Where’s Randall Delgado?

He’s at Reno, pitching horribly.

Randall has 0 wins and a 9.09 ERA in 8 starts with a 1.933 WHIP. As for the other prospects shipped to Arizona:

*Zeke Spruill has struggled since his promotion from Double-A Mobile, striking out only 6 in 18 IP.

*Don’t expect Nick Ahmed to get promoted any time soon — he’s hitting .162 with 1 XBH in 111 AB’s at Mobile.

*Brandon Drury is raking at Single-A South Bend but the third baseman is a marginal prospect at best.

Randall surprises me. He had his moments last season but those may have been the highlights of a briefer than expected major league career.

JV to Detroit?

The Tigers need a closer. The Braves need to unload Dan Uggla’s onerous contract.

So how ’bout this: JV and Uggla for Phil Coke and Omar Infante, with the Braves agreeing to pay a portion of Uggla’s contract.

Detroit would receive more talent but a larger financial burden. They have shown a willingness to spend big, though I doubt they could stomach an infield of Fielder, Peralta, Cabrera and Uggla.

Another option? Third baseman Nick  Catellanos, ranked 21st in MLB and Baseball America’s prospect rankings. He hit .320 last year divided between Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie.

Braves willing to listen on JV, but should they?

Talk among scouts that #Braves will listen on Venters. Braves, though, say they love depth in their bullpen, including 3 LHs with Avilan.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 6, 2013

Depends on what you could get in return. Venters should net more than a LH pitch-hitter.

I’d be surprised if FW trades him, however. Jordan Walden, who’s held lefties to a .206 BA over his career, is nursing a sore back while EOF has yet to pitch this spring. Both are supposed to be fine, but until they prove it JV ain’t going nowhere.

Keep in mind that EOF is a free agent after this season while JV isn’t eligible for f ree agency until after 2016. If you’re going to trade a left-handed reliever, wouldn’t it make more sense to deal O’Flaherty?

Head, heart divided on Prado deal

Do the intangibles matter? Do strikeouts not? Depends on your school of thought.

I think they can both be true. Having a player who serves as an example for others by the way he plays the game is a plus — but it doesn’t compare with talent. Justin Upton could win an MVP this year. Martin never will.

Yes, an out is an out but some outs are productive. Strikeouts never are — but they are better than double plays. A strikeout-heavy line-up is prone to collective slumps, and this one should be no different.

Upton’s 121 K’s aren’t bad fora power hitter; I’m more troubled by Chris Johnson’s 131 K’s in 136 games. He’s likely to be platoon with Bigger Frank, who struck out 70 times in 192 AB’s. McCann and Andrelton are the only line-up regulars who won’t top 100 K’s.

Defensively, the Braves have gotten worse. The outfield is a little better but third base could be a nightmare. Chris Francisco is likely to be to 3B what Uggla is to second.

I’m glad the Braves didn’t trade any of their best pitching prospects. If I wasn’t so attached to Martin I’d probably like this trade.

Instead, I’m conflicted

Justin Upton will be a Brave by Friday

There’s good reason to be optimistic.

Scribes Rosenthal, Heyman and Olney all report the Braves have offered a “strong package” of players for Upton. DOB says the offer likely involves Teheran plus two-to-three additional prospects. Among the names bandied about: Gattis, Ahmed, Gilmartin, Spruill …

Bet on it happening by Friday, an artificial deadline favored by the D’backs, according to reports.

If it does the Bravos will boast the game’s most gifted outfield, one that combined for 72 homers, 227 RBI and 70 steals in 2012 — and that’s with Justin Upton having an off year.

My concern is what impact this will have on extensions for Jay Hey and Medlen. I’d rather lock those two up than acquire Upton. Hopefully it’s not an either/or proposition.

Still, I’d rather be talking about the possibility of another Upton than trying to rationalize  the signing of Delmon Young.

