Aroldis Chapman went on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation today, after Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on the Reds’ options for proceeding with the struggling Cuban left-hander. Here’s the latest on Chapman plus notes from around the league:
- A veteran scout insists that the Reds need to demote Chapman and make him a starter, but pitching coach Bryan Price isn’t so sure that a demotion is the way to go. He points out that Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson took time to develop. “Both struggled with command until they got enough work to figure out how their body works, how to put their hand in the right position to throw quality strikes,” Price said.
- The Braves would ideally add a leadoff hitter and put Martin Prado second in the order, according to Rosenthal. He suggests the Braves could target leadoff options Jose Reyes, Grady Sizemore, Denard Span or David DeJesus via trade or free agency after the season.
- The Rockies appear to be concerned about losing out of options relievers Felipe Paulino and Franklin Morales to waivers.
- Astros GM Ed Wade says Bud Norris has become a much more mature pitcher. The 26-year-old right-hander has 60 strikeouts in 50 innings this year.
Because Morales has been helping out the Rockies so much the last couple of years right?
Waaa? Jose Reyes as a Brave?
I wish…..:( but lets be realistic no way. Maybe Jimmy Rollins, though I hope not since he is getting older no way.
Jose Reyes to the Braves? What payroll figures are we looking at here? There is no way the braves could afford him.
The Mets could use Lowe – though that deal wouldn’t make any sense due to salary.
Or the Braves could dump Lowe elsewhere and use the money saved to trade for Reyes.
Keep in mind that Reyes will likely have almost 2/3 of his salary paid by the trade deadline, so it would be about $4MM to rent him…
-C
I’m sure the Braves could clear up enough salary for Reyes. He’ll just be a rental, but it’s certainly possible. Very unlikely though.
Well, it’s very unlikely…
But, Chipper will possibly be gone after this year, and Lowe only has one more year after this year. (And they have lots of young pitchers, so they’ll fill his spot internally)
So, if the Braves know Chipper’s retiring, they could go after Reyes for the long term.
And I’m sure they could get him as a rental.
But I think both scenarios are very unlikely
Johnson and Koufax are 2 out of 1,000 flamethrowers that have hit the majors the past 5 decades, Bryan. For Chapman to have inflammation at his age means he needs to consider working on his finesse instead of hitting 3 digits on the radar gun every day. He’s going to blow his arm out like many before him.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I hate the ridiculous arguments that start with: “Well, so and so did it…” Jesus cured leprosy. I’m a skinny Christian too, so all I have to do is learn how to harness my abilities…
Who cares O’Dowd!!!! They both suck. Let them ruin other teams bullpens.
I can only guess they’re looking to get something from them out of a trade? Like what, a supplementary 50th round draft pick in 2027?
I’m not sure Rosenthal is right. Prado can lead and carry the team in the leadoff spot, we are a much better team when he is in that spot and getting hits. Heyward hasn’t been hitting this year so it seems like there is an issue at the top of the lineup, but when Prado and Heyward are on they are a great 1-2 punch. The Braves aren’t going to be stealing bases anyways, which is the only advantage I see of adding Reyes. Plus everyone in the organization is happy with what Alex Gonzalez adds to the team.
Prado is not a leadoff hitter, plain and simple. I keep hoping Fredi would stick Nate at the top, just so Prado won’t be there. He’s 1-for-5 in stolen bases (admittedly a few were from botched hit-and-runs), so the speed isn’t even really there. Jose Reyes probably won’t be a target, as A Gon is doing just fine for very cheap.
Gra-dy Size-more clap clap clap clap clap
Why does everyone keep saying we should move Prado to the 2 hole? Why fix what’s not broken?
Lineup structure isn’t all that important anyway. I couldn’t care less about the batting order, but the Braves could certainly use an impact bat with speed…….With the pitching surplus, I’m almost positive the Braves will acquire a useful position player at some point.
Because people overvalue the stolen base and undervalue the double, which is obviously absurd. With that being said, Prado is not an ideal #1 hitter only due in part to being an extremely ideal #2 hitter. If the Braves were able to trade a guy like Lowe for, let’s say…Mike Cameron and Josh Reddick, then they would have ample money to sign a big named free agent such as Jose Reyes to play SS, or trade for the likes of Grady Sizemore. Grady doesn’t project as an ideal leadoff hitter anymore due to a decreased walk rate, but Prado would be an ideal #2 behind Reyes.
Braves are a team that has been looking for a prototypical leadoff hitter since Furcal(2005). Prado is such a good hitter he could bat anywhere in the lineup and produce, but if there’s something he lacks it’s speed. He’s a smart baserunner, but his base stealing skills are pathetic. Just imagine adding a legit leadoff hitter to the Braves lineup like Jose Reyes a guy who has more than doubled Braves(as a team) steal total. Braves are 6 for 18, Reyes 14 for 17.
And before anybody say’s steals are overrated bla, bla, bla, they are helpful especially with a slumping offense. And one thing you can say for certain, Braves are a streaky offense, at least if they had speed they’d be able to use that weapon and get base runners on scoring position. They’d be able to put the pressure on opposing teams by scoring first, because leadoff hitters like Reyes have so much speed defense is bound to make a mistake and allow a run.
Getting runners in scoring position hasn’t been the problem. It’s been getting them home when anyone besides McCann Chipper or Prado is at bat
Two questions. What is Ken Rosenthal smoking and where can I get some? Who cares if Martin Prado isn’t the prototypical leadoff hitter, he’s been doing amazing there!!! He was just named NL player of the week!!! Like Micah Jones said above, don’t fix what’s not broken.
There’s no one on the current Braves’ roster that is more ideal in the leadoff spot than Prado.
Mclouth
i think that has more to do with the roster than Prado’s “idealness” for the leadoff spot. I love him there, but it isn’t “prototypical”, he doesn’t take a lot of walks and isn’t speedy. I think what people are saying, since Prado gets so many hits, imagine how many of those would be rbis if someone got on in front of him then stole 2nd
Gonzalez plays SS so no room for Reyes.
Gonzo is playing very solid SS so cross out Reyes. All we Brave fans can hope for is a trade for Grady Sizemore. He just went on the DL again so maybe the Indians well part with him for cheap… Rodrigo Lopez is pitching good enough at AAA to draw alot of attention on the trade market.
Yeah, when the braves pull a lead off guy it will more than likely be in Center to replace Nate and the 10mm option they wont be picking up