The Braves and Padres have announced a trade that will send catcher Christian Bethancourt to San Diego. Going back to Atlanta in the trade are right-hander Casey Kelly and young backstop Ricardo Rodriguez.
Bethancourt, 24, seemed likely to hit the block after the Braves added both A.J. Pierzynski and Tyler Flowers in free agency. But it wasn’t long ago that he looked to be a long-term answer behind the dish in Atlanta.
The now-former Braves backstop recently ranked among the game’s top 100 prospects but has had some offensive struggles in his exposure to the Majors and, perhaps more troubling, significant difficulties with passed balls. Scouts have given his arm an 80 (on the 20-80 scale) when evaluating him, so there aren’t major concerns about his throwing. In 278 plate appearances with Atlanta, however, Bethancourt has batted just .219/.245/.283. At the Triple-A level, he’s been far more impressive, hitting .299/.327/.435 in 583 plate appearances across the past two seasons.
Bethancourt further deepens the Padres’ stock of MLB-ready catchers, as the team also has Derek Norris and Austin Hedges in house. All three have been, at times, believed to be starting caliber catching options in the Majors, although only Norris has any sort of track record at the big league level. Hedges, like Bethancourt, is a much-ballyhooed prospect and has drawn rave reviews for his glove but didn’t hit at all in his 2015 debut, slashing .168/.215/.248 in 152 trips to the plate with San Diego. Bethancourt, though, is out of minor league options, which could give him the inside track on Hedges for making the roster in 2016.
Turning to the Braves’ return, the 26-year-old Kelly is a former Top 100 prospect himself, from 2010-13, who has seen his once-promising career slowed dramatically by injuries (including Tommy John surgery). He’ll join a stable of young, at-or-near MLB arms in the Atlanta organization.
Kelly cracked the majors last year for the first time since 2012, but spent most of the season in the high minors. All told, he permitted 5.16 earned runs per nine with 6.8 K/9 against 3.6 BB/9 over 97 2/3 innings. More importantly, though, he made it through the full season and set himself up to “compete for a spot” on the Braves’ major league roster this spring, per GM John Coppolella.
Rodriguez is a 17-year-old from Venezuela who played last year at the Rookie ball level. He checked in as MLB.com’s 30th-ranked July 2 prospect in the 2014-15 international signing period and rated even higher (#21) on the Baseball America board (subscription required). Obviously he’s a long ways from the majors, but Rodriguez seems at least to have some promise as a player.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported the deal was in the works (Twitter link). Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted it was nearing completion. Sherman tweeted that Kelly had been discussed. ESPN’s Jayson Stark previously reported (Twitter link) that the Padres had interest in Bethancourt.
Woohoo!!!! See ya
Thought it would happen after the flowers signing. Wonder what he would bring back can’t be much
Melvin Upton Jr. Get it done, Coppy.
And Derek Norris is now being shopped as well. If you believe the reports Hedges game calling was preferred to Norris.
I could see them trading Norris before hedges for that reason. I wonder what Preller has up his sleeve now.
Probably a good thing. Braves wasted winter season where Bethancourt could have learned to play third base. Still his best option, ala Joe Torre.
He can’t hit!! Why would you put someone that can’t hit at 3rd base? If you said something about moving him to pitcher because of his arm I would go with that LOL….but 3rd??
god knows braves need more pitching. (sarcasm)
You need to check out his AAA last year. No one can hit playing once a week. Not even Babe Ruth, well yes Babe Ruth could but that is all not Hank Aaron.
Learn to play 3rd base. He has a problem with passed balls – which are essentially line drives. Sure, he has the arm, but he’s also not the hitter a 3B would require. Cut your losses and move on.
Craig Biggio came up as a catcher. Hit .211 his first year. Got moved to OF/2B became a HOFer.
1,000 other catchers did as well and didn’t become HOFers.
Just what the Padres need. Another light hitting offensive option.
probably returns a B prospect at best. bethancourt doesnt seem to have much to offer. imo
If the Braves got a B prospect, I would be trilled and surprised the Padres continue to be so stupid.
Padres continue to be stupid.
The Padres will finally have their revenge.. They’re sending Melvin JR back to Atlanta Lol
I know that’s a joke, or at least I hope it’s meant to be.
