Article: No Garcia Trade: Braves Balk At Twins’ Prospect’s Health

[Parker Hageman]

The reason Jaime Garcia pitched a gem in an Atlanta Braves uniform last night -- adding a grand slam at the plate for good measure -- rather than making travel arrangements to Minnesota appears to be because the Braves had concerns regarding the prospect the Twins made available in the trade talks.According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the trade stalled “due to Braves’ medical concern on Twins’ prospect.”

 

The trade was first made public on Thursday, when Rosenthal tweeted that the Twins and Braves were “close” on a Garcia trade. This report was confirmed by several members of the local media. However, as time passed it became clear that the two sides were not necessarily as close as first reported. On Friday afternoon, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweeted that the Braves were talking to other teams about Garcia and that a trade with the Twins at that point was “not probable”.

 

The focus on the medical reports potentially indicate that the Braves and Twins were discussing a pitching prospect that has had a recent injury history. While the Twins player in question may never be known, purely speculative, Kohl Stewart is a higher profile prospect that has had in-season health issues. The list of recently injured pitching prospects doesn't end there. Regardless of the identity of the player, the Twins seemingly lose a bargaining chip.

 

UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal tweets that Nick Burdiwas the prospect in question.

 

 

There is still the possibility that the two sides come to a consensus on an alternative trade piece for Garcia but, for now, it would seem that the Twins will have to look elsewhere for a member of the rotation.

 

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[Rosterman]

Kohl Stewart might've been the likely candidate, especially if the Braves were going to eat any salary (the Twins would want SOME of their draft investment back for a rental). Or maybe it was Lewis Thorpe. Maybe Glen Perkins (wait, he's not a prospect). Some of us hoped it would be Nick Tepesch or Yohan Pino.

 

Of course, pick a name of a Twins pitching prospect on the DL? Chargois, Reed, Jay, Burdi, Zack Jones...the lsit goes on and on and on it seems.

 

But it may also be a hitter.

[Parker Hageman]

 

 

Of course, pick a name of a Twins pitching prospect on the DL? Chargois, Reed, Jay, Burdi, Zack Jones...the lsit goes on and on and on it seems.

 

But it may also be a hitter.

 

I doubt that it would be someone currently ON the DL. You have to consider the guys who were recently on a DL. Thorpe could have potentially been on the list. 

 

Personally, I doubt it was Stewart but I've heard rumblings that the organization have tried to make him shiny this trade season. 

[old nurse]

That they wanted a prospect back would give one reason to think it was Stewart. His pecking order as AA prospect is probably behind the other three starters.  That they were rumored to want a prospect back indicates they still think highly of him. Romero would fit the same profile of pitcher with medicals.  I do not think they would ask for a prospect back if it was one of the many relievers with medicals that are currently pitching.

[biggentleben]

Thorpe makes the most sense based on the Braves strong interest in Australia. It wouldn't surprise me if it was Jay as well. Perhaps Brusdar Graterol as well.

[nater79a]

Perhaps the surgeons forgot to attach Nick Burdi's new UCL on one end.  Could see why the Braves would have issues with that. 

[drjim]

Thorpe makes the most sense based on the Braves strong interest in Australia. It wouldn't surprise me if it was Jay as well. Perhaps Brusdar Graterol as well.

If it was Thorpe and they balked, that would be a blunder by the Braves imo. There would have to be something really bad.

[biggentleben]

 

If it was Thorpe and they balked, that would be a blunder by the Braves imo. There would have to be something really bad.

 

Not debating that, though there is the depth on the team to allow them to be picky.

[High heat]

I want nothing to do with Garcia if it cost thorpe. Stewart is fine. Thorpe has a chance to be an impact arm. You can have any minors bat not named Garver Gordon Royce Lewis. Pitching wins and stockpiling arms gives us the best chance of sustained sucks.

[olivia11]

If this is true, it seems like it was someone that Falvey and Levine don't have any confidence in and they're trying to get something for them before their value drops. Stewart or Thorpe would make sense... especially since they were looking to get a prospect back and Atlanta was eating part of the salary.

[108Stitches]

They probably looked at Stewart's numbers! 30bb to only 33k in 52 innings. I'd pass too. Nothing against him personally but I just do not get why this guy is rated so highly.

