The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top trade targets remain elusive
Search continues for another starter at the right price.
In a span of five days the Braves have seen trade possibilities with their top two targets on the market foiled.
On Monday, Cubs righthander Ryan Dempster failed to approve a deal that would have sent him to the Braves for righthander Randall Delgado. Then on Friday, the Brewers traded Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels for their top prospect, shortstop Jean Segura, and two Double-A pitchers.
The Braves haven’t ruled out Dempster, who has said he still might accept the Braves’ trade before Tuesday’s deadline, but the Dodgers clearly are his preference and a team that might trade for him yet.
The same reason that the Braves balked at sending a prospect such as Julio Teheran to Milwaukee is the same reason they’ll find it challenging to find another starter before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline — the cost.
Some of the remaining top-of-the-rotation pitchers who might become available, such as Miami’s Josh Johnson and Tampa Bay’s James Shields, likely will demand an even higher price in prospects.
“We’ve got several different paths we can go down,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said shortly before the Greinke deal broke. “It’s one thing to say, ‘OK, this is what we need.’ It’s another thing to get it because there’s not a lot out there. That makes a big difference.”
The Braves are also in the market for a platoon player/ right-handed hitter as well as relief help.
The Braves are keeping Kris Medlen in mind for a possible start Tuesday in place of the struggling Jair Jurrjens. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Medlen would be available for one final inning out of the bullpen Friday night. sign him to Triple-A Gwinnett. It was a move to add some pitching depth and a right-hander who has shown his versatility over the years as both a starter and reliever.
The Mets designated Batista for assignment Sunday. He was 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 30 games this season, including five starts. He had given up 53 hits in 46 ⅔ innings, with 31 walks and 34 strikeouts.
“I look at it as some depth, guy’s got some experience,” Gonzalez said. out 86.
Gilmartin is following a similar trajectory to Mike Minor, another college left-hander taken in the first round by the Braves. Minor, who was drafted No. 7 overall out of Vanderbilt in 2009, started his second season with the Braves in Mississippi and was promoted to Gwinnett after 15 starts. Minor was called up to Atlanta in August 2010.
The Braves don’t necessarily see this as a precursor to calling up Gilmartin this season. But it’s a chance for him to get a month of Triple-A experience heading into next season.
Reliever Peter Moylan also moved from Mississippi to Gwinnett as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery, but he was placed on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to Wednesday. Wren said Moylan had some shoulder tendinitis and needed to back off for a few days.