We would be lucky to get him back. Better than any of our outfielders last year. Check the numbers bullies.
Yeah, let’s just ignore the previous two seasons. Everything’s fixed!!
-C
Maybin hit .267 and MUpton hit .259.. So at least in that respect he was not better than any Braves OF last year. #justsayin
Why would the Padres want him?
Melvin had 1.6 WAR in half a season times 2 is better than Markakis, Bourn, Swisher, Perez, Hat Man, or Kelly Johnson.
And also not worth his salary.
You should probably not view a third of a season in a vacuum and make evaluations based off that.
-C
What should you look at then, his two worst seasons and ignore the most recent performance. I predict he will outperform Markakis in 2016. You must feel good about Beckham, Bonifacio and Flowers then.
No. What you should do is take his body of work. Typically teams look at the past 3 seasons and trends. Let’s take his last 6 seasons, 2010-2015, just to be fair. Double the data should give a clearer picture of his true performance.
.229/.305/.395 with 16 home runs, an OPS of .701, and a WAR of 1..1 on average. That means he was bottom third of CF with at least 2500 ab. He was above average on defense in just 2 of those seasons. .
Wow, just realized Jon Jay also is in the bottom third of CF over that same period. Padres are paying $22+ million in 2016 for a pair of guys that were both among the bottom third for the past 5 years.
Something along the line of the 22 ranked prospect or even lower. I just assume it would be someone like Austin Allen from the Pads to give some catching depth in the minors. I honestly have no clue what Bcourts value is, but lord knows it isnt high.
braves probably only pick up a low level pitching prospect unless padres see something in bethancourt that ive yet to see.
I’m guessing fringe relief pitcher. SDG seems talented at always finding the next great setup man, possibly by pitching in that massive yard 90 games/season.
now a deal involving tyson ross for teheran and bethancourt may get my attention. but as it stands now…this is rather boring news.
I’d take Teheran over Ross every day of the week.
Hahahaha that’s actually really funny
Tyson Ross doesn’t have nearly as much team control as to make him more valuable than Teheran. I’ll take Teheran’s five years over Ross’s two any day of the week.
+I’m really not big on trading for the pitcher that led the majors in walks and the NL in BB/9 last year.
Also his WHIP and BAA have increased 3 years in a row. He’s too volatile.
Hilarious. Trying to find Teheran on top 50 pitchers in WAR. Not on the page but there is Ross in top 20 at #16. ERA? Teheran nowhere to be found in top 50, but Ross is #20. FIP? No Teheran in top 50, but Ross is #15. xFIP? No Teheran, but Ross is #12. Can’t seem to find Teheran in top 50 in K/9 either, but there Ross is at #8.
But when I look at HR/9 there is Teheran at 14th most while Ross is all the way down at 3rd least,
So, let me understand this correctly. You are saying that Teheran is not very good at getting people out or striking people out or preventing runs or preventing home runs, but he was dang lucky in terms of BABIP and didn’t walk as many people as Ross so you would rather have him?
Please keep him then.
Not expecting much for Bethancourt… But given Coppolella’s track record for pulling off unlikely trades I’d expect it to be Bourn, Swisher, their salaries and Bethancourt for Tyson Ross and their top prospect. Lol
upvote lol
Cbeth, Castro, Bourn , Olivera and Folty for Kemp and Shields straight up. We reduce their payroll moving forward and get the vet SP we need for now as well as a RH power threat to protect Freddie. They get multiple pieces on the cheap to fill in holes. Doesn’t look quite even I get it, but it’s more about moving money and extra pieces around than it is about this upcoming season.
olivera is suppose to be that big bat :/
yeah right- said with sarcasm. Would you really rather have HO over Kemp? Forget the money for a sec and think talent, you know what Kemp can do, HO is still a mystery. This is about setting things up for the next couple of years. I doubt this happens, but it solve several issues for both teams in terms of salary and years of control for both sides.