Related articles

• Braves making push to gain another Upton (markbowman.mlblogs.com)
• The Braves are the frontrunners for Justin Upton (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)

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It appears as if the Braves are the only serious suitor for Justin Upton because, as Buster Olney reports, FW “could and would” part with the prospects necessary to land B.J.’s bro.

Is Justin Upton to the Braves inevitable?

Atlanta lying in the weeds some in J.Upton conversations. If they got him, they’d be assured of at least 3 years of Upton/Upton/Heyward OF.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 12, 2013

Baseball scribes seem increasingly convinced that the D’backs star will end up in Atlanta. I’ve been skeptical but am beginning to think that the Uptons will join the Aarons, Niekros, Torres, Mahlers and Drews as siblings and teammates on the Braves.

Justin Upton just turned down a deal that would’ve sent him to Seattle in exchange for a top pitching prospect, Taijuan Walker, SS Nick Franklin, who projects as a Blauser-esque middle infielder, and relievers Charlie Furbush and Stephen Pryor.

That’s a lot to give up for Upton, especially for a team like Seattle which is more than one player away from contending.

The Braves are contenders with only one Upton. Two Uptons could put them over the top. Plus, I don’t think they’d have to surrender as much as the Mariners offered (which equates to something along the lines of Teheran, Nick Ahmed, Juan Jaime and Luis Avilan).

Arizona is in a bind, having signed Cody Ross to join an already crowded outfield. They’ve been shopping Upton since last year’s All-Star break, so bringing him back would be problematic. And word that Texas has dropped out of the bidding leaves the D’Backs with few suitors.

The Braves could swing it financially, as Upton will make $9.75 million in 2013 (then $14.25 mil in ’14 and ’15, the same total and years Boston gave to Shane Victorino). That would leave zero wiggle room payroll-wise, though including Eric O’Flaherty, a free agent in 2014, in a deal would free up roughly $4 million. No doubt O’Flaherty would appeal to Arizona GM Kevin Towers, whose bullpen lacks a solid southpaw.

I’d hate to lose EOF, but he’ll be gone in a year anyway. And the Braves would still have Venters, Avilan and newly acquired Jordan Walden, who’s held lefties to a .202 BA in his career.

I’d offer Delgado, O’Flaherty and Ahmed and work from there. Considering the difference Upton would make for the 2013 Braves, I’d be prepared to give up more.

The former overall top draft pick battled nagging injuries in 2012, likely accounting for his decline in power. But not all was lost, as Upton showed better plate coverage, striking out 121 times in 150 games — a big improvement from 2010, when he was rung up 152 times in 133 games.

His home/road splits are troubling, though Arizona is not Colorado. Not sure what explains the disparity but I have a hard time believing Upton will never produce outside of Chase Field.

Best to remember we’re talking about a player one year removed from a 4th place finish in NL MVP balloting. It would surprise no one if the 25-year-old veteran finishes first in the near future.

Why not 2013, in Atlanta? It’s not as unlikely as we once thought.

Why are the Rockies so stubborn?

The Braves have what they need, and Colorado has Dexter Fowler, the lead-off hitting outfielder who would complete a formidable line-up.

The Rockies are desperate for pitching and could use a corner infielder. How many homers do you think Juan Francisco would hit playing half his games in Coors? More than Colorado’s projected corner infielders — Todd Helton and Jordan Pacheco — combined, I’d bet.

Pacheco, a converted catcher who hit .309 last year with little power, would also be a nice fit in Atlanta as jack of all trades backing up at first, third and behind the plate. Here’s my proposed deal, which should be more than enough but is unlikely to satisfy Colorado, which tends to over-value their talent:

Fowler and Pacheco 

for

Randall Delgado, Sean Gilmartin, hard-throwing reliever Juan Jaime and Juan Francisco. 

Fowler, an Alpharetta native, finally fulfilled his potential last year, posting a .389 OBP — more than 40 points better than Michael Bourn — and .474 slugging percentage. Sure, his home/road splits are troubling, but an OF of Fowler, B.J. and Jay Hey — all 28 and under — excites the hell out of me.

