Can you really feel comfortable if Braves stand pat?
Are the Braves getting drunk on success, or do they need another piece?
If the Braves don’t make a significant trade before the deadline – and that seems to be the betting favorite – this is what you’re going to hear from general manager Frank Wren:
> “We like our team.”
> “We have Tim Hudson and Omar Infante coming back soon, and we like our team.”
> “In these tough economic times, we don’t feel it’s prudent to give up young prospects and take on a high-salaried veteran in a trade. And we like our team.”
And you know what? Those are all valid reasons to stand pat.
But a question: If the Braves go through this trading deadline without making a significant move to improve the roster — despite desperately trying to stay in the National League East divisional race and at worst being in the middle of the wild-card race — would you feel a little unsatisfied? Uncomfortable? Un-playoff-like?
The Braves used to be a player at the trade deadline. Even recently, when the Mark Teixeira deal didn’t work out, it said something that then-general manager John Schuerholz swung a trade that led many to believe had lifted the club up to a World Series contender.
Now the players are elsewhere. St. Louis dealt for Oakland’s power-hitting outfielder, Matt Holliday. Philadelphia continues to circle Toronto pitcher Roy Halladay. If the Phillies don’t land Halladay, the Los Angeles Dodgers may be next in line to get him. So there’s three National League teams — Cardinals, Phillies, Dodgers — in the mix for major players before October.
The Braves? Maybe nothing. I’m just not sure I’m feeling that mindset.
So it’s your turn. (Again.) Hey, you’ve had an entire off day to think about this. Are you OK with the Braves not being a player?
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207 comments Add your comment
steve munge
July 28th, 2009
1:12 pm
The Braves have a very good team and should not be trading anymore future stars to get a player that only stays a short time, Johnson could land us a relief pitcher and Norton should just be released as we need to fill his spot with someone that cad play defense and has speed .
The only reason we donT make the playoffs is our manager and coaching staff .
Joe Fan
July 28th, 2009
1:14 pm
The Braves are more than good enough as constituted to be in the race for the wildcard all the way to the end of the season. I believe they are only 3 back as of today. Catching the Phillies on the other hand requires the Braves to make up several games while waiting to meet the Phils face to face and then the Braves must at least win 7 of the 9 remaining games with the Phils. Not saying it can’t be done but a harder road to travel.
The Braves will not make a trade for a bat when likely the best bats are in their own farm system. No sense in blocking a Heyward or Freeman who possibly could help in September or certainly by mid-season next year.
One thing I haven’t seen written about is any mention of Cox’s contract being extended. Is there a real possiblity that this could be the finale for Cox?
AZBravoFan
July 28th, 2009
1:18 pm
There’s been nothing but complaining since we traded for Tex. JS took a calculated gamble and it didn’t work. So now Frank Wren is taking a calculated gamble. Getting Tex theoretically gave us a shot at 2 post-seasons. By FW standing pat, he’s gambling that this team is good enough to make the post-season AND that next year he’ll really have the horses to make a run and he won’t have given up the farm again. While I would love to have more pop in the line-up, I don’t see the guy out there that’s worth giving up prized prospects for. Does anyone else?
Ebenezer Snerdberg
July 28th, 2009
1:20 pm
Agree totally with Steve here,but who’d take Johnson. Hey,I’ve loved him since he was that kid in left field,but it time!
rob
July 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
with or without Halladay, Burnett, etc., the Phillies are likely to, cancel that — WILL run away with it. The Braves have played well against WC competitors, and will remain competitive in that hunt. A big bat is NOT going to help them catch the Phillies who have 4 players w/more than 20 homers and Jimmy Rollins surging. With Hudson and Infante coming back soon, it’s the same as getting a bump at the trade deadline, with none of that nasty future mortgaging. Go with what you got. Keep building the chemistry and stay in the WC hunt. I’d be VERY happy to end the season 10 games over .500.
Yunel Asscobar
July 28th, 2009
1:21 pm
Let’s stop talking about the Tex trade and let’s talk about me! Trading deadline is closing in and here’s what I’m thinking: Let’s trade the name on the back of my jersey to the front of everyone’s jersey – The Atlanta Asscobars! We could drop Atlanta and just use Asscobars for the front of the white, home jersey. Then, we could drop Atlanta again and just use Asscobars for the front of the gray, road jersey! We then trade other player’s names for no names on the back of the jersey. We go w/the classic look the Yankees have used for decades – just the number, no name on the back. Now, that’s a trading deadline. Gotta go get ready for my game.
