The Hot Button: Should Braves be buyers or sellers?

Bystanders…leaning slightly towards selling.

I don’t know if 2010 is our year either. It’s unlikely the division race next year will be just as pathetic as it is this year. But 2011, with a restocked farm system this year and next, that might be our year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark,

Who could they buy if they don’t offer up Javy? BTW I think we should keep him and go with what we have unless someone just blows FW away. Perhaps they could get someone for Gonzo?

• Link
• Report this comment

Once again, the Braves don’t need much. Find a high-average RF and the Braves can win the East.

No need to trade the farm, just make a trade for someone that can play RF or CF (move McLouth to RF) reliably and not strike out as much as JF and the Braves are the team to beat.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Braves should only make one deal if it comes available and that is Francouer, Shaffer, and Hernandez to Oakland for Matt Holliday. This way they keep there team intact and will be built for a great run in 2010. They may even make a run this year, but it makes sense for the future because Holliday would leave after next season which should be Heyward’s First in Atlanta.

• Link
• Report this comment

Unless there’s a player to be gotten who will have McGriff-type impact, look at this season as part of a Falcons-esque rebuilding process and do the best you can.

• Link
• Report this comment

They need to get an every day outfielder…….. or power at first base…….how about Juan Pierre in center, move McClouth to Right…….. platoon Diaz with Anderson, and create some speed at the top of the batting order……

We don’t have the pop to play Long ball…..we need to manufacture Runs !

Create some stress on the opposing pitchers, work the count, take walks, and play REAL BASEBALL……… all the announcers are talking getting back to basics……. The Steroid time is over, small ball is winning now !

• Link
• Report this comment

I like what the columnist at FoxSports.com said a few days ago… there’s no bat AVAILABLE who matches what Javier Vasques SHOULD bring in a a trade for Atlanta. That’s how Frank Wren should view any deal for him, as well.

In other words, keep JV unless the Padres suddenly want him for Adrian Gonzalez – which ain’t happening.

The ONLY pitcher(s) I’d consider moving for a corner OF would be Mike Gonzalez and/or Raphael Soriano. We have the luxury of having two closer candidates, neither of whom get enough work because we’re not often ahead late because our offense just doesn’t cut it.

I’m with Mark on this; hold pat. There’s good reason to believe the offense will improve withOUT a deal. Consider we’ve played half a season with the albatross that is Kelly Johnson’s .200 average, and a good portion of that time with the beweildered Jordan Schafer, and we’ve shed those sure-outs. You HAVE to know that Chipper will come out of his slump, that McCann’s already coming out of his, that McLouth’s finally in a groove. I think, with the pitching we have, if Chipper gets going again (and he will) the team’s already constructed to compete, and because the Phillies, Mets and Marlins have all been mediocre, themselves, it’s a 78-game race, and lo and behold, we’re in it. I think we have enough (if nobody strengthens via trade) to stay in the race and finish above .500 as-is.

• Link
• Report this comment

One thing the Braves do need to do is find a way to keep Brooks Conrad on the field. The man flat out plays the game the way it is meant to be played. I think with Infante coming back soon, Prado playing his behind off and now Conrad showing his ability, Kelly Johnson has become the odd man out.

Send hernandez back to AAA for more seasoning when Infante comes off the DL, and get whatever they can for KJ.

Other than that, unless a deal falls in thier lap where they can unload Frenchy for a bag of balls or something, they should just stand pat. A big bat would be nice, but not at the cost of mortgaging the future.

• Link
• Report this comment

FIRE HOMER!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Stand pat!! Keep the rotation intact and lock up Soriano, who is a free agent after this season. If they’re going to trade a pitcher, they should look to dangle Gonzalez for a bat. You can move O’Flaherty into the 8th inning set-up role. Besides, one more bat is not going to solve this teams offensive woes.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark: I think it’s still a bit too early to be sure yet, but I would lean toward being a buyer – but only if the trade is McLouthian in nature and not Teixerian.

The past week or so has convinced me that this division is winnable by the Braves, warts and all. But they need a little extra pop to get ‘em over the top.

• Link
• Report this comment

Stay put. I’d rather see us make a big trade during the winter than see a repeat of Texiera-gate.

• Link
• Report this comment

I am different than most. Instead of a RF, I would go after a first baseman. We have outfielders coming in the future. We also have pitching to spare.

Trade Medlen and Kotch for a big time 1B that hits HRs.

• Link
• Report this comment

FIRE WREN he overpaid 20 mil on lowe OVERPAID FOR Kawakami OVERPAID TO GET GADERSON AT LAST MINUTE AND PASED ON OTHER BETTER PLAYERS TRADED TO MANY PROSPECTS TO GET MCLOUT FIRE WREN TODAY

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark I agree with you. Don’t trade Vasquez. The only moves the braves need to make is to ship Francouer and Kelly Johnson out of here. Let Diaz and Prado play every day. Bring up the Jones kid to get him some ab’s and then stand pat. In the off season find a big bat for the outfield. G Anderson won’t be back so there is another hole to fill. Hopefully Schafer will get his wrist straightened out, if so he can play right or left and learn from McClouth. They might want to look at adding some power to first base unless they think Kotchman will do till Freeman is ready. Above all else, don’t trade away ANY pitching.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken your an idiot. Thats one of the most moronic comments I have ever read any where on the internet. They will never have prolonged success ? You do realize the same people are in place that won 13 consecutive divisions and a world series ?

• Link
• Report this comment

I say you package Francoeur, along w/ a Ryne Reynoso/Edgar Osuna, and maybe a Craig Kimbrel/Jeff Lyman for Mark Teahen or John Willingham. You stick the player in RF. You get good power, good avg. and good OBP.

You’d have to be stupid not to see that one bat to replace the black hole in RF won’t push this team over the top. And you’d have both these players for at least another year and you don’t give up a bevvy nor elite prospects.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think this team has the potential to be substantially better in the second half without changing anything. Nate McLouth’s impact is just now being felt, and with the additional of him we replaced a .200 hitter with a .270 hitter with pop and speed (seems like the guy is always in the ‘runs scored’ column, just what we needed in a leadoff that we didn’t have at the beginning of the season). Putting Prado at second replaced a .200 hitter with a bonified doubles machine; all the guy does is hit +.300 and ricochets frozen ropes off the left field wall, and again, always seems to do so in a timely fashion. This is a good team that’s gotten better from the inside, and the removal of Javy Vasquez to acquire a bat would take your biggest strike out pitcher (i.e., the thing every team needs MOST come playoff time) out of the mix. BAD IDEA. You don’t subtract great pitching for great hitting, you just don’t. Pitching > Hitting, otherwise the average batting ave. would be at least .500, dig? It ain’t rocket surgery people. The Francouer thing is still so far up in the air (or perhaps, smoldering in pieces on the ground?) that you wonder if he’ll ever get himself straight, but again you’ve got Infante coming back, Diaz is finally getting himself straight after being out of the batter’s box for so long (he is coming off a bad knee, remember? yes, it took almost a half season to get his timing and pitch recognition right, but he looks like he’s coming around) and signs point to us maybe being able to manufacture another run or two a game with the lineup we’ve got now. Garrett had an awful start at the plate after missing so much time (missed bout all of Spring training) and he’s now dialed in. You take the bad Diaz/Garrett combo, plus the Schafer/KJ numbers out, and plug in the new Diaz/Garrett/McLouth/Prado factors in, and you’ve got a much improved ballclub. Let it ride folks. I ain’t saying absolutely don’t make a move, but I’d suggest staying Mucho Frugal at the trade deadline. I give Wren the keys to pull the trigger, but i’m saying it would have to be a no-brainer to do so, and from the looks of it there aren’t any deals like that out there at present. Now go tell that guy in the cube next to you who’s begging us to sell the farm for Matt Holiday what i said, then by his a bag of pretzels out of the vending machine and encourage him to settle down.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’ve been saying to sell for weeks, but I can see a good arguement for standing pat. I’d trade Terry Pendleton for Rudy Jarmillo. I’d throw in almost any other member of the coaching staff too. Don’t get me wrong, I love TP and I don’t think all the hitting woes are his fault. It’s just hard to argue against RJ. What his coaching has done for Andruw is amazing.