If only the Rockies would cooperate.

Are the Braves resigned to their small-market fate?

Increasingly we’re hearing management say it’s okay with internal LF/3B options, as if there are any. I’m encouraged by Juan Francisco’s development, but there’s nothing to suggest he won’t add another 150+ strikeouts to a line-up that could easily lead the league in K’s. Jose Constanza is a 4-A player at best, Evan Gattis is a DH who may or may not hit big league pitching and Jordan Schafer has blown every chance he’s received.

Meanwhile, the Reds are on the verge of acquiring Shin-Soo Choo (career .289 BA, .381 OBP, .465 slugging, 20 SB a year) in a three-team deal  that would net the Indians Drew Stubbs, who’s fallen far short of expectations, and a minor league pitching prospect. I’m not saying the Braves could’ve topped that offer, but Cleveland needs pitching and the Braves have it.  Choo is a FA after this season, and, though he strikes out plenty, gets on base at a clip Francisco will never match. And the Reds aren’t gutting their farm system to get him.

An NL competitor is about to get better, and right now the Braves are worse than in 2012. B.J. Upton does not equal Chipper and Bourn. Not even close.

More troubling is the lack of any movement on extensions for Martin and Jay Hey. Prado, a free agent after next season, has indicated a desire to re-up and likely won’t drive an impossible bargain. But this market would tempt anyone, and the Braves better not let Martin’s agent drive up the price.

Hard to believe but Jay Hey is just three years removed from free agency. The closer he gets to 2016 the less interested he’ll be in passing up a potential bonanza for short-term security. By the way, Kris Medlen will also be a FA in 2016.

Hell, even Tampa managed to lock up its franchise player, Evan Longoria, through 2023. Such commitments are not without risk, but the alternative is the Pittsburgh Pirates. FW better get moving or it won’t be long before we find ourselves in the same boat as Pirate fans, desperate for mediocrity.

Related articles

• Braves also considering internal options for LF (atlanta.sbnation.com)

Wil Myers traded … but not to Atlanta

There was never much chance Myers would become a Brave.

Source: #Rays will send James Shields and Wade Davis to #Royals for Wil Myers and other prospects.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 10, 2012

Plan B

Three under-the-radar suggestions for the LF/3B void. None are ideal, as Plan B’s are wont to be.

Jed Lowrie: It’s hard to get a read on the former Red Sox prospect, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career. But when healthy he’s shown flashes of becoming a solid major leaguer with developing power.

The switch-hitter clubbed a career-best 16 homers last season in 97 games (another career-high) with Houston, getting on base at a decent .331 clip. Lowrie will be 28 on Opening Day and is two years removed from free agency. He was awful against southpaws last year but has a .848 OPS vs. lefties for his career. At worst he could platoon with Francisco, making for a high-risk but potentially high-reward platoon.

Eric Young Jr.: He, too, has battled injuries but showed signs of becoming a top-of-the-order threat in 2012, batting .316 with a .377 OBP and 14 steals in 98 games. Forget about his Rockies teammate, Dexter Fowler; Colorado asked for Minor and Delgado in return.

David DeJesus: Unlike Lowrie and Young you know what you’re getting with DeJesus. Last year he hit .263 with a .350 OBP, 28 doubles, 8 triples and 9 HR, a shade below his career averages. DeJesus, 33, is the player we thought Melky Cabrera was when he came to Atlanta. The comparisons end there.

He’s due only $4.25 million next year with an affordable team option for 2014. He certainly qualifies as one of those “Caliparis” FW recently mentioned.

The Phillies are coming! The Phillies are coming!

UPDATE: Never mind — the Phils just acquired Revere for Vance Worley.

UPDATE: According to DOB, the Braves are talking to Minnesota about Revere.

Jon Heyman says the Phils have been talking to the Twins about Ben Revere, who’s apparently available for pitching. I hope FW is on in this, because Revere, an Atlanta native, would be a perfect fit.

