Greetings from National Harbor, Maryland, where the 2016 Winter Meetings are underway. Each day, I’ll be keeping this journal of rumors, news and happenings for the Atlanta Braves and the rest of baseball. Check back often for the latest updates.

• Day 1 – Live Blog
• Day 1 – Podcast (Guests: John Schuerholz, John Hart)
• Day 2 – Live Blog
• Day 2 – Podcast (Guest: John Coppolella)
• Day 2 – John Hart discusses Braves pursuit of an ace

5:15 PM — The media workroom lit up as the Nationals and White Sox hooked up on a trade that illustrates two teams heading in different directions. Washington picked up outfielder Adam Eaton and paid a tremendous pitching prospect bounty. Chicago gets Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning (three of their top 10 prospects). Adding that haul to the quartet of prospects that came over from Boston in the Chris Sale trade and all of a sudden the White Sox have gone from one of the worst farm systems in baseball to one of the best. Getting Giolito and Yoan Moncada is a big reason why. It’s not often a club can land the position player prospect and the top pitching prospect in the game (though Giolito may have slid a bit after 2016).

The Nats are probably out on Andrew McCutchen, but they pick up an outfielder who was a 6.0 WAR player in 2016. Eaton is also two years younger than McCutchen, who was coming off his worst season. The contracts are also completely different stories. While McCutchen would cost about $29 million over the next two seasons, Washington has Eaton for five-years and $38.4 if they exercise the option years. He may not be six win player every year, but Eaton is one of the more underrated players in the game. With the pressure mounting each year for Washington to finally have some postseason success, he fits into the win-now plan. That’s apparent, considering the pitching that is heading to Chicago.

4:45 PM — The Braves have indeed checked in on Orioles reliever Brad Brach (first reported by Joel Sherman), but adding a soon-to-be 31-year-old coming off two good seasons wasn’t going to come cheap. If the cost is Mallex Smith plus more, then it’s no surprise Atlanta passed on that permutation of the trade. Brach is going into his arbitration years as well, so it’s not like he’s coming over on a team friendly contract in his mid-t0-late 20s.

3:51 PM — Daily media availability with John Coppolella and John Hart just wrapped up. With on a few real hours left on the final full day, all is quiet on the Braves front. Hart did not believe that the Sale trade really opened up a logjam of potential moves, say had it been a big free agent signing and setting the market. Coppolella continued to reinforce that much of the “heavy lifting” when it comes to winter shopping was completed in the days and weeks leading up to this trip.

“It comes down to needs and wants,” said Coppolella. “We don’t have needs in starting pitching. Do we want a number one starter? Is Chris Sale a number one starter? Yes.”

As I mentioned earlier, Jose Quintana is a name that piques the interest of the Braves and other clubs, but Atlanta is weighing its options when it comes to trading away young arms that could essentially become Quintana’s equal over the next few years. While he is a quality starting pitcher who has four years of affordable team control, the strategy of trading away pitchers who could grow into the same kind of finished product is counter-intuitive. Coppolella said that is not something the Braves are interested in.

“Why go out and give up the kids to get Quintana? You know, look, if some deal falls into our laps, we’re always going to look at it because we’re always going to be opportunistic. But I don’t think we feel like we have to make a trade for a pitcher, certainly not after having already acquired three starting pitchers this off-season.”

Hart added that signing one year deals with the veterans like Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey allows for maneuverability. The team is pleased they struck early in the market, and while it’s not some of the top flight trade targets, they have added stable arms that are a big improvement over the 2016 rotation.  And they’ve done all of that without trading away the future.

Atlanta’s bullpen is a strength for the club, one that Hart mentioned is by design. They’ve collected some nice young arms – guys like Arodys Vizcaino and Mauricio Cabrera – with more on the way. That is done with the intent of staying out of the increasingly pricey free-agent market for closers and relief help. “Grow your own,” said Hart. “Go out into the backfield, open up your door. Instead of seeing a fallow field with some dust, you know the Oklahoma dust bowl, you want to see a whole bunch of good arms, power guys coming up through your system. You know, you trot one of those guys back there at some point. To go out there and jump in $80 million, whatever it’s going to be for these guys [Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen], it doesn’t make sense.”

1:39 PM — We just finished up the managers luncheon, which is a Day 3 staple. The media members from each team get to sit and enjoy a pretty good meal with their team’s skipper. There is no social media during that time, hence the blackout for the last couple of hours. Among the highlights, Brian Snitker said he talked to Ozzie Albies and expects him to be ready to go in spring training after suffering a fractured elbow in September. Albies has already begun strengthening exercises and is out of his elbow brace. This is a great sign for a young player who could factor into Atlanta’s plans sooner than later.

Speaking of the future, Snitker said he enjoyed his trip to instructional league and was impressed with Atlanta’s collection of young players. Kevin Maitan and Cristian Pache were two players who really stood out. Both of those men were prizes from the Braves international signings the past two summers. Pache made his debut in the state this past season, playing for both the Gulf Coast league and Danville, batting .309/.349/.391 in 57 games. The working plan is for Maitan to follow a similar track in 2017.

11:09 AM — Talked to some folks close to Tampa Bay that indicated lefty Drew Smyly is the most likely candidate to be traded among the Rays young starters. Chris Archer’s five-years of control are a definite advantage when it comes to demanding what was termed as a “Chris Sale type return.” The Rays have made “quantity” type trades before, perhaps not landing a team’s best prospect, but getting a bunch of good young talent. It doesn’t sound like they’d be willing to do that for Archer, but oddly enough the team landed him in one of those deals when they traded Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs in 2011. It remains to be seen if the Braves will ramp up talks, or if the Rays are interested in building a potential trade around somebody other than Dansby Swanson.

Meanwhile, the Braves could also target another White Sox left-hander. With Chris Sale on his way to Boston, Jose Quintana is drawing interest from several clubs. Quintana, 27, was an All-Star in 2016 and has posted a 3.41 ERA (3.47 FIP) over five seasons with Chicago. He is under contract for the next four seasons for just under $28 million. Though Quintana is not the same caliber of pitcher as Sale or Archer, he has quietly built a reputation as one of the most dependable left-handers in the game. The Nationals, Astros and Dodgers are other clubs that could make a run at Quintana.

