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
What is Frank Wren Thinking?
July 29th, 2011
10:25 pm
Oh dear, the Phillies just signed Pence! Where’s my blankie?
Big Braves Fan
July 29th, 2011
10:26 pm
Jeff, do you think the Braves could go after Matt Kemp?
nobody
July 29th, 2011
10:30 pm
How will the eagles sign Mccoy, Desean, and Vick now? They have all kinds of money in the CB position. and they may have the best CBs in the league but their LB corp is TERRIBLE and so are their safeties. I see them having a good pass D but a below average run defense. RBs and TEs will have a field day. There starting MLB is casey matthews who wasn’t even a star at oregon in that defense….
Hunter Pence
July 29th, 2011
10:35 pm
I’m so excited to be going to play for the 2011 World Series Champs! When I heard they may trade me to Atlanta, I planned on retiring. Wow, that was close.
See you soon!
Tony
July 29th, 2011
10:36 pm
Wren has doomed us for another year. Missing out on the best players available. Dont even waste your time on any trades for second tier players, we alrdy have them. What a Joke. Art Blank, please help, buy the braves, and put Dimitroff in charge
Steve
July 29th, 2011
10:45 pm
How do other GM
Steve
July 29th, 2011
10:47 pm
How do other GM’s manage tp improve their clubs, while Fabulous Frank makes excuses. There needs to be a change.
Columbus
July 29th, 2011
10:50 pm
Wren WILL do something. I have faith in him. He has to know he MUST do something since the Phils and Giants have made big moves. I know we tend to NOT give up our talent now and I like that philosophy. I know the Phils gave up a LOT to get Pence and they might pay for it in the next year or two. The Giants are going to have much less of a chance to win in the next couple years due to personnel/contract issues so getting Beltran was a good match because they expect to suck over the next couple years anyway. BUT if we do want to win a World Series this year, as Schultz said, we will see in the next 2 days if we are serious about that. Unless they plan on waiting until the next trade deadline and that is risky but possibly less expensive, I think that Wren will do a good job. I really do. Time will tell.
Bob Rathbun
July 29th, 2011
10:53 pm
It has to be Carlos Quinten….we have to get him…Minor and Delgado bye bye
Columbus
July 29th, 2011
10:53 pm
He has doomed us? You dont even KNOW what moves he is going to make. Save your gloom and doom until after 4:00 Sunday and in the meantime have just have patience and faith and
Chhhiiiiilllll
Buuuuuuuuddy!
Bob Rathbun
July 29th, 2011
10:54 pm
Mark my words….Carlos Quinten will be in the lineup come Monday
Tony
July 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
Columbus, there arent any worthy player left, he passed them all by. Any others available are about what we have now. Second tier outfielders
extremus
July 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
We’ll know probably within the next 24 hours whether the Braves will make a move…because there aren’t many more than 24 hours left until the trade deadline. Then it comes down to going with whatever pieces are in place for each team, for better or worse. While I don’t know for certain my gut feeling is that Frank Wren will definitely do something significant given all of the recent injuries especially; it would not be a move made due to panic or overt haste, but simply to address needs that have become even more pronounced the past few days.
If they don’t make a move, the Braves will miss a potential greater opportunity to win a championship this season due to an anemic, currently patchwork offense. On the flip side, they would have those same trade pieces in place for use after this season ends, and they might actually bring more long-term value then…time will tell.
Tony
July 29th, 2011
10:57 pm
Outside of average players available at this point, there isnt anyone worth giving up pitching for. Quinten is the only option really available. And I doubt he has the guts to go and get him. Same story, just like when he was in Seattle. What did they win with him running the show
tony wilson
July 29th, 2011
11:03 pm
frank wren sucks fire his ass he got no balls braves do this every year
Columbus
July 29th, 2011
11:04 pm
Well he has Schuerholz to answer to and to advise him so I’m thinking something significant is going to happen but if not then I will not look for much in the future from the Braves as far as trades go. I think he will make a move but I hope it will not be too conservative. I know we will have to give up pitching. The question is, how much is too much to give up? Do you give up 2 prospects? Not top propects. I could give up Minor and a 2nd Tier prospect or 2. But not the two guys behind Minor.