Revere, 24, hit .292 with 40 steals in 124 games last year. He’s gifted defensively and won’t be a free agent for four years.

I’d be willing to part with Delgado and Sean Gilmartin to make it happen.

Who are these internal options we’re hearing about?

Braves general manager Frank Wren has been evaluating his internal options in the event that he does not land another outfielder before the start of next season.  But as we progress through this first week of December, this still has to be viewed as Plan B.

More like Plan Surely You Must Be Joking:

• Juan Francisco, who struck out 70 times in 192 AB in 2011. On a different team, maybe, but this Braves line-up can’t support another 150 to 200 K’s.
• Evan Gattis, who has scant experience above Single-A and would be expected to play a position he’s ill-suited for (the converted catcher is 20 pounds heavier than Ryan Klesko, FYI).
• Jose Constanza. No need to elaborate.
• Ernesto Mejia, 27, who has spent 8 years in the Braves system. He’s got some pop but struck out 288 times in his last 270 games. Against minor league pitching.

The annual Coco Crisp rumor

We’ve discussed Coco coming to the Braves on several occasions, and now may be the time. Oakland has a crowded outfield, with newly acquired Chris Young, Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick. They need a SS — Tyler Pastornicky alone may not do it, but packaged with a prospect the A’s may bite.

Crisp, 33, is signed through 2013 with a team option for 2014 at $7-$7.5 million per. So the Braves can afford him.

Like Victornio, who’s apparently going to receive more than the Braves are willing to pay, Crisp is not an ideal lead-off hitter. His .325 OBP last year was a shade below his career mark. But he struck out only 64 times in 2012 and he is perhaps the most skilled baserunner in the majors, stealing 120 bases in 136 attempts over the last 3 years with Oakland.

FW’s best trading chips

I suspect the Braves GM will go the free agent route to secure a LF, but if he can’t land, say, Shane Victorino, he could deal from strength.

The emergence of Luis Avilan gives the Braves three dependable southpaws in the ‘pen, and newly acquired Jordan Walden, a right-hander, has held lefties to a .206 BA and .620 OPS over his career. I’m not sure what Jonny Venters or Eric O’Flaherty would fetch in a trade, but consider the current climate.

Jeremy Affeldt just signed a 3-year, $21 million contract with the Giants. Last year, the A’s acquired Josh Reddick, who hit 32 HR and won a Gold Glove, for oft-injured Andrew Bailey. Relievers have rarely been more valued, especially if they’re left-handed.

興味をそそる, Japanese for “intriguing”

Trading O’Flaherty makes the most sense. He’ll be a free agent after next season, and considering the Affeldt deal, you can bet 2013 will mark the end of his time in Atlanta. He’s only 27 and his 1.95 ERA over the last four seasons is among the best in baseball. Despite his erratic 2012 campaign, JV would likely also net a decent return. He won’t be a free agent until 2016, making him potentially more attractive to clubs desperate for relief.

I’d prefer to keep both, but if FW can’t find an adequate LF via free agency, trading EOF or JV might be his best option. One possible trading partner: Milwaukee, who’s reportedly hot for a LH reliever. The Brewers have also been mentioned as a landing spot for Josh Hamilton, and if they signed him Norichika Aoki could be available.

Aoki, a Japanese League standout, batted .288 as a 30-year-old MLB rookie, with a .355 OBP, 30 SB, 10 HR and 37 doubles.

Hanson to Angels for reliever

According to Heyman, the Braves dealt Hanson to the Orange County LA Angels for a relief pitcher named Jordan Walden. I know nothing about Walden, but he had 32 saves in 2011 and was hurt part of last season.

Sounds like a trade of an out-of-whack starter for a similarly troubled reliever, maybe. The Braves save a chunk of money, which presumably — we hope — will be spent on a left fielder or third baseman. We shall see.

