The Braves have reached out to teams with competitive balance draft selections — the only kind that can be traded — in an attempt to bolster their number of draft choices and available bonus pool, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports (Twitter links). Atlanta is offering to take on bad contracts from other organizations to facilitate such arrangements.
It’s not exactly a new strategy for the Braves. Most recently, the club added a comp selection from the Marlins in last summer’s 13-player blockbuster and effectively purchased the recently-drafted Touki Toussaint from the Diamondbacks by taking over the contract of Bronson Arroyo. Before that, it added a 2015 comp pick in the Craig Kimbrel deal and got another from Arizona for young outfielder Victor Reyes.
With the club off to a miserable start, which more or less precludes any hope of contending in the present season, it isn’t surprising to learn that Atlanta is looking to pad its draft pool. Their current record has no bearing on the team’s draft assets this summer, of course, but it does suggest that the club will be going all-out to acquire young talent rather than holding or, especially, looking to add to the major league roster at the deadline.
The Braves currently are set to pick 3rd, 40th (via Miami), and 44th in the upcoming draft, and carry the fourth-most pool money. At present, the Padres have leapfrogged Atlanta in total bonus availability (by just under $500K) despite a lower draft position, which is due to San Diego’s supplemental first-round picks.
In terms of trade partners, the organization could conceivably try to add selections from the Reds (#35), Athletics (#37), Rockies (#38), Diamondbacks (#39), or Pirates (#41). Those choices range in value from just over $1.8MM on the high end, down to just over $1.5MM. Picks 71 through 77 can also be traded (excepting #74); they are controlled by the Padres, Indians, Twins, Brewers, Orioles, and Rays, respectively, and none is worth over $905.9K.
Of course, in many cases, Atlanta would be trying to pry draft resources from clubs that have just as much incentive as they do to preserve the ability to spend on amateur talent this summer. That’s certainly evident in the case of the Padres and also the Reds, who currently possess the highest bonus pool, but the Rockies (fifth), A’s (sixth), and Brewers (eighth) also sit in the top ten. Arizona could be positioned to be a draft pick seller again, but the club has already packaged most of its bad contracts with young talent in other swaps, and seemed determined not to part with this particular selection over the winter by signing a second qualifying offer-declining free agent.
Wow, the A’s would love to get rid of Billy Butler, and have a pick. Beane should be calling Atlanta right now trying to get this to happen. A’s already have plenty of good prospects and might need the extra money for the deadline if they hold on in the playoff hunt til July, seems more important they trade Butler than to have that 37th overall pick. They wouldn’t even need a replacement for Butler, they could just keep McBride up or bring up Chapman, who’s looking at a 40+ homer year in the minors right now.
Where would he play for my braves Freeman is our 1st baseman
Eh, who cares. If the Braves want a pick + prospects they can take on Butler (who is owed something like ~$16M for the rest of his contract) and then either just DFA him or use him off the bench.
Really it’s all about acquiring prospects/picks at any reasonable cost. They took on a little less in the Arroyo deal (if I recall correctly) then just dumped him. In the end, they are just paying for the draft pick.
However it will take more than just a draft pick for Butler. I’d imagine they’d also have to include a high volatility arm.
Probably not going to take a multi year contract though, next year is when the page turns
Uh in this instance it actually does matter. Butler has no value… at all…. and then you want them to take him to the National League to not do anything? For draft picks? Yeah nope
Like the Braves aren’t willing to pay someone tens of millions of dollars to go away?
Both players were going to be free agents at the end of the year that they paid to leave.
you own the Braves?
A’s have a very shallow farm. There’s Barreto and Manaea, who just got called up, and a bunch of B type maybes. But they do love to trade prospects anyway. Butler’s not a bad choice for the Braves. They’d just DFA him as soon as he arrived.
You need to give us more than just that comp pick in order to take Butler back. He stinks. I don’t know what happened to him.
What would it take for the braves to take on headleys contract ?
Yankees don’t have a pick that can be traded.