10:12 AM — It’s the final full day of the Winter Meetings, so we’re settled into the media work room for a busy day. Braves manager Brian Snitker had his press availability this morning. You can tell that he’s excited to see the pieces that have been added and ready to combine them with a team that finished 2016 on a high note and playing its best baseball. Innings from the rotation were a major concern that has been addressed with the acquisitions of Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia. Atlanta also signed one of the most versatile players available in Sean Rodriguez. From all accounts, Snitker is anxious to put together some lineups and see the team come together. Snitker said that to a man, his team’s goal is to come to spring training ready to compete for a division title.

As we’ve progressed through the winter, much was made about Atlanta’s pursuit of an ace starting pitcher – something I wrote about at length yesterday (John Hart discusses Braves pursuit of an ace). Throughout those talks, Dansby Swanson’s name was thrown around as the reported asking price, but Atlanta called that request a “non-starter.” Swanson is a key piece of the future for this franchise and one the organization and fans alike are looking forward to seeing grow in 2017. In his first taste of the big leagues, Swanson spent most of his time toward the bottom of the lineup, something most expect to change next season. In fact, Snitker addressed the distinct possibility that his young shortstop could be hitting up at the top of the order.

I’ll have more with Brian Snitker on today’s Around The Big Leagues Podcast. Be sure you check those out. Interviews with John Coppolella and John Hart over the past couple of days. Lots of good stuff about what the front office feels they’ve accomplished thus far and, of course, what’s left to do this winter.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The air has been rife with speculation for weeks that the Atlanta Braves could be in the market to trade for an ace starting pitcher. Then the club went out and added three veterans to fortify what was the shakiest rotation in baseball last season. Now, the team is looking for the right deal at the right price if it is to add a number one starter.

The landscape changed dramatically on Tuesday afternoon as the Chicago White Sox dealt left-hander Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a package headlined by Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. That takes one ace off the market, while reinforcing the belief that any trade for young, controllable, top flight starting pitchers is going to be expensive.

Even before the Sale trade, Atlanta had eased back on the throttle from all accounts, preferring to let things cook perhaps. This more cautious strategy is more in line with a club that has spent the last two years building one of the best minor systems in baseball, at great cost to its major league product.

Now equipped with the kind of pieces that should be able to help broker a trade, the Braves front office led by general manager John Coppolella and president of baseball operations John Hart is taking a pragmatic approach to making any major upgrade. With Sale gone, Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer and Oakland’s Sonny Gray are the other targets that Atlanta has made calls on. Neither man comes with the pedigree or the track record of Sale, but both would offer an upgrade. The questions center around the price either man could command on the trade market.

“When it comes down to it and you have a chance to buy a guy who is already under contract, that you can afford, that you’re going to have some level of control over and you don’t have to go out into the free agent market and pay, if you will, sort of the number one starter price, there is an appeal there,” said Hart.

“There is absolutely no doubt. Don’t think for a minute we haven’t discussed and talked to these guys as we’ve gone along.”

Atlanta was one of the clubs that pursued Sale in recent weeks, but it was Boston that stepped up and delivered the prospect bounty to Chicago that got the deal done. The price was most definitely in the vicinity of what most expected. Moncada could star for the White Sox for years, while Kopech has the kind of arm that could eventually replace Chris Sale. The Braves, however, did not want to part with numerous pieces of their their prized young talent.

Hart specifically mentioned that talks centered around Dansby Swanson were a “non-starter” for Atlanta, but admitted they don’t have a player the ilk of Moncada, who was rated the top prospect in the game by every major outlet and evaluator. The strength of Atlanta’s farm includes a stable of top pitching prospects, guys like Sean Newcomb, Kolby Allard, Ian Anderson and numerous others. Dealing away the future for the present is part of a delicate balancing act, especially for a team that maintains it does not want a window to compete, but rather wants the talent coming in waves for years to come.

“The problem is the payment is going to come in the young players,” said Hart. “We think some of these guys are going to have a chance to be that number one starter or that number two starter coming down the line that we’re going to have to give up to acquire these guys [in trades]. I’m just not certain that is what it is we’re about at this stage right now. I don’t see us coming out and quote ‘unloading the farm system’ to go out and acquire that front-line guy at this particular stage.”

While the tone could quickly and easily be translated as pessimistic when it comes to Atlanta’s chances of adding a Sale, or an Archer, or a Gray, it’s important to remember that maintaining a realistic outlook on the cost of doing business in trades should always be part of the decision making process. As Hart points out, the Braves aren’t simply one piece away from contending.

Will that stop the Braves from making and fielding the calls that could lead to substantial trades? Not by a long shot.

“Will we talk to them? Will we continue to have discussions? Sure, we will. But the price, as it should be, for a guy [like Sale] is going to be very painful, especially for a club like ours that has worked so hard over the last two years,” said Hart.

“We’ve traded for draft picks. We’ve bought number one picks like Touki Toussaint. We’ve made creative trades to get these guys. We’ve hit so many young players that we like that to start coming in now, before these guys have a chance to really get their feet under them, it’s just not the right thing to do right now.”

Toussaint is just another example of the pure breadth and scope of Atlanta’s young pitching. He was part of a Rome Braves rotation that included three other first rounders, in Allard, Max Fried and Mike Soroka by year’s end. With Anderson, Joey Wentz, Kyle Muller, Bryse Wilson and other arms from the 2016 draft all highly-touted additions, Atlanta has created the waves of sustainable talent it set out for.

Expect that trend to continue.

“We’re vested in these youngsters and we realize all of them aren’t going to hit, but some of them are,” said Hart. “We’re just not at that spot. The Red Sox are just in a little different stage of where they are in their development and they pushed their chips in.”

As we saw on Tuesday, the Braves sat by and watched Boston pay what is universally viewed as a justifiable king’s ransom for Sale. It gives Boston three years of perhaps the best starting pitcher in the American League. It gives Chicago big building blocks for the future. Atlanta was content to hold onto its assets, hoping to play those cards at a later date. Hart and Coppolella feel as though they may have an ace or two up their sleeves, in more ways than one.