[biggentleben]

Rosenthal says Burdi...

[Otto von Ballpark]

[drjim]

Rosenthal says Burdi...

Makes a lot of sense.

 

Wonder what would cause the Braves to hesitate. Perhaps the damage he had beyond the tj.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I wonder what the medicals could be, he just had the surgery 2 months ago...

[drjim]

Smart risk for the Braves if there hadn't been anything worse. Alas.

[drjim]

I wonder what the medicals could be, he just had the surgery 2 months ago...

I would guess something with the previous injuries he had.

[AZTwin]

Why not give them jake reed or someone similar? Weird that a trade would stall when we are talking about a prospect at that level

[jorgenswest]

It will be interesting to see the return for Garcia.

 

Thorpe's value is difficult to gauge. He hasn't pitched many innings this year and will be limited next year. I think he needs to be put on the 40 man roster this winter. He has thrown just over 40 innings since 2014. When might it be reasonable that he is ready? September 2019? That is if he stays healthy. By then two options will be used. The window where he needs to show success in the majors before he runs out of options could be very narrow.

 

If I am the Braves, I think I would seek a better return with so many days left before the deadline.

[Dman]

If Burdi was the prospect I don't blame the Braves if they saw something in his medicals that scared them off.  Also if Twins are trading relievers for a rental I am fine with that. We have a surplus and I don't think we can keep all of them from rule 5 this coming year anyway.

[Otto von Ballpark]

So were the Braves eating some money before the medicals too?

[drjim]

So were the Braves eating some money before the medicals too?

Were there any reports they were ever eating money?

[darin617]

Thank you Braves GM for not accepting Nick Burdi as part of the trade.

I would rather wait for Burdi to recover from Tommy John than have Jaimie Garcia for what 12 starts or less?

Talk to the Padres for one of their starters and keep Burdi out of any talks. We need to keep our power arms. Especially for a rental player.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Not debating that, though there is the depth on the team to allow them to be picky.

Maybe, but that's being stupid-picky. I'm not one to usually overvalue prospects but I'd be immensely disappointed if the Twins let Thorpe go for a middling starter rental.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It will be interesting to see the return for Garcia.

Thorpe's value is difficult to gauge. He hasn't pitched many innings this year and will be limited next year. I think he needs to be put on the 40 man roster this winter. He has thrown just over 40 innings since 2014. When might it be reasonable that he is ready? September 2019? That is if he stays healthy. By then two options will be used. The window where he needs to show success in the majors before he runs out of options could be very narrow.

If I am the Braves, I think I would seek a better return with so many days left before the deadline.

40 man be damned, Thorpe is still just 21.

 

I can see the Braves questioning Burdi's medical but if I was them, I'd take Thorpe for Garcia and howl for joy immediately afterward. He's an injury concern but so are lots of guys. Right now, he's healthy, young, left-handed, and flat dealing.

 

It's not as if Garcia is some lust object in the rotation.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Were there any reports they were ever eating money?

Lavelle said "Indications are Twins will take on most of the salary." Wolfson said "Told as talks stand now, #MNTwins will very likely assume the remaining $4.7M on Garcia's contract." So there was a little wiggle room.

 

Seems like there might be more to this than just the medicals of a Burdi level prospect...

[yarnivek1972]

With due respect to Ken Rosenthal's source, it makes no sense to get that close to a trade and have it hung up on medical issues in the case of Nick Burdi. I find it hard to believe they didn't already know he had TJS and what the potential ramifications of that were.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Before TJ stuff, Burdi had an upper arm bone bruise:

 

http://www.twincities.com/2017/01/31/minnesota-twins-nick-burdi-changes-arm-slot-in-hopes-of-staying-healthy/

[drivlikejehu]

The Twins wouldn't trade Thorpe for Garcia. But it is a bit weird getting hung up over Burdi . . . 

[drjim]

With due respect to Ken Rosenthal's source, it makes no sense to get that close to a trade and have it hung up on medical issues in the case of Nick Burdi. I find it hard to believe they didn't already know he had TJS and what the potential ramifications of that were.

It had to be something beyond the tj. If the Braves didn't like the medicals it would absolutely blow up the trade.