcher he can mostly like trade for something and someone tske that salary. sounds like stassi is a really sound defensive catcher. the Padres just picked up a catcher who doesn’t hit but plays great defense.
Braves don’t need a catcher. They just traded for White and Gonzales only to trade them away.
What is the point of all this?? Boredom???
Joel, apparently you’re making comments just show everyone you’re quick with a pretty ignorant comment. I’m sure AA is not the least bit concerned about being the biggest brain in the room. Unlike some people, Joel.
Both are good defensively, fletcher is a contact hitter that always has a good k/bb rate, he must’ve pissed on Perry’s Cheerios or nevin’s barely played to get banished to the minors, and was called back up after he got off the bereavement list because of his dad’s passing, and sent back down couple games later. He’s a fan favorite, he had some power numbers because of the juice ball, he plays hard, and a old school type of player.
They’re not going to carry three catchers.
Insanely smart? You all are getting carried away with the accolades of every Braves move.
Probably true but is the Mets fan the guy who should be saying it?
To be fair I said getting Fletcher for his utility defense for Evan White was insanely smart … and I still believe so
Basically shedding Evan White for two veterans who will provide some depth for inuries. Not bad
But they’re also on meh contracts.
Stassi would have to stay on the 26 man roster. He has no options.
Same with Fletcher.
Looks like a swap of junk. The Braves just picked up Thomas in the Rule 5 draft from the Mess, oops the Mets. Evan White was going some where for sure
Hey, maybe this might work out for Fletch. Not sure he can get a backup spot on the Braves, but it could happen. Great for the Angels to get rid of 2 salaries that could be better spent elsewhere.
Man, I’m not ready to give up on him! The bat to ball skills still seem to be there, he needs to get more aggressive contact and drive the ball (armchair perspective). But I love watching that guy play, he busts his arse
He’s awful
Yeah man, it’s always more fun to see these guys succeed. Hopefully he finds a chance to do that with the Braves.
Where? Their entire infield plays everyday and the all made the All-Star team?
I don’t get this at all for either side
Angels save money
You can’t read this like it’s the end game. AA just got rid of a nigh-unmovable contract for two more moveable ones.
AA is just giving himself a little more flexibility.
Finally someone gets it.
He was not highly unmovable. He’s been moved twice in a week.
Move him again!!!!
Fletcher was the get Stassi is either traded or released
Getting rid of Evan White is the “get”
Stassi won’t be release, someone will take him. He’s been a 3.0 WAR player per 600 plate appearances since 2018.
He has 1.5 WAR total over the past 5 seasons. He had TOS surgery in 2022 and hasn’t played since.
@BaseballsLife.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&ind…
Like I said, he’s 20th in fWAR out of all catchers over the last 6 years, even after missing a full year, with a 6.3 fWAR.
Bad trade for both teams.
Nope.
Yup
Not really. The Angels save several million and moved guys that would not make their OD roster. The Braves got rid of White.
The Braves will end up DFAing both as they don’t have options.
The Angels will send both to the minors.
Braves likely trade both if they are healthy. Or keep them.
Doubtful. Stassi has a grand total of 1.5 WAR over the last 5 seasons as an Angel and hit a whopping .209 with a .658 OPS. Little power and not enough defense to pull his WAR out of the gutter.
Fletcher was terrible. He managed only 2.9 WAR in the 3 years since signing his big contract. He has a 71 OPS+ since then.
Mostly likely Fletcher plays for Braves or gets traded as long as he is healthy. Braves would need to eat some salary.
Stassi not as likely.
I haven’t seen these guys play in a while but their data looks like usable players.
71 OPS+ and less than 1 WAR per season on average = not usable.
Unless Albies or Arcia get hurt, I just don’t see Fletcher getting any playing time in Atlanta and those 2 played 148 and 139 games respectively last season.
At $14 million, the Braves would have to eat close to 100% of his salary to get anything in return in trade.
Only need a fraction of positive war. Can even be a little negative. Braves are paying him no matter what. So might as well use him or eat a chunk and trade him. I would want him if cheap enough. I know I am smarter than every team but I think there are a few teams smart enough to trade for him or Braves will use him as backup.
1 down 1 to go
Flip a catcher to the White Sox
D’arnaud + + + for Cease?
D’arnaud is 35..why would the white sox want him?..maybe murphy
It would have to be some good +’s. d’Arnaud isn’t a centerpiece, or even 2nd piece.
The White Sox love making questionable acquisitions of catchers in their 30s. Sadly it’s *exactly* in their wheelhouse.
