The Julio Teheran trade rumors have been swirling for more than a month, but Braves GM John Coppolella recently made strong suggestions that his ace would be staying put, and Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports now writes that he spoke to a Braves official who emphatically told him, “We are not trading Teheran.” A second Braves official offered similar sentiments, saying that the Braves are “99.9 percent” certain they’ll hang onto Teheran. While a staggering offer can always change an organization’s thinking, it’s sounding more and more like a Teheran trade is more wishful thinking for interested parties than anything else.
More from the NL East…
- The Mets’ struggles to score runs are becoming increasingly problematic, but as Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes, remedying the situation will be more difficult than it was in 2015. For one, the team isn’t likely to add a Yoenis Cespedes-caliber talent on the trade market this year (especially not after depleting its farm). Moreover, the Mets actually are receiving league-average or better production from nearly every spot on the diamond (with the exception of catcher), but the team is woefully underperforming with runners in scoring position. As such, Davidoff suggests that if the Mets are going to right the ship and get back into the race for the NL East title, the majority of the improvements are going to have come from options that are already in house.
- Marlins infielder Derek Dietrich will continue to get at-bats even when Dee Gordon returns from his suspension at the end of July, president of baseball operations Michael Hill tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Hill explains that the Marlins have always thought Dietrich could blossom into an everyday player “because of his offensive potential, his knowledge of the strike zone, his ability to get on base.” The problem, in the past, has been finding a defensive home for Dietrich. Miami has tried him at second base, third base and in left field over the past couple of seasons. Dietrich could make sense to be deployed in a utility capacity over the season’s final months, and while this is my speculation rather than Hill’s suggestion, the team will have an opening at third base next season in the event that free-agent-to-be Martin Prado doesn’t re-sign with Miami. Dietrich is hitting .306/.394/.447 with a career-low 17.8 percent strikeout rate this season.
- Right-hander Edubray Ramos, who was recently promoted to the Majors by the Phillies, has the makings of a future closer, manager Pete Mackanin tells Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Gelb writes that at last October’s organizational meetings, the need to protect Ramos from the Rule 5 Draft was raised by a number of officials, and the decision to do so was agreed upon quickly. Ramos didn’t make the club out of Spring Training, but he posted a 2.40 ERA through his first 15 innings at Double-A before turning in a ridiculous 0.38 ERA with a 26-to-3 K/BB ratio in 23 2/3 Triple-A innings prior to his promotion. Gelb writes that if Jeanmar Gomez is traded to a contender sometime next month, it’s not out of the question that the 23-year-old Ramos could be closing games for the Phils in September.
I think it is a good stance to take but a risky one, Teheran has about 380 innings that says hes a middle of the rotation guy and 230 saying hes a TOR guy. He probably falls some where between a solid #2 and a top #3 type starter, but no one including the Braves is sure and you never want to trade a guy who may have figured it out and is only 25, Waiting til the offseason might cost them a bigger haul but could give them more assurance what we are seeing Teheran become.
I am extremely interested to find out. I personally would want to keep him. However, I am sure a certain haul would be worth it. I just hope it is not another Olivera situation
Could also be that big haul never materialized and would be willing to move him if it ever does.
Other teams have watched him also and seen the same thing and have the same questions. I still see him as a better fit in a NL park.. Dodger stadium he’d probably be really nice as an example, only don’t see them parting with Urias as a headline piece to get him. Do think Montas, or pederson could tho.
For sure I think the Braves would jump all over Pederson, could just need more time to let market develop. I think the worst thing a GM can do is rush into a trade with the mind set of just trying to get peak value, The A’s seem to have started that trend don’t let him decline trade him, like they did with Donaldson obviously way too early, Seems like franchise suicide or Russian Roulette.
Donaldson was a bit different, he PO’d his bosses and they more or less “fired” him by running him out of town.
Anyway with Teheran, I think the Braves are right to keep him unless they get a Shelby Miller type offer for him. He will be around when they project to contend in a couple of years, but if they get overwhelmed I think they expect their pitching to be deep enough that it makes sense to fill out the roster at other positions.
Not sure about Peterson, where would he play? We can’t have 20349 OF’s in 2017.
I’d love to see the Braves make a run for Jose Bautista to play LF. Ender in CF and Markakis in RF, with Smith as the #4. Bautista can move to RF in the event of an injury to Markakis or rest.
Keep Teheran though.
Get rid of list (between now and opening day 2017)
Aybar
Bonifacio
Garcia
Manny Banuelos
Hector Olivera
Trade Aaron Blair for a box of juicy fruit and a gatorade 12pk.
CF obviously as he is better and Ender can go back to being a 4th OF like he always should have been.