• Link
• Report this comment

mark is right i think wait and see .and call up haywood and freeman in sept..

• Link
• Report this comment

Stand pat unless a bargain comes along. A decent hitting right fielder would probably put us where we need to be. I don’t mean Dunn or Holliday, maybe another Garret Anderson type. Don’t rent Holliday for a season and give up more talent. That would be a mistake of “Tex” size proportions.
But that being said, do we really miss Salty, Matt Harrison or Elvis? None of those guys would be playing for us anyway. Salty would be a backup at best, Matt Harrison and Elvis at AAA. Yunel vs. Elvis is a wash though Elvis probably has a better attitude.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken – The Braves offered Andruw a minor league contract, similar to the contract offered by the Rangers. Andruw chose the Rangers.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken they would have gladly given Andruw a minor league deal with a shot to earn his way up. He didn’t want that. He wanted a guaranteed major league job after two seasons of Hoover-caliber sucking.

• Link
• Report this comment

Kinda like the one Francoeur has. Contradictory, huh?

• Link
• Report this comment

Be willing to be either depending on the deal. We are sitting on the fence in the standings, lets sit on the fence at the trade deadline. If we get/make an offer on a big bat with years remaining on his contract (non-rental player) lets do that (extremely doubtful, I know). If we get/make an offer that would significantly bolster us for the future (Vasquez for lots of prospects, for example) lets punt this year and go for ‘10 or ‘11. Let whatever offer helps the team significantly be the one we make. But if no deals help significantly, then make no deals. We got a shot this year, and the next two years look better.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark, what are your thoughts on Mike Cameron? If the Brewers would offer him with two or three top prospects, he seems like the type of player we need. Like McLouth he brings power, spped, and defense.

• Link
• Report this comment

For Vazquez I mean. Geez..

• Link
• Report this comment

Someone above asked who I would trade for … I would ask Baltimore about Adam Jones, he hits for average and power and bats right-handed.

They need pitching, so a Medlen/Frenchy/prospect package might appeal to them.

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep our starting rotation and tweak some of the bullpen. Other than that…SELL MORTIMER, SELL!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I would like to unload Lowe if Hudson is coming back. Would there be any buyers for his contract though?

• Link
• Report this comment

agree with bama aaron:: i like how conrad has filled in nicely. short guy, but a ton of power & speed. can he play RF though? move conrad to RF, start prado/infante every day at 2B. trade french the bench and a prospect for another OF—let’s face it, GA will not be here next year anyways.

• Link
• Report this comment

Just be a seller with Frenchy, and the Braves will benefit from addition by subtraction. I don’t care what they get in return — a bag of peanuts will do — but Cox’s favorite “toy” must be taken away ASAP for the Braves to have a chance.

• Link
• Report this comment

Or Francouer instead of Schafer

• Link
• Report this comment

My thoughts? I’d still like to see power out of either first base or right field this year. Seems like the best trade pieces are Kotchman and Gonzo instead of the kids on the farm. I was also thinking of Chipper at 1B if our best option for a bat plays 3rd (assuming we move Kotchman). I would NOT trade Jeff F right now when his value is at its lowest point. Would rather see him fill in, pinch hit, substitute defensively, and continue to try to get it together at the plate. This role would take a lot of pressure off him and he would win a lot of fans back if he handled it with class.

• Link
• Report this comment

kotchman is not going anywhere and either is gonzo

• Link
• Report this comment

How about “None of the above”? If someone comes along with a deal that blows Wren away, then he should take it. If not, I’m content to be a bystander unless we fall out of contention, then we can sell (again, if we can get good value).

• Link
• Report this comment

medlin is safe as well

• Link
• Report this comment

You can’t fire Bradley. He’s the only one who listens to us.

• Link
• Report this comment

Call up Heyward and cut Francouer. If Andruw was ready at 19 then I think this kid should certainly have a crack at it.

• Link
• Report this comment

matt holliday is hitting .275………….hes a career .315 hitter. you cant even begin to compare him and frenchy.

• Link
• Report this comment

Picture this folks.

CF McLouth
2B Prado
3B Jones
C McCann
RF Teahen/Willingham
SS Escobar
LF Anderson
1B Kotchman

OF Diaz
UTL Infante
UTL Conrad
C Ross
PH Norton/ OF Blanco

SP
1 Lowe
2 Jurrjens
3 Vasquez
4 Hudson
5 Hanson

LR Kawakami
LR Medlen/Logan
MR Acosta
MR O’Flaherty
MR Moylan
SU Gonzalez

CL Soriano

How does that team NOT make the playoffs? There are utterly zero holes.
Frank make the trade, that’s all it takes. You give up little and get exactly what is needed to put a strong run in place.

• Link
• Report this comment

matt holliday is the ONLY answer for this year and if they cant make the deal they will STAND PAT!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I say trade Brett Butler for Len Barker.

• Link
• Report this comment

i cant share the source but schaeffer is the ONLY prospect that the Braves are willing to release from their top 10. You are comparing apples and oranges in that comparison as well. this is a different year, so you cant compare situations. when TEX came the pitching was devastated by injury and this year we have a top staff!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I would trade Frenchy straight up for Holiday, but no prospects, because the Braves have no chance of signing Holiday after this year. Scott Boras is his agent!

• Link
• Report this comment

drez he has a contract through next season that is what is making him appealing to them because they would like heyward to have one more year of minor league ball.

• Link
• Report this comment

Can we trade a hitting coach?

• Link
• Report this comment

heyward, freeman , and schaffer only get called up in september!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Please keep Vazquez!

• Link
• Report this comment

ken who is in the know—-

Not questioning your legitamacay but where did you get the Diory, Frenchy, and Schafer for Holiday?

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken, I think the only thing you’re really “in the know” about is how to spell all their names wrong.

• Link
• Report this comment

Kawakami will work in the bullpen like Campillo did. No need for a 6 man rotation. Kawakami is usually very successful in his first few innings anyway rather than deeper in the ballgame.

• Link
• Report this comment

We are one Big Hitting OF’er away from becoming very very good. Pitching keeps us in almost every game. But scoring 2-3 runs per game is the only reason we are .500 “well almost 500″. Trade JF, KJ, JoJo and Medlen to Nats for Dunn. Or trade a combination of all or some to anyone for a HR hitting outfielder. Also, I am not 100% sure that we shouldn’t trade Gonzo if It could get hitting that is locked up beyond this season.

• Link
• Report this comment

cant do that you know that, but i will tell you that if you see an Oakland scout at the series this weekend and ask mark if an Oakland scout has followed schaffer for a week and he verifies it for you then you see i am correct. the braves really dont want to give up hernandez but oakland wants him in the deal and the braves dont want to pay matt’s salary so they want oakland to pick up some of the tab for this year and next.

• Link
• Report this comment

ken who is in the know -

I hate to correct you, but Holiday is in the last year of his contract. He’s definitely a free agent after 2009. And Soctt Boras is definitely his agent. Look it up!

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark,
Does Francouer have options that he could be sent back to Gwinnett to work on his recognition of the strike zone and whatever else is bedeviling him? I have a hard time believing that he cannot fix what is wrong and return to what he was in year one and two. Can’t they sell him on this is what is best long term for his career and their desire for him to be part of the Atlanta Braves long term. I don’t think the team can afford to let him learn on the job, but to discard him so easily would be a mistake.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken who is in the know:

My guess is you can’t reveal your source because there is no source. Gotta love all the “experts” who like to start all kinds of unsubstantiated rumors just before the trade dealine each year. Keep up the good work!

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey, Ken I Know Nothing, it’s actually “you’re,” not “your.”

• Link
• Report this comment

I like this team as presently constructed. Some of the young guys are really fun to watch. .Prado, Conrad, Escobar, Hanson. .I’m watching more Braves baseball this year than ever, including the “glory days” of the ’90’s. Unless some blockbuster just fell in our lap, I wouldn’t change a thing, rosterwise. Diaz or Blanco would be playing right field, with the other platooning with our speedy left fielder against lefties. Who knows, we might get hot and win this thing yet.

• Link
• Report this comment

If you are giving up a pitcher give up Lowe or Kamakami, not Vasquez, what wrong with you folks. They need a right fielder and a first baseman and a Bennet replacement. Theyre pretty good, they were finally hot till Bobby changed the lineup. Geez!

• Link
• Report this comment

sorry drez but check your source and you will find out that because of matt’s bad start and the market next season will be so bad because of the economy that he has agreed that if he is traded he will reup for one more year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Find a contender that needs a closer. Trade Gonzo for hitting. Get a third team involved. But don’t weaken our only strong area. STARTING PITCHING! Trading Vasquez could only be smart if this year is a through away year! It is not!!! Get one good hitter and get to the playoffs. The playoff $$ will offset what additional payroll was use for a hitter!

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramblin Wreck….good post except for the fact that the White Sox are in 2nd place in the AL Central and only 2 games out.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark…..Do you see anyway the Braves can get that corner OF for a package that includes Gonzo? If so, who would it be?

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken, Holliday is a FA at the end of this year, not next.

I think the Braves should stay put too. This division is the let-down of the season so far. The Braves suck, but so do all the other teams we need to beat. Just sit tight, make adjustments as you can, and hope for the best.

• Link
• Report this comment

Guys, Mike Cameron/Adam Dunn, not guys we need. Young, cheap,developed hitters with potential to improve. Mark Teahen and Josh Willingham. Prime examples. And with the Stan Kasten link in Washington and the Dayton Moore link in Kansas City…seems like we could get something done and really not give up much in the way of prospects.

• Link
• Report this comment

and Matt Holliday neither. That truly would be awful trade. One year, overrated, costs money and would have to give up a potential top prospect.

• Link
• Report this comment

Joey, to answer your question it is becuase he and Soriano are FAs at the end of the year and I don’t think the club will resign both of them. I think Soriano is the guy we need to keep.I like Gonzo but I think Soriano is the better man for the job and he could bring us that corner OF we keep pining for on here.

• Link
• Report this comment

sell trade release g anderson c kotchman m prado g blando m diaz j francoeur k johnson and yes C Jones dlowe kkawakami b logan no future for any of these bring on the kids on the farm they cant be any worse than these foget this year and get ready for next

• Link
• Report this comment

Don’t mortgage the future, we have done that enough already. Winning a division and losing first round at the expense of one of your starters is no smart, Time to think longer term and the goal should be to build to win it all rather then squeak into a dvision title. There are enough division titles hanging in the stadium.

• Link
• Report this comment

Please trade me to Texas where I can work with Rudy J. & he can fix my swing too, if he can fix Andruw hes the man! I gotta get out of the ATL, you people are brutal! I’ll go hang out with Salty & ya’ll can kiss my grits! This year Andruw comeback player of the year, next year Jeff Francouer in Texas!

• Link
• Report this comment

Cody Ross is a good name, but we tried that already and with Florida in strong contention, it’s unlikely he’s avaliable anymore. But names like that should be the focus.

Probably the highest level player I would consider would be Hunter Pence, but Houston would have to be wowed w/ an offer so scratch that.

Again stick with Teahen and Willingham guys. Most reasonable, most logical, most likely.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken Who is in the Know:

Your comment about Holliday agreeing to re-up with any team he gets traded to has blown all of your credibility. That’s exactly how Boras operates right?

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep all the pitching staff…send KJ to the minors when Infante gets back (if he can go back) Don’t trade the bank for Holiday…Best thing that happened to the Braves pitching staff was Bennett breaking his hand and Prado taking over at 2nd.

• Link
• Report this comment

And I know those aren’t sexy names but consider that they’d both be at least a 200 point upgrade in OPS in RF. That’s sexy enough for me.

• Link
• Report this comment

And don’t trade Gonzalez or Soriano, waaay to vital to the bullpen and you wouldn’t get enough in return.

• Link
• Report this comment

Your whole argument is based on the Teixeira trade being bad somehow? I must have missed where it was Tex’s fault Smoltz, Glavine, and Hudson had season ending injuries last year and Hampton missed half the year. As far as I know none of the prospects we traded have been elected to the Hall of Fame yet and 2 of them were blocked by Escobar and McCann and would likely never have played for the Braves anyway.

• Link
• Report this comment

Bleh, my boy Ryan Spilborghs is slumping. I still think he’d be an improvement over Jeff though, he’s not an automatic out at least.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hadn’t thought about that Mark. Oh well, I guess I will have to relinquish my GM duties to my other bretheren on this blog

• Link
• Report this comment

The more I think about it, the more I see Wren dealing for one of these guys. I think you can see it as well.

• Link
• Report this comment

Adam Jones would be mortgaging the future. It’d probablt take Heyward or Freeman and Escobar or sumthin like that. It’s like if someone approached us about trading Mac.

