Did Falcons just take lead over Braves in title pursuit? (Update: Phillies get Pence)
Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff just moved closer to a title.
(UPDATED: 9:15 p.m. with news of Philadelphia trading for Houston outfielder Hunter Pence.)
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff just worked his magic to sign defensive end Ray Edwards.
Frank Wren: You’re on the clock.
This is an important time for both the Falcons and Braves. The NFL is in free agency and major league baseball is bumping up against the trade deadline. This is when championship contenders often
Can Frank Wren get help for Fredi Gonzalez and Braves?
are determined.
The Falcons believed they needed to add at least one significant player on defense to compete for a Super Bowl. Edwards should provide that. He gives them a pass rusher from the left side as a complement to John Abraham.
The Braves need to add some offensive power, preferably a right-handed hitting outfielder who can drive in runs. Wren has had talks for several different players, but he hasn’t pushed the button on a deal yet. He balked at letting go of a valued pitching prospect (Mike Minor) for a rental player (Carlos Beltran).
The question now: Are the Braves willing to do what it would take to land a high-profile player like Houston’s Hunter Pence or the Chicago White Sox’ Carlos Quentin, or do they settle for somebody the next tier down (Ryan Ludwick or Josh Willingham) and hope the rest of the roster gets healthy enough for the stretch drive?
UPDATE: The Braves apparently pushed for Pence but Philadelphia pushed harder and acquired the outfielder from the Astros, according to multiple outlets. Fox Sports baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal first reported Houston will get four prospects in the deal, including two highly coveted ones: first baseman Jonathan Singleton and pitcher Jarred Cosart. So the Braves have now seen their biggest competition in the National League, the Phillies and Giants, both make major moves.
Dimitroff has worked this condensed free agency period brilliantly. Now it’s Wren’s turn.
For what it’s worth, in March I ranked Atlanta’s then-four pro sports general managers, and Dimitroff edged Wren for the top spot. We’ll re-evaluate after the Braves and Falcons complete their seasons.
There is still time before Sunday’s trade deadline for the Braves to make a move. San Francisco, coming off a World Series, already made its move by trading for Beltran. Philadelphia is pursuing several players and some believe may have the inside track on Pence.
We’ll find out soon enough how serious the Braves are about winning a World Series this year.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: As Braves talk trade, Ross says ‘We need a piece’
Earlier: Braves would be taking a risk without major move
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231 comments Add your comment
RJ Voorhees
July 29th, 2011
3:10 pm
@Jeff Schultz, Who do you think the Braves will get? If you had to say
Jeff Schultz
July 29th, 2011
3:10 pm
What?? — I’ve never really been on the B.J. Upton bandwagon either. He still has some power but his batting averages the last five years have declined: .300, .273, .241, .237, .228 (currently).
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
Need Abraham to have at least one more solid year without injury.
Hope this guy Edwards can be what he’s supposed to be and not rest on his laurels after signing a big contract.
I don’t know about some of these guys that sign here…are they coming just to be in their mecca, which is the crap part of Atlanta?
DetroitBraves
July 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
I agree with you O’Brien, Willingham would be disappointing. If Wren’s going cheaper I would rather get Crisp from Oakland than Willingham. That said, either would be better than last year’s big Rick Ankiel addition.
PMC
July 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
Only thing here, The Falcons just signed Ray Edwards to a very very reasonable deal.
ONe major difference in baseball is the lack of a salary cap and guaranteed contracts. When you go after big time or established players in baseball sometimes you wind up with awful deals like the Derrick Lowe contract or the 5 million wasted dollars they have paid Nate McClouth.
There’s a lot less dead money in pro football.
Frank C.
July 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
How about an “internal” trade: Lowe for Kawakami? No, seriously, the hesitation, or refusal, to let go of Minor is because he was a no. 1 pick. Not because he’s a can’t miss prospect. He’s proven more than once he isn’t. Oganizations hate to prove they were wrong on a high draft pick, especially a no. 1.
Frank Wren
July 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
We can’t trade any pitching. When Lowe and Hudson are retired and JJ and Hanson sign as free agents with the Yankees we will need all of our young arms for the rotation.
Jeff Schultz
July 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
R.J. Voorhees — No feel for it. Just waiting to see what they do, like you.
Joe Tess Fish House
July 29th, 2011
3:15 pm
Both team have problems that eventuly make them loosers.
Falcons – 2 many fist round draft busts. At least they got rid of Jenkins althought I think they should of had did that last year, then sigh TO or Randy moss
Braves – They hires a loosing managar with a loosing record.
Jack
July 29th, 2011
3:16 pm
@ DawgFan… I hear ya. I just think, since now we’re not talking about rentals, its a slap in the face to fans if Wren doesnt make an aggressive move. If he can get someone that the Braves can control at least for next year, with money coming off the books next year, he needs to pull the trigger and “gamble” on which prospect that can be moved…
ATL Fan
July 29th, 2011
3:18 pm
The Braves most definately need an outfielder who can hit. Additionally, they need to get some help in the middle relief position. Haven’t heard much on that lately.
david
July 29th, 2011
3:19 pm
The bottom line is the Braves are for sale, and they will not make a big trade to raise the payroll.
