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Atlanta Braves’ trade deadline takeaways

By Alan Carpenter

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 26: Matt Kemp #27 and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hug in the dugout during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 26: Matt Kemp #27 and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hug in the dugout during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 30: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves takes the ball from starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 taking Foltynewicz out of the game against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 30: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves takes the ball from starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz #26 taking Foltynewicz out of the game against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Pitching

  • THE PRESENT:  Teheran, Foltynewicz, Newcomb, Dickey, Sims (Tuesday)
  • THE FUTURE:  I have no idea.

You might have noticed by now.  This is a discussion about the lack of deadline trades made by the Braves and what that might mean.  There have been no trade thoughts for the future mentioned, either.

That’s right.  However, that could be about to change when we get around to the rotation.

Let’s get this out of the way first:  Robert Allen Dickey?  Thank you for your service… you are free to put your feet up on the porch at a cabin of your choosing in the Smokies.  We will remember you fondly.

I have an opinion that had the Braves made a deadline deal – Sonny Gray, perhaps – that Lucas Sims might have been an Oakland A right now.  His callup was announced after the game today, but more notably, it was after the trade deadline had passed.  This is total speculation, but I believe that he could have been one of the trade chips offered to Oakland.

That having passed, Sims will now have a shot to show that he belongs in the majors.  Barring disaster. he will likely get the rest of the year – like Newcomb – to showcase himself for a permanent role.

After that… all bets are off.  Atlanta could do any of the following this Winter:

  • Pursue a free agent pitcher.  Alex Cobb would be my personal target.  He’d be expensive, but has been trending upwards in the past 2 seasons.
  • Pursue a front-line starter trade.  Yes, this is where Chris Archer comes in.
  • Go with the guys who finish the season.
  • Have what effectively amounts to an open tryout this Spring for 1-3 slots between Newcomb, Sims, Allard, Gohara, and Soroka.  The default answer on that is that the latter trio start in AAA.
  • Trade Teheran.  The stated purpose here would be to make space for others, but the backup reason would be that you do this if you believe that he’s already peaked as a starter.

There are plenty of starting pitching options available to Atlanta.  Now the trick is to try and figure out which ones have the star potential and which do not.

At the same time, you really do not want to go into a season with a fistful of youngsters that don’t have a lot of veteran guidance.  That’s where a Cobb or Archer or Teheran come into play:  having a couple of veterans, then Folty, would allow a more sustainable staff with just 2 rookies at the most.

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