In the wake of a thumb injury that could cost Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta up to three months, Erick Aybar’s name quickly surfaced as a speculative trade target to replace Peralta in the short-term. Aybar is, after all, an affordable veteran that is one season away from free agency and is playing on a rebuilding Braves club. However, Atlanta GM John Coppolella tells David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the club isn’t keen on trading Aybar.
“Erick Aybar was a big part of the Andrelton Simmons trade,” said Coppolella of the trade in which the Braves landed Aybar, lefty Sean Newcomb and right-hander Chris Ellis in exchange for their franchise shortstop. “We don’t want to trade Erick Aybar; he’s a great, winning player. We need to win more games this year, and he’s going to be a big part of that. So we’re very happy to hold onto Erick Aybar.”
Of course, none of that is a firm statement expressing that Aybar will not be traded; the Braves, after all, offered similar sentiments about Craig Kimbrel last offseason but still traded him to the Padres in a blockbuster deal on the eve of Opening Day. The comments about Aybar, while indicating that the club does indeed value him highly, also are not quite as firm as the adamant stance that Coppolella took against trading first baseman Freddie Freeman. With Freeman’s name swirling in rumors, Coppolella took to the media to publicly state: “I’d give my right arm before we trade Freddie Freeman. It is not happening.”
On paper, Aybar would seem to be a prime trade candidate for the Braves. He’s earning $8.5MM this season in the final year of his contract, and the Braves don’t expect to contend this season, as the bulk of the highly touted minor leaguers they’ve acquired recently won’t be ready for the big leagues until 2017 or, at the earliest, mid-to-late 2016. Then again, Aybar is coming off something of a down season, having followed up a solid four-year stretch from 2011-14 that saw him bat .279/.317/.399 with a meek .270/.301/.338 slash in his age-31 season. O’Brien notes that it’s possible that the Braves could net more for Aybar in a summer trade, and that’s certainly true if he gets off to a good start to the season. In addition to being able to rebuild some of his stock over the season’s first three months, it stands to reason that there will be a greater number of potential suitors looking for a shortstop upgrade.
As O’Brien writes, Coppolella and the Braves feel that the trade in which the club landed Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair in exchange for Shelby Miller accelerated the club’s timeline to contend, thereby shifting their focus to trades that will help them improve in both the immediate future and in the long term. If that is indeed the case, then it does seem unlikely that Atlanta would be able to receive immediate benefit from moving Aybar. Both Swanson and top prospect Ozhaino Albies are a ways from the Majors, and even a mid-2016 projection for either would be an aggressive timeline in forecasting their arrival in the Major Leagues.
Why would they be trying to win more games? They aren’t even in the same league as the Mets, Nats & Marlins. Aybar’s a free agent at the end of the year and the Braves have Swanson and Albies almost ready. The Braves are trying to get the 7th draft pick instead of the 3rd with this move. Bad GMing.
it’s just posturing. they could turn around and trade him tomorrow.
Greg’s right, don’t aim like you’re trying to get rid of him for nothing because than you’re compromising yourself. Always aim big because at worst someone actually might meet your price.
Prime example: Shelby Miller trade. Of course, Dave Stewart was involved, so maybe that’s the exception? Lol
Sure, it’s posturing, but it’s also the truth. Coppy doesn’t want to be the GM of the first back-to-back losing seasons in decades without having some nice, shiny pieces, if there’s anything he can do to prevent it. Aybar was a good get, regardless of last year’s numbers. We don’t have anyone ready and regardless of our timelines to contend, we shouldn’t punt the season – despite what some pundits actually thinking we already have – without getting something really nice from STL or any other club. Take note any of those writing connecting ATL to tanking. If they were tanking…they would have already traded him to STL.
Sounds more like he is saying what should be said as a GM, not bad GMing as you call it. What should he say, “yep, just waiting for The Cardinals to call me.”
This ^^
Maybe they are waiting until the season starts, where teams are more likely to pull the trigger
because even rookie GMs know they can’t ever admit to tanking without getting fired the next day. Part of their job is putting fannies in the seats whether the team’s any good or not… so yeah, lying is mandatory…
though i’m not entirely sure how they figure Aybar, who was a salary dump by a better team just a few months ago, is going to be worth anything before the deadline. Points to Coppy for enthusiasm, though
We’ll see how confidant is in their depth and/or Peralta’s recovery time.
i think it matters more if Aybar can show he’s not still a replacement level SS once the season actually starts
the Cardials aren’t a team known for giving up promising talent for aging veterans, and after what he did last year any prospect with starter potential > the walk year of Erick Aybar
Disagree slightly as the Cardinals gave up Rob Kaminksy (STL’s #4 prospect at the time and the Tribes’ current #3 prospect) for Brandon Moss last year. Also, gave up four years of an above average young starter in Miller and another former first round pick who ended up being the Braves’ Pitcher of the Year last year for one year of Heyward. I think if an agreement of say…Erick Aybar and Jason Grilli for Tim Cooney and Carson Kelly would work evenly for both sides to satisfy their objective.
That trade sounds right. Not top prospect stupidity, but also only sending starter SS and closer for needed talent. Only thought though, STL bullpen is pretty solid as is.