Dr. Phil
July 29th, 2011
11:16 pm
I guess Wren is thinking about next year.
hammerhead
July 29th, 2011
11:42 pm
Admittedly, I haven’t read a single comment above, but it seems the Phillies are going to the free agent market for talent and the Braves are going to Buford. No offense to our AAA teamn, but damn.
Team Redneck
July 29th, 2011
11:47 pm
TO ALL YOU BRAVES FANS OUT THERE WHINING ABOUT THE PHILLIES, RED SOX, YANKEES HAVING MORE MONEY–
here’s a solution.
GO TO THE FREAKING GAMES .
Yeah. . .see, if you sold out TED the way the Phills, Red Sox, and Yanks fans have sold out their stadiums for the last few years night in night out, putting out 30-100$ a person to attend a game, then the Braves too would have money to spend on players !. . .So stop whining about other teams ‘buying’ championships. . .your team has an attendance hovering around 50%, or close to the likes of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona DBacks. . .GET REAL ! if you really care, get off this board and attend the games and stop being jealous of fans that get rewarded for their loyalty to the team.
Glad for football season
July 29th, 2011
11:55 pm
What a bunch of crap! Once again, Wren has kept a white-knuckled grip on the “future” of the Atlanta Braves while in the meantime division and league rivals make the moves to secure World Series championships. What gives!!?? Allowing Pence to get away, especially to Philadelphia, is a HUGE blunder. The Braves are a perennial pitching institution, consistently drafting and developing pitching talent. Any prospect other than Tehran should be available for trade, especially for a player like Pence. Having the resources to get a key player while not completely depleting system in order to win a title NOW is a NO BRAINER!! If you keep talking about the “future”, then when is that going to be here, Frank?? Thank goodness it’s August…is training camp at Flowery Branch on TV? That will be more fun to watch than another pennant going down the tube.
Glad for football season
July 30th, 2011
12:03 am
This is why is stinks to be an Atlanta sports fan. Thank goodness the Falcons are becoming more aggressive. GMs in this town have always been conservative and unwilling to take make the big move needed to add to their respective teams. It’s like we avoid top tier talent like the plague.
boots
July 30th, 2011
12:06 am
Even if, and that is a big if, we sign Quientin, it will only be enough to break even, at best, with what the Giants and Phillies have done. Wren, and more likely Liberty Media, have fiddled while the Ted burns. The future is NOW, and Frank Wren is no Thomas Dimitroff. I know the fans are ticked, and I am quite certain the Braves players are, too. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows we needed an extra piece or two, and Wren has let this team and this city down, no matter who he trades for.
Frustrated Braves Fan!
July 30th, 2011
12:37 am
Never thought I would ever say this, but the Falcons have now surpassed the Braves as the big team in town. They are not afraid to make moves to make them a winner. While Frank Wren continues to hold onto a two pitch lefty who will not amount to anything more than a journeyman pitcher while his two main rivals for the pennant are getting big hitters to help them win a World Series; TD goes mano v mano with his main rivals and makes big splashes. The Falcons will be the talk of the town come October while the Braves get ready for their offseason even if they win the wild card. But hey, let’s keep holding onto to those pitchers who will help sure up our 8 man rotation next year. Gotta build for the future like those fans on these boards have been saying for nearly 5 years now. Just a quick question….when will the future be here for some of you?
Braves Fan
July 30th, 2011
12:50 am
If the Braves were serious about winning a championship, then they do whatever they’d have to do (aside from Tehran) to land Quinton AND Michael Bourne.
They don’t have a real leadoff man and Michael Bourne would completely fix that. Kid hits for average, steals bases like there were TV’s during a L.A. riot, and plays a heck of a CF. Quinton is everything we were hoping Heyward was going to be this year but isn’t. He gives us immediate pop and both would solve ALL our offensive woes and OF situation.
Trade Schaeffer, Minor, Delgado and whoever else beside Teheran and Viscaino to make it happen.
