There are “numerous teams,” including the Braves, interested in members of the White Sox bullpen, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score tweets. Closer Alex Colome and setup man Aaron Bummer are unsurprisingly drawing plenty of attention. Beyond those two, lefty Jace Fry and resurgent righty Evan Marshall stand out as Sox relievers who could have trade value to the Braves and others. However, Levine reported Monday that Chicago’s not inclined to deal Bummer or Fry.
Levine also relayed Monday that the White Sox, despite their dismal record, aren’t motivated to sell before the July 31 deadline. But unless Chicago’s highly confident it’s going to contend next season, there’s a legitimate case for it to part with Colome. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is only under control through 2020, when he’ll earn an arbitration raise over his $7.325MM salary, and currently looks like a strong candidate for regression.
The right-handed Colome has pitched to a sterling 2.33 ERA with 21 saves on 22 tries in 38 2/3 innings this season. He has been the beneficiary of a .153 batting average on balls in play and an 82.7 percent strand out, however, and has seen his strikeout rate plummet. After fanning upward of 9.5 batters per nine last season, Colome’s K/9 has shrunk to 6.98. He’s also giving up more hard contact and less soft contact than ever, per FanGraphs, and Statcast shows a 102-point gap between the .228 weighted on-base average Colome has allowed and his expected wOBA of .330.
“Bummer” may be what opposing hitters have muttered this year when the left-handed Bummer has come out of Chicago’s bullpen. The 25-year-old Bummer is similar to Colome in that he’s getting by with help from a low BABIP (.213), an ERA that’s significantly better than his FIP and a sizable wOBA/xwOBA gap. Having said that, Bummer’s 1.73 ERA, 3.17 FIP and .262 xwOBA (compared to a .232 wOBA) are all easily above average. While Bummer’s not a strikeout-heavy pitcher, having notched 8.67 against 2.72 walks per nine, he has stymied lefty and righty hitters alike with his remarkable ability to induce ground balls. At 68.5 percent, Bummer trails only longtime grounder master Zack Britton among relievers.
Incidentally, Luke Jackson – one of the Braves’ best relievers – happens to be right behind Bummer on the grounder leaderboard. Jackson’s success is one of the reasons the Braves hold a healthy advantage in the National League East, but their bullpen has been fairly shaky. Aside from Jackson, Anthony Swarzak, Sean Newcomb and the currently injured Jacob Webb, no one from their ’pen has prevented runs at an especially excellent rate. The Braves have been in the market for late-game help as a result, and could wind up swinging a deal with the White Sox to bolster their relief corps.
Unless the Sox can get a MLB ready player for 2020 or 2021, there’s no reason to trade any of these guys. 2020 begins the playoff window.
They might be able to fetch Kolby Allard for Colome. Considering how buried he is on their pitching depth chart. The ChiSox could certainly give him an audition in the rotation because they need starters.
All Colome’s stats are above. They obviously scream regression. If you think they don’t you’re probably blinded by being a ChiSox fan who refuses to look at the numbers. I’d trade him now before he (likely) regresses and you have the decision of whether to pay him 10+ MM In arb next year. If you could get a decent prospect like an Allard or something like that. I mean if the return is a complete zero I guess you don’t have much to lose keeping him.
I’m a Sox fan and I approve this message
I agree they could. I’m not sure you want him, but that’s a fair return with some upside. I don’t agree that the Sox are there yet in 2020, but maybe 2021
They’ll have an outside shot at October next year. The Twins are still a gigantic question mark and the Indians are certainly going to trade Bauer. If not more pieces. They’d still be behind both of them in my eyes but they have an entire offseason of maneuvering to make the squad better.
Yeah I think last was an aberration for the Twins, and that they’re the best team in the division. And the Sox don’t really have any starting pitching past Giolito, and Kopech but he’ll be on an innings limit. They’re going to be significantly improved but they need to find some SP before we start seeing them in October.
@jbigz12
Out of all the realistic trade chips, I’m hoping Colome’s the one who gets moved. He’s had a great season, but I’m waiting for that regression also. Hopefully, another team will be on the hook for that regression. Even after the regression kicks in, he’ll still be good, but if the Sox can net a return too good to pass up, by all means pull the trigger. Their advantage is there are desperate teams looking for bullpen help.
