The Braves have elected to release Scott Kazmir, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets.
The move is somewhat curious on the surface. After pitching a scoreless inning today in a Grapefruit League game, Kazmir left the mound with what was described at the time as arm fatigue. The left-hander was slated to be the team’s fifth starter, which the Braves will need for at least the first month of the season as Luiz Gohara deals with a left ankle injury. It’s now unclear whom they’ll use in that role behind Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Brandon McCarthy and Sean Newcomb. One option is the recently-signed Anibal Sanchez, who’s in camp on a minor league deal. Sanchez is indeed likely to fill the last spot in the Braves’ rotation, per O’Brien.
The 34-year-old Kazmir didn’t last long in Atlanta, which acquired him in an unusual, luxury tax-geared trade with the Dodgers in mid-December. Kazmir’s due $16MM in 2018, the last season of a three-year, $48MM deal he signed with the Dodgers entering 2016. The journeyman has disappointed since signing that deal, as he logged a 4.56 ERA/4.48 FIP in 136 1/3 innings in the first year of the contract before missing all of last season with a hip injury. A lack of durability has long been a problem for Kazmir, a 2002 first-round pick of the Mets who has endured an inconsistent career with several clubs since debuting with Tampa Bay in 2004.
I want to say i feel bad for him, but then again he made all the money despite having an overall average/disappointing career due to injuries. Still surprised they released him but are keeping the garbage like Sims, Wisler, and Blair in AAA.
Bring back Shelby Miller!
It is just another woeful example of just how wrong front offices—even those with string inclinations toward analytics—can be.
It’s laughable how incorrect your comment is. First of all, young arms like Sims, Wisler, and Blair are part of the reason they would want to release Kazmir. They are each young pitchers who were recently top prospects so to call them “garbage” isn’t really correct. A more proper term would be unproven young pitchers or wildcard arms. Also, the Shelby Miller trade was one of the most lopsided trades of all time. Trading him netted the Braves your starting center fielder, Ender Enciarte, and your starting Shortstop, Dansby Swanson, who are each much more valuable than Miller. Plus, Miller struggled immensely in the year after his trade to Arizona, then tore his UCL and missed all of 2017. I don’t think your answer to finding starting pitching is to “bring back Shelby Miller” but rather to start the “garbage pitchers” and see what you can get.
No they are bad! They released Kaz probably due to some behind the scenes problems. Given the investment, no reason to release other than some unforeseen circumstances the Braves didnt like. Besides, the three guys were shipped to AAA to make room for Sanchez. So you are probably the only person who still thinks they will amount to anything at the major league level.
The Miller reference had nothing to do with the trade. If the Backs release him, i want the Braves to bring him back. I like the guy, probably more so after they traded overrated Heyward for him.
You have no idea what you are talking about. The Braves still have faith in those 3 that’s why they send them down and not release them. They are at the very least quality depth if someone gets hurt. They have minor league options- Kazmir didn’t that’s why they cut him, not because of any behind the scenes problems. Braves don’t need a 5th starter for a few weeks so the will probably use Sanchez for long relief until then and then make a decision on who the 5th starter is. If you don’t understand how minor league options work then maybe you shouldn’t question the front office
Nice try but you are just another apologist. For a team that knows they are terrible and yet they still don’t care to give any of them a chance out of the bullpen this year, proves they dont have faith in them. There is no reason to keep the three in the minors at this point. They have been given more than enough time to prove their worth. In regards to the options, the only reason they have not been released is because of the options. So yeah in this case, options played a role.
Been given more than enough time? Are you kidding? Lucas sims has played in less than 20 career games. Same with Aaron Blair and only one game last year for Blair. I’m not saying they are number 1 starters but to call them garbage is just wrong. This team will lose 80-90 games so why not let the young guys start over somebody like kaz who isn’t that much of an upgrade. I’m not an apologist I’m just not gonna blame the FO for making a roster move that makes little to no difference in the outcome of this season
and you dont think there is a reason why Sims played less than 20 career games? The guy was drafted during the Wren era and has been terrible since. There is a reason why he is still in the minors, how hard is that to comprehend?
