It’s been a busy three months for Braves executive John Hart, who replaced fired general manager Frank Wren on an interim basis for one month before taking the permanent job with a new title, president of baseball operations. Some moves the Braves made left fans and others scratching their heads and wondering if they’re rebuilding or trying to win now. In truth, the team is attempting to do a little of both.
Between meetings with other Braves officials, calls from GMs of potential trade partners and texts with representatives of free-agent pitchers, Hart discussed Wednesday the team’s status and outlook in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This is the first of two parts, edited slightly for length.
Q: Has this offseason, the roster retooling and minor league system strengthening project, been about what you expected? Or has it been more difficult to do some things you set out to do?
A: I think we knew that we were going to have some limitations as to what we could do, and we operated along the lines of, we want to remain competitive this year, but we want to keep our eyes and options open if something presents itself to allow us to get a leg up on restocking our system, something more for the future. We started off with a bang with the Jason Heyward trade, which allowed us to get a young piece we like in Shelby Miller, and a pitcher (Tyrell Jenkins) who's more of a prospect. We felt that deal helped us short term because we went in with limited started pitching. Since that (trade) we've had several different dynamics that we've been working on.
We’re still talking free agent and/or trade for another starter. We’ve had some (teams) that have wanted to talk about (trades for) some of our major league players, where we just haven’t found the right deal to entice us to move any of those guys. So I think it’s probably about as expected. I’m actually pleased in some regards, and in others we’ve had some chances to do things and we’ve just made decisions that we don’t think it’s in our best interest to do them.
Q: With the flurry of trades and signings in recent weeks, some fans wonder — or maybe they just haven’t heard you say you’d keep Justin for 2015 rather than accept a less-than-suitable return?
A: That's what we've said to clubs: We're not shutting the door on making a deal, but it's going to have to be a deal that works for us. This is a guy that obviously is hungry to come out and have a great year; it's his free-agent year. I certainly have no objection to playing a Silver Slugger, batting him somewhere in the middle of the lineup and getting 30 (homers) and 100 (RBIs). And there's a draft pick attached to him as well (as compensation if Braves lose him via free agency next winter). … We're under no mandate to move the guy. We haven't been enticed, and that's OK with me.
Q: You’ve said the attraction of keeping Evan Gattis stems from four years of contractual control.
A: Exactly. As we sit here now, if we were to move Justin, if we need (Gattis) in an outfield spot we feel like he could play the outfield. But right now we really don't have a need in the outfield, so he's going to catch for us. Listen, you're right — this is a player we have four years of control on, he's got power, and there's no real enticement for us to move him unless it fell into that category where we found a deal that just made a lot of sense to us.
Q: Despite Christian Bethancourt’s high ceiling and skills, you’re not forced to play him every day in 2015? It would work (at catcher) if you keep Gattis?
A: Exactly. If in fact nothing happens between now and spring training, we'd make the decision: Do we feel that we're a better club, No. 1. And No. 2, does it adversely affect Bethancourt if he's not up here every day and is a part of the catching mix? This guy has a chance to be a very good major league catcher. He's not a finished product by any means. We've looked at both of those things — if Evan is the main guy, then (Bethancourt) is the backup. I think we feel pretty good about that.
Q: To come in and be the one to make the deals you’ve made, like trading Heyward, some people might think you had to be talked into taking the job because of the difficult moves that had to be made. Been tough?
A: I think at the end of it, it's about what's going to be best for the Braves. You never want to be that guy that ends up trading a popular player. As I said clearly when we made the deal, I really like the player as well. We just had been down the road of trying to sign him, and it wasn't going to fit … and we needed pitching, and I think if Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins become quality pieces for our club … Listen, I understand the game and the certain reaction of fans. And I appreciate that. But at the end of it, we felt this was a deal that we needed to make.
Q: Some people might not be aware of this, but when baseball players get into the last year of their contracts before free agency, it’s kind of rare that they don’t go to free agency, right? Because the risk for the player is reduced when he’s in the final year of his deal, compared to signing an extension earlier and trading long-term potential earnings for security.
A: You're seeing so many of these signings now where guys just aren't getting to free agency — (Giancarlo) Stanton, (Mike) Trout, signing as two-plus players or three-plus players (with several years before free agency). They're giving up some of their free-agent years to get a contract at a younger stage. In the case of Jason (one season from free agency) you just assume he's going to go (on the free-agent market), so you're competing with 29 clubs, and you get a draft pick (if he signs elsewhere).
In the case of Justin, we kind of look at it the same way. Certainly he’s going to want to test the waters. It’s a matter of valuing the player now, and/or the deal. We realize he may leave and all we get is a draft pick, but if we’re not getting what we think — or at least I think — is the right value, I’m not going to move him. … At some point, you’re going to have to wear what you traded him for, what you got back for him. And so if you don’t get what you want, you hold him.
If we hadn’t had a need and hadn’t gotten what we wanted, I’d have been very happy to hold onto Jason Heyward. We got a deal that we think is going to help us this year. And in the case of Upton, we haven’t found it, and we’re certainly comfortable to hold him unless we find a deal we like. That’s about as simple as I can put it.
