The Braves and Diamondbacks agreed to a one-for-one player swap late last night. The Diamondbacks sent veteran catcher Stephen Vogt to the Braves in exchange for first baseman Mason Berne, per the Diamondbacks.
The Braves are in veteran acquisition mode after picking up Joc Pederson from the Cubs, and now Vogt from the Diamondbacks. The Braves have been in full-on carousel mode behind the dish ever since starter Travis d’Arnaud went down with a torn ligament in his hand in early May.
In terms of their catcher-of-the-future types, Alex Jackson also landed on the injured list at the same time as d’Arnaud with a strained hamstring, and William Contreras hit just .204/.278/.387 across 158 plate appearances before being sent back to Triple-A.
Vogt will join veterans Jonathan Lucroy and Kevan Smith on the Braves’ active roster. Jeff Mathis also saw a few games of action earlier this season, but he failed to register a hit in three games. Lucroy is also a new addition, having played just two games in Atlanta this year. Smith, meanwhile, may not be long for the roster after slashing .197/.274/.227 in 69 plate appearances. Bringing in both Lucroy and Vogt over the last couple of days suggests the Braves don’t see much long-term utility in Smith as they try to remain in the hunt for the National League East crown.
As for Vogt himself, he does bring the added value of being able to play elsewhere in the field, which would enable the Braves to hold three catchers on the roster if they so chose. The 36-year-old veteran has hit .212/.307/.386 this across 151 plate appearances this season, starting 35 games for the Snakes.
The Braves are nowhere near the luxury tax, so that’s not a concern for them, though Vogt is playing on a one-year, $3.5MM contract, so he’s affordable regardless. He will be a free agent at the end of the year.
In exchange for a couple months of Vogt, the Diamondbacks are getting a 25-year-old infield prospect in Berne. The 33rd round draft pick signed for $10K out of UNC in 2018, and because of the pandemic, Berne doesn’t have much professional experience to speak of. He has appeared in just five games in rookie ball for the Braves this year, and considering his age, the first baseman is little more than a flyer for the Diamondbacks.
Braves just trying to make Braves fans think they are trying to stay competitive when they aren’t actually addressing anything. The Pederson move kinda falls in the same boat, yes OF needs a bat, but Pederson isn’t that bat lol! If there is any shot we make the playoffs, they need to upgrade the lineup a lot and really need to zero in on the bullpen. But I think they are out of it. Look to trade Morton, Smyly, even Freeman, maybe Smith in the very near future! Yes I said Freeman… here comes the loyalist with their irrational reasons to not attempt to trade him at all when the Braves refuse to extend him…
These moves are for the next 10 days. Reassess after that and then make bigger moves or sell
I mean, fair. But this month is the one of the toughest stretches in baseball. It doesn’t take much to look at our lineup and the comp we are about to play, and see that we don’t have much of a shot.
Can’t never could, won’t never would.
Not sure where you would think the Braves don’t have a shot to make the playoffs? The Mets magic number is around 75.
The acquisition of Pederson addresses the immediate need for an outfield bat. They got Vogt for almost nothing, addressing catching depth, and bench hitter.
Pederson doesn’t address a need. It’s all smoke. He plays outfield, but from a production standpoint, he really doesn’t address that need and it’s outrageous to think so. And Vogt, yes cheap, yes depth… but we kinda already have had the exact same player behind the dish all season. Doesn’t hurt anything and not a “bad” move, but it’s really just smoke.
The Braves would have to go something like 43-29 to win the East (give or take my bad math on remaining games left). Essentially, they need to win 88 games to have a shot to make the playoffs. This team isn’t built to win that many games, much less win at that pace..
@bravesfan, in your opinion, do you feel Freemans ability is starting to tail off? Or is it, more so, for financial reasons that he may not be resigned?
Nope. I think he’s still an elite player. I don’t think he’ll resign because I don’t buy that liberty media / AA will fork out what it will cost to keep him. That said, I merely mean they won’t extend him before the season is over, leaving him fair game in the open market. That’s risky behavior for an organization that traditionally doesn’t spend money. So considering there is a high risk of losing him at the end of the season, it would be malpractice of the organization to not attempt to trade him. He prob has veto rights, but even if he wants to come back and will come back, surely he understands that the Braves trading him would bring in a really strong prospect or two.
He does have 10-5 veto rights, but I would imagine he could be talked into waiving them for the right team and if his family is ok with it. Honestly, I don’t see him doing it because of his family right now. To pick-up and make what could be a major adjustment (to almost all teams) could be a big personal life decision that he might not want to have to make until he needs to (i.e. end of season if extension talks don’t progress).
It is funny though, 2 trades and ATL has traded away both 1B in a farm where they have little to no 1B depth (b/c of years of Freeman).
