Braves, Wren whiff on Greinke — and this is getting old
Zack Greinke: On his way to Angels. (AP)
Frank Wren: Looking for help. (Curtis Compton)
(UPDATED: 9:10 p.m.)
The first pitcher they went after (Ryan Dempster) said no. He prefers Los Angeles.
The second pitcher they went after (Zack Greinke) was traded to Los Angeles (no, not that L.A. team, the other L.A. team).
The Braves are trying to get better before Tuesday’s trade deadline. We think. But this journey is turning into some weird nightmare, or at least a Randy Newman retrospective. (“I Love L.A.!”)
Remember when the Braves used to get what they want? Remember when 90-plus-win seasons and playoff games seemed as plentiful as potato chips?
General manager Frank Wren said Friday night that he didn’t believe the Braves were close to a trade for a starting pitcher of significance. No kidding. I’m not sure how many are left.
When Wren was asked if he was balking at parting with a coveted prospect like Julio Teheran for a rental player like Greinke, he responded: “I really don’t want to go there. We’ve had a sense for what [teams] are looking for with all these big guys. Some may be a little cost prohibitive.”
And there it is.
At some point, maybe it will be about this season, not next year or the one after that. But right now it’s not looking that way.
The Braves still have a few days until Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline to fix their starting rotation, which has been dropping engine parts for the past several miles. But if they don’t succeed, it will be because Frank “You’ll Get My Prospects When You Pry Them From My Cold Dead Hands” Wren is focused on tomorrow, not today. Again.
Try to explain that to the players in the clubhouse. They believe the team needs a boost to catch Washington in the East (or survive a six-team wild-card cage match with all limbs intact.)
Even Tim Hudson, the current No. 1 starter, said of the team’s attempts to get a starting pitcher: “Everybody’s encouraged by it. It’s an area that’s been inconsistent for us all year. We’re here to win. There’s no reason to take it personally – unless I’m being bumped out of a job.”
It’s obvious where Chipper Jones stands. This is his last season. He wants another shot at the World Series.
When word circulated the other day that Florida had exploded another dumb-bomb and traded Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers, signaling a housecleaning, Jones was sitting on the Braves’ team bus in Miami. On walked Wren. Jones began his mock throat-clearing and in a humorous hoarse tone said, “Josh Johnson!”
Wren smiled. But he didn’t make a move.
Wren satisfied the Cubs in a potential trade for Dempster, so we can’t put that one on him. (Dempster still hasn’t been traded to the Dodgers, so there’s at least some possibility he could change his stance.) But Wren generally has been resistant to parting with top young pitchers Teheran and Randall Delgado for a potential rental player.
The Brewers traded Greinke to the Angels (for shortstop Jean Segura and two prospects) because Wren wouldn’t give up enough for a pitcher who potentially could lead them to a World Series. The Marlins are asking for the moon and the sun for Johnson, as they should. He’s not only good, he’s signed through next season. He might be worth more than even Greinke. Great players don’t come for cheap.
Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci reaffirmed the upside for teams that acquire starting pitchers at the deadline. He noted that over the past five years, contenders have traded for 19 starting pitchers in July. Those pitchers accumulated a record of 94-45. Nine pitched in the postseason. That includes Edwin Jackson, who went 6-3 (including playoffs) with St. Louis last year following a trade and helped the Cardinals to the World Series. Verducci referenced other recent “sudden-impact” pitchers at the deadline: Cliff Lee (Texas, Philadelphia), Roy Oswalt (Philadelphia), Ted Lilly (L.A. Dodgers), C.C. Sabathia (Milwaukee) and Joe Blanton (Philadelphia).
Friday did not pass without the Braves making a move. They signed 41-year-old Miguel Batista, who was just released by the New York Mets, to a minor-league contract.
Wren doesn’t necessarily see Batista being called up and becoming a factor for the Braves down the stretch. But you never know. It was worth a shot. Batista comes cheap. And isn’t that what’s most important of all?
By Jeff Schultz
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445 comments Add your comment
Old Devil
July 27th, 2012
7:32 pm
Can anyone on this blog spell “POPEYE” correctly? Maybe Uggla just needs a can of spinach???
