LF Trade Options the Braves Should Consider
“Noise”. That’s how I would describe the latest news coming from the Braves concerning the Left Field position. And even though Fred gave us a run-down just under a week ago about the options Atlanta has for LF, persistent “noise” continues to suggest that the Braves are leaning toward some of the least-preferred and least-productive directions.
The free agents still available have been either undesirable (Colby Rasmus – signed with Houston) or found the Braves undesirable (Nori Aoki – signed with Giants, said to be unwilling to be in a rebuild situation). Jonny Gomes is apparently talking with Atlanta, but a mystery team in the American League is also involved, so even this option could blow up on us at any point.
As Fred told us, that pretty much leaves the following (internal) options:
- Zoilo Almonte (platoon candidate)
- Todd Cunningham
- Joey Terdoslavich
- Jose Constanza
- Dian Toscano
- Kelly Johnson (signed late yesterday – minor-league deal… yes, that Kelly Johnson)
Several names… not a lot of excitement.
Atlanta is clearly unwilling to leverage some – any? – if its new-found prospect wealth to trade for a quality left fielder, though this morning, Mark Bowman suggests that this avenue might not be completely closed yet:
"The Braves have not completely ditched the option to trade for an outfielder. But given the players who are available, they would be very reluctant to dip into the impressive prospect pool they have created by trading Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Gattis this offseason."
Next: Braves Re-unite With Kelly Johnson
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If you’re thinking “
Sure, go ahead and use the internal options – the Braves will just punt until next year and pick up a free agent outfielder next off-season
“, then I have news for you: the options aren’t that great next year.
Aside from two guys named Jason Heyward and Justin Upton, the list of free agent outfielders for next season is pretty bleak. There are roughly three dozen names overall, but these are the best (and some on the list aren’t that great):
- Heyward and Upton
- Austin Jackson
- Jose Bautista (count on that $14 million club option being picked up)
- Yoenis Cespedes
- Alex Gordon (possible – $12.5 million player option)
- Colby Rasmus (again)
- Dexter Fowler
After that, you get a somewhat lower “tier” group including Shane Victorino (undesirable), Cody Ross, Gerardo Parra, David DeJesus, Nori Aoki (again), Matt Joyce, Rajai Davis, Alejandro de Aja, and David Murphy.
So what’s left to do? Bite the bullet and get a trade done… something that the Braves can live with for at least a couple of years. That should justify going this route… now let’s look again for acceptable targets.
The Decent Trade Targets
The parameters of this search were as follows:
- Players not likely to require a terribly high return from Atlanta
- Players with decent production levels whose batting profiles mesh with the new way of Braves’ thinking – higher average, good OBP, contact hitter.
- Players with multiple years of control in one manner or another, to help justify the trade expense
Oakland Athletics center fielder
Craig Gentry. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Here we go (Fred had some more details on many of these (plus some others) last week – I will therefore stick with the basics here):
- BOSTON: Daniel Nava or Allen Craig. Nava is now a 1st-year arbitration-eligible player. Craig is under contract through 2017 with a 2018 team option paying $5.5m, $9m, $11m, and the option is worth $13m with a $1m buyout. Expect similar production.
- BREWERS: Gerardo Parra. Parra could be one of those players just needing a chance at consistent playing time. He showed that in 2011-23, but then Milwaukee slid him back to 4th on the depth chart. Interesting place for a Gold Glove outfielder. Only signed through 2015, though. Much better option than most.
- LA ANGELS: Collin Cowgill (a RH hitting platoon candidate). On a 1-year $1m deal; still arb eligible. If the goal is a platoon with Almonte, he would be a fit – at least as good as Jonny Gomes.
- LA ANGELS: Matt Joyce. Doesn’t quite fit my criteria, as he is a free agent after 2015. Average isn’t great, but OBP is solid, though strikeouts are a little high. Filed for arbitration at $5.2m vs. $4.2m from the Angels.
- OAKLAND: Josh Reddick. Only listed because of prior discussions. Our best shot at getting him would involve Mike Minor at this point, but I have to wonder if he isn’t better suited as a LHH platoon candidate, having hit .280 vs. RHP in 2014; .222 vs. LHP. He had virtually no production against lefties. Would have to pass on him for cost reasons (as in ‘the cost to acquire’).
- OAKLAND: Craig Gentry. Had a nice little run going in 2012-2013… until going to Oakland. With bounce-back potential, this could be a steal. Send Luis Avilan back and call it a day.
- LA DODGERS: Andre Ethier. Everybody knows he can play… but he can’t get on the field in LA with others in front of him. This would still be difficult, even with an arrangement similar to the one the Padres worked to get Matt Kemp. With that, LA is paying 1/3rd of Kemp’s contract. With Ethier, that would still mean $12 million annually through at least 2017, which is too rich for Atlanta. Buying that number down would cost more in prospects, which will nix any chance of this happening.
- TAMPA BAY: David DeJesus. Mentioned only because I saw a national writer tweet this as a suggestion for Atlanta. He’s actually less productive than Jonny Gomes. Pass.
- SF GIANTS: Angel Pagan. Hit .300 in 2014, .342 OBP. 12.8%K rate. Steals a few bases. Makes $10m for each of the next 2 seasons, which sounds about right…a little expensive, but worth it. No idea what the Giants would want for him, but they could be interested in the payroll reduction.
- YANKEES: Brett Gardner. This one is the pipe dream. Signed through 2018 with an option. Already 31-1/2. This would require Mike Minor… and more (give them Almonte back?). OBP slipped in 2014 as did his average. If you think that was an abberation, then he’s certainly worth the cost… if he can reduce strikeouts to 2010-2011 levels. Honestly, this mention assumes that the Yankees are desperate enough for pitching that they’d consider the deal… and they could be.
There are a few others… those are my targets. Yes, the Padres has extra outfielders. No, I don’t want any of them.
Fred mentioned Michael Choice, for instance. Dayan Viciedo is probably available, though doesn’t really find the new mold. Charlie Blackmon just isn’t very good outside of Denver. Our colleague Ryan loves internal option Cedric Hunter, but I really doubt he even gets a decent shot. Feel free to add your ideas below.
In Summation
I don’t like the free agent options. I don’t like next year’s free agent options. I don’t like our internal options. Therefore, I believe the Braves need to make a trade for one of these better left fielders.
Such a trade would have the effect of both improving the team for 2014, and giving some stability while we await the New Kids to grow up to Atlanta. None of these options are going to make you forget Justin Upton… well maybe while fielding they will… but a more-reliable boost to production is certainly needed here.
John Hart might see this as giving up some assets that he just worked hard to grab, but I see it as a prudent swap – a good old baseball trade in which teams use their own surpluses to fill needs.
Sometimes that’s just the best option.