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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,528 comments Add your comment
Stanley
July 31st, 2012
3:48 pm
LOVE IT!
DHD
July 31st, 2012
3:48 pm
I love this deal!!!!!
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
3:50 pm
Love this deal. Thanks DOB
Threadkiller
July 31st, 2012
3:50 pm
New deal..Minor, JJ, PTBNL to Tampa for Shields???
timthebrave
July 31st, 2012
3:50 pm
Go Braves!
BraveOne
July 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
First
archie
July 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
Let’s hope Medlen shows his true skills on the mound: control, holding runners close, fielding his position. And at the plate: laying down a bunt, making contact, providing a quality at-bat.
Tommy Hanson, the luckiest starter in baseball, has done none of those things with any consistency.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
Thanks for the work DOB.
GO BRAVES!!
Last 9 Starts of the Starting 9
_________AVG__OBP__SLG___OPS_wOBA_L9S9+
Bourn__ .179 .200 .256 0.456 .219 ___40
Prado__ .222 .275 .278 0.553 .274 ___70
Heyward .294 .359 .618 0.977 .450 __197
McCann_ .250 .351 .656 1.008 .420 __205
Freeman .276 .432 .310 0.743 .359 __131
Uggla__ .071 .235 .143 0.378 .202 ___18
Francis .323 .364 .645 1.009 .400 __206
Janish_ .185 .313 .222 0.535 .264 ___67
Medlen_ .000 .000 .000 0.000 .000 _-100
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
Dylan Hernandez @dylanohernandez
Source: the #Dodgers are out on Ryan Dempster.
He won’t be getting his top choice. I’d guess he’s going to the Yanks.
Mark Bowman @mlbbowman
Gearrin move doesn’t matter. You’ve got a starting pitcher on a pitch count tonight. Still a desire to add a reliever.
brad
July 31st, 2012
3:53 pm
Enter your comments here
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
Josh Johnson will not be traded, source says.
Mark Sheldon @m_sheldon
Reliever Todd Redmond is in #reds clubhouse. No roster moves announced as of yet.
Redmond gonna get his chance. Good for him.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
Dylan Hernandez @dylanohernandez
#Dodgers made a late push for #Twins left-hander Glen Perkins, but nothing materialized.
Halbert
July 31st, 2012
3:56 pm
I still don’t get how being in NY is better for Dempster’s daughter than ATL when he supposedly only wanted to go to the West Coast. And I’m not trying to be a douche here….just trying to understand his logic.
Reid in EAV
July 31st, 2012
3:56 pm
This closes out the Melky / Javier Vazquez trade, doesn’t it? Didn’t Vizcaino come over as a top Yankees prospect?
tony austin
July 31st, 2012
3:57 pm
I like this deal so much better. I was all for Dempster at first, even at the price of Delgado, but with hindsight kicking in I realize Delgado would have been too much. I am so glad Dempster basically nixed the deal. Plus I’ve been a Reed Johnson fan since the first time he played for the Cubs.
Bravesfaninnc
July 31st, 2012
3:57 pm
@Halbert the sick daughter story might be a makeup story who knows
Bravesfaninnc
July 31st, 2012
3:58 pm
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Rangers land Ryan Dempster
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
3:58 pm
nooneyouveheardof @nooneyouveheardof
Epstein announces Dempster traded to #Cubs for cash considerations.
ncbravesfan90
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
Scott Miller @ScottMCBS
Looks like Dempster to #Rangers, working on confirmation
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
JIM BOWDEN @JimBowdenESPNxm
Buster Olney ESPN reporting Rangers landed Ryan Dempster
Ken Gurnick @kengurnick
The Dodgers apparently have lost out on Ryan Dempster, who likely will go to Texas.
Bravesfaninnc
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
So it safe to assume that Wren did not make a trade today right
Biggs
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
You also need to keep in mind that he can play all 3 outfield positions. Most likely Bourne will not be back.
ncbravesfan90
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
Yeah because Texas is closer to his home in Canada…..
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
Redmond gonna get his chance. Good for him.
We’ll see. They brought him up a while ago and all he did was a load of laundry.
Pace
July 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Deadline expired – guess the Braves have done all they are going to do. Good trade for the team – now they just gotta WIN.
Ward
July 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Baseball Net Work – Dempster is heading to Rangers…..
Revised Scouting Report
July 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Dempster to Rangers
Jimmy
July 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Halbert – The kid has spent months in hospitals in Philly/Baltimore area. That’s what I’ve read anyway.
Thanks for the work DOB. I too (for what it matters) like the trade that was put together.
