Diamondbacks right-handed prospect Yoan Lopez left Double-A Mobile on Wednesday for the second time in as many seasons, this time with the intention of giving up the sport, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The Diamondbacks have since convinced Lopez to avoid making a definitive decision on his future for the time being, per general manager Dave Stewart, who conceded that the 23-year-old is “not having a good time” and is dealing with “serious emotional issues.” Lopez signed with the D-backs for a sizable $8.27MM bonus in January 2015, but the Cuba native has since posted subpar numbers (4.89 ERA, 5.7 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9) across 116 minor league innings. That could at least be thanks in part to Lopez’s traumatic experience immigrating to the United States, as Stewart pointed out: “It’s the escaping, crossing the water in a raft — or however he got here — living in Haiti and then going to the Dominican, leaving family members — it’s all of it.” As of now, Stewart and the organization are working to help Lopez get back on track.
More from the National League:
- Newly signed 16-year-old Braves prospects Kevin Maitan and Abrahan Gutierrez might not be as far from the majors as their youth suggests, general manager John Coppolella told David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think when you look at Andruw Jones hit two home runs in the World Series at age 18, both these kids are 16,” Coppolella said of Maitan and Gutierrez, who combined to sign for $7.75MM. “I’m not saying they’re going to hit two home runs in the 2018 World Series, but we think that they’re special talents that won’t take six or seven years. They could be here fairly quickly and they could have a big impact on the Braves.” Coppolella also stated that he hopes the two begin 2017 in the Gulf Coast League.
- The Pirates’ frustration with scuffling left-hander Francisco Liriano has begun to manifest itself, details John Perrotto of Today’s Knuckleball. Pitching coach Ray Searage became so irked at Liriano during a recent bullpen session that the former ended up leaving and storming back into the clubhouse, according to Perrotto. Part of Searage’s frustration stems from Liriano’s refusal to abide by the Pirates’ wish for him to pick one side of the rubber and stick with it consistently. The 32-year-old Liriano, a potential trade candidate who’s owed $13MM next season, has followed three straight stellar campaigns with an ugly 2016. So far, Liriano has logged a bloated ERA (5.33) and walk rate (5.88 per nine innings) in 82 2/3 frames, and ERA estimators like FIP (5.46), xFIP (4.75) and SIERA (4.93) are also noticeably down on his performance.
- When the Dodgers took on Dian Toscano from the Braves as part of the Bud Norris deal, the club agreed to absorb only a portion of the $3MM left on his contract, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The 27-year-old outfielder is struggling at Double-A and has not shown any signs of providing value to Atlanta. It’s not known how much of the balance will transfer to L.A.
Braves took on what is now the believed to be bust of Hector Olivera they least they could do would be taking a struggling prospect from us lol
The Braves were hoping for Jose Abreuesque type of production from the Cubans, but got a black eye. No idea what we were thinking going for older prospects in a rebuild. The window was always looking like a 2018 opening to me and thirty year-old prospects do not fit.. And that is with some pitching developing into a #1 & 2. The pitching will be the final key. What we have already built in terms of minor league pitching depth needs a #1 & 2 to rise out of fray and develop by next year’s All-Star break.
What is a Dian Toscano? Do they really exist? I thought it was a myth… Small payback for the Olivera trade
Well the Braves definitely got the better of them in the Uribe trade prior to the Wood, Peraza, Jim Johnson, Bronson Arroyo, and Luis Avilan for Paco, Olivera, Bird, and draft pick…(Austin Riley)
Paco could still turn out to be an excellent bullpen guy next season, and the pick turned out pretty solid as well in Austin Riley…Bird has solid stuff, but has been a major disappointment, and Olivera looked good in ST only to make a huge mental mistake!!
Not to mention Wood has been plagued with injuries since coming over, Peraza was almost immediately traded after unimpressing, Johnson was a bust and has since resigned with Atlanta only to regain his solid form, and Avilan has well not done much…
If Paco returns and performs well, along with Riley ultimately becoming a power hitting 3B’men….Then, is it really such a big loss for the Braves?? If either of those things happen, independantly, then I see it as a pretty solid win for the Braves!!
Not to mention people forget Atlanta does not owe Olivera his whole contract. I think, from the time of the trade, they only owe him about $31.25 million over 5 years..
Yes, the pieces the Dodgers got back for Peraza and others counts, and they still have Wood…but that versus Paco Rodriguez, Austin Riley, maybe Zach Bird figures something out in the pen, and anything from Olivera at this point would be a bonus…
Like I said, maybe the deal doesn’t look so bad now..
Not sure I follow your calculations, but either way you figure it, both teams can get “the better” of a trade, if both get what they need from it.
How did the Braves win the Uribe trade?
Having to watch Alberto Callaspo play last year hurt my eyes. He was beyond horrible on the Dodgers. At least Uribe was serviceable and then used as trade bait.
Uribe produced well in his short stint with the Braves. Callaspo was a SMALL price to pay.
Uribe and KJ were sent to the Mets for Ron Whalen and John Gant. Gant has pitched decent as a rookie starter in Atlanta already (although certainly small sample size). Whalen is pitching great in AA (and could very well be promoted soon to AAA). Both of those two pitchers have a chance to be solid arms (if unspectacular).
But the Dodgers flipped Peraza for Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas, and Trayce Thompson.
Saying the Dodgers didn’t do well in that trade isn’t correct.
