Former Atlanta Braves Members Say Goodbye

One day into the new year, the Atlanta Braves found a trading partner with the New York Yankees.  The teams traded young, talented pitchers who will help each team in different areas.

The Atlanta Braves shipped relief pitchers Chasen Shreve and David Carpenter to the Yankees for starting pitcher Manny Banuelos.

WHO THE BRAVES RECEIVED

Banuelos was once the Yankees top prospect but missed all of 2013 because of having Tommy John surgery.  In 2014, he only pitched 76.2 innings and posted a 4.11 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 31 walks.  Of course this was only months after the surgery and trying to find his stride again.  The Yankees started the 23-year-old in A+ and had five starts, then moved him to AA where he spent most of 2014 with 16 starts, and then ended the year in AAA with four starts.  He actually pitched well in those four starts with a 1-0 record, 3.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and a .237 opposing batting average in 15 innings pitched and a 13/10 K/BB ratio.

Banuelos stands just 5 feet 10 and weighs 205, this offseason he needs to build his arm strength back and find his control.  The Braves will be giving Banuelos every opportunity in Spring Training to earn the final rotation spot and I think John Hart is hoping that they found their fifth starter for the 2015 season.

In 2011, Banuelos was #3 on the Yankees top prospect list.  In 2012, he was the Yankees top prospect.  Then injuries and inconsistencies hurt his prospect stock considerably.  He made just five appearances at the AAA level in 2012 before being shut down with elbow issues.  The Yankees tried to work him through the injury without having to do Tommy John surgery but he finally succumbed to the surgery in October.  By trying to go through the rehab instead of just having the surgery to start with, he essentially lost two season (2012 and 2013).

WHO THE YANKEES RECEIVED

The Yankees received two relief pitchers to bolster their bullpen that already features two new lefties they acquired this offseason in Andrew Miller and Justin Wilson.  As Alan described yesterday, they may also have top prospect lefty Jacob Lindgren ready to go this season.

David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve will now wear the pinstripes and pitch in Yankees Stadium.  Carpenter had a down-year in 2014 but still has the talent to bounce back out of the pen.  The 29-year-old righty had a fantastic year in 2013 for the Braves and hopes to get back to that status in New York.

Shreve appeared in 15 games in 2014 for the Braves with a 0.73 ERA and totaled 15 strikeouts.  The 24-year-old pitcher could be a huge bright spot for the Yankees out of the bullpen.

Both players went on twitter to thank the Braves organization and fans for their time in Atlanta.