Offseason Rumors & Transactions Thread

[toonsterwu]

I "get" the deal from the Padres perspective, I guess. Kimbrel is good. That said, Wisler was a really nice looking prospect with 2 potential plus pitches, and if they don't win now, they better really hit home runs with international signings/draft, as their farm is incredibly thin. To be quite honest, I've said for a few years now that I thought the Padres system was over-hyped badly in recent years, and in some respects, I sort of ... not admire, but appreciate what Preller is doing - trying to go for the gold now and restocking the system with better talent than the mess of ... mediocrity ... that the previous regimes left him. Still ... I don't like this deal from the Padres perspective. If they run into trouble mid-season, they better hope some key assets have developed to help them make trades to fill holes.

 

I like this deal from the Braves perspective. They are, whether they care to acknowledge it or not, looking forward, and I'd rather have Maybin (and dfa'd Quentin) for 2 years than Melvin Upton for 3 years. More importantly, they get another quality pitching asset into the system. Kimbrel's value as a closer, for the rebuilding Braves over the next 2 years, is worth it, IMO to get Wisler, Paroubeck, and a pick in there. Paroubeck has some intriguing upside as well, and could be a nice asset within a few years.

[toonsterwu]

I think trading Kimbrel was a smart move. They're probably not going to compete until 2017, and for closers, sometimes even the dominant ones, success is often fleeting. Better to get something for him now while his value is high, imo.

 

That said, I'd be less than thrilled with the actual return if I were a Braves fan.

 

Personally, I think this is a really solid deal for the Braves. You get a quality arm talent in return, an intriguing lottery ticket positional asset, and a nice pick, plus you get rid of the 3rd year of Upton's deal cost-wise. They are clearly looking to the future, and I'm not sure how much more a top closer should get than that.