I wouldn’t deal d’Arnaud for Cease. I don’t want Cease in Atlanta unless Chicago wants to literally give him away. The drop in velocity isn’t a good sign of things to come.
Lol Cease is in no way worth Murphy and will not be traded for him. Neither will TDA. Stassi and Grissom for Glasnow or Cease seems like a deal worth playing out. Braves take on Stassi’s contract or some part of it to sweeten the deal.
For the + + +?
Yep. Max.
$24-25MM between Murphy, D’arnaud, and Stassi. Idk about that
Al Bundy scored 4 touchdowns in a single game in 1966.
I don’t think he did. Calling : fiction
he didnt … he did it in one half as they were always so far ahead he wasnt needed in the 2nd half
Polk High football rules!
I was saying they could trade stassi, for salary relief since the catcher market was thin. Kinda bummed about fletcher. Does this mean ohtani is coming back.
Evan White is an overpaid minor league 1B … while the Braves didn’t get a star here they did get Stassi who they can always flip or keep as depth but David Fletcher is key for them as their utility infielder… How AA was able to get absolutely anything for White shows his skill …
Yup AA did got something alright. He traded 1 bad contract for 2. Hahaha!
2 guys who at least belong on a Major League roster versus a guy that at best belongs in AA.
Not really stassi is movable cause let’s face it even back up catchers are in demand & Fletcher Wil make less over the life of his deal than White will
Something is gonna happen soon enough in the SP department
Brave fans up AA butt on every move is getting kindle ridiculous.
@mets69
Yeah, because he has shown how stupid he is by signing Acuna Albies Murphy strider Olson Riley and harris to largely team friendly deals. I think he’s earned the benefit of the doubt don’t you? The previous three Mets GMs were so much smarter right?
Hatin ass just mad cause Stearns couldn’t even get the manager he wanted
Mets still have highest payroll in MLB but still paying guys who haven’t been on the team since the early 2000’s lol. Shelling out money for the competition is the way NYM make a great roster.
@Lonnie, The Mets go for the Offseason World Series every year. Haven’t you heard? It’s almost as good as the real thing!
I don’t know anything about the minor league pitcher but you just flipped a scrub like white for middle infield depth and a respectable 3rd catcher. Salaries are high on them but you’ll get more out of them than you did for white, and this is assuming braves keep them both. That’s a solid trade for the braves id say
The Braves just picked up Double A pitcher Tyler Thomas in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft 2 days ago. Former property of the Mets. Throws 91 mph fb, slider, and change w/poor command. First drafted out of Fresno State by the Chicago Cubs, 7th round, 2017 Draft.
“Frankly, I think they both could do better.”
I like Fletcher, but he is definitely a change of scenery can do a player good candidate
It wouldn’t sunrise me if all 4 of the players in this deal are out of baseball next off season.
***spell check***
surprise me
Evan White and Fletcher have 2 years remaining in their deals
Was he personal catcher to Shohei? Just wondering?
Yes he was, hard to say personal catcher for ohtani, because he was the starter. Until last year
small W for the braves. stassi is actually good defender and fletcher can cover mulitple positions.
Braves win again
Ohtani’s personal catcher and his best friend on the team?
Sandoval is his best friend
How Atlanta was able to trade Evan White for anything relevant is the most incredible move here. I bet if he was the GM of the Yankees he would find a way to trade Giancarlo Stanton
Did they get anything relevant?
You keep on crying, they got a piece that they can use on the major league roster who has put up 4 war seasons in the past (even if it was years ago) for a crippled negative war first baseman. It also gives them stasi if they decide to move darnaud for a lottery ticket.
Stassi’s been a 3.0 WAR catch per 600 plate appearances since 2018, so I would call that relevant.
White may be relevant compared to Stanton….
so if Grisson gets traded , the infield depth is somewhat secured. Grissom could be part of the endgame.
@westcasey as a Mets fan I’d love Grissom. I’d give up anyone other than Alvarez for him. I really believe he has the potential to be a top 15 hitter in the whole MLB. He just needs a chance
I like your optimism, AA was on a radio show comparing him to DJ Lemahieu, although I think he can be a fine major leaguer im not sure he will ever be prime DJ. He has a future somewhere.
@More Relievers to HOF! It sucks that his defense isn’t that good. I’d try and get rid of Ozuna if I was AA and put Grisshom at DH. Might as well cash in on Ozuna’s bounce back season
It would be nice but I think his off the field issues negates the value he has.