Sure, the fact that the Giants may not be in the market helps their case as well. Dyson, Watson, and of course Smith would all be better trade targets but if they aren’t on the table that does wonders for colome’s market. I think if the Braves offered Allard up for him, you do it. You can slide Bummer into the closer role and see if he runs with it.
Realistically I don’t think the Braves would consider allard to be in their top 12 (probably not top 15) prospects at this point. And they have probably 9 starters (w years and years of control) ahead of him on the org depth chart. He doesn’t really look like a mid rotation arm anymore but there’s a chance he’s a #4 starter. Which is solid value for a year and a half of Colome. The ChiSox need to fill out that backend of the rotation. Could give allard a long look this year.
No it doesn’t. Not with a rotation that has more question marks than Frank Gorshin’s leisure suit.
The Riddler!
Someone interested in deepening a pen should look at Buck Farmer of the Tigers
Anytime you read Luke Jackson, one of the Braves best relievers, you know there’s a problem. Not especially crazy about Colome but no doubt they need multiple bullpen arms
Beat me to it. I don’t care what the numbers might indicate. I’m not placing Jackson amongst our best relievers. Anybody who thinks he is does not watch the Braves. That’s not to say that Swarzak, Nuke, Tomlin, or Blevins would be better in the 9th. I just don’t worry about them blowing the game when they enter. Every time Jackson (or Minter) enter a game, I’m biting my nails.
Jackson has actually been pretty dang good..He’s also been extremely unlucky, while still being very effective. I watch every Braves game, for the record, but regardless, a lot of the hits Jackson has given up have been due to either poor luck or improper defensive positioning. I’ve never seen any pitcher give up so many of their hits from inducing weak contact..
Ever since Jackson started solely focusing on just his FB and his slider, he’s been a completely different pitcher. Now, the Braves could definitely do better in finding a closer, but, regardless whether you like him or not, Jackson has come a LONG WAY towards solidifying himself as a very solid piece for their pen.
“I don’t care what the numbers say”
So just ignore the facts basically.
WaTcH tEh GaEmZzZ!!1!
Give the guy credit, he’s pitched well
You don’t have to watch anything to see that Jackson is shaky. Look at the stats: He has a 1.333 WHIP which his not good for a back end reliever. That’s the guy who typically does not get taken out. Webb or Swarzak would be a better closer. Other than these two the only other reliever who has a sub 1.200 WHIP is Tomlin but he has given up 10 homeruns. His FIP is terrible. So it is true the Braves need help. The don’t have any shut down relievers. Pretty amazing that they have the best bullpen ERA in the NL.
whats your offer for, Colome?
Video game trade coming up…..Trade Wright, Wilson, Allard, and Pache for Bumgarner, Giles, Colome, and Watson
Yes this requires separate trades to separate teams before someone points out the obvious.
No way the Braves give up Pache, he’s a legit top 10 prospect in all of baseball..The only way they’d even consider trading Pache is if they are getting back a solid starting pitcher with multiple years of control. Anything less than, and it’s an easy heck no..
Braves can extend Bumgarner. They’ve got to be willing to give something up to bring back good pitching,
This team is so afraid to make a move. How is al that pitching depth working out for them? Just rotating which prospect gets rocked these days.
Braves have a legit chance to win right now. Being too afraid Pache will end up a good player in 2021 is going to eliminate them in 2019.
Its not being afraid. It’s not being quick to the trigger for just a possible run in 2019. Nowhere has Bumgarner said he would entertain extension talks with the Braves and last I checked he wanted to stay in SF. Theres no sense at all in trading Pache. He’s going to be roaming the OF with Acuna and I rather have that tandem for the next 5+ years than all the Giles, Colome, and Watson’s in the world.
MadBum has the Braves and a few other playoff bound teams on his no trade list. Apparently a way negotiate a long term contract. Other teams he’s not interested in staying with are not on no trade list and can leave in free agency…at least that’s how I read it
We’re not going to be taking top 50 prospects for Mad Bum anyway, so discussion of Pache isn’t useful. Teams aren’t going to pay a dime more because they might or might not be able to extend Mad Bum either
What would it take for the Sox to get Folty?