One of Sanchez, Bird, Judge, or Mateo. Which obviously is not happening, but to take on what would be the teams 2nd biggest contract for multiple years, might need one.
Rays should send over Longoria. Better players waiting in Durham…
We will take him
Seriously, use Longoria until Ruiz is really ready (not Mallex Smith ready).
I actually would like to see the Braves make a run at Hesdley. I think you get him out the A.L. And he could bounce back. I believe he is signed for 2 more years and then Austin Riley could step in. And I know Ruiz is almost ready but I don’t like him as a fit 1st I am not a fan of his power or more like lack of power and he bats LH. If we were to keep Markakis, Inciarte & Mallex in the OF and Freddie on 1B we need RH power. I know Chase is a switch hitter so that gits better. But his track record the last couple years have not been great so I want something else of value to take on that salary. Do I was thinking Ruiz, Kelly Johnson, Jenkins & Ellis for Chase Headley & Gary Sanchez. I think that helps both teams.
They aren’t going to trade for Headley. They’ve got Garcia who they want to play everyday for his bat, and Ruiz who is on fire right now. Makes no sense to trade them for Headley.
Secondly there is no way they trade Jenkins. He will be in the rotation by the end of the year.
If anything else we are learning A. We have no power B. Garcia can’t catch a cold. And Ruiz has no power either. We gotta get some power somewhere other than Freeman there is not even another 20 homer guy in the line up. If Garcia’s bat proves to be that good than he will have to be moved to LF.
Adonis Garcia’s presence at third base is not going to prevent the Braves from acquiring anyone
Thank you Garcia’s defense is atrocious and his bat doesn’t have a lot of power. He reminds me of Jesus Guzman. In all honesty for me it comes down to if Ruiz is playing 3rd than who is playing LF. If Inciarte is playing LF than who is playing 3rd ?
And why would the Yankees not like the offer I proposed ? You get a guy to play 3rd better than the guy there now in Kelly Johnson and you get 2 prospects in Ruiz to take over 3rd next season and a SP with high upside while you give up a prospect blocked at Catcher (Sanchez) and salary relief from Headley who is not producing in NY.
I said NOTHING of Garcia’s defense. He is a liability at the hot corner and truth be told he would make a better LFer than 3B. I said ONLY that they wanted his bat in the lineup.
And do you REALIZE how BAD Headley is right now? You talk about lacking power… Headley doesn’t have ANY HRs so far this year. Last year he had only 11 all year. He played in over 150 games. Garcia played in only 56 games last year for the Braves and had 10. Not to mention right now Garcia is batting .289 while Headley is batting .148. Headley has been in a decline for several years now. No way would I want to involve him in a trade.
Having Gary Sanchez would be a good thing to have, but I don’t see the Yankees getting rid of him. Maybe I’m wrong. I know he’s blocked a bit but McCann won’t be playing catcher for long. He will transition to DH soon I’m sure.
Also you missed the point when I said… Braves won’t trade Jenkins. He will be part of the rotation within the next few months more than likely. And if not the rotation the bullpen. Either way, he will be in the majors very soon.
Also I’m not sure where you are getting this “Ruiz has no power” thing because that’s not true. Granted he’s not a 40-50 HR guy but neither is Headley or Sanchez. Ruiz has more power than Headley ever had. So if as a team we are lacking power…. how would it make sense to trade what few pieces you have that DO have power… for a guy (Headley) that has none?
And on another note… why would we throw in both Jenkins AND Ellis? Ellis has a 1.16 ERA right now with 17Ks in 23 innings. He’s part of the future plans. Makes no sense from a Braves perspective.
Essentially this is how your trade balances out. Johnson and Headley are roughly the same as far as ability goes but Headley is making $13M a year over the next 3 years. For his production that is WAY TOO MUCH. It’s a bad contract.
