Worst thing I saw all year? This Vazquez-Cabrera trade!
I guess it’s not a bad a year when it takes until Dec. 22 to happen across something really awful. And that was our lot in Atlanta sports. Even with Willie Martinez and Dave Wommack misdirecting defenses; even with Jason Elam developing a case of the yips; even with Greg Norton whiffing and Paul Hewitt wrangling timeouts … even then, it took until the penultimate week of the calendar year to find something that made you throw a shoe at yonder wall.
And here it is, and here goes said shoe.
Javier Vazquez for Melky Cabrera. The Braves’ best pitcher for the Yankees’ eighth- or ninth-best player. The anchor of a good rotation for a guy who isn’t really a big bopper.
I’ll have more to say on this later and at greater length, but for now I leave you with these words:
Frank Wren = Epic Fail.
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797 comments Add your comment
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
jason vivian…enlighten us on when we will have to re-up Hanson and Jair. I would’ve rather kept Javy for one more year, let him walk as a FA and get 2 draft picks than have Melky269Cabrera. I would rather trade Lowe and eat some of his salary than have Melky269Cabrera
bobby
December 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
This trade headline is the one I have been dreading seeing. It is even worse than I thought it could be. This may go down as one of the worst in Atlanta history. Shades of the Brett Butler trade!
bubbly
December 22nd, 2009
2:23 pm
Vazquez for Melky = bad move
Vazquez and Logan for Melky, Dunn and Viscaino = Brilliant move
It sounds like most of you would have rather kept JV for another year and then not get anything for him.
Husker Brave
December 22nd, 2009
2:24 pm
This is getting ridiculous. Why does it seem lately the Braves always get nothing for whomever they trade? We had Texeira and got Kotchmann – yet when we have traded in July/Aug we always gave up the farm. Then we have the Soriano fiasco, Now we have a first rate pitcher albeit he has had 1 great year, but still shouldnt we have gotten a first rate player for him? Especially from the Yankees who have money coming out of their ….. I expected so much more in return.
Brian
December 22nd, 2009
2:24 pm
BravesfaninWis, how could you possibly fire him before the season starts? What evidence do you have that the team isn’t better before they’ve even played a game? What if Cabrera hits .340? What if Javier Vazquez blows out his arm in spring training? What if he trades for Adrian Gonzalez? What if Lowe goes 18-7?
Not saying any of that will happen, but you have to see how it plays out.
Prez of Matt Diaz Fan Club
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Travis Jackson: “…but at least mention the other guys involved.”
No, I refuse to discuss unproven minor leaguers in a trade that just sent away our Ace. We’re not in a rebuilding year! In case you forgot, we came within a hair of making the post-season. The only thing stopping us was a lack of pop in the middle of the line-up. Unless you traded Javy for that missing piece – an F should be given. Wren failed on every front
ATLBravesFan
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Braves fans say hello to “The Melk Man”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOhvagw9O9Q
Phil
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
“The last time I checked, teams play to win, not to be average.”
What do you think we have been doing for the last several years with Morons Cox and Wren? Just that, average or even below average. We finally get rid of half the problem after this season. Looks like Wren needs to be on that same train out of town with Cox.
Savannah Seer
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
It is time to take the keys away from Frank Wren. This guy has put together the worst deal in MLB for 2 years running. First, he signs Lowe. Then he keeps him. This is the worst of the worst.
If you are Braves management, don’t expect me or any one of about 1 million of my closest friends who are now convinced beyond all doubt that you have no desire to put the best possible team or effort out on the field..
As for Wren, you can only hope to have good contacts with other loser GM’s who will hire you as a charity case. For your own safety, please take your family, your dog, your functioning organs that you have left, and LEAVE!!!!! Do this before the eggs start to rain upon your little private booth above the debacle you have wrought!
Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot !!!!!
Frank Wren must be fired today, if not sooner. He should not be given a salary. He should be given a red kettle and a bell and put out in front of the stadium. What a complete idiot!!!!
