You Be The GM: Braves send Francoeur to Boston Red Sox for… who?
With a Gordon Edes report circulating online that the Boston Red Sox have been scouting Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur — and Atlanta GM Frank Wren having no comment on the matter — we turn to you, our AJC readers, for… comment on the matter of the Frenchy-to-BoSox rumors.
You Be The GM: For the pure sake of argument, let’s say you’re Braves GM and you’re shipping Francoeur to Boston. Who do you ask for in return? Another outfielder to plug the RF hole that’s created? A pitcher to shore up our rotation? Or the big bat needed to cure the offensive woes?
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320 comments Add your comment
Bob
May 28th, 2009
12:29 pm
John Smoltz
Chopper
May 28th, 2009
12:30 pm
Julio Franco and Otis Nixon. It’s the Braves, who do you think they’ll go after? Re-treads!
brannon
May 28th, 2009
12:32 pm
not john smoltz for God’s sake.
atliving79
May 28th, 2009
12:36 pm
A bag of beans!
Bill
May 28th, 2009
12:39 pm
20 bats and they pay his ticket out of town.
JC
May 28th, 2009
12:39 pm
The Braves should trade Chris Medlen and Frenchy for Jason Bay, then call up Tommy Hanson like they should have done from the start of the season.
Bill
May 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
Oh, please take Bobby Cox with you.
phil
May 28th, 2009
12:40 pm
Why does it matter who they get? Is Boston going to give us a better major league player than Francoeur? If not, it doesn’t matter because Francoeur isn’t worth anything. It will be the same thing we have now.
What??!?!
May 28th, 2009
12:41 pm
JC, the Red Sox would never in a million years do that, they would have to be insane.
Mine This Bird
May 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
Just give Francouer away. For the love of God, please. We don’t need anything in return.
Dan DC
May 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
Is this artilce a joke?! We might get salary relief or a player that nobody’s ever heard of that is blind and has a 2nd ass where his head should be.
What??!?!
May 28th, 2009
12:42 pm
I honestly don’t have a clue who Boston has that we could use at all. The only thing I can make any sense of it, is that they might trade Frenchy for a young pitcher, and then throw him with some prospects in another deal for another player off some other team. There’s no way the red Sox trade Jason Bay in any deal with us, forget it, its not happening.
ATLSean
May 28th, 2009
12:43 pm
I would keep Medlen for now. My vote is JoJoke or KJ with Frenchy for Bay.
Bobby Cox
May 28th, 2009
12:44 pm
Gee, Skip. Coco Crisp might be a real possibility. Always loved that name. It has a baseball-ring about it. Frank is also thinking about giving Chris Reitsma a try out. He’s been “light out” in his church softball league. Always did like that kid. He’d make a great fill-in while Buddy Carlyle rehabs. Duh.
Jipper cones
May 28th, 2009
12:45 pm
If the sox would give us some kind of prospect for Frenchy, we could package him with some of our own minor leaguers in a deal with a slugger from another team. Thats the only way the trade scenario with the Red Sox makes any sense.
Frank Wren
May 28th, 2009
12:45 pm
Don’t count on much for Frenchie. His value has sunk quicker than the stock market. Maybe a Class A prospect and a sack of new baseballs.
oi!
May 28th, 2009
12:45 pm
I’d be willing to DFA Francoeur at this point. Maybe he could get things back together playing in AA or AAA for the rest of the year, but the Braves can’t let him play everyday in Atlanta.
If the Sox will give us anything, we should take it.
Shannon
May 28th, 2009
12:46 pm
I say we keep Jeff since he is still young (25) but if we trade him let’s get someone like Lars Anderson in return. A young power bat at 1B. Kotchman is solid and plays good defense but we need power from our 1B.
Christian
May 28th, 2009
12:47 pm
The best we can get is Prospects or some of their deader arms. The Bosox don’t have a lot offer on a straight-u basis. I am not sure why a trade is being considered other than perhaps future salary relief. I do not believe this is a trade that has been initiated by Boston.
