The 2012 Offseason Thread

[Tryptamine]

Braves-D'Backs "seriously" discussing a J. Upton trade. Upton/Uggla/Heyward/Upton/Freeman/Prado/Whatever is left of McCann is a very nice offense. Reportedly Simmons won't be in the trade, which is weird, because the Braves don't have a lot of good position prospects other than him and really only have pitching, which is what the D'backs have a strength of already.

 

Watch Teheran be the headliner when they're asking the Cubs for Castro.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Braves-D'Backs "seriously" discussing a J. Upton trade. Upton/Uggla/Heyward/Upton/Freeman/Prado/Whatever is left of McCann is a very nice offense. Reportedly Simmons won't be in the trade, which is weird, because the Braves don't have a lot of good position prospects other than him and really only have pitching, which is what the D'backs have a strength of already.

 

Watch Teheran be the headliner when they're asking the Cubs for Castro.

 

I really don't think they're being jerks or anything. I hate to equate it to fantasy, but haven't you ever had someone approach you about a player and you just don't like anything on their roster? They have one guy who would be a huge overpay and then nothing else that would make you want to make a deal.

 

If the Diamondbacks don't for Baez, which makes sense with their "overreacting to attitude" MO, then it makes sense that there's nothing from us they'd want in an Upton deal short of Castro.

[Tryptamine]

Braves-D'Backs "seriously" discussing a J. Upton trade. Upton/Uggla/Heyward/Upton/Freeman/Prado/Whatever is left of McCann is a very nice offense. Reportedly Simmons won't be in the trade, which is weird, because the Braves don't have a lot of good position prospects other than him and really only have pitching, which is what the D'backs have a strength of already.

 

Watch Teheran be the headliner when they're asking the Cubs for Castro.

 

I really don't think they're being jerks or anything. I hate to equate it to fantasy, but haven't you ever had someone approach you about a player and you just don't like anything on their roster? They have one guy who would be a huge overpay and then nothing else that would make you want to make a deal.

 

If the Diamondbacks don't for Baez, which makes sense with their "overreacting to attitude" MO, then it makes sense that there's nothing from us they'd want in an Upton deal short of Castro.

 

For a team like the DBacks adding even more pitching just doesn't make that much sense when you could add a potential impact bat at SS which is a much more pressing need for the organization. I just don't understand Towers at all.

[toonsterwu]

I'm not real sure where this conversation is, but while I'm not high on Gregorius, I think Towers is legitimately high on him, and thus, Kyle probably has a point. If they like Gregorius enough, then the value of Baez in a trade might not be as high, particularly if they have any concerns about his attitude. Factor in the Cubs lack of depth in the upper levels, and if the Cubs called them about Upton, or if they reached out to the Cubs, it's easy to understand why they worked their way to Castro.

 

While I'm not huge on Gregorius, I can actually sort of understand the Diamondbacks deciding that they are okay with him and don't have to have Simmons, particularly if they are in the camp that buys Gregorius developing offensively in the next few years. The gap between Simmons ceiling and Gregorius' potential ceiling, if you buy that his offensive development is really only at the start, isn't that much, if anything at all, and if they are okay with Gregorius simply being a glove man this year, then passing on Simmons is somewhat understandable. If they buy that Teheran is fine now, as a lot of the reports suggest, then they could potentially get a TOR pitcher in a deal. If Teheran is back to form, he's a better arm than Taijuan Walker. The Braves system is weak, but if Teheran is back closer to the form of a couple years ago, and they could get another quality arm, plus maybe a shortstop gamble like Peraza or Ahmed if Gregorius doesn't pan out, and maybe another piece (seems Evan Gattis is the rumor, although I would rather try to target a Christian Bethancourt type to handle the staff) ... there's a case that a Braves package could be comparable to what the Mariners offered, which is what the Diamondbacks are reportedly seeking. A lot of if's, though, and it starts with Teheran (this is assuming that Teheran is in the discussion, but it's almost impossible to envision a deal without him ... ).

[nick23]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Heyman just tweeted that the Bourn market is starting to heat up. Then listed Mets, Braves, Rangers, Mariners, and Cubs. I thought the Hairston signing would take us out of the Bourn market?

[Little Slide Rooter]

@JonHeymanCBS: Marcum will be nice add for #mets rotation. Team still working on a reliever and an outfielder (hint. Initials MB)

 

Someone should tell Mr. Heyman that Milton Bradley likely won't be available this season.

 

In all seriousness, they could be an interesting trade parner for us. Marmol and depending on how much they're willing to give up, Soriano or DeJesus.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: #Braves close to acquiring Justin Upton from #Diamondbacks. Still working through final details.

 

Looks like Upton brothers will be on the same team.

[Sammys Boombox]

Randall Delgado going to the DBacks in the trade.

[Post Count Padder]

@JonHeymanCBS: Marcum will be nice add for #mets rotation. Team still working on a reliever and an outfielder (hint. Initials MB)

 

Someone should tell Mr. Heyman that Milton Bradley likely won't be available this season.

 

In all seriousness, they could be an interesting trade parner for us. Marmol and depending on how much they're willing to give up, Soriano or DeJesus.

They need outfield and bullpen help. Their starting OF as of now is Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Mike Baxter. Not sure what they'd offer though.