GoodTeam
July 28th, 2009
1:25 pm
We made our trades early. Nate McLouth for Charlie Morton and two guys I can’t remember there names and Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur. Plus we are getting back Tim Hudson and Omar Infante. Just because you don’t make a move at he trade deadline doesn’t mean you stood pat.
shawn
July 28th, 2009
1:31 pm
I say if Hudson is healthy bring him back as middle relief for the rest of the year. Pitch him every 3 days at the most and only for a couple of innings. Let him work back slowly.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
July 28th, 2009
1:35 pm
Hey Hollywood Asscobar. Thought i was the onliest one who thought about yew thet way! You only cost us 500K. Next year,you’re toast!
HeywardTheFuture
July 28th, 2009
1:35 pm
This team needs a bat, Casey Kotchman is killing us.
The last Boy Scout
July 28th, 2009
1:38 pm
NO. This team has pitching and still needs hiting. We could make the playoffs and with that anything is possible. So go out and get a bat.
Braves Mom
July 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
Trade Kelly Johnson.
Seriously? Not like Escobar? What’s not to like, being player of the week b/c of his batting?
Yeah, that’s terrible.
BigHittas
July 28th, 2009
1:42 pm
Lee duh Braves alone.
Noah
July 28th, 2009
1:43 pm
We need another arm in the pen.
The recent trade that was worse then Tex was Seattle sending Adam Jones (All Star), Sherrill (30 save guy) and a top prospect to Baltimore for one front line starter who is often injured in Eric Beddard.
All I'm Saying Is...
July 28th, 2009
1:44 pm
“If the Braves go through this trading deadline without making a significant move to improve the roster — despite desperately trying to stay in the National League East divisional race and at worst being in the middle of the wild-card race — would you feel a little unsatisfied? Uncomfortable? Un-playoff-like?”
No, no, and no. And that’s because of how we are playing now that the right people are getting to play regularly and who else might be available. Sometimes the best deal you make is the trade you don’t do.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
# 31
July 28th, 2009
1:45 pm
For all those people who keep insisting that the Teixeira trade was the worst trade ever and Texas fleeced the minor league system…
Jarrod Saltalamacchia – .243 / 7 HR / 30 RBI
Elvis Andrus – .256 / 3 HR / 17 RBI
Matt Harrison – 4-5 / 6.11 ERA / 63.1 IP
Beau Jones – 2-4 / 5.88 / 33.2 IP (AA)
Neftali Perez – 4-6 / 3.58 / 75.1 IP (AAA)
…So Texas got a couple of average major league players that were blocked by McCann and Escobar anyway, two below average minor league pitchers, and one solid pitcher with potential. I don’t call that getting your minor league system pillaged. You should take a look at the facts before you just spit out what ESPN says.
HAL
July 28th, 2009
1:47 pm
del makes a lot of sence which disqualifys him from ever posting here again if kj were to play lf i cannot see how he could be worse then loaf defensivly and hitting might not be much different eather at least if kj gets on it wont take 3 triples to score him lol
Noah
July 28th, 2009
1:47 pm
Exactly, no all-stars traded to the Rangers in the trade. How about the deal Baltimore got from Beddard. Or in 1997 Seattle traded Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek for one reliever, Heathcliff Slocumb. Oops, now that was a lopsided deal. 2 long term all stars for one hope at a decent reliever.
# 31
July 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
Noah – How about Horacio Ramirez for Soriano? Why is Seattle involved in all these bad deals and signings?
shane
July 28th, 2009
1:54 pm
# 31
You beat me to it. I continue to be baffled at people who think that was a bad trade. Tex made us a contender and we gave up almost nothing in the deal ( i do like andrus but thats about it )
John
July 28th, 2009
1:54 pm
I agree, stand pat. This is a team that is just starting to discover its identity. Let this thing playout, and see where you’re at before tinkering with it again.
John
July 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
I’ll ammend that by saying, there is a glut at 2nd base with Prado, Johnson and Conrad (who’s played well in limited time). KJ seems the most likely to trade out of that group. It would make sense to take advantage of the depth at that position in exchange for somewhere else that they need help (bullpen?).
Noah
July 28th, 2009
2:01 pm
#31 – Agree. Well they had a bad GM during that trade. As for the late 90’s they were an awesome offensive team and were always in the market to improve at the deadline and that requires trading prospects. But when you have Edgar, Randy, Griffey, Moyer, Buhner and Arod in their prime you go for it. Thats usually when your willing to overpay for players in trade. The rumor on the Lowe and Varitek trade to Boston was that Boston asked for one of the two but Seattle misheard and offered both to get the deal done.