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:32 pm
Miguel Batista????? thats our move for the playoff push?
B1
July 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
wrecker = jman
JoeyBagOBravos
July 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
I’m glad the Angel’s got Greinkme… If we want, we can sign him this off season, but no need to give up good prospects for 2 months rental.
I say put Medlen in rotation, use JJ in long relief, if he sucks it up, release him and find a good reliever on the waiver wire after the trade deadline. Moylan’s comin’ back, but all we to do is find bullpen and bench help if anything.
If we sign Greinkshe in the offseason, then use prospects to trade for a top-notch bat (left field if Prado goes to 3rd, maybe centerfield if Bourne signs elsewhere)
Marco Pillow Throwerder
July 27th, 2012
7:34 pm
Go get Remlinger,Bedrosian,and Alejandro Pena out of the old folks home Wren. Everybody breathing that follows baseball knows the Braves need a good starting pitcher to get to post season…
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:35 pm
This is an insult to all Braves fans that we couldnt get a starting pitcher. Now were gonna keep having Jurrjens with a 8 ERA and Hanson allowing steals left and right with a sub 5 ERA to just get killed. But WHERES the PROSPECTS at they could pitch better than Hanson and Jurrjens. Its a terrible day for Braves fans.
JoeyBagOBravos
July 27th, 2012
7:36 pm
Old Devil – Schmugla needs something… I say he should screw all of the talking, adjustments, patience, advice and just start swinging at everything and try for the fence. What does he have to lose at this point?
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
7:37 pm
Multiple reports as you’ve probably heard: Greinke going to Angels for SS Jean Segura and 2 prospects.
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:38 pm
Jurrjens has not pitched but 2 quality starts all season and yet he keeps getting chances yet Delgado pitched way better and is in the Minors and Yeheran pitched 4 scoreless innings in his only start before getting hit up but he still pitched better than Jurrjens.
kral
July 27th, 2012
7:38 pm
we lost last year jay man because of injuries and slumps in SEPT. which at the time could not be foreseen,,nobody will hardly ever trade in SEPT.. go Braves beat the NL EAST LAST PLACE PHILS and one time WS winner in 5 tries in a row
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:40 pm
And the people that think Sheets is the Ben Sheets from 2008 are mistaken because he is coming back from 2 TJ surgeries and its not fair to expect much from him. But hey the Braves dont care to make the playoffs.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 27th, 2012
7:41 pm
So, all you prospect traders, would you have traded a healthy prospect SS Simmons too?
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 27th, 2012
7:42 pm
me, never.
"Chef" Tim Dix
July 27th, 2012
7:42 pm
Enter your comments here
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:45 pm
Yea he had injuries Karl but we kept playing people that kept underperforming……DEREK LOWE. and didnt let the young pitchers have that chance Teheran in particular. But we will keep having Uggla striking out until its too late. in fact if you look at Ugglas numbers if it wasnt for that hot July/August where he had the 30 game hitting streak of 11 he would be a sub .200 hitter for the Braves.
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:47 pm
No I wouldnt trade Simmons but only because he has shown he can play in the Bigs. But the pitching prospects havent quite showed that yet
FSUBrave
July 27th, 2012
7:47 pm
shows you how incompetent frank wren is…he ran baltimore into the ground and was run out of town, and now he has made some of the dumbest trades that have done nothing for us over the last 3 yrs, while we are still paying Lowe and Kawakami. Face it wren is not even in the same league as JS…we need a new GM that can build a contender…watch, the braves will be swept by the phillies…we are out of it by aug 15th
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:49 pm
The Braves should either go for it or just rebuild.
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
What sucks is that all the people that are defending Wren will be nowhere to be found when we dont make the playoffs again. You hid out until november last year
TROTTINGHOME
July 27th, 2012
7:58 pm
Grienke wasn’t coming here so he could beat the Brewers for the next 5 years….to bad
CHICKEN wren STINKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 27th, 2012
8:03 pm
There is NO way the Braves stand a chance as long as they keep CHICKEN wren as GM. Now THE WORST GM in pro sports, The New don waddell of GM’s, Lies, will NOT make moves and is so STUPID he alone has Killed this team.