 

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

Greetings from National Harbor, Maryland, where the 2016 Winter Meetings are underway. Each day, I’ll be keeping this journal of rumors, news and happenings for the Atlanta Braves and the rest of baseball. Check back often for the latest updates.

• Day 1 – Live Blog
• Day 1 – Podcast (Guests: John Schuerholz, John Hart)

7:36 PM — Just finished up my latest piece on the Braves’ pursuit of an ace starting pitcher. President of baseball operations John Hart shared the team’s philosophy of putting high value on the farm system and what it could provide long term. Give that article a read here.

4:01 PM — We’ve wrapped up the media session with John Coppolella and John Hart, who each saw the Chris Sale trade as a deal that accomplished exactly what both sides wanted. Boston got better in order to win immediately, while Chicago got the exact kind of pieces that could become franchise fixtures in Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. That said, Hart reiterated that trading Dansby Swanson has never been something Atlanta was interested in doing. I’ll have lots of other notes and quotes in my new podcast, which I’ll be recording here shortly. But here are a few things:

1. Hart said Braves are very high on lefty reliever A.J. Minter, who could reach big leagues this year.
2. Mallex Smith could be the team’s fourth outfielder or see more at-bats at AAA after missing so much time to injury in 2016.
3. The team supports starter Julio Teheran pitching in the WBC for Colombia, but obviously wants him to be healthy and ready to go for the regular season. There has been no decision on Freddie Freeman’s status for Team Canada.

1:11 PM — Chris Sale has a new home. And that home is Boston. The lobby and media workroom are abuzz with the first big deal of the Winter Meetings. Ken Rosenthal broke the news that the Red Sox have sent a package headlined by Cuban prodigy Yoan Moncada to the White Sox in exchange for Sale.

Obviously, the Red Sox have an incredible young core in place with Mookie Betts, Xander Boegarts and others. After dipping into the free agent market to sign David Price last winter, Boston has made adding an ace an annual thing. Sale, 27, is a five-time All-Star who has finished in the top five in Cy Young voting in each of the last four seasons. He may well be the best pitcher in the American League and now the Red Sox have him for the next three seasons at $38 million. This is the latest case of the ultra-aggressive Dave Dombrowski getting his man and paying the steep prospect price to do so.

On the other side, Chicago adds Moncada, 21, was not only rated the Red Sox No. 1 prospect, but the top prospect in the game according to Baseball America. This is a franchise building block for the White Sox. Boston spent $63 million (including $31.5 million in MLB penalties) to sign Moncada in 2015. He has shown all of the tools that make him one of the most exciting young players in the game as he reached the big leagues in 2016. Moncada batted .294/.407/.511 in 491 PA in the minors with 52 extra-base hits (15 HR) and 45 stolen bases.

Michael Kopech, 20, was a top pick by the Red Sox in 2014 and has a big time arm capable of hitting 100 mph. He gives Chicago a high-ceiling pitching prospect that could step into the rotation at some point in the next two seasons. The rest of the White Sox prospect haul for this deal includes outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe (another top 10 prospect type) and right-hander Victor Diaz.

11:53 AM — Made a sweep through the lobby, where the mix includes baseball people from every walk of life. Former Braves first baseman Fred McGriff is in town. He’s been working with the club in recent years. Oddly enough, MLB Network’s Brian Kenny is doing a book signing not far from McGriff, who is Hall of Fame candidate who has never gotten his due in my opinion. Kenny is known as a guy who is seeking to retrain or simply toss out traditional thinking as baseball is in the midst of an analytics revolution. That kind of thing could give a fresh perspective on the Hall case for McGriff among others.

10:35 AM — It’s a rainy day as we begin Day 2 here at the Gaylord, with the biggest news of the day being generated in the form of the Under Armour uniform announcement and the Yankees, with somewhat amusing timing, announcing they will retire Derek Jeter’s number shortly thereafter. Regardless, the biggest change seems to be the inclusion of the UA logo on the front of the jerseys.

That’s an addition that is somewhat jarring, but no doubt a lucrative part of MLB’s agreement with Under Armour. Like the New Era side logo that will be affixed to the team caps, it will take some getting used to for fans of cleaners, more classic, or simply less cluttered design elements.

 

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

Greetings from National Harbor, Maryland, where the 2016 Winter Meetings are underway. Each day, I’ll be keeping this journal of rumors, news and happenings for the Atlanta Braves and the rest of baseball. Check back often for the latest updates.

6:19 PM — As Day 1 comes to a close, we had our daily meeting with John Coppolella and John Hart up in the “War Room.” Talks have been ongoing throughout the day, but both men mentioned it is nice to be coming to these meetings without feeling like they have to do something. That said, they have already accomplished so much with the litany of moves they’ve made this winter. Could the Braves still add a top of the line starting pitcher to their rotation? That’s the question surrounding the team as rumors persist that Atlanta has inquired about White Sox ace Chris Sale, Rays righty Chris Archer and Oakland’s Sonny Gray. It is still a possibility. That led me to ask Coppolella: Where do you feel the line is between the needs entering the off-season and the wants for this club right now if the right deals present themselves?

“I think we’re there right now. I think the needs have been filled. The wants? Yeah, we all want Chris Sale. We have to explore Chris Sale. If we didn’t then we’re not doing our jobs. I mean, he’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball. Archer, Gray, both very solid pitchers and you’d love to have them. Little bit different animals than Chris Sale. So, yeah, I think on all three if they have a chance to help you then you’ve got to explore it, but they’re wants and not needs. We’ve filled our needs. We needed innings and we feel like we got 550 innings, hopefully, out of the three guys that we’ve [acquired].”

It sounds as though the prospect price could be, in both my words and Coppolella’s, “cost prohibitive” when it comes to trading for any of those top starters we’ve mentioned. That’s not to say the right deal couldn’t materialize, but Atlanta remains hesitant to do anything that would undo a large chunk of the work they’ve done to build a farm system that is stocked with young, controllable talent that could star for the club for years to come. Coppolella added they aren’t hoping to just open up a window to be competitive, but rather they want that talent to keep coming in waves in order to make a sustainable impact on a big league contender. So, regardless of the years of control on the pitcher, the Braves aren’t looking to pay the price for a finite amount of time to contend. Trading away key pieces, most notably Dansby Swanson, is not something the club is considering in order to bring over a top starting pitcher.

