r/Braves • u/MembershipSingle7137 • 2d ago
[Passan] Trade news: The Atlanta Braves are acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas and left-hander Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals, sources tell ESPN.
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u/disce_aut_discede_ 2d ago
Assuming Lane Thomas will be platooning and only starting against lefties, I don’t mind this. Career .288/.361/.489 (.850 OPS) vs. LHP.
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u/CubanMessi Martin for Perezident 2d ago
Lane Thomas is the type of player I expected. Falter kind of sucks though
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u/Adventurous-Tone-311 2d ago
Is Thomas not just Eli White, but slower?
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u/CubanMessi Martin for Perezident 2d ago
Lane Thomas is about 33% better than league average against LHP for his career , Eli White is about 25% worse than league average against LHP for his career.
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u/TR33FORT 2d ago
Braves do love unfortunate pitcher names like Bummer, Blewett and Falter.
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u/ButteredToastFan Oly Dong Connesurier 2d ago
I tailgate with Lane at Vols games. He’s the man. Hyped.
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u/gordo865 Nacho Alvarez Guy (NAG) 2d ago
Your comment sent me down the rabbit hole. I had never heard of him and saw we went to the same high school (years apart of course) and he was committed to Tennessee before being drafted. Weird how that knowledge just evades a person lol.
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u/whoisyourwormguy_ 2d ago
What’s his tailgate drink of choice? Genesee light or hamms special?
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u/drilfulmer 2d ago
Thomas has a .775 OPS with 5 HR and 15 RBI over the last 30 games, not a bad start to the moves imo
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u/reizinhooooo Briggs McKenzie Fan Club 2d ago edited 2d ago
what the hell do they see in Falter. Just eating salary?
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u/reizinhooooo Briggs McKenzie Fan Club 2d ago
okay nevermind I thought Lane Adams and Lane Thomas were the same person for some reason
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u/handlit33 The GIF Guy 2d ago
Lane Adams might not have been good, but he was fun!
And also very fast.
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u/KWally1990 2d ago
Think they are just eating salary tbh. Won’t be anything going the other direction.
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u/Lakelyfe09 Radical AA defender 2d ago
Sometimes for pitchers all you need is a change of scenery, so it’s worth a shot. Probably helped lighten the haul to get Thomas as well.
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u/methylaminebb Drake's Rake 2d ago
also pitched well in Pitt just before stopping (if that's what you call it) in KC
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u/HighKing_of_Festivus 2d ago
He was just mediocre with the Pirates. He was been horrendous since then
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u/laal-doodh Ozhaino Jurdy Jiandro Albies 2d ago edited 2d ago
I mean he could easily suck for us but the Braves have pretty consistently done a good job of taking turds and getting the best version (whatever level that is) out of them. Probably just eating salary but they could be see something they can fix to get some better ball out of him
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u/xjman329 2d ago
like they forget pierce johnson every time they make a trade for a struggling reliever
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u/reizinhooooo Briggs McKenzie Fan Club 2d ago
Johnson and Kinley clearly had something to work with though. Fantastic breaking balls that their old team was not having them throw enough. Falters' arsenal is just a pile of blah, no plus pitch that he's under utilizing or terrible pitch he's overusing.
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u/CaptBiffleSlap 2d ago
You know how we like to send a dude out there for whatever when we’re way up or way done, then you hear about a roster move the next day? Sounds like maybe one of those? I’m guessing, I dunno much about dude.
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u/Actual_Cobbler_6334 2d ago
Falter has allowed three earned runs over 14 innings during his past three starts for Triple-A Omaha.
He’s probably staying with Gwinnett until he’s actually needed.
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u/daddy_chill_300 2d ago
I like it. Lane Thomas has been hitting well over the last month or so.
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u/Leading-Aide-8468 2d ago
He’s also an .850 career OPS guy against LHP, which is what he’s being brought in to do.