I think our pen will be fine.
bigchiefrg
July 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
The one problem I have about Medlen being such a “crucial” part of the bullpen is the score of the games he keeps getting put in. The difference in score has been 3+ in 7 of his last 15 appearances.
JC Brave
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors
Rangers Acquire Ryan Dempster.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
Epstein announces Dempster traded to #Cubs for cash considerations.
If that is true that is a massive opportunity cost Dempster laid on the Cubs. From Delgado to a bag of money.
tony austin
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
Dempster possibly to Texas?? That’s because Texas is so much closer to Vancouver that Atlanta.
PMC
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
Oh Noes, Dempster is going to be so far away from his family (sarcasm)
The Dude Abides... Still
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
Braves are Calling up Garrein
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
Yeah because Texas is closer to his home in Canada…..
It is… he lives in Vancouver, on the west side… Texas is closer than ATL
Wow, the Rangers sure have a lot of pitching… such a shame all their guys got hurt,
Ward
July 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
Glad Dempster is not a Yankee, and Texas has a great hospital.
TennesseePaul
July 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
Deadline expired – guess the Braves have done all they are going to do. Good trade for the team
News of deals can trickle out over the next few, but it does appear the Braves are done.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
If it’s true, I’m glad when an NL player goes to the AL at the trade deadline. Greinke out of the NL, Dempster (if true) out of the NL.
Pretty much you know what the starting rotations for the NL competitive teams will be.
ncscoots
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
They brought him up a while ago and all he did was a load of laundry.
But he didn’t fold.
NCbrave
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
Dempster to the Rangers
PMC
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
I would have respected Dempster more if he came out and said he was trying to get a long term deal out of a team that would give him one over spinning Urban Meyer esque lies about his family.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
If that is true that is a massive opportunity cost Dempster laid on the Cubs. From Delgado to a bag of money.
Amazing… ly sad.
CB
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
ab, I think you got TP!
LAG
July 31st, 2012
4:03 pm
Last time we had more than one lefty starter on the team was ‘08. Mike Hampton, Jo-Jo Reyes, and (for a while) Tom Glavine.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Two Class A pitchers going from #Rangers to #Cubs for Dempster.
DefBrave
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
abeewright – Dempster was traded to Cubs for cash considerations, you say???
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
Chase Headley stays.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
“If that is true that is a massive opportunity cost Dempster laid on the Cubs. From Delgado to a bag of money.”
Actually ‘nooneyouveheardof’ reported that Dempster would be staying with the Cubs (i.e., traded from the Cubs to the Cubs for cash).
The Dude Abides... Still
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
Dempster obviously over-played his hand with holding out on going to the Dodgers. The yankees were used as leverage as they usually are. Then he falls in the Rangers lap. Dempster is now vile.
Scoots
July 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
So, the deadline has passed. The Braves didn’t trade Delgado, Minor, Teheran, or Gilmartin. We got two of our three needs. I’ll take it.
Bravesfaninnc
July 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Correction: One of players going to #Cubs is a pitcher, one a position player. Both at Class A.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:05 pm
ncscoots: Haha
CrαZy
July 31st, 2012
4:06 pm
I bet the Rangers will either release Oswalt or try him in the pen… dude’s been horrible this year!!
Ward
July 31st, 2012
4:06 pm
All, have a good one! Maholm will be great for the Braves. He’s younger, and has nasty stuff too.Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:06 pm
Well, Dempster “screwed” over the Cubs, but it’ll be okay.
News of a braves deal might leak out soon, but not expecting anything.
Ward
July 31st, 2012
4:06 pm
All, have a good one! Maholm will be great for the Braves. He’s younger, and has nasty stuff too.Peace my friends, and “Go!!!!!Braves!!!!!”
ncbravesfan90
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Dempster was suppose to be one of the first players moved this summer, ends up being the last, right at the deadline.
The Dude Abides... Still
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Braves could have used Brandon League or Mejeca
Juan
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
TUESDAY….we’re 11-4 on tuesday….good day for the Bravo
JC Brave
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Chase Headly stays with Padres. Braves should try to get him next offseason! Would be a good addition to the team and an acceptable replacement at 3B after Chipper retires. Affordable too.
Joey Terdoslavich hasn’t been all that great so far, or has he? Does anyone have any input on Joey’s chances of being part of Braves’ future?
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Noone should listen to ‘nooneyouveheardof’ though. Appears he was dead wrong on his faux tweet.
JoshTown
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Good trade, and helps solidify an already (mostly) solid team. We’ve got kinks to iron out like everyone else, but this should help the bats relax with an improved starting rotation, and our bench just got a hell of a lot better. Go Braves!
tony austin
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
So, the deadline has passed. The Braves didn’t trade Delgado, Minor, Teheran, or Gilmartin. We got two of our three needs. I’ll take it. – Scoots
Co-sign.
