Atlanta Braves Morning Chop Catch Up Edition

Levine: Teams Stepping Up Offers For White Sox’s Jose Quintana

BRUCE LEVINE / CHICAGO.CBSLOCAL.COM (Jan 15)

CHICAGO (CBS) — Trade rumors have been swirling around White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana since early December. Now, the latest intelligence on the trade market is that several teams have made more significant offers in the last week with hope of acquiring Quintana as the White Sox continue on their rebuilding path.

Although the White Sox aren’t putting a deadline on dealing their best pitcher, sources indicate that clubs have stepped up offers recently and a deal could get done soon. The perception that it’s a three-team race for Quintana doesn’t tell the full story. The Astros, Yankees and Pirates have been most often mentioned in the Quintana derby, but many teams are interested in him, given his resume. Quintana, who turns 28 later this month, has recorded four straight seasons of 200-plus innings and sports a career 3.41 ERA.

[ Ed. note:  he doesn’t mention the Braves here, but I would certainly have them in the mix… perhaps even removing the Yankees.

The most aggressive teams in this hunt probably would be Houston and Atlanta, in fact.  The Braves have the most to give, it seems, but the trick will be in exactly what the costs ends up being.

In my mind… if Atlanta can somehow pull this off while retaining Ozzie Albies, then it’s a ‘win’.  Is that possible?  Doesn’t seem real likely. ]

Winter Report Card: Tampa Bay Rays

JON TAYLER / SPORTSILLUSTRATED.COM

After bottoming out with the franchise’s worst record since 2007, there was some expectation that the Rays would deal away pitcher Chris Archer or third baseman Evan Longoria as the start of a full-blown rebuild. But Tampa Bay has eschewed a teardown, instead adding a pair of veteran bats off the free-agent market on short-term deals and moving only one starter from its crowded rotation.

[ Ed. Note:  Another indication that Chris Archer isn’t going anywhere… at least not any time soon.

The Rays opted to trade Drew Smyly and so far that’s all.  Archer is staying, Longoria is staying, and instead they’ve added two more outfielders (Colby Rasmus and Mallex Smith) plus injured catcher Wilson Ramos.

That’s a far cry from engaging in a rebuild… and means that teams looking for pitching help via trade need to look elsewhere. ]