• Link
• Report this comment

I know this is not a complete list, but here are some key free agents after(and NOT this winter) the 2009 season.
First basemen
Carlos Delgado – I dont think so.
Adam LaRoche

Second basemen
Mark DeRosa
Placido Polanco
Brian Roberts
Freddy Sanchez – $8MM club option with a $600K buyout

Shortstops
Bobby Crosby
Khalil Greene
Miguel Tejada
Jack Wilson

Third basemen
Adrian Beltre
Chone Figgins
Melvin Mora
Ty Wigginton

Left fielders
Jason Bay
Carl Crawford – $10MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout
Johnny Damon
Matt Holliday
Hideki Matsui

Center fielders
Rick Ankiel
Coco Crisp – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout

Right fielders
Jermaine Dye – $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Brian Giles
Ken Griffey Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero
Xavier Nady
Magglio Ordonez – $15MM club/vesting option with a $3MM buyout

There seems to be some chemistry in the lineup thats starting to shine through, dont know how long it will last. But they keep should keep Blanco, Prado and Conrad in the mix and with Infante coming back, they should get better. And Mclouth has been a welcomed addition to this lineup!

Now in 2010, insert a couple of these guys in the lineup and with a starting rotation of:

Hudson
Lowe
Vazquez,
Hanson
Jurrjens

Thats a pretty good team people!

• Link
• Report this comment

A couple of people mentioned looking at David DeJesus and Juan Pierre. Neither would work in Atlanta b/c neither are power hitters. Atlanta is already a team thats dependant on 3 hits in an inning to score a run. Adding DeJesus or Pierre would only make that problem worse.

I saw a stat a few weeks ago where over the past two or three years, only 2 guys have a better average than Diaz against lefties. Can anyone confirm this? One of the guys on Sportsouth made the claim during a game. Personally, I love the Diaz/Anderson platoon in left. It works and they BOTH produce key hits when in the game.

I agree with Mark. Lets stand pat and see what this group can do. I like the chemistry on this team and the spark that Prado has created.

• Link
• Report this comment

Wren’s (& Bobby’s) biggest mistake was trading Josh Anderson in the spring (for nothing) and trusting that Jordan would be make the transition all the way from AA and be at least adequate in CF. If we still had JA we would not be looking for another OF. By the way, any JS ytrade talk ignores the fact that he is not even playing in Gwinnett due to his wrist. Would you trade for him? He AND Brandon Jones ARE expendable now, with the trade for McClouth (and his long-term contract) and Heyard on the way. Also, Canizares is a 30+ year old career minor leaguer who has never been successful in the majors with several opportunities. He is not an option either in Atlanta or as a tradeable commodity. Leave the pitching alone unless Wren receives an offer he cannot refuse for Kawakami, Lowe, or Bennett. Wren should be pursuing a trade involving JFrench and KJ for the same thing in another organization: a former legitimate starter “needing a change of scenery”. BTW: there is nothing left in Gwinnett to help Atlanta this year; they are as pathetic offensely as the big club and their three top pitchers are already gone. They have signed two pitchers from the Indepedent League to fill out their staff. Also, I heard Brian Jordan raving about the “kid” Brooks Conrad yesterday. I really love Conrad as a player, but he is, again, a 29 year old career minor leaguer who has failed in several chances in the majors. I wish him the best and hope that his hustle and enthusiasm is contagious. Otherwise. MB, I agree with you; ABraves should stand pat. Three years ago, everyone, including me, claimed that all we needed was “one more big bat”. John S. then did the Tex trade. Tex was successful here; his numbers that season reflect that. But the ABraves still did not make the post-season. We cannot continue to hope for another Crime-Dog trade. Everyone forgets that 3 years later the ABraves could not wait to expose McGriff, his matador defense and his huge contract to Tampa in ther expansion draft.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark, I’ve always liked your columns, but you’ve really hit stride with the blogs–excellent, more relaxed, funnier, timely. Keep ‘em coming.

As per this particular blog, I agree with you fully. I also think the readers have a great point about trading Gonzalez for a major leaugue outfielder. That would do wonders for my beloved Braves.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark Bradley

July 9th, 2009
12:12 pm
If Holliday has agreed to re-up with whatever team acquires him for next season, Ken has just broken some mighty big news. Because that’s a new one on me.

I think it would be news to Holliday as well.

• Link
• Report this comment

You flip-flop too much. It erodes your credibility and makes you appear as though you are easily swayed by the moment.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d rather hang onto Medlen and Kotchman than have Laroche

• Link
• Report this comment

Braves Should be Bystanders, I don’t Think a Trade Will Help This Team, We have a Good One Already, and when Omar Infante comes Back, It will be better, and with Prado over there right Now, you can notice the difference..

• Link
• Report this comment

Maybe Dale Murphy is still available

• Link
• Report this comment

I can’t really see the benefit of moving little Meddy into a starting spot. I think he will eventually get there, even if it isn’t with us, and he definitely has the makings of a strong reliever. I’m still on the KK — train. As he adjusts to the smaller strike zone and the language barriers, I think he’s playing well and will by this time next year be absolutely clutch. He already knows more English than Yunel.

• Link
• Report this comment

Spooky Murf. Very spooky.

• Link
• Report this comment

It’s all hindsight though Mr. Convington. As much as i agree that having Josh Anderson on the club would be an asset now (before the McLouth trade), Schafe was scalding the ball in Spring Training, and by all appearances he was ready to ‘grow into’ the job, which was always his once he was ‘ready.’ Turns out the kid can’t hit or lay off the high inside fastball and as soon as he started to seriously flirt with a sub .200 ave he was sent back down to get himself right. Everyone expected him to be a little in awe of MLB pitching, and if he floated around .250 or even .240 and was still playing great defense I’m sure it would have been ok. This would have been his year to ‘acclimate.’ Same goes for KJ, who tore the ball up the second half of last season. I think just about everyone was looking at him to have a more solid, consistent, productive year at the plate and in the field, why wouldn’t he? Baseball is a wierd thing, and it turned on these boys and as they say, ‘them’s the breaks.’ Everyone wants the young talent to come up (as it seems to have unerringly done in the Braves orginization the last 20 years or so) and blow everyone away. But that’s the thing about prospects: That’s all they are until they prove otherwise…
And say what you want to about Conrad, he’s tearing the cover of the ball right now and he’s playing good defense. Why badmouth a guy who’s only been productive the whole time he’s been up? Some guys bloom later than others, some guys bloom and fade, and some not at all. That’s the fickle mistress that is Baseball.

• Link
• Report this comment

rlinaug = suck-up

I keed! I keed!

• Link
• Report this comment

The Murf…ummmm Bob Horner stayed hurt…but he had a sweet compact swing and could pull ANYBODY’s fastball..but…he stayed hurt…one of only 14 or so players to hit 4 homers in a game…

• Link
• Report this comment

Chipper for Buchholz & Lugo, Javy & Kotchman for Nelson Cruz & Hank Blalock

• Link
• Report this comment

It is pretty clear Francoeur is not going to add anything to this team. He should be on the trading block if there are any interested suitors. As for Vasquez, he is the best starter we have and it is plain idiocy to think about moving him. Someone suggested we should try to get more speed at the top of the order. Why? Bobby wouldn’t use it if we had Ricky Henderson and Maury Wills both in the line-up back to back. He is of the Earl Weaver school and lives for the long ball which the Braves don’t have. My suggestion is to retire Bobby and get a younger manager in here who appreciates small ball and utilizes the people we already have. We have seen year after year since 1991 that Bobby will not adjust and therefore cannot win playoff games even if he gets there. He has had a great career, but it is past time to get new blood in here and revamp the way we play baseball.

