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?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
320 comments Add your comment
coach k
May 28th, 2009
2:20 pm
Look around the league every team has Braves starting, especially TX. We have them here but can’t get them to play correctly until they go somewhere else.. Tired of never hearing from Scheurholtz or Wren or anyone from Mang. Need something to light a fire under these guys. 40 games is a benchmark and we are playing 500 ball and don’t blame pitching it has been good enough if anyone except, Chipper, Mac, Kotchman and Escobar could get someone in. It is time for change, hell I’ll take the job. It’s time for some good ole fashion in your face small ball. This team is good enough to take it all but something has to change now.
samanjerry
May 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
frenchy=braves as to adrian beltre=dodgers.
if frenchy stays he will continue to have below expectable seasons (i mean cmon all we expect is .270
15hrs and maybe 70rbis now…)
but show flashes of brilliance. just enough to keep him in the team.
in his free agent year he’ll blow up for .300 30hr 100rbis and get a killer contract somewhere else.
just like beltre, throw in javier lopez aswell.
remember beltre was suppose to be the face of the dodgers after mike pizza got traded but he just keep crapping out and the dodgers believed in his talents so they just keep him around til beltre bolted ofcourse.
Patrick Duffy
May 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Frenchy+Schafer+Anderson+Cox+Pendelton+Wren+$25,000,000 for THEO!!
J.R.
May 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Believe me, I don’t claim to be a GM, but why in the world would you let the likes of Jason Heyward and Tommy Hanson sit down in the minors, while your “big club” is a .500 team at best. Is Heyward not better than anything in our OF right now. Of course he is. and I know Hanson has got to be better than Medlen, Kawakami, and for God’s sakes Jo Jo Reyes. If I remember correctly the late 80s Atlanta Braves had a few rookies take quite a bit of beatings for a few years till the 90s rolled around. If I remember correctly their names were Glavine, Smoltz, and Avery. Let the rooks come up and take their lumps, especially when they are better than your options you have now. I don’t have a problem with JS hitting .200 this year, but I do have a problem if he doesn’t improve.
BTW. Frenchy has such an aweful swing it will be hard to fix his problem. Also, TP may have been able to hit, but he is not getting the job done. I love him to death, but not getting it done
JeremyfromGainesville
May 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Take the salary relief by moving Frenchy for a bag of balls, and hope that FW has another trade ready with the approximately 2.5 million saved by trading Frenchy. Also, make sure Glav never starts for us, so we don’t owe him any additional money past the mil we’ve given already. That should give us 3- 3.5 mil in payroll to pickup a guy like Jermaine Dye for half a year. That’s what I would do. But what do I know.
Dominic
May 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
I think the Braves should definitely shop Francoeur. His rookie and sophomore years were great stories but the Braves spent way too much money on the pitching to keep Francoeur. What will likely happen is the Braves will get Jason Bay or Ryan Ludwig. More unlikely would be the Braves get Jose Guillen, but they are looking for a younger guy. With Garrett Anderson starting to hit it would only make since for the Braves to be thinking of including these players as trade bait: Kelly Johnson, Jeff Francoeur, Jo jo Reyes, and Kris Medlen. Don’t expect the Braves to get a strong armed outfielder because they still have top prospect Jason Heyward doing well in the minors. They are going to probably have Bay or Ludwig fill in at RF for the time being because after the season and Garrett Anderson leaves that will open it up for Heyward to compete for a major league starting position. Also, cool for the Braves to acquire a veteran CF. A good base running CF to help Schafer develop into a nice leadoff guy possible Juan Pierre type player.
Wilson
May 28th, 2009
2:27 pm
It doesn’t make sense to trade him because you won’t get anything in return and then you still have a whole in right field. Trade someone else and keep Frenchy around. Even if he is coming off the bench. He is a valuable defensive asset, and as a singles hitter these days, wouldn’t be such a bad late inning substitution. In sum, why trade him if you’re not going to get anything at all? What is the point?
