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Atlanta Braves Getting Trade Hit on Arodys Vizcaino?

By Alan Carpenter

Jun 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) pitches against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino (38) pitches against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Mets 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher
Oct 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher /

Oct 5, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) reacts during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants in the National League wild card playoff baseball game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Trading Arodys Vizcaino?

If the Mets were to come calling, this is something that the Braves would certainly listen on, but it wouldn’t be done lightly, either.

Right now, the bullpen projects to be fairly good, though experience could be an issue.  Recall that the Braves traded Shae Simmons to Seattle just two weeks ago in the deal that briefly sent Mallex Smith there as well (he’s now a Ray).

At the same time, there is some depth here.  The Braves would have… without Vizcaino:

Would the Braves miss Vizcaino?  Yes, but perhaps not terribly so… and his absence could open a spot for another one of these players.

The Needs In Gotham City

The Met’s problem is complex:

  • Jeurys Familia is the best they have for relief… except that it is very likely he will be suspended.  Anything from 30 to 50 games is probably on the table.
  • They could thus use someone with closer experience.  Unfortunately for them, most of those readily attainable options are now gone.
  • Even with Familia, they are hurting.  Their depth chart suggests names like Addison Reed (he was excellent last year… and was used for 80 games), Hansel Robles (3.48), … and then things get pretty ugly.
  • They also have a comical surplus of outfielders – with no “real” center fielder among them (the latter being a problem that the Braves can’t help them with).

Even relievers have gotten expensive – both contractually and in the trade market.  We’ve seen a lot of that over the past year-plus as teams have deal Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Tyler Thornburg, Craig Kimbrel (twice), Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith, and Ken Giles – just to name a few.

As the starting pitching trade prices have soared, so have the prices for relievers.  Vizcaino recently agreed to avoid arbitration – his 2nd of 4 arb years – at a $1.55 million price point.  That be certainly be appealing to the frugal/thrifty/tightwad(?) Mets.

Another need for the Mets involves catching… and if the Mets wanted to engage here, that’s an area of possible surplus for Atlanta as well – though at this time, Anthony Recker is probably the only readily tradable asset… so maybe not.

But Braves’ fans don’t really care about all of that… they want to know what Coppy could fleece from that Mets this year.

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