Zing
July 31st, 2012
4:07 pm
Agreed, DOB – this was really nice work by Wren. In contrast with the Dempster trade, which I felt pretty ambivalent about because of the inclusion of Delgado (whom I think is very close to breaking out), here we have a pitcher in the middle of his career who’s under control for next year, too. Reed Johnson also is a big pickup… I’m frankly a little bit surprised that Epstein agreed to this one.
RC
July 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
So glad that Dempster will be able to be closer to his family in Mexico. What’s that? They live in British Columbia? Then why the heck did he hold out for this deal (if it’s really about being close to his family).
Bravesfaninnc
July 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
Wren did a decent job at the deadline he trade a starting pitcher and a bat but we also need a bullpen arm. And that one he did not do Wren you could have done much better then this.
TheOnlyBravesFan
July 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors
Yankees Close To Acquiring McGehee For Qualls http://bit.ly/PmrS8N #mlb
monty
July 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
Of course Medlen is OK with going back to the pen, what else would a team guy say? No it sucks? But believe you me there’s not one reliever(hyperbole) who really believes he can cut it as a starter who wants to be in the pen. When you look at the differences between pay for a good starter and a good reliever there’s alot of disparity and alot more packing of bags. How do I love starting? Let me count the ways.
BravesFanInNashville
July 31st, 2012
4:08 pm
Reid in EAV.. Yes Vizcaino did come over in that Yankee trade. We now end up with Maholm and Johnson as the remnants of that trade. Not bad considering we don’t know the future on Viz and Vazquez is retired. We have two players that can help us this year and Maholm will be around at least one more year.
ChattTownBrian
July 31st, 2012
4:09 pm
We have one fiasco it seems every trade dealine with a certain player. This year it was Demspter. I’d say his was easily the wildest, silliest one yet. Unreal. He’s not even that great to begin with.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:09 pm
A few more deals ought to trickle out in the next hours. Dempster deal was probably not the last.
The Dude Abides... Still
July 31st, 2012
4:12 pm
Come on guys.. You know what Dempster’s problem was. He stated he wanted to be the hammer, not the nail for a change. Says the multimillionaire playing a childs game. He was made that he found out through the media that the he was heading to the braves. He is a classic prima donna. I hate unions and this is union mentality that I have a right to do something even if its not necessary.
Bama Brave
July 31st, 2012
4:12 pm
Im Just Glad We Didnt give up delgado for dempster!!!!
Murph
July 31st, 2012
4:13 pm
Dempster is getting paid the same regardless of where he went, and he’s a free agent at the end of the season… he didn’t screw himself over at all.
I’m sure the Cubs are disappointed… Delgado would have been a really good pickup for them. What are you gonna do, though? The owners agreed to the 10/5 rule just like the players did. Sometimes it bites them in the tushy.
It’s a waste of your own time to sit around feeling angry about a guy who turned down a trade to your favorite team. Take that anger and use it for something productive, like forum bashing dot Don or Mitchell or whoever.
The Dude Abides... Still
July 31st, 2012
4:13 pm
No I think the Furcal thing was the worse.
ChattTownBrian
July 31st, 2012
4:13 pm
Disappointed FW didn’t get a solid RP. He has so much talent to choose from to trade for an important piece missing in that pen. The reason for this missing piece is Venters. He isn’t to be trusted anymore in high pressure spots. EOF can’t work as much as they probably want because of his back.
He can still get one of those RP of course, but still would’ve been real nice to pick up one now.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:14 pm
NL Teams: Nats, Braves, Reds, Pirates, Cards, Giants, Dodgers, DBacks
AL Teams: Yanks, Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, White Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Angels
I think Pirates and DBacks drop out before too much longer.
I think Os and Rays drop out before too much longer.
Patrick
July 31st, 2012
4:15 pm
Yankees traded Chad Qualls to Pirates for Casey McGhee
Good for the Pirates for being active and going for it!
I hope they win the division, it’d be a great story
njbraves
July 31st, 2012
4:15 pm
A relief pitcher was a real need…bad job by Wren. Dodgers, Giants, and Reds got better…Braves really didn’t.
Bat Masterson
July 31st, 2012
4:16 pm
But he didn’t fold.
nice
Jack in Macon
July 31st, 2012
4:16 pm
Agree Dave. This is a great trade for the Braves for all the reasons you mention and others. One of those is, as I understand it, the Cubs are paying Maholm”s and Johnsons’ salary for the remainder of the year. Obviouly, Maholm is a great addition but Reed Johnson is a big deal for the Braves.