Of course its a numbers game with prospects as most don’t work out.
Every team has made great trades and terrible ones. Look how we got jurrjens.
# 31
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
Shane – Andrus could still eventually be a great player. He steals a lot of bases now as it is…but I would rather have Escobar then, today, and five years from now. You don’t get any trophies or rings from MLB for having the most prospects in you system. might as well use them, he and Salty weren’t going to play here anyway.
I think it was more than worth it too to take a run at it. Every team right now except the Yankees would kill to have a lineup with Chipper and Tex back to back. It wasn’t Schuerholz’ fault that the pitching fell apart last year.
KP
July 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
I agree with stading pat. No need to make a trade with the team playing well. I think Bobby has finally found a lineup and a rotation that makes us a team to be dealt with for the rest of the season. I do not think that we have a chance to catch the Phil’s, however we should def be in the running for the wild card. If we make the playoff’s we should have a good shot as our starting pitching is strong and we should have a healthy Hudson back by then. GO BRAVES!
Noah
July 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
What scares me the most about standing pat is the Pen and the fact that our top 4 guys in the pen all are at the top of the league in appearances. I’ve seen that come to bite you too many times in September. One more reliever would really help.
Billy Austin
July 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
I have seen and heard countless comments on how terrible the Teixeira from Texas trade was but in retrospect Texas got several players from Atlanta that were and still would be blocked at the Major League level with the Braves. Elvis Andrus and Salty are both hitting around .250 give or take. Elvis has 17Rbi’s to Yunel’s team leading 58. Salty has 30 Rbi’s batting .243. There is no way either of these two is playing for Atlanta in front of Yunel or Mac. Harrison the pitcher that projected to be so good is 4 wins 5 losses with an ERA of 6.11. Aren’t we glad we didn’t trade Tommy Hanson in that deal. Harrison isn’t close to good enough to be in the Braves current rotation. The one that may turn out to sting is the live arm pitcher Perez that we threw in at the end. He could be the real deal. Also we got Casey Kotchman as a final result of the trade and although I agree we would never have traded those prospects for Casey we did get Tex during a time the Braves thought they had enough that Tex would put us over the top to make a WS run.
Casey is playing Gold Glove 1st base and saving lot’s of runs for a pitching staff that gets a lot of ground balls. We could definitely upgrade in the bat department at first but Casey is not hurting us as much on offense as much as he’s helping on defense. Overall he’s a big upgrade from our recent options of Julio Franco and Scott Thorman.
If Renteria didn’t get hurt right after we got Tex and the pitching staff didn’t all go under the knife in one season the trade might have reaped the rewards it was designed for and no one would care if the Braves had another WS Flag. As it turns out even though Tex was a rental JS kept the right prospects and dealt the right ones for the gamble he took on a 5 for 1 trade. If this is the worst trade in JS’s time with the Braves and it is, then at least he left the Braves in the best possible position by keeping Yunel, Mac and Tommy Hanson.
letsgetrich
July 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
espn says pads would need 4-5 young pitchers and fielders for AGONZO. So…
KJ, JS, JoJo, Gonzo, and Kotchman. Average out to mid 20s in age and Gonzo and Jojo are Latino so they wouldn’t upset fanbase for trading another Latino.
Charles
July 28th, 2009
2:17 pm
Here’s what I think- when Huddie comes back, send Kawakami to the pen, keep Prado as a starter. KJ off the bench, and bring up those baby Braves in Sept.- by then, they will be in the thick of a division race!
Josh
July 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
I like this team! Good moves were made prior to the season (Lowe / Vasquez) and during the year (McLout). With Hanson pitching so well and the potential for Hudson to return, the starting staff could be one of the NL’s best. The lineup isn’t full of power, but certainly full of timely hitting. I see a solid run at the division…
jimjam
July 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
i like our team but would like a trade for power just like everyone else but i really dont know if 09 braves have what it takes to win it all this year even if we get a good hitter. i judt dont get that feeeling from them. and also they are on record saying how everything that happens for good this season is just icing on the cake. they dont have the fire and hunger to go for it this season.
also after the trades from the last few years (tex, kotsay mclouth) there arent that many big name prospect left unless we give away medlen , heyward, freeman, or hanson. theyre supposedly untouchables so i dont think the rest of the group is enough to land a top hitter, even if we packaged all the remaining prospects. we gave up the next level prospects like gorkys lilli, flowers keith etc this ear alone.
