12:00pm: In fact, the move was not for an outfielder, with Bowman explaining that he was mistaken in that regard. The Braves have reached a deal with catcher Chris Stewart.
11:33am: The Braves “seem to be close” to working out a deal to acquire an unnamed outfielder, according to a tweet from MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Details on the prospective move remain sparse, but David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that GM Alex Anthopoulos has indicated the club is lining up a “small, depth-type move.”
At this point, it’s not known whether Atlanta is nearing a trade or free-agent signing. Either, surely, is plausible; there’s no shortage of unsigned outfielders left in free agency. With Matt Kemp dealt away earlier in the offseason, the Braves have an opening in the outfield mix that remains unresolved as camp opens.
One notable factor here is Bowman’s suggestion that the prospective addition would fill out the club’s outfield mix “until” top prospect Ronald Acuna is promoted. That obviously suggests that the Braves do not intend to allow Acuna to open the season on the MLB roster. Of course, that’s largely unsurprising, since the organization has every incentive to preserve their future control over the young phenom.
The reports also indicate that the new acquisition will be expected to play a role at the major league level, so perhaps this is more than a non-roster signing. Clearly, though, all indications are that Atlanta is not on the verge of a truly significant move.
One of the Crew OFers?
“Small, depth-type” would be Broxton if so.
Exactly. Broxton a mid-level prospect for Julio?
I would LOVE that, but I’m not holding my breath.
Even coming off a rough season (which was largely due to how awful he was in Sun Trust) there’s no way I could see Broxton and a mid-level being enough to get 3 fairly cheap years of Teheran.
3yr/31M is an investment unless you’re confident he bounces back somewhat…his last 4 years he’s had 2 great and 2 below average. I think Broxton/Ray for example you’d have to consider that right?
His contract and his value actually line up pretty well. Hasn’t put up less than 1.1 fWAR in any of the last 5 seasons, which would just about be breakeven on $10m/yr.
3/31 is less than Lynn or Cobb is going to get and Tehran has shown better flashes that either one of them by far. With the way his velocity came back at the end of last season and how well he pitched in stretches, especially away from home, I’m just not sure Atlanta would sell him that low and not just wait til the deadline and hope he bounces back for that kind of return. A 4th OF and a prospect that has fallen down every single ranking just seems way too low. Throw in a wild card with say a Lutz/Peralta/Ponce type and maybe they start listening…..
More likely to be one of their lesser (but still decent) SP prospects for Broxton I’d think. It could be so many guys though, like a dozen FAs or a trade with any team.
Three fairly cheap(?) years of a pretty underwhelming pitcher coming off a bad year.
I’d rather sign Jarrod Dyson.
It’s Bryce Harper you heard it here first
STOVE
Please let it be Jacoby Ellsbury.
Please let me have some of whatever you’re on.
haha that actually made me laugh. Poor Jacoby sure he’s grossly overpaid but I’m sure he rather be seen as a commodity rather than a burden.
You sure of nothing actually, youre guessing is what it is
Wouldn’t that be something if it was. but let’s be honest the chances of that being the case are less than slim and none.
What would be the point of this??
Depth.
You can go out and sign OF depth at 1/15th of the price as Ellsbury and not have to give up prospects AND they could be more productive.
Word is it’s two deals… Ellsbury AND Kemp!
Definitely not
I hear a rumor now it’s Tyler Wade, Jacoby Ellsbury and $30MM for Julio Teheran.
This actually makes a great deal of sense.
Teheran is like their best pitcher. Plus he’s a Mets killer. So as much as I would like him to go I don’t see why the Braves would trade him.
Why would the Braves take on 30M of jacoby for Julio? Wade isn’t nearly valuable enough to make that trade worthwhile for ATL.
To get Tyler Wade- a guy many project as a very good player long term. The Yankees are stacked with infield prospects and Torres and Andujar are just better than Wade. He has a bright future- just not in New York.
