(Non-GT)Atlanta Braves Baseball....new beginnings

[Buzzforlife]

Here we go again....bell cow of the staff, approaching the eight digit salary range per season by 2019, 2020....has nice value...most experienced starter by far, and.......

The Braves will only trade right-hander Julio Teheran if they can get a major league hitter of similar quality and age in return, general manager John Coppolella told Rosenthal. “The days of us trading players like Teheran for prospects are over. We need to get better at the major league level. We would have to be overwhelmed to move Teheran,” Coppolella said. Teheran, 25, is off to a strong start this year (2.57 ERA, 8.43 K/9, 2.43 BB/9 in 63 innings) and is signed to a reasonable contract through 2020.

What if we end up with a couple of Hector Olivera's for him?

 

[Buzzforlife]

Nice to see 50,247 in attendance for a home game.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Braves defeat Giants today for win #15(in college football, that is a perfect season).

The Braves signed righty Dale Thayer to a minor league deal, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports. The 35-year-old was outrighted off the Padres’ roster last summer and chose free agency, signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers during the offseason but then opting out of that deal earlier this month. Thayer is represented by O’Connell Sports Management.

Thayer is coming off a bit of a down year in 2015, though he posted a 3.19 ERA, 7.9 K/9, 3.05 K/BB over 225 2/3 relief innings with the Padres over the last four seasons. He has been effective against hitters on both sides of the plate over his career, limiting right-handed batters to a .666 OPS and left-handed bats to a .720 OPS. Thayer should have an opportunity to pitch his way into the Braves’ bullpen, given that Atlanta relievers have a combined 4.51 ERA this season, the fifth-worst such mark in the majors.

 

[BornAJacket]

15 wins and they are still tied with Minnesota.

Looking over the other teams in MLB and I notice the Braves are only 1.5 games behind the Reds.

 

[GTJT622]

Braves just need to get the Marlins on the schedule more frequently. 5-1 vs Miami. 10-34 vs everybody else.

Miami really sucks.

 

[BornAJacket]

Braves just need to get the Marlins on the schedule more frequently. 5-1 vs Miami. 10-34 vs everybody else.

Miami really sucks.

Miami can't seem to beat the Braves. Only team that can't this year. But they are winning a few more against the rest of their schedule, it is odd for sure.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Double yawn....

Blue Jays Acquire Jason Grilli
By Steve Adams | May 31, 2016 at 5:47pm CDT

5:47pm: The Blue Jays and Braves have both announced the trade.

4:02pm: The Blue Jays and Braves have agreed to a deal that will send right-hander Jason Grilli from Atlanta to Toronto in exchange for right-hander Sean Ratcliffe is, reports Baseball Essential’s Robert Murray (links to Murray on Twitter). Additionally, he tweets that the Jays will pay Grilli the pro-rated portion of the league minimum for the remainder of the season, with the Braves paying the rest of his salary. Grilli has a base salary of $3.5MM, meaning Atlanta will still pay him $2.37MM, while the Jays are now on the hook for $344K plus a $250K buyout on his $3MM club option for the 2017 season. David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that the trade hasn’t yet been approved but does indeed sound to be close to fruition.

Grilli, 39, is off to a rough start to his 2016 campaign but would give Toronto an experienced arm to add to the back of its bullpen. In 17 innings this year, he’s posted a 5.29 ERA with 23 strikeouts against 13 walks (one intentional). That control has been Grilli’s primary undoing, but he enjoyed plenty of success in the Atlanta bullpen as recently as last season, when he logged a 2.94 ERA and 24 saves in 33 2/3 innings before an Achilles injury prematurely ended his season. Grilli is earning $3.5MM this season and has a $3MM club option with a $250K buyout for the 2017 season, so if he’s able to right the ship with the Jays as he nears his 40th birthday, he’ll be an affordable piece for next season.

While he’s struggled for much of the 2016 season, Grilli worked to a strong 3.07 ERA with 11.9 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and 72 saves from 2011-15 with the Pirates, Angels and Braves, so there’s some reason to believe that he could rebound with a change of scenery. Then again, his velocity is down more than two miles per hour from last season, and his ground-ball rate is at an all-time-low 18.9 percent this season — a bad trend to exhibit for any player, let alone one that is moving to the homer-friendly Rogers Centre in Toronto. The prospect price, though, isn’t exactly steep in this deal, and the Jays are taking on a just a small portion of Grilli’s salary, so the risk they’re taking on is rather minimal.

The 21-year-old Ratcliffe has yet to climb higher than Low-A ball in his career. Toronto selected him in the 18th round of the 2013 draft, and he’s posted a 4.91 ERA with 6.5 K/9 against 5.3 BB/9 in 62 1/3 professional innings.