Leroy Updike
May 28th, 2009
12:51 pm
A good reliever to shore up the bullpen. However, I hope this thing with the Sox doesn’t happen. The Sox do not need an “ATTITUDE” like Frenchy’s. They need a “Team player”.
jw
May 28th, 2009
12:53 pm
Ortiz – he isn’t happy in Bean Town, could be a Manny type moment for the Braves, like last year’s Dodgers! I think he is dogging it in Boston, wanting to get out! Yeah, yeah – the steroid thing may bite us later – in Ortiz’s case, I think it’s the burgers and fries instead of “fertility” pills! The Varsity is 100 percent steroid free so he should pass all the tests!
Shannon
May 28th, 2009
12:53 pm
Based on most of these comments I can see why GMs can never listen to fans. Jason Bay? He is an MVP candidate right now. You think the Sox are going to trade him when they are sitting in 1st place? Get real. And how does dumping Francoeur for next to nothing help us? That makes no sense. But if I were Jeff I would pray for a trade. Not sure why the fans here hate him so much but with no hometown support it is probably better if he moves on.
woogidy
May 28th, 2009
12:55 pm
We hate him because he sucks.
Shannon
May 28th, 2009
12:58 pm
Great argument woogidy.
nelson
May 28th, 2009
1:00 pm
send francoeur & jojo reyes to oakland for matt holliday
lawdawg
May 28th, 2009
1:00 pm
A ham sandwich to be named later.
Leroy Updike
May 28th, 2009
1:02 pm
Fans don’t “hate” Francour. However, when the “Team” needs the batter to just meet the ball, Frenchy’s desire for a home run or just to be the Hero (Individualism)is disappointing (consistently.
Taylor
May 28th, 2009
1:02 pm
I went to parkview and hate francouers play
Branch Rickey
May 28th, 2009
1:05 pm
What moron would let BOTH Frenchie & Schafer continue to play everyday, while not only struggling with the bat, but hurting the teams chances of winning. Sounds like a manager problem in Atlanta.
Shannon
May 28th, 2009
1:06 pm
Taylor you were probably one of those guys that hated him because he was popular and you were not. Sad.
bunch-o-idiots
May 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
Why not a stright swap of Fenchy for Baldelli? I’d take him right now…even with the risk of injury.
Honestly, I would throw Frenchy in the minors and bring up Blanco. He’ll at least get on base.
Mine This Bird
May 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
Or Taylor just hates him because he sucks?
Leroy Updike
May 28th, 2009
1:08 pm
I guess somebody called Bobby Cox – a Moron!
Plate Appearance
May 28th, 2009
1:09 pm
STAY WITH JEFF!
I’d like to see Jeff get more time to work out his hitting troubles!
However the trade I’d like to see made would be to get Josh Anderson back for CF, while demoting Schafer.
It’s too bad too, that Wren didn’t get Sheffield for LF. He’s hitting for both power and average in NY.
Moreover, Frank should have given Andruw another try in Spring Training. His current stats if projected over 550 at bats would have him hitting close to 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in — with nearly a .300 average!
martin
May 28th, 2009
1:09 pm
i think the braves and frenchy need a trade. why not trade our batting coach also. loved TP as a player but batting coach he messed up andrew and frenchy.
obamallama
May 28th, 2009
1:10 pm
air
coachx
May 28th, 2009
1:12 pm
Why would any team give us anything back of value for French ?
Mike
May 28th, 2009
1:14 pm
I personally think that because we arent going to get anything of value for Jeff, that we should keep him, send him to the minors for the rest of the year. Have him work specifically with a good hitting instructor and give him one more shot to turn in around. Dont bring him back until he has in figured out for good. There is no risk or loss doing it this way. You are giving a player that has shown so much promise one final shot to turn it around. he was probably rushed to majors too soon, he never learned how to adjust his hitting and truly know the strike zone. He could swing, so they brought him up.