Why not Teheran is only under team control for 3 seasons. They would basically be getting Tyler Wade for 6 years of team control and Ellsbury for 3 years for what they just would have paid Teheran for 3 seasons. Plus it’s unlikely the Braves are really going to be a force for a couple of years.
Tyler wade is not worth 30M of Jacoby plus moving Julio.
@ yank but there’s this advanced metric saying tyler wade will be injured this year!
ohhhhh wait…. i forgot this mythical metric you cite only applies to cubs players.
you’re taking a joseph smith approach with these “golden tablet” metrics that you continue to claim exist, yet you fail to provide any link or proof of your claim
until you provide proof, or retract your statements, i will not drop your asinine claim
Why not? Because they can easily get a better return than a salary swap and Wade for Julio.
Tyler Wade is is never going to be anything more than a utility player
Exactly. If wade is a major league starter it won’t be on a good team. He can play multiple positions and can run so he has some value but don’t act like he’s going to be a sure fire starter. He’s
Why would the Braves do that when they can just get Jon Jay for a fraction of the cost?
It’s Yankee fans still holding out hope they move Ellsbury LOL
As a Yanks fan we could only hope. But that’ll never happen. If the Yanks wanted Tehran they would’ve gotten him years ago. Plus to give away Ells we’d have to offer a lot more. Certainly a better prospect then Tyler Wade.
Frazier or Hicks,Elsbury and 30 mil for Terhan
welcome back to atlanta, jhey
Jose Bautista for sure
Wouldn’t shock me at all. AA loved him in Toronto, and knows that he is likely getting Angry Jose for a year. If last year was indeed a vision problem and he had it fixed…
Ichiro?
Matt Kemp is going back to the baseball town.
It will be a good but not great OF
everybody, hold your breath! Should hear the rest any week now
im not sure how im going to be able to concentrate on work this afternoon until the name is revealled.
Most likely a platoon partner for Adams
Matt Adams of the Nationals?
Lane Adams
Sure made your snark look dumb.
I’ll bet Domingo Santana for Teheran premise.
Santana isn’t a “small depth type” player.
I bet it’s an Orioles OF for some sort of pitching depth.
Adam Jones. Pairing up with Markakis in the outfield again.
As an Orioles fan I’d hate to see AJ go….but we need pitching bad and AJ makes 17mil this final year of his contract.
The orioles barely have another outfielders as it is. We only have 3 and Mark Trumbo. Not a shot.
I wish it was Trumbo going to the Braves. But that would be too easy.
If it’s AJ(and I hope not), Mullins or Gentry or maybe a FA signing like Jay or Dyson can play CF.
It doesn’t matter if O’s have AJ but no starting pitching.
Matt Kemp.
I’d say Yankees trying to free up some money to give moose a run.
Brett Gardner and cash?
Adam Duvall?
Ken Griffey Jr.
Tebow!
ESPN would go full 24/7
I think this article is wrong and this will be an incredibly significant move- the signing of Jon Jay. A noted clubhouse leader and inspirational player Jon Jay was cast aside by the Cubs like an old shoe. Like the song says “don’t know what you got until it’s gone”. Jon Jay combined with the Braves younger prospects might make the Braves the surprise team of 2018. Atlanta is going to add a true leader who was the heart and soul of the 2017 Cubs.
Because we need another speedy guy with zero power?
His leadership qualities are his best asset. The Cubs will rue the day they let him walk. He was the heart and soul of that team.
The heart and soul of the team because he played there for one year after they already won the WS? I think guys like Rizzo/Contreras/Heyward are the heart and soul of the Cubs.
Agreed. Rizzo and Lester would be my picks as the heart and soul of the Cubs. Especially Rizzo. He’s their longest tenured player (I think) and is the leader of that team.
Like an old shoe? He was there on a one year deal.
Stop acting like he is the second coming of Babe Ruth
It’s Mac Williamson from SF
I bet it’s a Dodger OF. They have a surplus.