 

[GTJT622]

Wow! I had no idea Grilli was almost 40 years old.

 

[BornAJacket]

Freeman walks off with a homer.

 

[Buzzforlife]

His 3rd walk-off in a young career.
11 inning win!

 

[stinger78]

Braves now at 16 wins! That's got them over 50 for the season projection!

Moving on up!

 

[BornAJacket]

Wow! I had no idea Grilli was almost 40 years old.

Radio guys said he is an awesome teammate and s signing autographs when the call came about the trade.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Rookie, Blair pitched four scoreless, then gave up six in the fifth inning. Only scoring in the game. Splitting with the Giants at home seems jubilant for morale purposes or confidence under Snitker.

Like I've said since the start of the season, teams are going to win 50 and lose 50 in a long season with so much parity involved. It's what you do with the other 50, or since the modern age came in-the other 62. The amount of wins don't bother me as much as the future should be the concern. The Braves are not challenging for the playoffs this season, and that is about all of which the major league fan will remember.

 

[GTJT622]

Get that overall #1 pick, Braves!!

 

[GTJT622]

Speaking of "picks", the MLB Draft is next week (June 9-11). Braves have a lot of picks in the first 2 rounds. Hoping they pick the tall lefty high schooler from Jersey with the 3rd overall pick.

 

[Buzzforlife]

If we're going to lose Taylor Trammell, let it be the Braves.
I.E.: Adam Wainwright. Just don't trade an all-star for a J.D. Drew.

 

[GTJT622]

One of several mock MLB Drafts FWIW... http://www.draftsite.com/mlb/mock-draft/2016/

Braves have the following picks...

1st (3rd overall)
1st (40th)
2nd (44th)
3rd (77th)

Braves should get some high quality talent with 3 of the first 44 picks. I like Groome, the 6'6" 220 pound lefty pitcher from Jersey. He could be just short of 20 years old when ready to break into the bigs in a couple or three years. The outfielder from Mercer, Lewis, is a sexy pick by some mockers.

Breakdown of mock picks for the Bravos: http://www.talkingchop.com/2016/6/2...e-2016-mlb-mock-drafts-for-the-atlanta-braves

 

[Buzzforlife]

Nice work packaging the "Braves Choices" for us. Appreciate the insight.

Personally, Lewis and Ray make since needing position players. We seem to usually draft pitchers all the way to the 10th round and talk about trading them later for hitting. Those picks cost the most against the budget or pool slotting.

Worried about who they package by July 31st to entice another club to take Olivera off their hands. I guess compounding one mistake into two, comes with the turf now.

 

[Buzzforlife]

I have a novel idea. Why not keep Markakis for the next two and 1/2 seasons? That way the Braves have a decent RF option and they won't have to pay another club his salary. Batting .242 will not continue, saber metrics indicate that hypothesis. No need to trade when value is low and you have enough prospects, who will be tough to protect during the upcoming Rule 5 drafts. However as Yogi Berra once said, "In baseball, you don't know nothing".

“A few teams” have checked in with the Braves on Nick Markakis, Heyman writes, but his recent skid at the plate hasn’t helped out his trade value much. Kelly Johnson, too, could become available, though Heyman adds that GM John Coppolella said of Julio Teheran that he expects the right-hander “to be on the team a long time.” From my vantage point, Markakis doesn’t have much value at $11MM per season and with apparently evaporated power. Even if the Braves were to pay down half of his remaining salary through the 2018 season, he hasn’t been productive enough to bring in a meaningful prospect return.
Greg Holland could take the mound in August, per Heyman, and he may wait until that point before deciding on a team. Both the Royals and Braves have shown interest to this point, he adds.

 

[Buzzforlife]

With the amateur draft approaching, this older article details the 11 Competetive Balance picks that would be available to trade for by the Braves:
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/b...draft-picks-here-are-the-best-trade-partners/

 

[Buzzforlife]

Braves acquire Jed Bradley(former Tech lefty)from the Brewers:
http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-trade-for-former-georgia-tech-left-hander/nrZJf/

 

[Buzzforlife]

Braves right-handed pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins will move to the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Manager Brian Snitker says the decision was made to “get him a different look,” not out of any displeasure with his work in the rotation. Jenkins, who came to Atlanta along with Shelby Miller in exchange for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden, has worked to a 2.97 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 over 57 2/3 innings on the year.

 

[stinger78]

16-39. 55 games in, and just over 1/3 done for the season. 16 wins.

Let that sink in. We may not break 50 wins this year.

Sad.

 

[GTJT622]

16-39. 55 games in, and just over 1/3 done for the season. 16 wins.

