Would we trade Colon/Dickey/Garcia if we were hovering around .500?

[Preacher]

One of the reasons I really liked the addition of these three guys is all can be moved easily with their contracts if they are playing decently... but I'm curious if Coppy would do that if we were hovering around .500 looking like a fringy WC team.

Clearly if we somehow surpass all expectations and are headed to the playoffs we aren't a seller and conversely if we have a terrible season these guys can be moved if playing well..... but if we are just kind of hanging around -- but clearly not a strong contender -- is Coppy looking to move these guys? Is it entirely dependent on how Wisler/Blair/Newcomb ect... are pitching?

Given the price of pitching at the deadline last year, I think being able to flip Colon/Garcia/Dickey at the deadline would be a great way to continue building the system and fueling the rebuild.

[Enscheff]

I certainly hope he would. If at least 1 of the young guys you listed isn't ready to push at least 1 of the old guys out of the rotation by the trade deadline the Braves are in serious trouble long term.

[bravesfanMatt]

I wouldn't expect much of a return for any of those guys outside of Garcia, but even that is a stretch given his durability issues in the 2nd half of seasons. none of those guys really scream playoff rotation and our return would be in line with some of the returns we got last year. (lottery ticket types)... I hope that at least two of our 'almost, should be' ready guys will push us to make that decision easier. Folty/Wisler/Blair/Newk/Sims/ even Weigel could all push these guys out.

how about this scenario.. say the Braves are 10 games under .500 but our young guys are pushing to be in the rotation. Do you just hang onto these older retreads and trade JT.

[rico43]

Is "depends" too snarky an answer?

[Preacher]

Is "depends" too snarky an answer?

nope, it does depend on a whole lot of things we can't predict.

[nsacpi]

i think we'll be buyers at the deadline even if under .500...with the idea being to strengthen the team in 2018 and beyond...that kind of strategy could include moving guys like Garcia and Colon for players under contractual control for longer

i think we will make a big trade at the deadline for either a third baseman or starting pitcher...im talking about a major leaguer not a prospect

[Preacher]

I wouldn't expect much of a return for any of those guys outside of Garcia, but even that is a stretch given his durability issues in the 2nd half of seasons.

Certainly not 'major' returns, but if the price of pitching is even just 80% of what it was last summer, a healthy Colon/Garcia is going to net a very solid return if the Braves want to go that route.

Harrell/Alvarez was enough to bring back Demerritte; I'd certainly argue that if Colon/Dickey/Garcia pitch up to their capabilities and stay healthy they are going to have more value than Lucas Harrell.

I doubt all three stay healthy given their age and history, but if they do - we have options.

[Southcack77]

I could see moving veterans earlier than that if they are effective and the braves have younger players pitching well.

I wouldn't expect huge returns.

[Managuarantano's Volunteers]

I think we need to trade Garcia at the trade deadline almost regardless of our record due to injury concerns. Colon and Dickey may be worth holding on to if our younguns aren't doing well.

[clvclv]

One of the reasons I really liked the addition of these three guys is all can be moved easily with their contracts if they are playing decently... but I'm curious if Coppy would do that if we were hovering around .500 looking like a fringy WC team.

Clearly if we somehow surpass all expectations and are headed to the playoffs we aren't a seller and conversely if we have a terrible season these guys can be moved if playing well..... but if we are just kind of hanging around -- but clearly not a strong contender -- is Coppy looking to move these guys? Is it entirely dependent on how Wisler/Blair/Newcomb ect... are pitching?

Given the price of pitching at the deadline last year, I think being able to flip Colon/Garcia/Dickey at the deadline would be a great way to continue building the system and fueling the rebuild.

Have to think it's entirely about that - and you just kinda have to figure that there's next to no chance we see any of those guys with the big club before June at the earliest.