So it boils down to Sanchez and $35M (subtracting a few million for time played already this year by Headley) for Tyrell Jenkins, Chris Ellis, and Rio Ruiz. How can you honestly look at all that and somehow think that’s a fair trade? The object when taking on a bad contract is NOT to give up really valuable pieces. You give up a low ceiling prospect or maybe a utility guy that you can live without. You don’t give up 2 pitchers who both have less than 2.00 ERA.
You must have a different perspective on the future of the Braves than I do. I can’t find 1 svouting report that states Ruiz has anything other than 12-15 HR potential. Yes he is raking currently in the minors but it is clear to me Austin Riley is our 3B of the future but that is still a couple years off. I also live in the NY area and get to see the Yankees quite a bit and Headley is screaming to me change of scenery. Not everybody can play in NY. He is a former Mvp and he would be signed for 2 more years after this one which we are going nowhere in now anyway. Yes we would be losing a couple prospects in Jenkins & Ruiz but we would be getting back the 2nd best catching prospect in baseball who is blocked at the major league level by Brian McCann. And I am sorry DH will not be an option because the Yanks have a guy in ARod that will be chasing 700 homers.
Also with Blair who already passed Jenkins in the majors. Folty who could be up at anytime, Julio and Wisler who are already up and Newcombe projected to be here sometime next year with Sims and Fried close behind and Soroka, Allard and Toki coming after that we have sn embarrassment of arms in the system. But guess what we don’t have a middle of the order catcher of the future like Sanchez. In order to get something u have to give something.
Headley is s former MVP who hit 30 plus homers in a park built like Yellowstone so please don’t say Ruiz has power that Headley ever dreamed bout having. And also Ruiz is LH what are we gonna have an all LH hitting team ?
History shows the pressure of NY is not for everybody and for 2 yrs with all the money we got coming off the books and our sorry as record we are gonna have to A. Overpay for guys and B. Reach for a couple reclamation projects.
We have an embarrassment of riches with the arms we have at some point in time we will have to get a couple bats cause this offense is embarrassing.
Also Garcia has never really hit HR in the minors so all of a sudden in the majors do you think he is gonna turn into Bob Horner Please nothing about the guy says major leaguer.
Jesus Guzman written all over him. And you are gonna base all of Headley’s struggles on a 60-75 plate appearances but yet Ruiz is a god in the same small sample size. Isn’t that extreme ?
I can understand how you may not like the trade and please by all means let’s have a discussion but don’t get at me like I am stupid or my idea is so far out in LF because if you think Adonis Garcia’s bat, Jenkins arm or Headley’s contract/struggles would prevent us from getting a talent like Sanchez you are sadly mistaken. And yes I would throw in Ellis to sweeten the pot if need be because yet again a small sample of IP by a guy not even in the top 10 projected prospects would yet again not prevent me from getting a talent on Sanchez’ level.
Makes to much sense Yanks need young arms and have no future 3B in the system hence Headley’s contract in the first place and have a blocked major league ready catcher and another one whose development timeline matches up with McCann’s timeframe of his contract expiring.
And before anybody gets on my I meant to say Chase had been an MVP caliber player not MVP player I know he fidnt win the award but was in the running when he led the NL in RBIs and also he is young enough to turn it around he never git in ny. I think with the money coming off the books it would be worth trying for a change of scenery. And I said I would throw in Ellis if need be but if the Yanks wanted that than maybe they throw in a little cash. But we just payed Bourn and Swisher and Bonifacio how much yo not even play for us this year. At least take a look at the Yanks I believe Sanchez is worth it.
Also the object sometimes is to take on salary in order to get a really good prspect look at the Toki trade as an example of that.
I’m not trying to call you stupid. Just saying the trade doesn’t make sense so if it came off as me insulting you I do apologize.
In regards to Rio Ruiz I’m not trying to make him a god. He does have his drawbacks. There are a lot of people who question if he has what it takes to last long term at 3B. His defense is improving and has been getting better as he has progressed through the minor leagues. In terms of fld% he isn’t far behind Headley and I have to believe that whereas Headley is 32 and will be going downhill, Ruiz is young and should still have room for improvement.
