Red Sox outfielder Chris Young hit the DL with a hamstring injury, as Chris Mason of the Boston Herald writes. He joins Brock Holt and Blake Swihart as unavailable left field options for Boston, which already had ample justification to pursue an upgrade at the position. There’s some optimism for both of those players, at least, as Holt has begun a rehab assignment and Swihart is out of his walking boot.
Here’s more from the eastern divisions:
- The Red Sox are stretched thin in left even as Rusney Castillo looks less and less like a viable major leaguer. Rob Bradford of WEEI.com takes an interesting look at the process that led the team to sign him to a contract that now seems like an expensive miss.
- Phillies GM Matt Klentak says that the “feeling out process” has begun for summer trade activity, as Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com reports. Still, he suggests that it’s largely been quiet for Philly thus far. Klentak also discussed the progress of top prospect J.P. Crawford, explaining that some early struggles at Triple-A are just part of the maturation process and noting that he has continued to exhibit a mastery of the strike zone.
- The Mets appear to believe that Noah Syndergaard’s valuable right elbow isn’t at risk despite a recent scare, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reports. An MRI showed only inflammation, and manager Terry Collins noted that Syndergaard has dealth with minor flare-ups at times in the past without any real structural issue arising. He’s set to make his next scheduled start.
- Over at Fangraphs, Eno Sarris explores an important question for the Braves as well as potential suitors for righty Julio Teheran: just how good is he? He suggests that Teheran may be able to continue to outperform ERA estimators somewhat, though perhaps some movement toward those marks is to be expected. In the end, Sarris calls him “a good pitcher on a great contract,” which seems like a fair appraisal.
Yes for all the braves fans on here over last month imagining trading Teheran for teams top prospects please read this fangraphs article and maybe it will help you with your overhyped expectations of what you should expect to get back or better yet if you disagree and think he’s an ace then keep him and build around him which it appears most of your aren’t willing to do curiously! Or is it you too realize he is at best a mid rotation arm especially in the AL and sell him now is the best move you can make hoping you can steal a few prospects for him?
I would like to think he could pull one of a teams top prospects or somebody like profar who is on a team without an everyday position. Who knows what coppy will do? The thing they have going for them is a weak market now and even in the offseason. If you can get a team to overpay due to that then good. If not they need somebody to be the opening day starter next year.
As a Braves fan who follows the team closely, Teheran is our #1 but not an “ace”. There’s only a handful of those. A lot of people give the term “ace” to their team’s #1 but I don’t think that’s a good description. Coppy should only sell him if he gets the world for him though because the SP market is going to be super thin this off-season and Teheran is cost controlled for several years. I think people get confused on the talent vs cost when thinking of trades for him. He would be a solid #2 on most staffs in the MLB, but some people seem to think he’s nothing more than a #3 which I disagree with. He’s also having the best stretch of his career so of course the cost will be high.
Contrary to a lot of commenters, most smart Braves fans know that Teheran is at best a 3/4 in most rotations, myself included. Problem is the Braves pitching staff has been light since the Minor/Beachy/Medlen TJ carousel, that Julio has been our longest running rotation piece. So while he gets thrusted into the 1 spot, some have gotten blinders. But he is young and can still form into a solid 2 in the right rotation. That darn fleecing with Dave Stewart just got some minds going.
Overall, a team in need of a playoff push or full blown title contender could use Julio to round out your usual playoff 3-4 man rotation. Even Atlanta should invest in a true Ace if not a second tier top of rotation starter, but the youth is looking good.
He’s a low-1, high two in a 30 team league. He’s not anywhere near the unbelievably high standards the Braves or the current top pitchers in the game have set, but he’d be a 6-150 type arm if he were to hit the open market after this season at his current trajectory.
Well said
This reeks of fan bias, even though you may be right. Tell us, who is your favorite team?
It is the Braves. Agree to you’re point, of course there is a hint of bias. But not like I coming are to the “Teheran is an Ace on any staff, give us your top 4 prospects for him” type fan.
I would absolutely be willing to build behind Teheran. He’s pitching excellent baseball right now and, outside of last year, has been consistently an upper tier starter. And on that contract? Damn right you’ll need a huge package to justify acquiring him.
A pitcher who’s entire career has pitched below his metrics. Who has had one bad season, that has done nothing but exceed expectations. Who some 5 years ago would be called an ace.
This is why I hate advanced metrics. They are built off nothing put probabilities and woulda/shoulda/coulda’s. Screw them, The sole reason he doesn’t have the advanced metrics on his side is because he doesn’t strike out a lot of batters and is prone to some homeruns.
I agree with you. If you want a good estimator of ERA, just look at the ERA. All of these “tools” are there to be helpful, but they don’t apply equally to every pitcher. The hard part is knowing when they do apply and when they don’t. I would think if a pitcher “defies” the advanced metrics multiple years, maybe they don’t really apply.
Teheran was a former top prospect. Like number one overall. He doesn’t have Andrelton or Heyward saving him runs this year. He has better movement and location on all of his pitches this year. At age 25. Judging by what pitches got on the open market this past offseason, and looking at the pitchers that will potentially be FAs this coming offseason, he is almost certainly worth any player in the minor leagues.
Sure 1 player for sure but some want 6
I am a Braves fan, and as such I know that Teheran is not an Ace. He is a 2 or 3 slot pitcher on most teams. He is an ace with us because of circumstances. If you say he is less than a 2 or 3 slot pitcher, I think you are wrong. There is no use in trying to argue otherwise with me because I’ve seen the numbers and have made up my mind.
That being said what a lot of people are not FULLY taking into consideration is the situation the a Braves are in. They hold maybe the best pitcher available in the trade market.
Jose Fernandez, in my opinion, is NOT on the trade market. The Marlins are in 2nd place in the NL East last I checked and tied for a wildcard spot last I checked. They aren’t going to trade Fernandez. Maybe in the offseason you can convince them but last I heard they are wanting to get rotation help. So he’s not on the trade market.
Chris Sale is another name that people throw out but much like Fernandez he isn’t on the trade market, at least not yet. The White Sox made a lot of moves this past offseason. They wanted to make a strong run this year. Obviously it hasn’t gone as planned. They are 1 game below .500 and 3.5 games out of the Wildcard. For them to trade Sale they would have to give up on the year and I just don’t see that happening. It would make the trade for Todd Frazier to have been in vain. Chicago will likely be buyers at the deadline. So I don’t see Sale being traded. Those two are the names I keep hearing thrown out. Other names (like Sonny Gray) are not performing at the same level as Teheran is this year.
So recapping he is maybe the BEST arm that is currently available in a very weak trade market and upcoming free agent market. As it has been covered already he has an incredibly team friendly deal that lasts through 2020. He gives you a lot of innings. Yes he will give up some HRs. I am not overlooking that, and teams won’t either, but when you need pieces to get you to the Playoffs, like the Red Sox want to do with Ortiz, then you will rationalize things. And when they do that they will end up saying that he has far more upside than his penchant for HRs.
Braves don’t have to trade him… It’s a weak market… He has a very affordable contract… And he’s an inning eater. These things all combined make it so that teams will have to overpay for him in order to get him. So I’m not suggesting that team have to give up their top 4 picks but it is going to take a lot to get him. That’s just the way it is. That’s how the trade market works.
Trading Chris Sale doesn’t cause the trade for Todd Frazier to be in vain. Todd Frazier’s batting average being below the Mendoza line is what makes the trade to be in vain.