Atlanta Braves Morning Chop

(75). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees give up on once top prospect, swap him for relief help

KEVIN KERNAN / NEW YORK POST

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One of general manager Brian Cashman’s New Year’s resolutions was to continue to overhaul his bullpen, and the Yankees on Thursday traded Manny Banuelos, once considered a can’t-miss prospect, to the Braves for two relievers, hard-throwing right-hander David Carpenter and lefty Chasen Shreve.

The Yankees already have added lefties Andrew Miller and Justin Wilson to the bullpen. They also have top prospect lefty Jacob Lindgren.

It was not too long ago the Yankees were raving about Betances, Banuelos and Andrew Brackman as the pitching future of the organization.

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The Yankees bullpen will have plenty of new faces when pitchers and catchers gather in Tampa next month with closer David Robertson signing with the White Sox as a free agent as the Yankees likely will use the tandem of Miller and Betances to finish games.

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“It’s going to be a whole new look for the Yankees,’’ said one scout Thursday night. “Banuelos always had a good feel for pitching, but it seems like he never really bounced back from the surgery. I think he just needs to build up his arm strength.’’

You can be sure Hart and the Braves feel the same.

The deal is intriguing on several levels. Former Yankees scout Gordon Blakeley is now with the Braves and knows Banuelos, 23, well. Banuelos missed all of 2013 and last season pitched just 76²/₃ innings. He posted a 4.11 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 31 walks as he worked his way back from surgery. Banuelos, just 5 feet 10, needs to build that arm strength, but if he does, the Braves just might have landed a future starter.

Next: Stealth Trade: Carpenter/Shreve to the Yankees

Melotticus Presents – The Atlanta Braves Top 20 Prospects

NICK MELOTTE / MINORLEAGUEBALL.COM

(4-1/2-star rated)

1. Jose Peraza

(4-star rated)

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2. RHSP

–  21 years old, AA Mississippi

3. LHSP

– 21 years old – Unknown (TJS)

4. LF

– 19 years old, R+ Danville

5. SS

– 18 years old, Low A Rome

6. RHSP

– 22 years old, AA Mississippi

7. C

– 23 years old, MLB

8. RHSP

– 23 years old,  AAA Gwinnett

9. RHSP

– 20 years old, Low A Rome

(3-1/2-star rated)

10. IF Jace Peterson – 25 years old, MLB
11. RHP Shae Simmons – 24 years old, MLB
12. RHSP Cody Martin – 25 years old, AAA Gwinnett
13. 3B Kyle Kubitza – 24 years old, AAA Gwinnett
14. CF Mallex Smith – 23 years old, AA Mississippi
15. RHP Mauricio Cabrera – 21 years old, A+ Carolina
16. RHSP Wes Parsons – 22 years old, AA Mississippi
17. 3B Dustin Peterson – 21 years old, Low A Rome>
18. RHSP Garrett Fulenchek – 19 years old, R+ Danville

(3-star rated)

19. C Tanner Murphy – 20 years old, Low A Rome
20. RHSP Dan Winkler – 25 years old, MLB

Honorable mentions (3-star rated)

SS Elmer Reyes, RHSP Max Povse, RF Edward Salcedo, LHP Chasen Shreve, 3B Jordan Edgerton, and RHSP Williams Perez.

[Editor’s note:  this is just one opinion, of course, but I have a few observations:
1.  Here’s somebody else – including many of us at TomahawkTake – joining the Ozzy Albies bandwagon
2.  On this list, prospects #3, 6, 10, 14, 17, 20 have been added in the past two months.  SIX of the top twenty… and that doesn’t count…
3.  Manny Banuelos, a seventh name who has to appear on that list someplace.  The question is “where”?  As a starter, he’s probably in the middle of the top 10.  As a reliever, maybe the middle of the second ten.
One more thought – Ed Salcedo no longer has any business being in anyone’s top prospects list.  Also, J.R. Graham, Shreve, and Aaron Northcraft have come off the list. ]

 And Finally…

BEFORE…

…AND AFTER: