The Braves and Cubs have swung a notable trade, as outfielder Joc Pederson is on his way to Atlanta in exchange for first base prospect Bryce Ball. Both teams have announced the trade, and there doesn’t appear to be any money changing hands in the deal. This means the Braves will absorb all of the approximately $1.84MM remaining of Pederson’s $4.5MM salary for the 2021 season, as well as the $2.5MM buyout of the $10MM mutual option on his services for 2022.
Pederson addresses a clear and obvious need in the outfield for Atlanta after superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. was lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Pederson has a lot of center field experience over his career, though it is probably more likely that he’ll be deployed mostly as a corner outfielder for the Braves. With Pederson handling left or right field on a regular basis and Guillermo Heredia getting the bulk of the work in center field, the Braves can toggle between Orlando Arcia, Ehire Adrianza, Ender Inciarte and Abraham Almonte for the other corner spot and as backup options.
Some type of right-handed hitting option might be necessary as a complement to Pederson, who has a modest .271/.348/.339 slash line in 66 PA against left-handed pitching this season. His decision to sign a free agent deal with the Cubs last winter was made in part because Chicago offered Pederson a chance to every day rather than in a platoon capacity, and his numbers are still an improvement from his overall career line against left-handed pitching. The batting average and OBP are at least respectable enough that the Braves might still use Pederson as more or less an everyday player just to plug one outfield hole.
It also possible the Braves could add another outfielder on the trade market, since today’s swap indicates that the club hasn’t conceded anything in the wake of Acuna’s devastating injury. Atlanta has a 44-45 record but sits just 3.5 games back of the Mets for first place in the NL East. Since the Braves have a tough schedule between now and the July 30 trade deadline (five games against the Mets, three against the Phillies, and three each against playoff contenders Tampa Bay and San Diego), it also isn’t out of the question that Pederson could be flipped again if the Braves struggle over the next two weeks and decide to sell some pieces.
An above-average bat for most of his seven seasons with the Dodgers, Pederson was also dealt to the Angels in a rather infamously scuttled deal prior to the 2020 campaign, but he remained on L.A.’s blue team long enough to capture a World Series ring. He posted a .991 OPS over 37 plate appearances during the Dodgers’ postseason run, providing a happy ending after a struggle (.681 OPS in 138 PA) of a regular season.
The Braves had some interest in Pederson as a free agent, but he ended up signing with Chicago, and still hasn’t really gotten himself right at the plate. Pederson has been a slightly below-average (95 wRC+, 96 OPS+) hitter in 287 total plate appearances this season, hitting .230/.300/.418 with 11 home runs. All 11 of those homers have come against right-handed pitching, yet while Pederson sought out more playing time against lefties during the winter, the irony is that he has now struggled to hit righties for two straight seasons. Pederson has only a .218/.285/.442 slash line in 221 PA against righties this year.
The Cubs have a 44-46 record, only a half-game behind the Braves in the standings and yet seemingly a world apart in terms of expectations for the remainder of the 2021 season. Chicago has won just six of its last 25 games, thanks to a crushing 11-game losing streak that seems to have put them in a seller’s mindset as the deadline approaches. As a rental player, Pederson was a natural trade chip to be moved, and speculation has swirled for months that such impending free agents (and franchise cornerstones) such as Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Anthony Rizzo could be on the move by July 30.
Today’s trade could be the first of many for the Cubs over the next two weeks, and the Wrigleyville side has already picked up one interesting minor leaguer in Ball. A 24th-round pick for Atlanta in the 2019 draft, Ball was a power-heavy prospect who immediately displayed that skill in his first pro season, batting a cumulative .329/.395/.628 with 17 homers over 263 PA with the Braves’ rookie league and A-ball teams in 2019. It hasn’t been as smooth for Ball this year, however, with only a .207/.354/.396 slash line in 212 PA at high-A ball, including a power dropoff resulting in only six home runs and a big reduction in slugging percentage.
MLB Pipeline ranked Ball as the 12th-best prospect in the Braves’ farm system, so he is more than just a lottery ticket at age 23 if the Cubs development system can sharpen his hitting potential. For the sake of future trade speculation, Ball isn’t really enough of a premium first base prospect that it would make a Rizzo trade any more likely than it already is, necessarily. (By that same token, dealing a first base prospect probably also isn’t a hint about Freddie Freeman’s future with the Braves, though Freeman certainly doesn’t look like a trade candidate.)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Woah
Thank you Joc for your service. You were great in spring training.
Aggressive move by the Braves considering the finances attached.
Bryce Ball seems like a overpay. Braves must be planning to give Freddie a big extension.
I think too much stock was placed in an absolute torrid start to his career two seasons ago. Yes, due to COVID, he’s still 23 and struggling so far in High-A. Definitely power which is what the Cubs hope translates in a few years.
Even if Freddie were to walk, Ball wasn’t going to be in the picture until at least 2023, if at all depending on how the next 1-2 years go for him.
Yea he’s a first base- only, 23 year old at A ball. I wouldn’t get THAT worked up over losing him.
Neither would I, because he was just a 24th round pick, he has never been a top 100 prospect as of right now and he was only a top 30 Braves prospect once, 19th in 2020.
