Atlanta Braves GM on the Trade One More Time

Mar 12, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (86) throws in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Why Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis?

"“We always have our scouts in all of our trade talks, and I’ll run through each (player)  Ellis . . .(is) 6-4. . . third-round pick 2014. . .  a big, strong arm, 89-94 with a  really good slider. . .(who) could pitch in a rotation. . . Newcomb . . . (has been compared) to Jon Lester.  .(and maybe) David Price . . .I’m not. . .(saying) he will end up being that. . . But he’s been 93-96 . . .up to 99, . . .a 6-5, 240-pound lefty. . .(15th) pick in the (2014) draft, he’s from a small school (University of Hartford), the same way.  . .a lot of things our guys liked. . .and areas which he could improve, but  . . we think he can pitch at the very top of a rotation. . . (after not acquiring Severino we decided that) If you want to get an ace-type guy, you better try while they’re still in the minor leagues. . ."

Spin removed  – Just so you know this wasn’t my idea all the scouts agreed okay; I mean don’t blame me I just did what everyone wanted? Ellis is a big kid who might or might not be a starter but he is big and could be a starter. Newcomb was the guy we wanted, he can be an real ace – we’re hoping for Lester or Price really really  hoping – and trading for a prospect is the only way we’ll get one any time soon.

Could he have been traded for a bat?

"“No,. . . (teams we talked to ) more geared towards winning in the 2016 season, they would not want to give up parts . . . you run that balancing act – do you value offense vs. defense, which one matters more? . . . when you have a big-upside bat; those guys don’t get traded. . . “No, there wasn’t any big young bat . . .(no) Schwarber, there wasn’t anybody like that out there.”"

Spin removed – None really, for the package the Braves were willing to move they couldn’t find anyone. This begs the question timing question asked earlier and another one that he hints at but never says. Why trade Simmons at all?

Could you trade pitching for hitting in the future?

"“Absolutely.. . .prospects . . .(are) currency, and we just got two really good ones. Look, I hope that they end up here with us. . . (maybe we trade them but) we’ve shown that we are open to anything, that we are not afraid.”"

Spin removed  – No spin the first bit, prospects are currency. The second quote OTOH … I – make that we – will trade anyone even Newcomb- if I want so there!

Was it all about prospects

"“No. . . .You can make an argument that . . .(we) can win more games with Aybar. .  .we traded defense for offense in this trade."

Spin removed  – Aybar is an improvement, forget defensive runs saved and WPA, Aybar is good for us, at least until he leaves. I went into detail on why this wasn’t the whole picture in my first post.

". . .The fact that we got two huge-upside arms is great. . ."

Spin removed  – Forget what I said about Newcomb we would have traded to get Aybar – these are not the details you are looking for…

". . ..it will hurt is more 2017, 2018, if Aybar (becomes a free agent) Maybe we can sign him long term;. . .(but) he’s a really good player. He was a huge part of this deal."

Spin removed  – Aybar is gone after this year. We aren’t going to extend him until we find out if we can do it on the cheap – did I say what a good player

". . . This wasn’t just some kind of prospect trade. . ."

Spin removed  – Forget that I said Newcomb and an exchange of talent, how he was the guy we were afraid would slip away. It was really Aybar… you believe that don’t you?

". . . This was a value-for-value trade that had some really good prospects in it.”"

Spin removed  – Aybar was the key piece of value in the trade . Forget what I said about Newcomb, Aybar’s really good

"“We can’t have a year like we had last year. That’s why we had to get back major league value. Since we made the trade two or three hours back, we have gotten three calls on Aybar  already, from teams that want to trade for him.  He’s a really good hitter, somebody that can play short. Somebody that our staff really liked and our scouts really liked. He’s a good player. So we’re very happy to have Aybar.”"

Spin removed – We had to have a major league shortstop and they paid the difference in salary so we took Aybar. We can’t trade him because we were awful last year, the only shortstops we have can’t hit and we can’t play in the free agent market. Aybar has hit in the past and we hope will hit again at least until we can trade him.