Let’s take a quick look in at a few notes from the NL East:
- Free agent utilityman extraordinaire Ben Zobrist has already been tied to just about every team in baseball, including the Nationals and Mets. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network’s Tom Verducci see those NL East rivals as strong fits and real threats to add the veteran. (Links to Rosenthal’s Twitter account.) All indications are that Zobrist remains in very high demand with the open-market season in full swing.
- Young Braves lefty Kolby Allard tweets that he’s only had one back surgery, contrary to reports suggesting he’d had two separate procedures. Regardless, what’s important here is the fact that Allard says he’s “recovering quickly” and expects to be ready for spring camp. The 18-year-old remains an intriguing player to watch as he enters his first full season of professional ball.
- Some Braves fans have been left frustrated with the team’s front office. After all, one line of thinking goes, why trade a quality young shortstop in Andrelton Simmons if you are aiming for near-term competitiveness? While this has obviously been reported and commented on quite a bit, it’s well worth considering the comments of GM John Coppolella in full, and David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution provides a complete transcript of his recent media session. Most interesting, perhaps, were Coppolella’s statements on the timing of the deal. With the Angels having many needs, he said, that club might have used its top pitching prospects in other deals had the Braves waited to act. He went on to reflect on some recent experiences in that regard: “We had a shot to trade a player this past season for a guy who’s now ranked as a top-50 prospect in the game, and that player [whom the Braves were going to trade] ended up getting hurt,” Coppolella explained. “And by the time we tried to make the trade, that prospect had shot up the charts and they wouldn’t even talk about the player.” The newly-minted GM also said that the Braves “made a strong run” to acquire Luis Severino from the Yankees, noting that he’s now “off-limits this year.”
Mets should give Zobrist an initial offer of 3 years with a 4th year option. If they need to give him the guaranteed 4th year, then do it. After the 2nd year if he shows any signs of wearing down or decline, trade him to an AL club. Most AL teams would be happy to have him as a DH/ bench utility at age 37/38. Most I’d go is around 4/65
I think he’s better suited for either the Yankees or the nats, obviously any left could hit extremely well in Yankee stadium but both teams have a need for a player like him who can hit and virtually play all positions, not saying the mets don’t need him either but I think the Yankees or nats need him more then the mets
Trading him is easier said than done. Based on your contract offer he’s making $16 a year, and if he starts to decline not many teams are going to be willing to take on a 37/38 year old DH making $16 who doesn’t offer a ton of power. As he ages his glove should also regress making him an over-the-hill player making too much and a trade would either be a bad contract for bad contract or throw in a prospect/good player just to get rid of him.
4 years and 65 mill… What? Murphy is younger, a better hitter and won’t cost nearly that much. No way. No thank you.
Blue Jays are a perfect fit.
We know the Cards are to cheap to pay him what his talents. The Z needs to play full time 2nd and Wong sit it out. The Cards low hanging Fruit this dead line was pretty rotten. Moss needed to go. He is not a hitter. Mo is wanting to shop at the factory 2nds store.
Wong was better (2.2 WAR) than Zobrist was (1.9 WAR) last year.
Yes, Moss isn’t good, but he was still above average offensively once he was traded to the Cards. Keep him at 1B and he should be good.
“The Cards low hanging Fruit this dead line was pretty rotten.”
What does that even mean.
Yes, this. Zobrist has somehow gone from underrated to ridiculously overrated in the course of a couple years of fawning praise by online baseball writers. His “versatility” is basically 2B/DH now, with some other positions in an emergency, and there are loads of guys who can do that. At 35 and as a large bodied middle infielder, his glove is going to decline fast, as it already has. Whoever throws $15-18m a year at this guy is going to be sorely disappointed. Cards WAY better off with Wong and spending their $$ elsewhere.