By MLB.com, I mean lol
Not really. He is already 23 and not exactly playing like he’s ready for more advanced pitching in AA. He is the definition of a lottery ticket. If he continues to play like he has so far this year, he will more than likely repeat High A next year so he can jump to AA with confidence. They say the move to AA is the hardest. If he needs another season at High A he will be 25 when he makes it to AA and 26-27 when he gets to AAA. A 27-28 year old MLB rookie doesn’t exactly scream overpay to me.
If they keep him another year at A ball they must have no confidence in him whatsoever. How slowly do they wanna develop him?
A little shocked they’re buying. Someone make it make sense
Acuna?
Division looks like it can be had
Central’s not much different
Central is very different. Cubs are 8 back. Braves are 4. Mets haven’t really lit the world on fire. Brewers and Reds have at times.
Mets have been injured, and are getting healthy, and they’re still ahead and the Braves are getting more and more injured
The Mets have gotten significantly worse as they got players back. Nimmo aside, the backups were out performing the injured players. The Mets August schedule is absolutely brutal. Will the Mets win the division? Probably, but the Braves, Phillies and Nats absolutely have a decent shot. If the Mets get swept by anyone of those teams, their lead is gone.
It’s not realistic to believe, that when injured players get back, the team will then remain healthy for the rest of the season. This is true for every team. not only to the Mets. Too much can happen for any team without a huge lead to be confident that they’re going to the PS.
Mets have had a propensity to choke all year and still can’t hit. We just split at home with Pittsburgh. One bad series against Atlanta or Philly and we’re suddenly tied up.
It doesn’t matter that the Mets are ‘getting healthy’, and I say this as a Mets fan. They’re only up four games and also can’t hit. If you’re that close, you buy.
Underrated point, @tad.
’21 is fast becoming the: Year of Injury. More than any other season we’ve seen, health is probably going to be one biggest factors in the pennant/playoff races.
Who knows what *anyone’s* club is going to look like by September.
The Braves are trying to stay in it.
Nice job getting after it & striking early.
Had by who? Braves have maybe a 3 percent chance with no acuna and a crap bullpen plus sketchy starting pitching.
I will never ever understand the over confidence of Mets fan. Don’t get me wrong, the Mets are who I think will win the division at this point. But they are 3.5 games up after a fairly weak stretch. They cannot hit at all. Is it really so insane to think the Braves can make a run? Or the Nats? Or the Phillies or Marlins? I fully admit it’s unlikely, but do you really feel super confident right now after splitting with the Pirates? It’s the Mets division to lose. I can see their offense clicking down the stretch, but I can also see another collapse. Unlikely, but not impossible.
I don’t care how well you hit.
No pitching = no playoffs.
And yet, still a more reliable offense than NYM lol. Smyly, Morton are two of the hottest pitchers right now, Fried coming back and Muller on a roll with d’Arnaud and possibly Ynoa back in August.
I am skeptic, but bullpen can be built quickly (just like AA did 2 years ago with Greene, Martin acquisitions).
Braves bound to have something go right, eventually. Mets keep playing around not wanting to take the killshot.
you also forget to mention the series before the mets the pirate didnt split but took the series against the braves and one of the mets games (the last one before the break was they threw out the spare parts for the most part for that game.
Lmao nor will I. Yet I am envious of this blind faith. Mets gonna Met
Exactly, just ask the Rockies, who have only made the playoffs 5 times in their history and have not advanced in the playoffs except for 2007 and 2018.
i mean its not that outlandish. and worse case scenario is they. can just deal him again in a few weeks if they fall out of it.
Exactly, a more desperate team might even give them a better prospect for him if they eat some salary too
Cubs making room for activating Matt Duffy to make their big comeback.
Jk
Nice move by Jed. Got the jump on the others. This guy has some real decent stats in high class A.
lol
Lol
Ball Bunyan.
Outfielder injury. They replaced him. They didn’t see a great outlook in the prospect. The cubs did. See what happens in the next 2 weeks. If they fall back they can try to trade Joc for a prospect they like better. They have pitching and freeman is back. They aren’t finished yet.
My guess is this is an early attempt to avoid overpaying for better quality while waiting to see if they can hang in the race. If they fall back, they’ll probably still end up as sellers, if they hang on, they may upgrade
People saying they should be buying because the division is in reach are missing the big picture.
Even if they manage to win the East, this team is not equipped to compete in the playoffs. I’m sure someone will hit me with the anything can happen in the playoffs perspective and it’s not entirely wrong but the likelihood this team makes any real noise is very slim.
Win or lose the NL East, this team simply isn’t that good. Let’s hope they don’t buy any more.
Let’s hope if they buy more, they aren’t rentals but players with control through 2022 at least. Someone like Gallo would be good.
There’s an option for 2022 in Pederson’s contract so he may not just be a rental..
MJ: Anyone can compete in the short season of the playoffs once they get there. Any team can get hit. No such thing as “can win 90 but can’t win a short series vs another team”. No such thing. That’s the point you’re missing.
Did I miss the point?
I straight up said I expect someone to hit me with the “anything can happen in the playoffs” perspective and admitted it’s not entirely wrong.
