What's Not Nailed Down: Whither, and for what?

jpx7

jpx7

Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
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Since I'm lazy, but I (a) firmly believe the Braves should trade essentially any player over thirty whose name doesn't rhyme with Bar? Take us!, and (b) want to speculate on where those players may go, as well as for whom they might be transacted, I thought I might deploy the traditional lazy-man's gambit and crowd-source the research.

So: who needs the parts the Braves have to spare (working under the assumption that any player not controlled past 2016 is "spare"), and with what might those teams reasonably part for such parts? By my estimation, the following could (and, almost to a man, should) find themselves in other uniforms by August:

[table="width: 500, class: grid"]
[tr]
[td]Position[/td]
[td]Player[/td]
[td]Interested Teams[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]C[/td]
[td]AJ Pierzynski[/td]
[td]White Sox (?)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]1B/OF[/td]
[td]Johnny Gomes[/td]
[td][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]1B/2B/3B/OF[/td]
[td]Kelly Johnson[/td]
[td]Zombie Expos (?)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]3B[/td]
[td]Chris Johnson[/td]
[td]Giants, White Sox[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]3B[/td]
[td]Juan Uribe[/td]
[td]Giants, White Sox[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]RHP[/td]
[td]Jim Johnson[/td]
[td]Mariners, Blue Jays, Yankees[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]RHP[/td]
[td]Jason Grilli[/td]
[td]Mariners, Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]LHP[/td]
[td]Luis Avilan[/td]
[td]Blue Jays[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Then there are some additional cases: guys like Luis Avilan, who's controlled through 2018, but will be arbitration-eligible soon and could be too expensive for what he's worth by 2017 (or may have perished as a result of Fredi-induced exhaustion); or Cameron Maybin, whose resurgence heretofore may propel him into Atlanta's longer-term plans, but whose contract and good play might combine to make him a swell candidate for a plum trade; or Eric Young, Jr, whom I can't imagine any team valuing unless they want to strategically break an opposing pitcher's ankle, but you never know. It's also possible Cahill pitches well enough in relief that he draws a desperate team's attention (though I'd assume the Braves would have to offset some salary).
 
I agree literally 100% with the list you compiled. Wouldn't hesitate to move Avilan either.

I have mixed feelings on Maybin. I'm one of the few (or the only) that wanted the Braves to acquire him even before the Kimbrel trade. I think he has a lot of talent and a multi-dimensional skillset. But, if the return is right -- and if you have the opportunity to get from underneath that contract completely -- I think you have to do it.
 
I hope we can sell off the entire bullpen and try guys like Hursh, Dodger kid, Rockies Kid, Simmons, Viz, etc.......I know not all of those guys will be healthy but I can hope. Avilan has had years with Fredi, trade him before he has TJ.

All of the 1-2 year deal position guys should be gone. Love to lose CJ.

If someone gave us a big deal, we need to look at almost anyone.

I know some will hate me, but I'd consider moving Jace. There are a lot of teams that need a SS. Even fielding snob Keith Law has said he thinks Jace could be a solid MLB SS. His bat would play up a ton at SS. I love having a kid with his versatility, but if a team sees him as a long term SS, then maybe we can get at long term answer corner OF player. Same thing with Maybin. Like him a lot but if someone thinks he's a long term CF, then I'd make them pay the price for a long term CF and collect more assets.
 
If the Peraza in CF experiment collapses it wouldn't surprise me to see the Braves shop Peterson.

(I wouldn't like it, but still, it makes sense ... moreso than him at 3B, atleast).
 
If not for his injury, I'd have included Phil Gosselin on this list.

I'd also like to see Gomes gone as soon as Terdoslavich is healthy enough to play; it'd be nice to find out what he can do at the top level during these fallow seasons.
 
Hawk said:
If the Peraza in CF experiment collapses it wouldn't surprise me to see the Braves shop Peterson.

(I wouldn't like it, but still, it makes sense ... moreso than him at 3B, atleast).
Click to expand...

Fully concur with that parenthetical. I like Jace Peterson, but I don't see him as a major-league third-baseman on a successful, offensively-productive team (at least without offensively-dominant players at positions like 2B, SS, CF to compensate, which the Braves don't look likely to have).
 
I think your list is right but probably incomplete. I would think that Cahill, Ciriaco as nsacpi wrote are definite.

I also would think that Wood and maybe Miller could be had for the right deal, with the Miller trade being of blockbuster quality.

I think you have to look at the Braves as being focused on 2017 no matter what is being said in public. 2017 puts both Wood and Miller on the edge of control for the Braves. Wood looks like a good bet for injury to me and doesn't look to be better than a #3 long term.

Also, you have to look at what is available in FA in 2016 and 2017. There aren't a lot of impact bats but there is some significant pitching likely available.

Looking at the rotation for a hypothetical 2017:

Certain barring injury: Teheran, Folty
Current maybe: Wood, Miller
In the system possibles: Wisler, Banuelos, Perez, Jenkins, Hursh, Sims, Thurman
Definitely gone: Minor (won't be tendered)
2016 FA possibles: Greinke, Porcello, Price, Samardzija, Zimmerman, any number of lesser arms.

So, if you get a chance to trade Miller and/or Wood for real high end return, then I think you have to be prepared to pull the trigger.
 
jpx7 said:
If not for his injury, I'd have included Phil Gosselin on this list.

I'd also like to see Gomes gone as soon as Terdoslavich is healthy enough to play; it'd be nice to find out what he can do at the top level during these fallow seasons.
Click to expand...

We could also package Gomes, Terdoslavich and Gosselin. Trade quantity for quality.
 
nsacpi said:
Werth just broke his wrist. Maybe we can flip an outfielder to the gnats.
Click to expand...

I suspect they will play Michael Taylor the most; a power/speed OF that is more suited for center field, but maybe able to hit enough to stay in left for a couple months. They also have the Clint Robinson/Tyler Moore combo, who will mix in a bit. Other possibilities are den Dekker (who has been surprisingly terrible) and Reed Johnson (who is terrible). I think they just stick with what they have.
 
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