The Braves have voided their minor league contract with right-hander Jordan Walden, reports MLB.com’s Mark Bowman (on Twitter). The 29-year-old’s rehab from a shoulder injury has not progressed as expected, according to Bowman. David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that the two sides mutually agreed to void the deal.
Walden didn’t pitch in 2016 due to the shoulder troubles. He tossed just 10 1/3 innings with the Cardinals in 2015 after being traded to St. Louis from Atlanta alongside Jason Heyward in exchange for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. Prior to his shoulder woes, Walden was a useful late-inning arm with the Angels and Braves, pitching to an even 3.00 ERA in 222 innings with 10.8 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 41.9 percent ground-ball rate.
Depending on the state of his shoulder, Walden could always latch on elsewhere on a minor league contract. But his exact health remains an unknown at this time, and it seems unlikely that the Braves would have voided his contract were there a chance that he’d be ready for Opening Day in 2017.
Walden, of course, wasn’t being counted upon to contribute meaningful innings with the Braves, though a rebound would’ve given the team a nice reward on a low cost of acquisition. The Braves’ bullpen will again be anchored by Jim Johnson, Arodys Vizcaino and Mauricio Cabrera in 2017, with right-handers Jose Ramirez, Josh Collmenter, Armando Rivero and Dan Winkler also vying for spots in manager Brian Snitker’s relief corps.
Wow Atlanta really won that Heyward trade
Not sure that was ever a question. But I agree, keeps looking better.
Not Necissarily.
In 2 years time none of the 4 guys involved in that trade still play for the team they were traded to. So the value from that specific trade doesn’t really favor the Braves or Cardinals. What it did do however, pre-cursored the Miller to AZ fleecing which yes; Braves won that trade & that will look better and better each & every year Dansby Swanson produces at the big league level. So that’s why Atlanta feels like they won the original Heyward trade to STL, but that was just the domino they needed that allowed them to turn it into the end result of what Miller got flipped for.
I see where you were going with this but I think you have to analyze the result of this trade as either the stats they put up while in the uniform of the teams (Braves/Cards) or you have to follow it through the value of where the players ended up and what you got for them.
If you choose the former, it becomes a lot closer since Heyward certainly wasn’t a “bust” in St. Louis, but Shelby put up great numbers in ATL.
If you choose the latter, it’s very obvious. Heyward walked in Free Agency and we know what the Braves got for Shelby.
Either way, the Braves won this trade.
By this analysis, you also have to consider whatever was done with the draft pick obtained for Heyward walking, which it is way too early to determine.
I’m willing to concede that. They drafted Dakota Hudson 34th overall with that pick.
Dakota Hudson will need to outperform Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte, Aaron Blair, and Luke Jackson. Impossible? No. Would I bet on it? No.
The Braves certainly got more value out of the deal, but at the same time the Cardinals didn’t lose the trade. They had an extra starting pitcher and turned him into the right fielder they needed for the 2015 season along with the draft pick they got when he walked. While they’d want someone other than Walden as the B player, the Cardinals would still do the same basic trade again if they could go back in time.
Surprising he’s got these shoulder issues with such a violent delivery.
Why void a minor league deal. Even if he doesn’t throw a pitch all year there’s no risk
They’d still be wasting money by paying him a minor league salary for doing absolutely nothing.
Why would he agree to void the deal? What’s his incentive? It’s not like he’s gonna get a better one elsewhere.
Maybe he preferred to rehab at home so he can be with his family.
I get the feeling he isn’t going to be pitching any longer. He’s had non-stop issues for the past 2 years with no progression at any point during the 2 years.
bummer for walden. i thought he was gonna be really good when he first came up with the angels, but injuries are killin him
Sucks for Walden. Love the old memories when he was a halo!! Hopefully everything works out for the guy