Braves, Wren send right message with deadline trades
Rick Ankiel, a converted pitcher, hit 25 homers in 2008 and will fill the Braves' void in center field.
Sports fans scream for a championship every season. But really all most expect is for somebody in the executive suite — whether it’s the person who’s making trades or clutching the checkbook — to care as much as they do.
As a general rule, “We’re building for next season,” just doesn’t play well with the guy in the $6 seat.
Given that, the Braves should be commended today. They’re being as passionate and proactive off the field as they have been on it. They’re trying to win now, not sitting back and praying for unicorns.
Maybe Philadelphia’s acquisition of Roy Oswalt spooked them a little. Maybe they see something special in this team. Maybe they’re intent on trying to send Bobby Cox out with a championship.
Kyle Farnsworth excelled as a closer for the Braves in 2005.
Does it matter?
Drink this up Atlanta: You have a team going for a championship.
Faced with a tight trade market and a thin budget, general manager Frank Wren managed to improve the team anyway. This is the way things are supposed to work with playoff contenders at trade deadlines.
Trade deadlines highlight the serious players and expose the pretenders.
The Braves made a five-player trade with Kansas City. Outfielder Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth come this way. Gregor Blanco, Jesse Chavez and prospect Tim Collins go that way. If you break this deal down by player, Chavez’s exit will result in the loudest single cheer. At some point, the question became not whether he would make it as a Brave, but whether he would make it to the parking lot.
He had a 5.89 ERA. He had given up six home runs, 40 hits and 12 walks in 36 2/3 innings. Torch-carrying villagers were starting to wait for him outside the stadium.
But Ankiel and Farnsworth provide immediate help. Ankiel can fill the Braves’ black hole in center field. He brings some power (having his 25 homers in 2008), even if he’s currently hitting only .261 with four homers. Farnsworth, who was briefly a lights-out closer for the Braves in 2005, has been strong out of the bullpen this season (3-0, 2.42).
Neither is a centerpiece. Neither has to be.
They fit what the Braves need and what this team has become. The roster lacks star power, but makes up for it in depth, aggressiveness and chemistry. They just needed a boost lately, with Philadelphia rising, the lineup settling and Troy Glaus looking more and more like a one-month wonder.
Credit Wren. If this and other recent moves lead to the Braves’ first postseason berth since 2005, he may have just sewed up Executive of the Year honors.
Approaching the trade deadline, Wren had to feel like he was duct-taped to a lamp post. Dead money was killing the budget. Fact is, for all of Wren’s success in rebuilding the roster over the past three years, he still was paying the price for three significant miscalculations: Derek Lowe (four years, $60 million), Kenshin Kawakami (three years, $23 million) and Nate McLouth (three years, $15.75 million). The three read like a bad 401k portfolio.
Lowe was signed to be an ace. He quickly become a fourth starter making $15 million a year. Kawakami was signed to be a second or third starter. By midway through this season he couldn’t even hang on to the No. 5 job and was jettisoned to the bullpen.
Nobody has seen him since. He’s like D.B. Cooper.
McLouth, acquired from Pittsburgh, was expected to be the perfect bridge to Jordan Schafer. That’s an “oops” to the second power.
Expensive mistakes hamstring general managers. Lowe, Kawakami and McLouth represent $27 million of an $85 million payroll (31.7 percent) this season. Factor in Chipper Jones’ $14 million contract, and that’s $41 million for four players (48.2 percent).
Wren suggested in recent days that he likely wouldn’t do anything. The market was too tight. The budget seemed blown. He also kind of liked his team.
“We’re talking to teams,” Wren said a few days ago, “but we’re not putting a full-court press on.”
Either he was being less than truthful then or something changed. Doesn’t matter. He chose not to sit back. Serious teams don’t do that. The message about this season seems clear.
♦
You don’t need no stinkin’ DVR: Last 3 posts
♦ Dwight Howard opens up on LeBron, Shaq and Josh’s wedding (sssh)
♦ Roy Oswalt going to Phillies, and Braves need to respond
♦ Blank says Falcons are playoff team again (and maybe more)
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490 comments Add your comment
Dawg Whisperer
July 31st, 2010
9:16 pm
Jeff, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Bad news
July 31st, 2010
9:16 pm
I don’t know why Jeff isn’t on top of this story, but Chipper just strained an oblique trying to pronounce “Ankiel”.
Bill
July 31st, 2010
9:17 pm
When are you people going to realize that Wren can only do so much with the lack of money he gets from this ownership group.When your payroll pales in comparisons with Philly, NY, and Boston this is what you get.