Wren is gutless and this will most assuredly end with Willingham or Ludwick being the only moves that we make. Than and/or some obscure middle infielder platoon man so we don’t have to watch Lugo suck it up anymore.
unbelievable
July 30th, 2011
1:09 am
Team Redneck, Liberty Media loves people like you that think going to the games=them giving a crap. They’re just taking your money to the bank laughing all the way. BTW, I go to the games, and have been for 34 years, but these non-aquisitions (especially Beltran) weren’t about money, other than Wren not wanting to trade kids that aren’t going to cost much to keep that payroll down, so Liberty Media can get their tax write off. If we were sold out every night, they still wouldn’t spend…they’d just keep laughing on the way to deposit the checks. Yanks, Sox, Phils, etc. aren’t owned by corporations. Especially corps. all the way across the country in Colorado.
unbelievable
July 30th, 2011
1:13 am
Besides, if they have the opportunity to make moves like they did this past week and don’t pull the trigger, continuing to support them by going to the games is asinine.
unbelievable
July 30th, 2011
1:15 am
But get Quentin and all is forgiven. I’ll eat my crow and sing Wren’s praises. But my guess is: ain’t gonna happen.
unbelievable
July 30th, 2011
1:19 am
Alright, last comment then bedtime: I mean continue to support Liberty Media. I’ll always support my Braves (the players) go Bravos!
captguitarman
July 30th, 2011
2:42 am
The already strong Phillies and Giants have beefed up their offenses while Atlanta plays a pat hand, with their best hitter on the DL for a month or longer. A total common sense approach at this moment says its the Phils/Giants for the pennant. Nights like tonight against the Marlins are very rare. Let’s just hope the Braves’ pitching holds up. When I was a kid (a along time ago) I remember how the Koufax/Drysdale team and supporting pitching staff won a lot of 1 or 2 run games won the NL pennant, and I think the World Series. They had Maury Wills who set what I think is still the NL record for stolen bases in a year, over 100, and they new how to do squeeze plays and hit sacrifice flies, etc. and eek it out game after game with a run or two. Wills would get on once or twice, score a run or two, and that was it. I don’t see that in the Braves. More batting practice, more coaching, more bat voodoo ceremonies, lighted candles and shrines in the locker room. The pitchers have got to be tired of carrying the load.
The Real Brave
July 30th, 2011
5:36 am
Phillies acquire Pence from Astros
This is what winning organizations do. They don’t
wait to make moves even if in first place.
They make the moves to make their teams better.
We have missed the boat.
See what the Falcons did Thursday?
Ted M
July 30th, 2011
6:31 am
I fear the Braves are gonna now make a bad trade just to make a trade. Ludwick makes the Braves worse now plus we lose prospects.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 30th, 2011
6:37 am
The Phillies aren’t worried about the Braves. They know the Braves don’t have the offense or the makeup to challenge them for anything. The Phils are worried about the Giants and the AL.
Old Tech fan in NC
July 30th, 2011
6:49 am
Panthers are even more aggressive and will make the birds sweat this year!
Kyle
July 30th, 2011
7:01 am
The Braves will end up adding someone at the last minute to act like their doing something but not a big name like the Giants and Phillies did so that is why they will still be home come late October saying “they did their best”. Yeah, right.
Furman Bitcher
July 30th, 2011
7:18 am
IT BETTER BE UPTON OR BOURNE OR BUST. FRANK WREN BETTER NO COME TO ME WITH COCCA CRISP, COUNT CHOCULA OR FRANKING BERRY AND WE ALREADY HAVE 3 LUDWICKS ON THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TommyP
July 30th, 2011
7:33 am
It WILL BE MICHAEL BOURN. He will be the piece that’s brought in, a player the likes we haven’t seen in Atlanta since Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders.
john d
July 30th, 2011
7:44 am
Frank Wren that was the last straw! While you were sitting on your dumb ass the Phillies went out and made a great deal assuring them the division title and probably the world series. You have so much pitching depth which every rebuilding team covets, yet for some lame reason you wouldn’t pull the trigger. Everyone in baseball except you knew the braves were one bat away from going deep in the playoffs and you were too stupid and gun shy to pull the trigger. If you don’t have the guts to do this job please quit. The J D Drew and Mark T. fiascos are history!
Joey
July 30th, 2011
7:56 am
I’m not picking on Chipper, but, he often says he isn’t playing for the money any more.
So, why doesn’t Chipper tell Wren, keep my paychecks for the second half and go get us Quentin?