Q
July 28th, 2009
2:42 pm
Why not try and make a trade that will help us now and for the next few years? Even though the Padres say that Adrian Gonzales isn’t on the trading block, many “experts” say that he could be moved for the right price. He’s great defensively and his power would be a huge upgrade at 1B. He’s still young (27 or 28) and is under contract at bargain prices the next two or three years.That would give Freeman time to develop and he’d be ready when Adrian hit free agency.I know his numbers have been rough the last few weeks but he has NO protection in the Padres lineup.The price would be high but worth it. Maybe Medlen,Kotchman,KJ and Jojo Reyes.And maybe even another low level prospect or two. What is your opinion on that Jeff? Sound reasonable or is there no way it would work?
DM
July 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
I think the Braves need to add a couple of proven bullpen pitchers in order to make the playoffs.
taxman kenneth
July 28th, 2009
3:12 pm
I wonder if anyone out there disagrees that the Tex disaster was what it was a disaster for the braves. The young Texas general manager said was one of the most lopsided trades his team has ever made. I think the braves were dead sent on getting Tex they would have thrown in anyone the rangers wanted and I am totally suprised they didn’t throw Hansen in the deal as well as a couple more prospects. JS should have been run out of the country for this deal. I will not call it a trade because it was more like a steal and people go to jail for stealing. If they cannot make a decent trade and I for one don’t think they can they need to stand pat and not mortgage the future like they did with Tex. They knew when they got him that he would leave for the big money yankees. This thing he said about loving to stay in Atlanta was just a gimmick to get more money from the Yankees. He never had any intentions of staying in Atlanta knowing the Yankees would open up the bank for him. He left for the same reason all free agents leave, MORE MONEY! Free agents don’t care about dedication to a team that nurtured them into becoming good ball players and took a chance on them only to have them leave for more money. Good Riddance to all of them who do that! Stand Pat and don’t make any more stupid trades for a rental!
Noah
July 28th, 2009
3:20 pm
Charles – If the braves are in it in Sept you won’t see the Baby Braves making a difference, they will be watching.
DM – Agree, even one more good arm in the pen would be huge, much more important then a bat.
duh
July 28th, 2009
3:26 pm
We need a reliever. Trade KJ for a solid young reliever that we can control for a couple of years, especially since we’re losing either Gonzo or Soriano (or both) next year…
This team is 1 reliever away from being dominant. The losses we’ve had lately have been lost in the bullpen. Heck, most losses this year have been either lost in the bullpen (esp when we had Bennett) or because of lack of hitting. The hitting has come around thanks to Prado…so just shore up the bullpen Wren! We don’t need KJ anymore….
duh
July 28th, 2009
3:29 pm
I have seen and heard countless comments on how terrible the Teixeira from Texas trade was but in retrospect Texas got several players from Atlanta that were and still would be blocked at the Major League level with the Braves. Elvis Andrus and Salty are both hitting around .250 give or take. Elvis has 17Rbi’s to Yunel’s team leading 58. Salty has 30 Rbi’s batting .243. There is no way either of these two is playing for Atlanta in front of Yunel or Mac
I don’t buy this argument whatsoever….
So, we keep our propsects, then we can trade them for A LOT more than what we ended up getting out of Tex (Kotchman, and Marek).
Yes, those players were blocked, but we could’ve netted more than what we got by holding onto them and trading them later. Could’ve filled more holes.
Noah
July 28th, 2009
3:32 pm
Duh – Why hold the prospects for later. They may be worth more or less later but the feeling was they had a chance to make a run and be in the playoffs and you have to take advantage of those chances, especially when you can get the best available guy without giving up your best prospects (kept Schaefer and Hanson).
jaygee
July 28th, 2009
3:43 pm
I am conflicted. It’s true the Braves are playing well right now, but can they sustain it? The club is playing with confidence and energy, but if this is just a temporary spike…well, dog days lie ahead. And let’s be real. There will be bad stretches ahead. There always are. Prado is probably not going to hit .325 for the season. And while I’m a big fan of Escobar, you know he’s going to have more lapses. To be candid, Chipper isn’t his usual lethal self of late. If he comes to life and can regain some power with consistency, then perhaps it can be sustained. I do not think Vasquez should be traded. He’s been fantastic and I love watching him pitch more than anyone. The man’s truly a pitcher and you can see the passion. So, that leaves right field. Church will probably do better than he’s done so far, but will that be enough? Kotchman seems to be hitting his stride, and anything he adds in the way of power or RBIs is gravy.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 28th, 2009
3:44 pm
Frank Wren is correct to do nothing and he is also wrong.