Why is john s. not after another REAL GM is amazing ? I guess in his, now OLD feeble mind, being loyal to CHICKEN wren is more important than WINNING !!!!!!!
A 41 year old pitcher, What a JOKE !!!!
I would take one new jock strap for CHICKEN wren, he is as worthless as worthless can be, HE STINKS !!!! I will NOT attend another Braves game until CHICKEN wren is FIRED and the Braves CLEAN HOUSE, including john s. too !
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
8:06 pm
Error
Wrecker
July 27th, 2012
8:16 pm
J-MAN is not Wrecker, trust me. I was disagreeing with him.
Busch Leaguer
July 27th, 2012
8:20 pm
After the yanks sweep the Red Sox ,the fire sale will start,Go get Lester and Bard .
JC Boscan III
July 27th, 2012
8:21 pm
Even if we were willing to give up some prospects to get Greinke, without Liberty Cheapskate Media upping the Braves payroll by $10-12 million, keeping Greinke after 2012 would mean letting either Bourne or McCann go when their contracts expire. Greinke is going to get $20-22 million per year, and if Bourne stays with us, that will be $10 million more. So, approximately 2/3 of our payroll would be devoted to Greinke and Bourne. Then, McCann would have to be traded during 2013 or lost to free agency at the end of that year. We have cheap owners. With a $100-105 million payroll, we could sign a Greinke without having to ditch someone else at some point.
So, until Liberty commits to winning instead of mediocrity, we are stuck with middle of the road payroll and a team that reflects that payroll………… GO BRAVES!!! Spend some money, Liberty Media — or sell the team to someone who cares………!!!
donsutten
July 27th, 2012
8:22 pm
Seems like it might be time for a little tempting of the staff. Call em in for a pitcher’s only
meeting and ask everyone there … “who would like to become a real high paid pitcher?”
Someone who would do his darnest to be a winner. If everyone said… “ME!” I would say okay prove it! And I would draw lots for starts. Give them an incentive… cash for a win!
You just might find an “Ace” waiting to happen…. one thing for sure… each would be busting his butt trying and something just might pay off. Next…. try it out on the hitters!
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
8:29 pm
Nope Im not Wrecker but I am a fan that questions a GM that just stands pat after chocking a 10 1/2 game wild card lead and still stands pat after having a starting rotation that is 1 of the worst in the Majors.
Busch Leaguer
July 27th, 2012
8:33 pm
Plan C will likely involve Wren going “Hat in Hand” to Dempster and offering a $$weetener to approve the trade to the Braves. The Braves offer to the Cubs is much better than the Dodgers offer.Time to grovel Frank.
Mark. (another one)
July 27th, 2012
8:39 pm
How about JJ and Medlen swapping roles? Or, how about Medlen as a starter, Delgado as the bullpen bridge, and JJ in AAA? Hudson, Sheets, Hanson, Medlen and Minor is a pretty good starting five.
Busch Leaguer
July 27th, 2012
8:48 pm
As long as Frank is signing cast -offs, go re-sign Rick Ankiel . The Nats released him today. Gives Frank a cheap alternative when Bourn hits the yellow brick road next year.
Braves Suck
July 27th, 2012
8:51 pm
getting real tired of crappy braves not living up to their billing. when will hanson become a true ace? will he ever? dude is so slow to the plate that even bengie molia could swipe home on him.
Mike
July 27th, 2012
9:10 pm
Did Zack sign a contract extension? I have 0 problem with not selling the possible future again for a few starts.
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
9:14 pm
Folks — been working on a rewrite that I just posted. Feel free to weigh in on it. Sorry haven’t been commenting on game but column took priority. Will check with you shortly.
Officenthesky
July 27th, 2012
9:16 pm
I keep hearing about the Teixeira trade as if it is the sole reason the Braves are hesitant to give up prospects in a trade but I think it is only part of it. Don’t forget it was only a couple seasons prior that we traded a prospect named Adam Wainwright for JD Drew. That has to be a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that focuses on starting pitching.
