SAN DIEGO – Trade-talk rumors involving Braves sluggers Justin Upton and Evan Gattis on the opening day of the Winter Meetings were further along in the hotel lobby than any actual trade discussions involving those players, according to Braves president of baseball operations John Hart.
“We’ve had some conversations on some players, but there’s nothing with any legs on it right now with either of those two players,” Hart said Monday afternoon on the first day of baseball’s four-day Winter Meetings at the Grand Hyatt.
Hart said Braves’ remaining priorities include acquiring one more starting pitcher and a second baseman. They also need to get a backup catcher, but he said they can do that later in the offseason. So far, Hart and his assistants had spent more time talking to the agents of mid-level starting pitchers and middle infielders – second baseman or shortstops who could play second base.
But teams including the Rangers, Orioles, Mariners and Indians reportedly have interest in Upton and/or Gattis, and the Braves are at least listening when those teams call. They seem far more likely to trade Upton, who’s eligible for free agency after the 2015 season, than Gattis, who’s under contractual control for four seasons before free agency.
If the Braves trade either player, it would be more about improving the team for the long-term by getting multiple young players or top prospects in return. They could also possibly fill one of their pitching or second-base needs through a trade, but will first look at free-agent options for those.
“Because we made the (Jason) Heyward trade, I think everybody thinks, well the next card to fall is Justin Upton,” Hart said, referring to the recent trade of the outfielder to St. Louis for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and a pitching prospect. “We went out looking for pitching, and that’s how we ended up moving Heyward. We’re not in the same spot now.”
Markakis update: The Braves expect newly acquired outfielder Jason Markakis to have surgery for a herniated disk in his neck, and Hart reiterated support of that decision. The Braves signed him to a four-year, $44 million contract last week, and said they knew Markakis was leaning toward having the surgery. He's played two seasons with the ailment.
Pena's a free agent: After being removed from the 40-man roster and designated for assignment by the Braves last month, infielder Ramiro Pena has elected to become a free agent rather than accept a minor league assignment.