The days of picking up a Fred McGriff at the trade deadline are gone.At least until somebody that cares about winning first buys the Braves.
wawel78
July 31st, 2010
9:18 pm
Glaus signed for 1.75 mil. While he seems running out of gas, he’s already earned his money.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:19 pm
Some of these folks would complain if you gave them a job in a mattress factory, checking the softness of the bed.
steve
July 31st, 2010
9:19 pm
Glaus runs like he is 90 years old. You do him a favor by putting him on the DL.
Chris G.
July 31st, 2010
9:19 pm
What kills me is a week ago the Braves were the favorite to win the division then the Phillies get Oswalt now their going to win the division and the World series. Espn is a joke!!! Oswalt is 0-3 with 7.58 era lifetime versus the braves. They are hot and we are cold but it will go back and forth til the end of the year. We are taking the Phillies punches right now and we are still in first.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:20 pm
Any of the complainers want to take a crack at what the Braves “should have done”? (cue: cut Lowe, trade Glaus, McLouth, Kawakami for Pujols and Wainwright – get Francouer back – and trade for Oswalt OR Strasburg)
Largo
July 31st, 2010
9:21 pm
Jeff , you’re an idiot! I wouldn’t take either of these guys as a gift. Farnsworth wasn’t worth a damn under pressure when he was here before. Of course, he thought he was, the self-centered bum. Ankiel is a joke, look at his stats. Quit trying to please the powers that be.
We still have Glaus. What a bummer. He couldn’t a pitcher if the guy walked across the plate.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:21 pm
@Bill – valid point. Even if we had the money… who is the Fred McGriff to get this deadline? Berkman or Tejada? No thanks.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:23 pm
RealP…….You left out trading Prado to Ariz. for Kelly Johnson, because he would never had hurt his hand, making that head first slide.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:24 pm
@Largo – since you are throwing around the word idiot, would you care to clarify what this means?
“He couldn’t a pitcher if the guy walked across the plate.”
If you wouldn’t take those guys as gifts, then it is probably best you don’t purchase an MLB team or at least someone else accept gifts like that on your behalf.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
9:25 pm
Wow, you mean that the great Keith Law disapproves of this trade because the Braves gave up a AA pitcher who might have a chance at a marginal career as a relief pitcher. I guess Frank Wren is going to jump off of the nearest overpass when he reads that. After all, Keith Law is such an expert. Get real.
@RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:25 pm
Why weren’t McLouth or Cabrera included?
I got a run down the car in the yard…aint worth $500….but I’ll sell it to you for $1K….
not sure if you play chess but you can’t trade a pawn for a Bishop….(and win)
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:25 pm
They would complain if you gave them a chocolate cake, that the chocolate frosting was too thick.
steve
July 31st, 2010
9:26 pm
Good team overall, we just need to sit Chipper and Glaus down at frequent intervals. PS Let’s not hang the starters out for loses in the seventh inning, they have already done their job after 6.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:28 pm
Need to 7 innings.
Turtsnap
July 31st, 2010
9:28 pm
I’ll go against the trend here and agree with you Jeff. I do see this as an upgrade. To get Farnsworth and Ankiel and only give up Blanco, Chavez and a minor league prospect is a pretty good deal.
Personally, I can’t believe all of the sudden Gregor Blanco lovers. Just 2 years ago, everyone was begging for him to be sent back down to Richmond. Fickle blog
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:29 pm
need to go 7
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2010
9:29 pm
RealPerspective — No names because it’s impossible to know: 1) What teams will drop out of race; 2) Therefore what players will be available; 3) And what Braves need. But if you want names, here’s some: Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Adam Laroche, Corey Hart, Cody Ross, Jose Guillen, Jose Batista. That enough to hold you? Haha.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:30 pm
“Why weren’t McLouth or Cabrera included?
I got a run down the car in the yard…aint worth $500….but I’ll sell it to you for $1K….”
You do realize it was don that asked that, not me. You aren’t selling me a Ford Pinto.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:30 pm
What has happened to KawaKami? Did he fall in one of those sink-holes when the Braves were down in Fla.?
THE OBGYN
July 31st, 2010
9:31 pm
If Freeman is ready bring him up. Let Glaus rest him once every 5 games like ross does for McCann. Glaus could be a heck of a bench player. But who do we send down Chris?
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2010
9:32 pm
Does the same person who keeps blogging under different names asking why Bobby leaves starting pitchers in too long think that I don’t know that it’s the same person blogging under different names asking the same question? Just askin’.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:32 pm
Can call KK, D.B. Cooperkami.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:35 pm
@Jeff Schultz – Thanks for the list. That is the same cheat sheet we have had for this deadline, so no surprises there. I was more curious about the methodology rather than the specifics like; “we missed on this” or “it would be nice to add depth here”. It seems at least to some degree that our two to-do list items of reliever and outfield bat were addressed to some degree. Thanks for the reply! I know it is impossible to name names at this point. One other wish list question… is there any chance that in a world were Crawford or Pujols were available, would the Braves be serious players in that market. (obviously there would be league altering scenarios needed to play out for either to happen, but a fantasy what-if, if you would be kind enough to oblige.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
Cox can rest Glaus on a regular basis with Hinske at 1st.
