http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/atlanta_braves_officially_have.html
<!-- headline - wide --> <!-- Premium Blog --> <!-- /Premium Blog --> [h=1]Atlanta Braves officially have 'no interest' in trading top prospect Jose Peraza, but should they?[/h]
<!-- /headline --> Jose Peraza
Second baseman/shortstop Jose Peraza is the Atlanta Braves' top prospect. (MLB.com photo by Stacy Revere)
Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com AL.com
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on April 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM, updated April 17, 2015 at 12:03 PM
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Rumors have been swirling the last few days that the Atlanta Braves might be considering trading top prospect Jose Peraza to the New York Yankees, but assistant general manager John Coppolella attempted to put that to rest on Thursday.
While Coppolella acknowledged to MLB.com's Mark Bowman that Yankees scouts had been watching Peraza play for Triple-A Gwinnett, he said that was not an indication that any type of deal was in the works between the two clubs.
"We have no interest whatsoever in trading Jose Peraza," Coppolella said. "Teams scout top prospects all the time, as we do other team's top prospects. It was just a case where one of their scouts was sent to watch one of our guys."
The rumor mill began churning Tuesday when former Braves scout Jeff Wren (brother of ex-Atlanta GM Frank Wren) tweeted that a Yankees scout had been re-directed to check out Peraza. The 20-year-old middle infielder is rated No. 54 overall among 2015 prospects by Baseball America.
The New York Post reported on Thursday that the Yankees had inquired about Peraza, who is playing second base at Triple-A but also has the potential to be an elite defensive shortstop. The Yankees are apparently unsatisfied with shortstop Didi Gregorius, whom they acquired in the offseason to replace retired legend Derek Jeter but who is off to a .172/.219/.172 start at the plate this year.
What the Yankees would offer in return for Peraza isn't clear, though the New York Post story mentions catching prospect Gary Sanchez as part of a potential "two-player package." However, Sanchez's stock has fallen in recent years and the Braves already have a highly-regarded rookie, Christian Bethancourt, at catcher this season.
Nevertheless, Coppolella's statement should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Braves vice president of baseball operations John Hart made similar pronouncements regarding closer Craig Kimbrel during the offseason, only to trade him to San Diego on the eve of Opening Day.
However, the situations regarding Kimbrel and Peraza are markedly different, given that Kimbrel is a high-salaried major-leaguer who could be a free agent after the 2017 season and Peraza hasn't even reached the bigs yet. Though the Braves were extremely active in the trade market over the offseason, they have been stockpiling top prospects, rather than dealing them away.
Peraza is likely to be ready for major-league duty at some point this season, but the Braves wouldn't have a clear opening for him. Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons is signed through 2020, and Atlanta has also been impressed with rookie second baseman Jace Peterson in the early going.
Peterson also has experience at third base and shortstop, so it's possible he could move into a utility role long-term, or platoon with Peraza and/or third baseman Chris Johnson. Peraza, who turns 21 on April 30, is off to a slow start for Gwinnett after batting .339/.364/.441 with 60 stolen bases between High Class-A and Double-A last season.
The Yankees' top two prospects would certainly be of interest to Atlanta: pitcher Luis Severino and power-hitting outfielder Aaron Judge, both of whom are currently at Double-A Trenton. However, it appears New York would not be inclined to deal either one at this stage.
Judge in particular would be an excellent fit for a Braves organization that is starved for power-hitting prospects. The 6-foot-7 Judge has drawn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton, so the Yankees appear set on making him part of their future.
At least right now, a Peraza-to-the-Yankees deal appears to be nothing more than a hot rumor. As with anything in baseball, however, that could change.
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<!-- /headline --> Jose Peraza
Second baseman/shortstop Jose Peraza is the Atlanta Braves' top prospect. (MLB.com photo by Stacy Revere)
Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com AL.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on April 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM, updated April 17, 2015 at 12:03 PM
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Rumors have been swirling the last few days that the Atlanta Braves might be considering trading top prospect Jose Peraza to the New York Yankees, but assistant general manager John Coppolella attempted to put that to rest on Thursday.
While Coppolella acknowledged to MLB.com's Mark Bowman that Yankees scouts had been watching Peraza play for Triple-A Gwinnett, he said that was not an indication that any type of deal was in the works between the two clubs.
"We have no interest whatsoever in trading Jose Peraza," Coppolella said. "Teams scout top prospects all the time, as we do other team's top prospects. It was just a case where one of their scouts was sent to watch one of our guys."
The rumor mill began churning Tuesday when former Braves scout Jeff Wren (brother of ex-Atlanta GM Frank Wren) tweeted that a Yankees scout had been re-directed to check out Peraza. The 20-year-old middle infielder is rated No. 54 overall among 2015 prospects by Baseball America.
The New York Post reported on Thursday that the Yankees had inquired about Peraza, who is playing second base at Triple-A but also has the potential to be an elite defensive shortstop. The Yankees are apparently unsatisfied with shortstop Didi Gregorius, whom they acquired in the offseason to replace retired legend Derek Jeter but who is off to a .172/.219/.172 start at the plate this year.
What the Yankees would offer in return for Peraza isn't clear, though the New York Post story mentions catching prospect Gary Sanchez as part of a potential "two-player package." However, Sanchez's stock has fallen in recent years and the Braves already have a highly-regarded rookie, Christian Bethancourt, at catcher this season.
Nevertheless, Coppolella's statement should probably be taken with a grain of salt. Braves vice president of baseball operations John Hart made similar pronouncements regarding closer Craig Kimbrel during the offseason, only to trade him to San Diego on the eve of Opening Day.
However, the situations regarding Kimbrel and Peraza are markedly different, given that Kimbrel is a high-salaried major-leaguer who could be a free agent after the 2017 season and Peraza hasn't even reached the bigs yet. Though the Braves were extremely active in the trade market over the offseason, they have been stockpiling top prospects, rather than dealing them away.
Peraza is likely to be ready for major-league duty at some point this season, but the Braves wouldn't have a clear opening for him. Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons is signed through 2020, and Atlanta has also been impressed with rookie second baseman Jace Peterson in the early going.
Peterson also has experience at third base and shortstop, so it's possible he could move into a utility role long-term, or platoon with Peraza and/or third baseman Chris Johnson. Peraza, who turns 21 on April 30, is off to a slow start for Gwinnett after batting .339/.364/.441 with 60 stolen bases between High Class-A and Double-A last season.
The Yankees' top two prospects would certainly be of interest to Atlanta: pitcher Luis Severino and power-hitting outfielder Aaron Judge, both of whom are currently at Double-A Trenton. However, it appears New York would not be inclined to deal either one at this stage.
Judge in particular would be an excellent fit for a Braves organization that is starved for power-hitting prospects. The 6-foot-7 Judge has drawn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton, so the Yankees appear set on making him part of their future.
At least right now, a Peraza-to-the-Yankees deal appears to be nothing more than a hot rumor. As with anything in baseball, however, that could change.
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