Joel Sherman of the New York Post heard yesterday that the Braves were pushing catcher Evan Gattis hard, but the team’s president of baseball operations, John Hart, called the report “absolutely inaccurate.” The latest on the team…
- One strategy for the Braves is to package Gattis with B.J. Upton, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Upton is owed $46.35MM through 2017 after posting two awful years for Atlanta. Rosenthal says most of the Braves’ roster is in play.
- The Braves want to add a left-handed hitter who could possibly platoon with third baseman Chris Johnson, tweets David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I doubt the Braves want Juan Francisco back, but the Cubs’ Luis Valbuena could be a fit.
- Hart doesn’t expect to make a trade at the GM Meetings, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Hart explained, “I think you’re going to have conversations. I think the Winter Meetings are a pretty good dance place, because people will have seen what is going on in the free-agent ranks, evaluated the trade market for players they want and done all of the things clubs do to make a deal.” Bowman notes that beyond Gattis, the Braves might trade Justin Upton or Jason Heyward this winter. Each outfielder is scheduled for free agency after 2015.
I was wondering if Heyward’s name would get brought up this winter. Still just speculation, but I think the Cardinals would make a serious run if he were indeed available. They could also have the payroll space to sign him long-term.
Why not go after Upton if both made available? Power has been the issue with the cardinals offense as of late
I love Heyward’s complete game and I think the Cardinals would covet it as well. There’s still some pop for Heyward to come. I imagine they’d have interest in Upton as well.
I agree. Considering both players are quality, multi-tool, corner outfielders, if either of these guys is available the interest will be from similar teams (i.e. Cardinals among others would pursue Heyward if only Heyward were available and they would pursue Upton if only Upton were available).
What would be a realistic package? I’m assuming Piscotty+Gonzales/Martinez kind of package?
1 of Gonzalez, Miller, or Martinez
1 of Piscotty, Grichuk, or Tilson
Maybe a Wisdom type
A lower level SP prospect
heyward for wacha
Pirates will need a catcher…Pedro for Gattis?? I know that goes against the Pirates idea of getting a great defensive catcher but this makes sense. Then Pirates can sign an everyday 1B and get rid of Gaby and Ike.
Why would the Braves do that?
Lefty bat at 3B…Other pieces could be involved but it’s an idea.
yes, but he’s just another high hr low average hitter that we have a whole line up of practically.
I would love for this to happen, but doubt if the Braves (or anyone else) view Pedro as a third baseman still. Even then, it would take more than just Pedro.
If the Pirates did manage to get Gattis, I could also see them using him as the rightie half of the 1B platoon with Ike. A few games a week behind the plate, and a game or two at first. Stewart catches the rest.
I hope to avoid the 1B platoon as a whole and get rid of Pedro, Ike and Gaby. Replace with LaRoche or any other everyday 1B
Ideally I’d like an everyday 1B too, but pickings are pretty slim right now. LaRoche is pretty old and could collapse anytime. Are there any other free agent candidates?
Good for the Pirates, but Pedro wouldn’t be a good fit for the Braves. They’re trying to rid of high power, low average, high strikeouts players and balance the lineup better.
Yeah, that’s exactly what we need…another league-leading strikeout king. In 2014, if Alavarez got his 600 AB, at the rate he was going he would have finished the year in the top-3 of MLB in strikeouts. Yeah, no thanks. He finished with 113 K in 398 AB.
I’d probably look at Josh Harrison, Jacoby Jones, and Nick Kingham if I were the Braves…
For 4 years of control of Gattis you’re not getting a deal with Pedro Alvarez I can tell you that much
I couldn’t see the Braves doing that based off of Alvarez’ K totals/power/low avg combo. This is the huge issue that would only be intensified. Maybe trying to make a deal involving Marte or Tabata would be more reasonable. I’m sure the Pirates slew of young pitchers would appeal as well.
In theory y’all’d probably be better off putting Gattis at 1B and resigning Martin though.
heyward to the M’s?
Thought M’s were looking for a righty bat?
Yeah, I’d rather have J Upton. The price for one year is probably going to be too steep though.
i think that ship has sailed after he vetoed a trade to us a couple years back
Actually, the Mariners are no longer on his no-trade list.
-C
No, or else he would have added the M’s as one of his four teams invoking his no-trade clause.
Yeah I’d think one of DJ Peterson, Gabe Guerrero, or Austin Wilson would be a good starting point for Upton talks…
Remember, the Braves are trying to restock their system and stock it with players close to being MLB ready
Starting point would be Walker.
