Day two of the Atlanta Braves foray into these simulated winter meeting started off frustrating but about the time I should have been in bed things perked up.
After losing out on pitchers Monday night, Tuesday morning offered little hope of success . We talked all day long but accomplished no more than a sore throat. Deals came close, then a call back (or email back) never came. It wasn’t until 9:00 pm Central time that things started to move
Simulated Atlanta Braves signing – Andre Ethier
Okay it doesn’t seem like much, but getting Andre Ethier on board for $5M with an option for 2019 gave us a dependable left handed bat who can fill in across the outfield – admittedly center field would be an emergency but he’s done it as recently as 2016. He’s also done emergency duty at first base.
Atlanta Braves
Ethier’s the consummate professional and leader who will help the younger players. Most of us know Ethier from the trouble he gave Braves’ pitchers over the years. Now he’s on our side.
That looked like being today’s news, but things picked up about midnight when the Astros GM woke up.
Simulated trade – Braves acquire Mike Fiers
The departure of Julio Teheran to Seattle – he didn’t even get to visit before Seattle flipped him to the Nationals – meant we needed a veteran arm to add innings. Mike Fiers provides the missing innings. Fiers spent his first four plus seasons in Milwaukee working both as a starter in relief and from the pen.
In that time he posted a 3.66 ERA. 3.61 FIP over 341 2/3 innings, averaging 9.2 K/9 with a 3.32 K.BB rate. In the middle of 2015 the Brewers traded him to Houston where he continued to pitch well. In 2016 he made 31 starts and threw 168 2/3 innings as the Astros made their first run at post season play since 2005.
This season he made 28 starts but struggled a bit. His ERA climbed to 5.52 but he continued to strike hitters out. When Justin Verlander arrived, Fiers found himself back in the bullpen.
Minor Moves
The Braves also acquired Jack Mayfield, a AAA second baseman who has always hit well but had trouble with his glove. He’s on the 40 man roster but will start the year at Gwinnett.
I had just finished that when the Padres agreed to a deal sending Aaron Blair to San Diego in return for utility man Cory Spangenberg. Spangenberg played all over the infield for the Padres and even had a turn or two in the outfield. In that role this year he hit 11 home runs and posted a .264/.322/401 line. I also made a small trade with Detroit.
Simulated trade – Braves acquire Michael Fulmer
The Braves worked on Detroit during the year trying to acquire Michael Fulmer but the Tigers wouldn’t relent. Today we got our man when Detroit agreed to send Fulmer to Atlanta in exchange for Sean Newcomb, Ian Anderson, Jason Hursh, Matt Wisler, Touki Toussaint.
The Mets selected Fulmer in the first round (44th pick overall) of the 2011 draft. In 2015 as the Mets sent him to Detroit along with Luis Cessa in order to acquire Yoenis Cespedes .
Fulmer made his major league debut in on April 29, 2016 against the Twins. He went on to throw 159 innings in 26 starts while posting a 3.06 ERA. Those numbers were good enough to earn him 10th place in Cy Young voting and AL Rookie of the Year.
This season he made 25 starts throwing 164 innings with a 3.83 ERA for a very bad and injury stricken Tiger team. Fulmer is the top of the rotation arm the Braves wanted for a long time. There’s a nice video of him in action if you click here.
Where do we stand now
Actually I’m sitting because I’m exhausted. The roster on the other hand looks really good. I listed a proposed starting eight yesterday so I’ll fill just fill in the rest now.
Projected rotation:
- Michael Fulmer
- Luiz Gohara
- Mike Foltynewicz
- Max Fried
- Mike Fiers
The bench crew is final unless I get a good offer as well.
- Kurt Suzuki
- Johan Camargo
- Lane Adams
- Andre Ethier
- Cory Spangenberg
The bullpen is the last piece and I have an offer out on an important addition so I’ll leave that for tomorrow . I have to write something tomorrow night.
That a Wrap
I was lucky to be able to add Ethier. He and Lane give us two genuine outfield options instead of seeing an infielder try to figure out where he’s at when the ball is hit.
Camargo continues to be the slick glove/ powerful arm utility man while Spangenberg gives us depth at all the infield positions with a little pop now and then.
Next: In case you missed Monday's simulation
I wondered where I would go for a pitcher after yesterday’s odd goings on. I made an attempt to get Danny Salazar but was too late. I had reached plan D when the Tigers woke up.
Fulmer was expensive; we gave away three very good starting pitcher prospect and two bullpen arms that will have solid careers. Fiers gives us innings until another young arm is ready. The cupboard isn’t bare yet but I hope to padlock it in the morning and prevent any further loss.
The bullpen is coming along nicely. I’ll show you tomorrow.