That’s a good point Run. At the end of the day, we are talking 2-3 months if traded. He wouldn’t have to exactly pick up his family and leave quite yet. They could stay put and still resign at the end of the season. It would basically be a 3 month vacation at worse. Then, if we don’t resign him, he can move the family.
I think he resigns. You’re correct about this team not being spenders but I think being a Brave is important to him and his family. He’ll do as Chipper did and give the hometown discount. It will still be a big contract but no max so he can stay. Braves can afford to not sign him. He leaves and ticket sales will suffer. Both parties have a reason to get a deal done.
I don’t know. I think he’s going to re-sign instead.
They do have Greyson Jenista down in Mississippi. He hasn’t shown much but he could be the Braves future first base.
I don’t see Jenista making enough contact to be a major leaguer. He’s got some pop, and gets on base a decent amt, which may be enough to get him to the show. But he’s got to bring that average up to around .270 in the minors to prove he can handle big league pitching at a respectable note. Cause that avg will definitely sink one in the show. Backstrom is highly regarded by those a little more close to the system. We’ll see. I know nothing but stats on him.
The main problem with the Braves is their bullpen. They proved last night that they can score runs even without Acuna in the lineup. The bullpen continues to issue walks and blow leads. Had the bullpen done it’s job more this year, the braves would have a winning record. That is the area that needs work. The Mets can’t get on a roll and the Braves can’t take advantage of that. I do agree that after the Rays and Padres series the Braves will better know how to go about the rest of the season.
Exactly right. Focus on the pen
Braves beat writer (mlb.com) reported on this trade around 1am and reported Lucroy was designated for assignment. Hmmm….
Freeman will veto any trade. He owes the Braves nothing, especially after the lack of interest in getting something done before the season.
Pederson’s not a bad addition as a #3 outfielder, he’s never been a #1
Isn’t a #1 the same as a #3, since there are three outfielders?
They’ll resign Freddie. Count on it.
Everyone said “they will extend Freddie before the season.. count on it” all offseason… yet here we are. There isn’t a shred of evidence to suggest you’re right and all the evidence to suggest I am…
Braves have not refused to extend Freeman. The Braves have not played up to their potential yet. No one in the east is playing great. The next 2 weeks are big for Atl., N.Y., Phil. Braves have just a good of a chance to win the div. as anyone.
It’s July 18th and there has been no extension…. They have had months, years to accomplish this… yet refused too. It ain’t happening before the end of the season … high risk behavior to let a MVP walk to the open market. A trade would at least bring some value back our way and we still have the same odds of signing him at the end of the season no matter what.
I’m all about giving Braves front office hell. But you are one pathetic Braves fan. 4 games back and the Mets schedule is tough also. Freeman will absolutely be resigned. If you don’t believe that then you’re a dumb SOB. But if they don’t get a RP it won’t matter at all. The offense is just fine as you saw last night.
First, if you read the original comment and my comments after, you clearly see that I’m talking about extending him before the end of the season… it’s not a matter of if he will resign, it’s a matter of will he be extended before the end of the season. And you can call me an dumb SOB all you want, but unfortunately there isn’t a shred of evidence to support your argument and all the evidence in the world to support my argument. You’re the same guy who called me stupid for saying the Braves wouldn’t extend Freeman before the season… same exact guy. Lol. Yet here we are, half way through the season and it hasn’t happened. Seems I have a bit of a history of being right and you don’t good sir.. lol
Ya I’m sure AA just made a trade so fans would think that. Derp
Public perception dominates the sports world, media in general. You can derp it all you want… but unfortunately, it’s a real possibility. This is no different than a quick marketing campaign by any business. Hate to tell you that bud, but that’s how this business works
If the last night and tonight are any indication, the Braves are going to score runs. if the bullpen can hold a lead, the Braves are going to stick around all year. Good to see Joc go yard.
Maybe they can get Martin Maldonado from the astros and complete the “Former Brewer Catcher” trifecta
Let me guess. The braves gave up too much. Ball was hitting .200(A+ at 22), and he was the future 1B
Remain in the hunt for the NL East crown. Haha, funny.
Lucroy got DFA’d per MLB.com
AA is the Ken Nugent of MLB – “one call, that’s all” — don’t put someone on the waiver wire until you’ve given ole AA a ringa-ding-ding.
We believe in Stephen Vogt! But not the Braves.
The Mets are struggling against the Pirates. In August the Mets have an absolutely brutal stretch against the best teams in the game. There is no reason to think the entire NLE isn’t still in it.
Vogt is a great veteran rental addition. Hope he’s on what becomes a contending team.
I figured the White Sox would go after Vogt when Grandpa got hurt. He’s still on a better team now than he was yesterday.
