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Braves News:
Julio Teheran struggles in loss to Orioles
Julio Teheran lasted just four innings in Baltimore on Tuesday night, as he gave up five runs on five hits and four walks. The Braves ' offense got to work early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. The Orioles, however, didn't take too long to erase the lead. They tacked on three runs to jump ahead in the bottom of the first. They added two more in the second, and a run in each the fifth and sixth. Atlanta was able to pick up another run in the eighth, but it was too little too late.
Braves' farm system flourishes in latest prospect ranking
Courtesy of several off-season trades (and one in-season trade) the Braves find four prospects in MLB Pipeline's updated top-100 ranking. Jose Peraza (30), Ozhaino Albies (37), Matt Wisler (37) and Touki Toussaint (82) were ranked among the top prospects in the game. Out of the top 30 prospects in the Braves' system, 15 of them have entered the organization since the end of last season.
Braves gambling on prospects in trades
In major league baseball, 90% of trades are veterans-for-relatively unproven prospects. In the past half-year, the Braves have chosen to live, or die, by this method. It was shown just in this past week, in the Uribe/Johnson deal, that the Braves are stocking up their farm system and hoping that developing their youth will pay off in the future.
They started Friday with the trade of Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to the New York Mets for two young pitchers. Can Rob Whalen or John Gant, the two young pitchers Atlanta got back in the deal, become stars? Well, that would be great, but realistically the Braves have to simply hope they can become decent major leaguers.
MLB News:
Washington Nationals acquire Jonathan Papelbon
The fire sale has started in Philadelphia (at least we think). Jonathan Papelbn has been involved in trade rumors for what feels like years now, and on Tuesday, they finally came to fruition. The last-place Phillies shipped him off to the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta. Papelbon, 34, is 17-17 in save situations this year with a 1.59 ERA. All eyes are on you now, Cole Hamels.
Rockies may not be done trading
After trading their face of the franchise to the Toronto Blue Jays last night, the Colorado Rockies may still have some moves up their sleeves. At 43-55 (dead last in the NL West) it would appear that Colorado won't be contending for a playoff berth this season. With the trade deadline just two days away, the recently acquired Jose Reyes (.285/.322/.385, four home runs and 34 RBI with Toronto) and the surging Carlos Gonzalez (.278/.332/.520, 20 home runs and 51 RBI) could find themselves in new uniforms after Friday.