The Atlanta Braves don’t want to trade shortstop Erick Aybar, but will they?? Discussion have risen about the possibilities that the St. Louis Cardinals may be calling the Braves about the 32-year-old veteran Aybar.
St. Louis recently lost their starting shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a left thumb injury and reports indicate that the veteran tore a ligament in the thumb and could miss two to three months. This news comes on the brink of the Ian Desmond signing so an easy fix isn’t out there.
What will the Cards do?? A phone call to Atlanta sounds fitting.
It’s been reported that the Cardinals front office has yet to put in a phone call to the Braves, but who knows what’s actually happened behind the scenes so far.
Braves General Manager John Coppolella recently told reporters that the Braves aren’t wanting to trade Aybar. But as always the trade possibility is there, except Freddie Freeman.
#Braves GM John Coppolella on the Erick Aybar trade rumors pic.twitter.com/oquhfGo6Db
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) March 9, 2016
Would it make sense to keep Aybar until closer to the July trade deadline? I’d say no. The Braves selling point could be pretty high right now considering he’s a veteran with proven success (slipped a little in 2015, but should bounce back) and on a one-year deal. If he continues to struggle during the first part of 2016, the chances of getting any prospects worth anything would be very slim.
If the Braves do decide to trade Aybar, they could fill the position with Jace Peterson, Daniel Castro or even Kelly Johnson for the time being before Ozzie Albies or Dansby Swanson is MLB ready.
To get a Cardinals prospective, I asked the fellas at Redbird Rants for some insight on who the Cardinals would possibly give up for Aybar.
"I could see them parting ways with a pitcher Luke Weaver or outfielder Anthony Garcia. No major league ready C or 3B in the organization right now.Weaver was a college draftee in 2014 and is comparable to Wacha in pitch offering and Greinke in size.Anthony Garcia was drafted in 2009 out of Puerto Rico. Has had some issues in minors but had a good rebound year last season and could be the first OF call up this season if one is needed. Good pop for a righty and has had success playing in winter league and other international contests"
But, they do go on to say that a trade may not be the direction the Cardinals are leaning towards….
"Frankly I don’t see a trade happening. Aledmys Diaz is major league ready IMO. Greg Garcia has been up and down the last three seasons and can fill in at short. Only way the team makes a move is if one of three in house guys go down to injury."
Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweeted this afternoon that the Cards would look internally and if needed start calling…following what the guys at Redbird Rant had said. My guess would be the Cards will continue in Spring Training with these guys to see if they can handle the spot and then make the decision. Let Aybar continue to impress in Disney with the Braves and then call later in ST.
Cardinals will look at internal ss options first, gyorko and Diaz. If needed, aybar makes sense (but stl hasn't called yet)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 9, 2016
The Cards have a couple players who currently sit in the back-end of the MLB’s top-100 prospects and the Braves should ask for these guys. Players like pitchers Jack Flaherty, Weaver, Marco Gonzalez and Tim Cooney and outfielders like Nick Plummer and Magneuris Sierra. The Cards do have a catcher prospect by the name of Carson Kelly, but is probably at least two years away…he’s ranked #13 on St. Louis’ top 30 prospects.