Not really sure why there is this trend of Braves fans actually thinking (or even hoping) the Braves will make a run at Bautista. He will be overpaid, and considering his age is very unlikely to actually live up to that contract. The Braves in their new park will have enhanced finances but not to the point of making risky free agent signings like that. I sincerely doubt Coppy would even pursue Bautista.
And giving up on Aaron Blair this soon is foolish. It’s not like there isn’t a long history of effective pitchers having problems after their first call up. If the Braves gave up that easily the Atlanta Braves division streak would never have happened since both Glavine and Smoltz struggled at first too. So did Maddux with the Cubs.
You mean Bautista(who isn’t likely) in LF, Smith in CF, Inciarte in RF. I don’t see a need for Nick to still be here. Also, you’re crazy for giving up on Blair. He’s still a damn rookie and he’s pitcher. They take a while to adjust and learn to PITCH at the MLB level.
I’m one that wants no part of Joey batts. He will require a draft pick, will be over paid and needs to be in the al where he can dh at the end of the deal. Their first pick will be protected but still don’t want them giving up a pick for him.
Same, I don’t want a guy that old for that much. We really just need to be looking at C, LF, 3rd, and bullpen. And don’t even look at FA, look at a trade.
Blair sucks. He’s been unimpressive in every start. It’s ok to admit that it’s not going to work out and move on. move him to someone who thinks he’s worth something, Braves have more than enough pitching to replace him. Are you going to keep running him out there for a few years to see if he can finally take off? No. Cut him lose and move on.
Yes, Bautista. They’ll overpay by a wide margin, but they’re going to want a splash to kick off the new stadium. They’ve openly said they’ll spend on FA after 2016.
Markakis can hit, and he’s a solid defender in RF. He’s not terribly expensive and puts the damn ball in play, instead of trying to hit a HR every time he bats.
jwick22,
Look at it from the Braves’ standpoint.
You’ve hit weak hitters for almost 2 years. You’ve had two terrible seasons, if not more. You’re moving into a new stadium, and you want to fill the seats.
What other FA power hitting OF is there? (which is the Braves biggest need, power)
They’ll overpay, probably 3-4 years w/ higher AAV to get him.
They’re not going to make a risky signing like that to make a splash. Coppy and co. have been around long enough to know that isn’t a smart idea.
If they truly want to bring in a impact bat for next season they’ll do it via trade. Not handcuffing the team to an overpaid veteran that has almost no chance to live up to the contract he gets. Especially one from Atlanta since they’ll have to pay him even more.
And making a judgement call on Blair this early is again foolish. It’s far too early to give up on a player. Like I already said many other pitchers have struggled early and ended up becoming effective pitchers.
Glad you didn’t make the decisions for the Braves in the 90s. Smoltz and Glavine wouldn’t be HoFers. Or at least they wouldn’t with the Braves.
Folty sucked his first outings out as well. Look at him now. Figured a few things out and pitched great this year before the injury. If the Braves listened to you, they wouldn’t have a starting rotation. Because all these young guys are going to come up and take their bumps and struggle and your going to say everyone of them suck and the Braves should get rid of them. You have to have patience with young pitchers. If you don’t have any patience then I suggest that you shouldn’t watch the Braves for a few years because it’s going to be rough at times.
Also I can guarantee you that the Braves will not go after Bautista. Just because they move into the new stadium next year does not mean that they are going to overpay for an old OF that wants 4 or 5 years. You’re crazy if you think that is going to happen my friend. The new stadium itself will sell tickets at the beginning of the year. They might make a splash, but it isn’t going to be for an old overpriced OF. The Braves front office also knows that this years FA class isn’t the class you want to spend big on. 2018 FA class is the one you want to spend big on if you’re planning to make a splash. Having Bautista for 30 mill a year would put a damper on those plans and also have us stuck with a player that’s on the wrong side of his career. Not a chance Braves do that!
Sign 36 year old Jose Bautista and give up on a 24 year old pitching prospect after 11 starts.
Moves like these are how you get stuck in a rebuild, I’m glad no team has you in their front office.
Your argument doesn’t take into account improvements. Teheran is going into his prime and has only gotten better by not relying on fastballs but having some of the highest strikeout totals of his career, mixing up pitches and allowing guys to hit the ball (thus, a high BABIP). You’re taking into account his rookie seasons, which is arguably the worst for a majority of players. Great thing is, with that contract even if he’s a mid-rotation starter, it’s a win. If he happens to achieve his potential and be a top-of-the-rotation SP, then you’re only benefitting. When there’s few win-wins nowadays, this really does look like one.
