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Atlanta Braves Morning-ish Chop: the developing trade market

By Alan Carpenter

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 03: Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 03: Marcus Stroman #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 3, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Brandon Phillips #4 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Matt Adams #18 after a 13-2 victory against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 14, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Buyers or sellers?  Rebuild or Re-tool?  Tank or go for it?  These are the decisions being across the baseball, and there are a lot of industry pundits trying to figure out how it going to go.  We’re seeing some trends, too.

I noted yesterday that the Atlanta Braves have an awful lot of surplus infielders that are about to hit the active roster. In an ideal world, it will all work itself out in a nice and orderly manner.

But this isn’t MLB The Show, eBay or a local garage sale.  Transactions are a bit trickier.  It fact, the whole sport seems to be undergoing a transition – one that may ultimately end up changing how – and when – players are acquired.

Wrapped up in all of that is that the Braves will need to make some decisions on how best to turn their trade assets into quality future contributors.  That could also involve some players – like Julio Teheran – that were not previously expected to be available.

In the meantime, here’s some of the things I’m seeing from around the league.

The Ins and Outs

Peter Gammons has some … let’s say ‘odd takes’… from time to time, but the piece he published last Friday has a lot of ring of truth to it.  Let’s start there:

"“This is the reality: there are a lot more sellers than buyers right now,” said one club personnel director [last] Wednesday."

This makes sense for now… buyers don’t want to tip their hands yet, but they need to know what’s in the catalog, and that’s why the sellers need to declare their wares first.

In addition, there are several teams still in limbo:

  • Colorado – in the wild card today, but 3-7 over their last ten, so are they in or out?
  • Cubs/Cardinals – tied, but 7.5 games back of the Rockies
  • Twins – close in both their division and in the Wild Card, but ‘buying big’ isn’t their style
  • KC – do they make one more run?
  • Angels? Rangers? Mariners?  In or out?
  • Blue Jays?  Probably out, but uncertain whether to declare a Fire Sale

The Yankees have declared that they are ‘in’, but only under narrowly-defined parameters:  they don’t want the ‘quick fix’… they are building for the future and want controllable talent.

"Cashman labeled the Yankees as “careful buyers,” with the implication being that the team will strive to improve its playoff hopes in 2017 without significantly mortgaging its future by trading away its very best minor leaguers."

That is also the Braves’ stated position, as Dave O’Brien reports:

"“We have a tough [schedule] stretch coming, but it’s exciting to see what could happen,” Braves general manager John Coppolella said. “We search every day to make this team better for the short- and long-term.” So, will the Braves be buyers or sellers before the trade deadline? They won’t divulge plans, but this observer’s answer to that question is yes."

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