Lol Grissom is really over rated. I had high hopes for him and also Pache and also Waters but AA seems to find a way to package them at their peak values and get gold back. Hopefully he figures out a trade and NY can keep Alvarez. He gains another 20lbs and will be worthless.
I wouldn’t say Grissom is “overrated” considering a lot of people thing he will be an average bat without a position. Also, even if Alvarez gains 20lbs he probably wouldn’t be useless at all. He’s probably not going to gain any significant weight on the first place l. I’m a Braves fan obviously but I’m a fan of Alvarez. He’s got upside
Nothing for nothing…
How about clearing out almost 12 million dollars to up the offer to Ohtani.
Does anyone know anything about Tyler Thomas.
Yes. His mom does.
everyone does … we all know his name is Tyler Thomas
He was listed on the Atlanta roster but no one in the front office could place who he was. So figured might as well throw him with this Evan White thing.
There seems to always arise a need for a backup catcher for one team or another, so yes, I believe Stassi will get traded (or TDA). As little as the braves backup infielders play Fletcher would be suitable.
Anthopoulos is not done.
There has to be another shoe dropping. AA sent $9.25M to Pittsburgh with Marco, then took on two contracts for one.
Braves only sent I believe $4 million
Seattle sent the rest of that $9.25 million
The Braves kept the 4.5 million that Seattle sent because it was applied to White, not Gonzales. They sent 9.25 to Pittsburgh. The result is basically the same.
But Atlanta gets either a player to be named later or cash considerations back from Pittsburgh, so some of that cash they sent could be sent right no back possibly.
True. AA may have asked for that to give himself some flexibility when trying to trade White and/or Stassi, and keeping Fletcher.
The Marlins are looking to trade one of their controllable starting pitchers for a catcher. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is related.
Highly unlikely the marlins trade a SP to the Braves.
Good move/opportunity for Fletcher … the Angels (Minasian) buried him, without a chance for a revival. Let’s see what he’ll do, if the Braves give him a chance. A great piece for a team willing to play some “small” ball. Too bad we’ll now never know how he would have prospered with Wash at the helm.
I’m not bummed about Stassi but I am about Fletch. I believe Fletch is one of those players who would thrive as a starter instead of being a part time platoon. Plus he could be a great lead off guy with everyday at-bats. I never understood how Fletch was DFAd and Rengifo stayed on the MLB roster. I wish him the best. It’s probably the best move for Fletcher that could have happened. For some reason he got on someone’s bad side with the Angels. He will do well elsewhere.
I loved watching Fletcher play for the hometown Angels (not my favorite team), and now hopefully I’ll love watching him play for my Braves!
40% better OPS+ and 3 years younger?
Nah, Fletcher’s defense is way better and his lead off bat could be great. The only benefit to Rengifo I see is he’s a switch hitter.
Finally Fletcher is out of purgatory. Good for him. They tried to get him to quit his contract but he kept his head down and took it. He’s a good example of how some Angel fans or the org will trash any fan favorite. Sure he has no slugging percentage but was everyone else really head and shoulders better than him? No loyalty. There are no fan favorites really except for Trout anymore. moustakas was a quick fan favorite last year and he has no Angel history. O’Hoppe or Neto or Schanuel? only as good as their last good streak. It’s always the next player. This clears room to “give financial flexibility” to be “aggressive” to sign “someone else”. Rinse lather repeat. The carousel goes on.
No slur on Fletcher, but what player wouldn’t keep “his down and took {take} it”? No player would just give up that guaranteed salary. Would you walk away from $14M as some sort of grand gesture of pride? Admire him for his fiscal sanity, but imo a belief that he ever considered “quit(ting) his contract” doesn’t seem reasonable.
“his head down……”
Name another player that was being paid 4 million to play Triple A for the year to see a bunch of scrubs playing on the big league roster for a team that can’t even get to .500? That was set phony benchmarks to get back to the majors. Fletcher made history in a way. Any other “major market” team would have traded and paid some of the salary to the other team but that’s completely against Angel Moreno philosophy.I think a lot of players would have left or at the least fake an injury.
Not one player in the game would have quit and walked away from the $14M guaranteed dollars owed him over the next 2 years. What good would it have done him to “fake an injury?” That’s no way to try to show you can provide enough value for another team to want to deal for you. Players get sent to the minors constantly while they’re owed ML salaries. They don’t cry and quit. They might hate it, but they’re sensible enough to report, honor their contract, and keep getting paid.. That’s all Fletcher did too. Fiscal sanity over naivety.
