Braves: New Beats Old

At the All Star break let's compare some of the fan-favorites the Braves traded for prospects and to dump bad contracts to their replacements. The results may surprise you.

Fans are still moaning about the Craig Kimbrel trade. Fact is his replacement - veteran team leader Jason Grilli - has outperformed Kimbrel in almost every category. Kimbrel has more strikeouts but Grilli's strikeout to walk ratio is better - and Grilli has more saves.

PL...ERA...G...S...BS...inn...hits.ER.HR.BB...K...avg...WHIP
JG...2.94...36...24...2...33.2...28...11...2...10...45...217...1.13
CK..3.24...35...23...1...33.1...29...12...3...14...48...234...1.29

Evan Gattis was traded to make way for rookie phenom Christian Bethancourt, who so far hasn't panned out. Insert veteran AJ Pierzynski, who has struck out less than Gattis and hit for a higher average, on base percentage, and OPS. AJ's slugging percentage is only slightly lower than the White Bear's. Gattis has almost exclusively DH'd for the Astros.

PL...G....BB...K..AVG..OBP..SLG.OPS
AJ...60...09...22...283...315...439...755
EG..86...12...76...241...268...444...712

Both Nick Markakis and Cameron Maybin have outperformed the players they replaced - out-hitting and striking out less than Heyward and the Uptons. Even defensively Markakis is no drop-off from Jason Heyward. The hustling Maybin is a huge defensive upgrade over both Upton brothers. 

PL..AVG..OBP..SLG..OPS...G...H...2B..RBI..BB...K
NM...293...381...353...734...88...98...20...28...45...50
CM...289...356...418...774...80...81...10...44...29...57
JH.....273...327...416...743...85...84...17...31...24...57
JU.....253...331...422...753...87...81...10...48...37...95
MU...213...294...361...655...27...13...01...05...07...17

Before the season I lobbied for the Braves to sign Ichiro Suzuki instead of Jonny Gomes. Both are veterans with excellent work ethics. Atlanta went with the cheaper Gomes for his greater clubhouse presence. He might add that, but Ichiro has clearly outperformed Gomes at the plate and in the field. 

PL.AVG.OBP..SLG..OPS...G....H...BB...K
IS...253...307...290...597...84...47...15...27
JG..207...312...338...650...58...30...20...51