Not much. He’s in AAA on a 5+MM salary. They could swap Colome for him and I’m sure another halfway decent prospect. That’d actually be a kind of interesting thought. If Folty rebounded you’d have a solid starter for next season. The Braves May be more inclined to give him up considering the contract he’s on and their AAA pitching depth. It wouldn’t be a move that could potentially pay off next year for CWS.
No chance. Folty is still I our plans. He was so good last year. He has a wonky elbow this year and I think he is trying to pitch through it. But you dont right him off right after he got where he was last year.
You don’t think that they’d swap Colome for Folty given the current state of their pen? Im not sure. They have a lot of starting pitching depth and Folty is making 5.5 mil this year. Depending on how much they have in the budget that salary getting moved could offset a guy like Colome coming in.
I do agree with you that I personally wouldn’t want to swap Folty for Colome. That’s more because I think Colome is an obvious regression candidate. But the Braves are in dire straits in their bullpen. And evidently they don’t think Folty would help.
Folty is already expensive. The Braves have waves of pitching at league-minimum salaries waiting for a rotation spot to open.
Not sold on him. Funny that guys talk about regression to the mean but rarely when talking about Folty. Maybe he has found something and that’s why he pitched so well last year. None the less, 1 good year out of 6 ? You have to wonder if he is really that talented.
I actually don’t. I think they would actually rather try Folty in the pen than swap him for Colome.
There was a lot of talk early in his career he had better stuff to be a closer.
Right now they haven’t even given up on him as a starter.
So no, I don’t think Colome for Folty would get it done
Folty should have been in the pen since the Braves first traded for him. I always thought he was going to replace Kimbrel but they keep insistomg hes a starter. So far he’s had one good season.
I don’t, because if the Braves are dangling Folty, they can get a better reliever than Colome
Well Folty is making 5.5 million bucks and has an ERA approaching 5 in AAA. He’s arb eligible again next year and won’t get any kind of raise but that doesn’t have tremendous value. Given the state of their bullpen I’m not sure why Folty wouldn’t have been given a shot there if they thought he could contribute in any way.
Would***
I don’t see the braves selling low on him.
Is it legal for the White Sox to come to an agreement for Colomé’s 2020 salary and get rid of the biggest hurdle in a potential trade?
Say they sign Colomé to a $10-11 million contract for 2020 and agree to pay half of it ($5-5.5 million). Plus, they agree to take on all of Colomé’s 2019 salary above the prorated minimum (about $2.4 million) and all of Folty’s 2019 salary (about $1.8 million). That basically gets them the rest of this year and next year on Colomé for about $3.4 million total. It also frees up whatever Folty would get in arbitration.
Would that be worth Folty + Allard or Wentz?
The White Sox can eat money in the deal if that’s what you’re asking, but the prospects return isn’t reasonable. Even if Colome was making mlb minimum that wouldn’t be reasonable. Allard alone is a stretch for Colome, but because of the state of the Braves pen and Allard is really not very good I think they’d consider it. Besides that, Colome isn’t approaching a top 100 prospect in return
@mohoney
I don’t see why they couldn’t. It would be the equivalent of a one-year extension. Though I’m not sure why his final year of arbitration would be an obstacle to trading him.
Luke is an absolute trip 95% of his appearances and most likely will end up thanking his outfielders for a web gem or bowing down to his catchers after the 3rd out in the 9th.
Ugly loss tonite in the bottom of the 9th btw snit, shoulda used common sense and played the odds gramps. Love ya and your Bobby Cox culture but a friggin sacrifice bunt here and there will not haunt you in your damn sleep gramps! You can’t miss those opportunities relying on walk off hits 100% of the time and especially just because you’re playing at home for the win.
Even if you call for a sacred bunt, it doesn’t mean it’s executed successfully…Just saying..
I will say though, Snit, Weiss, Kranitz, Seitzer, Wash, and EY have done ONE HECK of a job this season. Everyone points out their mistakes, but there’s been countless excellent calls they’ve made collectively that have helped lead to W’s…
I’d stay away from Colome. This year he’d help but next year he’ll be more expensive and probably regress and other GM’s may think likewise making it hard to trade him over the winter.
I believe there’s better chance that your closer regresses this year than Colome next year.
