It’s time to start thinking trade deadline. With about 6 weeks until the deadline comes and goes, there’s things that I’d like to see happen before that 4:00 PM EDT deadline passes.
The Atlanta Braves are not going to contend for a postseason berth in 2017. This much is, for all intents and purposes, true. So, what trades need to be addressed? Who needs to come up to fill those voids? Will the usual suspects even be moved?
It’s hard to project really the who, what, when, why and how on potential trade deals before the deadline lapses. I have a few players in mind, some obvious, some not so obvious. I believe it’s time to let the kids play.
We saw it last year, and so far, this year through 60 games with Dansby Swanson. I’ve advocated for patience with him from the onset. We knew we weren’t going to be contenders for the playoffs this year.
Pitching
Having insurmountable patience with Swanson is not the same as having patience with R.A. Dickey or Bartolo Colon. Thus, my first two candidates for trade are Colon and Dickey (you could make an argument for Jaime Garcia here as well).
Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey were low risk signings. The money seemed a bit high for me at the time, and BOTH have had less than decent starts to the 2017 campaign.
Their trade value has sunk to almost an unrecoverable level, in my opinion. However, that doesn’t mean we couldn’t get something for them if packaged right. Especially when we really don’t need the MLB pieces to survive without them.
In AA Mississppi and AAA Gwinnett, there are more than capable arms to bring up to Atlanta and let them go through growing pains. I’d much rather have those growing pains now, than later, when we are expected to win.
Sean Newcomb is here and it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving any time soon. Lucas Sims, Patrick Weigel, and possibly Mike Soroka are essentially ready.
Position Players/Offense
It was reported today by Mark Bowman, that Adonis Garcia will be sidelined for about two months after having surgery on his hand/finger. So, there goes my hope to trade him at the deadline in either July or August.
Adonis Garcia is expected to miss two months while recovering from surgery on his left ring finger
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 14, 2017
Thank goodness for Rio Ruiz. He’ll get plenty of time to adjust at 3B and so will Johan Camargo. I love what Rio has been doing since coming back up to Atlanta. He very well could play Adonis out of a job, and back to the bench where Garcia belongs. Or, out of Atlanta altogether.
For the most part, the infield is probably safe, save for Matt Adams and Brandon Phillips. I’d imagine two scenarios playing out with Adams.
First, he is traded at either the July or August deadlines. With Freddie Freeman expected back by early August, Adams may not want to accept a bench role.
That’s OK. He’s been raising his trade value since the moment he arrived in the ATL. The other scenario could be that he DOES accept a bench role, and finishes the season with the Braves and they deal him during the offseason.
As for Phillips, the obvious choice is Ozzie Albies. The kid is ready, and I think moving BP will be easier than some think.
Since the emergence of Ronald Acuna and a little more time given to Dustin Peterson, the time for trading Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp is getting closer.
Yes, it pains me to think of Kakes wearing a different uniform. However, I also understand he was never meant to be a long-term, future member of this team.
I would imagine, that if Acuna continues at his current rate, we’ll be saying adios to Markakis at the end of the year.
Peterson may need a bit longer to develop, so I don’t expect Kemp to get moved as quickly as Markakis could be.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
We’re beginning to see the kids come up. It’s a slow process, but it is happening. With those kids coming, and the free agent class expected at the end of the year, the Atlanta Braves could push for serious postseason contention in 2018.
The great thing about having a prosperous farm system, arguably the number one rated farm system in baseball, is that not every trade you make, has to net MLB level talent to fill a gaping hole.
You can be a little selective, you can get a little picky, you just have to have the pieces other teams need and desire. With the usual suspects and a throw-in here and there, there’s returnable value to be had.
Or, you just have to be John Coppolella and know how to use the Force.
My gut feeling? 2019 will be “the year” we’ve been waiting for. Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither will the next serious World Series contending Braves team. Successful rebuilds don’t happen in two years.
Next: Adonis to the DL after Surgery
In 2019, we’ll be four years removed from the start of this rebuild. Your patience and loyalty will be rewarded. Much like Dansby Swanson is rewarding the Braves’ patience with him now.
Yes, (insert name of any GM here), these ARE the Droids you’re looking for.