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Atlanta Braves did well for themselves at the trade deadline

By Alan Carpenter

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 28: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the fifth inning during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 28, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 28: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the fifth inning during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 28, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 21: General manager Dan Duquette of the Baltimore Orioles talks with manager Buck Showalter #26 before a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 21: General manager Dan Duquette of the Baltimore Orioles talks with manager Buck Showalter #26 before a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

How did this happen?

First off, I had no idea that Gausman was even available this Summer.  Here are some recent newsy bits about him from the past couple of days:

In a discussion relayed from The Athletic through MLB Trade Rumors late on Sunday, there was this:

"There’s been no indication that the O’s are strongly considering moving either Gausman (controlled through 2020) or Dylan Bundy (2021) anyhow, and they’re reportedly loath to consider trades involving the controllable Givens, either."

At that time, the Pirates were said to be the pursuer… and perhaps the only one.

24 hours later, there was this as well:

"Meanwhile, the Orioles don’t appear to have been enthused with trade offers for top pitchers Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy (or their other controllable players), [Jon] Heyman indicates in a tweet."

It was just at about 1:30 EDT this afternoon that this news started to change… and change in a dramatic way.

It was clear that the Braves were after Chris Archer, first and foremost.  There’s little question about that.  But I have to wonder if the Pirates pivoted to Archer once they figured that perhaps they didn’t match up well with the Orioles over Gausman.

In the end, the Rays were able to get most of what they wanted today, and the Pirates had the first part covered in top prospect Austin Meadows.  Beat writer Marc Topkin wrote this Monday night (emphasis added):

"The Rays are still seeking a hefty price, with some chatter about building a package around two young major-league or close players, plus more. While remaining flexible, as always, in their ask, a catcher and a power-hitting outfielder would address voids in the core of young talent they have assembled."

They got outfielders in spades today:  Tommy Pham, coming in a separate deal just after lunchtime today.  Meadows was listed in 2017 as MLBPipeline’s #17 overall prospect and #7 outfielder prospect.

That’s essentially Kolby Allard, using the 2017 prospect chart.  He was #22 overall then.

But the Pirates also gave up their 2016 #1 prospect in pitcher Tyler Glasnow… who was #8 overall at that time.

In my guess on the price for Archer on Tuesday morning, I had suggested 4 players, leading with either Max Fried or Luiz Gohara from a ‘Column A’ group.  The second (better) group included a choice between Kyle Wright and Ian Anderson.

What the Pirates seem to have paid was essentially both Wright and Anderson and also either Fried or Gohara (the 3rd player in the deal isn’t revealed yet, but is said to be a ‘real value’ player).

This was a big price.  Bigger than I had anticipated, and clearly beyond the point where the Braves were (rightly) willing to go.

EDIT:  Glasnow is actually something of damaged goods.  He does indeed have a wealth of talent, but he has not been able to repeatedly harness his delivery from a lean 6’8″ frame.  Hence his walk rates have been unacceptably high (5-to-6 per 9 innings).  So to lump him with lower risk prospects like Gohara and Fried is probably a bit glib on my part.  Still:  it’s a big name with tremendoes upside if he can ultimately put it all together.

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