The Pirates have acquired utilityman Sean Rodriguez from the Braves, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman writes (Twitter links). In return, the Braves will receive minor-league 1B/OF Connor Joe, according to FanRag’s Tommy Stokke (on Twitter). The move is now official. The two sides consummated the deal after the Pirates put in a waiver claim on Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, of course, played for the Pirates in 2015 and 2016 and had his career-best season with the Bucs (.270/.349/.510 over 342 plate appearances) in 2016 before signing a two-year, $11.5MM deal with Atlanta last winter. Later that same offseason, however, Rodriguez and his family were in a serious car accident, and Rodriguez spent the first few months of the season working his way back from a shoulder injury. He finally returned in mid-July and has batted .162/.326/.351 in 47 plate appearances since.
Now, though, the Braves don’t have the need for Rodriguez they once might have — as Bowman notes, Johan Camargo has hit well while playing the leftmost three infield positions for the Braves this year, and the team added another versatile player, Danny Santana, in a trade in May. Meanwhile, the Pirates have been left without Jung Ho Kang this season as the third baseman struggles to get a visa, and the team has gotten poor production at various points from bench players like Philip Gosselin, John Jaso and Max Moroff. Rodriguez will provide them with another option around the infield and at the corner outfield spots. In addition to the remainder of his salary this season, he will make $5MM in 2018.
The 24-year-old Joe was the 39th overall pick out of the University of San Diego in the 2014 draft, but he’s moved through the minors slowly for an early college pick, owing in part to a 2014 back injury but also to his struggles to generate offense commensurate with the corner positions at which he’s played. This season, he’s batted .240/.338/.380 in 28 plate appearances for Double-A Altoona, demonstrating a good batting eye (with a 12.1 BB%) but modest average and power. He did not rank in MLB.com’s list of the Pirates’ top 30 prospects.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
That was a brief Atlanta vacay.
I’m sure Rodriguez and his family would call the last several months anything but a vacay.
He was golden for the bucs especially last year. I’m glad he’s back.
What? Why?
I mean I understand we have a clog of middle infielders but why would we trade Rodriguez?
He sucks. No actually he’s more valuable to the Pirates than to any other team. Kind of like Pablo to San Fran
Because he cannot hit!!! Striking out over 50% of time. Quick reaction to poor offseason decision
Dude….he’s hurt. He can hit, he’s also hit two home runs in that time. He rushed himself back to try and help miracle the team into a playoff berth. Have some respect.
They’re 10+ back in the wild card and the division, If that was really his reason, that’s stupid. I’m sorry, but no, I’m not gonna “have some respect” for stupid decisions.
He’s paid $5.7M next year, and Camargo is proving he’s good enough to be a utility, but maybe not a starter – and at nickels on the dollar to what Sean Rodriguez provided.
That being said, we’re not sure if/when Sean will be the player he was pre-injury (which is a sad truth). Hope he and his family continue to heal.
I want to see if Pittsburgh is paying his salary. He still has pop and will be fine when he gets his timing back. Another person signed by the Braves to trade for value that nets a unnamed, little value prospect.
I could be wrong, but that’s the point of claiming someone off waivers, you also assume their contract. If they pass through waivers unclaimed, then their team can choose to DFA them, where another team won’t assume their contract.
Sean has a decent contract that even PIT could assume, along with a history.
Since a player is going to Atlanta, it is not a strict waiver claim. IThe Braves could be picking up some of the salary. If it were a straight waiver claim with nothing going back, you would be correct that Pittsburgh would have to pay the full salary
It was through revocable waivers which means the braves could have pulled him back if a trade wasn’t worked out, it wasn’t the typical waivers you see pre-August.
Joe is a prospect who hasn’t advanced at the corner if/of position because his bat hasn’t followed. As a collegiate player, he may be rusty, but more advanced as a catcher then you may think. Don’t sleep on the Braves converting him back to a catcher. They may be going if a 3 year old scouting report about his advanced feel for game calling or something.
Camargo is going to be the utility guy…?