Well 1. I can’t forget the money because its a lot thats owed to him 2. Matt Kemp hasn’t been Matt Kemp for a long time and by long time I mean before even signed the contract. If Matt Kemp finds that Matt Kemp again THEN you have a point. 3. Olivera is infinitely cheaper (see i told you i couldnt forget about the money). 4. Why in the world would the Braves trade that much for two contracts they dont want. There has not been any mention of either of those players EVER coming to the Braves and this goes back years + 5. Money money money money
For starters have you looked at his numbers over the last two years? Those are Justin Upton numbers without the longish term commitment moving forward, only 4 yrs at most. Assuming we don’t flip him next offseason due to the lack of big hitters that will be out there. Defensively he’s been playing in mammoth parks, I wish I could pull just his numbers from playing in Atl and extrapolate that data.
Shields is the durable, solid not spectacular guy at this point. Put him behind Tehran and Wisler and let him eat innings up. Yes he’s overpaid at this point in terms of dollars for WAR, but a durable vet that could be flipped next offseason when the SP market is weaker than this year still holds value.
Those two salaries are 42mil this yr, minus the 18.5 mil from Bourn and HO, so we’re down to 23.5 mil for those two this yr. 11.75mil each is about right for one yr if all they do is match what they did last yr. Does that help the math for the 2016 season?
That trade is terrible for the Braves, wtf. Kemp and Shields both have negative value.
And Kemp’s contract alone is terrible and franchise hindering.
Kemp physically and financially is a sinking ship.
Please give more detail on that. If they both do 2/3 of what they have done, they get flipped at the deadline. Shields is durable and experienced and a solid 3 at this point. Kemp behind Freddie puts the threat out there for the middle of our lineup, plus Kemp could still be passable in LF defensively, especially with Inciarte in CF. If Kemp put up numbers between his 2014/2015 tally’s I would take that all day long for the next three years.
What year do you think it is? Kemp and Shields are shells of their former selves. Matt Kemp isnt passable anywhere except DH.
The thing about the national league is the hitters actually have to play defensively and Kemp is pitiful at that, plus you add in roughly $21 million in expenses for several more years and it would kill the braves. It would be far worse than the BJ Upton contract.
Pasted from above!
For starters have you looked at his numbers over the last two years? Those are Justin Upton numbers without the longish term commitment moving forward, only 4 yrs at most. Assuming we don’t flip him next offseason due to the lack of big hitters that will be out there. Defensively he’s been playing in mammoth parks, I wish I could pull just his numbers from playing in Atl and extrapolate that data.
Shields is the durable, solid not spectacular guy at this point. Put him behind Tehran and Wisler and let him eat innings up. Yes he’s overpaid at this point in terms of dollars for WAR, but a durable vet that could be flipped next offseason when the SP market is weaker than this year still holds value.
Those two salaries are 42mil this yr, minus the 18.5 mil from Bourn and HO, so we’re down to 23.5 mil for those two this yr. 11.75mil each is about right for one yr if all they do is match what they did last yr. Does that help the math for the 2016 season?
Because old, expensive players is just what the Braves have been looking for?
I like it. Is it affordable? Can we get Solarte added to the deal?
Just what the Padres need.. another catcher. Although it’s probably a foregone conclusion either Norris and Hedges will be traded shortly.
Brad Wieck screams the type of Pitcher the braves are stock piling.
Christian Bethancourt and Nick Markakis for James Shields and Jon Jay.
Troll
Jon Jay is horrible! 5th Of at best
Average 1.4WAR
He is below average defensively and has no power. You can throw out 1.4 WAR all you want. He is OVERRATED as a 4th OF, much less as a starter. I am from MO and have seen him play a lot.
I get it, some fans just are not cerebral enough to use advanced statistics.
No I am smart enough to be able to use my own 2 eyes! Not someone else throw together a math equation and get an answer for me. WAR is nice and all but if you are good at 1 thing then you can have a positive WAR. WAR is supposed to be based on league averages. Why do we not have at least have the league at 0 or negative? I rarely hear anything about a player with a negative WAR.
Jon Jay and Melvin Upton Jr are both 4th/5th OF. Anyone that thinks they should be starting knows absolutely nothing about baseball. I am not saying the Braves OF is great by any means, but I would rather suffer through 1 year of Bourn to bridge the gap to Mallex Smith then have Jay or Upton in Atl
Jay, at his best, is a poor man’s Markakis
Jay is bottom third, 22nd overall of 26, in WAR over the past 6 seasons for CF and he is coming off of a major wrist injury in 2015 that will limit his effectiveness at the plate for at least another season. If you are going to throw out stats, at least put them in context. To put Jay’s WAR in perspective, both Melvin Upton and Cameron Maybin were better. You can’t get much worse than Jay in CF in terms of the stat you chose to use. .