Word is Fletch was mad the angels wouldn’t let him have his own program like Ohtani.
Does White count against the Angels cap number if they never bring him up to the majors?
Like Boston did with Rusney Castillo?
Yes, they changed that rule after the Castillo situation.
The rules were changed after Castillo was originally outrighted off the 40 to prevent teams from shielding under water contracts from CBT payroll calculation. I believe, for example, that Scott Kingery’s salary counts towards the Phillies’ CBT payroll. White is on a major league contract. It is guaranteed. For CBT payroll purposes, outrighting would have the same effect as releasing him. The money still counts. All salaries paid to players on the 40 (and the 60 day IL) count towards calculating the CBT payroll.
Yes he does, as he has a major league contract.
So did Castillo, but he passed through waivers so he was off the 40 man and not part of the CBT calculations.
I was wondering if the rules had been changed or if the Angels could do the same with White.
The rules were changed in the last CBA agreement. White’s contract counts in Luxury Tax calculations.
False
Flip Stassi to SF
That would make sense, we will find out but I’m sure he gets traded again for something decent. Evan white doesn’t even make sense because Thaiss can play first, and has no options
In the article it reads that Santos “He tossed 145 innings in 2023, split between Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.97 ERA.” That was in 2022. In 2023 he Received a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training but did not pitch before being reassigned, in part due to arm discomfort. He Missed the 2023 season due to injury and re-signed in October before reaching free agency.
Love David and his family. Got to know them pretty well.
Sad to see him go but hopefully he gets a chance to play again. He genuinely loves baseball and competing.
Fletcher will get to play in AAA in 2024. I have no doubt about that.
Hope so too. Who knows with the Braves depth and payroll he could catch on as a key bench player. The whole affair reminded me of Ball Four when Jim Bouton was getting bounced between Seattle and Triple A. And Jimmy Reese (who was the triple a coach at the time) said something like “what are you doing down here Bouton? You’re a big leaguer.
Are they just making moves for the hell of it at this point??
AA+ for AA and Braves. Can’t see anyone wanting White to play mlb baseball. Can see other teams wanting Stassi and Fletcher. Both should be available for trade or Braves can use them for awhile. Braves catchers are big backs so let Stassi do some catching maybe, certainly until April. Fletcher could be the utility man all year.
A for Angels as well. Nothing they could do would surprise me. Thanks for giving us a trade to talk about.
Angels couldn’t move Fletcher at all last season. No team wanted him even when they put him on waivers late in the season.
There’s lots of things the Angels can’t do that other teams like the Braves can do.
Is AA doing his bit to keep teams from folding due to loss of TV revenue. Of course the Angels aren’t going bankrupt.
This is my conspiracy theory and I’m going with it. Spread the truth.
What loss of TV revenue?
Most of the Braves off season traded this year have been “odd”.
I think MLB Trade Rumors should have a contest to predict which team Evan White will be flipped to next!
The Toronto Maple leafs?
The Salt Lake Bees.
Yes, but both Stassi and Fletcher actually can contribute in a limited basis, unlike Evan White.
Which is why the Braves FO is smarter than the Angels FO.
Angels FO just flipped two guys they didn’t need (fletcher was waived twice last year and stassi would their 3rd catcher) for one guy they don’t need, and saved $6M doing it. Doesn’t strike me as that dumb.
On paper it seems smart but the angels are like the west coast Mets. Anything they do seems to backfire and end in a dumpster fire.
Angels FO just dumped two major leaguers who can still contribute to a team and were owed $14M (Fletcher; through 2025) and $7.5M (Stassi; with buyout for 2025) for Evan White, a AAAA player who *won’t* contribute to the Angels and will make $17M through 2025 (including buyout).
You’re right, not a “dumb” trade but an asinine trade by Minasian.
Angels saved $4.5 million and cleared 2 spots on their 40 man roster. Spots they needed for Garcia and Cimber.
Neither Stassi nor Fletcher would have made the Angels squad and certainly won’t make an even better squad in Atlanta. Its not likely O’Hoppe or Thaiss would be sent down so Stassi could start and Drury, Neto, and Rengifo have the middle infield tied up.
Not sure how that could possibly be an asinine trade.
I feel like if they waited they could’ve gotten a better return. Also would’ve liked if they kept fletcher as the utility guy over rengifo. Not sure if Washington can help with his defense.
Minasian must be in love with Rengifo. Or as many said he has no clue.