• Link
• Report this comment

Too bad, we don’t need a 2B like Freddy Sanchez. He is available. He is not what we need, but I would love to have him.

• Link
• Report this comment

ken who is in the know @ July 9th, 2009 12:05 pm
oakland scout de&%@n @$%al##z

According to the A’s website, this person is not a scout.

Coordinator of International Operations/ Baseball Operations Analyst Dan Kantrovitz

• Link
• Report this comment

Maybe someone else has pointed this out already…but leggomyego said quite possible the stupidest thing in the history of man…

“Pitching > Hitting, otherwise the average batting ave. would be at least .500, dig? It ain’t rocket surgery people.”

What the f&#^ is rocket surgery? Stay off the internet Bubba…

As for what this is about. I think everyone needs to get off the Matt Holiday bandwagon. The dude is hitting .270 w/8 HR and 43 or so RBI’s. Not worth the prospects nor the money to resign him in the off-season. Granted, he is playing for the only offense in MLB worse than ours and in a gigantic home park, where a foul ball has to travel 1/2 as far as a HR to get into the stands, but no way no how.

Definitely on the Juan Pierre bandwagon. I think we can get him for a relatively low price and place him lead off and move arguably our best power threat McLouth to 4/5 in the order to drive in some RBI’s. Here is what our lineup could look like. Put Chipper in a Mac sandwich and that should be enough to jumpstart the top of the order. Keep Frenchy for a defensive sub as he still has a laser arm (couldn’t trade him for a bucket of balls right now anyways).

1 – Pierre
2 – McCann
3 – Jones
4 – McLouth
5 – Escobar
6 – Prado
7 – Diaz/Anderson Platoon
8 – Kotchman

• Link
• Report this comment

Sorry, I can’t help myself. I have always Sanchez’s game

• Link
• Report this comment

Cursed computer is too slow. My bad

• Link
• Report this comment

You are absolutely correct Mark. I have echoed your same sentiment for the past few weeks. The Braves would be well served keeping their best starter and shortstop in the fold. There is no good reason for Frank to destroy all he accomplished in the offseason (which was to vastly improve the pitching staff). If they are to make a move, it should be with the future in mind. The young guys (Heyward, Freeman) will be up full time by 2010 (and possibly be September call ups).

• Link
• Report this comment

MB,

Too me, I can’t pick between buyer, seller, or bystander. The way I would look at it is on a deal by deal basis.

If there was a deal where I didn’t have to give up people I consider key players, I would by a bat. I think it would be possible to do that and get a solid outfielder for right field, and not look to make a blockbuster deal.

I would sell Vazquez or Gonzalez only closer to July 31st, and it would have to be a REALLY good offer.

Maybe you could even do both. What if Hudson looks solid in rehab, you could sell Vazquez for some strong prospects and maybe a really good reliever. Then you may also be able to trade Gonzalez for a solid outfielder for right field if you’d gotten back a good reliever in another deal so that you don’t weaken the bullpen too much.

The bottom line is that we speculators really can’t know. Only if you had knowledge of what offers may be on the table could you really make the best choice.

• Link
• Report this comment

The young guys (Heyward, Freeman) will be up full time by 2010 (and possibly be September call ups).

Sounds like a rebuilding team next year if your pinning your offense on 2 rookies who have yet to play even at AAA.

I think Medlen or Gonzo could be a potential too. Their stock is at it’s highest right now.

Why blow up your bullpen, that will make ruin any playoff chances.

• Link
• Report this comment

How about Kelly Johnson for Ryan Ludwick. Wasn’t this rumored over the winter? KJ is struggling and so is Ludwick. The Cardinals have a crowded outfield with Colby Rasmus developing nicely. Maybe they could use another infielder.

I don’t want to see the Braves do anything crazy and trade one of the good youngsters like Medlen, Schafer, Heyward, Freeman etc. just for some weak hope at making the playoffs this year.

• Link
• Report this comment

McCann in the 2 hole? Can I have some of that drug that you’re on?

• Link
• Report this comment

How much is Pierre earning this year? I thought it was less than 2 mill. True LAD might not want to give him up as he has been valuable, but they are a World Series contender and could stand to add an arm or two to the bull pen/rotation.

Not sure how much I’d be willing to part w/Medlen or Schafer for a Pierre type player, but it’s definitely worth looking into. I’d like to get him much more than Holiday.

• Link
• Report this comment

Why not put McCann in the two hole? With a good speed guy, you want a guy who can handle the stick in the two hole for hit and run spots, plus he has good power, not great power, so Juan gets a bunt single and McCann follows up w/a 2 run HR and the Bravo’s are up 2-0 in the 1st and the pressure is off the pitchers right away. What are your thoughts on Mac in the 2 spot Bradley?

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d feel more comfortable trading Medlen and Shafer, considering Hanson pretty much crushed Medlen’s dreams of starting and we’ve still got McLouth under contract for a few more years. And no, I don’t think moving either Shafer or McLouth over into Frenchy’s spot is going to help enough to make a difference.

• Link
• Report this comment

The problem with not making a move is that you know the Phillies and the Mets will probably make a big splash of some kind. We have a too many starting picthers and that’s a good thing. One of them will be moved for sure and JV is the odd man out. I don’t know that our chances will be any better after the trade but if you wait you run the risk of injury and then trade value goes down.

If there is a move to be made that will improve the team this year and next then I hope Wren pull the trigger. A power bat changes how the picther picthes to the batters ahead of that power bat and that means Chipper has better pitches to look and McCann has more runners on base when he comes up if you assume Chipper hits 3rd and McCann hits fifth?

However, lets get off the Matt Holiday trade talk. His numbers do not look good enough to trade for?? Remeber his numbers came from Colorado! I like Dunn! Give me 30 homers and 120 RBI and I don’t care how much you strike out. Good luck Wren the weight of the entire city rest in your lap?? What’s it going be buying or selling?

• Link
• Report this comment

Really, you can do both. Trade Escobar and Frenchy(as a throw in) to the Red Sox for Clay Bucholz; then trade Vasquez to Oakland for Holliday and Cabrerra. (you sweeten that deal with a non-A level prospect). You have traded for the future and now. Yes, you would be left with a short stop and OF issues for next off season, which they are already going to be anyway. But, you have created a starting staff for the next 8-10 years of JJ, Hanson, and Bucholz (oh, yeah some veterans named Hudson, Lowe, KK in the mix) You can decide in the off season whether to spend money on retaining Holliday or signing both Gonzo and Soriano.

I am telling you Mark, I got this whole thing figured out. I mean like you said its not brain science rocket surgery or anything.

• Link
• Report this comment

Atticus, love the name but I must disagree with you when you say, “Everyone talks about the weakness of the division but we have enough division titles. This team either needs to get better to be able to compete with the Dodgers or it doesn’t matter…”

The ONLY way to make a deep run in the playoffs is to MAKE the playoffs in the first place. Even Boo Radley will tell you, that for 162 games a year, winning a division title or making the wildcard is the ONLY thing that matters.

• Link
• Report this comment

I cannot believe you actually believe Frank Wren has done positive things for this organization.

• Link
• Report this comment

How much is Pierre earning this year?

