Braves Could Add White Sox Reliever Thornton In Trade
by gondeee on Dec 6, 2011 2:35 PM EST
in Braves Trade News
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The latest from the Baseball Winter Meetings brings us this nugget about the Atlanta Braves trying to get in on the Chicago White Sox supposed fire sale, currently underway. This Chicago Sun-Times ChiSox beat writer has the scoop.
Matt Thornton is a very solid reliever, and candidate for setup man, from the White Sox. He's a lefty, but like Venters and EOF, Thornton can get out both righties (.231 career BAA) and lefties (.229 career BAA). He's also done some closing of games. He's proven to be durable and pretty darn reliable year after year. He got off to a rough start last season, but was able to right the ship and put together another solid season.
The White Sox want prospects in return, so the Braves could deal from their still-excellent depth of pitching prospects while not giving up any of their top guys. Thornton is signed respectably for the next two season at $5.5 million each year, with a $6 million team option for 2014. That seems expensive for the Braves, but like they did with Scott Linebrink last year, the Braves may be able to get Chicago to pick up some of the remaining salary (especially for 2012) in return for a better prospect.
By the way, the prospect we traded to Chicago for Linebrink, Kyle Coefield, became a minor league free agent this off-season and signed with the Pirates.
UPDATE
David O'Brien buzz-kills the Thornton rumor pretty quickly, though not definitively:
There could be several hang-ups here -- money that Chicago is willing to send along, and prospect they want in return. Of course, he just tweeted this:
"That's so bogus, man!" Oh well, fun while it lasted, all 30 minutes.
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Really like Thornton.
He’s a very good pitcher and a big asset. Have to wonder if something is in the works with all this bullpen depth now…
What kind of crack is Ken Williams smoking...
That he’s put 2 relievers at the least under contract for $5MM or more (Linebrink, Thornton) per year?
"Reach down in there...TURN THAT DAMN THING UP!" - Coach Paul Johnson
What??
The very LAST thing the Braves need is yet another pitcher. This is the dumbest thing I have heard of unless they plan to flip Thornton in a trade for a shortstop.
you are out your mind
Right now the Braves bullpen is Kimbrel, Venters, EOF, and Chrsthian Martinez. Medlen is going to be worked back as a starter, Vizcaino is going back to being a starter and Moylan is getting non-tendered. They need more arms like this so that the work load on Oventbrel isn’t so much.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Medlen is working back to the rotation?
Where did you hear that? He’s been better as a relief pitcher and he’d be far more valuble in the ’pen, considering we have a glut of starters already.
by crimsonqueen9 on Dec 6, 2011 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
there was an article a while ago that said that he was being worked back as a starter. It was around the time he got shut down for the season. I’d have to try and dig it up now.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
Apparently DO’B thinks the answer to your question is “Reliever, for now”.
That’s definitive.
"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11
i just came on to post that
sorry about that folks. Nothing to see here.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
although
if JJ is traded things could change.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
While I hadn’t heard that Medlen would be worked back as a starter, a move like this does make us more flexible.
My only issue is.. another lefty? Venter, O’Flaherty, and now Thornton?
we had 3 in 2010. Plus they all can get righties out as well. None of these guys are LOOGYs
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
No, you are out of YOUR mind.....
…..if you think the Braves need to waste valuable $$$$$ on a relief pitcher when they already have one of the best bullpens in major league baseball. They have Kimbrel, Venters, EOF, Medlen, Vizcaino, Cristhian Martinez, & Anthony Varvaro at the major league level with guys like Jairo Ascencio, Gearrin, and JJ Hoover still in the minors.
If the Braves had an unlimited budget I could see the move. But this team has a big hole at back-up CF and a need to upgrade the bench.
Seriously? Vizcaino is going back to the minors as a starter and depending on Varvaro would be foolish. If the Braves get the White Sox to eat some of this guys deal and not trade any serious prospect they better take him. He is better than everyone you listed except O’ventbrel and possibly Medlen.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
Just what we needed
Spending $5.5 MM a year on bullpen help.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
They will have to pick up at least half of that . . .
otherwise, we will have very little flexibility left to add to the bench/LF situation
If there's truly a fire-sale now
then ChiSox aren’t going to be interested in Prado. But I bet Alexei is available now for prospects
DOB
Hear mixed signals on Thornton to #Braves rumor, which was leaked from ChiSox side. Just spoke with someone who said it’s not happening.
DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT
how so? I understand his salary is a bit high for what we like to pay for relievers but this guy would be a great weapon in our bullpen and ease the work load on O’Ventbrel.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
We can’t afford to pay a guy $5.5 MM a year to be the 4th or 5th best arm in our bullpen. Any trade that gets them to eat enough of that contract to make him financially responsible for us is going to require too good of a prospect to be worth adding a 4th or 5th best arm to our bullpen.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
by Lennox on Dec 6, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
im completely in agreement that his salary is a bit steep and I also doubt Wren would give up anymore than a C prospect.
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
We did this last year – taking Linebrink from them while they carried about 2/3rds of his salary. That’s probably a reasonable starting point here for Thornton.
"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11
Linebrink was signed for 1 year, we’d need to get them to send twice as much money with Thorton, that’s going to take a better deal from us.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
Lot of undervaluing Thornton here...
Not Lennox specifically, but from the above posts.
Search reliever WAR leaders for 2009-11, and you’ll find Thornton at the number one spot. 10th in FIP, 7th in xFIP during that period. Most of the guys ahead of him haven’t pitched the last three years.
His only real detriment is his walk rate, which isn’t horrible for a closer by any stretch of the imagination.
His value far exceeds his salary, year-in and year-out.
I totally agree it’s not a fit for us, but it’s not because Thornton hasn’t been good enough. It’s because the Braves don’t need to spend that much money on a reliever.
-C
It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?
.
it’s not because Thornton hasn’t been good enough. It’s because the Braves don’t need to spend that much money on a reliever.
This is the important thing to remember. We are a team on a budget, and as much as that sucks, we can’t afford his salary for the role he would play on this team, a #3/4 reliever. If Wren can fleece them to take a large amount of his salary, it might be possible, but I just don’t see it happening
DFA Heyward. I'm dead serious
by wpf3211 on Aug 6, 2011 9:11 PM EDT
rec'd for truth and good sense.
My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.
by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
O'Ventbrelton?
Maybe we will only expect our starters to go 5 this year and we can go O’Ventbrelton is the 6th – 9th innings.
YES!!!
Thank goodness. We need another solid reliever to go with O’venbrel and Martinez. Could use a righty as well actually. To bad they got rid of Santos already.
i wonder
if we could get Frasor as well hmmm
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Meh
I like the deal if they’re picking up half of his remaining salary and if we’re only giving a C level prospect. This scenario seems unlikely, and I feel like we’ll be alright with Medlen, Gearrin, Hoover, Asencio, and/or Varvaro filling out the pen with the four you mentioned
I don't suppose....
…they would consider De Aza as well? Nah – too much to hope for.
"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11
No… I just don’t believe we need him.
"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11
We're also on his no-trade list apparently
So we’d at least have to guarantee his deal the next 3 years and probably throw some more money his way to get him to waive it.
for serious?
what did we ever do to deserve such blacklisting lol
by drumzalicious on Dec 6, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
No, there is a reason they r trying to unload Soria
When one year ago,they previously basically said he was “untouchable.”
Also, he showed signs of slowing down last year, but NO I wouldn’t trade JJ for Soria,in short to answer the question.
Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let her sleep.
by chicagobullies on Dec 6, 2011 3:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
No
moving on.
Cant we find rumors that have to deal with substantial and properly valued assets than relief pitchers?
My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.
by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT
BOOM
@ajcbraves Ah, Winter Meetings rumors. Gotta love it (or not). The Matt Thornton to #Braves rumor out of Chicago was bogus.
"Forget Roy Halladay or Clayton Kershaw or Cliff Lee, the NL Cy Young Award should go to O’Ventrel." - David Schoenfield, ESPN.com, 8/19/11
good
this makes no sense given how much $ Thornton is making
by LEastCoastBears on Dec 6, 2011 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
Isn't Thornton the guy Mac hit the winning double off of in the ASG?
Braves.
Falcons.
Gamecocks.
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