The Atlanta Braves are expected to announce today that they’ve agreed to terms with free agent starter Gavin Floyd. It’s reported to be a one-year deal with a base salary of $4 Million. At first glance, this is not the type of “Ace” addition that the Braves needed in the offseason following a playoff loss to the Dodgers–in a game started by Freddy Garcia. Still, this is a club that won 96 games last year and as one Tweeter who broke the news said: “The Braves know pitching.” I’m going to defer judgement on the Braves giving a bunch of starts to such a mediocre talent until I see the guy make those starts for the Braves. The reason why I like the signing has nothing to do with Gavin Floyd. Instead it has to do with these three pitching lines from last year:
- 3.20 ERA, 185 IP, 1.17 WHIP, Age 22
- 3.21 ERA, 204 IP, 1.09 WHIP, Age 25
- 3.11 ERA, 197 IP, 1.22 WHIP, Age 27
These three lines were turned in by Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, and Kris Medlen. Each of whom is young, team controlled, and good. Each ranked in the top 16 in the NL in ERA. They’re three young “aces” who, should any of them improve, will make for an even better Braves rotation in 2014.
One might argue that Julio Teheran has already made that jump to “Ace.” If you remove his first month in the rotation, before he switched curveball grips, and September, when he was pitching more innings that he ever had before, Teheran compiled a 2.57 ERA. A 2.57 ERA is “Ace” material.
Yeah, I’m rooting for the Braves to add an “Ace” from outside of the organization mostly because new guys are fun, but I like the Gavin Floyd signing because of the starting pitching talent already on the Braves roster. Floyd doesn’t have to be an ace, he doesn’t even have to be particularly good. If he can even just replace some of the 280 IP/4.21 ERA that Paul Maholm and Tim Hudson compiled in 2013–and the Braves see improvement from one of the three guys discussed above, Atlanta has just gotten better.
In closing, Gavin Floyd may not be the most exciting of pieces to be added to an organization, but it’s not the most exciting moves that build championships. Just ask the Boston Red Sox or Toronto Blue Jays about translating offseason excitement into tangible wins.
-Sean Morash
Stat of the Day: Last night, Justin Tucker followed a 61 yard game-winning field goal by kicking a field goal on the ensuing kickoff. Unofficially, that marks the first time in history. (He’s also 35/37 on the year.)