Whatever the Braves bullpen looks like next week, I just hope it doesn’t include AJ Minter. I’d love it if A.A. could convince some team to take him and all of his potential as part of our upgrade.
No chance. Folty is still I our plans. He was so good last year. He has a wonky elbow this year and I think he is trying to pitch through it. But you dont right him off right after he got where he was last year.
Bummer is the gem of the White Sox relieving corps
Yeah I’m a Cubs fan and I think dudes good
Uh, oh. The author used stats beyond ERA and Save % to argue pending regression. That’s not going to go over well with some of the big baseball brains that populate the comment section.
Ignore important stuff such as looking like you maybe mentor young players, try really hard and make people want to watch you on TV at your own peril.
As a White Sox fan, a trade centering on Alex Colome for Ender Inciarte works for me.
Yeah not unrealistic
A guy who’s entire game is built on speed and defense, coming off a back injury and owed almost $20mil.
The Braves have a glut in their outfield and Inciarte is controllable for 3 more season beyond 2019. He is making a fair amount of money which the Braves might not want to pay for a 4th OF who has burned a few bridges with the fans in Atlanta.
Inciarte is still just 28 and a 3-time Gold Glove center fielder. He has also demonstrated an ability to be an offensive force in his career with 10+ HR pop and 20+ SB numbers in addition to the 210 hits he posted in 2017 that resulted in a .304/.350/.409 triple slash. Incairte’s left-handed bat would also help balance out a future White Sox batting order that leans heavily right-handed. With the White Sox he can arguably become the best #9 hitter in MLB once Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal make their debuts atop the White Sox batting order later this season or early next year. Robert could move to RF where he might ultimately profile even better than in CF anyway.
An outfield alignment of Eloy Jimenez in LF, Inciarte in CF and Robert in RF could be something special. Adding that mix to an infield of Yoan Moncada at 3B, Tim Anderson at SS, Nick Madrigal at 2B and Andrew Vaughn at 1B could provide the White Sox with a very dynamic batting order in the next year or two. Extending James McCann to catch and Jose Abreu to share DH/1B duties could be the frosting on the White Sox cake or the cherry on top of their future sundae.
All in the past. His game is built on skills that don’t age well. He’s already showing signs of decline. Sox need to stop signing and trading for players heading in the wrong direction.
I would agree if we were talking about an aging and injured veteran like Denard Span was in the recent past. Inciarte is still just 28. As long as his medicals check out why wouldn’t the White Sox consider a player like this in their final phase of rebuilding?
Sure, I can think of a few players with more upside, team control and less injury risk like Alex Verdugo of the Dodgers. But the latter would cost a king’s ransom in terms of MLB talent or prospects. Even with both teams in buyer mode, the Braves would be a lot more motivated to sell Inciarte than the Dodgers would be to trade Verdugo.
Sadly, at this point ender needs a definite change of scenery. He was definitely the best thing to come to CF since Andruw Jones but his bat has been non existent for far too long now. He needs to go somewhere with a fresh start and not feel like he’s pressing for a 2 or 3 hit night every night at this point.
Pache will pick up where inciarte left off defensively while Waters will be taking over for Kakes at the same time.
Ian Anderson will be the new Soroka at the very same time, future is bright in chopland.
I’m thinking of a certain Aerosmith song off their debut album…
That’s funny, but every time I see Anderson’s name now I’m hearing — snots running down his nose / greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes
And how is Fatty Schwarbs faring these days? 0.2 WAR?
Ha-ha. Jethro Tull also has two new releases coming out later this year including a commemorative book with new recordings and a 4oth anniversary reissue of “Stormwatch”.
Rumors are that the Cards would consider trading Carlos Martinez … Braves guys, would this interest you and what do you think you would have to give up for him
want nothing to do with him
The Cards are better off holding on. Martinez’s value is very low right now. You’re paying him like a good reliever. He is a pretty good reliever but take a look at the Familia, Herrera etc. trades. Just “Good” relievers on market value deals don’t bring back much of anything. I’d hold him and plug him back into the rotation next year.
No way we trade bummer unless they overpay. He still has 5 years of control.
