The Braves have agreed to a minor-league deal with left John Danks, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Danks, 31, was said to be seeking a comeback opportunity. He’ll earn at a $1.5MM annual rate for any portion of the year he spends in the majors, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets.
Though he pitched in 2016, Danks made his last appearance in May. He never joined another organization after being cut loose by the White Sox after his first four starts of the year. In that span, Danks lasted 22 1/3 innings and coughed up 18 earned runs on 28 hits with 16 strikeouts against 11 walks.
There was a time, of course, when Danks routinely logged around 200 innings of sub-4.00 ERA pitching annually. But those days are well in the past at this point; Danks did top 190 frames in 2014, but has allowed at least 4.7 earned runs per nine in every season dating back to 2012.
That 2012 season was a notable one for Danks and his former organization. He had signed a five-year, $65MM extension the winter before, but ended up making only nine starts before undergoing shoulder surgery. Needless to say, he hasn’t been the same since. And his fastball has never again averaged over ninety miles per hour.
Though the heater bottomed out last year at less than 88 mph, and Danks has shown little to suggest he can return to his form of yore, there’s little risk here for Atlanta. The ill-fated contract extension is now a thing of the past, and the Braves will be happy to add some depth with a minimal commitment. While the club already has added three rotation pieces this winter, and may still be looking for more, it’s a staff that certainly could end up in need of reinforcement at some point.
Beast
Another journeyman starter. Just another day for the bravos during the offseason.
I wouldn’t exactly call him a journeyman considering the Braves are only his 2nd team. But he’ll probably end up as one if he doesn’t retire first.
I was implying that. He sure pitches like one….
I have to admit, the whole Sale thing got me excited. This isn’t the White Sox guy I wanted.
I do think in the long run we did the right thing, but it’s still a little disappointing.
It probably would’ve taken Swanson/Albies to top Moncada/Kopech, so don’t feel too bad.
Not worth blowing up the rebuild for one great pitcher. Remember he only plays once a week
You should feel terrible. Anyone who missed out on sale should. You don’t get many chances to get an ace with that team friendly contract.
I think Braves fan will console themselves by watching Lieutenant Dansby every day.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…as in Jose Quintana!
Hell yeah we got out ace!
Well at least it’s just a minors deal
good pick up low risk potentially moderate to high reward
As a White Sox fan, I can tell you there is basically no reward here. Danks has nothing left on his pitches; I think he’ll probably retire when the Braves cut him from Spring Training.
if he pitches well in ST give him a shot or flip him to a team who needs an arm. If he sucks then cut him
Only if someone gets hurt. We aren’t spending 32 million on pitchers to not pitch for us
It is a minors deal. He will probably be nothing more than the vet on the AAA team. I seriously doubt even baring injury to one of the regular starting pitchers that Danks will make a start in Atlanta.
GOAT
That’s dank.
Low risk/low reward. Nothing wrong with this deal, at best you get a 4 or 5 who’s a gamer and wants the ball every 5th day, or he’s released after ST
White Sox fans: ” Danks for the memories.”
LOL
Will free concerts by Ashley Monroe be included?
Well, the Braves fell short in the Chris Sale sweepstakes but did get his former rotation mate for considerably cheaper. lol
If this was a major league deal, then I’d certainly question Coppy and co., but since it is nothing more than a minor league deal gamble, I’m good with this move.
The Braves AAA rotation will be made up of Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, Sean Newcomb, Casey Kelly, and now either John Danks or Joel De La Cruz. That actually isn’t that bad of a AAA rotation, heck if you swap Teheran for Newcomb and keep in De La Cruz, at some points last year, that was the Braves actual major league rotation…lol..Which is honestly just really sad!!!
Those who are questioning the Braves signings of Colon, Collmenter, Dickey, and the trade for Garcia, just remember all of the guys that actually started a game for the Braves last season!!
