Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock (11) runs to third in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Well, you can’t say that Atlanta isn’t trying to add some offense:
#Braves, #DBacks discussed trade for ATL’s Shelby Miller, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. Talks did not progress.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 17, 2015
#Braves wanted piece from #DBacks’ major-league core, sources say - perhaps Pollock, who, like Miller, is under club control three more yrs.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 17, 2015
We don’t know the details, but for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that A.J. Pollock was the “ask” in return for Shelby Miller. Was this reasonable? Rosenthal seems to think so, and whether that was in fact the deal offered, it’s good that the Braves were looking for a substantial return for the pitcher who was their best mound man in 2015.
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It is possible (speculating) that the Diamondbacks were expecting/hoping that John Coppolella would ask for prospects instead of a major league player so that they could keep their own young core (Pollock, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte) of outfielders together. That trio constituted their most productive offensive weapons (6.6, 3.7, and 3.3 fWAR respectively) other than Paul Goldschmidt with Pollock having what could have been a career year. It would seem that the Snakes want to see if that’s repeatable next season instead of ‘selling high’.
It was the Arizona pitching that let them down last season, and thus they were perhaps looking at simply adding a near-ace-level starter to put them over the top for 2016.
I imagine that Atlanta had other ideas, and wanted to break up that outfield group to gain offense… something that didn’t work with the Arizona plan. That kind of difference in philosophies would certainly make sense of the phrase “talks did not progress”.
Sounded Good to Me
While losing Shelby Miller would be a tough thing, the match of a Pollock and Miller would indeed look pretty good on paper: both are under team control via arbitration for 3 more seasons; both represent excellent performers on their respective clubs, and both are – to some extent – replaceable.
Arizona has extra outfielders that can provide offense, but they are going up against the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco, so offense is certainly important to them. That said, they are also going up against rigorous tests via the pitching those teams offer as well, and that’s exactly where the desert dwellers don’t match up.
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If you’re thinking about Miller’s value via trade, though, Pollock comp is probably about right, plus/minus something around the fringes – and you might continue to hear a rumor or two involving him. Perhaps a Todd Frazier or equivalent (yes, I’m still working on that!). Certainly other teams need pitching, and there will be other Arizona’s out there more willing to deal.
The good news: if this speculation is correct, it means that Coppy has indeed turned his attention to the offense… and is willing to use his pitching surplus to get it.
The dealing window is open.