Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Trading Places
Evan Gattis eager to trade in childhood fandom for fresh start with Astros
EVAN DRELLICH / HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM BLOG
Evan Gattis, the Astros’ new Dallas-raised power hitter, used to sit on the other side of the fence.
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“I hate to say, I was a Rangers fan,” the 28-year-old said on a conference call Thursday. “Astros back in the day, they weren’t doing too much, so it was easier to be rooting for your home team. But I’ve never been a big fan of teams. I’ve always just liked good players, I liked to watch baseball. That never really changed.”
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“I really didn’t think I was going to get traded, believe it or not,” Gattis said. “I think with four more years under club control (because I can’t become a free agent until after the 2018 season), I think that was kind of big. So it kind of surprised me until I found out.
“Even though I heard all the rumors, I figured something would have gotten done a lot earlier, there’s so many rumors out there. And that’s what I kind of chalked it up to: it’s just rumors. So I didn’t really take it seriously, and it didn’t really sink in until it happened, right now, yesterday.”
Gattis is built like a lumberjack. An arm-wrestle match between Gattis and Chris Carter would open spring training with quite a spectacle. But if the former instead told his life story, he’d capture more attention. It would take a while.
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As for the organization on a whole, Gattis has heard of the progress made. A 3-4-5 of George Springer, Carter and Gattis — or whatever the order may be — could be fearsome. Gattis said the multitude of power hitters “should be really good for all of us.” Gattis is in a similar mold to the other two, in that he doesn’t get on base at a great rate and can strikeout big. When two or three of them are off, it’ll be a long night.
But when two or three of the boppers are on, watch out.
Next: So Now What's Next for the Braves?
Foltynewicz excited to join Braves
Minooka grad leaves Houston to be Atlanta’s key addition in deal for Gattis
DICK GOSS / THE HERALD-NEWS.COM
Michael Foltynewicz made his major league debut in September [August, actually] with the Houston Astros. He likely will make his mark as a big-league pitcher with the Atlanta Braves.
The Astros and Braves completed a five-player trade late Wednesday night. Foltynewicz, armed with his electric, 100-mph fastball, is considered the centerpiece of the three-player package Atlanta received.
Mike Foltynewicz. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Of course, with the raves Foltynewicz had been receiving all along from the Astros’ brass after he became their first-round draft pick in 2010, he did not expect a trade.
“I got up and saw a text from [local sports journalist and longtime friend] Tommy Stokke,” Foltynewicz said. “He asked me what that was about me being traded to Atlanta. I said, ‘No, I don’t know anything about that.’
“Then I started seeing my name on social media, and one of the big guys, Ken Rosenthal, was reporting it. I thought then it had been confirmed. But I still waited 12 or 13 hours, wondering, before the Astros called and said they had traded me. It was a shock at first, but this is a business. It’s an honor to be traded for a player like Evan Gattis.”
The Braves’ focus this off-season has been to get younger and rebuild. Foltynewicz fits that directive. Houston acquired power-hitting Gattis and relief pitcher James Hoyt in exchange for Foltynewicz and two other prospects, fellow right-hander Andrew Thurman and third baseman Rio Ruiz.
Foltynewicz said he has received calls from a couple members of the Braves’ front office, and they said they have big plans for him.
“I was a big part of the trade, and I think they will have me go into spring training as one of three or four guys fighting for the fifth starter spot,” he said. “Right now, they don’t have that spot filled. I’m happy to have that opportunity. I’ll have a good chance to show them what I can do.”
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Foltynewicz was drafted by Houston 19th overall out of Minooka in 2010. Coincidentally, he was selected 685 picks ahead of Gattis, who was a 23rd-round pick that year.
…Before the trade, it was widely assumed he would compete for a spot in the Astros’ starting rotation in spring training.Now, it will be the Braves’ brain trust – particularly manager Fredi Gonzalez and pitching coach Roger McDowell – that will decide how best to use him.“I’ve kind of been molded to start, and that’s what I would like to do,” he said.
…Minooka has scheduled a ceremony to retire Foltynewicz’s high school jersey number. That event is set for the night of Jan. 30, when the Indians’ boys basketball team entertains Plainfield East.
Foltynewicz said he plans to attend. It will be a good opportunity for his former teammates, classmates and coaches to wish him well as he begins his career with the Atlanta Braves.
Braves agreed to $2,425,000 deal with lefty James Russell
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher James Russell (51). Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with left-handed reliever James Russell for $2,425,000.
The deal Thursday avoids arbitration with Russell, who went 0-2 with a 2.97 ERA and one save in 66 games while splitting last season between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta. He made $1,775,000.
[ Editor’s notes: Mike Minor is now the only other arbitration-eligible player on the roster… and today is filing day. The Braves being a file-and-trial team means that once the two sides exchange figures, that’s the end of negotiations. Despite that policy, there hasn’t been an arbitration trial for Atlanta since … before the days of Jeff Francoeur, IIRC.
Minor’s arbitration estimate (from MLBTR) is $5.1 million for this year. It is likely that the two sides are differing over Minor’s worth, given his up-and-down season in 2014. Minor is now represented by Jet Sports Management.
Russell’s arbitration estimate, by the way, was $2.4 million – $25K under the settling figure. ]