In the end your not getting anything for him, so you might as well make sure there is still not a great player in there somewhere. I tell you one thing, it would really suck to see us ship him off for some nobody, and see another team take a minor league approach with him, and see him blossom. That would suck.
yogi2
May 28th, 2009
1:15 pm
trade Franquer for a couple of autographed pictures of Johnny Damon
Steve
May 28th, 2009
1:17 pm
I’ll guarantee you this: Wherever Frenchy goes, he will have a succession of All-Star seasons. This is the Atlanta Braves, after all.
Joe
May 28th, 2009
1:17 pm
At this point, I think a bucket of balls would be more productive.
Ron E.
May 28th, 2009
1:19 pm
I’d take literally anybody they were willing to trade for him even a single A player with not much upside. The money saved from his salary which could be used in a future deal to get a power hitter and the improved offense from plugging any other player not named Jordan Schafer or Garret Anderson into RF would be more than enough return.
Tired Bravesfan
May 28th, 2009
1:19 pm
How about keeping Frenchy and getting a hitting coach to work with him. Its really funny how none of the players work well with Pendleton. Maybe thats because he cloans everyone and I for one am getting sick of them trading our potential sluggers and keeping Pendleton on as coach. He does not help hitters, He is not a coach. If so why is it that Frenchy went to Texas to work with their coach and came back hitting but get around Pendleton and nothing? He was a good hitter but he is not a coach.
Sure give away frenchy, let him go to the sox and start pounding the ball. If you want to fix the problem with frenchy hitting fix the problem. Fire Pendleton and get a real coach. Terry has hurt our lineup to long. Time to fix the real problem and keep our players for ourselves.
Jimbrave
May 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
We forget so fast. He made fans so happy with his rookie exploits. I, for one, wish him the best in Atl or beantown.
aswingruber
May 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
excerpt from “Georgia’s New Peach” SI article August 29, 2005
“The TV highlights roll on, showcasing Francoeur’s typically sublime game against the Los Angeles Dodgers the previous night. He went 2 for 5, lifting his average to .373, and hit his 10th home run, a 407-foot parabola that landed midway up the leftfield stands. He saw a total of 16 pitches, on par with his economical average of 3.34 pitches per plate appearance. He threw out pitcher Odalis Perez at second base by unleashing a strike while standing one step from the rightfield wall, his ninth outfield assist. (”I can remember playing catch with him a year or two ago in spring training and not thinking much of his arm,” Jones says. “Boy, was I wrong.”) The righthanded-hitting Francoeur’s first major league triple, an opposite-field rope on an 0-and-2 changeup that struck the top of the fence, was impressive as much for the stroke (”I really liked that,” Dodgers hitting instructor Tim Wallach said the following afternoon) as for the swiftness with which the 6′4″ 220-pounder circled the bases. Speed, clearly, is yet another implement in the seemingly bottomless Francoeur toolbox.”
..Oh how times have changed
Eric
May 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Trade Frenchy and Reyes for Uggla and then move Kelly Johnson back to OF.
yogi2
May 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
Frenchy was not rushed to the Majors. he came up becaue he cried like a baby when McCann and other deserving players were called up before him.
Check it out, he cried and sobbed when sent down. that is why COX brought him back after 2 days. Check it out
Brian Asselstine
May 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
Schaffer must go immediately. Killing the team. Frenchy- will have to give him away at this point. Not much in return for RF that can not hit. As for Andruw, he would be terrible in Atlanta because the hitting coach is terrible. Hitting coach in Texas is good. Was able to correct enough for Andruw to make him a major league player again. The Braves have not hit as a team since Baylor left. Sorry TP, just a fact.
rick
May 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Yea Steve, thats it, the Braves organization sucks and the players that leave become all-stars. All those pennants, championships and the world title is just stuff someone dreamed up…….
Threadkiller
May 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Francoeur, JoJo, & Morton to Washington for Adam Dunn.
Richard
May 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
Listen Braves fans yal got to lay off Frenchie. He will turn it around. If we do end up trading him. We should look for a better bat at first base that can flash some leather. We have Jason Heyward that needs to get called up and having some growing pains but he is def. the real deal. Heyward and Shafer are def. the future of our outfield.
Supes
May 28th, 2009
1:22 pm
If you are going to be trading with the Marlins…main player back in the deal has to be Jorge Cantu (who can play 2B). Rather have him than Uggla.
