How Marlon Byrd Might Resolve Multiple Atlanta Braves Problems

Grounded Byrd

In case you hadn’t noticed, Marlon Byrd was suspended from baseball yesterday… again.  This suspension is officially for 162 games, but might effectively be permanent, given his age (close to 39), the fact that he is now a two-time violator and that few seem to be buying his explanation.

But this is not a case of Cleveland simply plugging in another outfielder and moving forward.  They’ve already had to do that this season… twice.

• Michael Brantley has fought his own shoulder following off-season surgery.  He lost round 1 and there is “no timetable for his return” at present.
• Abraham Almonte was suspended for 80 games earlier in the year.

So to say that the third place (and fading, lately) Indians are reeling a bit with their outfield is actually a strong understatement.

They could use some help.  Enter the Braves.

Have I Got A Salary Dump for You!

I have multiple scenarios about how this could work, but step #1 is the same for all of them:  the Braves trade Nick Markakis to Cleveland.

This could take any of the following forms:

• Straight salary dump:  Cleveland takes the entire contract, Braves receive a token A-ball non-prospect/organizational player in return.  This is least likely, given the Indians’ budgetary limitations.
• Better prospect:  Braves pay the Indians Nick’s salary for the rest of this season and receive a prospect ranked in the 10-20th range.
• Draft pick:  Braves pay the Indians Nick’s salary for the rest of this season, plus a prospect ranked around 20-30th in the Braves’ farm and Atlanta receives the Indians’ Competitive Balance draft pick for next week.  That is the 72nd draft pick and is valued at $892,200 for bonus purposes.
• International Slot:  Same as the previous option, but Atlanta receives one or more of the Indians’ International bonus slots in return.

How Atlanta Benefits

[ Cleveland’s side is obvious:  they get a veteran outfielder with a history of solid production and even if he plays to the level he has so far in 2016, they should be satisfied.  I’m not the only one suggesting a Markakis solution for the Tribe, and you’d have to think he’d be easier for them to acquire than other suggestions (namely Kemp, Braun, Bruce, or Upton Jr.)  ]

Atlanta’s side is a bit more complicated, but goes like this:

• They get an extra draft pick or International bonuses – no further explanation necessary.
• Hector Olivera has 2 minor league assignment options available.   He can start a “rehab” assignment on July 15, but once that’s over he could be optioned to AA or AAA…. “Kawakami’d” for the rest of the year.  The Braves still have to pay him (around $1.8 million) for the rest of the season, but that’s money in the budget for 2016.
• In 2017, much more money becomes available… especially with Nick Markakis off the books.  If the Braves choose, they can opt to release Olivera and pay off his contract at that point.

Thus, if Atlanta decides that Olivera is no longer useful to them, they can effectively run out the clock on 2016 and he never sees the majors.

If Atlanta decides that either the circumstances of Olivera’s actions OR his subsequent behavior (statements showing remorse, attending a anger-management class, donating to a battered women’s shelter, etc.) rise to the level of professional forgiveness and restoration, then they would at least have a position available for him in 2017.

Next: Future Considerations