Atlanta Braves Market for Starting Pitching in 2017

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Aug 30, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Pitcher Trade Candidates for the Atlanta Braves

Coppy and Hart have been heard saying that in trades “they don’t want to pay on both ends”. What this means is they don’t want to take on salary and lose real prospects at the same time. If they’re going to make a trade, they’re either going to take on salary and trade no prospects, or trade prospects for a player under team control for many years. The latter of those 2 scenarios is way too big of a concept to speculate on as that’s an open field that I just don’t have the time to dive into right now, but let’s look at the first.

Is there a pitcher out there that’s costly but could provide some solid innings for a team in need of a veteran #3 starter? Let’s take a look at the criteria first:

Cannot be under control for more than 2 years. If you haven’t been paying attention, our Class-A affiliate, the Rome Braves, is overflowing with talent, and that talent is only a few years away. The Braves aren’t going to take on a pitcher that will block the way for that group, especially considering that pitchers like Teheran, Folty, Wisler, and Sean Newcomb will still be well under team control.
Has to be expendable by the other team. So we’re looking for a veteran starting pitcher that had poor 2016 numbers, is owed a chunk of change, and still has some left in the tank.

The List

More from Tomahawk Take

Anibal Sanchez 1/16.8MM w/option
Ubaldo Jimenez-1/13.5MM
Yovani Gallardo-1/11MM w/option
Francisco Liriano– 1/13.7MM
Matt Garza– 1/12.5MM w/option
Matt Harrison– 1/13.2MM w/option
Scott Kazmir– 2/35.3MM
Brandon McCarthy– 2/23MM
Matt Cain– 1/20.8MM w/option

Most of these guys have had down years, or have been injured in 2017. This would be an attractive list if it were 2013, but it’s not. I’d guess that most of these guys could be had, and some could even be traded for a guy like Nick Markakis straight up (match pending).

Know what cliché comes to mind right now? Pick your poison. None of these options seem very appealing. It’s like going to a gross grocery store named “Linda’s Low-Priced Picking’s” (yes, don’t pretend there wouldn’t be a grammatically incorrect apostrophe inserted right there behind the “g”), and having to choose between the slimy deli turkey or the slimy deli ham.

Picking my poison for the Atlanta Braves

If I were given this scenario and I had to pick between these 2 scenarios, I’d go with 1 of each. Don’t lay into me too hard:

Sign Clay Buchholz to a 1-year incentive-laden deal. It wasn’t too long ago that Buchholz was a top-5 consensus prospect in the Major Leagues. He’s had years of pure dominance and years of pure vomit. He seems like the perfect candidate for Roger to fix, and Roger has been really good at resurrecting careers (assuming Roger is asked to stay, which isn’t a lock given the pitching issues this season). Buchholz is also from the south and went to the same college as Jace Peterson, McNeese State University in Louisiana.
Trade Nick Markakis for Francisco Liriano. The Blue Jays acquired Liriano from the Pirates at the deadline and he hasn’t pitched that poorly for them (4.09 ERA through 7 games), but they have a problem staring them in the face in the form of free agency. As of now, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Michael Saunders, all huge bats, are free agents in 2017. It’s been well-documented that the Jays cannot keep both Bautista and Encarnacion, and I’d be willing to infer that Saunders walks as well. Their payroll commitment for 2017 already accounts for 107MM without those 3, leaving them less than 30MM to fill numerous vacancies. A lateral move for a RFer seems wise.

Wrapping it up with an Atlanta Braves Red and Blue ribbon.

The Braves find themselves in an interesting situation. They have money to spend, but nowhere to really spend it as they don’t want to sacrifice draft picks, and likely don’t want to commit a ton of money and years to a player. They could use 2017’s money by picking up a few guys on 1-2 year deals, then enter the market again in 2018, when the team will likely show more of what is needed long-term to be a competitor, and the 2018 free agent class is frickin’ LOADED.

Or, they could take a completely alternative route and sign Japan’s Babe Ruth!

SHOHEI OTANIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!

GET IT DONE, COPPY!!!

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