Sam
May 28th, 2009
1:23 pm
Shannon, Is that the same Lars Anderson whose brothers Ole and Gene formed the wrestlers “Minnesota Wreckin Crew”?
dap01
May 28th, 2009
1:25 pm
Send the anointed one to AAA. Oh JF would be so shocked. Jeff should go to AAA and LEARN baseball. Then he may EARN his way back.
On a side note, if we send him down for the rest of the year, I bet he hits 280 with little power. My guess that he would still ask for a huge raise next year.
JF time has come and gone!
Bobby Cox
May 28th, 2009
1:26 pm
Frenchie hits well in all the simulated games we have. But then again, Remmie and Reitsma looked pretty sharp in those same simulated games.
dap01
May 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
Speed? JF runs like a 40 year old!
yogi2
May 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
Just release Shafer, FRancuer,Norton,and JoJO. They have negative Value IF sent to Gwinnett, they would only hinder the development of better players
Brian Asselstine
May 28th, 2009
1:28 pm
Schafer will never be in the Braves outfield. This guy simply cannot hit. His defense is ok but not one tenth what Andruw played for a decade. His defense is certainly not enough to keep him around. At least Andruw could save a few runs before he struck out. Schafer makes the routine plays. You never see any Sports Center type highlight catches.
Blackberry Cobbler
May 28th, 2009
1:29 pm
I’m no fan of Francine……….
But, I don’t understand all the venom spewed his way when Shafer and Anderson are just as big a problem. If not moreso.
Let’s just face it, the Braves aside from Chipper (when he’s not hurt) and McCann are about all the team has got to count on.
Chalk it up to another failed season and look forward to 2010.
rick
May 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
Getting rid of Francoeur will at this point would be more of a benefit for him than the Braves. He needs a fresh start and a new beginning. Whomever we get in return is immaterial since his value is so low. Wren will have to address the lack of outfield production with a more thought out plan.
just me
May 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
I have to agree with Plate Appearence. Jeff needs to work on being patient at the plate and regaining his confidence. Lack of confidence at the plate leads to poor results. When you read negative comments about yourself that just leads to more loss of confidence. Maybe Jeff is having a hard time seeing the ball or maybe he has been making changes to his batting stance. All kinds of things come into play. My comment to Jeff is this: Relax and play your game! Forget all the hype and find the swing that feels good to you. If you were a terrible player you would not be playing in the majors! Find your groove and make it your game!
John
May 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
Those of you who preach patience with Francoeur must not have cable?? At what point do you say enough is enough? Same with all outfielders not named Diaz. Francoeur is 68th out of 69 outfielders in the major leagues in on base percentage…and still playing every day! That is crazy!
Just wondering?
May 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
Why do immature people keep wanting a bag of balls for him? Package him with some of the excess pitchers (Jo-J0, Carlyle, Morton, etc) and get what you can for him, bring up young outfielders, release Norton, make Garrett Anderson the primary pinch hitter, because that is all he can do now, and develop for the future. At least have a plan and quit all these knee-jerk responses.
Kevin
May 28th, 2009
1:34 pm
You guys that are packaging a deal consisting of francoeur and Jo-Jo frealing reyes for Jason Bay or Matt Holliday are freaking high!!! Please share with me the stuff you are smoking. NO one in their right mind would want a “lost terrible hitter” and even more confused pitcher for a top notch player….this isnt your mvp baseball 2009 game or some video game where you can just trade whoever for all-stars….
We would be lucky to get anyone worth playing right now Jeff.
G State Ben
May 28th, 2009
1:36 pm
Josh Reddick, currently with the Sox AA Affliate in Portland, ME. He’s a local guy. Bring him home Frank!