One reason that no one is mentioning is that the Braves need to sell more tickets this year so it’s easier to sell tickets next year. The Braves need people to come to the stadium or they will reduce the budget.
They are setting the stage to either cash in now(preseason) or increase his return during season
Why trade him now? He’s absolutely right. Braves have no reason to trade him. You don’t think teams will come calling in July? Only the cardinals need/want him at the moment. Come July you could very likely have multiple people calling, which gives you leverage to get more
No point just giving him away for the sake of it. Stick to your high asking price, if they meet it great. If not we’ll have another chance to trade him I can almost guarantee it.
Why would the Cards even want him, is the bigger question. Is he really better than Gyorko, for the two months they need him? Probably not. Aybar was a 1 win player last year and was truly an awful hitter. They’d be better off just letting their own guys play.
seam…..absolutely. giving up good young talent for a mediocre SS is a bad idea for STL imo. Unless Gyorko shows he can’t play the position (and I trust Mo and Mike know what they’re doing here) then there’s no reason to make a deal. There are going to be players cut towards the end of spring training STL could pick up for the price of a phone call. Maybe even someone like Kosma. He’s not that worse than Aybar.
Kozma is currently in the Yankees system.
Gyorko has had least experience and success at SS. Plus his bat is not even what Aybar’s was in his down year. As a Braves fan, I hope they keep him. Plus Cards usually fair well staying out of this situation of rushing to trade anyway.
A box of twizzlers and some sour patch kids or no deal.
Ramon Santiago plays a decent SS, is an unsigned FA, is a switch hitter, and will probably put up a similar batting line to Aybar. No trade needed. Besides, he is used to backing up Peralta.
This could be a good example of an individual team valuing a player more than the market value. I’m a Braves fan and I admit I can’t see a team trading a top prospect for Ayber. But when you consider the replacement options the Braves have, Ayber looks a little more valuable.
The Braves can replace him with Albies and that’s very exciting to me, but throwing it all on an unproven prospect, even a top prospect could also be an unnecessary stumbling block to Albie’s development. Outside of Albies you have Castro left and that would be a terrible thing.
So this is how Ayber has more than market value to the Braves. One year of Ayber and Albie’s is probably ready.
The only thing I noticed in your comment was “Ayber.”
Wonder if Ruben tejada would interest the Cardinals?
It is no well kept secret that he is on the roster bubble for the Mets, and outside of last season, his DRS has been roughly league average.
Doesnt offer much with the bat, but seems like a better idea than running Gyorko out there at SS
My thought exactly. Ruben is the epitome of replacement level (though a bit lower last yr), and at $3m/yr in his walk yr (with Mets granting him 1 more day of service time during arbitration process).
Instead of Aybar teams should be asking the Red Sox about Deven Marrero. Projects to be a similar player as Aybar except he’s much cheaper and has way more team control.
Carson Kelly and Mitch Harris for Aybar.
I do not blame the braves, they have no need to make a trade, Coppy is saying if you want him, get ready to pay for him
The Cardinals dont even need to trade for him, theyre losing Peralta for a couple months, they can survive with Diaz/Garcia/Gyorko. No need to trade more prospects for a 2-3 month rental
In those 3 months they could be out of it, I look for the Cubs to run away with it anyway. The cards will be playing for wild card, and like Heyward said he cards are getting old
i don’t think a non-factor bat at SS would really save them from getting buried in that division if the rest of the team falters…. Aybar’s not exactly a young up-and-comer
Fair point, but keep in mind this is the weakest looking offense the cards have had in probably 10 years (though still decent) as well as the first time they dont look like front runners in that span of time.
If I was the FO I’d be a bit worried right now, we will just have to see if they act impulsively which they’ve avoided so well in the past.
How can it be any weaker than it was last year (even without a couple months of Peralta) now that Holliday, Grichuk, and Adams are healthy and they get a full year of Piscotty? The Cubs do look better on paper, but the Cardinals still have amazing pitching and an improved offense to fuel another playoff run.
Aybar isn’t exactly that great of a trade candidate for the Cardinals, anyway. What do you do with him once Peralta returns, put him on the bench to pinch-hit and fight with Gyorko for the occasional start? The Cards would prefer a decent bench bat who’s a big upgrade defensively at SS over Gyorko.
I’d trade him at the deadline once Peralta returns. Hopefully his trade value will be higher and the Cards could get more than they gave up to get him or at least equal what they gave up.
Its just a thought, but I think the cards should send a descent prospect to the Braves for him and they have Aybar play until Peralta is fully healthy and comes back and then they could trade Aybar at the deadline or before it. The Cardinals have a way to make players better and he could raise his trade value up and they could get rid of him at the deadline. They wouldn’t be depending on Gyorko so much while Peralta is out and they wouldn’t take the risk of falling behind in the division. They might not fall behind in the division anyways without Aybar. It was just a thought
Freddy Galvis is another name to look for in St. Louis. JP Crawford is ready so Galvis can go, he’s a solid glove with some moderate success in the bigs and would be cheap.
Still very early so why would they give him away? Even as a free agent he would be QO so that is a good draft pick. Any team picking him up before the season would get the QO pick. The way SS are in demand he will get a good offer next year. A good GM will always let the market pick the asking price not a team in the need for that player.