Minasian must be in love with Rengifo. Or as many said he has no clue.If Fletcher is given constant 2B opportunities he will hit and play better.
Max will be traded by this time next week.
24 hours later. I was WAY off.
A trash for more trash type trade
Minasian hates Flercher.
Already reporting that Atlanta will flip Stassi.
They’ll probably get a better return than the Angels just did.
Ice cold.
Honestly wouldn’t mind TDA getting moved instead. His behavior this postseason really bugged me.
This is a great deal for the Braves
Paying Fletcher less in the next 2 yrs to be the utility infielder than you woulda paid White to do absolutely nothing.
A team will trade for Stassi by the time spring training rolls around. I would think his market would be stronger than say Christian Vazquez
He may even bring something of value back.
I like it. Little more expensive than what Lopez was going to be but oh well.
The Braves have now acquired two useful players just by being willing to take on a few million in bad contracts. The Braves needed a LF and got one with potential in Kelenic. They needed a utility infielder and now have one in David Fletcher.
There are plenty of teams who need a catcher, so they will have no problem trading Stassi. They won’t get much back for Stassi, but I’m sure they will get rid of most of his contract. Or maybe he will be traded for a useful reliever/bench player with a similar contract.
Perry made the trade so he can get his job back in 25. Stassi could easily be traded if they made his salary around 5 million, also the dbacks might’ve been interested in fletcher since his brother is there
I suppose a salary dump is never a bad thing with guys who won’t make the roster, but shouldn’t they be spending time on improving their MLB roster?
Hud Jr. – they did improve the MLB roster.
Assuming everyone would get bought out at the earliest possible point:
2024 savings :$6mm
2025 increase $0.75mm
2026 savings $0.5mm
Combined savings $5.75mm
Plus, they open up two 40-man spots for Garcia and Cimber.
Crazy what a good front office can do. Trade Lopez for Bummer to fill a relief roll. Take on salary in the Kelenic deal, only to move those bloated contracts to fill your utility INF role.
Not a Braves fan (Red Sox) but now I know why the Braves future looks so bright
Evan White – he’s so gifted, he keeps getting re-gifted!
He’s the white elephant gift you don’t want.
Fruitcake. Not that there’s anything wrong with fruitcake
I love AA don’t get me wrong but we need a front of the line starting pitcher. And he’s making these small minute moves. It’s like a doctor has a patient with a gun shot wound and he’s treating an ingrown toenail 1st.
I had a buddy who loved AA too but misread the sign and walked into a AAA meeting by mistake. He stood up and introduced himself to the group “my name is Rolf and I’ve been a problem drinker for 4 years”. A lady replied in curt fashion: “so why are you driving?”
Angles traded 2 nothing burgers for 1 nothing burger. Now it’s on the braves to trade one or both of the two nothing burgers they got. At least the braves have a chance to get rid of one or both of their nothing burgers while the angles will just eat their nothing burger. Braves might be able to feed one or both of their nothing burgers to a different team if they eat some of the burger first. Stay tuned…
What’s in it for the Angels?
At the very least, the Angels save $2-3MM and open two 40-man roster spots with White having already been outrighted by the Braves.
Minasian also gets a non-roster 1B who was also once a first-round pick for AAA, where they can keep him on call in the event that Schanuel takes a step back in his second season.
Not an earth-shaking move, but potentially helpful with modest cash savings and a minor-league reliever thrown in as well.
Actually, assuming everyone would be bought out ASAP, they save $5.75mm at a minimum. Plus, as you mentioned, They open up 40-man spots for Garcia and Cimber.
Solid move.
It would’ve taken more effort but easily could’ve traded stassi and two million for single a flier. Fletcher and four million for a flier, and would’ve saved 15 million, and not have white he hits below the Mendoza line, and you can sign lamb or someone similar to a minor league deal.
C’mon Hud. You, like many others on here, significantly over-value both Fletch and Stassi.
“Easily” eh? Yeah, I’m sure that teams were lining up to add $14.75mm to their payroll in ’24-’26, plus give up a couple of fliers in exchange for Stassi and Fletcher. No chance.
But what was the point of the trade? atleast move stassi. We need to keep the infield depth. Fletcher might’ve been harder to move but you can send more money in the deal if needed maybe get it down 2/8, but who the heck wants Evan white for 17 million apparently we have a sucker for a gm.
hoss – Angels will only save $4.5M (not $5.75M) assuming all the buyouts. But now they created a hole at the backstop and likely go after a veteran like Martin Maldonado, which will easily take up the $4.5M.
