Rosenthal recent article says Texas wouldn't deal Profar for Teheran. Hopefully that'll end some of the insane Teheran trade proposals people are putting together in this thread.
. . ."I think we've gotten to a point where we've built up enough prospects," Coppolella said. "We have the top farm system and it's not even close. So for us, if there's an opportunity to get a long-term piece that makes sense -- it doesn't have to be a Minor League player or a prospect. We need to try to supplement [our Major League team] to the best extent we can, and put a winning product on the field as we go through the second half and head into 2017.
Still, the Braves could be active on this year's trade market as they may be able to gain some value by trading closer Arodys Vizcaino. While Vizcaino alone will likely not garner the big bat Atlanta needs, the right-hander could be paired with some of the club's prospects to garner a strong return.
While Vizcaino alone will likely not garner the big bat Atlanta needs, the right-hander could be paired with some of the club's prospects to garner a strong return.
It would be something of an upset if the Braves kept right-hander Julio Teheran, considering how often rival executives claim to hear his name floated in trade discussions.
Yet, Braves general manager John Coppolella seemingly was not bluffing when he told me last month that he would need to be "overwhelmed" to move Teheran, and that "the days of us trading players like Teheran for prospects are over."
Coppolella is such a frenetic trader, I'll believe Teheran will remain in Atlanta past the non-waiver deadline when I see him in a Braves uniform on Aug. 1. But one rival exec with potential interest says Coppolella is indeed reluctant to move Teheran, who threw a one-hit shutout against the Mets on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 2.66.
Teheran is 25. He is under club control through 2020 at below-market salaries that top out at $12 million. And, lest anyone forget, the Braves need an Opening Day starter for their new ballpark next season, and the upcoming class of free-agent starting pitchers is putrid.
Trading Teheran would make sense if the Braves could get a player such as the Rangers' Jurickson Profar in return (never mind that the Braves already have Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies; too many middle-infield prospects is never a bad thing).
Problem is, young position players have become so valuable, a source with knowledge of the Rangers' thinking said the team would not make such a deal, in part because Texas does not think all that highly of Teheran.
In any case, the more sensible move for the Braves would be to trade closer Arodys Vizcaino, who over the past two seasons has a 1.86 ERA, 78 strikeouts and 26 walks in 63 innings. Vizcaino, too, can help the team open its new park, but a closer is a luxury for a club with the second-worst record in the majors.
Vizcaino would not bring the Braves the same return that Ken Giles did for the Phillies last off-season. His walk rate is above league-average. He is under club control for only two additional seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012, and served an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs at the start of '15.
Relievers, though, are always in demand at the deadline, and Vizcaino could make a heck of a setup man or seventh-inning weapon for a contender. The Braves hardly would suffer without him short-term, and they could replace him long-term by identifying a closer from their stable of young power arms.
The free-agent market, meanwhile, will offer plenty of offensive possibilities. The Braves could add a catcher such as Matt Wieters or Wilson Ramos. They could bring back third baseman Martin Prado for his offensive skill and veteran leadership. They could even go big and sign outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a player whom they've liked in the past.
What the Braves cannot do in free agency, at least this off-season, is find an ace.
Coppolella should hit the "pause" button and keep Teheran.
Then Texas won't get a pitcher.
Teheran provides between $60m and $80m in excess value over his remaining contract. Any team who thinks they can acquire that without matching that value is not being realistic.
And I think that's probably where this is heading where we just end up keeping him. I'm just hoping it'll end the Moncada+ type of offers that are being brought up here.
The Braves could add a catcher such as Matt Wieters or Wilson Ramos. They could bring back third baseman Martin Prado for his offensive skill and veteran leadership. They could even go big and sign outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a player whom they've liked in the past.
What the Braves cannot do in free agency, at least this off-season, is find an ace.
What a bunch of BS. Maddux was the best pitcher in baseball before he came to the Braves. The Braves and other teams were just outbidding the Cubs for him.
Yep, this is going to make it really tough to pull off a Teheran trade. I'd prefer to keep him and see if we can build a deal around Vizcaino that brings back a young player that can contribute in 2017 at a position of need. Catcher is the only position where there seems to be multiple players in free agency that would fit what we need. Also, mid-level catching has actually been pretty cheap in free agency over the past couple of years (relative the the runaway costs at other positions). So, I'd like to see the Braves focus on RHH at either 3B or corner OF in a Vizcaino trade . . . preferable the more scarce position of 3B. I love Prado, but it's dangerous to plan around him - or any one player - in free agency.
Rosenthal recent article says Texas wouldn't deal Profar for Teheran. Hopefully that'll end some of the insane Teheran trade proposals people are putting together in this thread.
Rosenthal recent article says Texas wouldn't deal Profar for Teheran. Hopefully that'll end some of the insane Teheran trade proposals people are putting together in this thread.
I agree that Texas would be crazy not to do that, but maybe the price for young, controllable bats is much higher than we think? That's my point in all of this.
Then they would be stupid. And I wouldn't take just Profar either. Wait for someone else to overpay.