Q/A About Atlanta Braves’ Pursuit of Chris Sale
Every off-season seems to include a Rumor That Won’t Die. This year it involves the Braves’ pursuit of some ace pitcher. But what are the implications if Coppy actually pulls it off?
Jerry Crasnick is the one fueling this fire about the Atlanta Braves this morning:
The #Braves still have interest in Chris Sale and Chris Archer, even after adding Colon, Dickey and Garcia. They prefer Sale over Archer.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 2, 2016
Crasnick went on to note that the Braves are getting numerous hits on Ozzie Albies, though the team is (a) reluctant to trade him in any deal; and we’re also hearing that (b) it doesn’t seem that either the White Sox or Rays are among those asking… which is interesting.
But let’s suppose that somehow, some way, Sale becomes a Brave. Let’s look at the implications:
The Price of Admission
First, let’s look at the latest on the asking price. This from ESPN’s Jayson Stark yesterday:
"Chris Sale: We’re hearing the same grumbling about the White Sox’s price tag this winter as we heard last July. One exec described them as asking for “the Shelby Miller deal,” plus at least two additional pieces. Which means every club’s offer needs to start with its No. 1 prospect and then pile on from there. So why, you ask, would any team pay that?"
Braves have what it takes in terms of prospects to do Sale deal I hear. But so far, like the others, they haven't met price
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 3, 2016
Can’t argue much with the price except for one point: the Shelby Miller deal was based on 1 GM being fleeced at a weak moment in which he thought going “All In” was the right move. That deal was an aberration.
It could have worked, but the cost was way out of line with Arizona’s future needs… and of course that GM is now no longer employed.
With that in mind, using the Miller trade as a starting point probably is about right for Sale, given equal contractual control, affordability and the fact that Sale is better…maybe about right if you are allowed to convince people that Coppy’s Coup should not become a precedent for all future pitching deals.
Regardless of what you, I, or anyone else might be thinking about the merits of a trade for Chris Sale, the Braves appear to be continuing to engage the White Sox… so perhaps no one has metaphorically hung up the phone yet.
So with all of that as a backdrop, let’s engage in a little Q&A session about this rumor.