Camargo going to be the utility guy?
Yup – he’s not a starter, but he can be a Prado-type…and much cheaper than Sean. Addt savings.
Meh, Camargo starting is fine.
That’s not long-term though. Swanson, Albies still in the cards with someone, possibly Mous/3B and Camargo spelling them when needed. We need his defense around.
All historical indicators stretch Camargo out as utility player. Can still get in 4-5 games a week due to versatility. His stat line is leveling and comparing same amount of at bats at MLB level, Swanson and he are about the same. Major league pitching is figuring out the same holes in his swing as they did Swanson.
Well that came out of nowhere.
The fact that he was actually tradable?
Require use to play for them and think still in it.but not.
Wow.
Shedding more future salary – although not much. Maybe Camargo is the cheaper Sean Rodriguez, while devoting that 2018 $5.7M (I believe) to having more payroll dollars to play with, if they’re serious about improving this offseason.
That being said, if they had a chance to get out of his contract, I’m glad they did.
Agreed.
It is a common consensus that the Braves will be a player for a big FA. So shedding salary will be important. So basically, what you said boss!
Coppy hasn’t had a significant free agent contract, so still interested in seeing if he can’t repeat Wren’s failings and treat the Braves like they’re the Nationals – having to overpay guys to come play for us. 🙁
Run at Machado realistic? They are freeing up payroll and a lot dropping off next year.
For some reason, many at MLBTR connect Machado to ATL, which makes me laugh. The wounds have just healed from the highest FA contract in franchise history (BJ Upton $75M), so to think we’d give up significant prospects for 1 year of Machado – whose coming off a down year – to see him leave for a $400M contract, and expect ATL to seriously consider extending him is silly. If he were the cherry on top, but we might have seen 1 prospect produce consistently this year (Folty) — that’s it. To think we’re ready to compete and expecting Swanson/Albies to go from AAA to leading a playoff ML team is a little much. Baby steps.
Run, I am not saying trade for him. I am saying, we are clearing payroll and have much already off the books this offseason. I am saying look at him in FA.
I hope they sign Cobb and Moustakas and they may potentially make a run at a guy like Darvish.
I liked when we got Sean to start off, but his injury and slow start has made this singing a bit of a failure. It’s good that he’s back home, and good for the Braves for getting a minor league catcher, we needed more depth at that position
We actually have A LOT of depth at the catching position at most every level (AAA notwithstanding). They’ve really focused on it with Brett Cumberland, Alex Jackson (!!!), Lucas Herbert, Kade Scqvick (sp?), and Drew Lugbauer (who won’t stay C with that bat), not including Abrahan Gutierrez and I think William Contreras.
Biggest reason: salary relief, but Coppy loves a wild card.
Damn dude!!!
You are very knowledgeable of our team!!
You are dead on.
This is about money and getting any return possible on a player destined to be DFA’d, even if prospect is simply used in future trade package
Yeah we got a lot of catching wild cards. Non great prospects but Ajax was doing well before the leg injury, and I love contreras and LugbauerPower
Braves have much more depth at catcher in the minors than most casual fans realize. Alex Jackson and Brett Cumberland may be the biggest names known but watch out for William Contreras (Cubs catcher Wilson’s younger brother) down in Danville.
The Braves just don’t have a top tier two way catcher prospect in the upper levels right now.
Connor Joe is not a C. I have no idea why he was listed that way. He hasn’t caught in a long time. He is only a marginally good defensive OF. He strikes out a lot too.
Mark Bowman reported in his original tweet that the Braves were getting a catching prospect in return, but since then it’s emerged about the Braves getting Connor Joe in return.
Back home he goes….best of luck! Like to know who the upside catcher to get in return…..
He’s baaaaack
Who knows, Sean Rodriguez may be the Braves new Kelly Johnson.
Sean Rodriguez is the Pirates’ Kelly Johnson.
Makes a lot of sense overall, given how Camargo and Santana have emerged as utility guys overall, and eases what’s been a bit of a roster crunch in regards to the bench. Still sucks a bit, though, especially with how he tried so hard to get back early from his injury.
wild card here we come…
Connor Joe is who they got. didn’t know he was a catcher?
