2018 Trade Deadline ROSTERBATION

[Acuña’s Bat Flip]

For someone who sees himself as extremely smart, you're not very good at understanding a pretty clear point.

He's a smart ass but that's as close as he will get to being smart!

[Enscheff]

whaaaat!....uh,,,yeah...OKAAAAYYY....make money money!!!1

[bravesfanforlife88]

Per Heyman, Braves claimed Mark Reynolds from the gNats, but they pulled him back.

[Enscheff]

Per Heyman, Braves claimed Mark Reynolds from the gNats, but they pulled him back.

What an odd player for them to claim...

Definitely better than Reed I guess.

[bravesfanforlife88]

What an odd player for them to claim...

Definitely better than Reed I guess.

Maybe worried about Duvall?

[Enscheff]

Maybe worried about Duvall?

My guess is the Braves have very limited money to add a bench bat, and the $200k owed to Reynolds is all they could afford to risk having dumped on them with a waiver claim. He is such an odd fit he appears to be an example of the Braves settling for any MLB-quality bat they can actually afford.

We probably need to consider much more closely the money owed to any potential bench bat when we discuss additions, and figure the Braves have under $1M to spend. Assuming they would have taken MAdams for free had the Cards passed, his remaining salary likely represents the upper bounds of what the Braves can afford.

Granderson is owed ~$1M for the rest of 2018, so even he might have to have some of his deal paid down to fit on the payroll.

[nsacpi]

We took on more salary than I thought we had room for at the deadline.

Gausman 5.6M
O'Day 9M
Brach 5.2M
Duvall 0.6M
Venters 0.7M

Total 21.1

Pro-rated with a third of the season left 7M.

I would have guessed AA knew he left something undone (left handed bat) and kept some powder dry.

Our bench is pretty good now, but unbalanced from a righty lefty perspective. We do have a couple guys in AAA in Ruiz and Santana who could help out. Someone like Granderson would be preferable even though he is not ideal either. Ideally we want someone like Solarte or Dietrich who can play the infield.

[Enscheff]

The claim of Reynolds shows they don't care where the guy plays defensively. In fact, they probably don't care if he even owns a mitt.

The Braves want a guy off the bench that can hit, and he has to be cheap.

I'm going to guess the Marlins are not in a hurry to trade the cheap and versatile Dietrich. Same with the Jays and Solarte. I'm also not in favor of paying extra for role players who are under control because...why pay extra for role players?

To me, that leaves Granderson and Duda as the only viable options I can think of at the moment. Both are LHHers, both are owed under $1M, and both have cleared waivers.

The Braves absolutely must add someone, and it looks like they intend to do so.

[nsacpi]

Flaherty has accepted his assignment to AAA. Looks like he will get a chance to get some at bats and rejoin the team in September.

[Braves1976]

The claim of Reynolds shows they don't care where the guy plays defensively. In fact, they probably don't care if he even owns a mitt.

The Braves want a guy off the bench that can hit, and he has to be cheap.

I'm going to guess the Marlins are not in a hurry to trade the cheap and versatile Dietrich. Same with the Jays and Solarte. I'm also not in favor of paying extra for role players who are under control because...why pay extra for role players?

To me, that leaves Granderson and Duda as the only viable options I can think of at the moment. Both are LHHers, both are owed under $1M, and both have cleared waivers.

The Braves absolutely must add someone, and it looks like they intend to do so.

I am guessing it ends up being Duda if one of those two.

[Braves1976]

Flaherty has accepted his assignment to AAA. Looks like he will get a chance to get some at bats and rejoin the team in September.

No surprise there, he needs some AB's as he became so rusty he was an easier out than usual.

[Braves1976]

My guess is the Braves have very limited money to add a bench bat, and the $200k owed to Reynolds is all they could afford to risk having dumped on them with a waiver claim. He is such an odd fit he appears to be an example of the Braves settling for any MLB-quality bat they can actually afford.

We probably need to consider much more closely the money owed to any potential bench bat when we discuss additions, and figure the Braves have under $1M to spend. Assuming they would have taken MAdams for free had the Cards passed, his remaining salary likely represents the upper bounds of what the Braves can afford.