But this isn’t the team to bet on. That’s a fools errand who makes decisions off of hopes and wishes and miracle runs rather than a rational assessment of this teams capability.
Look at it this way, you “could” win big if you go to Vegas and bet your life savings on black. Just because something could happen doesn’t mean you go after it
The only one missing the point here is you Cosmo2
MJ: yea I see your point now. I missed that part of your second paragraph.
It’s starting!!!!!!
I was wondering when.
Speaking of Xabial. That’s who MetsBoy22 reminds me of. A dude that literally just wants to cause problems on here. No real opinions. Nothing really to say. Just an obnoxious “fan” who bumped his head too many times.
He didn’t like me very much. Poor little fella
WHAT?! You mean a sell off?! Because hun, that just aint gonna happen sugar! The Cubs traded Joc away to make room for a new left fielder they are going to trade for. The Cubs are buyers and they like what they see in the store! CUBS ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!
Maybe Cubs win WS in 2085 season!!!
alright its trade time
Been trade time for Brewers and Jays.
yeah but not the classic player-prospect sort of swap that highlights deadline moves
It starts…
I’ve always been a supporter of Joc
Ironically, jocks are also great for support.
But is it ironic?
I think everyone who misuses that should be called Alanis the rest of the day.
Alanis Morrissette says it is.
She also says you’re uninvited.
I’ll hold that too!
Never liked the hot dog
I wonder if the Cubs threw in a little cash.
Probably upset the Cash family if they did.
According to Buster, no.
Pretty good then. More cash to give up to try and see if they can wrest away a Top 100 for the bigger trade chips they have.
It begins…
Get it, Jed!
LOL! This team should not be buying. This actually makes me happy. Give all your prospects away!
cmon man. the Braves can do without Bryce Ball.
He’s Freeman’s replacement…means they will extend Freeman most likely.
Ball’s 23 and in A+ ball producing mediocre results. i cant imagine they were banking on him.
Sure darkside, 23 years old, OPS over 1000, and 13 HRs and 38 RBIs in about 150 ABs. But to you, that’s mediocre. Lol. He just turned 33 a couple weeks ago.
Oops, that was in Rookie ball, my bad.
No, they weren’t banking on Ball, but he was a High-A prospect that got an invite to spring training and impressed camp. Aside from Ball, only Backstrom (#27) is listed as a 1B in their Pipeline top-30, meaning they had little 1B depth, and just got less. Yes, 1B is much easier to fill than most, but it’s interesting that they just traded away the closest 1B replacement for Freeman.
Ball is struggling. If they seen him being a above average player and soon they wouldn’t have traded him for Joc. Cubs see something in him and can afford to wait. Will see how it turns out.
Ball is 23-years-old and limited strictly to first base or DH (it’s coming) if he reaches The Show. He turned a lot of heads with as hot a start as you can two years ago, but is struggling after missing all of last year like everyone else.
He won’t even be in the major league conversation until at least 2023, likely later, and again has to hit enough to stick as he’s a first-base only type.
Could be a nice piece for the Cubs in a few years, but he has absolutely no bearing on the futures of Freeman or Rizzo.
A couple of months into a season after a year-plus layoff shouldn’t alter a club’s view of him. ATL really liked Ball and I think this signals something else than giving up on Ball (for a rental and a snowball’s chance in Hades at anything significant this year).
First base only. Old for his level. Plenty of reasons to be skeptical about Ball…. Or he could be the next Ken Phelps, I suppose.
Yeah and how’s Lindor working out for you?
He laughs now but when the Braves play the Mets, Joc is due for a tear and I don’t mean the crying kind.
LOL, here comes MetsFan22 – he’s terrified of the Braves! Anytime there is a Braves post, MetsFan22 starts ranting. Wait till he gets warmed up, he’s hilarious!
Lindor’s working out pretty well. His defense alone makes him one of the best SSs in baseball. Hitting is coming around. I full well expect this contract to be an albatross sooner rather than later but for now, despite his struggles, Lindor has been quite valuable.
Yes. Because if recent history taught us anything, it’s that a 3 game lead is 100% safe. The Mets would never blow that in the NL East. May as well wave the white flag.
Are you trying to convince us, Metsfan22… Or are you just nervous after declaring the division over in June? Feels like the latter to me.
The Mets are a good club, but the division is winnable for a few other teams.
Bryce Ball’s ceiling is Matt Adams, and he’s blocked by Freddie.
I’m not sure the Braves will make the playoffs without Acuna.
But I’m sure the Mets will finish no better than 3rd in the NL east.
MARK MY WORDS!
That’s not a very good ceiling. He’s definitely not a future replacement for rizzo at all not even it he hit .400 between Double A and Triple A
Finally someone with a brain. The Mutts front office are too busy updating their camera phones to get on the phone and improve their mediocre club.
Wow!
Solid addition to the Braves.
Braves gave up too much for 3 months of a struggling Joc Pederson
Agreed
Ball is a one year wonder
Lol delusional.
Ball has no future in Atl.
Ball is blocked by Freddie, sadly he will now be blocked by Rizzo
DH is probably coming
Ball more than likely never amounts to a good starting player. I hope the cubs pay good money to keep rizzo but the smart thing is to let him leave and I wouldn’t rule it out.