He was a catcher prospect when drafted back in 2014 out of college. I wonder if the Braves will convert him back to catching (like what they did with Alex Jackson).
Are the Braves fans of below average catchers? If so then yeah convert him back. But in all seriousness. OF is his only real position. He was apparently an awful 3B and 1B too.
This would actually make sense, while also clarifying the difference between what Bowman and DOB are putting out on Twitter. Alex Jackson’s seemed to do okay after the Braves put him behind the plate, so maybe they’re thinking to do it again with Joe.
That’s what I’m thinking. This is an Alex Jackson type trade. Almost feel Coppy trading SRod just so Snit doesn’t get tempted to play him often
Would have preferred Cotton-Eye Joe to Connor Joe.
Wow, thank god we we able to unload that contract. Huge savings. I think the Braves bring back Brandon Phillips next year to play third with Camargo spelling him, along with being insurance for Swanson should he not figure it out. Our offense has been pretty solid this year. I think we even bring back Suzuki.
C Flowers
1B Freeman
2B Albies
3B Phillips
SS Swanson
LF Kemp
CF Inciarte
RF Markakis
Suzuki, M. Adams, Camargo, Garcia, L. Adams or Santana
I still think this is a solid team. Just need to lockdown the pitching and pen!
I really don’t want to deal with another year of Phillips, Kemp and Markakis on this team.
Amen
Trade for a big bat in outfield to go along with Inciarte and Acuna.
Get front line SP
Camargo, Swanson, Albies, Freeman at minimum. Big hitting 3B and Camargo as utility.
You don’t want much, do you?
Isn’t that what we need and have the capital with prospects and salary gaps being created.
I want to win!!!
Confused by your response!!!
Are you a new fan?
No. Not at all. But I’m realistic.
You want:
Frontline SP
Big OF Bat
Big hitting 3B.
Pick one.
If the braves were smart they would get the 3B and Frontline guy in FA. Instead of having to unload prospects when they aren’t ready to.
I think all three are realistic through both free agency and trades. If not all 3, 2/3 for sure.
We have to get out of the conservative mindset. Getting one doesn’t guarantee playoffs. 2/3 should almost be a sure fire playoff team.
Didnt see your reply while I was typing mine, but exactly!!!
Sale and Bumgardner will be option years in 2018.
Wouldnt it be nice if something could be worked out there!!!
Really, and who are you replacing them with? How many more games back would the Braves be without Phillips, Kemp and Markakis.
Fangraphs WAR
Phillips – 1.3
Markakis – 0.1
Kemp – 0.0
So yeah, there’s a reason I don’t want them back on the team next year. Not to mention, those 3 combine account for over half of the double plays the Braves have hit into this year.
BP can still play but I really doubt it will be with the Braves.
Phillips as a 3B? na. He’s too old and needs a walker half the time. I like BP, but he needs to head to a bench role/mentor type.
Also, there’s no way 2018 rolls around w/ Acuna in AAA. He’ll be starting LF, Kemp in RF and finish w/ 28 hrs in 2018.
No way Kemp plays RF, Acuña is better bet in RF
No. RF is where you put the slow kid w/ the bad arm. Didn’t you play little league? LF gets more action, needs someone lighter on their feet.
There are more RH hitters in MLB than LH.
I didn’t play little league, but played Old Man Softball and I locked down RF.
No you are wrong. Rf is one with a strong arm to nail runners going to 3rd. How often do you see a left fielder nail someone out at first? Didn’t you play little league?
No you usually have your strongest arm in RF. The worst arm goes in LF.
Actually everyone’s right. In little league the worst went to right because balls were rarely hit there. in higher leagues the RF should have the better arm for the reason stated.
Correct. Right field is big arm guy. Left field is weaker arm for shorter throws to second and third.