The damage done by Bobby Cox in April, May and June by keeping Francoeur and KJ in the line up while Prado sat on the bench may still be too much adversity for this team to overcome.
We ain’t catching the Phillies, sorry. The wild card is a six or seven team race and our playoff chances are very iffy at best. However, the Braves are playing extremely well right now. The team ERA this month is 3.12 while the offense is scoring 5.5 runs per game. That’s pretty damn good.
I have always said, if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it and the prevailing belief is to do nothing.
But what if we don’t make the playoff’s? How bad will it look come September 30th when considering the trade value that Javier Vazquez and Mike Gonzalez have right now, and our front office missed the opportunity to cash them in for some much needed help in the outfield, minors and bullpen?
Bobbymahlon
July 28th, 2009
3:53 pm
I like Max Power ideas send Kelly and JoJo Reyes to Washington for Adam Dunn. I think that would be enough for us to make post season play and who knows maybe ” ALL THE WAY”.
tHIS Sorry Government NOT working for Americans
July 28th, 2009
4:03 pm
No I like our team too. With Hudson you get a number 1 starter and with Infante, well we missed him badly. Then you have the roster expansion and Im sure they will bring up Heyward. I really like our team. If Kelly Johnson continues to hit the ball then thats great off the bench. Do not however attempt to give him his starting job or even think of platooning him. Prado won that job and Prado is our starting 2nd baseman. With that said, well,,,,,,,I LIKE OUR TEAM.
Reid in EAV
July 28th, 2009
4:06 pm
@richbrave: Fair enough; you obviously saw Morton pitch a lot more than we did last year. I’d never been all that impressed with him from a poise/”killer instinct” perspective, though I believe he had good stuff. But he’s definitely been getting it done with the Bucs, and we were glutted with starters anyway.
But I still can’t believe the Pirates let McLouth go at any price. I’d always figured he was one of the few untouchable ones on that club, at least at this point in his contractual life.
tHIS Sorry Government NOT working for Americans
July 28th, 2009
4:06 pm
Why arent we catching the Phillies? Last I checked we played them like 8 more times this season. We swept them last time out. The Phillies are not going to win every game from here on out and neither are we. We just have to win when they are not playing and win when they lose. You know 7 games back is nothing when you have the national league east playing each other the last 2 months of the season. We could rush to the top and it might happen. Lots of things can go wrong with any team and that does not let the Phillies off the hook. They have to continue to play great ball. One injury, well we all know what that can do to ya. Oh and didnt they sign Pedro? We eat him for lunch…………….
Buster Brown
July 28th, 2009
4:13 pm
Guys listen. However this year turns out is just gravy. We really need to look towards next year. We have the whole starting pitching staff comming back, we are solid at 3rd, short, second, center & catcher. All we need to add is some power at either 1st base or left field in the off season and we are right there. Heywerd will get a shot out spring training and will be up here in June for sure so right field will be covered. We need to resign Soriano for the closer and we will have 15 million freed up when losing Hudson off the books. I am sure we can find a nice power outfield bat with that money. 2010 is the year.
chemdawg
July 28th, 2009
4:17 pm
The braves also got Texeira production for a year and a half. Don’t forget to include that. Once you look at all the costs/ benefits, it leans towards the negative but it’s not as if the braves imploded the farm system as some have suggested.
Mitchell
July 28th, 2009
4:58 pm
We can still make trades after the deadline though can’t we?
Not that we could get much for Church and/or Norton and/or Kelly but a bigger bat for the right field position wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
I’m happy with where they are although if there’s any area that needs improvement it would obviously be the bullpen.
That’s all I got. I should run a team shouldn’t I?
Bry22
July 28th, 2009
5:15 pm
joemoedee – What has you Dumb a** been smokin? 35 – 40 HR from corner outfielders. Last time I looked Church had 3. Duuufus!
Matt the Brave
July 28th, 2009
5:24 pm
I’d take Schafer and a reliever for Dunn and another reliever except for one thing….I wouldn’t want to take on his salary for someone who strikes out so much. However, 25 homers would be great!
todd
July 28th, 2009
5:27 pm
I guess you didn’t notice that the Braves have already made 2 trades. Just because they didn’t make them on the day of the deadline doesn’t mean they weren’t “players.”