Wisler will be gone soon….hopefully.
You can continue to think otherwise, but they are TERRIBLE!
I agree with you, there is a thing called the eye test and Wisler and Blair have both failed it over and over again
and statistically as well!
The reason they have been in the minors and not in the big league bullpen is because the team still has faith in them. If you don’t think a guy is ever going to be a starter, you shift him to the bullpen and see what you can get (ala Andrew Miller) but if you think he still has a chance to start (because starters are more valuable than relievers) then you send him to the minors to stay stretched out as a starter and see if thing click.
Also, you are judging them off of the small sample size of what you’ve seen in the minors. There is a reason that these guys were high round picks and that a lot of the scouting community still believes in them.
Question, are you a braves fan or just some guy who never watched them pitch and thinks just because a player is young, it means no one should ever give up on them even though they continually post bad numbers?
How is an injured arm that hasn’t pitched well going to help out of the bullpen. Braves have a loaded bullpen.
Evidently you weren’t around when Smoltz was acquired. Detroit had given up on him also so they traded him to us for an older mediocre pitcher and we know how that turned out. These players have to be able to develop more than just a little here and there. On the other hand, I do think the Braves would spend more money if Not corporately owned. Liberty media has no personal ties or feelings towards this team. An owner has to be wholeheartedly vested to be successful!
Evidently you are comparing Smoltz to Wisler, Sims, and Blair so clearly it means you know nothing yourself!
You just dont get it man. The point is the tigers gave up on smoltz much like you are to these young guys and gave up to early and turned out they were wrong. Why not let these guys stay in the minors and try to develop. It’s not hurting anybody right now to have them.
No i get it and in no way shape or form, do any of these guys have the upside of Smoltz. None! I can also go through a list of pitchers that have failed despite being top prospects before. It works both ways. What is next? You think the Braves should slot Jason Hursh in the bullpen as well? He was a top prospect before.
Outsiders opinion: many of you r arguing with someone named blegh.
Blegh is Yiddish for scmuck which is polish for yutz which is German for blegh
Used in a sentence: He whines like a little blegh
PS I’m not a braves fan.
But MOST braves fans that I know r very intelligent
Well my name is a reference to my favorite band (Architects) but thanks for the enlightenment.
Blegh is the sound a dog makes when it’s throwing up
and so do us humans! Words can have many meanings and uses!
Blegh sounds like the noise that comes out of your mouth as you are getting punched in the face
One of the many things AA learned in his stint as Toronto’s GM was not to promote someone before he’s ready. If he’s true to form, he will be building very good scouting and player development programs, so if they say those kids aren’t ready, they aren’t ready.
Atlanta isn’t going anywhere this year anyway, so you guys are arguing about who would be the best placeholder. Not a good idea to ruin a prospect in the process. At this point, who cares if they let the ball boy toss a few innings?
Doyle Alexander carried the Tiger pitching staff after the trade. He was anything but mediocre. John Smoltz would not have helped those pathetic Tigers if he remained 1988–1995.
As a Blue Jays fan be cautious of AA. He will build up your farm and the completely decimate it on two trades. Ala Dickey and the Marlins deals
But you weren’t complaining about it when he got you guys to the playoffs. That’s the whole point of being a good GM is knowing when to trade prospects to get pieces so you will contend. How many of the prospects has he traded that actually panned out and I will guarantee you can count them on one hand
The Braves did the same thing a few years ago to Wandy Rodriguez.
Said that he was going to be the 5, and then released him.
Bartolo Colon’s available now♂️
Yeah they better not
Dang, well at least they still got McCarthy.
What’s next for Kazmir?
2018 Spring: 10.2 IP, 4.22 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 4 SO, in 5 G.
Oakland?
with MadBaum out, SF could use an arm (left one too)
I agree they could use a left hand arm now. The Orioles don’t carry one in the rotation either and could use him until Cobb is ready
Agreed go get him Sabes
Orioles were my first thought too.