Am I missing something?
You completely ignored what I said. Do you understand markets?
1. This deal clearly illustrates the “value” of both Fletcher/Stassi combined from ’24-’26. It’s $5.75mm.
2. To suggest that were other, better, deals available, with absolutely no knowledge of such deals is presumptive at best.
3. There are tons of minor league FA infielders available for depth. All would cost significantly less than Fletch. Plus, it’s December, plenty of time to make other moves for inexpensive infield depth.
Orange:
2024
Fletch 6mil
Stassi 7mil
2025
Fletch 6.5mil
Stassi 0.75mil (buyout)
2026
Fletch 2.5mil (buyout)
Fletch/Stassi total 2024-2026 = 22.75mil
2024
White 7mil
2025
White 8mil
2026
White 2mil (buyout)
White total 2024-2026 = 17mil
22.75mil – 17mil = 5.75mil
Plus they clear two 40man spots for Garcia and Cimber
You are correct, I had Fletch’s buyout at 2.5mil instead of 1.5mil.
Hoss – Fletch’s buyout is $1.5M (not $2.5M) and Stassi’s buyout is $500K (not $750K). Which will save the Angels $4.5M.
Double check their buyouts.
What hole? O’Hoppe and Thaiss had a 108 OPS+ and 21 HR between them. If they need an injury backup, Okey or Payne would do just fine.
Some of the Braves moves when first reported have to make you really think. The Braves did the bad contracts to basically buy Kelenic. It seems like AA is willing to do all the due diligence and spends hours on the tean making things happen; while other teams front offices either don’t know how to do it or aren’t willing to put the effort in.
I would guess that AA is a very good chess player. Already thinking 10-15 moves ahead
We will find out. No other team thought Kelnic was worth what the Braves thought. This will be his biggest test. But no doubt one of the 5 best front offices. Seems to be about 10 good 10 ok 10 weak ones.
Braves are so good theyre just bored at this point.
So many salary dump trades this offseason, it’s starting to feel like the NBA.
Angels saving several million for players that are worthless….. Easy Win
Angels unloaded $21.5M in salary but incurred $17M.
The Angels traded two veteran major leaguers for two AAAA players, who will play in Salt Lake (AAA).
Clear win for Atlanta.
The Angels unloaded two players that were almost certain not to make the roster in 2024, that had no options so couldn’t be sent down without passing through waivers, and unloaded $4.5 million in the process.
Stassi missed all of last season after having TOS surgery and then his child being born prematurely. In parts of 5 seasons with the Angels he hit .209 with a .658 OPS and an 81 OPS+ and 1.5 WAR total in 5 years. He was not going to displace O’Hoppe or Thaiss on the roster.
Fletcher was an even worse hitter with a 71 OPS+ and just 2.9 WAR total He was not going to displace Neto, Drury, or Rengifo on the roster.
They got a player in White that before being injured in each of the last 3 seasons, was expected to be the Mariners 3B of the future. So much so that they signed him to a multi-year deal before he had even played a single game in the majors.
If they decide to cut White at some point in the future, they lost nothing. In fact, they come out ahead with $4.5 million to spend on a player that might actually make the roster.
Not sure I like this or don’t
I believe this will allow White’s contract to not count towards tax as they should keep him off the 40 man roster and Fletch was nearing service time where the Angels could not outright him.
The cost of doing business and opens up space the stay until tax threshold.
Angels don’t worry about tax. As September 1st nears they will just dump everyone to the waiver wire.
Outrighted players still count against the CBT.
Players off the 40 man roster are not counted and this was the reason last season the Angels outrighted Fletcher twice and Walsh once. They still had options and not enough MLB service time to refuse and keep their salary. White does not have enough MLB service time so if they outright him off the 40 man roster his pay does not count. If he refuses he forfeits the remainder of his pay.
I’m not sure but I believe Fletcher may be less than a week from qualifying. So if you look at the deal from this prospective the Angels are saving another 17 million. Artie is a billionaire so this is a drop in the bucket, a loss, cost of doing business and cleaning the tax slate.
But I do feel the Braves made out.
Players who have been outrighted off the 40-man still count if they have a MLB contract. From page 128 of the CBA:
(f) Outright Assignment to a Minor League club
Any Uniform Player’s Contract that is assigned outright to a Minor League club shall be included in the Club’s Actual Club Payroll.
i ultimately trust alex anthopoulos..but nicky lopez for david fletcher seems like downgrade for more money owed…go braves!