@Mack83 Actually, you’re wrong. The guy with the strongest arm predominantly plays right field, because of the throw to third base. Hence guys like Puig and Polanco at right field-fact. They stick guys who are sometimes outfielders at left field-eg Lind, Contreras, Schwarber, Matt Adams, etc…. My statement is supported by facts, yours is supported by an assumption, and I played way above little league.
Very well said Sid Bream, and Mack83 are you still playing little league by any chance
Really? Have you ever played baseball ? Watch a game once in a while, and maybe you will understand
Well, then there are a lot of MLB teams who have RF’ers w/ noodle arms then. Including Atlanta, so what’s any different? either way…
I don’t give a crap where you put Kemp or Acuna, as long as they’re both in the lineup. The Braves don’t have a legit outfielder in LF or RF for outfield assists, so the hell w/ the “throw to third” reasoning. You’re more likely
Inciarte is the only one racking up outfield assists.
We are not going with BP again. We’d more likely try to get moose- and we aren’t going to try to get moose. Also you are missing Ronald acuña
Something that no one is mentioning that needs to be considered here is that the Braves are going to have to protect a lot of guys from the Rule V draft in December. Moving Sean Rodriguez, not only sheds salary at a position where the Braves have much cheap options, but it clears a 40-man spot for 2018.
you’re 100% right. That’s the reason we traded Garcia for peanuts and why we will trade Johnson for less than market value if anybody wants him. We have a lot to protect from the rule 5 draft.
For Connor Joe, I would have rather pulled him back off of waivers and dealt him openly in the off season. Not even worth the effort to trade him for that
He hasn’t really looked good at all since he came back, so there’s always a chance that he doesn’t really quite recover. Because of that, getting rid of some salary owed for next year, and having other guys who can essentially take his place, it makes sense for the Braves to trade him now to at least get someone for him.
Some people never recover from injuries or accident. The guy has already hit 2 home runs and the swing is there. This is effectively his spring training…….
Any player that ATL would have received in any reasonable scenario woukd have been less important than the salary relief on a player who may not be productive again after a serious injury and that 40-man roster spot that AUTiger7222 referenced.
I really liked Sean Rodriguez and never liked the Connor Joe pick, so….I love this move.
SRod has his limitations, but he is an immediate upgrade to what has been a pretty poor bench. I’m taking his poor numbers this season with a grain of salt: it was a really long recovery from that car accident for him, not just physically but I suspect emotionally what with his family’s injuries. Sean always seemed comfortable and well-liked in Pittsburgh.
And he originally wasn’t even expected to make it back at all this year
It’s all the small moves that set us up to make a big move. I liked the Garcia & Rodriguez trades. The Colon signing only hurts this yr, not next yr. These players represent 30mil that won’t be on the payroll next yr. Only 1 of them actually helped us. Now let’s eat some of Markakis salary and move him too.
We could have 35mil to sign some good vets next year.
Not a bad deal. S-Rod was redundant in Atlanta and he saw his best days in Pittsburgh. Good clubhouse guy at a relatively low cost.
As for Atlanta, I like the salary dump. I liked Joe going into his draft year but the only tool he really has is that he walks a lot. But due to draft pedigree, worth a shot.
YES, Serpico is back where he belongs
Should’ve gave Sean more time, he wasn’t even supposed to make it back this season. Doubt Brandon Phillips will be here next season and Sean would’ve provided quality depth and bench options. Camargo does look like Omar Infante 2.0 however.
Albies is here to stay, no? Phillips is expendable after 2017. There’s plenty of guys who provide depth for 2B.
Exactly what I mean, no more Phillips or Sean next season. After Albies who’s the depth?
Camargo and Jace.
1B – Freddie Freeman
2B – Ozzie Albies
3B – Hopefully a FA like Mike Moustakas
SS – Dansby Swanson
Bench – Johan Camargo, Jace Peterson, Danny Santana are all options.
Camargo, Peterson, demeritte
Demeritte is hitting .214, I don’t want him anywhere near the majors until he starts swinging the bat better.
