Apr 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman
Juan Uribe(5) looks up for a foul ball in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATES SOON: THE TRADE IS BACK ON AND REPORTEDLY COMPLETED, PENDING MLB APPROVAL (due to an injured/DL player being involved).
WED. MORNING: Updated in lieu of actual trade as constructed. Contrary to the title above, it’s obviously no longer a ‘failed’ trade, but I did have to keep the prior links working, so… oops.
It was a bit of a confusing mess between Monday and Tuesday night, first ending when Alberto Callaspo formally declared Tuesday that he would not accept being traded, then ending again when he changed his mind. Let’s take a look at what we think happened here, and the goals each team might have been trying to accomplish in the process.
The Deal
Ken Rosenthal was all over this:
Sources: Deal between #Dodgers and #Braves would involve six players. Uribe and minor leaguer for Callaspo and three minor leaguers.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2015
According to multiple reports, the deal was “done”… except for the fact that Callaspo had the right to approve or veto it. He choose the latter path.
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When free agents sign an off-season deal with a new club, they cannot be traded without permission before June 15th of the following season. That date is 3 weeks away. Ergo, that’s why this whole thing didn’t happen… but more on the “why” later.
The Braves and Dodgers did an exemplary job of keeping names out of the media, and thus not impacting any relationships beyond those of Callaspo and Juan Uribe until Callaspo finally accepted. However, there was a Rosenthal report that one of the players involved would be a major league pitcher going to the Dodgers. If that is accurate, such a report would have Eric Stults‘ name written all over it… at least I hope so (more coming up about that, too).
The other minor league players coming from Atlanta were said to be “not impact-type guys or prospects.” Additionally, it seems to be the consensus of opinion that the Dodgers were set to DFA Callaspo the moment that the trade became official – and thus he’d never don the Dodger blue.
We also never heard whether cash would be exchanged as part of the deal, which certainly might have impacted the quality of prospect that may have been coming back from LA. My personal guess: no cash involved.
Final Trade now believed to be:
- Dodgers receive Callaspo, Ian Thomas, Juan Jaime, Eric Stults
- Braves receive Juan Uribe, RHP Chris Winthrow.
So with that as the backdrop, let’s try a few questions. Hit NEXT to continue.