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Ken Rosenthal has thoughts about trading Atlanta Braves’ pitchers

By Alan Carpenter

Aug 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (36) is interviewed by Ken Rosenthal after a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Cardinals 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (36) is interviewed by Ken Rosenthal after a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Cardinals 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) celebrates after the final out in their game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. The Braves won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) celebrates after the final out in their game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field. The Braves won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Not the Right Trade Bait, Either?

Rosenthal goes on to suggest that Arodys Vizcaino should be the trade bait.  But then he ticks off the flaws of the Braves’ closer:

  • A PED suspension on his record
  • A Tommy John repair on his medical record
  • Above average walks (though that’s an aberration due to a single out-of-character game with 3 walks… remove that and his BB/9 rate drops from 4 to 3).

Still, I would expect Vizzy to be gone by late July if there’s a decent incentive to move him.  No, he’s not an elite closer, but there should be a decent return for a pitcher who ranks 13th in ERA among all pitchers with at least 6 saves (there are 31 of them).

The trouble is, there is a danger that the incentive (i.e., the trade return) might be too light.  The Braves have already moved Jason Grilli for very little in return and Jim Johnson is likely to find himself on a new mound as well.

At some point, we begin to run out of relief pitchers (Atlanta has already used 17… not counting Tyrell Jenkins, who is still awaiting his debut).  All things being equal, why not keep Vizcaino for at least his first arbitration season (2017)?

Still Very Early

Look:  it’s still early in the trade season.  We are at June 20th and there’s exactly 6 weeks until August 1st.  At this point, initial thoughts, ideas, needs, and expectations are being exchanged between clubs.  A lot will happen with the next 35 +/- games between now and then.

The nightmare scenario for a contender?  It would go something like this:

Friday night, July 29th:  A team is in first place, but their #1 or #2 starter blows out his elbow and is lost for the year.  Ownership is itching for a World Series appearance… and they have to go pay full price to repair the damage.

There are still teams like the Orioles with the 4th highest starters’ ERA in the majors.  Or the Red Sox with the 11th highest.  Astros are 14th.  In the off-season, the Indians were begging teams to take surplus pitching… now they’re in the thick of their own race and aren’t dealing anything.

Desperate times makes for desperate measures in the minds of many a GM at this time of the year.  I also know that many Braves’ fans do not want to see Julio Teheran traded anywhere.

I think you can rest assured that there will be no deal unless it’s lopsided toward Atlanta – and one that would be well worth those lost 5 years of control.

Next: Rather Trade Nick Mark instead? Good luck w/that.

But I suppose I should go ahead and apologize now for the flurry of trade rumors we’re going to have to run down between now and August.

Sorry.

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