Venters & Pena DFA'd

[Braves1976]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell were non-tendered.

PS--I think Varvaro is also a non-tender candidate. He's pitched fairly well, but he's not a high leverage guy, so he may be replaceable.

I could see one or both traded as well, Carpenter is still a trade candidate too IMO. But my guess is we keep Russell to start and maybe trade him during the season. While Carpenter and/or Varvaro go via trade and/or nontender earlier.

 

[blueagleace1]

Yea I am not big on Martin either but Cunniff over him? That surprised me too. I see Martin and Hunter as our most likely losses in the Rule 5 Draft, Salcedo is possible too but less likely IMO. Hunter is maybe the most likely as he is coming off one of his best minor league years (and already has Major league experience) so someone could grab him as their 4th outfielder as he'd be a good add for any team in that role. I am high on Cedric Hunter as I believe he has really improved and should be in the Majors this year. I am glad we were wise enough to re-sign him fast but I could still see us losing him in the Rule 5 Draft.

The key to remember about the rule 5 draft is that if a team selects a player he has to remain on their 25 man roster all year. Therefore, it's easier to keep a reliever on their 25 man roster as opposed to a starter who has no big league experience. Not saying that's the reason behind it just a possibility.

 

[holden]

Sad how Venters just faded away.

I know Kimbrel has been more dominant, but I've never been more confident the other team wasn't going to do a thing than when he came out for the 8th. That bowling ball slider is one of the most unhittable pitches of my lifetime.

 

[BremanFan88]

And thank Venters for teaching Kimbrel and others that sliding knuckle curve. Just a nasty pitch.

 

[CrimsonCowboy]

Per MLB Trade Rumors, Venters has been released.

 

[nsacpi]

I'm not that big a Cody Martin fan, but it is odd that Cunniff and Gil were protected over him. All the rest of the guys had to be protected. I think Martin and Salcedo are possible losses in the Rule 5 draft.

I wouldn't be surprised if Russell were non-tendered.

PS--I think Varvaro is also a non-tender candidate. He's pitched fairly well, but he's not a high leverage guy, so he may be replaceable.

Considering the low likelihood of Gil and Cunniff being selected, the more I think about it the more questionable not protecting Martin and Salcedo looks.

 

[50PoundHead]

Considering the low likelihood of Gil and Cunniff being selected, the more I think about it the more questionable not protecting Martin and Salcedo looks.

Gil makes close to zero sense. I supposel Cunniff could have been selected, but I have to think the chances of him being selected are lower than either Martin's, Salcedo's, or even Graham's. They must have seen something they really liked out of Cunniff when he pitched in the AFL.

 

[rico43]

Gil makes close to zero sense. I supposel Cunniff could have been selected, but I have to think the chances of him being selected are lower than either Martin's, Salcedo's, or even Graham's. They must have seen something they really liked out of Cunniff when he pitched in the AFL.

Cunniff's career stats read like a typo: 14-0 record, 33 saves, 1.74 ERA. Guys has pitched in 173 professional games and never found a way to lose even once. Set aside the fact he came from the indy leagues; that's almost become a badge of honor in baseball these days. And, yeah, he was 2-0 with 3 saves in the AFL.

And Gil is another year farther removed from his TJ surgery.

 

[GovClintonTyree]

Per MLB Trade Rumors, Venters has been released.

This makes me almost as sad as Heyward. What a unique talent.

 

[Tapate50]

This makes me almost as sad as Heyward. What a unique talent.

Cheer up guv , he probably won't pitch in 2015 at all because of surgery. We can always give him a run if he recovers.

 

[Tapate50]

On a side note, the attrition rate for Braves players going from contributor to nonexistent has got to be the worst in baseball.

 

[50PoundHead]

On a side note, the attrition rate for Braves players going from contributor to nonexistent has got to be the worst in baseball.

It's been a really snakebit decade.

 

[Tapate50]

It's been a really snakebit decade.

Hanson, JJ, Beachy, Medlen, Venters, BJ, Uggla, just off the top of my head .

 

[rico43]

Hanson, JJ, Beachy, Medlen, Venters, BJ, Uggla, just off the top of my head .

Gearrin, O'Flaherty, Floyd(?), Rasmus

 

[nsacpi]

This past season in AA Cunniff had 8.5 k/9 innings and 3.4 BB/9 innings ratios.

Also in AA, Ryne Harper, who is slightly younger than Cunniff, had 10.9 k/9 innings and 2.8 BB/9 innings ratios. Harper also had better ratios in the AFL this fall. It will be interesting to see which of the two pans out.

As for Cody Martin, he's younger than Harper and Cunniff, has had success at a higher level (AAA), and has had this success as a starting pitcher rather than a reliever. That's 3 distinct factors that favor Martin over Cunniff (and Harper for that matter). Now it could be that a scout would tell us that there is something about Cunniff's stuff that makes him more likely to succeed at the major league level. We'll see.

 

[Runnin]

Hanson, JJ, Beachy, Medlen, Venters, BJ, Uggla, just off the top of my head .

Andruw, Francoeur, Chuck James

 

[blueagleace1]

Gearrin, O'Flaherty, Floyd(?), Rasmus

Corey Rasmus had a tremendous year for the Angels this past year.

 

[blueagleace1]

This past season in AA Cunniff had 8.5 k/9 innings and 3.4 BB/9 innings ratios.

Also in AA, Ryne Harper, who is slightly younger than Cunniff, had 10.9 k/9 innings and 2.8 BB/9 innings ratios. Harper also had better ratios in the AFL this fall. It will be interesting to see which of the two pans out.

As for Cody Martin, he's younger than Harper and Cunniff, has had success at a higher level (AAA), and has had this success as a starting pitcher rather than a reliever.

That's 3 distinct factors that favor Martin over Cunniff (and Harper for that matter). Now it could be that a scout would tell us that there is something about Cunniff's stuff that makes him more likely to succeed at the major league level. We'll see.

As I posted above and this is pure speculation on my part... The key to remember about the rule 5 draft is that if a team selects a player he has to remain on their 25 man roster all year. Therefore, it's easier to keep a reliever on their 25 man roster as opposed to a starter who has no big league experience. Not saying that's the reason behind it just a possibility.

 

[nsacpi]

As I posted above and this is pure speculation on my part... The key to remember about the rule 5 draft is that if a team selects a player he has to remain on their 25 man roster all year. Therefore, it's easier to keep a reliever on their 25 man roster as opposed to a starter who has no big league experience. Not saying that's the reason behind it just a possibility.

Martin has had experience as a reliever both in college and the minors. He is your classic swingman.

 

[Braves1976]

Martin has had experience as a reliever both in college and the minors. He is your classic swingman.

True, plus plenty of starters have started off in the bullpen. In other words, a team may like someone as a starter and still select them to use out of the bullpen for a year if no spot in the rotation is available.