Adios Folty? Boy was THAT quick 😉
…my thoughts exactly!
Its going to be a minor league deal so hopefully people arent getting their hopes up
Def a long article for what amount to a marginal 5th OF.
Travis Jankowski possibly?
I was thinking Jankowski too. He could plug a hole until Acuna comes up. Then he is a valuable late inning defensive replacement and base stealer. Good role player. Padres aren’t going to need him this year.
Could be one of the Jays 6 outfielders. He knows them all pretty well.
My thoughts exactly. Ezequiel Carrera would make some sense for the Braves.
Melky Cabrera ?
I’m sure it’s a doozy
It’ll be strange to see Trout in a Braves uniform
Melvin Upton Jr.
Is Uggla coming back as an outfielder?
first upton., now uggla.. you stop it right now before you recommend nate mcclouth!
Nate!
It will be something small. I am guessing AA is grabbing somebody he knows like Steve Pearce or Ezequil Carrera from the Jays.
Bautista
Anthopoulos connection
Bump Bailey?
Keon Broxton
Ichiroooo
DYSON DYSON DYSON
I laughed when I read this. This is as vague as possible. However “unnamed” doesn’t give me hope because if it was a bigger fish the name would be mentioned I imagine. Plus temporary solution for Acuna meaning possibly til mid summer for the interim outfielder? I don’t know! The anticipation is killing me!
Mark Canha?
Could there be any less useful info in this article.
The braves may or may not do something soon.
My thoughts exactly, tired of these Braves ‘updates’ lol
Almonte from Cleveland I hope…
BJ Surhoff
Off-season is so slow that articles get created about a team acquiring some unnamed small outfield depth player lol
Who ends up being third string catcher Chris Stewart on a non-guaranteed deal.
Tebow?
Its Chris Stewart. Catching depth. Not no dang outfielder
Hopefully one of the jays OFers to get rid of that logjam
Ron Gant
Its stewert. Bowman is dumb
I think this is just Bravesfan click bait.
My guess is Pearce or Carrera
Jose Bautista, Melky Cabrera, Cameron Maybin are possibles but not likely, I think someone like Rajai Davis, Seth Smith or Chris Stewart………..
Chris Stewart to lead off and play center
Good one, ha
Haha wow chris stewart what a signing!! Bowman “mistakingly” heard outfielder. What a move!
Yeah, “mistakenly”… if he had chosen the other side of the coin, he would be the first to report this deal correctly (facepalm)
Breaking news: X team is closing a deal with an infield player (I flipped the coin and it was heads)
Matt Holiday???
45 min after a post about a team that has zero shot at contending, there are 81 comments. I hate this offseason.
And most are ridiculous trade suggestions from Yankees fans.
I’d guess Matt Sczur. Can play all OF positions and Padres need to make some roster space. Definitely just a depth piece, maybe get him for some cash or PTBNL.
Chris Stewart vs. an OFer? At least you were close at all..
Matt Kemp
They should have held onto him
Ichiro would be a great choice here, he’s nearing the last few years of his career and still performing like he’s in the prime of his career. 50 mil 5 years for ichiro
You boys have taken this “rumors” part to a new level. You should rename the sections: “Rumors, Gossip and Lies”
Not sure what stands out to you about this particular post. We always cover reporting on actual or potential player transactions. If anything, this was far more solid than most of what we see. Bowman would never have said a signing was highly likely unless he was all but sure it was happening (though he acknowledged he made a mistake on the position in this case). And O’Brien noted that Anthopoulos was the one to start the “rumor,” so …
The next level of complaining will be articles about completed trades, because those aren’t “rumors”… Keep the good stuff flowing, JT.
Sorry JT you’re right, it is called ‘Trade Rumors’ for a reason… it’s not called ‘Trade 100%, here you go actual facts with a money back guarantee headlines’…everyone on here loves to correct everyone else from the writers to the commenters. Keep writing my friend
Bye Gary