Another point of emphasis for the Braves when it comes to rounding out their rotation after Julio Teheran, Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia is to see exactly what young starter will get that opportunity. The smart money is on Mike Foltynewicz, who made definite strides to close 2016. Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair and others remain as “protection” in case of injury and attrition in the starting five. They’ll all be asked to come into spring training and compete, which Hart said is a natural and healthy part of any team. One thing is for sure, the days of handing out opportunities have passed. With veterans in house, it allows for some of these younger arms to get some much needed polish and finishing touches as they work at the Triple-A level rather than being force fed in the majors. As far as the notion that the crop of incumbent young pitchers might feel pushed aside with the trio of veteran starters now locked in rotation, Coppolella doesn’t feel that’s the case. He added it could also provide some valuable motivation, should it be needed.

“There’s been a lot of opportunities handed out here [the past two years]… If you feel like you’ve been slighted, or you haven’t gotten a chance, or you’re mad that we brought somebody better in, pitch better. Get better. We don’t owe anybody anything. The best pitchers are going to pitch for us. And you if you don’t like it, get better.”

While any sense of entitlement would be misplaced in the larger scope of Atlanta’s plan, the young starters will be asked to prove themselves in a different fashion in 2017 than we’ve seen the past two seasons. Some have enjoyed more success than others, but the level of expectation is certainly evolving as the team heads into SunTrust Park.

4:25 PM — Just spent about an hour chatting with former Braves reliever David Carpenter, who is in town to speak with prospective teams to get back to the big leagues in 2017. It’s always fun to share stories in the lobby and we also got to trade old minor league tales. Carpenter, 31, came to camp with Atlanta last spring, but was let go early. He ended up with the Rays to finish the spring, but also pitched in Triple-A for the Angels and in the independent AtlanticLeague. He told me the velocity is back in the mid-90s, so now he’s just looking for an opportunity. They don’t make them much better than Carp, so hopefully he’ll find the right landing spot.

2:10 PM — Braves ace Julio Teheran will pitch for his home country of Colombia in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Major League Baseball announced a group of 24 All-Stars who have been confirmed for WBC. Former Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons will once again play for the Kingdom of  the Netherlands.

1:45 PM — I have been keeping an ear open regarding the Sonny Gray report from this morning. The Braves have been rumored to be interested in the A’s ace. While it doesn’t sound like talks went very far, it is not surprising that Atlanta continues to check in on viable top starters who could be had in trade. After adding a trio of veterans who fill “needs,” John Coppolella appears to have turned his attention to “wants,” in the event Atlanta can add an impact arm. Chris Sale and Chris Archer have generated the most buzz, but it stands to reason that the Athletics could look to trade Gray as they have done with so many young talents over the years. Given the shallow free agent market, they could still get a good return despite his injury-riddled 2016.  The initial report from Joel Sherman mentioned that Oakland has not asked for Dansby Swanson, unlike the White Sox in the Sale talks. That’s good, because the Braves aren’t interested in trading Swanson, even for a fellow Vanderbilt product. However, the two sides still have work to do for any potential deal. As I tweeted this morning, Gray is coming off a season that was derailed by arm trouble and is much more buyer-beware than Sale or Archer. When healthy, Gray was on the fast track to becoming one of the better pitchers in the American League. He is under control for three seasons, but is entering his arbitration years.

More reading – My full write-up on Gray as well as Chris Sale and Chris Archer.

12:44 PM — First big news of the day, and it comes on the closers market. And it also benefits the Braves as the division rival Nationals appear to have lost a major piece from 2016. Mark Melancon will be working the late inning by the Bay for the next few years.

It’s going to be a record deal for a closer as well. And it may not stay a record for long once Kenley Jansen signs.

Washington wants to address its needs and possibly make a splash in their backyard during the Winter Meetings, with rumors swirling that Chris Sale and Andrew McCutchen could both be targets. Losing Melancon means they’ll have to address the ninth inning. That could get rather pricey.

12:03 PM — We just wrapped up our media session with John Schuerholz, which has taken much of the last hour. Fascinating insight into a five decade career. I’ll have a 1-on-1 interview as part of tonight’s podcast as well, so expect links to that later. During our Atlanta-only media session, I asked Mr. Schuerholz what he wanted to get out of the game of baseball when he first walked into the Baltimore Orioles front office in 1966. The answer was fascinating and multipronged, as you might imagine. He decided to give it five years. The early days spent in the offices beneath Memorial Stadium, studying countless files to learn any and everything that would supply the knowledge needed to succeed in the game as a top level executive. The dream was clear. The climb was a measured and steady ascent to reach the summit of his profession. From Baltimore to Kansas City to Atlanta, his accomplishments, championships won and the relationships built have ultimately led him to Cooperstown, where he takes his place among baseball’s elite.

10:40 AM — All set up and one sweep through the lobby is complete. The media work room is starting to fill up as we await the Hall of Fame press conference which begins in just a few minutes. Braves president John Schuerholz was unanimously selected by the Today’s Game Era committee on Sunday. Former commissioner Bud Selig will join him, so it should be quite a morning. As many have noted, the election of Selig may give a fresh perspective to the question of PED users in the Hall, because that controversy was central to Selig’s tenure. Whether or not it tips the scales definitively in favor of breaking down the voter-imposed barrier against known or even suspected users is yet to be seen, and remains unlikely in my opinion.

I wrote extensively on the Braves rumors from Sunday in case you missed that or wanted to get caught up [Read it here]. It includes a more in depth look at Atlanta’s pursuit of Chris Sale and Chris Archer as well as interest in free-agent catcher Welington Castillo. The Braves also added a former Yankees top pick in Jacob Lindgren, who could be an intriguing bullpen possibility in the future.

 

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Gran

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — As the Winter Meetings begin this week, the Atlanta Braves continued to make news on Sunday. Team President  John Schuerholz was elected to the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Atlanta added a high-upside arm that had been cast off by the Yankees and continue to monitor the trade and free-agent markets for upgrades to the rotation and catching situation.

