Operation Offseason Improvement: Pitching Trade Partners Part Two

Yesterday we looked at the Seattle Mariners and what they have to offer in the pitching department. The M’s definitely have chips if they want to make such a move for a Royals hitter.

Here is part two where we look at the franchise that Deyton Moore plus a few others in the Kansas City front office use to call home.

Could Kris Medlen be had in the right deal between the Royals and Braves this offseason? Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Atlanta Braves –

Could Atlanta use more offense? Of course they could but at what position do they need it most? With Chipper Jones retiring maybe they inquire about KC’s Mike Moustakas to come in and be the guy but Martin Prado will get a shot. There have been rumblings that they like Lorenzo Cain to man center field.

The point is there are players they probably have an eye on but let’s see what pitching options might make this a fit.

The Trade Targets –

Brandon Beachy, RHP: He’s 25 years old and pitched 2 ½ seasons in the major leagues for Atlanta. Finished 5-5 but only in 13 starts with a 2.00 ERA in 81.0 innings pitched with 68 K’s and 29 walks before going on the DL last season with a torn partial tear in his elbow. It probably makes 2013 a long shot for him to return given that injury back in June to at least make opening day. His breakthrough was in 2011 where he went 7-3, with 169 strikeouts, 46 walks in 141.2 innings thrown and 3.68 ERA.

Tommy Hanson, RHP: You’ll notice a theme of mid-20 year old pitchers listed in the Braves organization. Hanson is a name that you’ve probably heard of as the 25 year old has been in the Braves rotation since 2009 where he finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He’s won 10+ games each season while averaging 158. 3 innings during his four year career his strikeout plus walk numbers average out to 148 K/55 BB.

Randall Delgado, RHP: Delgado is lumped into this group because he’s made 24 MLB starts over the last two seasons. At age 21 made his Atlanta debut going just 1-1 but had a 2.83 ERA in 35 innings thrown, last year the ERA rose to 4.37 in 92.2 innings. His strikeouts to walks are 94/56 since earning the promotion so he could be in a any potential trade.

Julio Teheran, RHP: Is another prominent name that baseball fans have heard about and not just because he’s 21 years old but because he’s got good “stuff”. Fans probably want to see more of Teheran who made a handful of appearances for the Braves but has spent most time in triple-A Gwinnett. In 2011 he had an ERA of 2.55 while going 15-3 in 144.2 innings striking out 122 with 48 walks. Royals fans don’t like the word “potential” but he oozes it.

Kris Medlen, RHP: Medlen was probably the hottest pitcher down the stretch and kept opponents off the scoreboard until the one-game playoff against St. Louis. He arrived in 2009 and has primarily been a bullpen guy. Last season he appeared in 50 games starting 12 posting a 10-1 record, 1.57 ERA in 138 innings pitched. The most impressive part was his strikeout to walk ratio of 120/23 which got him MVP votes. He had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 18, 2010 and came back in 2011 which has led the Braves to limit his innings since.

Mike Minor, LHP: 7^th overall pick out of Vanderbilt in the 2009 draft and made it to the majors by 2010 making eight starts for the Braves. He went 11-10 in 2012 with a 4.12 ERA in 179.1 innings of work striking out 145 while walking 56. His earned run average has gone down each year as a professional but after a rough start to 2012 he got on track the second half of the season lowering his ERA.