Granderson is owed ~$1M for the rest of 2018, so even he might have to have some of his deal paid down to fit on the payroll.

I agree that it's about the money, I also believe AA probably fought to claim Murphy but lost due to money already added. While they prefer a lefty bat, I think what matters most is getting someone that hits righties well and some righties available cover that enough too.

[Enscheff]

I agree that it's about the money, I also believe AA probably fought to claim Murphy but lost due to money already added. While they prefer a lefty bat, I think what matters most is getting someone that hits righties well and some righties available cover that enough too.

This is an excellent point.

For his career, Reynolds holds virtually no platoon split, with a .780+ OPS vs LHP and RHP. He is actually hitting RHP better this year (obviously a small sample size).

So yes, the guy doesn't have to be a LHH, but he does have to hit RHP well. Reynolds certainly fits that description.

Would they have let him play 3B? I certainly hope not...

[Braves1976]

This is an excellent point.

For his career, Reynolds holds virtually no platoon split, with a .780+ OPS vs LHP and RHP. He is actually hitting RHP better this year (obviously a small sample size).

So yes, the guy doesn't have to be a LHH, but he does have to hit RHP well. Reynolds certainly fits that description.

Would they have let him play 3B? I certainly hope not...

If they'd let him play 3B it would likely been like Tucker, take him out as soon as you have a lead past the 5th and unlike Tucker that would've been just to keep him fresh to pinch hit. So no more than once a week IMO. That said, I saw Kole Calhoun listed among August trade candidates. He isn't having a good year, but I wonder if we might consider him like we did Duvall. Possibly to platoon next year with Duvall? Just a thought, he may make too much money. I haven't checked.

Calhoun makes 8.5 this year and 10.5 next year. Probably too costly unless Angels payed some of it.

[Enscheff]

Duda is owed ~$600k
vs RHP in 2018: .776 OPS
vs RHP career: .836 OPS

Granderson is owed ~$850k
vs RHP in 2018: .792 OPS
vs RHP career: .850 OPS

Can the Braves afford Granderson or Duda?

Reynolds was owed ~$210K, and we know the Braves could afford that.

We also know the Braves did not claim Granderson or Duda, likely because they couldn't afford them at the time they were on waivers. Possibly because they were holding out for a player with better defensive utility. Likely both reasons.

Is AA willing to kick in a little better prospect to get the Royals or Jays to kick in some cash? Is that something the Royals or Jays are likely to do?

[Braves1976]

Duda is owed ~$600k
vs RHP in 2018: .776 OPS
vs RHP career: .836 OPS

Granderson is owed ~$850k
vs RHP in 2018: .792 OPS
vs RHP career: .850 OPS

Can the Braves afford Granderson or Duda?

Reynolds was owed ~$210K, and we know the Braves could afford that.

We also know the Braves did not claim Granderson or Duda, likely because they couldn't afford them at the time they were on waivers. Possibly because they were holding out for a player with better defensive utility. Likely both reasons.

Is AA willing to kick in a little better prospect to get the Royals or Jays to kick in some cash? Is that something the Royals or Jays are likely to do?

The Braves can afford both as they are both cheaper than Matt Adams and the Braves claimed him too. The Cardinals just got awarded the claim due to worse record.

My guess is Duda and Granderson is not about the money but hoping to land an Adams, Reynolds or better instead. Plus could be Toronto or KC is asking more in a trade too.

[NYCBrave]

Per Heyman, Braves claimed Mark Reynolds from the gNats, but they pulled him back.

Anyone have any idea why the Nats would pull Reynolds back? Do they not want to make a division rival better?

[clvclv]

Why is this guy still allowed to post on this forum...he should have been banned long ago

The bigger question is why does anyone ever respond to him?

I'm obviously guilty of doing so from time to time, but as his favorite target I assume I get a pass every once in awhile.

[clvclv]

No surprise there, he needs some AB's as he became so rusty he was an easier out than usual.

Where's he getting ABs in Gwinnett? Certainly not over Riley, and probably not over Ruiz. Maybe they'll play him at 2B.

[UNCBlue012]

Anyone have any idea why the Nats would pull Reynolds back? Do they not want to make a division rival better?

That's precisely why, i'd expect.