Christian Bethancourt, NIck Markakis and Max Fried for James Shields and Yangervis Solarte.
not happening. low end for low end. Shields is worth way more.
Where do you get these ideas? Why would Atlanta even consider trading Fried at this point? He was a top 100 prospect before TJ surgery. I think if and when the Braves start trading some of this stock pile of pitchers it will be after they have had a year to evaluate exactly what they have. Wisler, Folty, Newcomb, Blair, Toussaint, Allard, Fried, Banuelos, and Sims are all a big part of the Braves future one way or another. Folty likely a backend bullpen piece. The others will make up the Braves rotation, or the pieces used to get more offense in a year or 2
yeah, guess he cant be spared to get a starting pitcher and starting 3B.
If the Braves wanted a starter like Shields they would have kept Miller. Those guys are going to be used to get bigger pieces then Shields and Solarte. You my friend are trying to turn this rebuild around before it is ready and with players that will not get the Braves to the post season. These moves and trades you have been talking about do not make the Braves drastically better. Shields, Solarte, Kemp, Jay, and Upton do not make a world series contender. They might get the Braves to .500 at best. Oh wait, those players didn’t even get San Diego to .500 last season. Jay of course wasn’t in SD, but he is in the same boat.
I feel like this means hedges is gone since he and bethancourt are so similar
Derek Norris to the Rangers is a possibility now.
Tayron Guerrero and Austin Allen for Christian Bethancourt and Alec Grosser.
You’re not a trademeister. Meister: a combining form meaning “a person expert in or renowned for” something specified by the initial element (often used derisively):
schlockmeister; opinionmeister; dealmeister.
None of your trades ever make sense. Half are ludicrous, which then begs teh question, why do you spend so much time coming up with jackass trade offers that you, I and everyone else knows is ridiculous? I mean I’m not trying to be mean (well yeah I am)
for real… Why don’t we just go out and get Mike Trout for Hursh straight up
Wow, you must know everything. Hope I grow up to be as smart as you.
No, I just employ common sense. Something you refuse to do. You just throw out all these crazy ideas for no other reason than you can. You know you do it too and I’m going back awhile here. I’ve seen numerous examples of your trade propoals and 90% look like no thought went into it.
You’ve trolled numerous times on here and not once have you attempted to change. So I don’t have sympathy. If you want to contribute then contribute. But stop blindly throwing stuff out there. Its unnecessary clutter for comment section that is seemingly changing daily.
Liarcaca is a policeman bully
I know the Braves were asking about Jankowski and Renfroe and were rebutted last winter. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them try and snatch up one of those kids.
Braves don’t have anymore room on their 25 man roster so I see this being a fringe prospect, unless Hedges comes back to Atl in the deal as he seems to have an option remaining.
So I’m guess now that either Norris or hedges will be moved?
Braves might get another TJ surgery pitcher, we collect them darn things, hopefully we get his UCL in the deal!
Here idea trade
Padres get bethancourt
Grosser
Bourne
Cunniff
Ruiz
Mckirkhan
Schrader
Hoestra
Lien
And banuelos
Braves get
Upton
Shields
Gettys
Kelly
Allen
Com pic
I think you just made one of trademeister’s moves make sense. Congratulations, you’ve completely broken the system.
-C
Ridiculous
Well that happened..
Just please quit already with the trade ideas cjh you know Justin upton is a free agent and if you were talking about bj you just need to move on you are unbelievable cjh815
Trade idea:
Padres get:
Bethancourt, Mallex Smith, Matt Wisler
Braves get:
Melvin Upton and Melvin Upton’s assurance Justin Upton will sign a discount with the Braves
Nevermind trademeister…. continue doing what you’re doing you have disciples now
Lay of the cake. You take this site too seriously!
Obvious sarcasm is missed. Sad as I was hoping with your apparent sarcasm in your first comment that you would see the equally sarcastic response. Oh wells
Trade idea: Padres get – Freeman, Inciarte, Swanson, Smith, Fried, Bethancourt
Braves get – Matt Kemp, BJ Upton, and a box of camo unis
Done.
well except Freeman. He is my favorite player!
