Potential Trade Targets: Atlanta Braves

Atlanta emerged as a potential landing place for Norris earlier this week.  After Hudson's gruesome injury on Wednesday, reports have surfaced that Atlanta is kicking the tires on Norris. 

When I first heard that Atlanta was interested, I admit, I wasn't very excited.  Part of that is the relative lack of talent in Braves' system.  To put it in context, in Jonathan Mayo's recently released updated top 100, the Astros placed eight prospects on the list; the Pirates, who we profiled yesterday, placed five prospects; and the Red Sox, who have also been scouting Norris, also placed eight prospects.  The Braves, in contrast, had zero players in Mayo's top 100.  It's just not a system with a lot of impact talent.

However, part of my initial lack of excitement probably irrationally stems from the horrible Michael Bourn trade from two years ago.  After reviewing the Braves system again, I found that, while the Braves can not match Pittsburgh's quality or quantity, they have several intriguing prospects.

POSSIBLE TRADEABLE PROSPECTS

Lucas Sims RHP

Sims represents the highest upside in the system.  A 2012 1st round pick out of high school in Georgia, he has a somewhat similar value to Houston's Lance McCullers.  Sims is 6'1 with a fastball that works in the low-to-mid 90s and two potential average or better secondary offerings.  He was challenged this year by an assignment to full season ball and has acquitted himself nicely.  Sims is a long away from the majors and needs to sharpen up his control and command, but he has pedigree, success, and a middle-of-the-rotation skill set. 

He's the type of prospect that could headline a Norris deal, but it remains to be seen whether the Braves would be willing to part with a local kid who they just drafted with their first pick last year.

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	HR	BB	SO	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2012	18	2 Teams	Rk	2	4	3.71	11	34.0	28	16	3	13	39	7.4	0.8	3.4	10.3
2012	18	Danville	Rk	2	4	4.33	8	27.0	26	14	2	12	29	8.7	0.7	4.0	9.7
2012	18	Braves	Rk	0	0	1.29	3	7.0	2	2	1	1	10	2.6	1.3	1.3	12.9
2013	19	Rome	A	5	4	3.03	21	77.1	53	34	2	31	83	6.2	0.2	3.6	9.7
2 Seasons				7	8	3.23	32	111.1	81	50	5	44	122	6.5	0.4	3.6	9.9
Rk (1 season)			Rk	2	4	3.71	11	34.0	28	16	3	13	39	7.4	0.8	3.4	10.3
A (1 season)			A	5	4	3.03	21	77.1	53	34	2	31	83	6.2	0.2	3.6	9.7

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/26/2013.

JR Graham RHP

Graham, a 2011 4th round pick, is arguably the top prospect in the Braves system.  He does not have a huge upside, but he's close to the majors and is a relatively safe bet to settle into a rotation as a 3/4 type.  He's been out since May with shoulder problems, which could make him moot in trade discussions

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	HR	BB	SO	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9
2011	21	Danville	Rk	5	2	1.72	13	57.2	52	15	0	13	52	8.1	0.0	2.0	8.1
2012	22	2 Teams	A+-AA	12	2	2.80	26	148.0	123	51	8	34	110	7.5	0.5	2.1	6.7
2012	22	Lynchburg	A+	9	1	2.63	17	102.2	88	34	6	17	68	7.7	0.5	1.5	6.0
2012	22	Mississippi	AA	3	1	3.18	9	45.1	35	17	2	17	42	6.9	0.4	3.4	8.3
2013	23	Mississippi	AA	1	3	4.04	8	35.2	39	16	0	10	28	9.8	0.0	2.5	7.1
3 Seasons				18	7	2.72	47	241.1	214	82	8	57	190	8.0	0.3	2.1	7.1
AA (2 seasons)			AA	4	4	3.56	17	81.0	74	33	2	27	70	8.2	0.2	3.0	7.8
Rk (1 season)			Rk	5	2	1.72	13	57.2	52	15	0	13	52	8.1	0.0	2.0	8.1
A+ (1 season)			A+	9	1	2.63	17	102.2	88	34	6	17	68	7.7	0.5	1.5	6.0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/26/2013.

Christian Bethancourt C

For prospect watchers it feels like Bethancourt has been around forever, but he's still just 21.  The Braves signed him out of Panama in 2008 for $600,000 and he's been a top prospect for a number of years. The scouting report since rookie ball has not changed much.  He has elite defensive skills, but his offense, and particularly his approach at the plate, leaves a lot to be desired.  He's been better in a repeat of double-A, but his OBP is still below .300.  It should be worth noting that he's been young for every level he's played in and it looks like he's growing into some power. 

If the bat never comes around he at least should be able to stick as defensive first backup.  He's talented enough to headline a Norris deal, but I have my doubts about whether the Braves would be willing to give him up with McCann probably leaving this offseason.

Year	Age	Lev	PA	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008	16	FRk	131	116	31	6	3	0	1	11	25	.267	.328	.371	.699
2009	17	Rk	187	166	46	14	1	4	8	17	38	.277	.342	.446	.788
2009	17	Rk	131	116	33	9	1	2	7	11	22	.284	.344	.431	.775
2009	17	Rk	56	50	13	5	0	2	1	6	16	.260	.339	.480	.819
2010	18	A	420	399	100	19	2	3	11	14	62	.251	.276	.331	.607
2011	19	A-A+	410	387	112	16	3	5	9	11	62	.289	.304	.385	.689
2011	19	A	235	221	67	10	3	4	6	8	27	.303	.323	.430	.753
2011	19	A+	175	166	45	6	0	1	3	3	35	.271	.277	.325	.603
2012	20	AA	288	268	65	5	1	2	8	11	45	.243	.275	.291	.566
2013	21	AA	255	233	63	14	0	8	7	11	44	.270	.299	.433	.732
6 Seasons			1691	1569	417	74	10	22	44	75	276	.266	.297	.368	.665
A (2 seasons)		A	655	620	167	29	5	7	17	22	89	.269	.293	.366	.659
AA (2 seasons)		AA	543	501	128	19	1	10	15	22	89	.255	.286	.357	.643
Rk (1 season)		Rk	187	166	46	14	1	4	8	17	38	.277	.342	.446	.788
FRk (1 season)		FRk	131	116	31	6	3	0	1	11	25	.267	.328	.371	.699
A+ (1 season)		A+	175	166	45	6	0	1	3	3	35	.271	.277	.325	.603

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 7/26/2013.