Seriously
May 28th, 2009
1:39 pm
Some of you can blame the coaches (Pendleton) all you want, but there isn’t a coach out there that is going to give him a better understanding of the strike zone. He can’t seem to hold off on any pitch. This is NOT a new problem. If you think that a hole in his swing is the problem, your jumping more than he is.
bwell
May 28th, 2009
1:39 pm
We won’t get much as Frenchy’s value is very low (statistical wise, he is one of the worst everyday players in the league for the past two seasons). Maybe we could pry Luis Exposito from them. Exposito is a AA catcher with pretty good power. We need catching depth at that level. Another possibility is one of their young shortstops. Maybe Yamaica Navarro, who could be switched to 3rd and possibly a replacement for Chipper Jones when his time is up.
JCSmalls
May 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
I would trade Frenchy straight up for a swift kick to the junk!!
Supes
May 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
Jeff to the Nats for Willingham.
Jeff and Jo-Jo Reyes or Kris Medlen to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida.
Jeff to the Red Sox for a minor league prospect (if you are going to be rebuilding like you should – if you are the Braves front office)
Jim
May 28th, 2009
1:43 pm
First, a Frenchie to Boston trade will NEVER HAPPEN. He just does not fit into the Boston mold of patient hitters who know how to work the count. He has the swing at the first pitch mentality that Sox management loathes and try to break. Those who will not conform are sent packing (see Garciaparra, Nomar). Just to play along, however, a very Braves-favorable package would include Manny Delcarmen to help immediately in the bullpen and AA first base prospect Lars Anderson. I could also see a three-way deal transpiring where Francour is sent somewhere else and the Sox aquire a prospect to help fill their need at catcher. This is the more likely scenario for a trade involing Boston, Atlanta, and the French one.
Mark C.
May 28th, 2009
1:44 pm
Seriously,
Please pack up your reason and common sense and get out of here. This is a Jeff Francouer blog.
tmac
May 28th, 2009
1:44 pm
Francouer, Diory hernandez, and Medlen for Jason Bay and Takashi Saito
wp
May 28th, 2009
1:45 pm
Another young player with a great future but the knucleheads in atlanta want to get rid of him in 2 years. I hope he goes to someone the Braves play often and he wears them out.
blueberry cobbler
May 28th, 2009
1:46 pm
Send Schafer down now!!!! They sent Blanco down & he is a way-better ball player than Schafer!! As for Frenchy, the ONLY reason that he is still in Atlanta is because he is a hometown boy!!
BraveCat
May 28th, 2009
1:48 pm
Just trade him!! I am sick of hearing “he will turn it around” Oh really?!? So how long do you give him….another 2 yrs…5? He is NOT going to turn it around in Atlanta.
Sportsdawg
May 28th, 2009
1:49 pm
Hey Sam, do you remember their infamous fueds with the beloved “Torrez Brothers”?
Ray Pugh
May 28th, 2009
1:49 pm
You people need to inform me of where you buy your crack. It is obviously a high-potency product from the likes of you comments…
Eric
May 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
I like the idea of swapping him for Hermida. Both have high ceilings and expectations and have not met them.
Brian Asselstine
May 28th, 2009
1:51 pm
JF could be stomached if the Center Fielder could hit his weight which is about 180 I believe. CF is more of a problem. I love Diaz but he is not an everyday guy that will give you power. Blanco was not the answer last year but he is so much better than JS it is not funny. Why Schaffer plays is a bigger puzzle than Jeff F. Everyone else is platooned vs lefties except JS. He can’t hit rughties much less lefties.
John from Illinois
May 28th, 2009
1:53 pm
RP Michael Bowden….another strong young arm
Jeep
May 28th, 2009
1:55 pm
Plan A – send French to AAA or AA to re-learn what he earned during the off season.
Plan B – let Infante play SS, send French and Escobar to Bosox for Jason Bay
Radio sux
May 28th, 2009
1:56 pm
I’ll take Dwight Evans and a bowl of chowda
Jeep
May 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
… oh… and replace JS with Blanco
anotherdawg
May 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
Can we trade Terry Pendleton to Texas for their batting coach?
Shannon
May 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
None of this matters as long as you have a manager who has long since seen his best days and a hitting coach that is clueless. And T.P. is the so called future replacement for Cox? Ouch!!!!!!
First things first…….. fire or force Cox to retire and fire T.P.!!!
J.R.
