Atlanta Braves: Are They Buyers and Sellers?
By Fred Owens
The annual GM meeting wrapped up today and according to John Coppolella the Atlanta Braves are buying and selling. Wait. what?
Ask midseason about the Atlanta Braves off-season priorities Coppy said, Pitching catching and third base. By September Adonis Garcia’s second half play had changed that to pitching and catching. Eventually A.J. Pierzynski was passed by in favor of Anthony Recker and when the season ended the mantra was pitching, pitching and pitching. So, how’s it going so far? Quickly but not as quickly as the Braves would like.
John Coppolella told the AJC’s David O’Brien that the Braves were buying and selling.
Buying and Selling?
Coppy did say buying and selling but went on to say, “Not that we’re going to move anybody in the outfield, but we’re always looking for ways to get better.” When I read that I see between the lines an indication of talks involving a member of the current Braves outfield depth chart. Apparently Coppy realized it sound that way and felt the need to revise his words to kill speculation; “We are not looking to move any outfield guys.”
Okay we get it you aren’t trying to move anyone; in other words no one is being shopped. Nowhere in his words however did he say he would not move a player if the price is right. I clarify this now for those who will later say he promised that. No he didn’t, no GM would unless the player is Mike Trout.
Pitching – two down and one to go?
On the pitching front the Braves seem to be two-thirds done with their starter search. Two days ago they brought back former Diamondback and September Brave Josh Collmenter. If I was describing Collmenter in two words I’d say durable and dependable.
Today the Braves completed the move rumored since the World Series by signing R.A. Dickey to a one year deal with a $8M guaranteed – $7.5M this season and either $8M next or a $500K buyout. Asked to describe Dickey one would say durable and dependable. I see a pattern forming here.
With two back of the rotation arms signed the search appeared to be down to just one more but maybe not. Coppy told David O’Brien he was looking, “For sure one starter, possibly two, and it could come either through free agency or trade. . . ”
There’s one type of pitcher conspicuously absent from the Braves rotation; a lefty. If that’s the case who could they look at?