There has been different rumors with Braves for Freeman miller and Tehran well I keep call for trade with Seattle where some play I though would make since for both team have been traded there still several players on both sides still there . So here is my trade proposal I still think could be made Between the Braves and Seattle
Seattle gets
1b Freeman (top 10 hitter and gold glove tip , all star)
So Julio Tehran ( and people need to look at his second half number when he went back throwing 4 seamer and stop throwing two seamer and who is only 25 and won over 35 game in care
Ss Erick Aybar ( Seattle new gm love his play and Aybar is he would solve as spot and lead off )
Lf Nick swisher ( who play when he went to Atlanta and his knees should be better 2 year after surgery and would come off the book in year
Rp Jason Grilli ( should be good this season and could close for them and and also last year of contract)
LRp mark marksburry ( Seattle fans look at his number see he one of few Braves relieve that was good last season when he came up)
C Christian Bethancourt ( mite just need new start to make it)
25 million to off set some of contract
Total of contracts about next season
You didn’t actually post a complete trade. But even without knowing the return it’s probably a bad idea. The Braves are not in a desperate situation financially now, so there’s no reason for them to put bad contracts in with high value trade assets.
What type of prospect power would Seattle be sending back? I would be more than happy to get rid of Marksberry…he was god awful in the clutch. Are we talking Taijuan Walker and others? If the braves are giving up two team friendly contracts in Freeman and Teheran, it would take a serious haul.
Seattle then would trade back to Atlanta
3b D.j. Peterson ( who would take over 3b next season and since Seattle has Seager they don’t have open 3b
Sp Tajuan Walker ( before Seattle fans go craze look at number last year there w so era whip there close to the same and with Teheran you get pitch with track record and who still only 25 and under contract for 4 more years
c mike zunio ( two catcher mite just need new start
1b mark trumbo( Seattle is showing him and brave need replacement for Freeman and he swap for swisher
And since Freeman is worth more then that Seattle have give more
Of Alex Jackson
Of Austin Wilson
C Tyler marlette
And before they release him and brave love tj pitch any way
Slp Danny hultzen
I think this trade help both team brave can finally get hitter to build for future and Seattle get real chance to win a tittle and by the fan base can finale can be excised about there team
Just from a number of players given/received wise Seattle would never accept that. Too many players going one way and would cripple both the farm and bullpen
Oh, so the 2 teams are completely swapping rosters. Seems legit.
To finish what Seattle would get lf swisher and c Christian bettancourt Rp grilli and Qbush
Ben Zobrist 4 year 60m for the Yankees
Then Braves trade with Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh gets
Sp Shelby miller ( give Pittsburgh 2nd ace pitch
C mike zunio
Rp vizcaino
lp Andrew mckirahan
Of Austin Wilson
1b trumbo
And 15 million
Braves get
Sp Jameson taillion
1b pedro Alvarez
Of Austin meadows
C Reese McGuire
Lp Stephen tarpley
Ss cole tucker
Pittsburg get 1b in exchange for Alvarez
In Shelby this would give a another ace to give Pittsburgh and chance to have more the cole and liriano come play off time that what held them back in play offs
In c z he would give you insurance and back up c
Rp vizcaino would give very good young close in waiting if Pittsburg does trade melancon
Lp mckirahan u have another lp that Pitt pc can work with for the bull pin
Of Austin would give you replacement in meadows
And in return Braves get another future ace for future in taillion
Alvarez could ether take over for Freeman or trade pease
Meadow are future center piece of are team and play that would give brave fans some excitement and reason to show up in 2017
C reese Braves future McCann
And tarpley and another lp for are bull pen at least and tucker would give Braves future ss ( or maybe Pittsburgh would give Braves com pic I think this win win trade for both teams
Anyone have any idea who the 2 players are that Coppolella was referring to? A Braves player that got hurt was going to be traded for a prospect that shot into the top 50 last year. Hmmm….
Steve Adams and I chatted about this for a while yesterday … not an easy one to figure out, but it’s fun to try.
Jeff – Any chance the Braves player could be Jason Grilli? Veteran guy that would have made sense for them to trade and he got hurt in July…
His comments potentially imply that the player in question returned and was discussed in trades again, which would rule out Grilli.
Steve and I were not able to come up with a satisfactory fit.
Manny Margot the prospect?
I’ve been trying to figure it out since you posted it. Did you or Adams come up with it?
I’d guess Grilli is the Braves player, I’m thinking maybe to the Dodgers for Jose De Leon? LA had a need out of the pen and De Leon shot up prospect lists over the summer
Freeman and Grilli seem to be the obvious choices, though a low rated prospect seems a small return for Freeman (even if he did later shoot up prospect lists). And Grilli wouldn’t likely return a prospect with a lot of potential, though he was apparently a much lower rated prospect at the time deals were discussed.
