Braves Face Tough Decision After Alex Wood Call Up
By Fred Owens
Braves called up rookie Alex Wood today forcing them to make a tough decision on roster moves Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday’s seven inning marathon for the bullpen prompted this morning’s call up of Alex Wood. The question is, do they return to a seven man bullpen and if so who do they send down?
Backstory
This will be short and to the point. The Braves left spring training expecting Evan Gattis to end up back at Gwinnett. He changed that plan dramatically. Aside from Gattis, Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman who presumably the Braves are smart enough not to send down, no one else has minor league options left. That means that if the Braves attempt to send them down they would first have to get the player’s permission – the CBA protects veteran players from being demoted – then sneak them through they would have to clear waivers. None of those players would do that either. While a trade is possible of Reed Johnson or Gerald Laird that couldn’t be done until after June 15 – the CBA again – unless the player approves it. So, now what?
Trades
I’ve believed for a while that I there might be a trade agreed and waiting to be done on 15 June. Why 15 June?
"Any Club signing a contract with a Player under this SectionB after the expiration of the Quiet Period described in subsection2(b) above may not assign his contract until after the next June 15.However, notwithstanding the foregoing, such contract may beassigned for other Player contracts and/or cash consideration of$50,000 or less prior to the next June 16 if the Player gives writtenconsent to such transaction.CBA Article XX B (5) (a)"
So perhaps we trade R J or one of our third base platoon for a minor league prospect or two. With only a few days day before they could make the trade neither the player or the league is likely to complain. The only other option is to play with the disabled list somehow but who would you put on the list and why? Players must actually have a medical reason for going on the list and we’ve heard nothing about anyone carrying something like that. Of course we didn’t hear about Cristhian Martinez should until it happened.
Who Is Alex Wood?
Lefty Alex Wood was the Braves second-round pick in 2012 out of the University of Georgia. The 6’2,” 215 pound fire baller caught everyone’s eye with seven spring training relief appearance featuring a four seam fastball that touched 95mph while giving up just one run. The long tall lefty has a huge stride and a big wing span so by the time he released the ball it’s closer to 50’ than 60’6” from the plate. Here’s what part of Baseball America’s scouting report (subscription required) on Wood prior to the draft.
"Scouts can’t recall a delivery quite like Wood’s. When he lands on his right (lead) leg, he hops backward. It’s odd to watch. . . he does a lot of good things, starting with his fastball. He has excellent velocity for a lefthander, touching 95-96 mph regularly and sitting in the 89-94 range. He throws a lot of strikes with his heater, showing the ability to locate it to both sides of the plate. When he’s filling up the zone with his fastball, he’s able to set up his changeup, his favorite pitch and a solid-average offering. His slider is a below-average pitch, and he has never shown much of a feel for spinning a breaking ball.. . . has had Tommy John surgery already. . . You can get a look at it in this video."
Wood is 4-2 with a 1.26 ERA (FIP 2.27) and a 0.982 WHIP in 10 starts, striking out 57 in his 57 innings and walking 15 for Mississippi. He gave up more that two earned runs in only one of those starts and just three in the other start. Opponents are hitting a meager .195 with a .247 OBP with one home run when facing Wood.
Why Now?
Wednesday’s game and perhaps the performance of the pen caused GM Frank Wren to backtrack from his position last week when he said the Braves had no plans to call on Wood because they “didn’t want to disrupt his development.” With Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty out for the year and the trade market thinner than tissue paper Wood was the only near term answer available.
That’s a Wrap
As I write this at 9:30 CDT the Braves haven’t made the roster move necessary to add Wood. But they’ll have to make that move before game time tonight. Asked whether that will be a six-man bullpen manager Fredi Gonzalez sighed and said: “I don’t know. We’re going to sit here and talk about it a little bit and see what we can do.”
My guess is that they will send David Carpenter down and hope he clears waivers. I’ve tried to determine if Carpenter has options left but can’t definitively say either way. My guess is he does. He’s pre arbitration eligible and has seen major league time in 2011 and 2012. Since he threw three innings last night and can be called back in 10 days I look for the Braves to option him and stay with a six man pen until the GM can find a trade. What’s your take?