Atlanta Braves' Morning Chop: Catching? Canada? CBA?
Feb 22, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves catchers Tyler Flowers (25) and A.J. Pierzynski stretch during spring training workouts at ESPN
There are three questions hanging around the Braves today involving Catching, Canada, and the CBA negotiations. The answers could be interesting… whether they come.
The Atlanta Braves are still making some news with the Alex Jackson trade as Dave O’Brien notes below. He still could be reverted to a catcher… and it turns out there’s good reasons for doing so.
We’re still awaiting news on who the player to be named later is in that trade, too. We’ll probably know after the Rule 5 Draft is complete… and since that’s somehow involved, I like the Braves’ chances there.
New Braves catching instructor Datz should know prospect Alex Jackson
If the Braves switch newly acquired prospect Alex Jackson from the outfield to catcher, his former position, there’s a new coach on staff who seems a natural fit to work with him behind the plate.
Jeff Datz, a former major league catcher hired in October as the Braves’ new roving catching instructor, was a scout in the Mariners organization when they selected Jackson with the sixth pick of the 2014 draft and signed him out of a San Diego high school for $4.2 million.
The Braves traded for Jackson (and a player to be named later) in a Monday deal that sent pitching prospects Rob Whalen and Max Povse to the Mariners. The Datz hiring hasn’t been announced yet by the Braves, but was confirmed by two people familiar with the situation.
While the Braves haven’t said a Jackson position switch is certain, they’ve indicated Jackson, 20, might move back to catcher, which he played as a three-time prep All-American before switching to the outfield in rookie ball in 2014. In addition to being among the top high-school power hitters in California, he was regarded as a strong defensive catcher.
[ Ed. Note: Well that could paint an entirely different portrait on Jackson and how the Braves might try to use him.
I had speculated that the team would not mess with him positionally, but instead try to concentrate on getting hit bat straightened out. Hiring Datz could be sending a signal that perhaps they wish to try him out at the position he held in high school – and one he might be more comfortable with.
There had been some speculation that Jackson would not be able to stick at catcher in the long-term due to his size (6’2″/215), but there are plenty of examples of catchers that size or bigger (Matt Wieters at 6’5″/225 would be Exhibit A).
Also, while the Braves would certainly like to get Jackson’s bat going again, putting him back to catcher does mean that they could tolerate a longer lead development time offensively… if he proves to still be an able defender. Multiple reports point to a strong arm (60 throwing tool)… we just need to see if that 60/65 power develops with it. ]
Jun 12, 2016; Brooklyn, MI, USA; A view of the Canadian flag at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Canada in talks with Braves’ Freeman for WBC
Baseball Canada to is hoping to have two-time All-Star Freddie Freeman wear the red and white during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports reports two sides remain in talks to put the Atlanta Braves first baseman on the team.
Sources: @baseballcanada remains in talks with @FreddieFreeman5 to play in @WBCBaseball; Freddie's parents were born in Canada. @MLB @Braves
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2016
Freeman was born in California but both his parents were born in Canada. The 27-year-old said last year he’d like to honour his mother by playing for Canada in the tournament while visiting Toronto with the Braves.
Freeman’s mother, Rosemary, died of melanoma in 2000 when he was 10 years old.
“That’s always been a dream of mine,” he said of playing for Canada. “I want to represent Canada so I can represent my mother.”
“Canada has some good first basemen in Votto and Morneau, so I might have to just wait my turn, but hopefully I’ll get to do it one day,” he told the Associated Press.
Freeman posted .302 average with 34 home runs and 91 RBI last season.
Canada opens the World Baseball Classic on March 9, 2017 against the Dominican Republic in Miami.
[ Ed. Note: maybe Freddie can get this Canadian thing done so that we don’t have to someday worry about the Blue Jays taking him away, eh?
As for the WBC – he’ll be in Florida already, so it’s not a terrible ‘commute’. The White Sox (Morneau – who isn’t that good anymore) and the Reds (Votto) winter in Arizona, so it actually is much more convenient for the Canadian team to borrow Freddie, Chelsea, Charlie, and Nala for a few games.
No word on whether this will happen… but I’m betting it does. ]
Jul 25, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Fame inductee Pedro Martinez (left) congratulates MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark (right) after his speech as inductee John Smoltz (center) looks on during the Awards Presentation at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Source: Hope emerging as MLB, MLBPA progress in CBA talks
BUSTER OLNEY / ESPN.COM SENIOR WRITER
More from Tomahawk Take
Progress has been made in labor talks as Major League Baseball and its players’ union are meeting Tuesday to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney.
With both sides inching closer to an accord, hope is emerging that a new labor deal will be put in place.
The last big hurdle for MLB and the union in CBA talks is the competitive balance tax, sources said. Commonly referred to as a luxury tax, it is used by sports leagues to penalize teams that spend past a certain threshold, thereby theoretically leveling the playing field between large-market and small-market teams.
[ Ed. Note: Happily, multiple reports indicate that the owners’ desire for an International Draft have been scuttled. This was going to be a deal-breaker for the players’ union and frankly just hadn’t been worked through – at least not nearly early enough for negotiations to have progressed to a point where both sides could be happy with the plans.
Ben Badler of BaseballAmerica has written extensively about this topic – and the pitfalls of the draft proposals. Fortunately, this divisive issue is not going to hold up an agreement. ]
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