UPDATE: O’Brien types that the deal frees $4 million to chase a left fielder, and that “is the reason for the deal.”

Losing Hanson does no harm. Amazing how far his stock fell, though, from one of baseball’s top young starters 3-4 years ago to this.

B.J. and beyond

The good, the bad and what this means for 2013.

• Jim Bowden likes the move. That’s worrisome.
• Upton whiffs. A lot. But so did Michael Bourn. Upton is not Bourn’s equal as a defender, but he ain’t bad.
• Speaking of Bourn, he’s not coming back.
• Upton will be 33 when his contract ends. Derek Lowe was 36 when he signed with the Braves.
• Nick Swisher won’t be house-hunting in Atlanta. Be thankful.
• Unlike Swisher, Upton (7 HR, 18 RBI and 9 SB in 25 postseason games) delivers in October.
• Bossman Jr., who had a career-worst .298 OBP in 2012, won’t hit lead-off. FW has already said as much.
• Most batters show more patience as they age. Not Upton. In his first full season with the Rays (his best), Upton posted a .386 OBP.
• Conversely, Upton’s power has risen every year since 2008.
• So who bats lead-off? Shane Victornio?? Not likely.
• Don’t expect any other major free agent signings, since FW has an estimated $10 million left in the kitty. Besides, they can do better.
• Trade candidates include the usual suspects: Denard Span and Dexter Fowler. Coco Crisp is another possibility, as he appears to be the odd man out of the A’s outfield after the Chris Young acquisition.
• I’d keep the phone lines open with our old pal Dayton. Wil Myers may be wishful thinking, but Alex Gordon, signed through 2015, has surfaced in trade rumors. He has a .373 OBP, 96 doubles and 37 homers since 2011,  mostly out of the lead-off spot. Gordon has three years and $31.5 million remaining on his contract with a team option in 2016, so the Braves can afford him. Barely. A package including Julio Teheran and Nick Ahmed might do it.
• Bet on Span. The Twins need what the Braves have — pitching, and Span is signed for two more years with a team option in 2015.

Projected 2013 line-up:

• Span
• Prado
• Jay Hey
• Freddie
• Upton
• McCann
• Uggla
• Simmons

I can live with that.

More evidence Wil Myers is available

Jeff Passan reports :

In their search for a top-of-the-rotation starter, the Royals have dangled outfielder Wil Myers, the consensus 2012 minor league player of the year, two sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The right-handed hitting Myers split last year between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, batting .314 with 37 homers and a .987 OPS. The converted catcher saw action at 3B and CF in 2012 but projects as a corner outfielder.

To repeat: I’d trade Teheran and Delgado to get him.

Related articles

• Royals willing to include top prospect Wil Myers in trade for a frontline starting pitcher (hardballtalk.nbcsports.com)

 

Time to give Dayton a call

According to the Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman, the Royals may be willing to deal prized prospect Wil Myers, a right-handed hitter with immense potential.

It would take a lot to get him, perhaps even Julio Teheran AND Randall Delgado. So be it. The Braves have pitching to spare and Myers would be a perfect fit in the line-up, filling a major hole with a minimum salary. That would give FW the option to overspend on Bourn — he’s going to overspend on someone, after all.

He split last year between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, batting a combined .314 with 37 homers and a .987 OPS.

This is why you don’t build stadiums for billionaires

UPDATE: It’s official, reports Buster Olney.

How many franchises can I destroy?

The Marlins have surrendered, for next year and beyond.

They have reportedly shipped Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, and John Buck to the Blue Jays for Yesco, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, RHP Henderson Alvarez, LHP Justin Nicolino, OF Jake Marisnick, C Jeff Mathis, and RHP Anthony DeSclafani.

Three of those players rank among Toronto’s Top 10 prospects, but that’s a helluva bounty. Miami now has just $16 million committed to next year’s payroll.

Perhaps FW should inquire about Giancarlo Stanton.

Alright, I’m pissed off!!! Plain & Simple

— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) November 13, 2012