Just wondering . . .
Gen Neyland
July 30th, 2011
8:09 am
Acquisitions always look good on paper (e.g. Uggla). Not to say they won’t pan out over time but to put the mystical 8 Ball (not the coke kind) into play and seek answers is a wee bit futile in predicting a future…
Stay Classy
July 30th, 2011
8:48 am
At this point I say go with what you got. Wish we would have done more to get Pence, but we didn’t, so the last thing Wren needs to do is to just go out and trade for the sake of trading. We made a run at the top 2, now we have to focus on putting a string of wins together. Our pitching can still be very strong and keep us in the majority of games and all we have to do is hit a little. We score 4 or 5 runs and we should win. They should take the opportunity to rally together and say “hey, we don’t have help coming so its time to pick each other up” An us against the world mentality. That is what I would do, cause the team we have is good, just need offer Jobu a refill.
Ted M
July 30th, 2011
9:10 am
The Braves offered a four-player package to the Astros for Hunter Pence, tweets ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Astros sought two of the Braves’ top four pitching prospects and another good young pitcher, so a deal was not reached. With Pence and Carlos Beltran off the board, here’s the latest on the Braves’ hunt for a hitter…
probably a good thing we didn’t make that trade.
Ted M
July 30th, 2011
9:12 am
If Wren can’t make a fair deal for CQ then he should stand pat.
smitty
July 30th, 2011
9:22 am
the braves have been here before amid pressure to get a deal done and it hasn’t worked…….it’d be nice to get a right handed bat ( maybe uggla is finally assuming his intended role ) but as an espn analyst mentioned yesterday, the braves dont want to pay too high a cost and mentioned the teixeira trade as a bust…..
the braves traded away their future for a rental and the rangers went to the WS a couple yrs later with all the former braves…..just saying…..
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/52900-was-mark-teixeiras-trade-to-atlanta-the-worst-trade-in-braves-history
mike
July 30th, 2011
9:32 am
Phillies and Giants went aggressive and seperated themselves from the rest of the NL. The rest of us are left to bottom feed off the scraps remaining. But remember Braves fans the glass is half full with our talent rich farm system which at this rate should bring us a divisional title when our grand children reach their 30″s
Native to the ATL
July 30th, 2011
9:32 am
Guys, Liberty Media has Wren looking through other peoples trash piles before the truck get there on Monday. Aint no big names coming to Atlanta. All we will get for pitching prospects are the Garret Andersons and Troy Glaus’ of the world. So, it looks as thought we build through our minor leagues, unless we get a renta player that was once good. Mores the pity. Where have you gone Ted Turner?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 30th, 2011
9:36 am
Phillies and Giants playing for the World Series. Braves playing to make the playoffs. This is rather typical. Braves fans do not push the franchise hard enough. Phillies know they have to go after it or the fan base will destroy them. Rather disgusting to see how smug Wren is with all these Prospects and the unwillingness to move them. That is why the Braves will not win a WS for another 20 years…
smitty
July 30th, 2011
9:39 am
and one more thing schultzie, theres no comparison between the deal dimitroff did and what your asking of wren……the falcons ‘released’ a couple of journeyman players and then came up with cash to sign edwards……a pretty straightforward deal and its quite a stretch to say dimitroff is working his “magic”……..as far as wren, you’re asking him to give up young pitching prospects, perhaps baseball’s top commodity, assets that teams spend years and millions developing for a player who may or may not get the braves into the WS and who will bolt for bigger bucks asap…….have a nice day
Nativebird
July 30th, 2011
9:45 am
Quinton would be a great fit in Atlanta, and has big-time power from the right side. If Minor is off the table…then Tehran or Delgado will have to be part of the deal, other clubs will want top tier pitching prospects. Cant get aroud that.
Stay Classy
July 30th, 2011
9:56 am
If the Braves averaged 40,000 in attendance then I think the pressure would be higher, but when you average 25,000 not the same feeling. There are tons of braves fans out there shouting loud, but if you don’t fill the stadium then we will continue to lose out to Philly/SF/NY etc…
Stay Classy
July 30th, 2011
9:56 am
meant to say pressure would be higher on Wren.