The Mariners are looking for any big league average hitter. Funny how they say Safeco was made for LH then complain that they have too many LH hitters. Construct your team to take advantage of your home ball park.
The M’s were interested in BJ in the past, I could see them interested in both players. Gattis could DH, back up Zunino and then occasionally pay the OF.
As much as I want to see BJ traded, if it costs Gattis I’d rather keep BJ.
I wouldn’t. I love Gattis, but he is only playing 75% of the time. Bethancourt is a better option, he provides more possibilities of getting runners on. CB did really well I thought when Gattis was on the DL late, he provided some contact hitting not power. Braves need more contact and less of the power strikeout swings.
With the number of MiLB years for Bethancourt and from what I’ve seen and read, I’m afraid he is going to be a bust. If he provides the same defense as Gattis (okay, this is just from memory, but I believe I recall numbers that someone ran showing Gattis a bit better defensively than CBeth this season) I’d rather have Gattis’ bat. CBeth may be a suitable backup but that’s about all, imo. I may be wrong of course but he really hasn’t done anything to impress me yet.
Not even 75%. Last year he only started 58% of the games (and actually it’s right at 58% for both seasons combined), with 27 PH appearances the past 2 seasons. He’s more valuable to a team that can DH him a third of the games. And the ONLY chip we have that could return us a player that actually CAN impact 150 or so games a season. Love the guy. But the time to move him is NOW.
Absolutely. Getting rid of BJ should be job #1 and as much as I like Gattis, he’s just in the wrong league. If they can package the 2, save some $ and get a fairly decent starting pitcher (or someone close) back, I’d pull the trigger immediately.
If we trade anyone of them we better get something good back.
Who or what do y’all thank the braves should trade for?
A top of the order bat that can get on base, a lefty bullpen arm, middle/back end rotation depth and get rid of a portion of B-Up contract preferably with him with it.
Maybe a Gardner for Upton swap?
EDIT: yes of course Justin, not BJ
If it’s BJ Upton? Not in this universe.
No, J-Up he’s talking about.
I don’t know about that because you mentioned B-Up in your post.
I was talking about what Braves needs. In response to Buddy GO Braves.
In that case, no, unless Justin signs an extension as part of the trade. Gardner is on a relatively friendly deal for another 4 years. I’m not implying a straight up trade either, but the Yankees would need to know they have more than just a rental.
I think that’s to be expected. The yankees don’t make the deal without there being an extension in place, or at least an opportunity to talk to Justin beforehand
Never said as a 1 for 1 swap.
So it could make sense, if there was a contract extension and other pieces involved… Not a “Gardner for Upton swap” anymore as originally posted and what I was replying to.
J-Up and Gardner would be the main pieces centered around this trade scenario.
I posted my own comment above as well…
Yankees: Upton (and a window for extension) and one of their major league arms
Braves: Gardner and a prospect (maybe Refsnyder or someone lesser depending on the arm)
I could see this working out (not familiar with the respective prospects or farm systems though). Yankees get more power while losing some defense. Braves get a solid defensive OF (CF, really) who can lead-off. Both teams don’t really lose any speed either.
I’d call it a wash on defense, J-Up has a better arm but less range than Gardner. Then if Yankees move him back to right field were he’s happier/ more comfortable that would help. The only reason Braves had him in left was because of Heyward.
Umm, which Upton.
I can see the possibility for the Braves but still seems lopsided for the Yankees.
It would take a lot more than Gardner to land J. Upton.
Probably not… I could see prospects being sent back both ways as filler, but I’d be surprised there were any other major pieces moved. 4 years of an above average center fielder and lead off hitter for one of Upton is more fair than you realize.
More contact hitters. We need fewer power swings. Wren loaded up the lineup for more power and gave up the OBP. There has to be a balance. I also think some of the potential for JHEY and Simmons was hidden in the lineup. Granted Simmons had some health issues he played with last year that could have effected his plate appearances. I’d like to see them get on base, and steal more bases. I’d like to see guys like Zobrist, Kendrick, Valbuena, or Joyce. Guys are patient and have good OBP.
They should trade for a starting CFer
Restocking the farm is priority 1…
What I’m being told is they’d like to do it with quality over quantity and closer to ready prospects though.
