The moves look even better when one considers that the Braves gave up four minor leaguers, only two of which that were ranked in their top 30, three players that have big-league experience but have failed to produce consistently, and International Slot Money that they wouldn’t be able to use anyway.
Players Acquired
From the Baltimore Orioles:
Brad Brach (RP)
Brach is a 32-year old right-handed reliever with a career 3.16 ERA (398 IP) that is 1-2 with 11 saves this season. Brach is needed to stabilize a bullpen that has faltered several times over the last month.
Kevin Gausman (SP)
Gausman is a 27-year old right-handed starter that is 5-8 this season with a 4.43 ERA in 21 starts. While the 2012 1st Round Pick (No. 4 overall) has a high ERA, the Braves believe the better defense and a switch to the NL will help bring that down.
Darren O’Day (RP)
O’Day is a 35-year old right-handed reliever with a career 2.56 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP that is out for the remainder of this season due to a right hamstring injury. While O’Day won’t be available for this season, he will be ready to go by next season and will be a strong addition to the pen.
The Orioles received Jean Carlos Encarnacion (IF), Brett Cumberland (C), Evan Phillips (RP), and Bruce Zimmerman (P) along with $2.5 million in ISM.
Encarnacion (No. 14) and Cumberland (No. 30) were the only two among the team’s top 30 prospects.
From the Tampa Bay Rays:
Johnny Venters (RP)
Venters is a 33-year old lefty that spent three seasons (2010-2012) with the Braves before arm troubles forced him to undergo four surgeries before returning to the majors this season. While with Atlanta, the southpaw made an All-Star appearance and hopes are that he will deliver an ERA closer to his career 2.31 than the current 3.45.
The Rays received ISM.
From the Cincinnati Reds:
Adam Duvall (OF)
Duvall is a 29-year old outfielder that is among the top defensive players in the game that can be used as part of a platoon rotation or off the bench. While not a high-average guy (career .233, .205 this season), his production numbers are solid. In four and a half seasons, Duvall has 87 HRs with 277 RBI with 15 HR and 61 RBI this season.
The Reds received left-fielder Preston Tucker (who they bought from the Astros this winter) and right-handed pitchers Lucas Sims, a local boy form Brookwood High School in Snellville that was drafted in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, and Matt Wisler. Sims has a 5.96 career ERA in 10 ML starts while Wisler is 16-23 with a 5.27 ERA in 49 starts over a seven-year career.
The Braves were able to improve this year’s team while keeping their farm system intact, a truly outstanding piece of roster management from the Atlanta brain trust.
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