Atlanta Braves / Oakland Athletics Trade: Is there a match?
By Ryan Cothran
***Prequel to this…I don’t really view this as a match and even my loosey goosey trade-oriented mind is having a hard time wrapping my head around this. With that being said…
Alan touched on a hot and overstuffed trade rumor regarding the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics…
That the A’s were not only interested in 2016 free agent Justin Upton, but also El Oso Blanco, the beloved Evan Gattis. Billy Beane isn’t scared to trade anyone to get the player(s) he wants as we saw last year when he traded top prospect Addison Russell for Jeff Samardzija. Let’s analyze the logistics of the Athletics picking up both Gattis and J.Upton first before we get into a match.
Where would Atlanta Braves Evan Gattis fit into the Athletics roster?
Could he be their DH? Last week, the Athletics made an…interesting signing when they inked Billy Butler to a 3/30MM deal, penciling him in as their 2014 DH. So, Evan Gattis as the full-time DH is out of the question.
Could he catch for the A’s? The Athletics have 2 productive catchers in John Jaso and Derek Norris, the former becoming a free agent in 2016 and the latter having 4 more years of team control. Both seem to be in the mind-frame of Gattis, an offensive threat first with slightly below-average catching abilities. Norris will likely continue to be the starting catcher, so even if Jaso was traded in the deal, would the Athletics deal for Gattis to have him be the back catcher? Don’t think so…
Could he play the OF for the A’s? Sure. I guess so. The A’s have put less than desirable defense in left field numerous times in the past (Kyle Blanks, Brandon Moss, Jonny Gomes, Sam Fuld). I mean, I guess so.
Could he play 1b for the A’s? I guess about as well as the other rock gloves they had their last year (Brandon Moss, Kyle Blanks), but Ike Davis was signed to hit RHP over there.
Where would Atlanta Braves Justin Upton fit into the Athletics roster?
Could he be their DH? Did ya read above?
Could he be their LF? Sure, but where would ya put Gattis?
Could be be their RF? Josh Reddick plays there now and is pretty darned good. He’d obviously be in the trade should this thing go down.
What would the trade look like?
Here’s the honest truth…I don’t think there’s a match. Even for the Athletics who frequently will take players that are defensively inept, the signing of Butler as their DH greatly complicates things, especially for Gattis. Nonetheless, here goes nothing:
Athletics get Evan Gattis, Justin Upton, Joey Terdoslavich,and Mike Minor
Braves get Josh Reddick, Kyle Blanks, Brandon Moss, John Jaso, and A.J. Griffin
Braves fill the left field void with a platoon of Blanks and Moss, Griffin slots into Minor’s SP slot (prequel to signing Lester and Braves wouldn’t want 3 LH starters), have an experienced backup catcher in Jaso, and Reddick becomes the Braves RF for the next 2 years.
A huge trade that could benefit both clubs.