LIVE: Braves get Michael Bourn, now hope that’s enough
The Braves finally made a catch before the trade deadline: Welcome, Michael Bourn. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 1:45 p.m. Folks, here’s the updated blog on the trade. I’m read to chat live now about the deal and the game. Sorry couldn’t get to earlier questions and comments but I’ve been kinda busy.)
It was the eve of the trade deadline, and Jordan Schafer was having trouble sleeping.
“I just had a weird feeling,” he said Sunday. “It’s something I hadn’t felt all along. I even sent a text message to my agent. I told him I thought I might be traded. He said, ‘No, there’s no chance.’”
And then he opened his phone to show a reporter the text message: “10:57 p.m. ‘Wonder if I’m going to Houston.’”
Sometimes, it’s not so great to be a prophet.
The Braves dealt Schafer to Houston Sunday. They made the move less because of what they believe Schafer might be one day than what he isn’t now: Michael Bourn. After dealing Schafer and three prospects to Houston for Bourn, the All-Star center fielder and leadoff hitter, Braves general manager Frank Wren said, “Michael is what we hope Jordan will be in three or four years. For a team that’s poised to win, we need a finished product.”
Wren needed the right sound bite. Braves fans have felt antsy, angry, frustrated, discontent and maybe even borderline hopeless after seeing San Francisco (Carlos Beltran) and Philadelphia (Hunter Pence) each spin major deals in recent days. So Wren hit on the right themes. What comes of this deal, we can’t possibly know.
Chipper Jones lauded Bourn’s speed, but when asked if the Braves are better team as a result of the deal, he said: “I don’t know. Talk to me in two months.”
The fact Jones was a big fan of Schafer’s might have fed into his comments. (At one point, he left his locker to walk over to Schafer, who was packing, to give him a hug, and the two spoke privately for a couple of minutes.) But Jones also struck the proper tone. There were some things about this year’s Braves team we projected back in spring training camp that haven’t panned out. So it’s best not to assume anything now.
Still, credit to Wren. He waited until the day of the trading deadline before pushing the button. The trade market had become increasingly difficult and expensive (opponents love desperate buyers). Wren made the best trade he could have possibly made at this point.
Bourn is hitting .303. He leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He has 28 infield hits. He has won two Gold Gloves. He immediately becomes this team’s best and most established leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal. So this is no minor acquisition.
“The perfect fit,” Wren called him.
The Braves certainly have World Series potential now. Then again, we thought that they had that in the spring. Championships assume two things: good health and expected production, and the Braves have used their opening day lineup only 11 times.
But consider this potential batting order: Michael Bourne, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Dan Uggla, Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Alex Gonzalez. If everybody’s clicking, there’s no escape. After all the angst, this may work out yet.
Some of what Wren said Sunday carried a trace of draft day spin. He acknowledged the team “inquired” about Pence and had interest in Beltran. But he also suggested the Braves never really wanted either that much.
“We could’ve had Beltran. … Same with Pence,” he said. “We were involved in everything but we weren’t really into everything.” (I’m assuming the comments would’ve been different had they acquired either.)
Wren got his wish: He held onto the organization’s four projected golden arms in the minors. He closed the deal for Bourn just before 9 a.m., then he phoned Schafer.
“I was backing out my driveway,” Schafer said. “As soon as I looked down at the phone and saw who it was, I knew. It sucks. But it’s a business.”
In a perfect world, Schafer goes on to have a good career, the Braves win a championship and Bourn turns out to be a lot better than the last time the team traded for a Gold Glove, All-Star center fielder who could hit leadoff (Nate McLouth).
We’ve learned not to project. But it certainly looks good.
By Jeff Schultz
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794 comments Add your comment
JM
July 31st, 2011
10:52 am
Great trade, but I hope Wren isn’t done dealing. Get Willingham to platoon rest of year with Heyward!
tybeedave
July 31st, 2011
10:54 am
for all the comments about “trade mclouth”, it is not that simple….you can only trade away players that the other team will accept…its not like a trade in on a car where they can give you 200 bucks or 5000 bucks as value.
Tomahawk
July 31st, 2011
10:55 am
COULD NOT BE HAPPIER.
We still have Minor. We still have our major prospects. We still have all the big guys I just KNEW Wade was going to demand. Awesome trade. Nice to have a legit CFer for once! This is a team that needs to win NOW. This isn’t a team that needs to be giving 2nd and 3rd chances to a prospect that debuted three seasons ago.
Allan
July 31st, 2011
10:56 am
By stealing 2nd everytime he singles, he adds a run a game.
Thad Mumau
July 31st, 2011
10:58 am
I really like the deal. Like a lot of fans, I was hoping for a right-handed power bat … to me, Quinten was the most attractive, with Upton too iffy because of attitude (which does not fly in the Braves’ clubhouse).