Vogt is a band aid to cover up an amputation. It’s sad to keep seeing the BP blow so many games.
This trade sounds like a Sanders for President commercial: Vogt for Berne.
The Braves can score runs even without Acuna. They just can’t hold a lead with that sorry bullpen. Trade for some decent relief help, and this team would make the playoffs. There are trade pieces in the minors; for once, USE them and get some decent arms for the bullpen.
Bullpen help is going to be a hot commodity.
Using some of those trade pieces on the farm in the ML bullpen and dispatching some of the current cast would be worth a try first on a team short of the components to win a weak division flag.
The Braves are dead throw in the towel go for next year….
Braves pick up their second dog in two days… looks like they are tanking it to me, no chance these guys make the team better.
Vogt for Berne-good one.
Why didn’t the Braves add a few prospects to the Joc trade and get Contreras also? Do the Cubs consider Contreras untouchable out of all their available players?
They don’t need Contreras as much as they need Kimbrel, or Richard Rodriguez from the Pirates.
I don’t know about untouchable, but he still has some control left and with how shallow C depth is that might have more of a price on his head then other star rentals – while possibly also envisioning more of an extension with him as opposed to Bryant, Baez, Rizzo (if talks don’t progress). They can afford some of them, maybe not all of them.
Would be interesting if we got Kimbrel back for William Contreras-plus (?) I like him, but he’s gonna have to be perfect to unseat Shea Langeliers from “future C” status.
How about a arm for this leaky bullpen!!!!
The Joc Peterson and Vogt trades allow the braves to continue to develop prospects and not rush to the major leagues. It also clears up at bats for the new prospects that they just drafted. It allows the braves to create at bats at first base which also gives at bats for players at DH.
Send Pache to Pittsburg for Bryan Reynolds. Get Kimbrel from the Cubs. Bring up Wilson and put him in the pen, give him a try out of the pen.
Only if the Pirates believe Pache will hit.
C for braves. Doesn’t seem like this going to move the needle much but its a slight improvement.
A for Diamond backs. They cut salary and received a body.
The real problem here is twofold:
1. AA really made a mess of the offseason. If he tried to keep Melancon (who is having a career year), no one heard about it. Didn’t do much to resign Shane Greene, either. Thus, the bullpen went from way above average to less than mediocre.
2. Injuries and suspensions. The loss of Acuna and Ozuna really hurt. Then Pache couldn’t hit. That decimated the outfield, and the replacements are all pretty much average to below average. Then you lose starting pitchers like Soroka.
So, between front-office ineptitude and injuries, the Braves have too little left to compete.
Being that Melancon signed for 3 million, if if the braves made a effort it wasn’t much of one.
Melancon said numerous times he prefers the West Coast. He wasn’t signing back here period
100% correct. He had no desire to re-sign w/ the Braves at any amount. I believe he lives in Mexico in some beautiful estate he had built, so he wanted to be in San Diego, close to home.
I need a couple trophies in the near future. It’s not a successful rebuild if you don’t win any titles. Now I’ll wait for all the spoiled Yankees fans to call me “entitled” for wanting more than one championship in 55 years.
You aren’t the only one who feels that way, I assure you.
With all of the Catcher injuries this season i imagine whichever one of Lucroy or Smith is cut will not clear waivers
No big loss for Atlanta. This season is probably over and neither of them is part of the future here.
They should have kept Suzuki over Flowers, he can hit better than all of these guys, he calls a good game, sure, he won’t throw too many out but he’s better than all of Vogt, Lucroy and Smith. So many errors have been made, not to mention the depletion of depth in the bullpen, losing Melancon, losing O’Day, not signing Greene till way too late, he’s still doing spring training in MLB games. Just think about all the one run games the Braves have lost, not to mention the farce of extra innings games where you have little league lottery rules.. It’s such a ‘surprise’ that Manfred is getting rid of it in 2022, it should not have been here for 2021 either.
Going against the negativism here but so far Pederson & Voght have made Atlanta fun to watch again – if it wasn’t for failing bp. . Had a chance to win all 3 Rays games and blew 2 of them. Sure, Atl won’t replace Acuna in many ways, but its also nice not to have to watch his strikeouts. The two together will put up enough offense.to keep Atl in games. As I said earlier one more OF-er wouldn’t hurt since the only fixes to the pen may be converting AAA starters to relief. I credit AA in trying his best to give Atl a fighting chance, but more players need to step up. So far, I like the effort he’s putting in – way more than previous GMs.
Joey Gallo would cost a lot in prospects, but might actually fill a need. He won’t break the bank in 2022, so it’s not like he eliminate a Freeman extension. Acuna, Gallo, Freeman, Albies is a stout lineup for next year.