TRADE
Braves receive: Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and cash
Indians receive: Chris Johnson
Money is a big key here with Swisher and Bourn due $29 million next year while Johnson is owned $7.5 million next year and $9 million in 2017. Those are some crazy stupid numbers for these players no doubt. Reports suggest that up to $10 million could be headed to the Braves in the deal.
Swisher has been on the DL since June 14th and has struggled all year long to get his lower half healthy. Since the start of last season Swisher has 512 plate appearances, a full season of work, and it’s clear that he’s in big time trouble. Swisher has hit just 10 homers with 50 RBIs in that time. The once vaunted OBP machine also has a .274 OBP and is batting just .203. An NL-only add, and not an exciting one at that.
Bourn goes back to the team he’s played with before in Atlanta. He’s not the player he was back in 2011. This season Bourn is hitting .246 with 13 steals through 95 games. He’s on a bit of a hot streak no doubt hitting .370 with six steals the past three weeks, but can he keep up the running? The guy has six steals in three weeks but… he has 23 thefts his last 201 games. Nick Markakis plays every day in right, and is Bourn really going to play over Cameron Maybin? Not on most days he won’t. That seems to signify that Swisher and Bourn will be vying for time in the outfield provided Freddie Freeman is healthy enough to play first base.
Johnson has appeared in 56 games, he missed most of May with a hand injury, and he’s just awful. Through 153 at-bats he’s hitting .235 with two homers and 11 RBIs. Since the start of last season, Johnson is batting .257 with a .288 OBP and .352 SLG over 773 plate appearances. With 12 homers and 69 RBIs. No interest in Johnson unless I need a corner infielder in an AL-only league.
How are players traded after the Trade Deadline of July 31st? Read this article to find out.
DIAMOND NOTES – MIDDLE INFIELDERS
Asdrubal Cabrera returns to the lineup Friday after he was forced from game action Wednesday after a shot to his noggin.’ I know you might not think it matters, being that ACab has been terrible this season, but it does deserve to be pointed out that he’s actually been… good of late. Seriously. Over his last nine games he has a hit every time out. In that time he’s batting, get this, .515. Not a misprint. He also has two homers, six doubles and 12 runs scored. See, I told you he was hot.
Starlin Castro was benched Friday with Chris Coghlan playing second while Addison Russell slide over to shortstop. Castro has been atrocious all year long – .236/.271/.304 – and he shows no sign of improving. Meanwhile Javier Baez is batting .2999 with 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 10 steals in just 47 games at Triple-A. Why not call up the future star if you’re the Cubs? Haven’t heard they will, but Castro doesn’t look like he’s part of the future in Chicago, and Coghlan is just a guy, that’s it.
Carlos Correa has been stupendous over his first 50 big league games. Check out the numbers when compared to some of the all-time greats at the shortstop position over their first 50 contests.
Carlos Correa: .286-13-34 with a .892 OPS
Alex Rodriguez: .236-3-14 .600 OPS
Derek Jeter: .271-1-23 with a .714 OPS
Troy Tulowitzki: .245-3-19 with a .661 OPS
Cal Ripken Jr.: .178-3-11 with a .511 OPS
Correa cannot have been much better than he has been. He has the look of a star, plain and simple.
DIAMOND NOTES - ARM
Mike Leake made one start for the Giants and now he heads to the DL with a hamstring strain. The team can turn to Ryan Vogelsong so that’s a positive for them, but Leake owners will have to hope that Leake returns as soon as eligible as he’s in a really good spot for down the stretch success (his DL stint was backdated to August 3rd).
Oh, and be careful what you shoot.
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