Hot Stove

So apparently the A's Rays deal for Zobrist and Escobar was originally going to be a 3 way between the Nationals, Mets and Rays with the Mets getting Ian Desmond the Nats getting Zobrist and Escobar and the Rays getting prospects, two of which from the Mets one of which would have included Syndergaard.

Much as the Mets need a SS, unless Desmond was going to agree to a multi year deal (he's in his walk year), I'm glad this one didn't go down. I will say though can there be more pressure on a young player than on the Mets' Wilmer Flores this year??

Agreed, that would have been an awful deal for the Mets, and a good one for the Nats and Rays.

The wheels keep on churning for Billy Beane. Sends Escobar to the Nats for Clippard. This may be a lose lose. Precursor to dealing Desmond?

Braves send Gattis for 3 minor leaguers, including the Astros #5 and 7 prospects. At first blush that seems like a win for Atl to me. Gattis is a nice player but with limited upside due to his defense. Houston doesn't seem ready for a "win-now' move either.

It's definitely not a clear win for the Nats. They give up one of their main setup guys for a shortstop who was erratic in the field and at the plate last year. Unless Escobar moves to 2b, trading Desmond does seem imminent. I'd call it a win for the A's, as they get a top-notch setup man for Doolittle and further establish themselves as a contender this year. They clearly believe Semien can play SS, and many scouts will bear that out.

As to the Astros/Braves trade, I like it for both teams. The Astros could really use some power in the middle of their lineup to protect and/or set up Singleton, Carter, and Springer. The Braves are mostly rebuilding this year, and they got some nice prospects in the trade. Mike Foltynewicz is one of the hardest throwers in the minors, and he has a solid slider as well. He and Max Fried--acquired in the Upton trade--should help Miller and Teheran in 2016, with Foltenywicz possibly helping them this year. Rio Ruiz is a smooth-swinging 3b prospect who was one of the top hitting prospects in the 2012 draft.

Braves OF as of this posting....

LF ?
CF BJ Upton
RF?

A radio station around here called it the GUMed up outfield--Gattis, Upton, & Markakis, now Gattis is gone--now I wonder if Constanza gets in left what kind of outfield it would be.

The Braves off season in a single image......


http://blog.fxcc.com/wp-content/uploads ... -sword.jpg

The Braves off season in a single image......


http://blog.fxcc.com/wp-content/uploads ... -sword.jpg

And as a Mets fan, I love it.

The Braves off season in a single image......


http://blog.fxcc.com/wp-content/uploads ... -sword.jpg

That's a bit dramatic, but It could be accurate for 2015. However, John Hart did a pretty solid job building for the Braves' future. He traded away two outfielders who were going to be gone after this year, a replaceable reliever, and a player with no real position who had probably maxed out his value. In return, they got:

Shelby Miller, SP: a young #3 innings eater under control for the next 4 years
Max Fried, SP: one of the top lh sp prospects in baseball
Mike Foltenywicz, SP: one of the hardest throwing sp prospects In baseball who could start for them this year
Rio Ruiz, 3b: a smooth-swinging 3b prospect who now tops their depth chart there
Tyrell Jenkins, SP: another hard-throwing SP prospect who shined in the AFL
Dustin Peterson, 3b: another solid 3b prospect
Jace Peterson,ss: a solid utility prospect who could play 2b if Peraza isn't ready.

Also, in a trade few noticed, they traded two middle relievers for Manny Banuelos, a very hard throwing lh sp prospect with risk but very high possible reward. So, instead of facing 2016 and beyond without Upton and Heyward, with a thin rotation, and a barren minor league system, they are looking at a future with a buttressed rotation and a soundly-replenished organization with a much brighter long-term future.

The Braves tear down was stunning and in my view unnecessary considering the core of talent that they had and their postseason appearance as recently as 2013.

The Giants' offseason has been lousy, but the deal for Aoki at 4.75M guaranteed with a second option year makes a lot of sense considering Pagan's injury history. They signed a player essentially equal to Nick Markakis for 40+ million less. Good move.

The Braves tear down was stunning and in my view unnecessary considering the core of talent that they had and their postseason appearance as recently as 2013.

As I said above, the Braves didn't want to sign Heyward to a long-term contract, and they wouldn't have been able to outbid the Yankees/Red Sox/Angels/Dodgers for Upton. So, after this season, they would have been left with the same team they have now, but with an empty minor-league system. Besides Lucas Sims and Jason Hursh, who aren't Blue Chip prospects, what exactly do you see as their "core of talent" they would have had next year? Outside of the impressive talent they just acquired, neither I nor Baseball America saw much.