Pros and Cons from the 2019 Braves Trade Deadline

By Luke Winstel

At the deadline this season, the Braves aggressively attacked a glaring need. The team addressed their bullpen with three trades- shipping out three of their top 17 prospects, among a few other players.

The MLB trade deadline is one of my favorite single days in sports. The suspense and emotional roller coaster are up there in my book, just behind the first day of NBA free agency, Super Bowl Sunday, and NFL draft day.

 

Let’s break the pros and cons of the trades down!

Here is a recap of the deals, in order:

July 30:

Braves Get: Martin (rental): 3.08 ERA, 4 saves, 1.5 WAR. Since April 29: 35 Ks, 2 BB in 27.2 IP, 2.60 ERA

Rangers Get: Allard (AAA starter): 7-5, 4.17 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 110 IP

 

Chris Martin pictured above.

July 31:

Trade #1:

Braves Get: Shane Greene- 1.6 WAR, 1.18 ERA, 22 saves in 2019.

Tigers Get: LHP Joey Wentz (#7 prospect)- 5-8, 4.72 ERA, 103 IP in AA and IF Travis Demeritte- .286 batting average, 28 doubles, and 20 HR in AAA.

 

Trade #2:

Braves Get: Mark Melancon: 4-2, 3.50 era in '19, career 2.82 ERA

Tigers Get: Dan Winkler: 4.98 ERA in 21.2 IP in MLB in 2019 and Tristian Beck (#17 prospect): 2-2, 5.32 ERA in High A

 

Mark Melancon pictured above.

Let’s look at the overall return across all three trades:

Shane Greene (likely closer now), Chris Martin (7^th or 8^th inning guy), and Mark Melancon (likely a 7^th or 8^th inning guy).

Here’s what the Braves gave up to snag three back of the bullpen arms:

SP Joey Wentz (#7 prospect), SP Kolby Allard (#12 prospect), P Tristian Beck (#17 prospect), IF Travis Demeritte, RP Dan Winker

That breakdown alone should impress most, if not all Braves fans.

 

Let’s take a look at the cons:

1. Atlanta gave up three of their top 17 prospects.
2. Joey Wentz was a high draft pick with a bright future and projects as a mid-rotation starter. I had the privilege of watching him pitch when he was playing in Low A with the Rome Braves. He looked incredibly sharp in the outing I saw and is still very young. He would have had a chance to make an impact in Atlanta in a couple of years. It is tough to see him go.
3. Dan Winkler was good bullpen depth for Atlanta. He has a career 3.68 ERA and had a 3.43 last season. He was not having a great year on the major league level but is still fairly young and could have developed into a nice long-term piece. In the short term, the Braves would rather have Melancon, but Winkler has a good chance to pan out in the long run.
4. Kolby Allard was a nice arm to have in the Atlanta system. He is nearly major league ready and deserving of another shot in the MLB. The Rangers are buying low on Allard, who has not impressed yet on the Major League level. The lefty was having a nice season in AAA. If given another opportunity by Atlanta in the major leagues, he could have increased his value or shown he has the talent to stick on Atlanta’s staff. He is still very young and will get plenty of opportunities to succeed in Texas.
5. The Braves are taking on Mark Melancon's full contract. They will be paying him over 18 million through 2020. This could limit their financial flexibility and chances of resigning both Josh Donaldson and Dallas Keuchel in the offseason.

Joey Wentz pictured above.

Now for the pros:

1. As mentioned above, the organization gave up some of its prospect capital. Three top 17 prospects is a bit of a haul, but again, when you consider what the team got in return (especially Greene)- it was worth it. I would say that the team got great value for its assets. The Braves could not have gotten more bang for their buck.
2. The bullpen now likely becomes a strength. The pen was already top five in overall ERA and just added three players having excellent campaigns this season.
3. Barring a crazy injury bug, you will most likely not have to watch Luke Jackson close a game ever again (or at least not again this season). For some, that is enough to justify the deals alone.
4. You will probably not see A.J Minter and Chad Sobotka in the major leagues again this season, barring injury. Both young pitchers have struggled mightily this season and have shown they need more work in AAA.
5. Most of the players the Braves traded did not have a place in Atlanta. Kolby Allard and Joey Wentz are going to be blocked by talented arms like Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, and Bryse Wilson. The team had a logjam of pitching in the minor leagues and needed to make room for the highest-level prospects to come through. The deals open up an opportunity for Ian Anderson to move up to AAA. Tristian Beck is not performing well in High A ball this season. Travis Demeritte doesn’t have a spot in Atlanta because of the team’s lineup depth- especially in the infield. Dan Winkler was given multiple shots to stick in the bullpen this season but was unable to perform. The team improved their biggest weakness and dealt from areas of strength. That is a great recipe for success at the deadline.
6. The team will also make another addition in the next week or two. Jacob Webb will be returning to the team from the IL. He has looked good this year and can add even more to the revamped unit.

Shane Greene pictured above.

Other note: Travis Demeritte will finally get a shot at the major leagues. He was stuck in AAA and had no spot in Atlanta (barring injuries) because of the team’s incredible depth. He is 24 and the clock was ticking for him. I’m glad to see him go to Detroit, where he can make his MLB debut now, or in September as a call-up. He has hit 20 bombs in AAA and needed to land somewhere else to make it to the big leagues this year

 

I enjoy putting out #InstantReaction polls on the Birds and Braves Podcast Twitter account (@BirdsBravesPod) to ask the fans how they would grade a trade from the Braves perspective- moments after it happens. Here are the results as of 10:00 PM on July 31.

• Trade with the Rangers (Martin for Allard): 25% A, 53% B, 15% C, 7% D/F. 59 votes.
• Trade with the Tigers (Greene for Wentz and Demeritte): 76% A, 16% B, 6% C, 2% D/F. 51 votes.
• Trade with the Giants (Melancon for Winkler and Beck): 45% A, 45% B, 8% C, 2% D/F. 51 votes.

Thanks to all who voted!