If the Cubs tear to the studs again the entire fan base should revolt. It’s complete incompetence. They aren’t a small market team, and nearly every other similar market competes regularly. No excuse for it. They’ll keep charging for the tourist dollar…and it’s what’s hurting the game.
No way
Says to me Freeman will finish his career in ATL
@inkstainedscribe you came to that conclusion from trading away a failing barely inside the top 30 prospect who is years away from the majors?
Just getting out of the 22 buyout was a win for Chi …Balls just gravy
Jed Hoyer doing his best impression of Rick Hahn fleecing an NL east team for a washed up outfielder
Ball is hitting .207. Learn your baseball.
Getting anything of value for Joc is good for Chicago since he’s a rental and the Cubs are about to tear it all down and sell.
He might be hitting 207 and his other numbers aren’t great either, but that’s somehow good enough for a wRC+ of 112? Is that a super pitcher friendly league?
23 in high a ball ( no pun ) for whatever that’s worth
Lol.Batting Avg. GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
Oh boy, another tool bag who likes to talk crap on people who value batting average. Get a life.
Normally batting average is that indicative of value , but at his age you would hope he was dominating in high A ! Maybe he will be a late bloomer though
Batting average, is this the 80s?
Ball was in the top 20 prospects for the Braves… Having an off year last year and a bum year this year, it sounds like a guy who could benefit from a change of scenery.
That could happen he’s. A lotto ticket with many possibilities! Also possible each step up in competition going forward will lead to even bigger struggles or overwhelming him ! He won’t be the most talented prospect to flame out in the minors or the least talented to find his niche at a much older age then projected
Fangraphs has him as Brave’s #10 prospect.
Getting a flyer on a guy that at least some project as a minor leaguer and the.control that comes with it while not having to pay down any of the joc salary apparently is a win for the Cubs !
And Christian Pache was one of the top prospects in the game and flamed out in the league and is batting something like .061 in Triple A. So yeah, prospect rankings are the be all end all of a player.
Fleeced them for Freeman’s replacement in return for 3 months of Joc!
Freeman isn’t going anywhere
He is old. Not worth new paper.
You just like to hear yourself talk man. I’m a Phillies fan and even I think what you just said was stupid.
-0.2 WAR this year, replacing Acuna’s 3.6 WAR, yikes
Presumably he’ll be better with a better lineup surrounding him, but yeah…he’s not replacing Acuna. That’s impossible. He’s replacing the AAA backup that would be starting had the Braves not made a trade.
How much better is the Braves’ lineup sans Acuna?
The Cubs lineup was putrid of late. The Acuna-less Braves lineup is still better than the Cubs.
Except the lineup really isn’t better.
Given what the Braves have in Gwinnett, Joc is an upgrade. But for $4M between remaining salary and buyout, this is on AA for not having a cheaper -0.2 WAR veteran replacement in AAA.
Yesssssss
Not the player I thought Cubs would deal but a solid player.
He’s below replacement level.
Only slightly below replacement… Lol
Really hate trading Ball but he’s stinking it up in the minors this year (although killing it to get on base). With the NL DH likely in the picture in the future, great pickup for the Cubs cause that’s all Ball will be good for. Can’t field at all. That said, Braves must feel good that Freeman is coming back, cause other than Riley converting to 1st, not much 1B talent in the minors.
Not much infield offense in the minors at all. Agree that there may be no place to hide Bryce Ball in the field… he is awkward. That likely soured the Braves.
True. I’ll say this though, watch him crush it. He’s struggling this year, but that will change. You don’t find pure raw hitters like Ball often. But like we said, dude can’t field :/
Fangraphs has him at 50 FV Defensively . I’ll take their opinion over yours.
Maybe Ball has simply had a rough 50 games to start 2021… this year at Rome is all I have to go on.
The Cubs have no real prospects at 1B anywhere in their system. Ball will get a solid chance to prove himself. Missing 2020 probably hurt him a lot. It will be interesting to see if the Cubs assign him to High-A or regular-A.
I’m not really sure why having a stationary player single position player in any DH slot is seen as an advantage when that player isn’t anywhere near average at the plate. There’s a lot better ways to utilize that roster slot.
whattt Ball
Bryce Ball; 6’ 6” 240lbs.; Cubs should flip him to the Bears as a tight end prospect
Wonder if this signals Rizzo’s fate when his deal is up
Or when they trade him
Bryce Ball doesn’t signal anything for anyone on the ML roster.
Bryce Ball is a future DH.
For Iowa.
Bryce Ball is a steep price to rent Joc
A player that has no future with the team is certainly not a steep price.
Just because he doesn’t have a clear path to an MLB job doesn’t mean the asset, the prospect, was used in the best way to maximize value….
Ball is a whole lotta nuttun’….OTOH, Pederson isn’t much better. Surprised the Braves are accepting the contract (about 2M left) as is.
Pederson was huge for the Dodgers in the playoffs last season. IF the Braves actually make the playoffs, they might be happy to have a “replacement level” player like Joc.
Profile seems like lottery ticket version of Joc/Schwarber. Suppose you get whatever you can with rental trade chips.
All things considered the Cubs did well in this deal. They aren’t going anywhere, and Pederson would have been bought out after the season any way. Ball at least has potential. I think either Baez or Arrieta are next.
