Atlanta Braves Trade Watch: run-down on MLB buyer/seller status

How the Other Half is Looking

AL EAST

• Boston.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  Third base, bullpen.  Their world rocked this week with the release of the Kung Fu Panda, committing them to a $50 million payoff of his deal.  Other than that, things have turned around nicely for the Red Sox, so they should be in good shape to patch those minor holes… though perhaps starting pitching isn’t being ruled out either.
• Yankees.  STATUS: Limbo.  NEEDS:  Pitching, first base.  In stark contrast to the Red Sox, the Yankees are in a virtual freefall, setting low-water marks for bad play over the past month and threatening to fall out of their Wild Card chair.  In fact, the only reason they haven’t (yet) is that the Twins and Royals are both on longer current losing skids.

But it’s because the Yankees are afraid that their team had over-achieved in the Spring and that this slide was expected that puts them in this limbo.  Unless they can prove otherwise – soon – Brian Cashman may be forced to admit that they aren’t quite ready for prime time this year.  Note:  Oakland represents a ‘one stop shopping’ opportunity for them.

• Tampa Bay. STATUS:  Standing pat.  NEEDS: Some pitching, but they probably will try to resolve this internally.
• Baltimore.  STATUS:  Limbo. Would probably prefer to sell, but Peter Angelos.  AVAILABLE:  relievers Zach Britton and Mychal Givens.
• Toronto.  STATUS: Limbo.  NEEDS/AVAILABLE:  Pitching, second base.  The Blue Jays are perhaps the biggest enigma in all of baseball.  5 games under .500 and 4 back of the last Wild Card spot.  Before the deadline they will face Detroit (won Friday night), Boston, Cleveland, Oakland, and the Angels.

If they manage to do well in the next 9 games, look for the Jays to become a “Buy” team.  If not, a tear-it-all-down fire sale could ensue.  If “selling”, the available players could become an avalanche.

AL CENTRAL

• Cleveland.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  The rotation.  That wasn’t expected, but hinges now on Danny Salazar’s health.  Suspicion is that they will at least need to pick up somebody for depth, perhaps from Atlanta, perhaps San Diego.

UPDATE: Indians “evaluating” Sonny Gray (after he shut them down last night).

• Minnesota.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  Bullpen help.  Here’s a team a bit ahead of its own time, probably not expecting to be on the cusp of a wild Card spot this season.  They need pitching, but of the young, controllable sort and it’s not likely to be available in their price range.  Still, they claim to be open to “spending aggressively” toward that end.  We’ll see, but their own Bartolo Colon experiment has not started well.

UPDATE:  I’m not sure I believe this, but Bart is starting for them on Tuesday.

• Kansas City.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  Pitching (back end rotation), leadoff hitter or 2nd base, maybe an outfielder.  All of this was discussed in much more detail here, particularly as it could impact the Braves.

UPDATE:  Confirming need of ‘rental’ pitcher as Nate Karns will have thoracic outlet syndrome surgery next week.  He’s done for 2017.

• Detroit.  STATUS: Sellers. AVAILABLE: all extended contracts would be discussed, plus J.D. Martinez.  This will be highly challenging for them, but not completely out of the question.
• White Sox.  STATUS: Sellers. AVAILABLE: Everybody?  The most likely is Todd Frazier (to Boston) and perhaps Avisail Garcia.  David Robertson will probably be dealt, but the question here involves price – and it’s likely that somebody (whether the Nats or Dodgers or Boston or somebody) will pay it.

AL WEST

• Oakland.  STATUS: Sellers. AVAILABLE: it all starts with Sonny Gray.  I’m deliberately putting the A’s ahead in this division because this is the next key cog in the 2017 trade market.

There are a lot of people thinking that perhaps he won’t be moved as GMs mull his price vs his perceived durability (our Fred Owens thinks he’s a serious injury risk).  That’s understandable.

However, Billy Beane was probably doing a fist pump last night as Gray went out and silenced the Cleveland Indians over 6 innings of 2 hit shutout ball.  As I’ve been on record saying before, he’s coming back strong from injury last season and Beane will not risk waiting any longer.  I believe Gray will be traded by July 31st.  Maybe even sooner.

Susan Slusser of the A’s beat reported that the Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Blue Jays were all in attendance for Gray’s start… though it’s possible that there was other scouting going on.

UPDATE:  Despite a sweep of the Indians this weekend… it’s rebuild time!

• Houston.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  Pitching, but perhaps more ‘pitching depth’ if some of their starters can come back strong.  For that reason, the Astros could wait until the last minute before jumping into the pool, and they could go for anything from a Padres’ cast off to … well, maybe Julio Teheran more than Sonny Gray.  Oakland is willing to trade with anybody – even in division – but Gray’s price would totally wipe their farm system.

UPDATE:

• Texas.  Leaning toward Sellers but looking for controllable players too?  AVAILABLE:  Jonathan Lucroy, and according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN this morning, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels could both be in play now.  Jurrickson Profar could also be attractive as a ‘scenery change’ guy, but likely not an a contender asset piece.

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Darvish is a rental, but Hamels is still owed $23.5 million in 2018 and $20 million for 2019 (or a $6 million buyout)… so close to $39 million total counting this year.  All that, but how attractive are those pieces… really?

• Angels.  STATUS:  Buyers – but are they even able?  NEEDS:  Starting Pitching due to injuries.  But they have no farm system!  They’ve got Mike Trout back this weekend, which should be the best acquisition short of the return of Freddie Freeman to Atlanta, but short of picking up a Padres’ starter from the scrap heap, it’s hard to see what more they can do.  The Angels like Dee Gordon, but so do the Royals and Blue Jays, though Miami is unwilling to eat money on that contract, so it’s possible nobody gets him.
• Seattle.  STATUS:  Buyers.  NEEDS:  Bullpen, starting pitching.  Add them to the Brad Hand sweepstakes, a contest that’s getting a bizarre amount of action.  Don’t forget that Jerry DiPoto is running this club now and he’s traded more than anyone else since taking those reins.  He’d buy and sell his own mother… and probably has.

Next: Freeman Still in Beast Mode

So that’s the way it is:  Saturday, July 15th, 2017.  We’ll update this as time marches through the next 16 days.