In terms of power yes Ruiz does have more power than Headley ever had. Chase hit 31 HRs only ONE time in his career That was in 2012 which, when you look at his stats before and after that, was by all accounts an anomaly. In all his career, except 2012, Headley had never hit more than 13 HRs. I don’t know what Headley’s original scouting report was because I’ve never seen it, though I did try to search for it. On the other hand I have looked at Rio Ruiz’s scouting report. His power is graded at a 55 which according to FanGraph projects into the 19-22 HRs a year. So if that projection holds true then yes… Ruiz has more power than Headley ever had. Also just to further the idea that I’m not making him a god, I’m not overlooking the fact that he really struggled last year at Mississippi. He is very unproven. Some of the prospects we have are “can’t miss” but he’s not one of those “can’t miss” prospects. He’s boom or bust, but with how he has come out of the gate I’m not ready to pass him off just yet.
Ruiz is not a god by any stretch of the imagination and as a Braves fan who likes to keep up with the minor leagues I am well aware that Austin Riley is the future 3B, and just for reference Riley’s power is graded at the same level as Ruiz’s.
I don’t get to watch NYY very much. Truthfully I can’t stand them so even when I can watch them I sometimes choose not to, but my personal distaste for them doesn’t mean I’m biased towards their players. I don’t get to see Chase play so I don’t have the same view of him you do. I can only look at the stats that he has put up over the last few years. Those numbers tell me that you shouldn’t expect more than .250 average from him and at this point in his career don’t expect more than 10-13 HRs. Everything I see in his numbers says that 2012 was an anomaly. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and seems to be heading for a decline.
Catcher is a HUGE need for us. AJ can’t play everyday anymore, and Tyler Flowers isn’t an everyday catcher. He is a good backup player who knows how to work very well with a pitching staff. I would love to have Gary Sanchez. I believe that he would be a great addition to the team, but I’m not willing to overpay for him. The bottom line is that we have to be smart about our prospects. If we were going to take on Headley’s bad contract and get Sanchez in the process there is no way we should be giving up 3 high caliber prospects in the deal. I would give them Johnson (to take Headley’s place) along with a high caliber arm, or maybe 2 lower caliber pieces. Ruiz wouldn’t be included in the deal, or if he were included I wouldn’t have a high caliber arm in the deal just a lower (outside top 20) prospect to round it out.
Problem is with NYY, Mateo is being “blocked) by Didi at SS, so one of the two will be at 3B when Mateo is ready, both stud players. Jenkins going is a good fit as Yanks are in need of near Major League ready pitching. Although I on the other hand do like Garcia, power and great glove? No. But he is playing well and leading the team for an older, extremely cost effective contributor. We have too much young pitching talent not to get a great prospect piece or high pick.
Ok so we agreee to disagree. I don’t hold Jenkins in as high regard as you do. And I don’t believe the Braves do either or else he woulda been up instead of Blair. I just feel that we match up well with the Yankees as far as future players at positions of needs. Maybe giving up either Ellis or Jenkins would be enough but just knowing in what standing Sanchez has I believe that would be what it would take to get it done.
How come the 74th pick can’t be traded?
It’s a selection given for failure to sign a draft pick, which just comes one after the spot it was the prior year. So it happens to fall in the midst of the comp round, but isn’t a comp pick.
Twins got it for not signing Kyle Cody. It wasn’t a competitive balance lottery pick.
Believe it’s the Padres and they are tryin to do the same thing as the Braves so I just think they mean they won’t be willing to deal it. I actually could see the Braves being able to acquire any to all of those picks gonna be interesting to see how many and which if any they could get their hands on
Time for draft pick trading in the MLB. I can slide two feeds over on my app here and see NFL teams wrangling for position in the draft and it’s just cool. We should have that in the MLB.
The MLB won’t have draft picks be tradable until the QO is gone.
