MLB

[numbers]

I don't understand how Walden ended up in the trade without one of the Cards bullpen arms heading back the other way.

[Alex]

WTF

[Electromatic]

I don't understand how Walden ended up in the trade without one of the Cards bullpen arms heading back the other way.

Probably has to do with the Braves budget. The Braves have plenty of guys who can pitch in the bullpen and Walden with his "unique" delivery has a limited life span I guess.

Braves save about 10 million or more on this. They owe 40 million to the most expensive terrible BJ ever and they are still paying Uggla, so essentially the Braves are the new Astros for the next 3 years.

So yeah, there's even less reason for me to watch baseball now.

[Kaius]

Go Cards

[Alex]

why is this happening?

[Alex]

this kind of despair must be how lenny feels every waking moment

[Alex]

i want to die

[Chris_H_2]

I come back to lunch to find that out? I knew the Braves would make off season deals, more to come no doubt, but seems like a big give away.

Miller's a decent young pitcher, but there's no way that's the best they could do, is there? There had to be some team out there willing to up the offer.

What are your feelings on the Martin signing?

[Kaius]

At least you still have the Falcons

[Alex]

At least you still have the Falcons

[Electromatic]

At least you still have the Falcons

and the Hawks.. don't forget the Hawks...

[Electromatic]

Go Cards

Solid get, he's an awesome fielder, decent enough at the plate, I think he'll be a lot better for St Louis than he was in Atlanta because the organization is a lot smarter, and they gave up almost nothing.

[Alex]

Go Winnipeg Jets

[Electromatic]

Go Winnipeg Jets

The management/ownership of that team has been so bad since 1998 they still have only made the playoffs once as an organization in 16 years and they still don't have a playoff win.

I've seen some amazingly impressively inept management in my time.

Oh well I guess getting Vizcaino back is supposed to help either the upper minors roster or take the place of Walden.

So young and cheap, young and cheap. Saving their pennies for 2017.

[philpritchard]

Go Winnipeg Jets

[philpritchard]

I come back to lunch to find that out? I knew the Braves would make off season deals, more to come no doubt, but seems like a big give away.

Miller's a decent young pitcher, but there's no way that's the best they could do, is there? There had to be some team out there willing to up the offer.

What are your feelings on the Martin signing?

I love it. I'm not sure how much stock I put into the pitch-framing numbers that have come out the last few years, but regardless of just how much value you put in them, the Jays just went from the worst in the league to the best in the league. Now they have some flexibility to let Navarro be the DH/backup catcher or trade him for help elsewhere since he's still a good player.

The money doesn't really bother me because I don't believe it will get in the way of other moves, and the Jays had almost nothing committed beyond 2015 before Martin. I was confident heading into the offseason that the Jays would show a willingness to spend what they needed to compete, so now that they've made this move I feel even more confident that they're not done yet, especially since we've already heard they're still in on Lester and Miller despite this signing. They still need a LF, a 2B/3B (although they have decent enough options) and some bullpen help, but I think it will come.

I'm really excited to see what else will happen over the next couple months.

[Biff Pocoroba]

Go Winnipeg Jets

To echo Electro that really had more to do with the whole Atlanta Spirit ownership debacle than anything else.

[@SkitchP]

It's a good trade for StL, but I dont love Jason Heyward. he's a guy that should be entering his prime and had a slugging percentage under .400 as a corner outfielder. Obviously he's very good defensively, but for Outfielders that value can fluctuate pretty dramatically. A good player sure, but I don't think this is as lopsided as it seems.

[Kaius]

He'll be a better hitter in STL.

[philpritchard]

It's a good trade for StL, but I dont love Jason Heyward. he's a guy that should be entering his prime and had a slugging percentage under .400 as a corner outfielder. Obviously he's very good defensively, but for Outfielders that value can fluctuate pretty dramatically. A good player sure, but I don't think this is as lopsided as it seems.

I think that really undervalues just how good Heyward is. When you say "he's a guy that should be entering his prime", I think you're ignoring the fact that he's 25 years old. Guys are usually considered prospects until 23-24, yet Heyward has a few outstanding seasons already. Defensive value can fluctuate, but he's been among the best at his position for three straight seasons. And power tends to peak later than most other tools, so it's not like his relatively poor slugging percentage is likely to flatline where it was in 2014.

Power was the only thing he didn't do extremely well last year. If he never develops beyond what he's done in his career so far, this is probably not a very good trade for Atlanta. If he ever finds that power (which wouldn't be unexpected at all)... then he's a superstar.