A bad move then and now

[rico43]

I criticized the Braves' quick unloading of Brian Matusz when they acquired his rights earlier this year. He has been injured and was not combat ready at the time, but his was a million dollar arm that they have seemed to want to collect.

The Cubs signed him and have slowly rehabbed through every level of their farm system. They have stretched him out as a starter and he worked five innings for Iowa in his last outing.

So far, all told, with the Cubs he has worked in nine total games (four starts) with a 4.24 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and only five walks in 23 innings. He's only 29 years old.

A missed opportunity, is all.

[Southcack77]

I criticized the Braves' quick unloading of Brian Matusz when they acquired his rights earlier this year. He has been injured and was not combat ready at the time, but his was a million dollar arm that they have seemed to want to collect.

The Cubs signed him and have slowly rehabbed through every level of their farm system. They have stretched him out as a starter and he worked five innings for Iowa in his last outing.

So far, all told, with the Cubs he has worked in nine total games (four starts) with a 4.24 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and only five walks in 23 innings. He's only 29 years old.

A missed opportunity, is all.

I agree. Didn't understand releasing him. Or Bourn really, who has been decent.

[zitothebrave]

I criticized the Braves' quick unloading of Brian Matusz when they acquired his rights earlier this year. He has been injured and was not combat ready at the time, but his was a million dollar arm that they have seemed to want to collect.

The Cubs signed him and have slowly rehabbed through every level of their farm system. They have stretched him out as a starter and he worked five innings for Iowa in his last outing.

So far, all told, with the Cubs he has worked in nine total games (four starts) with a 4.24 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and only five walks in 23 innings. He's only 29 years old.

A missed opportunity, is all.

Which is dumb for the Braves to do. Guys like Matusz should be the ones who we take a chance on them. Worst case scenario is that he sucks and we waste some time and resources.

[zbhargrove]

Yah... I get letting Bourn walk... he may be doing okay now, but he was atrocious with us for long enough and no one would trade for him. I never understood why we didn't give Matusz a chance.

[bravesfanMatt]

Said this two weeks ago. Said it when they cut him. Loved the trade though.

[PurpleBrave]

Guy is a Quad A player. Didn't miss out on anything

[zbhargrove]

Guy is a Quad A player. Didn't miss out on anything

Was he a quad A player when he was one of the better relievers in all of baseball in 2013-2015? Dude was the number 5 prospect in all of the majors at one point... had some injury issues... still only 29... if you don't think he's got higher potential, you're crazy.

[zitothebrave]

Yah... I get letting Bourn walk... he may be doing okay now, but he was atrocious with us for long enough and no one would trade for him. I never understood why we didn't give Matusz a chance.

The only "gripe" with letting Bourn walk is why bother? We keep Francoeur or Stubbs and pay them a salary (even if it's miniscule) and eat all of Bourn's contract for essentially no gain. They're not gonna help us win, they're not gonna fill the stadium, it doesn't matter. Only thing I could see being worth it was getting someone like Ichiro who's going for milestones. Otherwise you keep Bourn and as the season shook out, he's been acceptable and we probably could have saved a few million dollars by trading hima nd eating a portion of his salary.

[PurpleBrave]

Was he a quad A player when he was one of the better relievers in all of baseball in 2013-2015? Dude was the number 5 prospect in all of the majors at one point... had some injury issues... still only 29... if you don't think he's got higher potential, you're crazy.

Better relievers in baseball? Come on.

While I'll give you he was better than a quad A player the past 3 years he's still pretty average. His old prospect ranking at this point means nothing. I can tell you how his adventures as a starter will go. Spoiler alert: not good.

[zbhargrove]

The only "gripe" with letting Bourn walk is why bother? We keep Francoeur or Stubbs and pay them a salary (even if it's miniscule) and eat all of Bourn's contract for essentially no gain. They're not gonna help us win, they're not gonna fill the stadium, it doesn't matter. Only thing I could see being worth it was getting someone like Ichiro who's going for milestones. Otherwise you keep Bourn and as the season shook out, he's been acceptable and we probably could have saved a few million dollars by trading hima nd eating a portion of his salary.