Wilson
May 28th, 2009
2:28 pm
Moreover, there is NO WAY the red sox are going to give up Jason Bay with Ortiz hitting 200. and 1 hr.
steve
May 28th, 2009
2:29 pm
Keep him. He is 25 and has lots of raw talent. He is an excellenet defensive player, even when he is not contributing with the bat. I think sending him to AAA or even AA for an extended period of time would probably be hard on him but in the long run would do him a world of good. He needs coaching. There is too much pressure on him here and he needs to get out of the media spotlight for a while.
I loved Terry Pendleton as a player, but isn’t it apparent that he is not a good hitting coach? Who has improved as a hitter under his coaching? You can’t say Chipper, because Chipper is basically his own hitting coach. TP has a great baseball mind and someday might make a really good manager, but a hitting coach he is not.
pat
May 28th, 2009
2:34 pm
French for Bay, even swap! LOL!
Josh Gralton
May 28th, 2009
2:34 pm
You guys are idiots about Schafer, his OBP is .322 which is higher than KJ, Prado, and Anderson and he is 46 games into his major league career. He is not exactly raking right now but give him more than 50 games before we talk about “releasing him” or sending him to single A again. Schafer jumped from AA to the majors so he will undoubtedly need some time to adjust.
Francoeur on the other hand has outstayed his welcome in the ATL and his daddy Bobby Cox is having to wipe his butt, feed him, and stick him out there in outfield everyday. He isn’t even that good of an outfielder! Andruw should have got one and a half gold gloves that season, he was yelling his way on every play.
I expect the braves to be cheap as always and try to fix the problem from within, I would like to see KJ dropped to the 6th/7th spot in the order and stuck in outfield again. Prado needs to get the spot at second, he can flat out hit some line drives and would’t kill tons of rallies like JF. I would also like to see Gregor come up and Platoon with Schafer and Garrett Anderson. Diaz/Schafer/Anderson/ and Blanco should be fine if the braves won’t spend any money, but we have to start moving runners and stealing bases! We also need to play the hot hand, Diaz needs to be in the lineup more.
Blanco
Escobar
Jones
McCann
Kotchman
Johnson
Diaz
Prado
HAB
May 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
A peanut butter sandwich, Mountain Dew, and bag of Doritos.
Chris
May 28th, 2009
2:37 pm
Are you fools serious? The only posts that make sense AT ALL are the ones involving Lars Anderson and Manny Delcarmen, and maybe Hermida/Holliday.
But why would the Braves want Holliday? He is a free agent at the end of the year and is not the same player outside of Coors. Plus, last time I checked, the last “Rent-A-Player (Teixeira) didn’t work out that well. Bet the Brave wish they could undo that trade with the Rangers . But hey, they did get a slap hitting 1b when they unloaded Tex to the angels.
RELEASE SCHAFER? Man, I am glad you are posting on this board instead of running the Braves. Yes, he is struggling, but he is one + month into his ROOKIE SEASON.
Release Francouer? That is just as laughable.
Answer this question: Name ONE hitter that TP has actually made better? I cannot think of any either.
dyldawg
May 28th, 2009
2:37 pm
GET REAL!. BOSTONS NOT GIVIN ORTIZ SUCH A HARD TIME. MAYBE IF WE HAD A BATTIN COACH WORTH A **** THEN MAYBE FRENCHY WOULD BE GOOD. PACKAGE JOHNSON/FRENCHY/MORTON/REYES AND GET DREW/BULLPEN HELP.
jwilli120
May 28th, 2009
2:47 pm
Hello everyone, The problem with JF is not JF it is Bmac, JF is trying
to compete with the FAME that Bmac has gotten since he got to the show.
JF was the bigger star in HS and he believes he is still the bigger
star now, he is jealous of Bmac, Bmac stole his THUNDER. Bmac has
worked his butt off to get where he is and JF got by on his talent
alone and is a me,me,me guy. Ya know i heard a story about chipper
jones dad telling chipper some years back that the NY Yankees stole
his thunder and his place in history, but chipper never let it bother
him he just kept doing his thing, JF could do the same thing as chipper
did, but to me JF has the look like someone owes him something(watch
the JF story when they air it next time a rain delay happens) JF is in
MLB strictly for the money and not for the love of the game, if JF
played for the MARLONS do you know what kind of fish he would be….