Bummer
Perhaps David Fletcher wins the starting SS job from Orlando Arcia. Regardless, both are better IF subs than Vaughn Grissom.
Ya that’s true. I think Arcia would have to have a pretty bad ST for that to happen but if Fletcher were to go God mode I can see how that would happen. Either way, the Braves do need to have options because I fully expect Arcia is going to regress to his norm or at least isn’t going to be as productive.
Fletch will soon become a fan favorite in Atlanta. This was trade was clearly personal.
The Angels no longer wanted Fletcher—for reasons unknown—and banished him to triple-A for most of last season, while hurting themselves by playing Andrew Velazquez instead. And I think they were equally as upset with Stassi for essentially taking off the entire 2023 season due to the premature birth of his baby.
Reasons unknown? You mean like a 71 OPS+ over the last 3 season in 990 PA and an absolute refusal to change his approach at the plate. Bad results and a bad attitude is not a good combination. Even good defense only resulted in 2.9 WAR over the last 3 seasons combined.
The players that replaced him at 2B last season produced a 108 OPS+ and 3.2 WAR. In one season.
Fletcher is a glove only backup MI that will likely not make the Braves roster.
Fletcher absolutely refused to change anything about his approach at the plate when he was with the Angels even after being demoted to riding the bus. It’s doubtful he will do so now.
Fletcher will be 30. Arcia got to the Braves at 26.
Fletcher is a total loss for the Braves, just as he was for the Angels. He will be DFA’d at the end of spring training or shortly thereafter.
@outinleftfield They just revamped Matt Olson’s swing this past year at age 29, and look at Olson’s year this year. So don’t claim that guys at Fletcher’s age don’t make adjustments..
Damn the traffic on MLBTR is way up. Has anyone else noticed this? I think this kind of trade wouldn’t have even managed 100 posts before the article fell off but now after less than 4 hours, over 200 comments.
Anyhow, lots of posters have the impression that Max Stassi is useless. It just depends on where he is in the depth order. Seeing as he is going to be the Braves no.3 catcher, I see the catcher position as being slightly better. After all, what does every OTHER teams third catcher like? Additionally, Stassi got over 600 AB’s with the Angels over his last two seasons. Unless things go very wrong, Stassi won’t even sniff that even of the Braves were to pick up his option. His $7M is a little steep but I’m pretty sure the 2 years $12 million owed to Evan White helps with that.
Fletcher is useful for his positional flexibility and his somewhat useful contact skills. His value is pretty obvious. Every team brings on these kinds of players.
Editors note. The Angels are taking on
$17M for Evan White, not $12M.
My head was spinning with numbers. The Angels took on $17MM for White’s contract?
Yes on White. That $17M (including buyout on 3rd year option) is what he’s owed for the next 2 seasons. In return, they shed the $14M 2 year obligation owed to Fletcher and $7.5M (including $500K buyout on 2025 option) owed to Stassi.
Braves win.
Yep to get rid of fletchers 14 million when he can atleast cover third base when rendon goes out for the season. They could’ve just traded stassi and saved the same.
The Angels need a new GM. A major league utility infielder…a major league back up catcher, for two players who shouldn’t be in the major leagues.
He’s the dumbest GM in baseball.
Also, it’s $21.5M in guaranteed salaries (with Stassi’s 2025 buyout) going to Atlanta and $17M going to the Angels (with White’s 2026 buyout). Angels are only shaving $4.5M but created deficiencies on their roster. And now they will likely go after Martin Maldonado or similar as a backup catcher. Minasian is incompetent.
They could bring back wallach.
I hope they do. But I don’t like him as the backup catcher in a 26-man roster. He’d be better suited as organizational depth in triple-A, and only call him up after an injury.
I was looking forward to the O’Hoppe/Stassi duo.
Minasian gave those contracts, I’ll start with that.
Rendon hasn’t played third base in three years. Neto played half a season last year. Fletcher is an adequate shortstop, and played a great third base. Rengifo can’t play defense, and is coming off a huge injury.
Thaiss catch and isn’t much of a hitter and O’Hoppe missed four months.
I think Minasian is clueless, and man, what a pen he’s built!!,
O’Hoppe and Thaiss will both still be on their squad. Why do they need to add anyone?
Because Thaiss isn’t a good defensive catcher, he can pretty much catch a fastball ball, I guess the catcher interference calls every game has scarred me. They just need a triple a catcher.
