Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop 11/25 Kris Medlen

Bleacher Report

Why Yasmani Tomas Is a Poor Fit for the Atlanta Braves’ Offseason

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  If you think Tomas will come to Atlanta and hit 30+ homers and have an above .300 batting average, you’re probably mistaken.  One of Tomas’s biggest knocks is the amount of strikeouts he totals.  He hasn’t faced Major League pitching over a great deal of time and that also could add up to many K’s.  One thing the Braves don’t need…more strikeouts.

The Braves have operated with a tight budget for nearly a decade, and Tomas is reportedly seeking a big monetary commitment, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com:

"The slugger is believed to be seeking at least a five to seven year deal with an annual salary near $15 million, but the Tomas’ camp has not ruled out the possibility of signing a short-term, high-value deal that would allow him to return to the market sooner rather than later."

ESPN

Rangers inquire about J. Upton trade

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Rumors swirled the other day that the Braves and the Texas Rangers could be trade partners involving Justin Upton.  Details really haven’t leaked out about who the Rangers would be willing to give up or who the Braves were looking for in Texas.  Right now, the Braves are just playing their cards and seeing what the best return on investment will be for Justin Upton.

The Rangers tried to acquire Upton in previous seasons but couldn’t finalize a deal.

With the Rangers planning on moving left fielder Shin-Soo Choo to right field, they need another corner outfielder with power. Last season, Upton played in a career-high 154 games and hit .270 while also setting career highs in home runs (29) and RBIs (102).

Twitter

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Well, JHey got the 2-2 back on his back.  The St. Louis Cardinals and Mike Matheny gave Jason Heyward the number 22 to wear on his back while he plays for the Cards.  Also, congratulations to Kris Medlen for having a baby girl!