May 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
Call the LA Angels and get Terry Evans. Young right handed power hitting outfielder with speed. He is at Salt Lake(AAA) right now Oh yeah, he’s from good old Dublin, Georgia too. Led all of minor league baseball in HR 2 years ago and is killing the ball right now
Allen
May 28th, 2009
2:00 pm
I don’t trade Frenchy and I don’t make a trade with Boston. If the Braves aren’t going to get a Top Tier outfielder in return with whom ever they are wanting to trade, then it’s pointless. They need to cut Anderson, who has been on the DL way to much and he’s to old. Send Frenchy to the minors and bring up one of the young guys, if not two of them. If the Braves are going to make a trade, I think they could get more for Kelly Johnson than Frenchy.
Ray Pugh
May 28th, 2009
2:01 pm
You anti-Schafer buffoons will be eating your ill-chosen words when he is raking like Grady Sizemore. Oh, and his on-base percentage, amazing arm and plus fielding is why he is still in the lineup…
Lazy Dawg
May 28th, 2009
2:01 pm
Not the time for a trade with nothing in return..
AFSOC Shirt
May 28th, 2009
2:03 pm
Francoeur: 253/3/21
Schafer: 209/2/8
Try any and all outfielders from the Braves’ minor league teams. Would they do better than JF and JS? Maybe, maybe not. Would they do worse? I doubt it.
baseball head
May 28th, 2009
2:03 pm
The hometown luster of Francoure is worn out. If he played to his expectation or at least had a consistent bat, could steal bases, or stop hitting into double plays then the hometown fans would support him. He reminds me of Brad Kominsk or Ryan Klesko, all the potential but they never prospered in Atlanta. Jeff needs to try somewhere else, say KC, Texas, or Giants.
coach k
May 28th, 2009
2:03 pm
For 8yrs I have said this, it is time for Bobby to go and take Pendleton with him. I gave Frenchy his chance to redeem himself, but when I see him consistantly hit to 3rd with runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs he needs to come out. There is no passion on this team, they are too white collared. This team continues to play sub par baseball and they are way more talented than this. It’s shake up time while we are still in this thing. We need a banger in there. Got nobody who is a consistant threat to hit it out.
Micki
May 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
For a pack of Juicy Fruit…thats the value JF-K has right now…
Allen
May 28th, 2009
2:06 pm
I agree Terry Pendleton needs to go, he’s not a hitting coach. The Braves need to get a real hitting coach!!!!!
Brian Asselstine
May 28th, 2009
2:07 pm
Forget JF and JS. I have a great idea:
1b Willie Montanez
2b Rod Gilbreath
3b Larvell “sugarbear” Blanks
ss Darrell Chaney
lf Jeff Burroughs
cf Dale Murphy
rf “Yours Truly” Brian Asselstine
c Biff Pocaroba
p Buzz Capra
Mgr. Bobby Cox
Glory Days 110 losses every year. Fun tinmes at the ball yard though. Sit in any seat you want. No ushers to tell you what to do. Average attendance 5,234. BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS OF ATLANTA BRAVES BASEBALL.
Pete, Skip and Ernie from Fulton County Stadium
Brian Asselstine
May 28th, 2009
2:09 pm
Ray Pugh- If you think JS is the next Grady Sizemore, you would fail a drug test
Aaron
May 28th, 2009
2:11 pm
I honestly don’t care who we get in return just get rid of him. And take Schafer with him. How can Cox and Wren sit back and watch 2/3’s of their outfield have now clue how to hit. And TP has no freakin clue how to teach them to make adjustments. This organization is seriously turning into a bigger joke than they were back in the 80’s before the streak happened!
P-Town Brave
May 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
They’d get a better return of investment if they could package Francoeur/KJohnson/ + one of Morton or Medlen to a team
tony
May 28th, 2009
2:19 pm
if we trade jeffie po we should also get rid of our non teaching hitting coach if he can be called a hitting coach.
Patrick Duffy
May 28th, 2009
2:19 pm
The Red Sox bat boy’s jock strap probably has seen better play than Frenchy… If we could somehow pull that off!!