Great move by Minassian. $21.5 million off the books and clears 2 40 man roster spots. Stassi at $7.5 million and Fletcher at $14 million. Neither likely to make the roster next season.
Only takes on $17 million in salary for White. Due to injuries, White has played just 64 games in 3 seasons between the minors and Seattle over the last 3 seasons. Hip flexor, sports hernia surgery, and a groin injury in those 3 years. He has always played great defense when on the field, even winning a Gold Glove in the COVID shortened 2020 season. but has never been able to hit since 2019 in AAA Tacoma. I am guessing Minassian is hoping he can stay healthy and provide at least a solid defensive backup for when Rendon gets injured. Even if he can’t, the Angels saved $4.5 million and can jettison White and still have a net positive financially.
Fletch= All Star & Batting Title contender in ATL next season!
Halo11Fan- It is partly a money thing , I think 4,5 million. Fletch will soon need his consent to send down.
If White is a AAA his salary wont count towards the luxury tax. The players that the Angels got won’t need a 40 man spot unless they make the team, giving them 2 roster spots.
Did the Braves flip everyone they got from Seattle?
@ log. Kelenic was the prize in the Seattle trade. Marco and Evan White have been flipped from the original Seattle trade. AA doing his thing.
I don’t see the Braves moving TDA and keeping Stassi. TDA is a proven commodity. Stassi didn’t even play in 2023. Stassi will be flipped probably just for cash. Fletcher was the prize here.
Wasn’t his fault he missed the season, his son was three months premature. I don’t think anyone will hold it against him. He’s really not that bad, someone will take him solid defender with pop. Astros, giants, white Sox padres to name a few maybe even the cardinals since a lot of pitchers don’t like Contreras behind the plate.
White was a 15mm AAA player bc olsen is locked up. so trading that useless piece for two usable assets is big. Not to mention if they get flipped. braves still have tons of roster spots to fill
x.com/atlhoe12345/status/1733318083924607418?s=46&…
Stassi is too expensive for a 3rd catcher. My guess is that the Braves will eat some of his contract and trade him.
Fletcher will start as the infield backup, but he will also compete with Arcia for the starting SS job. If the change of scenery and hitting coaches improve his bat, so much the better. If the Braves tried to DFA Fletcher, I expect he’d go through with no problems. He could reject it, but then he’d lose his guaranteed contract because he has less than 5 years service time.
The Braves are currently over the second CBT threshold. I expect AA to try to get below that if possible, but the Braves still need another starter, so it may not happen.
BTW, any MLB contract, whether the player has been DFA’d or not, still counts against the CBT.
No reason to eat some of his salary I don’t think unless they’re trying to sweeten the pot. Stassi’s been 3.0 fWAR player per 600 plate appearances since 2018, with the 20th highest fWAR since 2018.
Also how are the Braves over the 2nd threshold, financials aren’t complete since we don’t know the money involved in the Pirates deal, nor how much Fried is going to make, since he’s pegged at $21mil by some and $14mil by other estimates.
I go by Cot’s Contracts, which seems to be well connected. It’s true their numbers aren’t official, but they’ve always appeared to be reliable in the past.
But what I’m saying it they they could still take money back from Pittsburgh in the Marco Gonzales deal, Also like I said there’s a $7mil discrepancy in Max Fried’s worth for 2024. Plus Cots has their CBT at $250mil right now, and the 2nd threshold is $257mil, so they are $7mil currently under that according to even Cots.
Cot’s has updated their numbers again. They are projecting Fried to get $15M, and they have the Braves at a CBT total of $259M. I agree that there could be some money coming back from Pittsburgh.
The 250M was from 2023. Open the 2024-2028 Payroll Obligations link and look at cell S58.
And yet they have to update it again with the Braves trading Stassi to the White Sox. But of course they can’t because they don’t know the dollar figures.
The Braves are currently about $2M over the second threshold. I could see them signing/trading for a pitcher, trading Ozuna and Stassi, and rotating Travis, Sean and Grissom through DH, or trading Raisel and Stassi and acquiring a starter.
Lies the Los Angeles Angels
April 11, 1960 & December 9, 2024.
RIP
You seem to be taking this Fletcher trade awfully hard.
Actually, I’m reacting to the Shohei Ohtani signing by the Dodgers the Fletcher trade, doesn’t bother me
may the Angels RIP
April 11, 1960 & December 9, 2024
Stassi has FUTURE WHITE SOX TRADE CANDIDATE written all over him.
I kind of called that hours ago…