Was not expecting that…
Ball has potential – JOC is .230 74k in under 300AB with declining power and speed. Cubs realized he was worse than the other reject Hayward.
Joc saves them remainder of $4.5m
Why do the Cubs need to save money? They are a top 5 revenue team.
Greed
Right. Not like Saint Reinsdorf.
With Ball going back that has to be a sign that the FF deal is close.
Here we go
Better than what I expected they’d get for Joc. Looks like he has a ton of power and will take a walk. Most likely ends up as a DH or PH.
Ball is a long way from even getting to AA if does not turn around his current numbers
True, but to save $4M, the Cubs will be thrilled if he gets to AA a year from today.
Just when you thought the Braves were out they pull off biggest deal of the trade season.
Bryant is next.
From what I’ve researched about Ball, this is a huge over-pay for a rental like Pederson. First of all, Pederson has proven again with the Cubs what LA knew: he’s strictly a platoon guy and even at that, he still is a .230 hitter!
I’m shocked that Braves are buying and that Cubs got this guy for him.
Low K totals, walks, and over 1.000 ops first two full seasons in minors!
Good job Jed! If he can get this for Pederson, I feel like Cub fans will be happy with other trades coming soon.
I’d tend to agree with you. Ball may not be a future star and he can’t field, but there would seem to be some decent potential in his hit tool. Great raw power (not as much this season, but it is still there) and has showed some good plate discipline. Nice get for the Cubs. I’m not sure I like it very much for the Braves, but hey at least they are doing something instead of giving up.
Big move in name only. Braves aren’t serious contenders without Acuna. I expect a few more small buys for the Braves but they won’t go all in, nor should they.
They weren’t serious contenders with Acuna.
Joc doesn’t move the needle at all, not with his current negative 0.2 WAR.
I like the move. I liked having Joc on the squad. Seemed like a good, fun player. Wish we would have played better and were buying, but this was smart. Hope he does well for the Braves and gets a nice deal this off-season. As for Bryce Ball, 60 power grade. 6-6, 240. 12th ranked prospect. Not bad for 3 months of Joc. I think both sides should be happy with this move. Buckle up Cubs fans. Gonna be an interesting 2 weeks.
Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel to the Astros will be next
Dream big and prepare to be very disappointed
For what ?
No thanks. Astros don’t have any prospects. It would have to be minimum 5 for 2 deal. 2 of them being 2 top 10 prospects.
For two rentals who aren’t what they used to be, idk about that
Finally, a win for Hoyer the Destroyer
Rizzo trade incoming. Ball has been good in the minors. Figure he would take over 1st
He’s a couple years away.
Ball has not been good in the minors. He looks awful.
Actually he’s looked very good until this season. 24th round choice 22 years old. He still has a mountain or two to climb. Cubs needed to start rebuilding farm. I wouldn’t expect him to hit majors for another three years if ever. I believe just getting out from under the remainder of the contract was enough. This deal was a win for the Cubs and if Joc hits for the Braves and helps them to pass the Mets a win for the Braves as well. Cubs are entering a rebuild phase. They weren’t going to win with or without Joc.
He’s playing at single A. He’s not taking over anything any time soon.
Reading the comments above take me back to the mlb prospect page when everyone talked up every prospect. Ball is a DH type who has been awful in A+ ball
He has “potential” to turn it around – where JOC is never going to improve his ship has sailed. plus cubs are off the hook on remainder of 4.5m and 10m next season
Claiming a streaky power hitter is done when he’s still fairly young & not hurt is hilarious
Joc has more potential than any other AAA guy to get hot for 2 months and rake. He’s done it A LOT in his career. The Braves are hoping he hits a hot streak or 2, and helps win a fairly winnable division
if he was, say, 21, I would agree, but those numbers at ~23 in A+ are concerning, and personally there isnt enough of a track record for me to believe this is an abbhoration.
Were you trying to use the term “aberration?”
aw, that’s adorable. He’s trying to use big words.
dawg even I, bullish on the Braves rebuild as I was, wouldnt talk up someone like Ball.
As a Braves fan, I love this move! Pederson doesn’t replace Acuna’s production, but he’s a solid player who adds some power to the order.
enjoy 74k’s every 280 ABs and declining glove and speed. sure he will hit a HR here and there – I think they could have done better
Eh, I can live with the Ks. They got him for someone of no value in Atlanta. I’m happy with it.
For Ball? Not likely.
Agree , he will help the middle of the order, but looking at the other OF-ers production & Pederson’s splits, he alone is not enough.. Pretty sure AA is not finished yet. – the next few days should be interesting.
No way he was Freddie’s replacement. Can’t field 1B worth a lick. Granted we really don’t have a 1B prospect in line to replace Freddie but Ball’s defense was no way going to get him to play 1B at a major league level. I’m ok with Joc was hoping for Peralta though from Arizona.
He was just started to grow on me. Is Bryce Ball any good?
Good no. But he has power and no reason he can’t improve.
Flashing power in rookie ball doesnt indicate power to me. He might have just overmatched the league.
Braves shooting for 90 wins again and an early exit from playoffs. Status quo
81 wins and a new GM.