John Schuerholz elected to Hall of Fame…

After a career that has spanned five decades, longtime Braves executive John Schuerholz received the game’s most prestigious honor as he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era committee. He joins former commissioner Bud Selig as the only men selected by this newly formed committee. Schuerholz was a unanimous selection, while Selig received 15 of the possible 16 votes.

Schuerholz, 76, began his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 before joining the expansion Kansas City Royals front office in 1969. He was eventually elevated to general manager in 1981 and helped the club capture its first World Series title in 1985. Schuerholz left Kansas City after the 1990 season to accept the challenge of turning around a troubled Atlanta franchise. And turn it around he did. The Braves went from worst to first in 1991, embarking on a string of 14-consecutive division titles, five trips to the World Series and a championship in 1995. After 17 years as GM, Schuerholz transitioned to team president, a post he has held since 2008.

Both Schuerholz and Selig will be inducted into Cooperstown next summer. The rest of the class will be announced when the results of the BBWAA voting are revealed on January 19, 2017.

Braves sign former Yankees top pick Jacob Lindgren…

Atlanta continued its trend of collecting one-time highly touted prospects as they signed recently non-tendered lefty Jacob Lindgren on Sunday. The Yankees were hoping to hold on to their top pick from the 2014 draft, but could not find the space on the 40-man roster to make it happen. Thus, Atlanta scooped Lindgren up and will stash him in hopes he can deliver on the promise he flashed to begin his pro career.

Lindgren, 23, blazed a trail to the majors that earned him the nickname “The Strikeout Factory” after averaging 14.7 K/9 in the minors. He reached New York on May 25, 2015, less than a year after being selected in the second round out of Mississippi State. Lindgren had elbow surgery to remove bone chips in 2015 and threw just seven innings last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. While he will not pitch at all in 2017, the Braves added a lefty with a premium fastball-slider combo that could feature prominently into their bullpen plans down the line. It wasn’t a big move, but it could be one that pays off.

Atlanta remains in the mix for both Chris Sale and Chris Archer…

Despite adding three veteran starting pitchers to the rotation already, the Braves continue to discuss an even bigger potential addition. Atlanta is one of several clubs in the mix for White Sox lefty Chris Sale and Rays righty Chris Archer, both of whom are drawing significant trade interest. Of course, the price remains the sticking point for any team aiming to acquire the Chicago ace.

While Sale is perhaps the best pitcher in the American League, Archer could be the better fit for Atlanta. This is not a question of talent, so I’ll spare you another statistical analysis (which I previously covered). Sale is a perennial Cy Young contender while Archer struggled through 2016, but is one of the game’s premier strikeout pitchers. However, acquiring either man is a question of trade price and having the years of control to open up a window wherein the Braves could become and remain competitive. Including team options, Sale is under contract for three years at $38 million. Archer is under contract for $39 million, but for the next five seasons including his options. Those extra two years for Archer is the kind of value could play a part in Atlanta’s –  or any club for that matter – decision making process.

Given the early indications, Sale’s price may end up being cost prohibitive. The White Sox have set their sights on a deal built around Dansby Swanson. That requirement and all the speculation in the world is not going to change the fact that the Braves will not trade away their prized shortstop. If players like Ender Inciarte, Julio Teheran or Mike Foltynewicz are prerequisites for any deal with Chicago, then it’s fair to ask: What is the point of upgrading at the potential cost of multiple pieces of the 25-man roster?

As for Archer, he will not come cheap either. He is the biggest and perhaps best trade chip that Tampa Bay holds should the club look to cash in this winter. Mark Bowman of MLB.com also mentioned the potential of a trade with the Rays, but noted that nothing is imminent.

Welington Castillo could offer upgrade to Braves catching corps…

One of the surprise additions to the free-agent market following the non-tender deadline, Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo figures to be a popular name this week. With this year’s thin free-agent class representative of the positional scarcity when it comes to productive catchers, Castillo will be a sought after commodity. MLB Trade Rumors predicted Castillo would earn $5.9 million in his final year of arbitration, a price Arizona deemed too high. Given the 3-year $24 million deal Jason Castro signed with the Twins, Castillo could find a nice pay day.

Castillo, 29, has averaged a .252/.310/.437 line with 16 HR over the last two seasons, mostly for Arizona. The man known as “Beef” appears to have plenty of tread left on the tire, as opposed to the injury-risk associated with both Matt Wieters and Wilson Ramos. While Castillo may not rate along with Castro as a catcher with excellent framing skills, he is certainly adequate and also threw out 38 percent of would-be base stealers last season. Atlanta’s ideal fit would be a left-hand hitting catcher to pair with Tyler Flowers, but taking a long look at Castillo would be worth the time and falls right in line with John Coppolella’s strategy of exploring all the options.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

The Atlanta Braves continue to add veteran arms to the rotation, acquiring left-hander Jaime Garcia from the St. Louis Cardinals in four-player trade on Thursday. In exchange, Atlanta sent right-handers John Gant and Chris Ellis as well as minor league infielder Luke Dykstra to St. Louis.

Garcia, 30, is set to make $12 million in 2017 after the Cardinals exercised his option last month. With this trade, the Braves continue their trend of bringing on veteran starters on short-term contracts. Garcia joins Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey in Atlanta’s revamped rotation, one that has added 916 starts worth of experience to its ranks over the last three weeks. These moves were designed to create some much-needed stability in 2017, while leaving the door open for the numerous pitching prospects lining up in the Braves system. Additionally, it leaves the Braves open to explore their options for future acquisitions, whether that be in the coming weeks or months or sometime later next year.

Though Garcia has battled arm injuries over the course of his eight-year big league career, he has displayed plenty of promise as well. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2008, Garcia returned to finish third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2010, when he went 13-8 with a 2.70 ERA. He followed that up with a 13-7 season as St. Louis won the World Series in 2011, but shoulder injuries cost him time over each of the next three seasons. He underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2013 and again to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in 2014.