Both the Giants and Orioles make sense.
In San Francisco, Madison Bumgarner will be out at least two months while Jeff Samardzija will also be starting the 2018 season on the disabled list. Both teams are still bent on contending in the short term and not yet willing to concede to a rebuild so they might as well take a flyer on an unconditionally released veteran starter like Scott Kazmir for cheap.
Angels? Maybe even Boston?
angels have been there
mariners
Giants can plug him right into Snot Rockets spot.
perfect pirates candidate, but dont know it’s a good idea
They won’t though, they somehow satisfied with the 5 guys they have now. have ZERO interest in adding anything else, that’s obvious
well they got more than 5 guys that could possibly start if needed, which is a good reason not to.. Nova, Tailion, Kuhl, Williams, Musgrove, Glasnow, Brault with Kingham for further depth and possibly Keller later in the season.
I’d do it anyway if he’d take a minors deal, as he probably would. But really not optimistic he’ll pitch much if at all in the majors anywhere this season from the sounds of it.
“Arm fatigue” = Tommy John surgery = release
Sugar Land Skeeters reunion!
SF probably, he’d be their #4 at worst and could make a case for their #2. Seattle also makes sense.
The move isn’t that curious if he isn’t healthy enough to make the Opening Day roster anyway. They won’t need a 5th starter for almost two weeks. If Sanchez needs to be added, he needs to take somebody’s spot.
It is curious in that they could stash him on the DL and buy time as other injuries may pop up and they could use him.
Do we know if he has a roster bonus clause in his contract? I know he’s already dead money, but they might want to cut bait sooner than later.
It’s baseball bud. Fully guaranteed money.
On the DL, he would still occupy a spot on the 40-man. If Sanchez is the guy, he has to take somebody’s spot or they’d have to move somebody to the 60-day.
Yeah agree he has been inconsistent the past couple years but at least he is above the .500 mark win wise. He had some pretty good seasons. Sucks when someone doing so well falls off. Kinda like Matt Harvey
J.D. Drew part 2. A ton of talent, teams paid for potential and at best received marginal results. Unfortunate for the game but kudos to them for getting paid.
Drew earned his paydays. As soon as he left Boston, right field was a black hole. You have to be a special kind of defender to hold down RF at Fenway. It’s the toughest RF there is
Funny thing is, you can’t really blame the Dodgers too much for the bad Contract – he was off very impressive seasons with Cleveland (13) and Oakland (14 & half of 15 before trade to Hou)
Too bad what has happened to him since (again, because what a roller-coaster career)
I think the o’s, Giants, and the Mets possibly could use Kazmir. If Kazmir could stay healthy he may eventually be moved to a bullpen role or be released again.
You can bet that Dan Duquette called him already. O’s have 4 good rightie starters with Tillman at 5. He’s been unimpressive to say the least this spring. Apparently his fastball is around 87-88. I’d be surprised if the O’s DON’T sign Kazmir.
Dodgers brass still thanking Anthopoulos for that trade. Kazmir was expected to help buy time so the Braves didn’t have to rush their young arms. Now the alternative is Anibal Sanchez? ! Ouch.
No, actually, Braves said they didn’t expect anything from Kazmir, didn’t expect him to contribute and if they got anything from him it would be gravy. Get your facts straight.
Not really. The main reason for the Braves was to get rid of the 2019 commitment for Kemp.
Come on guys seriously the dude was throwing 87-88 miles an hour he’s going to get torched no matter where he goes
Didn’t Led Zeppelin write a song about this guy?
Welcome back to Oakland.
Gotta be the giants, if not they will be forced to use Suarez or beede in the rotation, both of whom need a little more seasoning
That was totally a trade of bad contracts, with little to no expectation from Kazmir or A-Gone.
I smell a Sugar Land Skeeters reunion
Just crunched the numbers from the Dodgers-Braves trade:
Matt Kemp goes to LA, LA pays $31.5M
Kazmir goes to ATL, who release him eating $17.67M
Gonzalez goes to ATL, who release him, eating $21.81M
McCarthy goes to ATL, who pay him $7M = $46.48M
So, Braves burned $39.48M total – Kemp’s $31.5M = $7.98M, + $7M for McCarthy means…..