Attaboy AA, Keep on going. Go Braves!
Ball isn’t going to take over for Rizzo, not right now. He’s only in high A. Maybe in a couple of years he turns into something that could replace Rizzo. Cubs get Braves #12 prospect, for a rental they weren’t going to re-sign. I’ll take it, couldn’t really expect anything more.
There’s an option with Joc’s contact. Not sure if it’s void after being traded.
Nah it isn’t void, it’s part of a contract.. But it’s a mutual option, so both sides have to agree to next year, not just one
With a 2.5m buyout
Not voided but it is a mutual option; they rarely get picked up.
And the 2021 trade deadline begins..
I like Joc
Thoughts and prayers to Joc Pederson. I certainly wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, unless they went to Duke.
Brizzo is next then Kimbrell back up truck slubz are done lmao
2112—-school starts in a month…..you better get in line for the “Hooked on Phonics” sale.
Bryzzo* I get it. You hate the cubs but at least spell the name right. And I don’t think Rizzo is traded.
And Kimbrel………..I tried to be kind and respond to him as “2112”. The whitesox part of the name would have been too easy to lead to names spelled incorrectly.
Just wondering…do Cubs fans troll every White Sox story posted or is this a SoSide problem.
Dogbone is a one man trolling operation on Sox articles. There are more than a few trolls on Cubs articles.
There are no Sox trolls on Cubs articles for me—-I figure if they are clearly trolling (easy to pick out) it’s a simple click of the mute button. I am all for other opinions on the Cubs, and I get it, there are many.
But if it’s not constructive, I don’t have to waste my time any longer because those comments (those commenting) don’t show up any more.
We’ve made society today a place where the unemployed can stay unemployed and be better off. I’m just trying to do my part to get those trolls off the couch and into the real world. Not sure if they ever will, but once nobody is answering their jibberish they may realized they have been muted by everyone.
How do you mute responses?
Seems like the Cubs are getting a prospect at a position that is thin across the organization. Good move. Braves are getting ???? A wild card run ?
Braves just got hosed for $4.34 million and a prospect.
No, they didn’t. Ball probably can’t field 1B, so you tell me what value he has in Atlanta, Nutter?
It’s a good trade for the Braves.
Grats to Jed but let the Braves & Joc play out the season before we declare this boat sunk. Good chance Ball never sees the Bigs, statistically speaking o/c
@bts the Braves have zero chance at a wildcard. The division though…
Jesus, I’d rather have him than Frenchy Cordero
Beep Beep Beep…that’s the truck backing up to empty the Cubs dumpster. All kidding aside..looks like they got a high ceiling low floor type prospect.
So Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos just gave up a prospect, and ate $4.34 million for an outfielder sporting a negative WAR of 0.2…..Hope he is working on his resume.
Dude, the Rockies traded Arenado and gave them 50 million to boot for 5 crappy players. Gomber hasn’t been bad but there is no way that the players the Rox got could even hold Arenados’ jockstrap. Talk about a fleecing.
I was hoping Zaidi would go get Joc.
Come on Zaidi, are you going to make moves or what?
Why in the wide world of sports would you want Joc on the Giants? Right now, Yaz, Duggar, and Dickerson, are all better than Pederson. Slater is having a down year, but I’d still take him over Joc. And given that they’re mostly infielders, the fact that both Wade and Estrada can play the OF, makes me believe that adding Pederson would be a down-grade. I’d even prefer Dubon being recalled over acquiring Joc.
Ball is 6’6″-240lb. Lefty Bat with legit 60-grade Power, He was 24th-round pick in 2019, and shot all the way up to the Braves 12th-rated prospect after his .329/.395/.628 debut season! He’s struggled mightily this year tho, after spending last year at the Alternate site, and the recently turned 23-year old will never replace Freeman in Atlanta, but has the kind of raw pop a trading team could at least dream on!
Rizzo, Bryant and Baez are gonna realize they shoulda taken the contract offers that were very fair adios boys thanks for the memories
Bryant was never offered an extension. Rizzo was low balled.
Hopefully this trade of Joc means. Brennan Davis is called up. He’s 100% ready. He proved that in the futures game.
Rizzo is an aging, injury prone 1B. The Cubs offered him market value.
He’s only 31. That’s not exactly aging.
Being 31 makes no difference. You can’t hit or generate power with lower back issues. He’s aging, and his numbers reflect that.
Why call Davis up now? SMH.
Billy: Stop yourself.
Davis is not ready. He just got to AA. Do you not remember how Corey Patterson (1.3 draft pick) flamed out because he was rushed through the system and couldn’t stop swinging at eye-high fastballs.
Also, why would you start his service time now, before a likely work stoppage, for a team going nowhere?
Corey Patterson was going to win Rookie of the year until he destroyed his knee. It wasn’t being rushed that ruined him it was injury.
Patterson was called up in ‘01. He was up in ‘02. ROY no. MVP at the pace he was going yes. But still would’ve lost to Bonds.
Rizzo, Bryant, and Baez are probably happy they get to leave that dumpster fire.
Bryce Ball’s nickname is ‘walk’.
We’re having a fire! Sale!