After making just 36 starts from 2013-2015, Garcia was 10-13 with a 4.67 ERA in 32 games (30 starts) for the Cardinals last season and turned in a career-best 7.9 K/9, but also allowed a career-worst 1.4 HR/9. His fastball velocities sat just above his career norm, while some of his secondary pitches seemed to drop a tick in 2016 (per FanGraphs). Garcia adds a left-handed presence to a rotation that has been without for much of the last two seasons and did not receive a single start from a lefty in 2016.

Atlanta parted ways with another pair of pitching prospects in this deal, after sending two to Seattle to acquire Alex Jackson on Tuesday. John Gant entered my pre-season Braves Prospects list at No. 14, while Chris Ellis checked in at No. 16. Luke Dykstra was not on my previous list or the upcoming end of season update. All three men were mid-level (Gant and Ellis) or lower prospects for most outlets.

Gant, 24, saw some big league time in 2016, going 1-4 with a 4.86 ERA and 21BB/49K in 50 IP, including seven starts. He was originally acquired in the Kelly Johnson trade of 2015. He holds the distinction of having one of the most unusual pitching deliveries in baseball.

Ellis, who is also 24, split 2016 between Mississippi and Gwinnett and finished 12-9 with a 4.49 ERA and 87BB/126K in 146.1 innings. His early success in Double-A did not translate to Triple-A, where he was 4-7 with a 6.15 ERA in 15 starts. This was due in large part to control problems that plagued him throughout the season. Ellis came over as part of the Andrelton Simmons trade with the Angels in November of 2015.

Dykstra, 21, is the son of former All-Star outfielder Lenny Dykstra. He batted .304/.332/.363 in 81 games for Low-A Rome in 2016.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

Braves add versatile super-sub on multi-year deal…

The Atlanta Braves completed some more holiday shopping on Thursday, adding veteran utility man Sean Rodriguez on a two-year deal worth a reported $11.5 million. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was the first to report the news.

A fiery competitor, Rodriguez, 31, is a nine-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming a valuable platoon player thanks to his extraordinary versatility. He made starts at all four infield positions and logged innings in all three outfield spots as well, carving out a niche as a super-reserve in 140 games last year.

Rodriguez also enjoyed the finest offensive season of his career in 2016. He set career-highs in several offensive categories, batting .270/.349/.510 and slugging 18 home runs in just 300 at-bats. His fine season at the plate and ability to play all over the diamond had at least half a dozen clubs in pursuit, including the Pirates, Dodgers and Blue Jays according to Chris Cotillo at SB Nation.

With this signing, Atlanta has added a reliable veteran who could see time at several positions and could garner regular at-bats if he continues to produce at his 2016 rate. The Braves already have Jace Peterson and top prospect Ozzie Albies in the mix at second base, but Rodriguez is a fine fielder at the position and would fit in nicely against left-handers, against whom he has posted a career .755 OPS and turned in a .286/.415/.519 slash line in 2016. Rodriguez could also see time at third base, where Adonis Garcia is Atlanta’s incumbent.

From a pure value standpoint, John Coppolella and company appear to have identified a potential break-out candidate and a late bloomer at that. Ronnie Socash over at Beyond The Boxscore highlighted the changes Rodriguez made in 2016 that could be a sign of things to come for Atlanta in 2017. That’s your recommended reading on Rodriguez.

Braves miss out on free-agent catcher Jason Castro…

Atlanta continues its search for a catcher to pair with Tyler Flowers, though it remains possible that Flowers and Anthony Recker could end up sharing the job again in 2017. The Braves were one of several clubs interested in former Astros backstop Jason Castro, who signed a three-year, $24.5 million deal with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

Castro, 29, has been lauded for his pitch-framing and overall ability behind the plate, though his offense has fallen off since his All-Star season of 2013. He has batted just .215 over the last three seasons, but averaged 12 home runs per season. Minnesota was in the market for a new catcher after parting ways with Kurt Suzuki and ponied up the money and a third year to get a deal done with Castro.

While Atlanta could pursue former Georgia Tech star Matt Wieters, the price may end up being more than the Braves are looking to spend in both years and annual value. After all, his agent, Scott Boras, is not known to take the path of least resistance for his clients or deal in hometown discounts. Wieters, 30, is a four-time All-Star and two-time gold glove winner who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Baltimore Orioles. Injuries cost him significant time in both 2014 and 2015, but he remains the biggest name in a relatively thin free-agent crop of catchers. Unlike Castro, Wieters is not noted for his pitch-framing metrics, something that ESPN’s Buster Olney pointed out that clubs are aware of as they mull potential offers.

In addition to the remaining free-agents, former Brave Brayan Pena could make some sense for Atlanta. The soon-to-be 35-year-old was designated for assignment by the Cardinals to make room for reliever Brett Cecil this week. Pena was limited to just nine games last season thanks to knee surgery. Prior to that, he served as the Reds primary back-up catcher for two seasons. A switch-hitter who has played parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues, Pena is well-respected in the organization and would come relatively cheap. Any club that signs Pena could do so for the major league minimum, with St. Louis on the hook for the remainder of his $2.5 million salary, assuming he clears waivers and is not traded.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

Welcome to the Speculation Station, otherwise known as the Hot Stove.

The Atlanta Braves entered the offseason with a very specific shopping list. General manager John Coppolella and company went to work right away in the wake of the GM Meetings, signing veterans R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon, but there are still a few items left to pick up as the holidays approach. The search will include both free agent and trade possibilities with an approach that Coppolella has routinely referred to as “leave no stone unturned.”

With two veterans already added to the rotation, the rumor mill has also connected Atlanta with a handful of young, front-line starters. Chris Sale of the White Sox, Chris Archer of the Rays and Sonny Gray of the Athletics have all been mentioned as targets should the Braves opt to spend some of their considerable prospect talent to upgrade the starting five even further. Adding such an arm would signal that Atlanta is one step closer to returning to contention.

Chris Sale | Chicago White Sox | Under team control through: 2019

As the White Sox mull a rebuild, no asset could bring them as much in return as their ace starting pitcher. Sale will turn 28 years old just before opening day of 2017 and is in the final guaranteed year of an extension he signed with Chicago in 2013. He will make $12 million next season, but his contract contains a pair of team options for 2018 ($12.5 million) and 2019 ($13 million) with affordable $1 million buy-outs for both of those years. Those salaries make Sale an even more sought after commodity for teams looking to substantially strengthen a rotation.

