Just as thewupk asked - if Gray's a 3 win Pitcher, why isn't Porcello (who also doesn't come with as many health questions)?
Nobody's raking you over the coals here - just pointing out that we have SEVERAL Pitchers capable of putting up the numbers Gray has...hard to see a reason to give up similar value and more control for a guy you'd have for one season (at a substantially higher salary).
Those kinds of trades are exactly what the analytic-minded crowd screamed about not doing forever. Gray would be "just another guy" in the Braves' current rotation - if you want that, just re-sign Anibal and keep the prospects.
What makes Gray a better option as a bounceback candidate than Bumgarner? There's little doubt which one was the better Pitcher if you're looking at what they were 2-3 years ago. If Bumgarner's a bad gamble, so is Gray.
Last edited by clvclv; 12-14-2018 at 02:06 PM.
Has there EVER been a statement and question a certain someone should absolutely never have made and asked publicly more than...
Kinda pathetic to see yourself as a message board knight in shining armor. How impotent does someone have to be in real life to resort to playing hero on a message board?
You have this pretty much nailed.
Adding an impact arm like Paxton made sense because he represented a huge upgrade.
Adding an average or slightly better arm like Gray makes less sense because the Braves have a bunch of those already.
If Gray can be had for next to nothing, or packaged with Frazier in a deal that makes sense, sure...add him. But this idea that Gray is some sort of "front line starter" that will lead the Braves to a title is absurd.
Of course, this calculus changes if the Braves trade several pitchers for someone like JTR or Haniger. If trades cause a hole in the opening day rotation to suddenly open up, a pitcher like Gray ends up making a lot more sense than he does now. In fact, simply using Newk in a trade means Gray makes a lot of sense.
Last edited by Enscheff; 12-14-2018 at 02:13 PM.
jpx7 (12-14-2018)
You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.
He absolutely was not a 3 WAR pitcher in 2017. Was he on pace? Sure. But the missed time is absolutely relevant. He hasn't thrown over 160 innings in 3 years. But we're supposed to believe it's likely that he:
A. Will rebound from a poor performance
B. Remain healthy for near 200 innings?
Give me a break with that weak sauce.
The challenge is not to trade a young pitcher who could become a Wainwright for another mediocre pitcher. I am only in on adding a starter if he’s a legit number one. Otherwise, I’m good.
Sure I would only want Gray as a buy low option. But I would peg him higher than most on that list you provided.
A lot of things can change though. If we can move Newk/Julio for the right deal or a group of our young pitchers for an OF upgrade then more depth at SP is preferred. So there are scenarios where getting Gray makes sense. Thinking he is the missing piece to lead the rotation is not one of them. I do think he is better than his overall numbers in 2018 .
Nats interested in Dallas Keuchel now.
If we are moving Terheran and Fried it better be Castellanos or Puig or Pederson and Wood.
If we could unload Teheran on someone then Gray makes a lot of sense. I think Gray gives you at least what Teheran does with more upside. But no matter what, I don't want to see a rotation with an experienced starter as our number 5. There needs to be an open tryout for that spot with Touki, Fried, Gohara, Wright, Soroka, and maybe others with chance to grab it. I just don't want to waste innings there on a rental like Gray that could be used to develop a stud who will probably produce similar to Gray.
Kinsler to San Diego, 2 years/ 8 million