In all fairness, the Dodgers gave up more than just Peraza to get those players, but I agree with you in that his trade value at that time was too much to give up in that trade.
No one they miss. Scott Schebler and one other player.
They sold high on Peraza.
I think your iPad autocorrected on you again. It said Angels give up Trout for a closer they don’t need, a far inferior OFer, and a ton of hope.
As a Braves fan, please stop.
I think the autocorrect makes the post seem a lot more accurate.
If Liriano isn’t listening to his coaches, especially someone with the track record of Searage, it’s time to go. The Pirates don’t need the headache.
Amen: we have Glasnow in the wings so we could sell Frankie (and Melancon) to help replenish the farm.
With as bad as Frankie has been this season, one would think he’d be more open to any advice.
The farm is still fairly well stacked for the next few years. Other than quality pitching there really isn’t any thing the Pirates “need” to be better… they just need to perform close to expectations. (Cutch, Jaso, Hughes, Niese and Liriano especially)
Just dumping his salary and using that to help try to extend another important player and getting a fringe prospect or 3 back would be enough for me.
I doubt they’ll make any moves until after the break though, if they’re with in 10 games i doubt they’ll sell off Melancon with out getting another decent MLB pen arm from somewhere.
Dude ur trades are ridiculous the deals u come up with are to huge, they would fall apart if the teams actually tried to put them together. And Miller being the main piece for trout is crazy, if the Angels trade trout it means they have given up on contending so why do they need an elite reliever.
I think this quote was made for message boards, before someone took what he said out of context and assumed he meant the Braves would be in 2018 WS.
“I’m not saying they’re going to hit two home runs in the 2018 World Series, but we think that they’re special talents that won’t take six or seven years. They could be here fairly quickly and they could have a big impact on the Braves.”
I think with the right moves the Braves can certainly be WS contenders in 2018. I’m not saying they will be in the WS in 2018 but I think it’s fully possible we see them in the playoffs in 2018. They’re not as far away as it appears right now.
Yankees got a better haul, but somehow the Angels decide to give up Trout.
Jesus, this was mess man…
No, you were right to put “farce”.
I can understand Maitan being in the Majors in 3/4 years but not Gutierrez. Catchers always take more time and Gutierrez supposedly didn’t make a lot of strides this year development-wise. He won’t be in an Atlanta Braves uniform til’ at least 2022.
Catching is the fastest way in and fastest way out of the show
Andruw Jones was 19 when he played his first major league game.
Coppy was around 17 when Andruw came up so I can forgive him for being a bit off.
That sounds like a great trade, for a video game.
You can’t even pull off that trade on a video game.
I’m gonna assume you are a young kid, so I appreciate your love for the Braves. But in reality, we could offer Teheran, Vizcaino, Albies, Swanson, Freeman and Maitan for Trout and the Angels might consider it, but probably wouldn’t take it. The only player I think the Angels would consider trading for Trout is Kershaw.
Man that is a haul for even Trout. Hahaha
His trade ideas are always ridiculous, but to be perfectly honest your rebuttal might be worse. I sincerely doubt they’d turn that down. That’s the definition of extreme overpay.
If any GM turned down a trade like that (or offered it on the other side) the relentless criticisms would be justified, since no player is worth that much.
The Braves would never offer that, no team would. The point I’m trying to make is that Trout means more to the Angels than just his on field performance. He’s not gonna be traded unless that kind of offer is made and by no means I’m suggesting that the Braves mortgage their entire future just to get Trout.
The Angels would trade Trout for a legit haul. The Angels need to consider taking the Braves approach to rebuilding. They haven’t contended for a few years now and now have easily the worst far system in baseball. They are in a far worst position than the Braves were when they embarked on this rebuilding project.
I think a legit Braves offer for Mike Trout would be Julio Teheran, Sean Newcomb, Lucas Sims, Rio Ruiz, Dustin Pederson and a high draft pick. The Angels might not agree to that but they would at least think long and hard about it.
Especially if they look at the age on their roster (Pujols, Wilson, Weaver, Street, ect.) and the amount of money owed to those guys and think that it’s time to put the for sale sign out and completely blow it up.
Chris I also enjoy rosterbating- Its fun, completely natural, and nothing to be ashamed of… Normally- but reading your trade proposals are like opening your friends laptop and seeing 10TB’s of BBC midget incestual porn. It’s over the top and just way too much- keep it simple! Teheran for judge/McCann. 3 teams 23 players… OMFG there’s more moving parts than the average United Trade Nations resolution. That doesn’t make you a genius…nor a beautiful baseball mind. Delusions of grandeur/ideas of reference are trade mark symptoms of a very serious personality disorder. I’d prescribe a chill pill bro and only rosterbate once a day with 1-4 players max- your welcome broski
Brah!
On point doe…
If you replace Trout with Pujols and Miller with Betances you might have something there. You would probably have to take on Gardner if you expect the Yankees to pick up Markakis. Judge would have to be replaced by a lesser prospect or perhaps Refsnyder if you want Sanchez. If Judge stays in the Braves get McCann.
Go sit on a pole Chris
2014 was not “stellar” for fransisco. the bucs signed him, and surprisingly was effective for 3 years. this year, it’s bad. so If a team wants him, hey have at it. seems as though taillon is here to stay. Khul has pitched well in 2 starts. cole will be back. locke has pitched better. Glasnow is next unless they trade for a SP.
Lol that is awful i would not give up any of those players for trout