The Braves don’t need an overrated and overpriced Justin Upton, especially at the price of taking Melvin back. Hopefully, you were joking.
Seriously?
First I for got one play in my trade so here it is again
Padres get
C bethancourt pitchers
Grosser(p)
Banuelos
Mckirkhan
Cunniff
1b schrader
2b hyams
Ss hoekstra
Outfields
Bourne
Lien (p)
Braves get
Of Myers
Of Upton
Sp shields
Prospects
Of Gettys
So Kelly
And com pic
Neither GM would want the other team’s garbage.
I do have one more trade if brave don’t trade bcourt to Padres
Braves trade
Same package
Along with Tehran and Grilli ( 3 million one year)
To Yankees
For
Miller
Headley
Gardner
Judge
Sanchez
Refshyder
And Clark or com pic
And once again before any one says never happen let me remind every body biggest trade in history was between Yankees and tigers in 1956 combine to trade 18 players so . Once again it helps the Yankee get rid of some salary may be they could take money they save on deal go after Jason heyward and still save a lot of money
Of bye the way it was Baltimore and Yankees in 1954 and in my trade with Braves and Yankees would be 19
I’m really not trying to be rude on here, but some of the trade proposals are ridiculous. Trying to justify a trade of 19 players between the Yankees and Braves. There aren’t 19 players between the 2 teams that anyone would want. Keep in mind that it is not 1954.
It’s probably one dumb guy with a lot of accounts.
wat
My head hurts..and it is not because i listen to Opeth!
Why did this comment section turn into such a joke. Pretty decent couple of guys back for Beth, especially seeing that he clearly HAD to be traded with no options left and 2 catchers ahead of him on depth chart.
I love people like you who go by “old school” ways. The only people who don’t like sabermetrics are those who don’t understand it. These stats can represent things that you can’t see. What you’re saying is the equivalent of saying that we shouldn’t use modern technology in medicine and to go back to 18th century ideas. Change is a good thing and there’s a reason it’s happening.
You mean an IQ of 48
To quote a line from one of the all-time classics in the history of American cinema: “what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.” `1995
Bummed to see Casey Kelly used in the deal. Ive always liked his stuff and the way he carries himself on the mound. It’s too bad he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. If he can, it could be a very nice get for the Braves.
i dont know man, maybe he recovers more of his fastball in 2016 but he has gotten hammered everytime on a MLB mound – he seemed like a player on twitter & in pictures
Looking at the games he pitched its always one inning that eats him alive. He always settles down and shuts them down after.
Of his 3 starts (this is off the top of my head)? One included a game where he accumulated 3 Unearned runs coupled with his 3 earned from one inning. So not entirely his fault.
He’ll be interesting to watch. Plus he has McDowell helping him along now as well
2 of the top 5 throwing catchers in the Majors – make this team competitive Rockstar
Im happy with the Bethancourt addition. The Pads pickup a 24 year old catcher with great defensive potential. I think this deal means Hedges is on his way out though. I think Preller is remodeling the farm and trying to keep the major league team competitive which is tough to do, but I believe in him as GM.
Let’s hope that its Noris on his way out. Norris is one of the worst game callers I have seen play for the Padres in at least a decade, maybe more. Every returning pitcher gave up more walks and home runs and had a higher ERA with him behind the plate. Shields and Kimbrel regressed with him behind the plate also. Ross’ ERA improved from 3.90 to 3.26 once Hedges took over as his catcher on June 20th and he ran off 15 starts giving up just one home run. Norris’ defense stunk as well. Norris had the most errors at the position and was the 2nd worst in passed balls. Teams ran all over him, too. He gave up the 2nd most steals in baseball last year at 84. Only Cervelli was worse. He really doesn’t have any redeeming qualities unless Preller is moving him to 1B. Maybe then he can hit MLB average.
Great points on why Hedges & Triple A shouldnt be in the same sentence – Hedgy bhind the plate is already known to be good, but i think thay guy is next in line for NL gold gloves behind the dish. Unless you get another year of control with Hedges in the minors for x amount of time.
Norris improved in areas like throwing out runners, as far as pitch calling – many pitchers are smart enough to call most of their own game. But what Norris does not do well is frame & block balls