In case anyone needs help remembering, here is the following list of guys that started at least MULTIPLE games for the Braves last season:
Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, Bud Norris, Rob Whalen, Joel De La Cruz, Jhoulys Chacin, Roberto Hernandez a.k.a Fausto Carmona, Williams Perez, Tyrell Jenkins, John Gant, Ryan Weber, Lucas Harrell, Casey Kelly, Josh Collmenter
Yeah, so to say the Braves definitely needed some solid and reliable veteran pitchers this upcoming season, well that would be quite the understatement. I do not expect Colon, Dickey, or Garcia to light the NL on fire, but they should combine to keep the Braves in games that aren’t being pitched by Teheran and Foltynewicz. When those two were not pitching last year, the Braves were immediately fighting an uphill battle, and it was a sure thing that the bullpen was going to come in during the 5th Inning. It was wildly considered a success anytime any other starter made it into the 6th, which again is really just sad..lol
Obviously this is just depth for the AAA squad, so he will join Sean Newcomb, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, and either Casey Kelly or Joel De La Cruz and serve as the lead veteran for the AAA rotation.
The Braves can use all the help they can get. Let’s not forget all of the starting pitchers they used last year due to a combined ineffectiveness, trades, and injuries. Also, each of the following pitchers did not just make one spot start, each of these guys made MULTIPLE starts for the Braves..
Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, Bud Norris, Rob Whalen, Joel De La Cruz, Jhoulys Chacin, Fausto Carmona, Williams Perez, Tyrell Jenkins, John Gant, Ryan Weber, Lucas Harrell, Casey Kelly, and Josh Collmenter…
White Sox fans will never forget John Danks dominate performance in the 2008 one game playoff that clinched the A.L. Central Division in 2008 against the rival Twins. He earned the 1-0 victory by throwing 8 shutout innings of two-hit ball on short rest. backed by DH Jim Thome’s HR leading off the bottom of the 7th. Bobby Jenks closed out the thrilling victory with his 30th save.
Unfortunately, 2008 was the last postseason appearance for the White Sox, which was a primary reason they finally instigated a long overdue rebuild this offseason. Danks was never the same pitcher after suffering a shoulder injury in May of 2012, shortly after signing a 5 yrs/$65MM contract extension in December of 2011 that bought out his final year of arbitration eligibility and four seasons of free agency. That contract also put the kibosh on fan favorite Mark Buehrle’s long reign as White Sox ace. The front office opted to go forward with the younger Danks while Buehrle agreed to a four-year, $58 million FA contract with the Miami Marlins that same month.
AAA pitching coach ?
LH batting practice pitcher?
I like this deal he is someone who could completely change with a new voice in his ear, his last few years he was throwing his change up at an extreme rate it became the only pitch he had any trust in and made him just too predictable.
No “new voice in his ear” will change the fact that John Danks, along with every other pitcher who had a similar surgical shoulder procedure, is destined to be a shell of his former self on the mound. He averaged 87.5 mph on his fastball in his last four starts in 2015 before being released. Prior to his surgery, Danks threw in the low 90’s regularly, even hitting 95.5 mph in that 2008 play-in game.
Unless Danks learns a new pitch, perhaps a knuckler, he is unlikely to be a viable MLB starting pitcher. Perhaps you can teach him that pitcher, Mr. Niekro. lol
Braves, Dodgers , White Sox Trade….
White Sox get: Jose De Leon, Newcombe, Wisler, and A. Garcia
Dodgers get: Quintana and Markakis
Braves get: Frazier and Yasiel Puig
Sox don’t want any more ppl named A. Garcia
Whitesox are rebuilding. They will part out the team one at a time Quintana and frazier separately. I’d give up an allard and one of our closers for puig definitely. No way we trade Newk- ace potential is just too rare. Id love to upgrade markakis and kemp but its probably not feasible. Ruiz and garcia are going to form a very formidable platoon at 3rd.
So as a Braves fan, you’d give up Allard AND one of our closers, Im guessing you mean Vizcaino or Johnson, for Yasiel Puig? Just wow.
If you consider Sean Newcomb as “ace potential” then no, it is really not all that rare.
That’s an awful trade for the Braves though
That’s way too light for Quintana.
are you high?
Frazier only has a year left of control, puig is about done. braves dont need these one year players when they are not in contention.
You are not getting Wisler.
Agreed. I’d like to see them move the one they have lol.
Ok Braves, now is the time to REALLY strike . . . how about James Shields Baby!!!You can get it done, Bravos!! I know it!!! Can you say Tomahawk Chop?!!!?!!!
I feel like your joking… so I’m gonna assume your joking. No one wants Shields… literally no one
“What about Danks?” ~ Bob from Park Ridge
Can’t believe he’s still only 31