If I were them, I’d trade all 4 of the mentioned names (if possible) and play for 2016 with the likelihood that the trades will provide for a better balanced lineup by then coupled with a new managerial hire that provides a more engaging and winnable style and payroll flexibility going towards STP opening in 2017
I don’t think 3B should be a huge priority right now. Johnson was not terribly good last year, but I can think of several things that need addressing before running him out of town, or even focusing too hard on a platoon mate for him. He is just a year removed from almost winning the batting title, after all.
Good luck getting rid of BJ. He’s a 4th OF PR/PH at best and is owed about $48 million. His power has completely vanished. If the Braves sent him and Gattis together and got nothing back I’m still not sure it would be fair to their trade partner.
Agreed, it would be an awful deal. Braves will have to eat most of the salary to get rid of BJ. Even then a team has to keep him on the 25 man roster if they assume even a quarter of the salary. I also don’t see Gattis as being a real strong bet going forward. He’s worked hard to get to the big leagues, is strong as country ox, and cheap. Still his game is full of holes and is already in his late twenties.
I can definitely see the yankees and Braves matching up well in a trade. Something involving Upton and a prospect or two for Gardner and Refsnyder maybe? You get a few more years or Gardner below market, add a left handed hitter into the lineup, and potentially another piece for the next 6 years. Yankees can take some of the Braves pitching depth in return and the salaries would be about even.
this better be Justin Upton your talking about.
He is. Wouldn’t make much sense if it was BJ.
Braves aren’t adding pieces to JUpton for Bret Gardner.
They certainly could, might not be major pieces but it wouldn’t be straight up swap.
They’d probably have to. Most would agree that 4 years of Gardner below market value is greater than one year of upton. You could slide him over to center, have him bat leadoff, and slap doubles all over the park. I think his declining stolen base total the past two years is more a function of the yankees play style than Gardner’s ability. Given the right conditions, he could steal just over 30 bases, bat 270, and play above average defense in center. There’s a lot of value in that.
I think the braves are over thinking I see everyone in the braves jersey next year with heyward being resigned but not for 75 mil
With need to get rid of fredi g
with need of orginal idea – thanks!
all he is is Bobby lite, and he tries to play the games like Bobby but fails. He never even stands up for the players.
That’s something that is always forgotten by Braves fans. They made fun of Juan Francisco, but his platoon splits with Johnson is why Johnson had such a successful season in 2013. I’ve wanted them to take a shot at Valbuena, over a guy like Bonifacio, since the deadline last season. In a perfect world, they could dump CJ, BJ, and Gattis for anything…
It’s forgotten because it’s not really true. He played a lot of first in April, because Freeman was hurt. He platooned most in May, which was his second worst month, barely above league-average. Francisco didn’t survive May in Atlanta, so everything after that was all CJ.
The fact is that Johnson was just really good in 2013, and it had little to nothing to do with platooning.
-C
It had everything to do with an extremely unsustainable BABIP. You could see the regression monster coming from a mile away.
A lot of Braves fans on here, so thoughts about Arismendy Alcantara, Luis Valbuena, and Travis Wood from the Cubs for Jason Heyward??
The cubs always seem to make trades with the braves but I think justin upton should go before him
Ya I think the Braves would prefer to move Upton, I think Heyward is a much better fit with the Cubs.
ha. You’d have to give up Soler or Baez before that is even remotely possible.
It’s 1 year of Jason Heyward. Cubs would laugh at trading Soler for one year of Heyward. Baez, MAYBE, but absolutely zero chance it’s Soler.
Everything sounds good I like that trade
Heyward will be headed to Houston.
For what? Unless Braves go in full rebuild mode I really don’t see a match.
Castro. Folty and Oberholtzer
Castro isn’t a fit unless Braves flip him for someone else right away. None of the three can be a centerpiece for Heyward in a trade. Braves would be better off keeping him and recieving a comp pick for him.
Would gladly ship out Gattis if the only return we got was the other team taking BJ’s contract as well. But no one is gonna do that…. :(
Amazing to me that ppl usually overvalue Braves prospects are now undervaluing guys who actually have track records…
No way does a Upton for Gardner straight up deal happen…as solid as BG may be, a leadoff guy who defends well is nowhere near the value of a middle of the order 30/100 guy…
And the Cubs would have to kick in a ton more if they wanted Heyward…
Just because there is 1 year left on their deals doesn’t mean the Braves will take scraps to offload them.
You realize J-Up has 1 year left on his contract and Gardner has 4 years left.