That way, Diaz could get his bat in the game more.
And don’t tell me about the L/R bull, Diaz can hit .250 against righties.
Is Cabrera hitting any better than .250 against L or R hand pitchers?
Red Sox snag Salty from Rangers; Dodgers, Padres, and Braves busy prior to Deadline « Swamigp’s Sports Blog
July 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
[...] trade is an excellent one, as Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes: “Ankiel can fill the Braves’ black hole in center field. He brings some power (having his [...]
Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
Largo — I’m an idiot? You’re the one who just said Kyle Farnworth couldn’t handle pressure when he was here and he had a 1.98 ERA w/10 saves, 32 strikeouts, 7 walks in 27.1 innings in 26 appearances. Do your homework, bunky.
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
@__________ Q: Does Bobby Cox leave pitchers in too long? A: Sometimes.
repeat 5x
Marc in FL
July 31st, 2010
9:39 pm
We don’t know what trade possbilities were out there, so it’s hard to judge a GM when you don’t know what the alternatives were.
I do know after almost 3 full season, we still do not have a damn RH bat with pop. We jumped into first on the back of Glaus, he’s cold now, and if he doesn’t heat up I doubt the addition of Ankiel will help pick up the slack.
Basically, we’re in the same boat we were in yesterday – we need Glaus to perform (or, gasp, Chipper to break out), or replace him somehow – or this team will continue to play around .500 ball on the backs of good pitching and occasional late-game heroics. I have a hard time saying we improved, when in fact, we have the same vulnerabilities and strengths we had before. We didn’t need bullpen help, Chavez was mostly relegated to blow-out games, and Ankiel simply isn’t a significant upgrade in CF.
We still need our only RH impact bat (Glaus) to get hot again. The point of a trade is to better your team where it needs it; we did not do that. Thus the reason it baffles me. I don’t blame Wren, I don’t know what options he had, but forgive me for not jumping up in joy over this when it essentially did nothing.
@Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2010
9:40 pm
are you saying you know when people change screen names..??? how can I circumvent that..???
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
I was going to say that Farnsworth sure looked like he handled a lot of pressure situations when he was with the Braves.
The Braves could not out spend those dangnabid Yankees, to retain him.
mudcat
July 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
Farnsworth was the key. Bobby always wears out his bullpen early and Farnsworth will really help eat some innings. We gave up-nothing! Blanco could be a decent utility guy someday-but not today! This wasn”t a difference-maker deal, but it could be a small part of the process that results in a shot at a championship. And that’s all you can ask for, is a shot.
GO BRAVES
July 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
RALPH WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD MANAGE THE TEAM PENDLTON? THE BRAVES ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE IN HITTING WITH HIM AS THIER COACH WHERE WOULD THEY BE WITH HIM AS MANGER YIKES!!!
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
The Braves do have a right handed batter with pop, he hit a HR last night.
His name is Matt Diaz.
But the manager has this R/L thing and will not give him a chance to play against RHPs.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
9:46 pm
During the Braves 14-year run the one thing that kept them from winning more World Series Championships was the lack of a good bullpen to close the deal for the amazing starting pitchers that the Braves always had.
All of the folks who continuously knock Bobby Cox with the any idiot could win World Series Championships with Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz in the starting rotation argument convieniently seem to forget all of the late inning bullpen failures that doomed the Braves during the 14-year stretch.
I, for one, am never going to complain about Frank Wren doing what he can to make the Braves historical achilles heel as good, or better, than any other bullpen in baseball.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:46 pm
Aren’t the Braves 5th in hitting and runs scored in the NL?
@Jeff Schultz
July 31st, 2010
9:46 pm
bunky..?? my dictionary reads bunk is “nonsense”….so bunky means “one full of nonsense..?? come on Jeff…bite
RealPerspective
July 31st, 2010
9:47 pm
@Marc in FL:
I agree with you on most of what you said. I am not sure still why at least marginally upgrading baffles you. Having a veteran in the pen with experience and a strong-armed center fielder that has some power over our worst young bullpen arm and a career minor leaguer should be pretty much a no-brainer.
Sure many of the same problems may exist (although maybe lessened after today) but that is not this trade. This trade makes us better… how much, we don’t know yet. There wasn’t a ton of movement on the hitters’ front. The guys that moved, I’m not sure were worth the price. Corey Hart was hurt too, hard to jump on that.