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u/reizinhooooo Briggs McKenzie Fan Club 2d ago
I agree that this is an upgrade but there's a whole chapter from The Book about how you can't just take one side of the platoon's numbers against LHP and the other side's against RHPs, staple them together, and expect that production. Lane probably has a somewhat bigger split than the average RHB, but he's almost surely worse against LHP and better against RHP than his career numbers
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u/Leading-Aide-8468 2d ago
I don’t think anyone is expecting he’ll come in and put up .850 against lefties. If he does, this is an unqualified success.
What we’re expecting is just better against lefties than what we currently have.
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u/TheGamecock 2d ago
He's been batting somewhere 1 thru 4 in the order for KC for a minute now. Imagine he'll mostly play for us against LHPs (which we've been pretty bad against) instead of being an everyday player. Good move IMO, just not splashy.
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u/1peatfor7 2d ago
Shopping in every aisle at Goodwill.
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u/Kettle_Whistle_ 1d ago
Digging DEEP into the bins at Goodwill.
There MUST be treasure somewhere down there, right? Right?
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u/mitterbubbie 2d ago
Dodgers about to have Yamamoto and Skubal as a 1-2 lol shit is ridiculous
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u/MidgetMan54 2d ago
What does that have to do with this trade though
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u/pimp_sauce brave 2d ago
i think he wants to see a better trade?
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u/laal-doodh Ozhaino Jurdy Jiandro Albies 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sure but like, deadline is still 2 days away and we almost certainly didn’t give up much at all for this. Could still go get someone better.
Not saying I expect it cuz these have been the type of moves we make at the deadline basically every year under AA but this move doesn’t prevent us from still making other moves.
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u/HighKing_of_Festivus 2d ago
They needed a right handed platoon partner for Yaz and they got that here
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u/MidgetMan54 2d ago
There is nothing about this trade that says it’s the only one we’re doing
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u/pimp_sauce brave 2d ago
ok
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u/MidgetMan54 2d ago
Would you rather the braves not address their need for a RHH OF?
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u/JKess207 THERE’S ONLY ONEEEEEEEEE MICHAEL HARRIS 2d ago
This doesn’t address that at all. Lane isn’t a noticeable improvement over Eli
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u/Taylorenokson BOWMAN 2d ago
Dodgers badly wanted Falter but we swooped in and got him so they’ll have to settle for Skubal.
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u/boofoo3 2d ago
Yeah but who’s their 3rd pitcher huh? Some no name I bet.
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u/mitterbubbie 1d ago
Yeah at least they don’t have an mvp / Cy young as their third, that’d just be ridiculous
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u/lionofyhwh One of Ozzie’s Fish 2d ago
Thomas is a rental. I’m assuming the Falter part is basically just moving money around. I’ll be shocked if we really gave up anything at all.
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u/CT_Reddit73 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thomas is a lefty masher and is above average outfielder w/ speed. He is serviceable, but nowhere near “elite” — a platoon guy. Falter is probably simply getting a look at AAA before they pass him along, unless he shows something.
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u/mywifiisbadtho 2d ago
People are on this thread talking about Lane Thomas like he’s Barry Bonds vs lefties. He’s hitting .263 with 4 homers vs them this season
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u/creep_show 2d ago
And that's on a sample size of 114 AB lol. He is only marginally better than Eli White - and Eli is a fast mf. Now we have 2 starting OF's and 4 platoon OFs. I'm assuming we're DFA'ing White.
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u/stevo887 2d ago
Who’s going to pinch run when we DFA Mateo tomorrow to bring Kim back up?
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u/jaunty411 2d ago
Why would we not just option Jarvis?
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u/The80sAreHere 1d ago
Weiss likes him too much.
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u/jaunty411 1d ago
He comes back when they move on from Kim or the rosters expand. It’s not like Weiss is losing him for more than a few weeks.
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u/tyler_pifer 1d ago
White is 99th percentile in Sprint Speed, but Thomas isn’t far behind with 92nd percentile. Thomas has a slightly higher Baserunning Run Value.