SELFISH!!!!! JF you are not a ALLSTAR like Bmac, get over it, you are
not back at Parkview, get over yourself, and do the things that will
make you an ALLSTAR and quit be a BIG BABY. I like JF but someone needs
to tell him like it is, get in his face make him break down like the
little kid he is, the other thing is all i read on the blogs in ST that
Shaefer was ready when he was not now everyone is on his case, you asked
for it you got it TOYOTA, Jason isn’t ready either, unless we want a
roster full of JS and JF and JOJO’s leave the kids alone and let them
get to the show at thier pace. We all want better for the Braves have
some patience please, JF go to AAA and learn the game( situational
hitting, bunting, base stealing) EARN IT JF it’s not your BIRTH RIGHT.
Z-Lizzle
May 28th, 2009
2:47 pm
I’m telling yall…..Frenchie is just a few teaspoons of HGH away from BRILLIANCE….Jordan as well. If there was anyway they could face Buddy Carlisle every night they’d both be hitting .300+ TRUST me. If they need to learn how to take a walk, just let Moylan pitch them in batting practice. I like the minor league idea some have expressed. We won’t get anything for him in a trade, plus his defense is an asset. Send him down, let Blanco play, and don’t bring him back up until he’s hitting above .275, period. **We need to replace all 3 outfield spots to be perfectly honest.**
rec Dawg
May 28th, 2009
2:47 pm
Lars Anderson.
Larry
May 28th, 2009
2:50 pm
Maybe they can pry Ron Gant and Brian Jordan away from Sports South. and have them play LF and RF. Then get Deion sanders away from the NFL Network and have him play CF.
This of course would only make sense if you sent down Kelly Johnson and called up 19 year old Jason Heyward to play Second base. Hey, he’s never played 2nd before and he is 19, but he HAS to be an upgrade by most of yoru logic.
Pete
May 28th, 2009
2:55 pm
most of you are very stupid.
obamallama
May 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
maybe he was on the juice his rookie year
jimmy a
May 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
who on this team could start on another team fire WREN no trades just bring up the farm draft and sign more young free agents but remember FIRE WREN
Bobbymahlon
May 28th, 2009
3:09 pm
like I said before Frenchy is not cutting it but why put all the blame on him when you got guys like Schafer,Kelley Johnson,G Anderson and now Kotchman not carrying their weight. I also have not seen much talk about Chicken Jones hitting for the cycle last night(four for four strike outs). Oh by the way did any of you see Franceour throw out the runner at home last night. Lets send him down because we cannot get anything for him and maybe he can get himself straigthened out down in the minors being that we do not have a hitting coach that gets anybobdy squared away.
Ed
May 28th, 2009
3:09 pm
I bet #7 wishes he took that deal he was offered back when #16 signed his long-term deal. Allegedly, it was the same money!
stew
May 28th, 2009
3:14 pm
What’s so great about Diaz? Two years ago he hit 12 hrs. He can’t field and can possibly hit like a punch and judy for average. He ain’t ever gonna hit hrs or drive in a significant amount of runs. Nor is he gonna score many runs. No defense, no runs scored, no hrs, and no rbis isn’t gonna pan out in LF. We need four new outfielders and three (Cody, Gorkys, and the Hey
Man) are there already. I know they’re not ready. But, what do we have to lose? They couldn’t be any worse than what we already. Maybe it’s not so bad to develop them this year at the major league level.
PMC
May 28th, 2009
3:16 pm
Ha ha, David Ortiz and a bag of starcaps.
Let's Go Bravos!