Dave, do you think it’s likely the Braves will go with essentially a 6 man rotation using Medlen in such a way that Hanson (specially Hanson), Huddy, Sheets and Minor can each skip a start to help them stay fresh?
Patrick
July 31st, 2012
4:17 pm
Ha! To Dempster who has turned himself into a liar and villian in at least 2 cities in the matter of less than a week.
I’m so glad that he did not go to the place that he really wanted to.
And he’s going to the AL where he will most likely not be phantom ace as he was perceived (by some) to be in the NL. He hasn’t been pitching as well lately either compared to earlier in the year.
raleighbravefan
July 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
Nats sat out? WWWhheeeeeeeeewww.
Wren will be studying the waiver wire.
Patrick
July 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
A relief pitcher was a real need…bad job by Wren. Dodgers, Giants, and Reds got better…Braves really didn’t.
Very true post.
They got slightly better on the bench. That’s all
unbelievable
July 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
Jack, dont think you will see a 6 man rotation. Best pitchers pitch less, worst pitchers pitch more. Not a good philosophy unless you are the Rockies and you are just saving arms.
Heisenberg
July 31st, 2012
4:19 pm
Interesting I have not seen anything so far about Nats acquiring a pitcher. They were rumored to be looking for one to use when they shut down Strasburg. I will still believe it when I see it. But if they do shut him down, then it is either Wang or Lannan in that spot which will cost Nats a couple or more wins.
flange1
July 31st, 2012
4:19 pm
Come on MEds, show the front office that you can start!
Throw up 6 innings with 1 run and 3 hits and let them think about it!
StingerSplash
July 31st, 2012
4:19 pm
I coulda gone all day without a Jo-Jo Reyes reference. All year, in fact. Maybe even the rest of my life.
Great Hag call today, DOB. Very few, if any, better (Cash, Dylan, maybe … maybe) and few in his class.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:19 pm
I’m the biggest Dempster fan in the world for failing to approve the trade. Delgado was a ridiculous over-pay for 2 months of Dempster, who will likely return to norms at the end of the season.
He’s a career 4.31 ERA, with a W-L% of .492, 1.43 WHIP, 4.41 BB/9, 7.71 SO/9.
2012 … 2.25 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.70 SO/9
Reid in EAV
July 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
Two outta three needs met ain’t bad. And remember that we have Peter Moylan on the way back. That said, might be possible to get a good ‘pen arm via a waiver-wire deal. Oh yeah, Andrelton Simmons is on the way back too. He could still make some noise down the stretch, though Janish has certainly overperformed.
BravesFanInNashville – thanks!
Memphis
July 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
People on here are so fickle. With Medlen going back to bullpen, Moylan coming back and Venters coming around. The Braves aren’t desperate for bullpen help. Odds are they’ll pick up someone off the waiver wire before the season is up.
Patrick
July 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
Braves could have used Brandon League or Mejeca
This is true, they definatley could have.
Instead they went to 1 of 2 teams that could take the wild care away from them again this season….and if that happens, I hope that Wren is fired. And also, that they put serious thought into letting Fredi go to.
ncscoots
July 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
I’m so glad that he did not go to the place that he really wanted to.
Why would you even care, man?
unbelievable
July 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
I hope that Wren is fired. – Patrick
Careful what you wish for.
raleighbravefan
July 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
njbraves – “Braves really didn’t” (get better) huh? Huh? HUH?
Go back and read this very blog. You must be living too close to one of those many toxic waste dumps in scenic NJ. And…we didn’t get better because we didn’t sign a RP? Again, HUH???
Stumps O Reilly
July 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
This might ut us in the driver’s seat. Now if Uggla can remember how to hit,we are in the money
DAP
July 31st, 2012
4:22 pm
reid in EAV This closes out the Melky / Javier Vazquez trade, doesn’t it? Didn’t Vizcaino come over as a top Yankees prospect?
it actually doesnt, because mike dunn was in that trade and used to get uggla, and now that viz has been traded, the book is still open as we see what maholm, johnson, and uggla continue to do for atlanta.
abeeewright
July 31st, 2012
4:24 pm
“”They got slightly better on the bench.”
You are understating how bad the Braves bench has been this season, both offensively and defensively.
Going with two more guys in the bullpen and having a short bench for the rest of the season might have been an improvement.
Gone Viral
July 31st, 2012
4:25 pm
Ryan Dempster’s nonsense prevents us from making a disastrous trade then we turn around make an outstanding one. This has been a good week all around for Braves baseball.
Bravefaninok
July 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
Fredi said Medlen is in the rotation for now. Plan to start him again Sunday vs Astros