This time last week I pushed a similarly titled piece out about Mike Foltynewicz. Now another Atlanta starter needs to be replaced, but in some ways the answer to the question is simpler.
No one.
No one will really be able to replace what right-hander Mike Soroka brings to the ballclub. Soroka was the Opening Day starter for a reason. It’s the same reason he finished second in Rookie-of-the-Year voting in 2019 and sixth in the Cy Young Award race. It’s the same reason why fans online were spending time thinking of new versions of the old “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain” motto for the old Milwaukee Braves teams of the late 40’s, but one that starts with “Soroka and Fried and…”
First baseman Freddie Freeman pretty much summed it up Monday after the game:
When you lose, in my mind, one of the top pitching arms in this entire game for the whole season, it’s pretty tough. … It just sucks, there is no sugar-coating this night.
Mike Soroka, at the ripe old age 23 years old today, is one of the best pitchers in the National League. He is Atlanta’s #1. With one awkward landing of his right ankle, Soroka’s season came to an abrupt end on Monday night. His Achilles tendon is torn, and recovery is estimated in the 8-10 month range. History shows however that full recovery, including getting back the strength in that leg, will take longer.
So once again, the Braves have to look for another starting pitcher. The choices are essentially the same as last week, minus Touki Toussaint, who has taken over the rotation spot of Mike Foltynewicz, at least for now.
The Veterans
Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin was designated for assignment and there hasn’t been an announcement yet on his status, if he will clear waivers or if he does if he will accept an outright assignment. If he is still with the organization, he would still be an option as discussed in last week’s article. Likewise Josh Tomlin remains an option, although he has pitched so well so far this season in long relief, and there’s such an obvious need for that role, that one wonders if he may be a victim of his own success. Theoretically Foltynewicz also is an option though is seems doubtful that the concerns the team has with him have suddenly cleared up in just the space of a week.
Since last Tuesday however there’s a couple of new entries here.
Tyler Matzek
Matzek is a former 1st-round pick by the Colorado Rockies and made it to the majors for them in 2014-15, pitching to a respectable 4.06 ERA in 26 games (25 starts). In fact, his major league debut was a start against Atlanta where he threw 7 innings of 2-run ball to secure a win for his team. However Matzek was afflicted by crippling anxiety issues that eventually effected his control and his mechanics. Matzek ended up back in high-A ball before the Rockies eventually cut him loose.
The Braves picked him up from the Texas AirHogs of the independent American Association in August, and came to spring training back in February without even an invitation to major league camp. He impressed coaches in the opportunities he had when they needed arms to fill out innings, enough so that after the shutdown he was one of the players put in the 60-man player pool, and he ended up making the Opening Day roster. In 5.1 innings out of the bullpen, including 2 innings on Sunday, Matzek has allowed 4 hits and nothing else. It’s the smallest of small sample sizes, but he’s been impressive so far. As a reliever he’s only thrown two pitches — the fastball and the slider — so the status of his change-up or any other secondary is unknown.
He hasn’t started a major league game since 2015, so it’s probably a long-shot. Then again, it was a long-shot for him to pitch in the majors this year.
Chris Rusin
Rusin was one of the top left-handed relievers in the National League in 2016-2017 for the Colorado Rockies and a starter for the Cubs back in their rebuild years, but an increase in walks has lead him to pitch mostly in the minors the last several years. Signed to a non-guaranteed minor league deal this offseason and given a major league spring training invitation, Rusin has more often been finding the zone with his wide assortment of secondary pitches and show-me low-90s fastball.
Rusin did yeoman’s work out of the ‘pen in relief of Soroka on Monday night, but if the rosters are in fact trimmed to 28 players this week, Rusin seems more likely to be headed back to the Alternate Training Site than to the starting rotation.
The Rookies
Likewise, all of the young arms that were possibilities last week are still possibilities for this week. One of Bryse Wilson, Tucker Davidson, or Patrick Weigel would seem to be the favorites of this group based on what we saw in spring and summer camp.
That said, I don’t know if I’d classify Ian Anderson, Jasseel De La Cruz, or Huascar Ynoa as long-shots as I did last week. If any of these players have been throwing particularly well in intrasquad games they could be given a shot at this point. In fact, it may make some sense that the team could roll with Ian Anderson, their top pitching prospect, if they feel like he will play a role in the rotation in 2021; bringing him up now could allow him to get some experience against major league hitters and start the process of moving through what would likely be the inevitable growing pains of that transition.
Trade Possibilities
It would be malpractice by the Braves front office not to at least float some trade scenarios with other teams at this point, but of course in the wacky-doodle world of baseball in 2020, it’s unclear what kind of market even exists at this point. Five teams have barely played in the first week of the season due to COVID-19 concerns and with 16 of the 30 teams going to the playoffs this year, no team will be really “out of it” even by the time the trade deadline rolls around on August 31 — assuming the season hasn’t been cancelled by then.
That doesn’t mean of course the Braves can’t start laying the groundwork for trying to bring in another arm. If the trade is going to have any kind of significant talent going to the other team however, almost certainly it would have to be for a player with control beyond 2020. A trade for a true rental, or a pitcher that isn’t expected to do much beyond filling out a box score with numbers, wouldn’t likely cost much of anything this year.
Looking around the league at teams that are in the midst of rebuilds or seem likely to start one soon, some potential trading partners include:
Boston Red Sox. The Braves were rumored to be very interested in Nathan Eovaldi prior to his signed with Boston before the 2019 season. Eovaldi had an injury-plagued campaign last year, but remains an electric arm when healthy. Eovaldi is owed $34 million in 2021-22.
Kansas City Royals. The young prospects of their latest rebuild are just starting to bubble to the surface, so now may be a good time for Royals to cash in on starter Danny Duffy. Duffy is owed $15.5 million for 2021.
Cleveland Indians. Owners of perhaps the best young pitching rotation in the American League, Cleveland is suffering with a stagnant offense. With a very budget-conscious ownership group, rumors are circulating that a rebuild may be in order. If so, the Braves could be first in line for veteran starters Mike Clevinger (under team control through arbitration until 2023) or Carlos Carrasco (owed $22 million for 2021-22, with a 2023 team option).
Texas Rangers. As it turns out, 2020 was a bad year to open a new ballpark. The Rangers could look to jettison any of their veteran starters, which include Lance Lynn (owed $9.33 million for 2021), Kyle Gibson ($17.33 million for 2021-22) and old friend Mike Minor (2020 rental).
Pittsburgh Pirates. The team in perhaps the most unenviable position in the majors, the Pirates have scarce talent at both the major league level and in the farm system. They almost certainly will be looking for buyers for one of their few veteran arms with upside, Joe Musgrove, who is under team control through 2023 through arbitration.
Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona has been trying to do a reboot rather than a full rebuild, shedding salary and folding in young talent while also making some “play for today” moves. It’s certainly possible they decide to punt on this crazy season and see what they could get for Robbie Ray before he hits the free agent market this offseason. Ray would be one of the few rental options that may interest Atlanta.
Toronto Blue Jays. The youth movement is in full bloom in Toronto, and they seem to be about to open a window of contention. That said, if the team doesn’t play well through this month, they could look to cash in their veteran pitching for one last push for prospects. If that happens, Matt Shoemaker (rental) or Tanner Roark ($12 million for 2021) could be there for teams looking for back-end rotation options.
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