According to Fox Sports he is earning $10 million this year.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/playerScouting?categoryId=85915

• Link
• Report this comment

You want to trade one struggling player for another? What the heck good does that do. I have a hard time trading a ACE pitcher and yes Vazquez is pitching like a ACE when we have KK standing there. Hes good enough to help a rotation and hes the one that needs to be traded. Next year we have

Hudson, Vazquez, Jurrjens, Hanson and Lowe. Thats one strong rotation if you ask me.

• Link
• Report this comment

If Pierre truly does make the $10 mill then it is unlikely that FW would take on that much salary, unless it was a D-Lowe for Pierre type trade (which is about as likely as me crapping out a $100 bill). What other good speed guys could ATL possibly get for a reasonable price tag? Michael Bourne, Denard Span, Jacoby Ellsbury? I really don’t see any of those as being in the realm of possibilities.

• Link
• Report this comment

Vaz for Vmart would make sense. Vaz for Dunn not at all.

Vaz & Vmart both have 18mos left on their deals so you could say its a wash. The Braves need a power hitter more than a starter but its close.

Now I will say I do not want to trade Vaz and would only trade him for a Vmart or Adrian Gonzo level player.

If I could I would trade for Vmart and try to keep Vaz but that exposes JJ to a trade which I also don’t want to do.

Net net we are better off standing pat apart from demoting Jeff to AAA and platoon Diaz and BJones in RF.

• Link
• Report this comment

Noah – You have to be blind or just not willing to give credit where credit is due. I don’t like Wren from a personality standpoint, but he did add Vazquez, Lowe, Kawakami, and called up Hanson). If you think that he had nothing to do with that and that our pitching staff isn’t world’s better from last season, you are smoking something dude.

• Link
• Report this comment

MB, Braves keep Vaz! It would be dumb to get rid of him. Hudson, is no shoe in to be sharp! (Hope he is however!) JF, just aint gettin it done anymore..he needs a change of scenery….As for Glavine….no sympathy for him…he is a trader..went to the mets! Enough said! Smoltz is not doing real well at this point..Go braves!

• Link
• Report this comment

Noah- Yes, I am serious. When you have an ice cold pitcher like Lowe, you don’t let him pitch in the playoffs. One cold pitcher can lose a series for you. Hopefully he turns things around by this Fall. As for Hanson, I don’t care if he’s 19 or 29 or 39. When the playoffs come around, you put your best guys on the field. He is out best pitcher NOW and if you disagree, I’ll just assume you haven’t watched all of his starts this year. JJ has been great, but his stuff doesn’t touch Hansons.

• Link
• Report this comment

Juan Pierre throws like an 8 year old girl. Everyone in the league knows you can run on that guy. You sure you want that on your team?

• Link
• Report this comment

For all of you who wnat to trade KJ and Frenchy, who do you think would take them? If I’m the GM of any of the other clubs, I’m not touching those two clowns. The only way to get rid of KJ or Frenchy is to out right cut them.

• Link
• Report this comment

wth is this new Braves page format? ugly as sin, and has articles from June as headlines…

• Link
• Report this comment

Braun is the centerpiece of a team that is already better than Atlanta. Why do people think they would trade him for anyone? They won’t. That would be like Atlanta trading Chipper in the late 90’s or the Mets unloading David Wright, it’s incomprehensible. Lets work on making the board a bit more realistic.

• Link
• Report this comment

Braves fan in Nebraska: This… “>”… is a ‘GREATER THAN SIGN.’ It means, Pitching… and i’ll go slow… is GREATER THAN… Hitting. I think ya’ll may have covered that sign in 5th grade math class, but I ain’t so sure about you boys in Nebraska. As for the batting average thing.. and i can’t believe i’m forced to explain this either…
If Hitting is GREATER THAN pitching, then the numerical averages of the hitters would exceed .500, because they would be getting hits more than 50% OF THE TIME. Really, you don’t get this stuff? Ya’ll heard of that ‘math’ stuff up there in Nebraska?
Ah, Rocket Surgery… as for this, the etymology of that phrase is classified. And so is the definition of etymology. But you’ve got a computer. If you ever figure out how to use it, you can do what we can ’surfing the net’ and find the answer to that little jewel yourself.

And if you ain’t heard… Juan Pierre throws like an eight year old girl. Redundant yes, but i’m beginning to feel the need to over-clarify.

• Link
• Report this comment

BTW, the Marlins are in second place, two games back. Just saying.

• Link
• Report this comment

Micheal: 3-4 games a year? Really? How many times do guys round third base with the ball in the hands of a corner outfielder? 3-4 times a year? Really? Do you watch basegame games?

• Link
• Report this comment

Micheal: you don’t read previous posts, do you…

• Link
• Report this comment

Noah – My bad dude…couldn’t tell which way you were going with that comment.

Paul Lentz – I couldn’t have put it better myself. I especially agree with the Hudson deal. Bobby is notorious for “losing pitchers” in the bullpen. If Kawakami is banished to the bp we not ever see him pitch again.

• Link
• Report this comment

McCann is a lefty. He’s slow. He grounds out to the right side almost constantly, and he can’t bunt. So he’s 0-4 in the 4 qualities you look for in a 2 hitter.

• Link
• Report this comment

MB… I would love to see a rotation of Lowe/Vazquez/Hanson/Hudson/Jurrjens… However, isn’t Hudson supposed to make $12 million next year? Unless the Braves get an increase in payroll, I don’t think this would be possible. Same thing goes with getting another bat this season: isn’t the Braves’ payroll at the max already?

• Link
• Report this comment

Unless a deal absolutely makes sense, meaning that it not only helps the Braves this year, but helps them down the road as well, I would agree with you Mark to stand pat.

This pitching staff is as good as I’ve seen around here for a while. The offense clearly has holes, and could use a big bopper, but who you gonna get get rid of, Francoeur? Kelly Johnson? Just not much value in those two players right now. And trading away either Vazquez or Escobar would be a huge mistake.

So, in the end, again I say, we work with what we have and who knows we might catch lightning in a bottle and take the divison one year early.

• Link
• Report this comment

Great article today. I hope they dont mortgage the future for a run at this year. I dont see why they would give up thier best pitcher, who is under contract for next year as well, for a bat that wont be enough to get them past LA in the NL and certainly not enough to win it all. Giving up prospects for a wildcard shot and a first round exit would be horrible.

That said, I really think this team is a quality right handed bat and a high steals/obp guy away from being top flight. No power and little to no real speed/athleticism is killing them.

• Link
• Report this comment

ya`ll need to face up to it only chipper mclouth mccann escobor ross are real major league players the rest are scrubs fill ins lets just bring up the kids trade the others for one or two other major leagers get them ready for next year this one will be lost before sept FIRE WREN

• Link
• Report this comment

I had the same off-season opinion as Mark Bradley. Vazquez is over rated and not worth the paycheck and Andruw Jones wasn’t even worth a flier!

I changed my mind on both counts. Vazquez has been a monster and Andruw has a little something left in the tank (even though I still woundn’t want him back in a Braves uni)

How significant was the Tex-Tex-Atl trade? So significant that it is still mentioned any time that a team is asking a king’s ransom for a player. (Roy Halladay rumblings) That trade is also the poster child for a team giving away the farm for little more than a rental superstar.

