Atlanta Braves Morning Chop & Rumor Round-Up

Chad McDonald joins Braves as special asst.

DAVID O’BRIEN / AJC.COM (from Thursday)

The Braves hired longtime scout and former Padres executive Chad McDonald as a special assistant to the general manager, another move in what’s been an extensive overhaul of Atlanta’s scouting and player-development departments since the Sept. 22 firings of GM Frank Wren and assistant GM Bruce Manno.

McDonald spent the past three seasons as a Padres assistant GM in charge of player personnel, and served previously as Mets scouting director and Diamondbacks director of international scouting. His 22 years in major league baseball included six as a scout with the Indians and Angels.

“He is an excellent evaluator and has great instincts,” said John Hart, Braves president of baseball operations. “As an executive, he has filled a variety of roles in his career and he will contribute in many ways in the Braves organization.”

[ Editor’s Note:  Sorry this one was late, but we’ve been rather busy over the past couple of days!  Here’s one reaction to the news:

So yes – as our friend Julien responded to this – Bowden is knowledgeable a former GM but doesn’t know how hashtags really work.  Still, we’ll take the compliment to the organization and hope that McDonald can help out. ]      

Mariners Showing Increased Interest in Melky Cabrera

JEFF TODD, STEVE ADAMS / MLBTR.COM (FRI Evening)

Cubbies Crib

11:00pm:

The Mariners are indeed ramping up their pursuit of Cabrera,

writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports

. Heyman adds that the Mariners are believed to be willing to offer something similar to the four-year, $57MM contract they used to lure Cruz to the Emerald City. He also notes that the White Sox, Reds, Royals and Giants have all been linked to Cabrera.

[ Editor’s Note:  Over the past couple of days, the Mariners (1) signed Nelson Cruz, (2) traded away RF Michael Saunders for J.A. Happ, and (3) were linked to interest in Matt Kemp.  This new news tells me one thing:  both Atlanta and the Dodgers want Taijuan Walker if Seattle going to have any success in pursuing either Justin Upton or Kemp… and Jack Z. doesn’t want to give him up – even after having acquired Happ.  So now they’re heading off into a different direction.  Good luck with that.

Melky is going to want 5 years and something in excess of $55-60 million. Melky has played well – in places that he actually  wanted to be.  I’m not at all sure he wants to be in Seattle.  This has ‘Chone Figgins‘ written all over it.  ]      

Saturday morning Jon Lester Stuff

The Cubs are continuing to strongly pursue Jon Lester, and are in the bidding “up to $150m”.  That translates to $25 million for 6 years.  The Dodgers are being coy – lurking in the weeds, as it were.  But somebody is said to have already bid around $140 million for the ace left-handed… just not sure if that’s the Cubs or LA.

[ Editor’s notes:  I’ve already said everything I can about Lester.  The summary is this:  Atlanta truly needs him, but it’s almost entirely up to his choice as to whether he signs.  Right now, I’d rank the chances at 30% Cubs, 20% Braves, 15% for either Dodgers/Red Sox, 10% for each of Giants/Cardinals. Most observers think he will sign around Monday-Tuesday ]

More Quotes & Notes from MLBTR.com on Friday:

• An executive from a team with interest in trading for Matt Kemp tells ESPN’s Jayson Stark that he’s still unconvinced that the Dodgers will actually move Kemp (Twitter link). Stark’s source feels that Andre Ethier is “still the guy they want to move.”  [ Editor’s note: and of course he is – have you seen his contract?  The Dodgers would have to eat at least half of that.  Braves impact: fewer, better bats in the market – better for us ]

Atlanta Braves catcher Evan Gattis (24). Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

In an excellent analysis for GammonsDaily.com, David Golebiewski examines whether or not trade candidates Evan Gattis (Braves) and Wilin Rosario (Rockies) should remain behind the plate or only be of interest to teams who can move them off the position.  Golebiewski notes that Gattis is a perhaps surprisingly competent pitch-framer, though he struggles to block balls in the dirt and is below-average at catching base stealers. [ Editor’s note: very much true… which is why we’re marketing him to the AL.  No surprise at all. ]

• The Diamondbacks will not trade Mark Trumbo, GM Dave Stewart plainly told reporters, including FOX Sports Arizona’s Jack Magruder today (Twitter link). Though some have speculated that the Yasmany Tomas signing opens the door for such a move … it appears the D-Backs are in no rush to sell low on Trumbo after a down season in 2014. Stewart added that the D-Backs are still looking for a left-handed power bat to sandwich between Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt in the team’s cleanup spot.
• One reason that the D-Backs feel they can keep Trumbo around without creating a logjam, manager Chip Hale told Magruder, is that their plan is to try Tomas out as a third baseman (Twitter link). While that may be alarming to many, Tomas has experience playing third base in Cuba and worked out for clubs at the position as well.

[ Braves impact:  frankly, this is … odd… but whatever.  It still takes another bat out of the equation for teams like Seattle.  There was at least one opinion I saw suggesting that Trumbo could go to the Mariners next week. ]

• Indians Optimistic of Completing Brandon Moss Trade. 10:00pm: If the trade gets done, it will likely be a one-for-one swap sending a player that is not on Cleveland’s 40-man roster to the A’s, reports Hoynes (Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Plain Dealer). That would rule out Ramirez and Gonzalez and indicate that Wendle could be the return for Oakland.DEC. 5, 2:05pm: The two sides have yet to reach a deal but have discussed shortstops Jose Ramirez and Erik Gonzalez in addition to Joe Wendle, reports Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area. Presumably, only one of that grouping would head to Oakland in a potential trade.[ Braves impact:  Cleveland is looking for bats, but are shopping the ‘economy aisle’ of the store.  Not a match for Atlanta ]

Finally, Something Completely Different

Chicago’s Wrigley Field has held quite a variety of sporting events within its friendly confines over the past 100 years… including football and (more recently) hockey.  But this is just awesome.