May 28th, 2009
3:16 pm
I’d like to see us get Andrew Jones back to play center. Send Schafer down to the minors. Bring Gregor Blanco up to play rightfield. No one will give us anything for Frenchy! To be as bad as he is, he can still sell tickets and merchandise. They should send him to Gwinnett for the rest of the year and let him work out his problems.
edward
May 28th, 2009
3:17 pm
We won’t get anything for frenchy unless we team it up with GA and a prospect. And losing prospects is about all Wren has done. How many people need to say this every year….FIRE PENDLETON!!! No one listens to him anymore. They either go elsewhere or talk to their dads. They should get Chippers’ dad to be the hitting coach. He has done a much better job than TP.
The depressing news is is that there just are no outfielders out there to trade for. Not without giving away the farm again. Schafer is just lost out there. Bless his soul, he needs to go back to the juice.
PHIL
May 28th, 2009
3:23 pm
The reason Jeff isn’t one of my favorites is because of that attitude he pulled last year. Whining and thinking he is too good to be sent down even though he can’t hit his weight. WHY did he think he was should be allowed to stay in the majors no matter how poorly he performs?
Steve
May 28th, 2009
3:34 pm
Frenchie, though a disappointment, has been our best OF all year long. Why in the world would we trade our best player at our weakest position? We would have to get prospects that are a few years away but with a high ceiling.
Quite frankly, Frenchy is as good as anything we would get in return, so getting rid of him is just silly. Besides, if we don’t get an OF, who would we play out there?
Blanco? What a joke.
Diaz? He swings as hard as he can at everything and good pitchers are figuring him out. His defense and arm are much better than most give him credit for though.
Brandon Jones? Exactly how many at bats do we have to give him to figure out he will never amount to anything in the majors?
Norton? He is a far below average major leaguer, whose penchant for getting hits as a pinch hitter has saved his career for the time being.
Anderson? A below average hitter at this stage of his career. A below average outfielder defensively for his entire career.
Frenchy is the best we have. Anyone thinking otherwise is crazy. Worse yet, we waited to long to pull the trigger on a trade so his value is actually MUCH lower than his potential. You just don’t trade players in those situations, especially young ones.
kelly
May 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
when you send francoeut to boston be sure to pendleton with him. get $20 and a fish sandwich and thats to much.
Ricky
May 28th, 2009
3:59 pm
Trade Frenchy to Texas and try to get Nelson Cruz… Give them some prospects too if needed. Cruz has been on fire this year and shouldnt be too hard to get in a package
steve
May 28th, 2009
4:00 pm
Unfortunately, Francour spoiled us with his first two seasons. We all bought into the “next Micky Mantle” hype. Apparently, Jeff bought into it as well. I still think he is young enough that he can turn it around. He has returned to swinging at the pitch that is a foot and half outside. Part of the problem is that he is pressing so hard. When you are pressing it is hard to be patient. I think an extended trip to the minors might do who well for the long term.
It is also crazy for any of us to be saying we ought to trade Jeff for “so and so”. It takes two to tango, and none of us have any idea who another team is willing to give up. Speculating something like that seems like a giant waste of time.
JAKE
May 28th, 2009
4:03 pm
KJ, FRENCHY, MEDLEN, DIORE, FOR PEDROIA AND MASTERSON
JAKE
May 28th, 2009
4:03 pm
OR JUST PEDROIA
Marc
May 28th, 2009
4:04 pm
I’d get pitching bait to put in a package for Cuddyer.
jwilli120
May 28th, 2009
4:22 pm
does anybody realize the diaz and schafer connection 50 suspension
for the both of them, diaz first acouple of years ago and schafer
last year? Things that make you go hummm!!!!! I just threw that out
there!!!!!!Beatle Juice, Beatle Juice, Beatle Juice!!!!
the real OLD GOLD
May 28th, 2009
4:23 pm
First step if I was Frank Wren would be to hang myself because I’m a worthless idiot.
But since that doesn’t lead us any further, say someone finds me and cuts me down…..
I wouldn’t have signed Mike Hampton’s adopted brother (G. Anderson) to play outfield in the first place. I also would not have brought up the big eared kid before he was ready, and I would have allowed Prado, Blanco, and Infante and Diaz to find their best spots during the early season.
