Apr 9, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) throws the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

John Coppolella Tells Ken Rosenthal that prospects won’t be enough if contenders want Julio Teheran

In a video report from Saturday evening, FOX Sports’ reporter Ken Rosenthal talked with Braves’ GM John Coppolella and found that Coppy is no longer interested in just prospects – at least when it comes to the subject of trading #1 starter Julio Teheran.

Three main points were declared by Coppolella in that conversation, as recounted by Rosenthal:

‘The days of trading players like Teheran for prospects are over’

‘We need to get better at the major league level’

To trade Teheran, we would have to be “overwhelmed”, and only for a hitter of comparable quality and age in return

On the surface, that seems like the kind of news that Braves fans would want to hear, but it does present a bit of a dilemma.

Julio Teheran will undoubtedly garner serious trade interest this summer, particularly given his contract, performance, and team control, but what contending clubs also have a major-league-ready hitter available to trade away?

Just this week, we looked at the debate points for making such a deal – or not – and the “trade him” argument boiled down to the chance of getting a top 10 prospect or more in return. But tht seems to have been taken out of play now.

Who Could Possibly Be in Play?

I won’t do a lot of work on that subject at this time, but if you are strictly looking at major league players that are proving themselves among the league leaders this season, then those producing the best right now up through age 27 are the following (top 17 offensively in order):

I’ll stop here and allow you to decide which of these players are (a) playing for contenders; and (b) even remotely available.

I’ll save you a little trouble: don’t even write down the names ‘Trout’, ‘Machado’, ‘Bryant’, or ‘Harper’ in your comments…and most of the rest of that list is equally a non-starter for the clubs they play for.

So it’s certainly a case of Coppy drawing a thick line in the sand… he didn’t say ‘never’, but he is definitely making teams bring their ‘A Game’ before picking up the phone and calling 755 Hank Aaron Drive.

That would seem to eliminate any speculation involving names like Moncada, Devers, Meadows, or Bregman. Joey Gallo and/or Lewis Brinson (Texas)? Could be on the list… if they are deemed close enough to qualify.

Good on the Braves for reducing the chatter down to serious offers. It will be interesting to see if anyone bites… or if anyone thinks they actually have a surplus of hitting to meet Coppy’s price.

Maybe the Red Sox?? Astros??