Peter
July 31st, 2010
9:47 pm
Wow Jeff how many guys coming back from injury are we going to pick up ?
Glaus was great for a month and 1/2…..
Why trade a 300 hitter for some power, that may or may not happen ?
Also can you tell us the Braves record when Blanco started……. cause that trade was just Dumb !
I would have traded Chavez, and minor league guy for Farnsworth, but are we not getting another Nate in center now?
So what happens if Nate finds his stroke…how many left handed hitters will we have ?
Please let’s get real, Chipper and Glause are killing us……Chipper in the 3 hole is a JOKE and Glaus above the 6 hole is the second JOKE.
We should have kept Blanco and batted him second, Hayward 3rd…..Brian 4th Chipper 5th Glause 6th….
This club is about to implode because they cannot score runs unless we hot a home run……Stupid baseball, but hey just an opinion.
By the way they club was like over 60% when Blanco started is that not true ?
DaveinNEPA
July 31st, 2010
9:48 pm
@ the posters who are complaining about Cox leaving pitchers in too long.
Today he didn’t have a whole lot of choice because he was an arm short in the pen.
As soon as the trade went down, Chavez was packing his bags to leave town, and Farnsworth won’t be available until tomorrow at the earliest.
Venters, Moylan and Saito all pitched last night and I don’t think Saito was available today. I even saw Kawakami warming up today.
Cox may leave his starters in too long on other occasions but today he’s off the hook. He didn’t have much choice.
Idot
July 31st, 2010
9:51 pm
DaveinNEPA……..So, KK is still alive then?
JOE
July 31st, 2010
9:54 pm
Jeff, I agree with your assessment COMPLETELY. This sends the right message and does exactly what we needed, gives our team a slight boost without draining our farm system or leaving us any financial baggage for next year! There is really no way that this deal could come back to hurt us, unless the 5′7′ Collins turns out to be the best closer baseball has ever seen. Ankiel will play good defense, and provide a little more pop and hopefully a little more average than Melky in center field. Farnsworth is a very good arm from the right side. He could be a set-up man on most teams. Here he’ll have to get in line behind Venters. This gives us a damn good bullpen. I cant understand why people dont get or like this trade. Its exactly what the first place braves needed!
Gena
July 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Jeff, I have a rather dumb question. Is there any reason for the movement of the cash in the two trades. Is this in the hopes of acquiring a player in the near future,
I agree with you, this is a great trade considering what we gave up. Just knowing Chavez won’t be in the bullpen any longer makes me cry.
joe
July 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
Jeff, why do you even bother writing sports columns – you are absolutely clueless. Once again, you write something to fill space. How do you figure that a trade that is mediocre at best is a signal that this team is serious about winning now? Allow me to answer – it doesn’t. If a team has the money and refuses to spend it and subsequently makes a purchase on the cheap, how does that equate to trying to win a championship?
thunderbull56
July 31st, 2010
10:04 pm
Jiffy,Jiffy,Jiffy, puuleeze follow the slime trail back to where your brain fell out and, well pick it up and play with it.Farnsworth, another former BRAVES’ CHOKER ! SEE, Braves Astros playgoof last.Chaves was inhaling a lot of southern wind,but I’d probably take over Kyleie pooo.Let me see if I get this right, The KC Royals,had talent that THE ATLANTA BRAVES coveted ? D#$@ what a coup.Un totally believable.Now, let me go see who blew an ear ligament in the Falcons camp.
TheAntiMe
July 31st, 2010
10:05 pm
RALPH WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD MANAGE THE TEAM PENDLTON? THE BRAVES ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE IN HITTING WITH HIM AS THIER COACH WHERE WOULD THEY BE WITH HIM AS MANGER YIKES!!!
While I also feel that there are more qualified candidates to manage the Braves than Terry Pendleton you probably should want to know that the Braves are currently not at the bottom of the league in hitting but are currently 5th in the league in batting average and are also currently 6th in the league in RBIs. Just FYI, that is nowhere close to the bottom of the league in hitting.
Mathman
July 31st, 2010
10:06 pm
The cash is to pay some of Farnsworth’s and Ankiel’s big salaries.
JOE
July 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
I love how everyone thinks that Gregor Blanco is an All Star Center Fielder. Dont get me wrong, i like Blanco and i think he did great for us this year, but wow. The Last two years, he was horrible, not good at all. And we saw first hand how he was when the pressure was on. (Hitting .251 over 144 games with a whoping 1 hr and 38 rbis in 2008) Give me a break!! I’ll take my chances on a guy who hit 25 hrs in that same year.