Email a copy of 'NL East Notes: Nats, Mets, Conforto, Phils, Utley, Braves' to a friend
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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'NL East Notes: Nats, Mets, Conforto, Phils, Utley, Braves' to a friend
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Matt St.
Murphy should know better. The Phillies will go with who they are comfortable with and not who is best for the job. That’s exactly how Amaro got the job in the first place.
geauxbraves
The Braves are an interesting bunch hovering around .500., but could easily be in first place if it weren’t for the bullpen implosions. On the other hand, if the Nats and the Mets played as well as the pundits predicted, the Braves would be several games back imo.
I say take advantage of their situation and get some bullpen pieces on or before the deadline and see what happens. If the Nats and Mets continue to play below their expected ability, this division could be wide open.
inkstainedscribe
Before the Braves consider taking on more salary or giving up any assets, I’d consider calling up Folty as a 6th-7th inning guy (grooming him as the eventual closer once Grilli is gone).
petfoodfella
Not a bad idea, but I don’t think they’d move him to the pen just yet.
inkstainedscribe
I suppose it depends on how they see his career developing. If they’re convinced he’s a starter, then yes, leave him there. If not, then moving him to a middle relief role soon could ease the transition to setup man or closer.
rct
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a Joel Sherman article about the Mets where he *didn’t* suggest they toss aside their long-term plans and make bold (and ridiculous; Conforto has played 20 games above A-ball) moves. This is the same guy who back in the day clamored for the Mets to trade Kazmir.
Backatitagain
Braves need to consider a trade with the Cubs. The rumor is that the Cubs need a starting pitcher, preferably controllable and MLB ready. Braves need to offer Julio Teheran, Cody Miller, Jason Grilli and Chris Johnson for Carl Edwards, Jr. (#1 Prospect) and Kyle Schwarber (#2 Prospect) and Javier Baez (Injured and no place to go), and Mike Olt (Injured and no place to go).
The Cubs pick up a top of the rotation starter with a team friendly 5yr-$32.4 contract and former #1 prospect – exactly what they need along with a cheap 2YR-$8.0 closer with 20 saves already this year. They also get Cody Miller a reliable starter or middle reliever who is pre-arb and Chris Johnson two years removed from batting .321 and finishing as the top hitter outside of Denver only two years ago with a controllable 4YR-$23.0 contract.
The Braves get two great prospects just below being ready for the MLB and two injured formerly hyped as top players who are currently injured and if they recover have no place to play with the Cubs blocked by future young all-starts. Braves need a potential catching option with some hitting ability and it is well known that they covet tallented young pitching and a potential replacement for Braves HOFer Chipper Jones.
inkstainedscribe
Thank you, Fantasy GM.
thecoffinnail
I signed up for this terrible new commenting just so I could let you know that I was laughing uncontrollably at your trade suggestion. I mean come on if the Cubs are going to be getting ALL of that talent you should probably also have them throwing in Almora and McKinney as well.. Plus, since the Cubs would be getting 2 starters in return I am sure they would be willing to throw in Hendricks too.. That should pretty much guarantee that the Braves would ok the deal.. Epstein could retire forever being known as the guy that fleeced the Braves out of the 2015 World Series..
But, this trade should also work by your standards and is a bit more equal for both teams.. The Cubs send Mike Olt (60 day DL) (former top prospect), Chris Denorfia (corner outfielder hitting .313 this year) (then Kelly Johnson could move over to 1st while Freeman is out) Jason Motte (Only 3 years removed from leading the league in saves for the Cardinals) and Edwin Jackson (2.52 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP out of the pen this year) and the Braves send back Andrelton Simmons (former top prospect and current SS) Jose Peraza (#1 prospect) Matt Wisler (#2 prospect and currently in the rotation but they could use Jackson to take his place) and Max Fried (currently injured and no place to go)
This is a win for both teams because basically all the Braves need to win it all this year is a quality corner outfielder so Kelly Johnson can go back to his super utility role and some solid bull pen arms.. They get their outfielder in Denorfia who like I mentioned earlier is batting a solid .313 on the season. With the addition of 2 solid bullpen pieces like Jackson and Motte to go along with Grilli and Johnson the Braves will have the best pen in the majors. Even though Olt is on the 60 day DL he will return at full strength next year and he can then take over 3rd full time for years to come..
The Cubs who we all know are going to need pitching will be picking up two decent rotation arms of the future who will likely take over their 4th and 5th slots.. They will be young and controllable for years.. The true key to this for the Cubs will be Simmons and Peraza.. Everyone around baseball knows the Cubs have a torrid love affair with solid middle infield types.. With the addition of those two the Braves should easily be able to get the Cubs to pull the trigger on this deal.. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hart wasn’t able to get Epstein and Hoyer to throw in that corner outfield phenom Junior Lake with the inclusion of the two middle infielders in one trade..
I am going to go email this trade directly to both teams.. I know that once they see the ingenuity of my trade and how it is a solid win-win for both teams that surely both Hart and Epstein/Hoyer will step down from their positions and I will be named the first dual GM of 2 teams in the history of modern day baseball.. This trade will stock both teams to the point that the Cubs will have to switch to the American League so both of these powerhouses will be able to meet for the next 5 or 6 World Series!!
Jervass
As a Braves fan, I apologize to the Cubs Fans for this absurd trade proposal.
Video games have killed rational trade evaluation.
1) Who is Cody Miller? If you meant Shelby Miller, the Braves aren’t sending him anywhere any time soon. If you meant Cody Martin, the Cubs could have had him effectively for free in December and passed, as did 28 other teams, which should give you an idea of what his talent level was judge at that time. His appearances thus far this year have not probably helped that evaluation.
2) Chris Johnson has been on the block for 18 months, with no takers. Him being in a deal doesn’t make it MORE attractive, it makes it less so. You will have to do better.
3) Carl Edwards may not be able to help the Braves, since he is a race car driver (I Kid!).
Basically, with the exception of Teheran, you’re offering the Cubs our trash for their Filet.
Teheran’s deal is extremely team friendly, and I think he is a solid #2 type pitcher, but his value is way down this year after struggling. You sell players when they are valued high, not valued low.
Cody Martin has has not been shown to be reliable.
Shelby Miller has done so, but he isn’t being moved unless a comparable, MLB-ready pitcher with extreme upside is returned. If they have that to offer in trade, they would probably just use it.
There is zero chance that this deal would get done, and there is a 97% chance that John Hart would here cackling laughter over the slamming of the phone.
Lance
If Sandberg doesn’t understand why Utley should NOT get that vesting option with an under .,200 hitting second baseman on a last place team he has no business being a manager.