The Atlanta Braves may be looking somewhere else for some lineup power
As the Atlanta Braves head into the All-Star break, it’s time for the front office to decide if THIS year has some postseason hopes and if they are going to add support to the cause.
They’ll end the first half on a win after they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1, however that’s only their third win in the last ten games and one that kept them from getting swept. They have been basically on top or near the top of the division the whole season and this is only a recent slump for them but maybe they could use some power in the middle of the lineup.
That power could come in the form of Mike Moustakas, someone the Braves was interested in during the off-season and are reportedly once again.
The #RedSox and #Braves are both interested in Mike Moustakas as a trade deadline acquisition, sources say. The #Yankees have already been mentioned as a potential landing spot. There's enough of a market for Moose that it's more likely than not the Royals deal him this month.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 15, 2018
The Braves currently sit at 52-42 and half a game back behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East lead. This is more than anyone could have expected of the Braves coming into the All-Star break and they haven’t had the easiest schedule while doing so.
Atlanta has also been linked to others like Manny Machado, and pitchers like Jacob DeGrom and Nathan Eovaldi but could Moustakas be the one all along?
With more talk coming out that the Phillies are moving up the line – and their offer – to get Machado, the Braves may be looking to counter with a less expensive option.
Moustakas will definitely cost the Braves less but will still require at least one decent prospect, perhaps something on the order of the surgically-repaired Patrick Weigel, given the lack of a well-defined market for third basemen after Manny Machado.
Should They Do It?
Short answer? Sure, if the package is right.
Unlike Machado, Moustakas has a mutual option for 2019 for $15,000,000 with a $1 million buyout, so like Machado, he could still become a free agent after this season… and if the Braves think Riley is ready, they might be fine with that.
The Royals will definitely be asking for more than a Weigel-level prospect, but the Atlanta Braves shouldn’t give in. After all, the offense isn’t the biggest problem they should be dealing with now.
Plus the Braves offense has shown what they can do. So when the slump is over and the bats are all hitting again, how much of a difference will Moustakas make compared to boosting the bullpen or rotation.
Currently, Moustakas is hitting .250 for 2018 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs. So he does provide more home run power but it isn’t the best year he’s having, particularly lately: his July numbers tell a scary tale:
- .159 average
- 1 walk (today)
- 3 homers
- 5 RBI
His career has been an up-and-down roller-coaster as he hit .272 last season, .240 in 2016, .284 in 2015 and then .212 in 2014… and you get the point: you don’t really know what you’re gonna get from him.
Another Possible Angle
About the pitching need… the Royals already sold off (seemingly for pennies on the dollar) their best reliever in Kelvin Herrera. But they have others:
- Brad Keller (2.01 ERA)
- Scott Barlow (3.60)
- Wily Peralta (1.04)
- Brian Flynn (3.71)
- Kevin McCarthy (3.69)
- Tim Hill (3.62)
Only Barlow has an exceptionally low walk rate, though that’s from just 6 outings (15 innings). Peralta looks good, but has been playing with fire: 1.38 WHIP with a walk rate over six per 9 innings.
Still, one of these might be a low-cost way for the Braves to try and address a pitching need simultaneously with a 3rd base need.
The Finances
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- Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos’ views on the offseason so far
Moustakas’ contract is also a factor of whether they should trade for him or not and what package will be available. Do they plan on using him for the rest of 2018 and 2019? Use him only for this season and fight to sign Machado in the offseason?
Use “Moose” for this season and partially for 2019 until Austin Riley is ready to take over? Will Riley be a part of the package to get Moustakas (nah) or maybe a front line starter like DeGrom or Cole Hamels?
There’s so many ways they could go at this but will it be worth it?
Braves Country should (and probably will) be fine with parting with a second-tier pitching prospect out of the large group.
Not too long ago, there was this seemingly random trade proposition for Moustakas:
Jim Duquette of https://t.co/YlfJVPMGtG predicted two trades for Braves:
— Matt Chernoff (@RealMattlanta) July 3, 2018
Moustakas to Braves for Kolby Allard and Touki.
Zach Britton to Braves for Max Fried.
I wouldn’t make either deal.
I’m good with Camargo at 3rd. Plus I think AA can add pen arms for lesser prospects.
That’s frankly laughable, but if the Royals want to move their third baseman (they do), then they need to be reasonable.