Braves donate Justin Upton to Padres for prospects
- Thread starter mikewon
- Start date
rico43
<B>Director of Minor League Reports</B>
Here is excerpt:
The Braves believe they should get more for Justin Upton than they got from the Cardinals for Jason Heyward.
Rival executives agree with that. Upton, due to better power and overall offense, is worth more than Heyward.
But here's the problem: Executives also believe the Braves got too much for Heyward, a defensive specialist whose offensive numbers are declining a bit. They see young pitcher Shelby Miller as an overpay, so no one wants to do better than that yet.
The Braves believe they should get more for Justin Upton than they got from the Cardinals for Jason Heyward.
Rival executives agree with that. Upton, due to better power and overall offense, is worth more than Heyward.
But here's the problem: Executives also believe the Braves got too much for Heyward, a defensive specialist whose offensive numbers are declining a bit. They see young pitcher Shelby Miller as an overpay, so no one wants to do better than that yet.
Deester11
Well-known member
Oh no!!!!!! This can't be right. Let the crying begin. Seriously though, I thought the deal for JHey was win/win. It will forever be a debate. Can't we all just get along. Rodney would have wanted that.
No need to belabor the issue but as I've said time and time again - defensive ability is the first to go especially considering how massive Heyward is. He needs to greatly improve his offensive skills before I would be willing to give him anything in excess of 20M. However, there will be teams willing to give Heyward that money.
I don't see a "King's Ransom" coming back for someone who is as limited as Gattis is. He can't play any defensive position well, so he's basically a DH. He's never played more than 110 games. His only asset is his tremendous power. While its a very valuable asset, I don't think teams are gonna trade the farm for a complimentary player.
Prospect wise, I would expect the Braves to get back one top 100 prospect and one or two high upside guys in the lower minors. Something similar to what the ChiSox got got for Quentin, but a bit more since Gattis is still cheap and controllable.
Would Gattis get hurt if he didn't have to play the field though? You stick him in a park like Chicago or Texas and he will hit a lot of homers. Again, the "kings ransom" as I put it has more to do with his contract than his actual production. You are going to get a 30-35HR guy making peanuts.
Tapate50
Well-known member
He isn't basically a DH, he's a catcher. But moving him to DH would allow him to play 145 + games. He could catch every 5th day without having to roster another poor bat at backup C. Him being extremely cheap is a huge plus. He cost pennies vs what Cruz just got and is under control for a while.
Problem is the team would lose the DH if their catcher got hurt in a game. STill would have to carry another catcher or at least someone you would feel comfortable with catching 3 innings.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
People are selling Shelby Miller short. He can be just as good as Teheran. He was also top 10 in fastball velocity for starters last year. If McDowell teaches him a use able change up he could take off.
I don't think people are selling him short. I think most people acknowledge he is a good pitcher. People are just still really upset that Heyward was traded away. It will pass and they will realize the return was excellent.
I just see a guy with a lot question marks. Can he stay healthy? Will he continue to hit this well? (783 career PA's isn't a long sample size). He's already 28, so he will be exiting his prime very soon.
Other team's are going to have these concerns too. I just don't see someone paying a "King's ransom" for someone with so many question marks.
Other team's are going to have these concerns too. I just don't see someone paying a "King's ransom" for someone with so many question marks.
All fair concerns which I'm sure many other GM's share.
Such a great catcher that we are moving him to LF in favor of a prospect that can't hit a lick?
Gattis can sit back there with a glove, but he's as much a catcher as Mike Napoli was before he went to Boston. You can guarantee that whatever team gets him will not have him at catcher very long, if at all.
Cruz just came off the best season of his career, leading the league in homers. Not only that, but he has a much longer track record than Gattis and averages many more games a season.
Russ2dollas
10 yr, $185 million Extension
I don't get the C-B love. Boras client who has tools. Didn't think he was great catching last year. Better than Gattis but not great. And he can't hit.
Gattis is below avg but he's not a butcher IMO.
Texas needs DH help and back up C help. Gattis solves both. And he does it for cheap. But I don't see why ATL should trade him if they don't get a long term answer at LF, CF, 3B, 2B, or SP. I don't see a ransom w/ his OBP. But if we got one elite guy that would be great ROI.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Hmmm... Did I ever insinuate he was a "great catcher?" In fact I said just the opposite... (Hint: every 5th day is a backup C)
cruz is knocking on the door to 40. anyone would be crazy not to want Gattis at 28 yrs old +50 extra million in payroll flexibility over a player like Cruz (that literally all can do is DH).
You are aware that Gattis avg games played would be much higher at DH right?
keithlaw
Playing the Waiting Game
While Gattis is below average defensively, his bat more than makes up for his deficiencies behind the plate. The reason he's going to move off the position is that he weighs 260 lbs and has a history of knee and back injuries. He just won't hold up there much longer as an everyday player and his bat's too valuable to sacrifice. An AL team that could let him catch 50 games and DH 100 would be an ideal destination for him.
Dalyn
Fredi Gonzalez Supporter
Sounds like Oakland. He could spell Jaso against tough lefties. Gattis, Carpenter, and Graham for Norris and Otero. Do it!
The great catcher bit was hyperbole to prove a point, not insinuating you said anything. Just pointing out that he's bad enough that we would move him to another position in favor of a catching prospect that is projected to hit like Rafael Belliard (again hyperbole here).
Again Cruz is getting paid based off a very good past and an amazing 2014. And no, Cruz can still play the field if required. He played nearly half the season in the field and wasn't that bad when he played.
And yes it's a fair assumption that Gattis would play more games if he got to DH (though certainly not a given). But it's also a fair assumption that teams will have legit concerns for someone that has never played in more than 110 games and who can't play any position well or get on base at a good clip.
Jose Abreu for $50 million less.