To get rid of Kemp, the Braves paid $14.98M for one year of McCarthy and Culberson.
The Dodgers saved $14.98M by taking on Kemp and getting rid of those 4.
Who won?
You obviously don’t know how math works or you don’t know how to crunch numbers. The trade was basically a wash in contracts meaning they pretty much equal the same amount of money.
I literally just showed you it wasn’t, you obviously don’t know how numbers work.
Are you serious? Are you standing by your made up numbers or are you going to do some research?
My numbers come from baseball-reference, genius
baseball-reference.com/players/k/kazmisc01.shtml
Baseball reference? Really? Why not Cots baseball contracts, where they track actual contracts? And here’s info about the trade from MLBtraderumors.com, ‘Rosenthal notes in another tweet that the trade is “effectively cash-neutral overall’ and ‘the $4.5MM they’ll get in the deal will even out the overall dollars swapped in the trade’. And I’m pretty sure that they took into consideration all those miscellaneous dollar amount you’re talking about
So really I have no idea what you’re even arguing about because the money was a wash, who cares
You’re arguing about who won the trade. JTO was misinformed, using bbref for such a convoluted transaction… bbref is good for macro of things, (like career earnings .) not micro of things (convoluted transactions and individual contract details)
Cot’s is by my #1 source for contracts.
With regards to who won the trade… I think Braves. It’s safe to say both are cash-neutral but Braves had Kemp for 2 years, flipping him for McCarthy, and (now released) Kazmir, both under contract for 1 year
Good news is, Dodgers were able to reset luxury tax. — But Braves win (In my opinion)
Yes and if the Braves are able to sign someone like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado next year that makes the trade even more valuable
Never thought of that! But you could say the same thing for LA (Reset luxury tax)
I guess whoever, signs the bigger 2018 FA fish, wins trade, and if neither reels in big fish, it’s close to a tie.
No, Braves got rid of Matt Kemp, they clearly won the trade
1. Matt Kemp is owed 43.5 million for the remainder of his contract.
2. The 4 players Braves got totals 51.1 million, plus the 4.5 million LA sent as well, meaning Braves are only paying them 46.6 million
3. Which means, Braves are out ONLY 3.1 million to get rid of KEMP.
4. I’d say the Braves won
The Padres are paying Kemp $5M, so subtract that. I did mess up my OP because the Dodgers were paying Kemp $3.5M when he was on the Braves and were going to pay him $3.5M a year for the next 2 years no matter what team he was on.
This is actually really complicated, but your post was much more off base than mine if you think the Dodgers are paying Kemp $43.5M. For example, the Dodgers are paying AdeGon $547,000 this year, and the Braves are paying him $21.81M.
But the Kemp money is really tricky to track. Anyone else want to take a crack at it?
My mind is blown the Braves straight released Ade-Gon ( $21.81M) and Kazmir ($17.67M), that’s $40M just thrown on a fire
Just a note, the Braves released Gonzalez because that was the condition for him to waive his no-trade contract to allow the trade to happen.
Okay what’s your point?
Kemp’s controlled through 2019, so the salaries are basically equal
People seem to forget that a great side effect from the Braves point of view is the left field position opened up for Acuna to move into. Acuna should produce far more WAR than Kemp in 2018/19.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the Astros make contact with him as a lefty specialist out of the pen. Gotta be better than Sipp if not he can’t be much worse
Good point. But Devo is better than Sipp against lefties, so there’s that. I would rather trade McHugh for a fairly solid lefty reliever.
The braves traded a bit more money to get rid of the contracts this season instead of heading into next seasons big free agent market with them on the books.
They took on more money this year to be out from under Kemps contract next year
Kazmir pitched 10.2 innings this spring, and he left today’s game with arm fatigue? Just trying to wrap my mind around that. It’s like me taking a break at work 20 minutes into my shift because I’m tired.