Is this my opinion? Yes it is. Is it only my opinion? No it isn’t. If YOU don’t agree, then tell that to the national baseball media who keeps bringing the trade up even two years after the fact.

• Link
• Report this comment

Braves73…………..thanks for agreeing with my 2:09pm posting. I put a great deal of thought into it. All those moves need to be made IF the Braves dont make a trade……that is if the Braves want to improve the team and have a shot at making the play-offs.

However two things will probably prevent that from occurring: 1. Bobby’s refusal to bench Francoeur, which means that Infante will be relegated to the bench upon his return, playing super-sub. His bat is too valuable, especially given our offensive woes, to have sitting on the bench.

2. Bobby’s insistence on using Tim Hudson as a starter upon his return. So barring a trade, Kawakami will end up being the one sent to the bullpen, which would hurt his development as a starting pitcher because he will end up pitching about as much as Kris Medlen does right now.

So instead of getting maximum use of 2 players like Kawakami and Infante……..Bobby will keep Francoeur in right and have Tim Hudson start…….thus preventing Infante’s bat from being in the line-up everyday and rendering Kawakami virtually useless.

• Link
• Report this comment

Johnny Hazeltine… have you checked lately on Furcal’s stats for the season??

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d like to see everyone list the Braves SP’s in what they feel is the order of best to worst. Feel free to include where you think Hudson will be upon his return. I think we all understand the salary implications at play here, but I feel we have a lot of disagreement on the SP talent, especially given some earlier posts about how we can’t trade Lowe.

1. Hanson
2. Javier
3. JJ
4. Hudson
5. Kawakami
6. Lowe

• Link
• Report this comment

#1 Yunel Escabar is going NOWHERE..He’s the future

#2 Medlin needs to be traded b/c he will be the ODD man out when HUDSON gets back. Hudson to the rotation, Kawakami to LONG RELIEF (Medlin’s current job)

Medlin, Schafer, KJ, and Kotchman to NATS for Dunn and Johnson

#3 What about a trade for ANDRUW JONES?? He’s cheap and doesn’t play everyday. Also, he would lead the Braves in HR (10) eventhough he’s only played in 40 games..ANDRUW would fluorish back in Atlanta..

• Link
• Report this comment

ATL
~ Javier Vazquez – 32 years old / $11,500,000 / VORP 31.8 / WHIP 1.05 / SO-BB 5.91

~ Yunel Escobar – 26 years old / $425,000 / VORP 18.0 / OPS+ 108 / RISP .408

LAD
~ Rafael Furcal – 31 years old / $7,500,000 / VORP 4.1 / OBP .328 / OPS+ 78

~ Matt Kemp – 24 years old / $467,000 / VORP 28.0 / OPS+ 129 / RISP .289

Tough call. Would Vazquez waive his no trade clause to pitch for Joe Torre? Could Furcal bounce back? Is Escobar’s relationship with Bobby Cox unmendable? Can Matt Kemp add more power to his bat?

• Link
• Report this comment

If the right deal were available, I’d make it. Trouble is, where can you find a .300 BA / 25-30 HR right fielder? Can you even name one? And if so, what are the chances he’s available? If you can come up with a positive answer to those three questions, then see what the price would be; and even then, don’t pay too much, don’t mortgage the next few seasons.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Is Escobar’s relationship with Bobby Cox unmendable?”

Bobby has been heaping praise on Escobar after his last two games. And Escobar has been on his best behavior since his meltdown over the scorekeeper. I think Yunel will be a Brave for a long time.

• Link
• Report this comment

Michael………Derek Lowe will rebound. He has shown over his career that he will pitch well when the season gets deeper. The Braves will be SO GLAD that he is pitching games for us in late August and September. So what if he is struggling right now? All pitchers go through rough stretches. Despite his struggles, he still goes 6-7 innings.

Also, the Braves are not going to go with a 6 man rotation. So the question when Tim Hudson comes back becomes: 1. Who do you trade?………or…….2. who do you move to the bullpen?

For obvious reasons, neither Jair Jurrgens nor Tommy Hanson are going anywhere. No team is going to trade for a pitcher coming off elbow surgery like Tim Hudson. Derek Lowe isnt going anywhere…..partically due to his contract, but also because of the effect trading him will have on attracting future free agents. It isnt like Lowe cant pitch. Kawakami isnt going anywhere either. Trading Kawakami right now would pretty much KILL any future endeavors in the Japanese market. Plus Kawakami will get better as he gets more adjusted to the MLB strike zone. He is showing signs of that right now.

So that leaves us with Javier Vazquez. There is no doubt that he has been our best pitcher. The way I see it, there isnt any available hitters on the trade market that would warrant trading Vazquez for.

So unless that miracle slugger becomes available to justify trading Vazquez………I do not see the Braves making a trade involving ANY of their starting pitchers.

Then the question becomes “who do you move to the bullpen?”. Read my 2:09pm posting for my answer to that question.

• Link
• Report this comment

Keeping It Real- “but no one will probably pick up their salaries”. Chipper has been a top 10 hitter in the NL almost every year for the last decade. If a team is in need of a bat and wants to make a run, he would be at the top of many wish lists. Granted, his power isn’t what it was 10 yrs ago, but teams would pay whatever they needed to pay to get Chipper in thier lineup.

• Link
• Report this comment

Personally, I think we are too high on Yunel Escobar. I like him. That’s about it. He’s that new wave of big shortstops, with the big arm, and a “big bat”. Truth is, he really doesn’t have that big of a bat, and, his attitude is bigger than his arm. Sure, he can be on good behavior for a little while, but how long will that last? What happens after he gets paid? I think Yunel’s biggest attribute to this franchise will be what he can get for it in return. But that’s just my opinion.

• Link
• Report this comment

David from Simpsonville,

That would be Matt Kemp. And, he’s available…at the right price.

• Link
• Report this comment

There’s no way Furcal will ever play in Atlanta again, plus if the Dodgers are going to deal Matt Kemp they’re going to make a move for Doc Halladay, not Vazquez.

I’m not sure I agree with your rankings of the starters, Michael. Lowe is struggling right now, but he tradtionally does struggle mid-season before settling in over the long haul. With his resume, he deserves to be ranked above both Hudson and Kawakami for now. No one knows how good Hudson will be and Kawakami has been just as inconsistent as Lowe, without history on his side.

1. Vazquez
2. Hanson
3. JJ
4. Lowe
5. Kawakami
WC: Hudson

They should try Jason Heyward in RF for a few weeks.

• Link
• Report this comment

Paul- I wasn’t suggesting that the Braves go with a 6 man rotation, I wanted to see where everyone was lining up in terms of who the better SP’s are. I honestly felt like much of the board would have Lowe near the bottom of that list, given that he forgot how to pitch in late April. And I read your post about Huddy going to the pen. I think when the playoffs roll around, you want your best guys starting games. And if the Braves slip into the wildcard, they will likely open with a 5 game series against LA, 3 of which will be in the Ravine. Do you want Huddy or KK pitching that game? Huddy is the clear choice in my book. If you don’t want to trade Lowe b/c of the “image” it creates, then unload KK. Someone mentioned earlier that we could have signed Abreu with that salary (wish we would have) Do we care that much about our Japanese pipeline anyway?