In terms of pure performance, Sale has established himself as one of the top left-handers in baseball over the past five seasons. Atlanta’s projected rotation lacks a lefty and is coming off a season in which it did not get a single start from a southpaw. Sale tied a career-best with a 17-win season for Chicago last year, turning in a 3.34 ERA with 233 strikeouts in a career-high 226.2 IP. A five-time All-Star, Sale has finished in the top five in the American League Cy Young voting three times. He led the AL with 274 strikeouts in 2015 and tied for second last season. An excellent control pitcher as well, Sale has struck out 5.47 batters for every walk he’s issued over the last four seasons, all while punching out 10.3 batters per nine innings. He is also among the top five annually in virtually every category, including opponents’ average and OPS.

Despite his sparkling career on the field, Sale clashed with the White Sox front office on a couple of occasions in 2016. The first was over the Adam LaRoche and son incident back in spring training, while the second was a bizarre turn of events in which Sale took scissors to the retro jerseys the team was set to wear on the day of his start. Do those incidents lessen his trade value? Not in the least. However, it is worth noting that it has not always been smooth sailing for the organization. That aside, his track record of dominance and dependability makes him a front of the rotation horse and the most proven arm of the three men mentioned here.

Chris Archer | Tampa Bay Rays | Under team control through: 2021

For all intents and purposes, Chris Archer had the same season as David Price in 2016, though the run support manifested itself in the win-loss column. While Price had 5.6 runs per game to work with (5^th best in MLB) and went 17-9, Archer received just 3.4 RPG (70th out of 74 qualified starters in MLB) and was saddled with a 9-19 record. This is yet another illustration of how a pitcher’s record is oftentimes misleading. What’s not misleading, however? The fact that Archer, 28, is one of the finest strikeout pitchers in baseball. He was right there again in 2016, fanning 233 (tied with Sale for second in AL) and averaging 10.4 K/9 IP.

Coming into the season as a Cy Young candidate, the most notable difference in Archer’s 2016 results can be found in the home run column. He allowed 30 homers in 201 innings, a statline that ballooned across baseball as home runs were up 15 percent league-wide over 2015. After posting a 4-12 record with a 4.66 ERA in 19 starts before the All-Star break, Archer’s season improved markedly in the second half. He closed the year with numbers in line with his previous two campaigns, posting a 3.25 ERA in his final 14 starts. Whatever the reason for his early woes, Archer seemed to right the ship down the stretch and would be a welcome addition for any club.

Signed to a 6-year extension by Tampa Bay prior to 2014, Archer could remain under club control through 2021 if both of his team options are picked up. He’s inked to perhaps the best contract for any young starter in baseball, making a total of $19 million over the next three seasons ($4.9 million in 2017, $6.4 million in 2018 and $7.7 million in 2019). Archer’s pair of option years are team-friendly as well, at $9 million for 2020 ($1.75 million buy-out) and $11 million for 2021 (with just a $250,000 buy-out). It’s worth noting that Archer offers five years of team control for basically the same price of Sale’s three years of control. Given his talent and extremely affordable contract that includes up to five years of team control, the price tag Tampa Bay places on any trade for Archer would be high. With a stable of young, controllable starting pitchers, the time for the Rays to deal their ace for a big return could be nigh.

Sonny Gray | Oakland Athletics | Under team control through: 2019

Sonny Gray, 27, was fast becoming one of the top young pitchers in the American League, but ran into some trouble in 2016. Unfortunately, injury kept Gray from the kind strong finish that helped Archer allay some fears about his overall performance. Though he was able to return to the mound briefly in late September, Gray will enter 2017 attempting to bounce back from the first prolonged struggles in an otherwise sparkling career.

Two stints on the disabled list were at least partly to blame for Gray’s 5.69 ERA in 22 starts. A trapezius strain in late May was the first setback, followed by inflammation in his right elbow and forearm which put him on the shelf for nearly two months in August. Given the paucity of talented young starters on the free agent market, it could be the ideal time for Oakland to follow what feels like protocol at this point and deal away another young talent before he becomes expensive. Unlike Sale or Archer, Gray heads into his arbitration years. Thus, while he is under team control for the next three seasons, the cost is less certain.

It’s also worth noting that Gray did not have much luck on his side in 2016, with opponents posting a .319 batting average on balls put in play against him. Gray also saw a dip in velocity, likely related to his arm ailments and a probable cause for fewer swinging strikes last season. Like Archer, Gray had trouble keeping the ball in the park for the first time in his career. He allowed 18 home runs in just 117 innings, which was double his career rate. Prior to Gray’s subpar season, he was a 14-game winner in consecutive seasons while throwing at least 200 innings. His 2015 season was an All-Star campaign that included a third-place finish for the Cy Young Award. While it’s natural to question his future after an injury-riddled season, Gray could very well return to form in 2017. That makes him worth a look at the very least.

The Takeaway:

These three are not the only names that could be available or worth consideration. Atlanta will seek to remain creative when it comes to finding trade partners and brokering deals. The Braves have been stockpiling young pitchers throughout the process of rebuilding, a strategy that should provide them with the currency needed to acquire some missing pieces. Any trade Atlanta takes part in figures to be built around those young arms, but will likely require a position player component as well. Those are of a much more limited quantity. One thing is certain, the price will be high to add a young, controllable top of the rotation arm.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.

From the Rumor Mill: Whither Jose Bautista?

An interesting tidbit from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe made the rounds on Sunday. Amidst a deep dive into the perils of CBA negotiations affecting this year’s crop of free agents, Cafardo sized up the fit for the Red Sox and free agent outfielder Jose Bautista. More interesting was the list of other possible landing places.

The 36-year-old slugger makes sense for Boston, a team in the market for a new designated hitter with David Ortiz calling it a career. Cafardo notes that among the teams that could be interested in Bautista are the Rangers, Astros, Orioles, Cardinals, Giants and, of course, the Braves. As one might imagine, that last one is curious to say the least. Speculative might be the best word to describe it. Atlanta, like every other club, will explore numerous options and scenarios that never come to fruition, with many never seeing the light of day. Given a crowded outfield and no need for a DH, it seems highly unlikely that the Braves would embark on a complicated mission to bring Bautista on board.