Let that sink in. We may not break 50 wins this year.

Sad.

The organization set out to lose and build for the future. The first part is being handled very well so far.

Setting a new home losing record would be funny. Not sad. At least to me. I mean, if you are set out to do something, then do it to the best of your abilities. The main objective is to nail down the first pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.

 

[Buzzforlife]

The draft is not top heavy for hitters starting on Thursday, but solid for the top 80 picks where the Braves have 5 selections as have been noted above. Braves have 13 mill. slotted to spend, plenty to get things done with. First time in 25 years they have had the third overall pick.

The franchise had one guy Peralta in the top 100 less than 2 years ago. They now have 7, the most in the game.

This compares to what KC, Houston, Phillies have done, only more drastic tearing it all the way down.

This also compares to Tech hoops next season. Amount of wins irrelevant, development and finding studs that can play are the focus.

Bark Madley has Tech Football going 7-5. Not that I think he even knows as much as me about it. The Coastal is better, however improvement shouldn't take years(especially in hoops and bases).

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Red Sox and Braves would match up well in a potential trade involving right-hander Julio Teheran, per Cafardo, who notes that Boston’s package would have to be headlined by outfield prospect Andrew Benintendi, infield prospect Yoan Moncada, third baseman Travis Shaw or catcher/left fielder Blake Swihart. Of that group, the Red Sox would prefer to give up Swihart, though Cafardo doubts he alone would be enough of a return for Teheran.

 

[GTJT622]

Amen to that. Teheran is worth a ton. The Braves should get at least a ton back and then some. Just be patient. Some other team in the race will offer up more than a ton as the season progresses. Still have just under 60 days to field interest.

 

[stinger78]

Amen to that. Teheran is worth a ton. The Braves should get at least a ton back and then some. Just be patient. Some other team in the race will offer up more than a ton as the season progresses. Still have just under 60 days to field interest.

Yes, but honestly...

how many more pitchers do we need?

 

[GTJT622]

8,537

Just a guess of course.

 

[Buzzforlife]

We drafted 24 pitchers in the first 31 rounds in 2015.
At least Tehran is getting ready for his premium years as a pitcher, with a reasonable contract.
His metrics are good, especially with some shoddy play behind him at times and poor run support never helps a hurlers psych.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Would love to see the Braves take a shot at drafting Matty Gonzalez from Tech, in around the 10th round. Pay him. Get him going at High A, then Mississippi by August.

Finished with 302 hits in his career(going into Florida game).

 

[Buzzforlife]

The Braves’ 23 homers is easily the lowest of any team in baseball, and Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription required) notes that the team also doesn’t have any burgeoning slugging prospects in the farm system. This lack of power is why Bradley feels the Braves will keep Hector Olivera once his domestic violence suspension is up, as Olivera at least displayed some home run-hitting ability in Cuba (though not yet in his brief MLB career).

 

[BornAJacket]

Can't win with pitchers if they have 0 run support. This single minded focus on pitching in the Braves organization needs to move along. There needs to be some balance in their approach.

Maybe they figure developing pitchers in the minors is more valuable, then when you need a bat, you can trade these pitching prospects for them???? maybe...

 

[Buzzforlife]

I feel like you do. Time to get some bats and mitts. When teams have a proven hitter, they balk at the potential of trading for a pitcher that is more likely to have an arm injury than a position player not performing for a year and a half.

Another thing I miss from the old days is when Scherholz signed Belliard, Bream and Pendleton. It made those young pitchers better by having defensive veterans behind them.

 

[BornAJacket]

I guess we will see what they do in this next draft. Just a few days until we get more indications on their target strategy.

 

[GTJT622]

I still prefer the tall high schooler LHP from Jersey (Groomes) with the first pick. If the Braves are going to go with a non-pitcher - though I admit unlikely if you believe the mockers - I'd love to see them take the catcher from Miami, Zack Collins. Best catcher in the draft (though the catcher at UVA will likely be a 1st rounder not far behind him). Strong defensively. Bats lefty with power. Can play 1B as well.

 

[stinger78]

I guess we will see what they do in this next draft. Just a few days until we get more indications on their target strategy.

Moar picherz!

 

[BornAJacket]

looks like another long losing streak. Where's the pitchers???? where's the defense???? where's the hits????

 

[Buzzforlife]

Awakened the Padres spirits last night.
We're good for the rest of the league.

 

[BornAJacket]

Braves hitting the ball last night and get a win.

Even Tehran gets his 2nd hit of the season and drives in a run. So they stop the losing streak, but look out. Chicago Cubs coming to town. They will bring 3 of the top pitchers this year I think all 3 have 7 wins or more and ERAs below 3. Going to be a tough weekend.