• Link
• Report this comment

I think we trade Kris Medlen before we trade Javier Vazquez. I also think it would be very funny if we could send French boy to the Rangers for A. Jones. French boy loves his batting coach there(even know he hasn’t tought him anything). I know this won’t happen but I can dream.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sorry, I meant “slip into the NL east title” not “slip into the wildcard”. Obviously the WC won’t come from the NL east this year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Im a little worried…I think our only shot at the play-off this year may be by winning the Division…which would not be a bad thing or anything…There’s just so many teams we have to jump in the wild-card race so far…

First we need to get back to the .500….It seems like its been forever since we’ve been there….

• Link
• Report this comment

Michael…………we have to get to the play-offs first.

Remember, it’s about getting maximum usage of our roster. Our problem isnt starting pitching. Adding Tim Hudson to the rotation isnt going to improve our team that much. Our two needs right now are OFFENSE……and……..not over using Soriano and Gonzalez. Having Hudson pitching in short relief would alleviate the workload of Soriano and Gonzalez. Our short relief would improve without having to make a trade.

With the emergence of Martin Prado playing 2nd base……inserting Infante in right field would address the lack of offensive production at the right field position. Again, without having to make a trade.

Braves management can make decisions as to who to pitch in the rotation come play-off time. However, we have to get to the play-offs first. Inserting Tim Hudson into the rotation and banishing Kawakami to the bullpen isnt going to help the Braves make the play-offs. My proposal keeps the status quo in the rotation while strengthening the short relief corps.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jair Jurrjens for Matt Kemp.

I don’t think that’ll ever happen, even though, I, for one, would support it.

All Together Now! Johnny Hazeltine Is A Dumb Dumb!

Trade a starter who is likely to be the top of your rotation for a decade for a guy who hasn’t had consecutive great seasons? You do not give up great talent for merely good talent. Idiot.

• Link
• Report this comment

Unless the Braves are offered an absolutely unbelievable exchange for Francoeur – one that no one should say “no” to – for another RF who can hit & has the throwing arm and the fielding of Francoeur, I too think they should try being bystanders this time and see what happens. It couldn’t hurt to try. And, if the team shockingly manages to win the NL East in the process, Wren would look like a genius in the process.

• Link
• Report this comment

MB, I agree with you that starting pitching is worth its weight in gold, especially come October. Since I been watching baseball going back to the early 60’s I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a hot pitcher shut down the most potent of lineups.

If’n I had anything to say about it, and I don’t (you’ll never hear me use the phrase “we” when referring to a professional sports team), I’d be a buyer but a very cautious one. If I couldn’t pick up a fairly solid player at a decent to low price, I’d just go with what I had.

• Link
• Report this comment

Francoeur has a big arm but he doesn’t even DIVE for balls anymore…Send him down, trade him, or DFA

• Link
• Report this comment

We should sign Brian Jordan and put him in right field. Anything to get him off tv would be fine with me.

• Link
• Report this comment

Noah- “very few teams would touch Lowe’s contract”

On the contrary, not a SINGLE team would take that contract. That’s why no one offered him the deal we did to begin with…….and based on his performance this year………

Escobar Rocks- You don’t NOT trade Lowe just because we just signed him. We won’t trade him because no one wants him.

• Link
• Report this comment

Beldar- You’re a genious. Aren’t there any more Carry’s out there that can do the post-game show instead of Brian Jordan? Heck, aren’t there any more Carry’s that Sportsouth could hire to call the games? I miss Skip Carry, Pete Van Wieren and the old crew.

• Link
• Report this comment

What does Skip Carry do now?

• Link
• Report this comment

Paul Lentz- well said

• Link
• Report this comment

Yeah, lets move Kawakami to the bullpen. I’d love having a quality starting pitcher making over 8 million a year wasting away in long relief…..

• Link
• Report this comment

I think if they convince Bobby Cox to not play the players in big slumps (Frenchy, KJ) and go with the hot players (Diaz, Prado) ther may be no need to make any moves. The Phils, Mets and Marlins are beatable with what the Braves got, IMO.

I’d also work Blanco into the lineup more, if I were Bobby Cox.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Braves should be bystanders. Trading Javier Vazquez would be a huge mistake not knowing what Hudson is going to be like and Derek Lowe continuing to struggle. Gonzo and Soriano give us one of the best back-ends to a bullpen in the majors, so trading them would be taking steps backwards.

There is no reason to become sellers because our farm system is still stocked with talent. I’m so tired of all the talk that our talent in our farm system has “dried up”. We got an incredible deal in acquiring Nate McClouth, as we still have our top prospect in the organization although Schafer did struggle early on.

The Braves are still in it and still have a chance to win the division the way we are. If not, we’ll be better off next year and after having a spring to evaluate Hudson, maybe we can make some moves for next season.

• Link
• Report this comment

AZBravoFan………totally agree with your 4:02pm posting. This year’s Braves pitching is so much better than 2007’s was. Chipper and Smoltz also got hurt in the 2nd half of that season.

I just dont see the Braves being able to acquire that slugger to play right and bat clean-up because one is simply not on the trade market. That is why I suggested a number of moves that could be made “internally”, without having to make a trade, that could improve the Braves.

• Link
• Report this comment

Anyone who would trade an all-star worthy pitcher like Vazquez for an injury-prone player like Kemp is an idiot.

Everyone needs to relax. If we just be patient with Jason Heyward and Frederick Freeman we’ll be fine. Trading away our stellar starting rotation for a “2 year or less rental bat” is stupid and laughable

• Link
• Report this comment

Agreed on Kawakami, he wouldn’t make a good reliever and I would have to check but I would guess he has been a starter his whole career.

• Link
• Report this comment

Shane, pls move that last post to the “For guys who only watch a couple games a year” board.

Gimme a break. Andruw Jones is the “key number 4 hitter they need”? And you think Matt Laporta is a better solution in left than our current platoon which features one, if not the best, hitter against lefties in the NL? Diaz is also on fire right now and some people think this is his break out year (despite productive seasons in the past). Yeah, lets just bench him and stick Matt Laporta out in LF??

• Link
• Report this comment

Whilst I think the recent moves mean we will be a better team in the second half, I think we need to sell, as the chances of winning this year are low to almost none. The teams ahead of us are going to improve by deadline too, and with several teams wanting Holliday the teams that don’t get him are likely to overpay for the next best thing and thats Vasquez. With the chance to get a good positional player for him, we should go full out and trade Chipper and Soriano for young talent, and payroll flexibility for next year and beyond.

• Link
• Report this comment

Micheal to be honest i have probably watched 70 plus baseball games this year (Braves). I also honestly think that you do not know what you are talking about. Andruw Jones in 2005 had two legs of a triple crown HRs and RBIs (51,128) and in 06 (41,129). Guess what he batted 4th behind Chipper. Andruw Jones (32 years old) is also getting a whoping 500,000 dollars a year. Also Andruw has 10 gold golves, a silver slugger, and a Hank Aaron award.
I like Matt Diaz but he hasn’t even played a full year in the majors at age 31. Laporta on the other hand is 24 one of the top prospects in the Indians organization with potenial to have 30-35 homer seasons with 100+ RBIs with a MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT.

• Link
• Report this comment