Predict the next Cub to go:
Bryant
Rizzo
Javy
Kimbrel
Willy
Happ
Chafin
Tepera
[Other]
Rizzo and Willson absolutely need to stay. They won’t get 4 players for Contreas. They don’t need a complete tear down. Fire sale isn’t needed now or this winter. They have no backups in the OF. Happ won’t be traded unless Brennan Davis is called up.
No one is trading for javy
Smoke and mirrors just BS
Smoke and mirrors just BS was no one else available
What is going on this is crazy
AA didn’t want him at the beginning of the season trying to save his job Braves still suck
Joc took the Cubs deal to play everyday, allegedly. The irony here is he would be playing everyday in RF for the first place White Sox, had he took their offer instead.
Have fun with the early offseason in ATL.
White sox refused to pay him 10mil. So he took the cubs 7mil $ offer. He wouldn’t be starting at all. You can’t predict Robert and Eloy being both out for nearly the entire season. Eloy is rehabbing but Robert is done until spring training ’22
The Cubs gave him more like $9M, they just shoved $2.5M of it into a “mutual option” that was just deferring it for a few months so that an acquiring team would be responsible for it.
Uh, last I checked, neither Eloy nor Robert play RF. It’s a safe bet Joc would have been the lone RF on this team. There would have been no need to sign Eaton. Engel has missed most of tge season, do RF would have Pederson’s to lose.
Way 2 go AA!
Here’s my Cubs trade predictions (with no specific prospects mentioned):
Kimbrel to Red Sox for prospects
Rizzo to A’s for prospect and Mitch Moreland
Bryant to Yankees for Andujar and prospects
Longshot trade hope, Hendricks and Heyward to Padres for low level prospect and wil Myers
I think Cubs hang on to Contreas and try and extend Baez.
What is Heyward owed still? We’re listening…
“ Longshot trade hope, Hendricks and Heyward to Padres for low level prospect and wil Myers”
Hahahahaha. You’re clearly a Padre fan. Wow
I’m actually a Cubs fan just dying to get rid of Heyward lol they can take their pick of players to get the last 2 years of that albatross contract off the books. Plus he’s a waste of a roster space and has been the whole time he’s been in chicago. I actually thought it sounded like a good deal. Padres could use another solid pitcher whose on a team friendly contract for multiple years and they’ve been said to want to get rid of Myers contract (or Hosmer) so either one would work to offset some of Heywards incoming contract
you underestimate how bad that Heyward contract is
They needed to do something and they did something. Get back Travis now. This team “I’m hoping” will fight the rest of this year.
Anyone hear anything on Ozuna? There was a report of him saying when video evidence comes out the police will owe him an apology.
I’ve been wondering the same thing about Ozuna. He would’ve come off the IL by now for his broken fingers.
I wouldn’t touch Ozuna or his case with a 100′ pole. He’s done this year but with all the millions of $ on his contract due, who knows who will remember what, & who will forget what. American justice has changed leaps & bounds recently.
I said it long ago joc Peterson for Jace Peterson. Use the remaining uniforms.
Joc’s last name is Pederson.
Amazing
Amazing another salary dump!
Braves need Outfielders and Joc at least has some power
Hoyer is a terrible GM who is way in over his head. The Cubs are in for more years of bottom dwellers as in the past
Just curious. Are you basing that off this trade? He’s only been GM for a year so I’m wondering what you’re basing that on. Seems like a hot take but Ill give you the benefit of the doubt.
Joc Peterson is not the difference maker they need if they’re serious about a run… I don’t know how you can even play a lefty who can’t hit righties aside from the occasional homer. And why take on that additional year of contract? The prospect isn’t that good.
Big Baller Brand Bryce Ball
As a Phils’ fan, I have been pretty impressed with Anthopoulos’ tenure as the Braves’ GM but this one is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Braves have stumbled all year long and Acuna & Soroka injuries sunk their season. Good GM makes the tough call and knows when not to throw potential useful resources on some very slim odds of making the playoffs.
I guess it also means the Braves are giving to give Freeman a huge extension which will be a big mistake for a franchise that won’t spend at Top 5 levels either.
they got a band-aid for a lottery ticket. it makes sense imo.
This wasn’t a lottery ticket. That is a prospect outside of the Top 20 and/or very young (18/19) who is largely unproven in competitive baseball even at a low level in the minors.
I’m sorry to see Bryce go. I think the Braves sold low on him. Joc at least gives the Braves a starting OF’er while they decide whether they are buyers or sellers.
This is for the ppl in the back:
GO GET GALLO!!!
Not sure if I want to see the Braves make a run at him or not, depends on the price. If Texas would take Kyle Wright and a prospect outside the Braves top 20, maybe.
Wonder if everyone on the Cubs will be traded at the deadline.
Start of the trade season? Nah Brewers Jays been at it for awhile. Surprised the cubs got this much. Not that much though. Ball WAS their number 12 prospect. Still good for Joc. Surprised the braves took on his salary? Nope. I was surprised when they did it with Melancon.
A for the cubs. They dumped salary and got anything back and its better than anything.
C for Braves. Hate to give lower because they needed someone and its a name the fans know. Could they not find anyone better? And or cheaper? Or got cubs to eat some money?
And let the fire sale begin!