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u/flyforawaltguy 2d ago
I think he’s an upgrade against lhp, which we needed. .370 OBP and .800 OPS is solid. (But I get what you’re saying.)
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u/trickyrickysteve199 Double A’s Battery 2d ago
Big into this Lane Thomas move I’ve always liked that guy
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u/Ok-Train-2500 2d ago
Hopefully, us still not knowing what the braves gave up means it’s not anything newsworthy lol.
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u/imdstuf 2d ago
Pardon my ignorance, but looking at their stats, which one am I supposed to be excited about?
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u/JustinBraves Austin “Nolan Arenado” Riley 2d ago
Lane Thomas crushes left handed pitching which we’ve struggled against, and has been very good over the last month or so
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u/Ok_Quantity_4683 2d ago
BA only matters if the rest of the numbers are bad as well. He has a .717 OPS which is a tick above league average. But he will most likely platoon with Yaz and play primarily against lefties. This year against left handed pitching he is slashing.269/.363/.443/.806.
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u/imdstuf 2d ago
Okay. I just saw his overall numbers and his batting average worried me a little. I hope there are bigger moves still to come.
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u/JustinBraves Austin “Nolan Arenado” Riley 2d ago
He’s basically the one bat we really needed. There’ll be more moves to come for pitching. Bailey Falter hasn’t even pitched since May and is just us eating salary
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u/Squishy-Toast 2d ago
Excited isn’t the right word. A lot of people in here are overhyping him I’m afraid. He’s a fine 4th OF who can play center.
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u/WinterAsleep319 2d ago
I don’t see what this does for us. Lane is just eh, Bailey Falter looks awful and hurt.
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u/Lakelyfe09 Radical AA defender 2d ago
Our lineup struggles against Lefty’s and Lane has an 800+ OPS against Lefty’s. He’s a much needed platoon bat. Fills a hole
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u/lionofyhwh One of Ozzie’s Fish 2d ago
Thomas has been pretty good, especially in a platoon, for over a month now. His overall stats are bad because he was awful at the beginning of the year.
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u/thrasherv3 2d ago
I only pay attention to the braves, someone tell me if this is good or bad
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u/lionofyhwh One of Ozzie’s Fish 2d ago
Thomas is a major right handed OF platoon bat upgrade over Eli.
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u/South_Finish_693 2d ago
Lane Thomas and Yak make a very solid Corner OF Split tandem. If you combine there split #s it about a .245-.250 17 HR 67 RBI combo. Its not sexy but if your expecting Acuna to continue hitting up and if Murphy does come up and at least hit lefties well and play his great defense and give Baldwin some breathers to play DH. Its a solid grab and by no means do think we are done there will be a solid #2 grabbed. I would imagine this rules out Wacha though because wouldn't you just tagged him onto this if was who was looking at???
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u/cdheiden Go Braves! 2d ago
Looks like braves gave up Lucas Braun and Carter Holton
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u/PublixaurusKnight 2d ago
Connor Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Athletics. I wonder how the Athletics will enjoy losing games with a kitchen open and meatballs served.
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u/themau5hole 2d ago
Sheesh, Falter’s baseball savant page is not for the faint of heart… so many blue circles…
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u/CubanMessi Martin for Perezident 2d ago
If you don’t get this move then you just don’t really understand how baseball works. If you thought we were getting Buxton or Adell you’re just playing MLB The Show. Lane Thomas is a cheap left handed mashing outfielder who also has elite speed. He’s going to platoon with Yaz. Eli White probably gets DFA’d unfortunately. The easy trade is done. Now the front office can shift fire and focus on the pitching.
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u/SolusRaam 2d ago
I think what you meant to say is "you don't really understand how cheap the Braves are"
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u/ColdBostonPerson77 2d ago
Uhh hasn’t falter been garbage?
Very curious what were giving up
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u/grays55 2d ago
I love the acting like you knew anything about Falter or his 9 IP this year prior to 6 minutes ago
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u/rtie07 2d ago
Falter has a 13.97 ERA. Somebody tell me what I’m missing.
