12/21/24
February 24, 2012
So the essence of his complaint is that he shouldn't be forced to subject himself to the same requirements as every other borderline major league player? I think that's fair.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:50 PM on February 24, 2012
Doesn't it matter a lot if he is right? If he could be a starter on a MLB team, why shouldn't he want (or demand) that?
posted by bperk at 03:17 PM on February 24, 2012
If he could be a starter on a MLB team, why shouldn't he want (or demand) that?
If he's capable of being a starter on the Atlanta Braves, the team to which he is contractually obligated, he can earn the right to prove it, just like any other player. None of them would be playing ball for a living if they didn't believe themselves capable of playing in the big leagues.
posted by tahoemoj at 03:49 PM on February 24, 2012
First, awesome headline.
Second, tahoemoj, it's a valid complaint to make (although in this case, the guy apparently has a good shot of making it, so why complain now): if a player is a likely or probably starter on other teams, but is stuck behind another good player at their position so they aren't getting playing time, then they might wish for the team trade them to a lesser franchise where the option to be on a contender is less, but the odds of getting playing time are greater. It can benefit everyone: the player gets a better shot at the majors, the current team gets to swap out a likely redundant player at a position in the farm system for one who has a better chance of filling a gap, and the new team would get a player on their major league team to experiment on at low cost/league minimum. The player is still contractually obligated, but that doesn't mean he can't basically petition the team to trade him- or his contract, more accurately- to another franchise where he'll see more playing time.
Not that they are comparable, but if you were Lou Gehrig and the major league team had a Wally Pipp... short of injury you might not get a shot.
posted by hincandenza at 06:44 PM on February 24, 2012
The way you phrase your position takes for granted that he would be a starter on many other teams. I guess I don't see where he has proven that he's a legitimate major league starting pitcher, other than in his own opinion of himself. What happens if the Braves honor his request, decide that he will not be a starter, and trade him. What if that team doesn't want to start him? At this point in his career, has he earned the right to demand a trade only to a team that guarantees him a spot in the rotation?
So, sure, he can ask to be traded. No issue with that. It just seems to me that he's trying to bypass the dues that most other big leaguers pay.
posted by tahoemoj at 07:58 PM on February 24, 2012
Based on the stats, he would probably do well in Baltimore.
posted by Joey Michaels at 08:38 PM on February 24, 2012
I don't think it's unusual for a player to give his team a majors-or-trade ultimatum. Minor only has 24 Major League starts, but he's a lefthander and the seventh-overall pick in 2009. He wouldn't lack suitors.
posted by rcade at 09:05 AM on February 25, 2012
Minor's major results. And Minor's minor stats. It's a strange sort of half-assed demand, especially given he most likely will make the team (at least, according to the article) and given how heavily he seems to be caveat-ing it: if I can control my third pitch, if my velocity is there. I could make a similar claim on a spot in the Braves' rotation.