 

The Marcum signing is a nice addition for them.

[davell]

Gammons mentioned Delgado, Gilmartin, and Spruill. Which is slightly better than Mariners offer.......If Taijuan Walker wasn't included.

[Post Count Padder]

The Braves get Upton and Chris Johnson for Martin Prado, Randall Delgado, Nick Ahmed and Zeke Spruill, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#J6bj5I7cZw2YfGmS.99

[Tryptamine]

Yet another pitcher for Arizona. If Towers has a plan I don't get it.

[Guest]

I'd rather have Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer than what the Diamondbacks got for those two.

[Guest]

I'd rather have Justin Upton and Trevor Bauer than what the Diamondbacks got for those two.

 

Yea. Kevin Towers is, uh, pretty bad.

[MWV]

I would be pretty upset if I were a Diamondbacks fan.

And even more upset at the trades Towers has made this offseason.

[jersey cubs fan]

So, did Arizona just decide they couldn't market a black star in Phoenix or something?

[Tryptamine]

It's time for Theo/Jed to go get Skaggs. The DBacks have Kennedy/Cahill/McCarthy/Delgado/Miley penciled in as their rotation with Hudson coming back eventually. That makes Corbin and Skaggs the odd men out and I can't envision Skaggs sitting in the minors all year. Edited January 24, 2013 by Tryptamine

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Braves are going to be very good for a very long time.

[Guest]

The Braves are going to be very good for a very long time.

 

They're going to need to hit on multiple young pitchers, because right now they don't have anyone they can pencil in for a 3+ win season.

[Rob]

It sucks that we couldn't get Upton. But since Towers was very clearly focusing on filling their hole at 3B and avoiding bad attitude types, it's no shocker that we had nothing short of Castro that enticed him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The Braves are going to be very good for a very long time.

 

They're going to need to hit on multiple young pitchers, because right now they don't have anyone they can pencil in for a 3+ win season.

 

Very true. Hudson continues to be a reliable front ender, Maholm a quality 4th, but both are short term. Not sure what to make of Medlan. As for the young pitching, they're by no means sure things, but if they all pan out, Teheran, Minor, and Beachy could end up a powerhouse for years to come.

[toonsterwu]

You know, I'm not that bothered by this trade. A bit thin, but not that bothered by it. Now, don't get me wrong. If the argument is that they mishandled three guys (Upton/Drew/Bauer), and had some questionable trades (including Chris Young becoming Heath Bell and Cliff Pennington, IIRC), then of course. Whose fault is that? Well, it goes all the way to the top. Irrespective of whether or not these three guys had issues, they blew the value on guys when Kendrick made those comments.

 

It looks like, on paper, their offseason focus was addressing the shortstop question. Subsequently, they seemed to prioritize replacing their lost pitching depth (from Bauer) over getting a third baseman (at least, that's the way it seems with how the Olt trade talks didn't seem to be enough). Instead of getting the ceiling of a Walker or a Teheran, they end up downgrading a bit to Delgado and addressing third base. Drury/Spruill are decent enough gambles, and they get a nice prospect in Ahmed. It's not a bad package, IMO. It's thin, but it's not bad, particularly considering Justin Upton rejected one trade already (that said, I thought that Mariners package was thin as well).

 

It looks like this offseason for them was a huge gamble on Gregorius. If Towers (and others) are right, and Gregorius' offense kicks up a notch, then it might work out for them. I'm not that confident in that.

 

____

 

On paper, this seems to be taking the pitching/defense plan a bit far.

 

____

 

Trypt - I really doubt they move Skaggs. Maybin Corbin, but they've got time with Skaggs.

 

____

 

A slim positive in all this? This might, slightly, increase the chances of us getting Peralta back, which would make me happy.

 

____

 

The Braves side is obvious - a gamble on upside. I wouldn't be so quick to lock them in as a juggernaut, but this is a gamble they need to make, since they keep Teheran and the reports on Teheran are glowing. That said, their pitching is really, really thin now. Sean Gilmartin's importance just skyrocketed for them, as they might need him this year. They have a huge hole at third base, and they really need the Upton boys to deliver. Again ... a move they had to make, but much as it's easier to bash Towers, teams tend not to move guys unless they legitimately have an issue somewhere with them, and we shouldn't just assume that Justin will turn it back around and be the force of a year ago.

[Cubswin11]

Heyward/J. Upton/Freeman/Simmons is a great core to build around long term and Uggla/B.J./McCann/Johnson are good short-term guys to put around them. Their offense is going to be really good.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Braves are going to be very good for a very long time.

 

They're going to need to hit on multiple young pitchers, because right now they don't have anyone they can pencil in for a 3+ win season.

 

Very true. Hudson continues to be a reliable front ender, Maholm a quality 4th, but both are short term. Not sure what to make of Medlan. As for the young pitching, they're by no means sure things, but if they all pan out, Teheran, Minor, and Beachy could end up a powerhouse for years to come.

 

Oh, they just need three guys to "pan out?" Sure, no problem; that's a lock.

[davell]

The Diamondbacks are supposedly going after Porcello now, which is just weird. How many averagish SP's do they need? Edited January 24, 2013 by davell