Next, Lowe was this guy’s only good move so far. Javy V. isn’t that reliable, and KK is mediocre at best. We should have kept Smoltz on a rehab, traded Jo Jo Reyes (<–terrible) and threw the other kids in the fire and said produce wins or you’re out. BMac, Frenchy, Chipper and Escobar are the only things holding this team together.
the real OLD GOLD
May 28th, 2009
4:24 pm
P.S. I would have kept Tex and never thought about Krotchman or whatever his name is. Has anyone ever seen this guy do anything other than tap out to first?
Justafan
May 28th, 2009
4:25 pm
I’d fire Bobby Cox and Coaching staff except Hubbie. I’d hire Ned Yost mgr. Bring back Pat Corrales and let Yost finish out staff. Trade KJ, & Frenchy . Get some speed on team (lead-off) and power hitter. Play ABC baseball.
hop
May 28th, 2009
4:48 pm
I would not trade jeff because the braves have too many other holes in the line-up.making one move does not solve anything.
the value jeff brings would be very low. i would send him back to the minors , maybe mississippi since he likes the manager there.
alsim
May 28th, 2009
4:52 pm
If I were Frank Wren, I would fire myself because I did a lousy job at addressing the lack of power outside of McCann & oft-injured Chipper.
I knew that the problem existed and yet all I really did was offer retreads at the end of their career. One turned us down for Seattle and the other was brought in to be a part time player.
Mine This Bird
May 28th, 2009
4:54 pm
Everyone keeps talking about Francouer’s defensive abilities but I failed to see it when he practically gave Todd Helton a grand slam on a silver platter last Thursday. The kid is a joke.
Braves Fan
May 28th, 2009
5:01 pm
We have to get rid of Garret Anderson. My grandpa runs faster and plays better defense then him. At least Frenchy can play good defense.
We REALLY need a righty power bat and Boston is not the awnser. Maybe we should look at the Rangers for Cruz or the As for Holliday.
Braves Fan
May 28th, 2009
5:18 pm
YES Frank Wren is a DONK. Anderson and Glavine are the dumbest moves EVER!!! AND they are still waiting for Glavine!!!! we dont need Glavine!!!! call up Hanson!!! and get Nelson Cruz or Holliday no matter what they ask for.
Scott
May 28th, 2009
5:27 pm
The Braves trade Francoeur, Medlen and player to be named for Dunn. That solves the homerun problem. Dunn has about half as many home runs as the entire Braves team. He’s also batting .286.
Joebrave
May 28th, 2009
5:28 pm
You probably will see Francouer, and Mike Gonzalez, and another player dealt most likely Brandon Jones due to the ineptitude of Stenchcouer, for Manny Delcarmen,Josh Bard,and Jed Lowrie.
then Ol Wren will flip somma dat to the White sox for .Dye!!!
Joebrave
May 28th, 2009
5:32 pm
Then Maybe I would just have to call Colorado and see if I could pry B.Hawpe, and I Stewart away from them for Medlin,Morton,and Sammons!!! Just a Thought, then maybe the Bust in center field could be covered up a little more.
kelly
May 28th, 2009
5:35 pm
I’m with you Shannon. ATL should embrace and encourage this kid. He is only 25, and I know he will be back. Perhaps something we should consider is a new hitting coach, and pitching for that matter.
If Frenchy goes he will certainly be great again.
Joebrave
May 28th, 2009
5:53 pm
Oh god enuff already about that putrid sack of turds Stenchcouer, He is not going to be back, He has been figured out, and doesn’t have the capacity in his overblown ego to change his approach!!!
El Bravo
May 28th, 2009
6:18 pm
I am all for allowing Frenchy to figure things out… in the Minors. There is absolutely no justification left to keep him struggling at the Show. He may be able to figure it out with some hard work with a better hitting instructor but the bottom line is that it will not happen at this level and it will not happen with TP.