The Braves also have to look at more than just his age alone though, he has close to 1300 pro ball innings on his arm already, could he be durable and pitch many more or could he be 200 innings short of arm problems. I’m not sure it is all improvement, hes giving up his hardest contact rate ever this year. Too much mystery and unknown surrounds him at the moment. His GB and FB percentage are both up too, and his HR rate hasn’t gone down. It very well could be luck or he is simply adapting his entire game. The Braves have to bet on is it sustainable or not,
It is not soft contact it is hard contact guys are just missing on him or hitting homers.
I think you make all valid points. The ace in Chris Sale has given up just as many HR’s as Teheran has given up. Scherzer has given up 20. Pitchers give up HR’s. The difference between a great/good pitcher and a decent/bad pitcher is how much they can limit the damage. Teherans bb/9, H/9 and whip is all down this year and his BA against is way down, which tells me that he isn’t giving out many free passes and hitters aren’t getting many hits off of him, so their aren’t runners on if he does give up a HR. He could be improving or he could be getting lucky. We don’t know! But from what I’ve seen of him this year, I’m putting my money on him improving. Also, I like how his K/9 are up as well. His stuff/command/control are better this year. He is getting K’s when he needs them. I guess we will see my friend
Keeping Tehran makes sense to me. He figures to enter his prime right when the braves want to contend, and is a safer bet than any prospects at this point
As far as not trading Teheran, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ve heard this song too many times! I’m on board either way.
They have only really taken a hard stance on one player, Freeman. They haven’t traded him. They haven’t openly said anyone else was not going to get traded.
The only one that would come close is Kimbrel, and when you can rid yourself of BJ’s contract, you get rid of anyone not named Freeman.
Do the Mets just not put the ball in play enough to do well with RISP? It seems like it’s usually a walk, HR, or unproductive out (strikeout or pop up, etc) with this line-up, and eventually getting Duda back won’t change that.
Not saying they should’ve kept Murphy, but he was the one guy on that team that consistently put the ball in play (although this strength was somewhat negated by his poor baserunning and defense).
TL;DR They’re like the anti-2015 royals; station-to-station on the bases and they just don’t put the ball in play enough.
They’re all playing like individuals…2 take turns in far spots on the order getting on base one game while the rest don’t hit. It’s a combo of awful luck and well…sucking.
They really strike out too damn much to get any help from the BABIP gods.
Over the last 28 days, here are some of their strikeout totals:
Yoenis Cespedes: 24
Asdrubal Cabrera: 20
Curtis Granderson: 18
Michael Conforto 18 (has been in the minors for the better part of a week)
Alejandro de Aza 16 (in 44 at bats!!)
Neil Walker: 12
James Loney: 12
The offense is incredibly frustrating to watch, but Sandy loves him his home run hitters. So you sort of live and die by the sword. They can’t be this bad, but they’re very prone to going through maddening stretches like this.
Good point, bay, if they could just put the ball in play when necessary, they might just get some BABIP help
They also don’t run, like ever! They are station to station and they never put pressure on the defense
after hanson,medlen,beachy,minor,Delgado,viz(the first time around) have their value or arm fall off I’m torn if I want them to hold onto Teheran or not. It’s a risk. And on top of that how many years of actually competing will Teheran be with the club.
It’s ok to be torn, but you don’t know what teams are offering. If they offer an incredible package, then I’m sure Teheran will be gone, but if BOS is making decisions like circa. 2015 and holding onto their key prospects at the risk of affecting their playoff chances, then he might be staying put. There could always have another team swoop in, like LAD who have the money and prospects to make something happen.
But all those players either had a history of injury or just didn’t pitch well. Not exactly like Teheran who has a history of health and only one really “down” season.
Teheran will not be a Brave come Jan 1st 2017. They can cut this rebuild time drastically by moving him and they will.
Trading your best pitcher going into a new stadium with a stated competitive date of 2017 would extend the rebuild. The other pitching isn’t ready and probably will still struggle to the All-Star Game in 2017. Who anchors the pitching staff? Holding Swanson and Albies down would make sense, too. Even a major league position player in return still leaves us without pitching. Having, at least, one reliable starter is the better strategy, unless an offer blows you away.
The other path is stating the rebuild will take another year or two and trading Teheran and getting a veteran reclamation starter via trade or free agency in the off-season. Wisler is the only other starter that looks like he is dependable. The rest look like they may need to go through some minor league shuffles.
I think you have to move him if you get the right deal. Doubt the Red Sox are the right fit. Seems like maybe the Dodgers are a good fit now. Did Pederson go to the DL? Wonder if he might be an option.
My head hurts after reading that.
I can’t believe you put yourself through that, haha.