Atlanta Braves leave Cody Martin and J.R. Graham unprotected for Rule 5 Draft

"“We have a gaping hole (starting pitching),” Hart told multiple media outlets. “We are in a division that is pitching rich, and right now, we are pitching poor.”"

 For 3 decades now, the Atlanta Braves have prided themselves on one thing:

Pitching. And to a more concentrated extent, Starting Pitching.  Julio Teheran and Alex Wood are, in my opinion, the next 2 great starting pitchers for this organization, if they can remain healthy. Both had stellar years last year pitching 171 and 221 innings respectively with a collective ERA right at 3. It’s very comforting to know that those 2 will be wearing an Atlanta uniform for at least the next 4 years (unless the Braves decide to move one of them via trade, which would be, for a lack of a better word choice, stupid). To a lesser extent, the Braves can take some comfort in penciling in Mike Minor for the next 3 years, however Mike has been much more up and down than the other 2, and down last year.  So, after Teheran, Wood, Minor, there’s newcomer Shelby Miller who is under team control for the next 4 years and, just like the 3 aforementioned pitchers, can be trusted to go and throw once every 5th start and that is comforting indeed.  From there, let’s see…the Braves have…give me a moment…they have…I’m sure it will come to me…oh yeah… no one.

Some people might point to David Hale, me being one of those people.  However, it’s glaringly obvious that the Braves have no intentions of using him as a regular starter, as they find his value is better kept as a swing-man. Then there’s the 2nd Tommy Johnners in Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy.  Remember the last player that the Braves counted on to be productive after his 2nd Tommy John?  His name, everyday Jonny Venters.  What happened there? Oh, he never pitched again and has already underwent his 3rd procedure. While I love both Beachy and Medlen, counting on those guys to be anymore than a 2015 Wild Card  isn’t wise.   Hart is right, the Braves are pitching poor, which brings me to my next rant….

JOSE CONSTANZA!!!!!

Well, that came out of left-field (pun intended). What does being pitching poor have to do with Jose Constanza? The Braves had a decision to make this offseason, who to protect on the 40-man roster and who to leave unprotected for the Rule-5 Draft.  For those not in the know, we will take a side-step away from this rant to explain the Rule-5 draft rules (via MLB.com):

"About the Rule 5 DraftEvery year, Major League Baseball holds two player drafts. Most fans are familiar with and have a basic understanding of the First-Year Player Draft, which occurs each June and deals with amateur players in the United States and Puerto Rico. But the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place in December and concerns professional players, is less understood. Below are some questions and answers intended to clarify how the Rule 5 Draft works.What happens when a player is selected in the Rule 5 Draft?A team that selects a player in the Rule 5 Draft pays $50,000 to the team from which he was selected. The receiving team must then keep the player on the Major League 25-man roster for the entirety of the next season, and the selected player must remain active (not on the disabled list) for a minimum of 90 days. If the player does not remain on the Major League roster, he is offered back to the team from which he was selected for $25,000. If his original team declines, the receiving team may waive the player.Once a player is selected, he is automatically assigned to his new organization’s 40-man roster.Can any Minor League player be drafted?No. Players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years are eligible, as are players who were signed at 18 and have played for five years.All players on a Major League Baseball team’s 40-man roster, regardless of other eligibility factors, are “protected” and ineligible for the Rule 5 Draft.Can players selected in the Rule 5 Draft be traded?Teams may trade a player selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but the same rules regarding roster placement apply to the player’s new team.In what order do teams draft?Teams draft in reverse order of the regular-season standings. Any team that does not have any vacancies on its 40-man roster may not make a selection.Are there different phases to the Rule 5 Draft?Yes. There are also Triple-A and Double-A phases to the Rule 5 Draft. Players put on the Triple-A reserve list cost the selecting team $12,000, and players put on the Double-A reserve list cost the selecting team $4,000"

Jose Constanza, the Jose Constanza that is now 31, licks bats,  has an overall .639 OPS in the Majors,  and a .669 OPS last year in the Minors, a player that could be picked up off the scrap heap at any given time, is a player the Braves chose to protect on the 40-man roster. Here’s the entire list of Braves 40-man roster:

Atlanta Braves 40-Man Roster

My rant doesn’t stop at Constanza, Yean Carlos Gil, a 23 year old who hasn’t pitched above A-ball, Williams Perez, a soft-tossing lefty who has a ceiling as a 5th starter, and even Jose Peraza, whom the Braves did not have to protect yet, was put on the 40-man ahead of this…listen to the description via John Sickels of MinorLeagueBall:

"“Martin relieved in college, but in pro ball he’s developed into a four-pitch starter, working with an 89-93 MPH fastball and a decent curve and changeup. The slider is his out-pitch, and all four offerings play up when he has his command in gear. He’s held up well to a starter’s workload despite his relief background, and his mound presence is considered strong.His command isn’t perfect and could use a bit more consistency, but when he’s right, Martin fits the sleeper profile similar to Anderson, Shoemaker, and McHugh: minor league inning-eaters who can surprise in the majors under the right circumstances. He’s worth keeping a close eye on."

Cody Martin, the Braves #11 prospect for 2014, the guy that the Braves chose to keep unprotected, over Jose Constanza who no team in their right mind would claim.  Over 4 years, Martin has started 67 games to the tune of a 3.07 ERA and a 9.4K/9.  Cody Martin is the definition of starting pitching depth, and the Braves gave him up for a player that was a flash in the pan and now, at best, is a 6th outfielder on an expanded roster. Oh yeah, remember top-prospect J.R. Graham from a few years back?  Unprotected, as well,  J.R.’s situation is at least justifiable as his health has been in question for a few years now. Still, Jose. Frickin’. Constanza. Aye…

Before the Rule 5 draft, the Braves could try to find a suitor for Graham and Martin’s services, of which they’re likely trying to do as we speak. Delino Deshields, jr for Martin? Could be a worthwhile risk for both parties.

I suppose I should trust the new front office, but on this occasion, I’m having difficulties.