DetroitBraves
July 29th, 2011
3:19 pm
Frank C. is dead-on, I think. I keep hoping that the Braves are pumping up Minor to create false value in a deal. But instead, they either really believe he’s a top prospect or they just will never do anything that implies he was taken due to signability at slot, rather than upside.
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:19 pm
Falcons are going to be in UGA’s situation soon..lacking in depth at O-Line.
Better start addressing that for the future.
Duh!
July 29th, 2011
3:19 pm
Schultzie, different ownership group. Braves can’t afford to go out and sign top free agents. To answer your question straight up, yes they did and will continue to do so. I don’t expect that the Falcons are finished yet either. Duh!
Thadsdad
July 29th, 2011
3:20 pm
I just read the Phumblins are a virtual lock to land Pence. It’s not because Houston is in love with the prospects offered, as a matter of fact the Astros prefer the Braves pitching prospects. But Wren and Co. are refusing to give up Mike Minor.
Mike Minor.
Not Teheran – Mike Bleepin’ Minor.
Minor will never be more than a No. 4 and I truly believe at my advanced age I could smoke him.
But, what the hell, the Braves’ll take that future Hall of Famer Ludwick and maybe somebody’s back-up catcher and then when they miss the playoffs blame it on all the key injuries.
Mike Bleepin’ Minor.
I can’t even believe this.
vomax
July 29th, 2011
3:20 pm
Apples to oranges, Schultz. Wren, like Dimitroff, made his “big” move before the season — trading for and re-signing Dan Uggla. Sure, the Uggla acquisition has been up and down (well, mostly down, down, down and recently up), but so could the Edwards acquisition.
DawgFan
July 29th, 2011
3:21 pm
@ Jack – Totally agreed, a move has to be made, but david @ 3:19 makes a pretty good point to. When teams are for sale, they often try to lower payroll, not increase it. That could very easily work against Wren.
RJ Voorhees
July 29th, 2011
3:22 pm
@Jeff Schultz, I don’t know what direction they are planning to go in. But it sure is frustrating
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:23 pm
Hoping the Braves don’t panic over McCann and make rash trade.
Yes, they still need outfielder w RH bat and certainly more middle relief.
But that’s it once they get healthy.
Do not overpay.
BTW, thanks a lot Sherril for making me lose interest after you gave up two runs in ninth to put it out of reach last night.
Rob
July 29th, 2011
3:26 pm
yeah, the braves are only in wildcard lead with all their best players on the bench and expected to be back soon. all is over….another bad article
brandon
July 29th, 2011
3:28 pm
Please Braves, don’t get Willingham or Ludwick…Pence, Quentin, or Upton please! If the Braves get one of the first 2, the Falcons lead the Braves in title pursuit. If the Braves get one of the last 3, I’d say it’s a split…
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:28 pm
I’d give serious consideration to trading Minor. That’s all he might be good for, the minors!
Too up and down in his young glorified career thus far.
See what the Braves can get.
Although Liberty Mutual are pitiful owners and a pitfully rude company with rude employees.
Wish we can hurry and get that solid individual owner quickly.
LONGISLANDBRAVESFAN
July 29th, 2011
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
Rob
July 29th, 2011
3:29 pm
all of you screaming that we need to dump mike minor need to stop drinking the atlanta media kool-aid. we can’t afford JJ or Hanson in a couple of years, Hudson and Lowe will be gone…wonder what you all would be saying when the braves need starting pitchers and are nowhere need playoff contention. use your head and think for yourself.
LONGISLANDBRAVESFAN
July 29th, 2011
3:30 pm
I am definitely hoping against hope that FW can get Pence as long as he doesnt give up Julio. But would it be smarter if he can pull off a deal for willingham/balfour or ludwick/bell instead? Kill 2 birds with one stone? thoughts?
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:30 pm
DISSOLVE LIBERTY MUTUAL!
PMC
July 29th, 2011
3:30 pm
The largest difference obviously is the ownership. One owner wants to win championships the other owner just wants the team to be relevant enough to sell tickets long term and or make the team valueable enough to improve the selling price.
The Braves are more worried about 5 years from now than now.
Remarkable
July 29th, 2011
3:31 pm
Come on Jeff, you know it’s easier for the Braves to get tot the World Series that for the Falcon’s to get to the Super Bowl. Still,. . .?
Remarkable
July 29th, 2011
3:31 pm
Come on Jeff, you know it’s easier for the Braves to get tot the World Series than for the Falcon’s to get to the Super Bowl. Still,. . .?