GFJacket
July 27th, 2012
9:21 pm
DO NOT MORTGAGE the future for a rentaplayer again. If you can’t guarantee he will sign a long term deal, then go with what you have. Heck, put Teheran, Delgado, and Medlen in the starting rotation now and let them learn on the job. Look at what Glavine did back in 1988 – 1990. Look at what he did the next 8 years.
Sonny Clusters
July 27th, 2012
9:24 pm
That is some good writing, Jeff, but what good is another pitcher when the team has so many holes? There is a big hole at the bottom of the order with Uggla and the light hitting new shortsop whose name we have not yet bothered to learn. If they was going to start a career minor leaguer why not Constanza and bat him ninth before Bourn? Then they could let Prado play second and jettison Uggla like they clean out a submarine. By the way, 1 earned run in 18 innings means after 3 starts Sheets is already the ace of the staff.
Jimbo fisher
July 27th, 2012
9:24 pm
You mean the Miami marlins, not florida
chris
July 27th, 2012
9:24 pm
Its a shame a terrible shame to watch management screw up another season. The way I look at it if we cant get an arm start looking for a bat or three..shit, we can’t win 2-1 or even 5-4 anymore with this pitching staff- might as well win 12-10 every night….GO GET SOMETHING please before the deadline..or if we don’t and miss the playoffs Wren should be fired…THIS is unforgivable you hang on to a kid who has not shown squat and you’re “hoping” he turns into a major league pitcher–and toss Chipper’s last season down the toilet. I’ve been patient on Wren, read these blogs that have called for his head and not jumped on that train but Im purchasing my ticket if we miss playoffs this year because of his as Jeff puts it “pry my prospect from my cold dead fingers” approach……It’s definitely getting old.
TeheranTime
July 27th, 2012
9:25 pm
See, I don’t see trading your top infield prospect and two minor league pitchers for a guy who has ever done a whole lot for a winning team, who just had to take ten days off and would require mortgaging your future to get. Maybe I am wrong in it, but I wouldn’t do it.
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
9:28 pm
Clusters — I live in short-sleeves, my friend. No Popeye arms however since I cycled off the juice.
kral
July 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
yeh, do you you have the guts to come on at this moment and comment on Sheets…how about predict his future..how about predict ..ohh the ell with you j-man..I am wasting my time..you have been managing..gming…. playing pro baseball teams a lot longer than me..oh you are just a fan..excuse me I ALMOST THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT the ell your were talking about..sorry ..go to a football blog and tell them how to coach a team.. keep trying you may get lucky and get something right before the fact
Delbert D.
July 27th, 2012
9:30 pm
Wren has been frozen in that pose for, what, 2 months? The guy next to him hasn’t moved either.
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
9:30 pm
Mark (another one) — Very possible that Medlen is headed for the rotation.
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
9:33 pm
Clusters (on Uggla) — Offense generally isn’t a problem on this team, despite Uggla’s dreadful season.
chris
July 27th, 2012
9:33 pm
well guess we better go get some bats…three or four ….not going to be able to win 3-2 or 5-4 games…itll be 12-10 might as well outslug em……….. just saying == we won’t be out pitching em.
kral
July 27th, 2012
9:34 pm
AND CORRECT MY GRAMMAR BEFORE YOU LEAVE ..I’M SURE YOU ARE ALSO A QUASI ..ENGLISH TEACHER..sorry about the caps..but some people deserve them j who thinks he is the man
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
Ben Sheets: 6 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts, 94 pitches. … Guy has been amazing. In three starts. Three HIGH quality starts. He has allowed one run in 18 innings.
Gray Holt
July 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
Ol’ Ben is looking great…
J-MAN
July 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
Hey Schultz, Uggla has stunk while in Atlanta in fact if you dont count that 30 game hitting streak he had last year is is batting under .200 as a Brave. Can we bench him or send him to the Minors like we did Kawakami when he underperformed?
Delbert D.
July 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
Uggla’s OBP is similar to Heyward’s. The pitchers prefer to walk him a lot.