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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Almost What The Doctor Ordered

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) scores a run after a double by right fielder Nick Markakis (not pictured) in the eighth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park. The Braves won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) scores a run after a double by right fielder Nick Markakis (not pictured) in the eighth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park. The Braves won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera (left) and right fielder Jose Bautista (right) watch from the dugout in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. The Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera (left) and right fielder Jose Bautista (right) watch from the dugout in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. The Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Ledge Jumper Watch

It’s still REAL early, but…

The Toronto Blue Jays are now 2-10 on this young season.  The St. Louis Cardinals are 3-9.

Both teams have been expected to do well this year and both have stumbled out of the gate, though for different reasons.

As well, you could certainly anticipate markedly different responses – should this continue.

The Cardinal fans can pacify themselves with a couple of thoughts:

  • They are still just 3 games behind the 6-6 Cubs
  • Nobody believes in the 8-5 Reds
  • They’ve already played the Cubs and Nationals… and were swept by the Yankees

Toronto, however, is another story.  They’ve been smacked around by everybody – the Orioles (5 of 6), the Rays (3 of 4) and even by Milwaukee.

Oh, and they open up against the 7-5 Red Sox tomorrow night.

Vultures Already Planning to Circle

The Jays are worst in baseball in team WAR (-0.6) and 29th in team offense (the only team worse is equally shocking – the Rockies!).

On top of that, their team ERA is 4.49, making them 8th worst in baseball.

And it’s getting worse.

Josh Donaldson was the glue holding things together when he pulled up lame during a double on Thursday.  Starter J.A. Happ is getting an MRI on his pitching elbow soon.  Aaron Sanchez is getting to see a hand specialist about a blister… he’s been DL’d.

So with all of that going on, what’s in store for the Blue Jays?  If this early slide continues – and it certainly looks possible – the scavenging could get serious quickly between June and the trade deadline.

So since you asked (yes, I heard you)…

More from Tomahawk Take

Possible Fire-Sale Targets

  • Russell Martin.  He like Canada.  He’s Canadian.  But he’s also on a contract paying $20 million each year through 2019… and he’s 34 years old.
  • Troy Tulowitski.  This will be a difficult sell, as he has the same contract as Martin… plus $14m in 2020 and a $4m buyout for 2021.
  • Jose Bautista.  He could hardly find a job in January, so… but it’s just 1 one year deal with a half-million buyout.
  • Josh Donaldson.  Once he gets his leg healed up, this will be the guy that teams clamor for.  He’s in for $17m this year but actually has a 4th arbitration year coming in 2018.  He’s now 31 and is from Pensacola.  I can’t even guess what his next contract might look like, nor what kind of trade it might take to get him.
  • Kendrys Morales.  Maybe, but he just signed an odd 3-year deal last off-season.
  • Pitching.  Marco Estrada, Francisco Liriano, maybe Happ:  yes.  Marcus Stroman?  No.

Next: Can't Hide It - STP is a Hit

So yes – it’s early, but also worth monitoring.  The Jays could be an unexpected source for pitching among teams that might have been looking toward Atlanta for trade deadline resources.

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