Sorry bro @BillyBaggins
World Champions. Team of the decade. Most successful franchise of the century.
Los Angeles Dodgers…you’re right!
Joc…let the unloading continue. This guy was just awful with a few shining moments.. I watched him in left field…he routinely misplayed balls over his head. When he jumped, his feet never left the ground for gosh sakes. I could go on..sometimes he was at leadoff; averaging about 2 career SB per year. Thats slow. But what the hay, lineups dont matter anymore anyway.
The hope for the Braves is that they get the Joc version of 2018, 2019 and 2020 post season, where he absolutely rakes RH pitching. And for a cheap salary if he does rake. Defense has never been his strong point.
Yes. The Braves have to hope. Joc did feast on hitting 2018 and 19. He had the advantage of pretty damn good hitters around him too. Accordingly, Joc got to see some pretty meat pitches. He even had Puig out there to deal with.
I think the Braves still add another outfielder. They were said to be looking to trade for an outfielder before Acuna got hurt. Their entire starting outfielder from the start of the season isn’t there. Ozuna got hurt & arrested. Pache couldn’t hit & now Acuna’s done for the season. They honestly probably still need another outfielder
I liked the signing of Joc, although I didn’t agree with Schwarber being released as there wasn’t much difference between the two players. With both coming off bad 2020 seasons, I feel like it made more sense to keep the homegrown product that you won a world series with, and obviously that decision looks even worse after that crazy stretch Schwarber had up until his injury.
As for the trade itself, I’m happy that they actually traded Joc as I thought they may hold on to him while they reconstruct the roster. Not because he was good or worth hanging on to, but because he’s cheap. With that said, holy hell was he tough to watch most of the time. Outside of his hot stretch when he came back from injury, he hasn’t looked like he deserved to be on a ML roster. Braves fans will surely feel like they’re at a little league game yelling at their kid to keep their eyes on the ball with Pederson, whose eyes are in the 1st base stands before his bat even leaves his shoulder.
Schwarber wasn’t released. He was non-tendered. Therefore he played out his contract. Know it’s nitpicking, but just wanted to be clear.
Comments like this are why the Cubs are going to trade Rizzo
Tf you saying? Makes no sense @csamson11
I think he meant that because Schwarber walked for nothing, and there should be no way in hell they offer Rizzo a Q/O, that they will trade him instead of just letting him walk.
Well actually I was just joking with you in response to the nitpicking comment, as in they’re going to trade Rizzo because of your nitpicking comment of my post.
Lol @ the comments on the linked article about the Pederson to Angels trade falling through. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to not have to see Koamalu anymore. Who the heck calls other commenters “peons?”
Keep pushing Cubs, I want to see an epic Sale the next 2 weeks here
Keep pushing Cubs, I want to see an epic Sell job the next 2 weeks
Cubs are finally getting some Balls.
This looks like a decent return for someone I thought of as a payroll dump.
Way too much to give up for a below replacement level rental player. Awful trade for the Braves.
Makes absolutely no sense for the Braves.
Peterson flat out sucks. Is this the Acuna replacement they think is going to power them to the top of the East?
If you are going to buy, go all the way and go after a Starling Marte as a replacement. Peterson is not good.
Seems like a solid return for the Cubs. Surprised at the Braves. I know they can’t fully replace Acuna’s production, but I thought they’d go bigger than Pederson.
Keep adding pieces. Fans are coming out to the ballpark and they support this team. Hey Liberty Media, SELL THE BRAVES!!! We desperately need private ownership before the pandemic they actually made money. This nickel and dime approach handcuffs them when it really matters.
Taking on the remaining almost $2m plus the $2.5m buyout on the option for a below average player doesn’t seem like a nickel and dime approach to me. I’m sure they could have ponied up a better prospect and had the Cubs retain the salary instead. Seems like they used money here rather than prospect capital. Whether any of it is wisely spent on Pederson, I’m not sure. But I don’t know if I would call ownership and management cheap in this case.
I’m speaking in general. The team needed a True outfielder with Acuna going down and Ozuna out in left field that’s why I’m ok with the Joc deal. Braves outfielders this year sans Acuna have been horrible. Snit didn’t have many options that’s why you seen Arcia and adrianza out there. Both are infielders. Having a true outfielder out there is a leg up.
Bad move he stinks should just go with younger players and see what comes out of it.Stay away from Mazara too.
Mazara is only 26 and is still by definition a “young player”. Honestly the right coaching staff and the right situation should get him back on track though it maybe something better done at the minor league level
Just because he’s young doesn’t mean he has more potential than he’s shown. He’s been around a while and has been consistently not good, what more needs to be seen? At some point you have to evaluate a player based on what they’ve done and put the blind hope away.
If Joc had -.9 defensive bWAR in the Cozy Confines, what does that bode for his play in Atlanta’s much more expansive left field? I’m not sanguine about his prospects.
So hilarious that when he was a Cub, Joc was constantly dissed as a hitter. Now that he’s in Atlanta, the analysts are so positive it was a good move for Braves & Cubs just selling off everyone.
Just like Bryce Ball’s 20/80 ratings are suddenly worse now that he’s on the Cubs.
He goes from #12 with Braves to #29 with Cubs? Is their farm that much better than Braves?