But considering a center fielder was a big need, Bourne is an excellent addition. Add the fact that he has speed and is an outstanding leadoff guy, he is an even better add because those are two things Atlanta hasn’t had in years.
So what if he bats lefty … he hits left-handers well. He beats out ground balls. He helps manufacture runs. He goes and gets it in CF.
Then, look at what Wren gave up: a once-hot prospect who still may pan out and three pitchers, none of whom are named Teheran, Vizcaino, Minor or Delgado, and we are reminded of a GM the Braves used to have … who was known for late-hour deals which strengthened Atlanta without losing a major piece of the future.
Bourne’s salary doesn’t hurt, either; and he isn’t a rental since he has another year left before free agency.
The Braves are definitely better today than yesterday and will be next season too.
All in all, I say well done, Mr. Wren.
Jeff D.
July 31st, 2011
10:59 am
It’s a good move. Beltran is always hurt and Pence isn’t fantastic in the field so Bourne gives us some elements we haven’t had since Otis Nixon. You’re right on about Schafer, he’s grown up and has looked solid this year till the injury bug stung him twice on the hand. I think Freddie is going to let Bourne run wild and it will be fun to watch. Just tell your boys there at the AJC to lay-off all the Matt Damon movie references for headlines.
clay
July 31st, 2011
11:06 am
everyone knocking wren about not getting beltran and pense. He just proved to you why he is a great gm. He did not give in and give away any of our prospects. Either we still get a middle reliever or we hold out till september call ups, and call our horses from AAA to go out to the bullpen. I dont think we need another bat of the bench bc we have conrad, hinske, wilkin, and now probably constanza. So we are good there, unless heyward still continues to struggle and we get someone off the waivers to platoon with him when left handers are pitching
The Bourn Identity
July 31st, 2011
11:06 am
This is an OUTSTANDING move! We acquired one of the premier leadoff hitters in the major leagues without giving up ANY of our top prospects, and we’ve got him for two seasons! I really don’t see how this trade could be viewed as anything but great. So what if he bats lefty? He hits lefties .285. We have about as balanced a lineup as you could draw up, when everybody gets healthy:
1. Bourn (lefty)
2. Prado (righty)
3. McCann (lefty)
4. Uggla (righty)
5. Freeman (lefty)
6. Chipper (switch)
7. Heyward (lefty)
8. Gonzalez (righty)
TOMAHAWK CHOPPIN DEEP INTO OCTOBER BABYYYYYYYYYY
Supes
July 31st, 2011
11:08 am
Tyler Pastornicky – whats his BA & OBP?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
He’s been tearing it up in the minors but he started at AA and has only played a handful of games at AAA….at the very most you can expect a september call up.
Most people in the know think he’ll need an entire season at AAA next year before he’s deemed ready to take over at SS for us in 2013.
B
July 31st, 2011
11:10 am
This is a great move for the Bravos. They needed a speedster who could get on base and make things happen. This imo will benefit the rest of the lineup if Bourn can get on base as much as he has this season. Getting Bourn and hanging on to the prospects that all these teams were interested in is great. Credit the Braves organization once again. Now WE all need to get out to the ballpark and support this team. It is well deserved!!!
Bob
July 31st, 2011
11:11 am
Now this is exciting news! With Ugly beginning to hit, Freeman gaining confidence, and Prado back, I’m hoping Bourn’s enthusiasm and hustle will be contagious (hear that Gonzo?). And, it appears our starting pitching continues to hold up…please Fredi, don’t over use our relievers.
fanboy54
July 31st, 2011
11:11 am
Welcome to the Braves, Michael! Great trade, and we’re really glad to have you.
cdog
July 31st, 2011
11:12 am
great trade.by far we are blessed to have 2 brilliant GMs infrank wren and thomas dimitrop. but woe until until the atlanta hawks having to rely on an incompetent GM in rick sund.if the hawks had anyone of these gentelmen they would have dwight howard and others.. both are trying to win a world championship while sund is about money and losing.
iTiSi
July 31st, 2011
11:13 am
Disagree with you Jeff, about the RH, LH thing. It’s best that Bourne be a lefty, with that speed, and leading off. That gives a batter about a two step headstart out of the box on a bunt or an infield grounder. THAT will be an advantage. Bobby Cox must have brainwashed you on that lefty/righty thing. When it comes down to it, it does not make enough difference to matter anyway. It would be interesting to know what Bourne has done against Philly so far this year. Got any stats on that?
poison avery
July 31st, 2011
11:14 am
Enter your comments here
ryan
July 31st, 2011
11:14 am
GO BRAVES !
tmc
July 31st, 2011
11:14 am
i like the move..
what is Bourn’s contract status?
Andy
July 31st, 2011
11:15 am
Jeff
What are the chance of another deal today?