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:31 pm
Give up Julio? Thought he played for the Falcons now?!hehehe
Real American
July 29th, 2011
3:32 pm
Call up Henry Aaron, Dale Murphy, Glenn Hubbard, etc, etc.
Joey
July 29th, 2011
3:32 pm
“Wow, that would be a major roster-reshaping.”
***************************************
Well, Jeff, that’s kinda coming, right? Surely this is Chipper’s final year. Nate will be gone. Surely Wren will give up once and for all on Shafer? SS?
Saints Fan
July 29th, 2011
3:32 pm
WHO CARES?????
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:33 pm
Ready for some COLLEGE football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:35 pm
How’d that Reggie “Heck yeah my parents took the house and I took the money” Bush turn out for NO?
Rob
July 29th, 2011
3:36 pm
the braves will always be better than the Falcons. sorry
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:37 pm
Reggie Bush = Scam Newton…………..sleazeballs……….Get ready to give back your phony trophy Scam
boggie boogie
July 29th, 2011
3:37 pm
Reggie Bush = Scam Newton…………..sleazeballs……….Get ready to give back your phony trophy Scam
rpidge
July 29th, 2011
3:38 pm
Wren reminds me of Vince Dooly. Vince would very seldom use his timeouts even when the whole stadium knew he needed too. Maybe he got paid at the end of the year for the timeouts he didn’t take during the course of the year. Wren sits back until all the parts of the puzzle we need are gone then he will try to tell us, if he makes a trade, that this is the part he wanted all the time. Pence and Quentin would be worth a Minor and a reliever currently on the big team and maybe McClouth. But to set back and do nothing until what you really need is gone is in my opinion unacceptable.
DetroitBraves
July 29th, 2011
3:40 pm
Rob, I know that not all pitching prospects turn out which is why you may want to horde them (though it may also be why you trade some). But I’m concerned about the Braves developing hitters. At least if they trade Minor for a hitter they still have other pitchers. I don’t know what they have coming along on the offensive side. Seems like all the minor league help is on one side of the ball. I guess there may be a shortstop and a third baseman in the lower levels but that’s a long way off.
jimmya
July 29th, 2011
3:42 pm
lets take a poll who wants a hitting team who wants a pitching team
for me i`ll take a hitting team more excitement
DHD
July 29th, 2011
3:42 pm
Braves: If they can swing a deal for Adam Jones, it will trump anything the Phillies do.
You’re welcome, JS.
Real American
July 29th, 2011
3:42 pm
Joe Tess is a very astute observer of the gridiron, and now, the Diamond.Sometimes genius is not recognized when it is so contrary to popular belief. Deep vision can be clouded by others short-sightedness. Colloquial style should not be used to criticize, but look to the content. Joe Tess is a brave visionary and should be respected.
oldmike
July 29th, 2011
3:42 pm
I think someone posted earlier that the Braves don’t care what is said on these blogs. I have to think that is the case. Management does go on talk radio and hears the same thing and still doesn’t care. What I don’t get is have they watched this team play this year. Outside of a few games they have done nothing on offense. Last year they did manage to score more runs until they hit the wall late year with all the injuries. This year they need to make a splash and show the Phillies they care about winning. Otherwise we are like the dog that lies on its back and puts it’s legs up in surrender. I don’t want to surrender. Are we in it to win? Or in it to build for the future and hope the plan works out. We had a 14 year run – that ain’t happening again. Do something significant. The Tex trade didn’t work out but it at least sent a message that we cared about winning. Let’s see what we care about this year!!!!
jimmya
July 29th, 2011
3:43 pm
it gets real boring seeing other teams 4th pitcher sutting us out all the time
longtime bulldog
July 29th, 2011
3:44 pm
How about Mike Stanton of the marlins.Now that would make a splash.It would also be easy to do because the marlins are in town.Just have him walk across the diamond.
Rob
July 29th, 2011
3:44 pm
@detroitBraves- i agree that we need hitters but we don’t have a big payroll and will need cheap, good pitching in the next couple of years. otherwise, because of our poor offense, we could end up in the bottom of the NL East. long-term planning is more important for a team with a smaller payroll than for a team like the phillies, who have and will have money to blow
JASon
July 29th, 2011
3:47 pm
“The Falcons believed they needed to add at least one significant player on defense to compete for a Super Bowl”
What is your point? The braves acquired Dan Uggla in the offseason to help them compete for a world series.
Dawg Whisperer
July 29th, 2011
3:47 pm
Sorry, Jeff. I’m not on this bandwagon. Its not tit for tat (no vulgarity intended). What the Braves do correlates with what other MLB teams do but not the Falcons or the NFL. I understand the correlation given the same fan base but the assumption is that the Braves must do something. Unfortunately, Wren deals in the real world dynamics of pennant chasing, sacrificing the future for the next few months, etc. with no guarantee of success other than to appease the media and some of the fan base. His world is not fantasy baseball where the consequences aren’t quite so severe. Having said that, if there is a deal worth making, I have confidence that he will.