The Braves concluded their final FanFest at Turner Field earlier today, writes Jon Cooper for MLB.com. The club is set to open SunTrust Park next season. In the meantime, they’ll try to rapidly rebuild in time for the new park. Here’s more about the Braves and other NL East clubs:
- Freddie Freeman is finally pain free, he told reporters including Cooper. The lefty first baseman has dealt with a slow to heal right wrist injury. He managed a career worst 481 plate appearances last season, although he still hit reasonably well – .276/.370/.471 with 18 home runs. While many thought the Braves would trade Freeman, he’s still just 26. If the club turns around as quickly as they aim to, he’ll still be in his prime.
- Another injured Brave, Jace Peterson, is also once again pain free, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Peterson injured his thumb in late May and played through the injury for the remainder of the season. His .265/.340/.318 line wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire when he sustained the injury. However, it was slightly better than the .230/.305/.341 slash he put up over the rest of the season. Peterson has an interesting blend of skills. He could eventually develop into a sneaky-good utility player. He’s currently atop the depth chart at second base.
- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez hinted that we’ll see top prospect Dansby Swanson sooner rather than later, per a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Braves shortstop Erick Aybar is under contract through the end of this season. In my view, the club may be hoping Swanson can advanced quickly enough to join the team in early 2017 – if not sooner. After signing with the Diamondbacks last summer, Swanson had 99 plate appearances in Low-A, hitting .289/.394/.482. The soon-to-be 22-year-old has all the makings of a fast moving prospect. He was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Shelby Miller to Arizona.
- Former Phillies ace Cole Hamels recently had the opportunity to meet with potential first draft pick Jason Groome, writes Matt Gelb of Philly.com. Of course, the Phillies hold that first overall selection and are said to be considering Groome. The 17-year-old New Jersey native already possesses mid-90s velocity with a promising curve and changeup. Hamels had simply advice for Groome: “stay healthy and you are going to be golden.” Of course, Hamels also had some more actionable advice. He offered the contact information of a motivational speaker he regularly talks to before starts.
- Earlier today on MLB Network Radio, Drew Storen’s agent Brodie Van Wagenen said he and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo had a “unique level of transparency” following the trade for Jonathan Papelbon. The deal was not the first time the Nationals opted to replace Storen as the closer. The meaning behind Van Wagenen’s comment is somewhat vague. Presumably, both agent and GM had a candid talk about Storen’s role in the organization. Now Storen is turning the page as a member of the Blue Jays.
Man, that Swanson trade is going to look bad for the D-Backs in a few years.
wish i could’ve made it to the fan fest, sounds like it was quite the shindig lol.
i’m excited for swanson, high floor collegiate players typically move fast so i wouldn’t rule out a september call-up. i can dream i suppose
as for groome i pray he falls to atlanta 3rd overall! i know it’s unlikely and many analyst/writers suggest a college or hs bat but what’s wrong with having another solid arm? jason would undoubtedly be the top pitching prospect in a system already deep with the aforementioned commodity providing enough wiggle room to eventually start dealing from the stockpile. plus a team can never have too much depth.
The Braves will be targeting College Bats in this draft but will pick the best player available to them in the first couple of picks
Don’t read too much into Coppy’s Twitter comment – he also said BPA. More so than the #3 pick, I imagine the 2 pick around 40 will be earmarked for strategies such as focusing in on a particular type.
A lot depends on how this year goes, but as things stand now, I suspect that Coppy would draft either Groome or Puk if he’s on the board. If both are gone, then I could see a college bat or Rutherford in an arranged deal to save a couple of million. He’d use the savings to attempt to steer a someone or 2 to those picks around 40. Senzel makes a lot of sense as a name…
I’m still shocked the dbacks traded swanson for miller
I say hold off until we see what they do in July. Swanson for Miller could eventually make some sense, withholding the other members in the trade
Swanson for Miller could make sense? For the DBacks? How? If the trade works out for the D-Backs it will be due to foolish luck…i.e., they win the WS with Greinke/Miller and Swanson is a bust or gets significantly injured. If everything goes the way it reasonably can be expected…it’s an absolutely terrible, stupid trade by the D-Backs. You don’t trade a number one overall pick who plays shortstop and is as talented as Swanson for a number 3 starter.
The package they sent to Atlanta could have gotten them a much better pitcher…perhaps even Jose Fernandez or with another player/prospect added could have gotten them Chris Sale. Stupid, foolish trade by the D-Backs and only a miracle will make it any better.
Yeah swap Blair for Corbin and it’s Fernandez heading to Arizona. Miami would’ve pounced on Inciarte Swanson Corbin. That’s how lopsided this deal really was.
A full 2016 from Ender plus (maybe) a few starts from Blair should equal or exceed Shelby s war contributions and that’s just year one. No matter how hard i try to make sense of it that was an awful trade for Arizona. Hope they win something in the next 3 years.
You think Arizona didn’t check in on Fernandez? Think reasonably. The package you are talking about wouldn’t have gotten Fernandez. The Marlins wanted Seager, Pederson and Urias specifically and that two prospects in addition to that.
I don’t think it was a good deal. I think the D-Backs paid to much for a number TWO pitcher. You don’t have to make the pitcher that you got look worse than he really is because you didn’t get the pitcher you couldn’t acquire
A couple of days after the trade someone wrote up an article about how Miller could be a great add due to some new stats. I’m not saying they will be equal or another deal could have been had.
I’m just saying that if they win this year or next after adding another piece it won’t be luck and the Miller trade can be seen as where they decided to go all in.
I really really doubt Florida wasn’t demanding Bradley.and Pollock.
Swanson won’t see ATL in 2016, at least until the rosters expand. There’s no reason to start his clock early. As the article clearly states, HE HAS LESS THAN 100 PLATE APPEARANCES IN LOW A. I understand he’s a college bat but its not like he came into low A and hit .400.
Should be interesting to see how the Braves deal with Swanson. There has to be a starting SS in ’17 and the FO will want to know if Swanson is the guy or if they should spend some $$ on a stopgap like Aybar for another year. From Fredi’s comment above, I think we can assume that the Braves are more focused on having the future face of the franchise in place for the new park then saving $$ in arby. It’s now on Swanson to prove he’s up to the task.
Exactly, there’s no reason to rush him. Mike Zunino spent about a year total across all three minor league levels and had like 400 ABs in the minors before being called up and asked to be the everyday starting catcher. Now, he starting the season in the minors to get proper development.
If I’m the Braves I wouldn’t even consider calling him up until September callups and thats assuming he absolutely mashes at atleast Double AA and maybe some success at Triple AAA. They’re better off waiting til 2017 (whether that is starting the year on the 25 man or waiting til early in the season) to call him up. The only excuses to call him up this season would be injuries in the infield and he would have to absolutely mash the ball in the minors.
If he is ready I would love to see him come up when rosters expand iff they think they can compete in 2017. Too many rookies need to get their bearings straight.
Lol Dbacks fans thinking they ever had a shot a Jose no one was going to get him his price is way too high
Lol at dback fans thinking they even had a shot at Jose keep dreaming he is untouchable