Lesser candidates could be Maybin (until the corneal abrasion) and Foltynewicz.
Kelly Johnson seems obvious, now that I think about it….
Maybe Grilli for a lottery ticket who’s turned into more of a sure thing these past few months? He and Freeman are really the only two guys who were worth jack that also had some sort of injury last year. Those two and I guess Banuelos and Folty but I can’t imagine they’d be the mystery player in question given they’re not much past the prospect stage themselves.
No idea on who the return could’ve been, but the only guys of value who got hurt last year were Grilli, Freeman, Banuelos, and Folty. Might’ve been Grilli for a really young, low level guy who now looks like more of a sure thing. The other three seen less likely due to Freeman still having value and the other two having just been acquired the offseason before.
My guess Kelly Johnson for Reyes
Had to be fairly early in the year for a prospect to gain momentum. Adams had gotten injured and they were looking for a LH bat. Then KJ got hurt, and by the time he returned Reyes had climbed rankings.
And last trade with brave and balitmore
Braves trade to Os
Of markakis
Sp William Perez
Braves
LRp matusz
Rp hunter Harvey
1b Christian Walker
Of mike Yastrzemski or another com pic
Dh Alvarez
Your trades are pretty unrealistic. Why would the Mariners, Pirates, and Orioles sell the farm just to get Freeman and Teheran and Junk, Miller and Junk, and Markakis, respectively? As seen with the Arroyo trade to Atlanta last year, it takes a lot to move bad contracts. Markakis was barely worth his contract this past year, and that was year 1 of that contract.
No offense, but those are some pretty involved trades. The Braves, Os, Pirates, and Mariners may as well just take all their uniforms off, toss them in a pile, and then randomly select a new one.
Do you get your trade proposals from what you’ve seen on mlb the show? These are so in realistic and it’s basically handing the braves all the top prospects for junk
Soooo, the Braves and mariners completely swap rosters, then they completely rob Pittsburgh and Baltimore? Seems legit
I really like the Simmons trade for the Braves. There’s no doubt that newcomb wouldn’t have been available by this time next year. Also, I’ve always been of the opinion that while defense isn’t underrated when talking about the importance to a team, it is much more abundant and readily available when compared to hitting.
Braves sign clippard oflahery beckham salty Reynolds Frenchy bryd Broxton lincecum
2016 Braves
Sp Norris Lincecum wisler Walker and sims
Bull Broxton matusz krol carpenter oflahery clippard and closer folty.
Catchers
A.j
Salty
1b Christian Walker
2b Peterson
Ss Castro
3b Olivia
rf Frenchy
Cf m smith
Lf bryd
Reynolds
Garcia
Beckham
Bourne
2019 when we will be good
Draft an puk 3 pick
Sp
Walker, puk, taillion , allard, toussaint
Bull pin
Sims, Newcomb , Sheffield , weigel Johnson-mullin set up Harvey closer Simmons
Catches
Reese
Herbert
1b Walker
2b Peterson
Ss albies
3b Riley
Rf Frazier
Cf smith
Lf meadows
Bench Castro Peterson dystra and of Peterson
That a team I think has bright future
And to one who think that trade I proposed is stupid 1st off to get top 10 hitter you have give up something to get something and I’m give money to cover the contract so Seattle and Pittsburg don’t have to pay much of the contracts so they have more money to spend on other players and and Baltimore trade give Baltimore Rf they miss sp they will need when they loss sp Wei-yin and Alvarez replace Davis when they lose him so that help Baltimore with sp dh and rf so and Braves get some more building blocked and I have one more trade for you all Braves trade Jackson tevevoich minor and 8 million ( to cover minors contract ) of Perez for Clint Frazier ( Jackson – Frazier even trade Justus Sheffield and com pic trade help Cleveland now in 2 of and replacement when they trade Frazier and sp that can help replace they trade one of stud pitch for dodge outfield puig or to Rockies for Blackmon or gonzlaez or to reds for Bruce
No
Chrish your posts always make my head hurt and my eyes go cross. The trade scenarios are so out of left field that they can barely be comprehended.