Stubbs I get as a WTF move... but Frenchy has actually been a pretty good platoon/bench/role player

[Southcack77]

The only "gripe" with letting Bourn walk is why bother? We keep Francoeur or Stubbs and pay them a salary (even if it's miniscule) and eat all of Bourn's contract for essentially no gain. They're not gonna help us win, they're not gonna fill the stadium, it doesn't matter. Only thing I could see being worth it was getting someone like Ichiro who's going for milestones. Otherwise you keep Bourn and as the season shook out, he's been acceptable and we probably could have saved a few million dollars by trading hima nd eating a portion of his salary.

Right, they ate a big salary to have a few weeks of Stubbs. Bourn had no trade value at the time, but the point of keeping him would have been to see if he turned into an asset that could be moved. Turns out maybe he would have been worth something...not much perhaps. A minor issue though.

[PurpleBrave]

Obliterated tonight

[Southcack77]

I'd have kept him and seen what he could do.

I also don't quite understand why they move Grilli at the low point of his value, but I guess they need the roster spot for some reason. he's been pretty good for Toronto.

[rico43]

Obliterated tonight

Yeah, he was. Sorta puts a period on this thread, doesn't it?

[SidSlid92]

He's not a starter. I would have kept him as a pen option, and then see if he could develop some value.

Agreed that Grilli was dealt way too early. He could no doubt bring back more now than he did in the Toronto deal

[clvclv]

Was he a quad A player when he was one of the better relievers in all of baseball in 2013-2015? Dude was the number 5 prospect in all of the majors at one point... had some injury issues... still only 29... if you don't think he's got higher potential, you're crazy.

Sean Burroughs - #4 in 2002
Wilson Betemit - #8 in 2002
Jesse Foppert - #5 in 2003
Casey Kotchman - #6 in 2005
Andy Marte - #9 in 2005
Brandon Wood - #3 in 2006
Lastings Milledge - #9 in 2006

'Nuff said?

[clvclv]

He's not a starter. I would have kept him as a pen option, and then see if he could develop some value.

Agreed that Grilli was dealt way too early. He could no doubt bring back more now than he did in the Toronto deal

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous criticisms I've seen here yet. Everybody and their brother bitched that we waited TOO LONG to trade him last year, now they're complaining that we traded him too early. Grilli looked like *hit when he was dealt, and there were no signs that he was getting better - none.

Complaining that he was traded too early is just looking for something to complain about IMO.

They moved him because Vizcaino was pitching MUCH better, and they were ready to hand the reigns over to him - sometimes things are as simple as they appear to be.

[mqt]

Sean Burroughs - #4 in 2002
Wilson Betemit - #8 in 2002
Jesse Foppert - #5 in 2003
Casey Kotchman - #6 in 2005
Andy Marte - #9 in 2005
Brandon Wood - #3 in 2006
Lastings Milledge - #9 in 2006

'Nuff said?

Hey, Kotchman was worth trading for a prime Mark Teixeira once upon a time.

[SidSlid92]

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous criticisms I've seen here yet. Everybody and their brother bitched that we waited TOO LONG to trade him last year, now they're complaining that we traded him too early. Grilli looked like *hit when he was dealt, and there were no signs that he was getting better - none.

Complaining that he was traded too early is just looking for something to complain about IMO.

They moved him because Vizcaino was pitching MUCH better, and they were ready to hand the reigns over to him - sometimes things are as simple as they appear to be.

You trade players at their peak value. Just because Coppy wet the bed and waited too long last year to move him doesn't mean you ship him out at your first opportunity this year. You don't trade low on players. Since the move, he's thrown 19 innings with 30 k's and 2.29 era. You can't tell me a contending team wouldn't be interested in that

[Southcack77]

You trade players at their peak value. Just because Coppy wet the bed and waited too long last year to move him doesn't mean you ship him out at your first opportunity this year. You don't trade low on players. Since the move, he's thrown 19 innings with 30 k's and 2.29 era. You can't tell me a contending team wouldn't be interested in that

They basically just cut him considering the "prospect" that was returned and quickly dropped.

They also did not have to keep him in the closer role if they retained him on the roster. He's turned out to have something left. Michael Bourn did as well, and they cut him for Drew Stubbs. Who was hardly the answer as the fifth OF/platoon and pinch hitter.

there are minor complaints. The Braves probably would not have gotten much for any of these guys, but perhaps they'd have gotten something. Sort of crazy what some players have returned. Even another reliever true prospect far away would have been something. Minor complaint though. Minor.