TampaDAWG
July 31st, 2011
11:15 am
Best move they could have made. Bourn is perfect and once the Braves are healthy they can drive him in all day. Everybody that watches the Braves saw what damage jordan did when he got on base. Bourn is on base a lot more and is the best base stealer in the game. With Freeman, Heyward, Jones, Mccann, and Uggla, they really don’t need an RBI guy, they needed a lead off hitter. Also, those worried about him being a lefty. Hes hitting left handed pitching at 281 this season. Hats off to Wren for not giving up a single one of the four pitchers everybody wants. Now re-sign him and keep him. Hes worth it!
poison avery
July 31st, 2011
11:16 am
Perfect. Now need a solid reliever to give the pen some rest. Our top three will be spent by the time Moylan gets back.
Katherine
July 31st, 2011
11:16 am
Jeff
I have heard rumors that the braves might try to get infante back…Is that true? He could definitely play short for gonzo sometimes..or wherever the braves needed him.
yeah cmon
July 31st, 2011
11:16 am
How long before you think we’ll see Tyler Pastornicky in the majors? He’s killing it in Gwinnett right now. He has a .435 batting average and a .469 OBP through his first 11 games in AAA. .314 BA and .359 OBP for the season.
Ted M
July 31st, 2011
11:17 am
nothing can make Gonzo hustle.
Smoltzfan
July 31st, 2011
11:17 am
Nice work Mr. Wren, held out on the top tier prospects and got what we needed
Ted M
July 31st, 2011
11:18 am
wow thats great news about Pastornicky.
Mark in mid-town
July 31st, 2011
11:19 am
Real good move by Wren in light of the realities the Braves face. But there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think back to just how short-sighted and vision-less and foolish it was to get rid of Yunel Escobar last year. I’m of the opinion that Wren knew better and didn’t want to make that move last year, but that Bobby Cox just pushed it to the point that Wren relented and acquiesced. Does anyone know if that’s true? Anyway, if the Braves still had Escobar playing shortstop, then imagine how good this team would be. Great shortstops on both the offensive and defensive sides are hard to come by. And the Braves gave one away last year, at a time when there was no need to panic and give up on Escobar.
Thadsdad
July 31st, 2011
11:20 am
Love the move, hopefully another bullpen arm is next.
GM R
July 31st, 2011
11:22 am
Excellent trade – Schafer provided a huge lift when he became the first Braves leadoff man to act like a leadoff – now they have someone who does the right things and can hit. I would like to see Bourn signed to an extension as a key piece for the next few years as in MHO this team still needs a couple of pieces before it becomes a World Series contender. They cannot afford to have so much money tied up in Chipper for so little return – hopefully he calls it quits next year but hard to see how he will when it means walking away from all that cash. Maybe the Braves will work out some long term payment scheme cos that’s what it will take. They can then go after a big hitting rightie for left field and decide how the upcoming guys can help the bullpen. Besides Venters, Kimbrel and O’Flaherty the bullpen really sucks. Next year they will have Medlen back along with Moylan, and might think about converting one of the prospects into a long relief flamethrower. So all in all Bourn is a great addition for a team that may not have all the pieces this year but looks like a real contender for next, assuming Chipper does the right thing.
Ted M
July 31st, 2011
11:23 am
Fredi should have let Hudson finish the game last night and rested the pen like he’s always talking about yet never doing.
Bluefinger
July 31st, 2011
11:23 am
Interesting trade. Kind of like when you need a new car and go out and buy a new refrigerator instead.
Bourne will be very effective and a great addition, but we all see that a right hand bat with power is what we need. It seems we always leave it to only one or two guys to supply the power, in the past it’s been Chipper and McCann, right now it’s Uggla and Freeman. Why not have 3 or 4 guys that can knock em in. Heyward needs time in minors to get his head right, might not hurt Prado to clear the cobwebs, too. True Gonzo is struggling, but his glove saves runs. Hinkse and Ross are my new best friends.
Why not!
July 31st, 2011
11:23 am
Bring back Francoeur! He’s the perfect right handed bat we’re looking for. He’s batting .316 against lefties with 8 homers in only 98 abs and we could get him for next to nothing. He could easily platoon in LF and RF.
hawesg
July 31st, 2011
11:26 am
Anyone who thinks this trade is anything but a huge win for the Braves doesn’t understand lineup construction. The Braves have a host of guys who can hit for power, but they have not had someone who consistently gets on base with speed since Furcal left town.
Bourn makes Prado, Chipper, Freeman, Uggla and McCann more dangerous because when he’s at first, the pitcher is distracted.
If Heyward comes around – and he should improve based on regression to the mean – this lineup us fine.
Could still use a reliever and/or bench RH like Willingham or Infante.
Ted M
July 31st, 2011
11:29 am
10:27am: The Infante rumors have no legs, hears Juan C. Rodriguez.