While I do think that Hart and Coppy are just providing lip service when they say Folty's actually in danger of not making the rotation out of camp, I do think that when they've said those guys have to pitch better if they don't like their situations that he means for a significant period. No more going back down for a couple starts and coming back as soon as they look a little better. Probably at least 10-12 really solid starts before they'll even consider trading the first veteran in front of them. No more 4-5 BB outings where they squeeze by without getting pounded. If they're not throwing strikes (quality strikes, mind you), they'll keep nibbling in Gwinnett.

While you're not going to "break the bank" in a trade for any of the vets, I think the return for them just might surprise some people. It's tough to find guys like Colon and Dickey who can absolutely suck up innings in July and August when lots of Pitchers are going through dead-arm phases or dealing with various nicks and maladies. Adding one of those guys when your rotation has injury-prone guys or younger arms you'd like to be careful with can really make a difference for a contender. Someone like that would allow Houston to give McCullers or Keuchel an entire month off (without having to start someone's clock) while saving their bullets for the playoffs. The same could be said for the Gnats when they inevitably have to shut Strasburg down for a while because he can't handle the heat and he needs to be skipped a few times (not that I can see Coppy trading any of them to Washington to help bail them out).

Of course Garcia's an entirely different animal, but who couldn't use a lefty that can perform like a #2 or strong #3 when he's healthy and on - especially if we're willing to eat some of the $$$ to upgrade the prospect return?

[TheBravos]

This "I hope" is part of their strategy. Signing these guy in hopes at least one of the three goes all "Rich Hill" on us. If we are a playoff team...great. If not...a few young guys should be ready and we can add to the farm. It should be win-win.

[cajunrevenge]

Accidentally opened mlb at bat app just now and the latest video is on Colon's intense workout.....

[rico43]

What is the over/under on the total number of pounds Kemp and Colon lose in the off-season?

What is the over/under on the total number of pounds they gain back once they report?

[Tapate50]

Accidentally opened mlb at bat app just now and the latest video is on Colon's intense workout.....

My colon is getting an intense workout of late too.

[bravesfanMatt]

My colon is getting an intense workout of late too.

Not sure how to respond to this.

[Russ2dollas]

We would not. We should.

IMO we are still a year away. And we need some guys to play in MLB.

I'd hope that at the deadline we are dealing all 3 of our new vet starters, Markakis and maybe even Flowers if he's having a good year.

I'm hoping some of Wisler, Blair, Newcombe and Sims are preforming well enough that they've earned some MLB starts.

[50PoundHead]

Seeing these three names makes me want to go a little off-topic because of the Phillies trade for Clay Buchholz. The price for Buchholz was a fringe (if that) prospect from the Phils' A+ level squad. Would we have been better off obtaining Buchholz at a bargain basement price instead of obtaining one of the three veteran pitchers we ended up getting? Wondering what the thoughts on that would be. I'm no big Buchholz fan (and I'm surprised that he's already 32), but I wonder if we would have been better off with him and saving money (or players) in the process.

[GovClintonTyree]

Seeing these three names makes me want to go a little off-topic because of the Phillies trade for Clay Buchholz. The price for Buchholz was a fringe (if that) prospect from the Phils' A+ level squad. Would we have been better off obtaining Buchholz at a bargain basement price instead of obtaining one of the three veteran pitchers we ended up getting? Wondering what the thoughts on that would be. I'm no big Buchholz fan (and I'm surprised that he's already 32), but I wonder if we would have been better off with him and saving money (or players) in the process.

You weren't going to save money with Buchholz, he's at $12.5m. Question is whether you should've dealt a fungible prospect for him or Jaime Garcia (or perhaps not signed Big Sexy). I think they're all on the same shelf at the same store. Though I do like Buchholz, not much difference among that group.

[50PoundHead]

My colon is getting an intense workout of late too.

Have you been throwing gas?

[GovClintonTyree]

IMO, Garcia is far and away the best pitcher if he can remain healthy. A healthy Garcia for a full year is almost an ace.

He's been outstanding for extended periods of time, for sure. I'd be very surprised if he picks now to get over his injury prone nature and start 32 times.