Yes, you are not a professional athlete, I’m guessing
How ironic would it be if Kazmir got released because he complained about some young, hot-shot pitcher changing the station to the radio in the team clubhouse???
are the braves on the hook for his 16 million?
Yes, all of it
As a Blue Jays fan be cautious of AA. He will build up your farm and the completely decimate it on two trades. Ala Dickey and the Marlins deals
Braves have taken a bath on every deal Bullets has done. Must have been some sort of payoff to the Dodgers (wonder if there was a kickback). Think how much better the Braves would be if they had back their $40 million for Gonzalez and Kazmir, McCarthy and Culberfacio were still with LA, and Kemp would be batting in the four hole for Atlanta.
Yeah, that was never gonna happen. The money was pretty much even, and it freed Atlanta up for more cash for next years crop.
Stop looking at every deal as today only. Teams plan for years, especially w/ the FA class of next year.
You’re joking right you absolutely have to be. Because not only did we get a veteran starting pitcher in the deal we also got a good utility bat and on top of that we got rid of Matt Kemp and freed up a ton of money for next year so we can go out and get a guy like Bryce Harper or somebody like that. Because you thinking Braves would be better with Kemp is absolute stupidity and Madness
Have any of you looked at our minor league talent. I’m excited for 2020. Assuming the braves don’t jump the gun on Jolio Teheran, we’ll have Jolio, Freddie, and Inciarte locked in til 2020 at least. We have 36 million coming off the books next year after Markakis, McCarthy, and Kazmirs contracts run out. Have you seen our talent coming up between now and 2020. Will have Riley at 3b and he’s got some pop, we’ll have either Drew lugbruar or brett at catcher; drews got some pop. Even if Riley only hits 18 a year to start and drew 14 those are great numbers considering how cheap they’ll be. Ronald Acuna looks like an all star out of the gate. Also Albies looks GOOD…not amazing…but GOOD!… I wouldn’t even waste money on anyone other than muchado if he’s willing to play ss this year, Harpers not leaving the nationals. We have two more possible starting pitchers behind gohara in soraka and wright in the minors and that’s just a great pitching farm system. The only players that fit our needs in 2019 are all over 30 Andrew Mccuten, adam jones, hunter pence… non of them are worth the money or worth having as a true number two behind freeman. But in 2020 free agency I see both Marcell Ozuna… and I’m thinking that’s a lot of power right there for a guy who will be 29 in 2020. Even a corey Dickerson who will be 30 is younger than our outfielder options for 2019. Also look at our rotation Jolio, Gohara, newcomb, Sroka, wright, and foltynewics. That means we have one person for good trade bait if we can’t get Ozuna or Muchado and a bunch of free cap space. And that’s at 114 million salary…if they went for Ozuna and Muchado giving them 30 million each, plus giving Freeman a bump to 30 million it would only be 140 million as a salary cap…that’s not that much. How’s you feel with this line up as your team Drew lugbruar catcher, Freddie freeman first base, albies at second, muchado as ss, riley at third,, ozuna at left field, acuna at right field, and inciarte at center….. its a dream team options. However to be realistic..lets say we don’t get muchado or Ozuna… we have one pitcher to trade and 36 million to find someone worth wild as a number two hitter behind freeman with Riley adding some pop in the five hole. We are going to contenders guys… have some faith
That was a little long-winded and you said Muchado, not once or twice, but every time, lol. And Bryce Harper is a Scott boras client so he will go to free agency I guarantee it and he will leave the Nationals because they can’t afford it. And we don’t need muchado because we have Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley. Yes we’re going to be contenders very soon but not for the reasons you state
haha……….. I hope by not wishing it so.. that it happens.. I know…I know…but even the worse option is still a good one inciarte, acuna, drew, riley, albies, freeman, a true number two hitter (trade for one of our prospects), one weak link with swanson or at left field is okay in the eight hole. As long as its not swanson; someone with some pop… please.
