Braves acquire touted prospect Toussaint in trade with Diamondbacks
The list of premier pitching prospects in the Atlanta Braves organization continues to grow.
One day after Matt Wisler, the primary minor-league piece in the offseason Craig Kimbrel trade with the San Diego Padres, dominated in his MLB debut, the Braves completed another trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks to bring in 2014 first-round draft pick Touki Toussaint. In exchange for the near-consensus top-200 prospect, the Braves took on injured veteran Bronson Arroyo -- and the remaining portion of his $9.5 million contract, plus an $13 million team option for 2016 -- while sending backup infielder Phil Gosselin to Arizona.
Essentially, with Gosselin being expendable due to the acquisitions of Jace Peterson and Juan Uribe, the Braves are paying Arroyo's contract for the rights to Toussaint.
"We have cut between 150-200 million (dollars) total in the trades we've made over the last seven, eight months," assistant general manager John Coppolella told MLB.com. "If we want to take whatever it is here, $9- or $10 million to where we could get a guy who had arguably the very best stuff in the 2014 draft, yeah it was one where as we tried to build for the current as well as for the future, we felt like it was a good mix and well worth it for us."
Coppolella also mentioned that there is a chance Arroyo could help the team this season after recovering from Tommy John, but that's certainly not the focus here. This deal was all about adding what the Braves' front office is labeling a "huge, huge piece for the future."
The Diamondbacks selected Toussaint, a Coral Springs, Fla., high school product, with the 16th overall pick in last summer's draft, immediately making him one of the top prospects in their organization along with other highly touted pitchers Archie Bradley, Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair. Control has been a concern for the young hurler, but he's flashed a dynamic fastball-curveball combination. Turning 19 on Saturday, Toussaint owned a 3.69 ERA in 39 innings pitched for Single-A Kane County.
Toussaint was assigned to the Braves' Single-A affiliate in Rome.
Arroyo did not rule out the possibility that he may not be able to pitch in 2015, but he's aiming for a mid-August return and could help with the Braves' underwhelming bullpen if all goes according to plan. Arroyo posted a 4.08 ERA in 86 innings pitched with Arizona last season. If Atlanta does not exercise his 2016 option, Arroyo is owed a $4.5 million buyout.
Gosselin will begin his Diamondbacks career on the disabled list with a thumb fracture. He was a serviceable piece for the Braves over the past two seasons, starting at second base toward the tail end of 2014 and hitting .325/.357/.425 in limited action this season, and he's expected step into a utility role in Arizona as well.
Still, giving up a low-ceiling utility infielder and paying an oversized contract with some offseason savings was worth it for Atlanta. Add Toussaint to a group including Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz, Tyrell Jenkins, Max Fried, Manny Banuelos, Ricardo Sanchez and 2015 first-rounders Kolby Allard and Mike Soroka -- the plan for Coppolella and general manager John Hart is clear. If the price is right, they'll be buyers on young pitching every single time.
"We felt the payoff down the line would be too good to just let it go," Coppolella said.
