Atlanta Braves receive Manny Banuelos from New York Yankees
New Year’s Day is, traditionally, a day to kick back and enjoy some classic college football games and/or (if you’re an oddball like I am), the NHL’s annual outdoor game, the Winter Classic, which just so happened to take place in an NL East ballpark this year in Washington.
Well, the Atlanta Braves didn’t get the message that today is all about football and made a deal with the New York Yankees, sending relievers David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve to the Bronxfor Manny Banuelos in return.
Yankees have traded Manny Banuelos to the Braves for RH reliever David Carpenter and LHR Chasen Shreve.
— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) January 1, 2015
The one piece of news Braves fans are going to [sarcasm font] love [/sarcasm font] is Banuelos is a Tommy John recipient. As a matter of fact, he sat out all of 2014 after having surgery. Nevertheless, Banuelos is a former top-30 prospect, with a low-90s fastball and a plus-changeup. However, most scouting reports note those are his strongest two pitches, but he’s been working on a curve or slider to add to the mix to have a more versatile arsenal that belongs in a big league rotation. David Lee of the Augusta Chronicle seems really impressed by the kid, and thinks the sky is the limit. Well, kind of.
Braves get a high ceiling, former top 30 overall LHP for movable relievers. No risk, potential for a 3 if Banuelos regains form.
— David Lee (@David11Lee) January 1, 2015
Potential number three isn’t bad – Julio Teheran, Shelby Miller and then Manny Banuelos? Sounds like the possibility of a winning combo come 2017 to me.
Saying goodbye to the dirty south is David Carpenter, who spent two years and 126.2 innings with the Braves. Carp leaves with a 10-5 record and 2.63 ERA and was the go-to long-relief arm for the Braves when starters ran into trouble.
Carp was expendable, but I’m personally bummed to see Shreve leave. Sure, he only appeared in 15 games for the Braves last year, but he showed a lot that I liked and you thought certainly he’d be exactly what the Braves would want as a part of this rebuild. His 0.73 ERA in the show, even if it is after only 12.1 innings, is nothing to scoff at. With Gwinnett last year, Shreve went 2-1 in 10 games with a 3.72 ERA.
Two relievers for a starter isn’t necessarily a bad deal and the Braves have seen success with TJ pitchers before. Hopefully Banuelos just won’t fall into the trend of becoming a multi-TJ guy and can develop into someone the Braves can be proud with after this move.