Braves & Royals & Padres
Submitted by: oldest man
Braves
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Ragans | 26 | Majors | LRP | SP | Medium | 5 | 73 | 37.8 | 35.3 | 28.2 | 35.3 | 42.3 |
Total Value:
35.3
Royals
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jairo Iriarte | 21 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.6 | 8.5 | 10.6 | 12.8 | ||
| Robby Snelling | 20 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.7 | 20.6 | 25.7 | 30.9 |
Total Value:
36.3
Padres
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Fried | 30 | Majors | SP | Medium | 1 | 37 | 14.4 | 22.6 | 18.1 | 22.6 | 27.1 | |
| Cash | 13.2 |
Total Value:
35.8
Comments
3
As a Braves fan, I'm not liking this trade. I watched a couple of Royals games in 2023 just to see Cole Ragans pitch. He's good. However, since the Braves are a playoff-bound team and a healthy Max Fried can be a Top 10 starter, I'd rather not put my trust in Cole Ragans, who is not as good.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
I'm a Braves fan too. Last year, Ragans was in a starting role for 71 innings. Fried started and tossed 77 innings. In those innings, the OPS against Ragans was 88 points lower than against Fried; Ragans 11.2 K/9, Fried 9.3; Ragans 1.074 WHIP, Fried 1.133; Ragans 2.49 FIP, Fried 3.14. By all of these measures, Ragans was a better starting pitcher in 2023 than Fried. And he is controlled for 5 years and Fried is gone after 2024. Both are left-handed, and both almost the exact same height and weight.
That's all factual information. No doubt, Cole Ragans was hot in 2023. The Rangers traded him and the teenage Roni Cabrera to the Royals for Aroldis Chapman. The Rangers went on the win the World Series and Chapman was good for them. At this time and with hindsight, I think they mistakenly sold low on Ragans. Right? Also, the Royals unlocked Ragans, his slider is what I remember there. Max Fried missed a lot of time in 2023 due to injury. But he's saying that he's good now and last season the Braves were in a god spot so that they could give him time to get healthy. He's pitching for a big contract now and I strongly believe that he's the type of player that gives no quarter and offers no excuses. I like him. I like a veteran player with a track record of success and a known quantity. Cole Ragans, two Tommy Johns, just 96 IP in the Majors, and maybe the Rangers who had him for 5 years did know something more. I think it's a fun trade proposal. I'll come looking for more from you, oldest man. You made a sound arguement and well-written argument. I'd just like to see the Braves stay the course here. If the return that the Royals are looking for is two SP prospects then maybe they'd engage with the Braves after the 2024 and check that out.