Chrish failed to mention that once all those trades occur, the entire Braves front office is then fired and fans riot the stadium on opening day.
Chrish failed to mention that ice all the trades occur, the entire Braves front office is fired and the fans riot Atlanta on opening day.
Shelby Miller or Teheran to Baltimore should be Monitored. I think Bundy or Harvey for one of them should do it and they have glaring rotation needs with not a ton of cash to spend to fill all their holes in their rotation as lineup
To every fan who don’t like my trade First off I been brave fan for over 30 years I lived though 80s did you . You fan only know winning don’t know what past look like I lived when we lost 100 games almost every year when Braves where laugh in stock of baseball . Where I’m not happy with what they have done but time we embrace the rebuild at in the trade I offered Braves get two ga boys to play outfield 5 young starting ass that could bring back brave like glavine Maddox smith Avery . We have 3b that could be next bob Horner have young bull pen and when it come to Seattle ( they want to win and over come Angels and ranger they need a lot more they would get top 10 hitter and gold glove tip 1b a ss that new gym know and could. Lead off for them would have to trade Paxton and get 3 starter and number between Tehran and Walker as close to the same and Tehran has a good track record swisher / trumbo equal value and swisher better outfield two relieves and in grilli a guy with closer experience and Lrp who look at the number was not as bad as era show and 25 milloon to help off set some of the money the Seattle has to pay in future of Freeman contract. Why waste Freeman prim year when brave not going to win tell at less tell 2018 and Seattle gym is not gym drafted there prospect so that mean he not rise to them . And it take something to get something ok Jackson and Wilson of that could be good but. Prospect can get you fired ex special if you didn’t draft them your self . And as good as some of the young okay that came up last year I can give dozens of name that had one grey first season and end up being busy the rest of there career so and if I was fm I rather have what I know is good product then a unknown or unproven product . Rather you as fans like it that what has and owner thing of these player products that can be bout and sold to make there bottom line look good. When it come to d.j you have 3b in Seager sign to long term contract freedom is sign to long term contract Seattle has Cruz is sign to long contract dh there really no place for him Seattle tried to wave hultzen and zunio is not in the future plans any more and other catch is ok and pic is just com pic .
I can’t tell if your posts are serious, or if you are just trolling.
Then there is the Pittsburgh trade the one reason Pittsburg has lost was because they need there big three . Rather brave fan like it Shelby is not in long term plans and he price is high know Pittsburgh is looking to trade Alvarez and with trumbo Pittsburg get play they can start at 1b and can play there . Zunio they get catch to replace Reese and Pittsburgh is going to trade melcancon and in vizcaino they get very good arm with team control and very low salary that could help replace him when they trade there closer. Wilson is swap for meadows (ga boy) mckir. Give them serviceable left hand bull pen arm and give them 15 million to help them Pittsburgh . Once again it take something to get something Tallion and tarply is very equal for pitch who is look at number – win total was too 15 pitch in baseball if not too 10 . So look at closer rather fellow Braves fan like it Braves are in total rebuild . Rather any body get this. It because liberty med can sell the team plan in simple . And Baltimore trade Braves get future 1b a arm I think could be a future closer at worse case a great set up man . lph that is good arm that could rather Braves sign for the future or trade pease in trading dead line another of or com pic that could help rebuild and Os get replacement when they lose Davis a a young pitch that helps replace Wei in there rotation and rf that there owner and fans love and last but not least Cleveland trade this trade help Cleveland they get of that could start for them in of in Joey and prospect in Jackson to replace Frazier a starting lph in miller that will help them trade one of there great pitcher for another great outfield bat and 8 million to cover miller contract and brave get I Sheffield lph that once again does not have a tract record and com pic to help with rebuild fans need stop look at the trades they make sense I Jair did come up with them at a to be stupid bye the way just so you know week and half ago mlb network and former mlb closer star dan plesac also talk about trade between Braves and mariners for Freeman and Teheran so I’m not only on look it up he talk about it . Also on mlb network they talk about the team they though would be most active this winter they all talk about Atlanta so yes brave are going to make a lot of trades no matter if we don’t like it or not . O just you know Freeman want trade . Why would any great player in there prim want to stay for total rebuild . Don’t bring up wright met were not I total rebuild they had some pease all ready there so