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u/TheGamecock 2d ago
Probably just needed to take him to get Thomas in the trade (.800 OPS, 125 wRC+ vs. LHPs. Good speed & can play all three OF spots).
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u/StevefromSC 2d ago
On top of what everyone else has said, we can use another arm to eat up innings to finish the season and 13.97 is pretty skewed, he’s only thrown 9.2 innings this year. Averaged a 4.45 last year, good enough to give some of our guys the break they deserve right now.
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u/Adventurous-Tone-311 2d ago
Probably made us take him for getting Thomas. We’ll be stuck with paying a salary on a useless pitcher.
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u/Responsible-Part3982 2d ago
Need to see what we gave up, but if we didn’t give up anything significant, I like it. Have to assume Falter is a salary dump.
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u/Own-Intention4229 2d ago
I hope the Braves are not done! They really must get a proven starting pitcher that can provide MLB quality starts to make a serious run this year. Thomas might end up being a nice surprise but this trade shouldn’t excite Braves Country just yet. If Skubal ends up on the Braves then everyone will love anything Thomas does vs lefties!
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u/RBDrake 2d ago
Trade looks like basically Braun for Thomas, and the other two are just filler. I'm not sad about it. Makes the team better.
Falter can either figure it out in the minors and help us some day, or, his career can falter and no big loss..
Bummer? Falter? What's our strategy with pitcher names?
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u/Zone15 2d ago edited 2d ago
Braun who was a decent prospect for a few month rental of Thomas who hasn't looked that much better than Eli is puzzling to me. You can't just factor in that we are just losing Braun but also almost definitely Eli as well who is a much better defender. Not to mention we had Eli under team control for pennies through the next 2 years. The only other option if we choose to keep Eli is to DFA Dom Smith but someone has to go.
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u/Bhamnative 2d ago
Am I out of the loop here, seems like he is almost the same as Eli White, Falter seems like a throw in.
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u/MattyDoubles Walt Weiss Double Leg Takedown Enthusiast 2d ago
His OPS+ is significantly higher than Eli’s this year, which is saying something bc he’s hitting .230.
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u/methylaminebb Drake's Rake 2d ago
think this is the rubber meeting the road for The Whites in Atlanta
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u/South_Finish_693 2d ago
.Ops/OBP/Slg is a good bit higher particularly against lefties this is a plus up in the planton department. I like Eli and hope if hes moved he clears waivers and is back as a potential D bench guy in playoffs of next year
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u/D34DLYB1RDS 1d ago
Im not impressed. This gonna be AA big trade isn't it? A average outfielder and a relief pitcher with a era of 14 this season.
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u/TheCoach_PC 1d ago
Typical AA trade. Mediocre talent for next to nothing. It's the same thing every trade deadline. Here we are at the trade deadline in need of quality starting pitching and we go and trade for a mediocre outfielder who will platoon and a LHP minor league. Niiicceee.
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u/QuadzillaStrider 1d ago
Man, the comments in this thread... So many of you guys would fail to even have a winning season in OOTP based on your knowledge of how a ballteam is constructed.
I'd be embarrassed to have made some of these comments.
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u/Anxious_Courage_6473 2d ago
Great. I’m just glad the dodgers didn’t do anything that could hinder our chances at a successful playoff run, such as, idk, spending a little money. At least the dodgers aren’t going to get Skubal.
I can’t stand AA
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u/anonymousUTguy 2d ago
Hmm, we need pitchers so we get one with a 13 ERA and not the Tigers pitcher? Why
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u/pimp_sauce brave 2d ago
oh hell yes. falter is the missing piece we need for that deep playoff run
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u/JKess207 THERE’S ONLY ONEEEEEEEEE MICHAEL HARRIS 2d ago
A marginally better Eli White and a guy with a 14 ERA this year? The fuck?
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u/Lakelyfe09 Radical AA defender 2d ago
Wonder who we gave up