Dude, for 1, Austin Jackson will get the chance to be our catcher before Drew Lugbauer. I mean Drew’s not even mentioned in our top prospects ever, and you think he’s going to be our starting catcher in 2020, okay, not. And I don’t understand what you mean by a true number two hitter, because to me that is Ozzie Albies
Muchado vs Harper…. I’d prefer muchado, the stats show he’s more consistant and less attention will be paid to him. Harper is going to be a free agency mess even if he does have the better upside. He’s looking at historic numbers for a salary possibly… and trouts could be getting paid in 2021.. For the braves needs its muchado.
OMG, it’s Machado, not Muchado. And no, the Braves don’t need him, they’ll go with Riley and Dansby, whereas Braves will have an opening in RF.
And I think Muchado knows that because he moved to SS this year. This is the position if he wants to get paid. The Orioles need pitching and the braves have it. The only problem is I hear we’re not the front running in free agency so we’d have to trade for him.
Don’t rain on my happy thought……O.o…
Harper and freeman would be a good mix… but my lineup is the better team
You can have all the happy thoughts you want in the world about muchado but when it comes to Machado it ain’t happening.
They can’t get into a spending war over harper…he’s going to get a historic salary
And Machado’s not? I mean by your reasoning alone with him being the “better player”, Machado is going to cost a ton more money than Bryce. And forget trading for him and signing him to an extension, because his agent is Scott Boras, and he always has his agents go to free agency. So the Braves won’t waste the ton of prospects it would take to get him in a trade. So keep dreaming, and no, not from Baltimore
You’re from Baltimore aren’t you O.o… or worse a yankee
While it does sound like another familiar trade we made for a player from Texas (not mentioning any names out of continual resentment). I think machado would be cheaper in a 2018 trade. And that would be our only chance at holding on to him with 30 million a year and the promise we’re bring another big bat like Ozuna in 2020 free agency. I feel he’d ignore the Yankees in that situation. The money’s right, the team would be right…. No Harper is only 25 in the off season he’s also hit 42 home runs before, he’s a beast. Trout and Harper are going to have Major salaries. I’m not sure owners believe machado at about 185lbs has a 40 – 50 range home run season consistently in him.
Dude, how old are you? I feel like you don’t have a firm grasp on how baseball works. First of all, the trade for Texeira was for a year and a half of control, not a year, like Machado would be. 2nd, and you seen to be forgetting this, but Scott Boras is his agent, it wouldn’t matter what Braves told him, he’s hitting free agency, no matter what. 3rd, I don’t think anyone is wanting Ozuna in the lineup. And also, Machado has averaged 35 homers a year for the past 3 years, I think he’ll be fine
Anyway, its the pitching that the braves biggest concern. We have jolio and folty who are ten win guys, but everyone else is young and unknown. I’m hoping one more person shows us they can win ten wins from our pitching prospects
Seriously? Jolio? JULIO is at least 14 wins, Folty is 11 or 12, McCarthy, who you seem to have forgotten about, is 12 wins, throw in Newk for about 7 wins and whatever you get from the 5th starters, it’s not a terrible rotation. And the relief guys are going to be better as a whole compared to last year. I don’t think you know as much about this team as you think you do
Our relieves are going to be thin tho..
dude, injuries,, bad seasons….. folty and Julio are 10 wins for sure…no more…. the rest are all unknown
Why are you pushing injuries and bad seasons on guys before it starts? Julio has averaged 12 wins a year in his career, Folty 10, along with McCarthy. If McCarthy is healthy he’ll win at least 12 or 13, Folty 12. And the rest are guys braves will be counting on for many years. Give it a rest
I’m just being conservative and realistic
You’re being conservative and realistic but yet you think the Braves are going to sign Manny Machado? good one
The numbers are there to sign Machado financially
The room in the infield, is not though
Jeez dude, they are not going to be able to get Harper .
Really because to me there’s room for Harper because Markakis will be a free agent and we don’t really have any outfielders coming up ready and we’ll have a crap ton of money. So it makes more sense to get somebody like Harper where there’s a need then Machado where there is not
okay…. lets just agree to disagree