EX: If the Mets were to trade the 15th overall pick, then in the offseason they sign Carlos Gomez, who has a QO attached, then they would lose a second rounder and still got value for their first rounder.
I realize it’s just an example, but at this rate, there’s no way Carlos Gomez gets that QO.
Oh, for sure. They’d have to balance it out in the grand scheme of things somehow.
My perfect world has some kind of salary cap/floor system. Picks would have a valuation that contributes to the cap. There’d be a suckage coefficient that would make, say, very high pick cut into a cap more for a good team, but allow a suckier team to stockpile more picks. Money they spend on bonuses would contribute to making their salary floor.
Draft pick compensation could be based more on standings and team salaries, passing the cap, etc., rather than on the individual players. Teams without salary space could trade down to less valuable picks to open up room to sign free agents for the now.
All just ideas floating around in my head, throwing them out there.
Players association will not allow a salary cap nor should they. The money being made off tv is crazy and I don’t know bout you but I watch the games to root for my teams and cheer for their players. I could give damn bout the owners.
If anything there needs to be a minimum cap on what teams have to spend.
It’s about having a competitive league so all the talent doesn’t get clustered onto a handful of teams. When a top talent player hits free agency you know there’s only a couple of teams that will be in on him… the usual big market suspects and then occasionally a sleeper with payroll space.
I want to have as free and open of competition between teams. I could give a damn about the owners OR the MLBPA. The MLBPA is way more concerned with Kris Bryant’s ability to make an extra couple mil six years from now than they are with twenty guys who will be lucky to get to six years of service time.
If we have a cap/floor system with meaningful revenue sharing, more teams will be in on more players.. which means free agency won’t be a rigged auction for a few players and months of sitting and waiting for the rest.
Braves are soliciting buying a comp pick. What type of bidding war would you expect with Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox involved.
now this is taking tanking to an art form….
BB should call DD. The RSox have been interested in Gray for several years. Let’s make a deal.
Why did they trade for olivera?
They traded for him to play 3rd at a cheap price. Didn’t work out time to move on. Still got Paco and Bird to make the trade swing in our direction. Gave him a 2nd chance and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. Happens.
Yeah Braves honestly did not give up too much. Was a fair trade and just didn’t work out. I was a huge fan because we got the guy we wanted when LA signed him for a lot less money.
Fair trade? Ha. That trade was widely questioned even at the time they made it. It made no sense (and still makes no sense) for a rebuilding team
The trade didn’t work out for absolutely no reason why the trade was questioned in the 1
St place. Let Wood do something and Avilan stay in the majors for more than a couple games at a time. Perazza has not established himself yet either.
Even at the time of the trade, it was no big deal. Olivera was still in the learning transition process, did he work out, no. But in the grand scheme, the Hart/Coppy plan has worked out. We now have 4 guys ahead of Pereza in the Top 100. Pereza is not and most likely will not be an elite player. Wood, Wood will be a long relief man at best for most teams. In Atlanta he would have been charged with 2nd or 3rd in the rotation and had too much pressure. The rest of the pieces were flipped, released, or whatnot. Was a trade that hurt and helped no one.
Just my opinion.
You do realize that the Dodgers then flipped Peraza to the Reds and got 3 players who are all probably top 100 prospects from the White Sox? Add in Wood and Avilan and yes that trade seems to tip a bit more in the Dodgers favor.
I have no idea of the value of draft picks. is the buccos pick enough to get vizcaino or does a prospect need to be added?
Lmao you need more than a draft pic to get vizcanio from us dude can flame throw
I don’t doubt it, I just don’t know how much value a draft pick holds vs how much needs added. is Harold ramirez enough to add? I’m just trying to grasp a draft picks value
Consider a deal with the Yankees. Chase Headley’s bad contract (13,13,13) for $39 Million and International Bonus Pool of about $2.2 Million (Save matching 100%) for Erick Aybar, $8.5 Million, Dian Toscano $6.0 and Nick Swisher $15 Million. Braves take on $7.2 Million over three years for Headley.