Thursday’s Atlanta Braves Morning Chop
Nick Markakis has neck surgery
ATLANTA — New Braves outfielder Nick Markakis has undergone surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck.
The fusion operation was performed Wednesday in Atlanta by Dr. Steven Wray.
The Braves say the operation was a success and Markakis should be able to resume baseball activities before spring training in late February, though the expected eight-week recovery period leaves little room for setbacks.
[ Editor’s note: yes, many have started calling him ‘Neck’ Markakis now ]
Next: Interview with Rule 5 Draft Pick Daniel Winkler
Braves are not on David Ross‘ Christmas List
CHARLIE WILMOTH / MLBTRADERUMORS.COM
Free agent catcher David Ross is deciding between the Red Sox, Cubs and Padres, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes. … Ross has played for the Red Sox, of course, and has a history with Jon Lester and Theo Epstein of the Cubs (although his signing with the Cubs would likely result in, or come as the result of, a trade of Welington Castillo). The Padres are in the process of trading both Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera, but are also in the process of acquiring Ryan Hanigan and Tim Federowicz, so it’s unclear where Ross would fit in.
Other Transaction News Impacting the Braves
- Asdrubal Cabrera is getting interest from both Bay-area teams, the Mets, Cardinals, and Twins (Jon Heyman). Rumblings suggest that he would rather not play third base, which the Giants had in mind – though they could move Joe Panik over there and put Cabrera at second base.
- Nori Aoki. Not a lot of direct interest, so far: the Orioles see him as a backup outfielder option. MLBTR thought he would be a 2 year/$16m player for 2015; he’s apparently looking for a 3-year deal with Jon Heyman suggesting $7-8m per year… for whatever duration he ends up getting.
- The Nationals are being declared the winners – by far – in the Wil Myers trade. The Nats got pitching prospect Joe Ross to go with (PTBNL) Trea Turner – the first round pick of the Padres this past Summer… who will have to hang around for a few months in baseball limbo while awaiting “eligibility” to be traded. Turner was an NC State shortstop with lights-out speed.
- The Padres still want to complete the Matt Kemp trade… but there is a “snag”. No one is reporting what that is, though the likelihood is that Kemp’s physical revealed a problem (Heyman).
- The Padres suddenly have a big surplus of outfielders, so if Justin Upton is ultimately moved, there’s a possible source for a warm body.
Recent Additions
- This happened on December 6th, but Gus Schlosser re-upped with the Braves on a minor league contract. Schlosser was a roster victim on the 2nd when he was non-tendered to help make room for several new arrivals. Good on him: Schlosser was a free agent and thus was free to sign with any club he chose. He chose to come back to the team that drafted him out of Florida Southern College (Lakeland). Schlosser made 15 appearances in the majors in 2014 – pitching admirably early on, though was beaten up a bit in September in short stints, leading to a 7.64 ERA overall.
- On the 11th, the Braves signed Jhonny Diaz to a minor league deal. No, this isn’t the musical artist brother of Matt Diaz (pictured here). This Diaz (DEE-az) is an 18-year-old Venezuelan lefty outfielder… or maybe a pitcher: he’s being listed both ways. I’m leaning toward LHP in this case.
- Likewise, Leudys Baez – just 4 days younger than Diaz – was signed to a minor league contract on the 12th. He hails from the Dominican Republic – a switch-hitter with room for growth at 6’0″, 160 lbs. I am seeing him listed as a center fielder, shortstop and a right-handed pitcher. Let’s go with the outfield.
- No word on the terms of any of these deals, but the latter pair appear to be new International signings – no record of participation in the Braves’ Dominican Summer League, for instance.