Dodgers make the most sense for a trade partner for both sides.Colome for Pederson,Peters and Christian Santana.The Sox 2020 outfield LR,Eloy and Pederson with DJ Peters filling the Young power DH role the Sox Don’t have ready and Santana is good rising up the ranks on baseball America’s list of Dodgers prospects to play 1st.This makes sense for both teams
You’re not getting Joc Pederson for Alex Colomé. That’s insane.
@BDT….Pederson alone is worth more than Colome……why would the Dodgers their in more prospects???
I say forget Colome and go for Vasquez… they have the prospects to do it starting with one of their catching prospects
Throw in*
I wouldn’t want Colome for anything even remotely substantial. Allard at best and even then (considering Colome’s likely $10 million over priced salary next season) I would still want the ChiSox to eat the remainder of O’Days salary to free up a little more money for more July acquisitions. No way Colome pushes the Braves over the top. No way he pushes anyone over the top. I wouldn’t be surprised if his decline starts August 1st. Maybe even before. Knowing the Braves luck if they acquire him his steep decline will start October 1st late in games with the game on the line. The ChiSox have to be trying to sell high on him right now. They would be idiotic not to. If I were a team not in the race I would considere non tendering him at $10 mill. That’s an insane amount for a relief pitcher everyone knows is about to fall apart.
@SecsSeksSecks
Easy there, Sparky. Even if Colome regresses, he’s still a good late inning option for any team. You act like he had no business ever putting on a MLB uniform. You would be an idiot to non-tender him at any point this season or over the Winter. There’s no way he regresses that badly, without there being a major injury accompanying it.
The Braves are a WS contender with a great offense and a young solid rotation, good enough to get them to the trophy paired with the offense. Their main weakness is the bullpen. It’s not horrible, but could definitely stand to improve. Getting a guy like Colome could possibly be enough to get them that ring. Though personally, I’d strongly suggest adding another late inning guy if they get Colome, but he’ll be fine. You just can’t expect the numbers he’s putting up for the Sox this year if you trade for him.
Let’s just say this “braves are interested in pretty much any pitcher (start or relief) but are completely unwilling to give up anything for them, so a move is unlikely”. Our fix was this offseason and our second chance was with kimbrel all season
Just don’t understand Braves fans…they speak of Colome’s regression but have a current closer who has worse stats and in the NL. Not to mention someone whose never closed in August/September or pitched more that 50 innings. You worry about his 2020 salary and maybe the focus should be getting to the WS in 2019. That being said, I don’t think the Braves have to give up any top tier prospects but a package of Muller and Wentz or one of them and someone else makes sense. Hahn wants to get the next tier of players and his projected 2020 pitching staff has Kopech and Rodon coming back from TJ surgery. So ideally you want pitching that projects 2021 so players 22 and younger. I hope the Brave do go all in because I hate the Dodgers and being a CWS fan you know how I feel about the Cubs.
I don’t know if the Braves would do it, but the Sox should be asking for Freddy Tarnok.
Young, fresh arm. Risky, yes, but an immense ceiling.
I’d be ok with Tarnok as a second piece, but would need a much better headliner to move Colome.
Look back at the Soria trade, (who had much better peripherals and wasn’t looking at a $10mil salary the following year) when setting expectations for a Colome return.
@pplama
In theory, yes, I agree. But with July 31 being the final deadline unlike the past, it’s hard to tell what a team desperate for a reliever might do. The seller has far more of an advantage this July than in the past. What offsets that is Colome is definitely not the crown jewel of relievers in this trade market.
It will be interesting to see how the entire trade market shakes out, to see how desperate these buyers are in general (not just for Colome). I’d like to see Colome get moved while his trade value is at it’s highest, but I don’t want him traded just for the sake of trading him. This time next week the deadline will have just ended.
What’s the point in trading Colome? They won’t get anything substantial in return. Rather keeo him for next year. Sox got Kopech, Dunning, Rodon coming back and will most likely sign a starter or 2 in the offseason.
You’d trade him so you don’t have 2 Kelvin Herreras on the roster.
@pplama
Boy, you’re expecting a serious regression from Colome. I expect a regression from him also, but not that steep of a regression.
Plus, I think Herrera’s bad numbers stem from his injuries this year and last year. He was a risk for the Sox anyway, and his numbers might not have been that good regardless, but his back issues certainly didn’t help the cause. I know it’s hindsight, but they should’ve put Herrera on the DL long before they did.