Atlanta Braves: Which, if any, Starting Pitcher should be traded?

Atlanta Braves Criteria for a Good Trade

What makes a good trade candidate? Many’s opinions might differ, but it’d be hard to find anyone that would disagree with the following common sense points:

1. Peak Value-  A player that is outperforming how much he’s being paid and projects to continue to outperform how much he’s being paid.

2. Surplus-  Teams trading from areas of strength to fill-in areas of weakness.

3. Players on the verge of becoming expensive- Players come into the Major Leagues with 6 years of control. The first 3 years, they are dirt cheap, being paid the pre-arb salary that is normally between 500-600K.  It’s the 4th year that sets the stage for how much the player will be paid for that year and the 2 years following, with increases each year. Some fringe players with up and down track records could be traded if the GM thinks that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze the next year.

4. Injury Concerns- Braves have cornered the market on pitchers post Tommy John and even some with past shoulder problems.  Both have risk each year and dropping of velocity would be a warning sign that said player might be on the outs.

I’ll use these points to drive home who is likely the most attractive piece the Atlanta Braves could shop at the deadline, then discuss who, if any, would be the players most likely shopped.

Next: Exempt from the List