Atlanta Braves Trade Market Update: Shelby Miller
October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler (68) hits a single in the fifth inning against the New York Mets in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Trade Rumors
Newest as of late Monday:
- ARIZONA. The Braves originally wanted to swap Shelby Miller for A.J. Pollock straight up. That was rejected. There has been a counter-offer of Miller and closer Arodys Vizcaino for Pollock and #3 prospect Aaron Blair, a AAA pitcher who is major-league ready (Ken Rosenthal credit). That has also been rejected.
- MY TAKE: Arizona needs Pollock as part of the deal to compete in their division. They really can’t let him go. In fact, they’d rather overpay for Cueto than bust up the offense… so there is probably no place for them to go with Atlanta.
- CUBS. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick suggests that the Braves are “smitten” with Jorge Soler, but that Julio Teheran would not be enough to land him in Atlanta.
- MY TAKE: If the Braves can find an acceptable package for Soler and Javier Baez, then this could get done quickly. More on this below.
Trade Scenarios
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Okay, that’s the end of the news items – now on to the fun part: wild speculation. We hadn’t really gone in this direction yet, so let’s have some entertainment value out of this.
Writers Fred Owens and Brandon Woodworth checked in here to help supply some alternate ideas – you can certainly add your own to these in the comments below. Here are our takes – recognizing that the Braves’ top “ask” will not very likely be what is settled for in the end (numbers represent prospect rankings in the relevant organization):
CUBS – note: depth chart includes only 4 SPs now
- ALAN – (1) Soler, Baez, plus prospect (Happ or McKinney) for Miller, Tyrell Jenkins, Vizcaino, and Markakis
- ALAN – (2) Soler, Baez for Miller, Tyrell Jenkins, and Vizcaino. Would have to move Markakis to place of his choosing later. Cubs could try to ink Alex Gordon or Yoenis Cespedes.
- FRED – Billy McKinney (AA OF #2), Willson Contreras (AA C #10), Pierce Johnson (AA RHP #7), and Jeimer Candelario (A+ 3B #20) for Miller.
ASTROS
- FRED – (1) Francis Martes (AA RHP, #7), Valbuena (3B), Feldman (SP), Fisher (A+ OF) for Miller, Vizzy, and Castro.
- FRED – (2) Alex Bregman (A+ SS, #1), Preston Tucker (4th OF), maybe Riley Ferrell (RHRP, A, #11) for Miller, Swisher, and $7 million.
GIANTS
- FRED – Christian Arroyo (A+ SS, #2), C Andrew Susac, Clayton Blackburn (AAA RHP, #21), Josh Osich (ML LHRP, #10) for Miller and Christian Bethancourt.
DODGERS
- ALAN – SS Corey Seager and C Austin Barnes for Miller, Erick Aybar, C. Bethancourt, Jason Hursh, Ricardo Sanchez
- FRED – Jose De Leon (AA RHP, #3), OF Scott Van Slyke, Scott Schebler (AAA OF, #12), Johan Mieses (A+, OF, NR) for Miller and Joey Terdoslavich.
DIAMONDBACKS
- BRANDON – Pollock, Blair, and (A LHP #11 Cody Reed) for Miller, Vizzy, and Mallex Smith
CARDINALS
- FRED – OF Tommy Pham, INF Greg Garcia, Sam Tuivailala (AAA RHRP #10) for Miller
- ALAN – 3B Matt Carpenter for Miller
Next: What to Do With Mike Minor?
I had a bizarre thought after the Cubs’ rumors surfaced that Braves fans might see college students up in the right field seats dancing around in odd costumes that were intended intended to represent solar electricity panels. You know, like “Soler’s Cells”?
I really need to step away from the keyboard.