Royals right-hander Joakim Soria and Braves lefty Eric O’Flaherty have cleared revocable trade waivers, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. As such, either player is free to be traded to any other club.
That Soria, 32, went unclaimed is hardly a surprise considering the fact that he’s just four and a half months into a substantial three-year, $25MM contract signed as a free agent this offseason. Soria, though, has hardly performed like a $25MM pitcher, pitching to a pedestrian 4.03 ERA with 9.1 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 52.9 percent ground-ball rate. While the strikeouts and grounders are impressive, Soria has demonstrated the worst control of any healthy season he’s had in his career this year and is allowing hard contact at a career-high rate of 29.3 percent, per Fangraphs. The frequency with which opponents are barreling up his offerings has led to a career worst 1.4 HR/9 rate.
Soria is earning $7MM this season in the first year of the slightly backloaded deal, meaning he still has $19.72MM remaining on his pact from now through the end of the 2018 season (including the buyout of a 2019 option). While his performance to date hasn’t been encouraging, the Royals may be able to find a taker if they’re willing to eat some of that contract, though they could also simply hope for a better performance in 2017. Soria is, after all, still missing bats and keeping the ball on the ground, as previously mentioned, and his 92.8 mph average heater is actually the best of his career.
The 31-year-old O’Flaherty is more affordable than Soria, with a $1.75MM base salary on the minor league deal he signed this winter, but his performance has been considerably worse. His ERA to date sits at a decidedly unappealing mark of 6.91, and while his 54 percent ground-ball rate is promising, his 22-to-11 K/BB ratio (plus two hit batters and three wild pitches) is less inspiring. While some might hope that O’Flaherty could at least be relied upon as a lefty specialist, he’s allowed same-handed opponents to bat .284/.329/.439 against him. The Braves were able to find a taker for Erick Aybar, so perhaps there’s hope that he could be moved, but even Aybar had a solid three or four weeks of production under his belt prior to being flipped (in a trade that saw the Braves take some salary back in the form of Mike Aviles). O’Flaherty has surrendered six earned runs in his past six innings, issuing more walks (six) than strikeouts recorded (five) in that time.
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Potato Salade Wilson. If you understand the word play, we are officially friends.
The Braves couldn’t give away Eric O’Flaherty. He’s been downright awful.
I totally agree..They just release him outright and get one of the younger pitchers some experience
Yes, I agree unfortunately. In fact I’m been wondering when they were just going to DFA the guy. He is ineffective as a relief pitcher (especially has given up a ton of extra base hits to lefties) and as much as he was part of some great times in Atlanta he is just done.
There is a much better option in AJ Minter waiting in the minor leagues.
I was shocked when they traded for him in ST. As a Pirates fan I guess we will take the cash considerations and call it a win
Braves should get whatever they can for him.. he’s a waste of space at this point and it would open up a roster spot for a young player to get some experience. The young guys they keep sending down pitch just as good or the same… might as well use them.
Time for a non contender swap… a Soria/Markakis deal.
Both teams would love to get rid of those contracts, and Markakis could be help the Royals next year. They wanted him until they fell out of contention. Probably wouldn’t be both guys and both salaries straight up, but they could get creative with money or a prospect.
Markakis the last 2 months: .308/.361/.475 123 wRC+
Markakis is actually somewhat decent though. It’d be better if the braves just ate some money and get a better prospect in return
I could also see the Yankees as a fit for Markakis.
I’m not a fan of bringing back McCann, but I’m sure they will at least discuss it. NY would have to eat a lot of that contract though.
Markakis feels like a Royals player, that’s for sure – a contact guy without power, although he draws walks which hasn’t been the Royals style (they are last in the AL in both homers and walks, which is a big reason why they’re a .500 team). I don’t know if his bunting ability will work for Ned Yost, though.
I really wish the braves could find someone to take O’Flaherty. He has been absolutely awful this year and horrible to watch pitch. I dont care if they cut him. It’s to bad too cuz his golden days with him and venters shutting it down are far gone