Here’s the latest out of the National League …
- The Reds are discussing the possibility of a surgical option for injured hurler Homer Bailey, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes. Bailey, playing out the first year of a six-year, $105MM extension, is dealing with a flexor mass tendon strain in his right forearm. It appears that a surgery would have a shorter recovery time than would, say, a UCL replacement, but manager Bryan Price emphasized that the decision would likely be made in relatively short order to avoid undue delay.
- Top Rockies prospect Jon Gray has been shut down after experiencing shoulder fatigue, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. An MRI came back clean, and Gray says that he has felt good in bullpen sessions, which certainly reduces concern. It seems, however, that Colorado is likely to hold their prized righty out of game action until next spring. Presumably, Gray — and fellow top young arm Eddie Butler — will have a chance to join the Rockies rotation early next year.
- Results on recent trades have not favored the Diamondbacks, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Though most of the deals have not been disastrous, in Piecoro’s estimation, the failed Justin Upton swap has had lingering negative effects — and now looks worse than it did after the one-year mark. At present, the Braves have achieved an additional 5.3 rWAR and 7.3 fWAR from their end of the deal (Upton and Chris Johnson), as against the production of the since-traded Martin Prado and Randall Delgado, Zeke Spruill, and Nick Ahmed. As Piecoro notes, there is still some time for the tally to creep back in Arizona’s favor, particularly since prospects Brandon Drury and Peter O’Brien (the latter of whom was obtained for Prado) still could provide value.
I’d be surprised if Towers wasn’t sacked at the end of the year. His smear campaign to send Upton away was a complete disaster.
Sigh. I hope Jon Gray isn’t hurt anything serious….I am sick of reading of top young arms being injured.
Might as well put Votto through some surgery too
I wonder how high those totals would be excluding Chris Johnson’s negative value? Either way, I kinda look at the deal as Prado for Upton and Johnson for Drury. In that case, Brandon Drury has the potential to be the key piece in that deal. If he had stayed in Atlanta, he’d be the 3B prospect the Braves desperately need. Atlanta would be able to make due with Prado in LF and the cost controlled Drury would help them greatly. Either way, a line-up that consists of Chris Johnson and B.J. Upton hurts the offense more than an offense that could have had Martin Prado and Brandon Drury. Justin Upton has been very solid since joining the Braves and I’m happy to have him, just hurts giving up Drury.
I think you’re forgetting Johnson’s negative value comes mainly from his glove. He had a great year offensively last year and not a terrible one in 2014.
What are you talking about and I dont know where the Chris Johnson bashing is coming from. 1. Braves don’t desperately need a 3B prospect 2. Hindsight is 20/20 so most of your point is moot 3. You have no idea how Drury will pan out in the MLB. 4. If you’re relying/blaming Chris Johnson for our offensive woes then you haven’t been watching the games….