Let’s hope Brandon Phillips isn’t with Atlanta next season. If he is then something has gone wrong.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Braves make a run at Mike Moustakas. See if they can get Moustakas on a 3 or 4 year deal that won’t break the bank to hold down 3B until Kevin Maitan is ready.
That would fit perfectly!!!
Then just find a way to dump Kemp and/or Markakis to clear way for Acuna.
Dont forget about Austin Riley.
We just need the stop gap as you have referenced.
Flexibility with Maitan in event Camargo, Swanson, or Albies dont pan out
Meh, Kemp can stay, Markakis can be traded to AL.
Last I checked Matt Kemp’s WAR was 0.3. That’s because of how horrendous he is defensively and on the bases and the fact that since the beginning of June his bat hasn’t been good either. I want both gone but if I had to pick one to keep it would be Markakis. Markakis is also cheaper than Kemp.
Kemp is better for Atlanta offensively. I’m not overly in love w/ WAR. Neither is a superstar, but Kemp does more for the team at the plate than Markakis.
Both are slow. Both have crappy arms. Go w/ the better bat.
Since June 2nd Markakis is slugging higher than Kemp and has an OPS over 100 points higher than Kemp. Kemp’s body doesn’t allow him to be productive over a full season. If he could be a DH he might be able to handle a full season but the Braves don’t have that option.
I’d think that Moustakas would definitely be a potential target. I can’t see the braves going more than four seasons (and they might offer more AAV for three). Guys like Rio Ruiz and Austin Riley may end up trade fodder if the Braves find another “better” answer.
If I’m not mistaken Donaldson is having a off year so he could come cheap in the offseason I’d prefer him over moustakas even with how many homers moustakas has
Donaldson would be good too. Either would be welcomed by me. Donaldson would help to keep the Braves offense balanced as well. Moustakas would make the Braves more lefty heavy.
That’s what I’ve been hoping for. I don’t see him getting a bloated deal – and KC is a breeding ground for ATL (and vice versa), so he’ll almost instantly fit into the culture. Still good defense, LH bat that will benefit from SunTrust (as opposed to Royals Stadium).
I don’t understand the hate for Markakis. Dude is consistent and productive, I do wish for more pop but at $11mil he is a much better option than Kemp.. watching Kemp run is like watching an old man walk! Painful!! Braves should def. look at Mous and trade for a young starter. I think Darvish would be a good FA signing.
Traded pitcher
Darvish
Folty
Newcomb/sims/Allard
Teheran
^Is a nice 2018 rotation, hopefully Teheran bounces back to 2/3 type guy, then trade him plus prospects for 2019 OF with pop! Thought?
That would be a decent start!!!
Markakis isn’t really a bad player or seriously overpriced. He isn’t however generating the production worthy of an average major league rightfielder, that is the issue. Plus the Braves have Acuna that is near ready.
He would be an avg. left fielder, I believe. Would also be great for the club house with Swanson back, Albies and Acuna. I just think Kemp is now a DH. If he had his legs, my thought process would be much diff.
I agree that Kemp is a DH. The problem is that Atlanta plays in the NL with no DH. Either Kemp or Markakis needs to go and unfortunately I think it will end up being Markakis instead of Kemp.
Kemp can’t run, but you’re wrapping Moustakas….Moustakas is a good 3rd base, but he can’t run too fast around the bases either. Over 100 metres, a race involving Sandoval, Moustakas, and Kemp, who wins…..
SANDOVAL LOL NOT
Markakis has a WAR of 0.1 this year. That is where the “hate” comes from.
better restock the Gatorade cooler supply
Atlanta should trade for Jedd Gyrko. Then the cards should turn around and trade for donaldson.
With a negative War and a .164 batting ave I don’t understand this move
Hey.
Just me here RedSox Fan!! Why do you all care so much about this whole thing? Like just chilllll. He got into a bad crash and you’re all being mean ugh
So Rodriguez was traded for some guy named Joe……
“Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that bat in your hand…”
Happy to see Connor Joe traded. If he was a Super Friend, his name would be Bizzaro Cal Ripken.