There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of Atlanta’s viability as a suitor for Bautista’s services. He is advancing into his late 30’s and was banged up last season, playing just 116 games. Not only will Bautista not come cheap, but he also has draft pick compensation attached to him after the Blue Jays extended a qualifying offer (which he is expected to formally reject on Monday). Though Atlanta’s first pick in the draft is protected, the club is understandably hesitant to sacrifice a top pick at this time. Additionally, the Braves would have to move a starting outfielder to open up a spot for Bautista. Though he has reportedly expressed a willingness to play either corner infield spot in addition to the outfield, it is hard to imagine Bautista becoming a full-time infielder in the National League. Atlanta has first base covered quite well with Freddie Freeman and Bautista has made just two starts at third base in the last five years. In fact, he has not played the position at all in three seasons. The last time Bautista played every day at the hot corner was 2008. Add all of that together and it is hard to imagine that Atlanta would be in the market for Bautista.

Minor League Moves:

The Braves signed righty reliever Jordan Walden to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Saturday. Walden, 29, made just 12 appearances for St. Louis after being traded to the Cardinals along with Jason Heyward in the winter of 2014. Shoulder injuries cost Walden the entire 2016 season. He became a free agent when the Cards declined his $5.25 million option last week. Walden, who was an All-Star with the Angels in 2011, holds a 3.00 ERA with 10.8 K/9 in 222 career innings. The move is an excellent low risk, high reward signing for Atlanta as a healthy Walden could make the bullpen that much stronger.

Atlanta also made a couple of minor league catching moves, signing free agent David Freitas on Sunday. Chris Cotillo of SB Nation first reported the deal. Freitas, 27, spent the last two seasons in the Cubs system and has seen time in four different organizations. Originally a 15th round pick by the Nationals in 2010, he was traded to the Athletics for Kurt Suzuki in 2012 and then to Baltimore as part of the Jim Johnson trade in 2013. Freitas batted .295 with six home runs in 91 games between Double-A and Triple-A for Chicago in 2016. He has a .273/.361/421 career line in 2,402 plate appearances over seven seasons… The Braves also re-signed catcher Braeden Schlehuber. The 28-year-old has been in the organization since 2008, when Atlanta selected him in the 4th round out of the College of Southern Nevada. Schlehuber hit .236 with 14 RBI in 40 games for Gwinnett last season and is a .219 career hitter in 607 games in the Braves organization.

Prospects wrapping up Arizona Fall League:

A handful of Braves minor leaguers are finishing up their time with the Salt River Rafters of the AFL. Infielder Dylan Moore was added to the roster after Ozzie Albies suffered a broken elbow in September and has made the most of the chance. Moore, 24, was acquired from the Rangers in the three-team trade that sent Jeff Francoeur to the Marlins. After a fine season in A-Ball with three clubs in which he batted .269/.379/.441 with 14 homers and 42 stolen bases in 128 games, Moore is hitting .342 with two home runs and six RBI in 10 games in the AFL. With some positional versatility to go along with a decent power and speed combo, he’ll be an intriguing name to watch in 2017. Also of note out in Arizona, outfielder Dustin Peterson is batting .333 in 16 games, while second baseman Travis Demeritte is hitting just .235, but has three homers and 10 RBI in 19 games.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have acted quickly to address their rotational needs. After signing R.A. Dickey just last week, the team officially announced the signing of veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon on Thursday. While financial terms were not disclosed, Colon, 43, received a one-year deal worth $12.5 million according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

In Colon, the Braves add another capable veteran who has been nothing if not dependable, despite his age. Colon was a National League All-Star in 2016 for the New York Mets and finished 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 191.2 innings, walking just 32 while striking out 128.

Those quality innings were in short supply for Atlanta last season. Julio Teheran’s 188 IP led the staff, with Matt Wisler (156.2 IP) the only other pitcher to top 150 innings in 2016. With Colon and Dickey on board, the Braves have added a pair of pitchers with proven track records when it comes to going to the post. The duo should be able to comfortably provide somewhere between 350-375 innings next season if all goes according to plan.

Durability has been Colon’s calling card. He has averaged 195 innings per season since 2013 – all after turning 40. His success is also built on pinpoint control, which allowed him to lead to the NL in fewest walks per nine innings pitched (1.5) for the second consecutive year in 2016. Colon also throws the highest percentage of fastballs of any starter in the game, proving that sheer velocity can take a backseat to movement and pitch execution.

Colon was mulling a return to the Mets, where he’d spent the last three seasons, but with no assurance of a spot in their already-crowded rotation, Atlanta was able to offer an excellent alternative to the big right-hander. Atlanta had interest in Colon in 2014 as well. The $12.5 million salary for 2017 represents a raise of more than $5 million over the one-year, $7.25 million deal he signed with the Mets last December.

Colon has amassed 233 career victories, trailing only Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (243) among pitchers from the Dominican Republic. He began his career with the Indians in 1997, then run by current Atlanta President of Baseball Operations, John Hart. Colon spent his first five years in Cleveland before being traded to Montreal in 2002, the first of his two 20-win seasons. He has since pitched for the White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, Athletics and Mets, winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2005 with Los Angeles.

Much like the signing of Dickey on Thursday, the Braves were able to add a capable veteran to the rotation for 2017, while not blocking the path of numerous prospects in the pipeline. With the free-agent market thin on top-tier options, Atlanta was hesitant to get caught in a bidding war for pitchers looking for more years and higher guarantees. The Braves have committed a total of $20.5 million to Colon and Dickey, with nothing guaranteed on the books past 2017.

These signings do not preclude Atlanta from monitoring the trade market for a higher end starting pitcher that may become available. The Braves certainly have the prospect cache to get a deal done, but will maintain a cautious approach when it comes to dealing from the talent they’ve been stockpiling over the last two seasons.

Grant McAuley covers the Braves and MLB for 92-9 The Game. You can subscribe to the “Around The Big Leagues” podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Follow Grant on Twitter.