The Atlanta Braves have continued their season-long rebuild that they’re refusing to call a rebuild, dealing hitter (with no glove really necessary) Evan Gattis to the Houston Astros for three prospects – Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz, and Andrew Thurman.
Sorry Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz and 3d prospect going from #astros to #Braves
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 14, 2015
3d prospect going from #Astros to #Braves is RHP Andrew Thurman
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 14, 2015
The 28-year old Gattis has just two years of major league experience under his belt, but has shown two things in his career – he’s not that great defensively, and his power is off the charts. In 213 career games, Gattis has hit 43 homers, and has a .234 ISO. For comparison purposes, Jose Bautista’s ISO over the past two seasons is .239. Gattis will likely get most of his playing time at DH in Houston, though he could also end up getting time in left field and behind the plate. That leaves Houston’s resident power hitter, Chris Carter, in a bit of a position crunch. Carter has been Houston’s primary DH over the last two seasons, though has logged time at both first base and in left field. I’d assume Houston will try to fudge it with Gattis and Carter rotating between DH and left field, creating one hell of a power-packed middle of the lineup.
The return for the Braves is quite strong, with Foltynewicz and Ruiz both ranking among the Astros’ top ten prospects this winter. Foltynewicz is a 23-year old pitcher that spent the bulk of 2014 with AAA Oklahoma City, pitching to a 5.08 ERA in 102 2/3 innings, striking out 102 and walking 52. In 18 2/3 innings in the majors working in relief last season, he had a 5.30 ERA, walking seven and striking out 14. Ruiz is just 20-years old, and a third baseman. He spent 2014 with high-A Lancaster, and hit .293/.387/.436 with 11 homers in the hitter-friendly California League. Thurman is the least touted member of the deal, a second round pick in 2013. He spent 2014 with A-level Quad Cities, and pitched to a 5.38 ERA in 115 1/3 innings, striking out 107 and walking 40.
Of course, evaluating the three players that the Braves got back goes beyond simple stat lines. Foltynewicz has easy velocity, and will likely be a part of Atlanta’s major league plans in 2015. Ruiz is a pretty well-rounded player and hasn’t slowed down throughout his minor league career yet, and may be Atlanta’s second-best offensive prospect behind middle infielder Jose Peraza. Thurman should be able to move quickly through Atlanta’s system given his age.
The Braves now need an outfielder following the trade of Gattis, because some combination of Zoilo Almonte, Todd Cunningham, Joey Terdoslavich, and OH GOD NO NOT JOSE CONSTANZA won’t be able to cut it. Considering how dire the free agent market is right now, those ugly possibilities could become reality in April. But trading Gattis right now, with four years of control left, represents moving him at the peak of his value and was the right move for a team clearly in a rebuilding phase.
As for the Astros, they’ve got the market cornered on right-handed power now with Carter, Gattis, and George Springer. That trio might combine for 100 homers, but also 500 strikeouts. Houston had the prospect depth in order to make a trade like this, and while I’m not a believer in Gattis having much long-term value, the fact that they only needed to trade a pair of top ten prospects for him represents a fair deal.