8:29am: Infante is a popular target, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney, but nothing is close with the Braves and the Marlins are leaning toward keeping him.
CRAP!
Paddy
July 31st, 2011
11:32 am
Shafer is just Brian Asselstien, 31 yrs later. Could add Rowland Office in there as well. I really like this trade!
chris
July 31st, 2011
11:35 am
Braves needed a guy that can generate offense so from that standpoint the move was good. Once McCann and Chipper come back we will find out if its enough. I think even with Beltran the Braves can beat the Giants. Not sure if its the move that puts us past Philly though.
Jo Bling
July 31st, 2011
11:37 am
Mark,
Escobar? Are you serious? We had been trying to trade Escobar for some time before it finally happened, and many considered that deal with the Blue Jays essentially a dump on Wren’s part. Escobar had to be unloaded, and fast, as the rest of the team was done with him. He didn’t fit in, and was alienated by the rest of the players, not to mention the manager couldn’t stand him.
tr
July 31st, 2011
11:38 am
Will Bourn start today? My fantasy baseball teams needs to know.
Scoots
July 31st, 2011
11:38 am
I think ‘best move Wren could have made at this point’ is selling this trade short. We didn’t give up any of the ‘Big 4′ pitching prospects, and we got a guy who is the best base stealer in baseball, a gold-glove center fielder, an all-star and a serious run-producer. He’s not a 1/2 season rental, and despite being a lefty, he hits left-hand pitchers very well.
I think Schafer has a chance to be a solid major-leager, but I don’t see him ever being all-star caliber. and he’s clearly injury-prone.
Great move by Wren! Probably his best one yet.
Mitchell
July 31st, 2011
11:38 am
Sucks to be an Astros fan.
Oh well, screw them.
Scoots
July 31st, 2011
11:39 am
tr, according to DOB, he is not in the lineup
tr
July 31st, 2011
11:40 am
Thanks Scoots. I figure he is probably heading back to Houston today to grab his belongings.
Paddy
July 31st, 2011
11:40 am
Red Adair……..No GM in baseball is going to tell the public what players were offered in trades that did not happen. Think of the moral of the players named but not moved. They will think that the team has given up on them. Mr Wren was not lying, as you implied, he is just being a good professional GM It is just not done, period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heisenberg
July 31st, 2011
11:43 am
With the lack of quality arms available and both Bosox & Yanks looking for pitching, this is the chance to move Lowe. Braves hung on to those young pitchers for a reason. Time to send Lowe to the AL East and put Minor in the rotation.
jack
July 31st, 2011
11:47 am
what a steal? bourne never had a decent number 2 batter in houston. you’ll love him in atlanta. remember a cf you had named jones who caught everything not hit to straight right or left field? bourne is better and has a good arm also. he can score from first on a long hit and run single. he’s 39 and 7 in sb’s. that’s total bs. 4 of the out calls were horrible. houston is so bad even the umps are beatin up on them this year. only negative. he recently hired that ****head boris as his agent.
DetroitBraves
July 31st, 2011
11:47 am
Glad the Braves got Bourn without giving up any top tier prospects, but what is up with people wanting ex-Braves back? I mean, Infante is a decent enough utility guy but other than his fluky first half hitting last year he’s not really a difference maker. And Jeff Francouer is fundamentally the same guy he’s always been. His on-base percentage was .300 last year and minus a hot April based mostly on an anomalous batting average on balls in play his on-base percentage this year is only .318, with his walk rate being about the same as ever.
The Braves already have enough guys that are good at making outs without bringing him back.
And the Andruw Jones talk may be the craziest of all.
jrn
July 31st, 2011
11:48 am
good move but we need a rh bat cq would be great or even willingham
Steve
July 31st, 2011
11:49 am
Will Bourn make it here for today’s game?
Rilo
July 31st, 2011
11:49 am
Great Job FW. I haven’t given you much credit other than the Uggla trade (his lack of production was not your fault). I really want to upgrade the SS position but that’s probably not possible. Starting Hinske for Heyward could give the kid some time to work on the swing. I know we will get a RH pitcher or we can just use one of our minor league starters.
BravesFanForever
July 31st, 2011
11:52 am
Love to have Infante back! Omar was at his best with the Braves: His best 3 seasons were all in Atlanta. In 991 ABs he hit .309. He would be a huge upgrade over Alex Gonzalez! A .601 OPS is not cutting it. I guess we all knew what we were getting when we got him but wow, he is really fallen off the planet this year.
Briley Parkway
July 31st, 2011
11:52 am
Boog, Ted M and others make a great point: We don’t need a right-handed bat per se, we need someone who can hit lefties, and Bourne has proven that he can. I think it’s a great move, a really good fit, and we didn’t have to give up any of our “untouchable” pitching prospects.