Mark, is it possible to ask that we make a prisoner exchange and use Wren as the guy we want to give away???? If i didn’t know any better, I’d say Wren is campaigning for a run at Congress, or being the most hated man in the South, take your pick. How else can you explain this? You can’t make money unless you spend money.
WREN MUST GO NOW!!!!!!
sam
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
dont forget the yankees 8th best player is the 3rd best player on the braves…give melky 2 months, they will love him at turner field. he’ll bring 2 things the braves havent had in a long time…fire and energy!
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
yes bubbly…I would’ve rather have the draft picks. I’ve seen too many overhyped Yankees prospects over the years not pan out.
Ted M
December 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
When Pat Gillick resigned as GM of the Orioles at the close of the 1998 season, Wren was recruited as his replacement. But the 1999 Orioles were a major disappointment. The club finished six games under .500 despite one of the highest payrolls in the game and the signing of free agent slugger Albert Belle to the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time. During the season, Wren and the team were criticized publicly by Baltimore owner Peter Angelos, and after just one season, the owner replaced Wren with veteran executive Syd Thrift.
larocheisabeast
December 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
mark bradley…shut up. you have no idea what you’re talking, or writing about. as usual you bash the hell out of everything the braves do without considering any possible upside, not to mention the fact that the off-season is far from complete, and believe it or not, Frank Wren might actually intend to make another move or two. Wren may actually know more about the game and business than you do, Mark.
I must be crazy
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
I believe this trade will turn out good IF….the young starter turns out to be a good Pro one day, IF the Braves end up landing a big bad w/ the extra cash / surplus of ‘decent’ outfielders and IF Vasquez dosn’t own us in the 2010 World Series….
That being said. It is entirly possible that Melky only has a cup of coffee with the Braves – there are many senarios in which he gets traded for a Dan Uggla, etc…
Wren has trade bait again with the young talent and the extra cash to go buy a free agent…..
Like the names in the trade or not – The Braves are in a much more flexible position today than they were yesterday.
Ted M
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
once a bum always a bum
Don Gill
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
Just in time for Christmas. How stupid, stupid can the Braves get? Trading Vasquez for a mediocre hitter. They are filled with mediocre hitters. Sign LaRoche, for crying out loud. He’s the only one that consistently hit wi power last year. And Vasquez was getting close to being as good as John Smoltz in his prime. Just plain stupid.
mexican-brave
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
i agree with brian…let’s give frank wren some time to see what else he is able to get with this 8 extra million bucks…do we have the money to try to sign bay??? 8 million from javy, plus…about 3 from rochey…plus…can we afford to offer a 5 year deal worth 75 million?
sam
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
remember john koncak…
Prez of Matt Diaz Fan Club
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
bubbly
Don’t you realize are chances of resigning Javy to a long-term extension was actually likely on both sides. Javy would have taken a hometown discount to stay in ATL.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
Melky 3rd best player on the Braves??? Melky is not as good as RYAN CHURCH!
Melkey Way
December 22nd, 2009
2:28 pm
I agree with everyone this is bad trade for me too! I leave the Yankees and World Champions for maybe 3rd best team in the NL East? I do not hit for high average and I am not big homerun hitter like A-Rod. I will be goof ball on the field and Bobby Cox will not like me. I will probably become best friends with Yunel since he makes fun on field too! Oh well I think at end of year I will make Boras my Agent and then I can get a candy bar deal!!!!
anotherdawg
December 22nd, 2009
2:28 pm
Only way this trade is good is if Vizciano turns out to be the next John Smoltz. Looks more like another salary dump to me. But, that’s the reason Yankees and Phillies are on top instead of Braves. I sure miss Ted; if he was still owner, we’d be the ones on the other side of these lop-sided deals.
Ray Pugh
December 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Tards: it is equally unlikely that Vazquez repeats his uncharacteristically stellar 2009 as it is Lowe will repeat his uncharacteristically mediocre 2009. Next season, they will very likely be of equal value, and even thought Lowe makes more, we couldn’t move him so it’s a moot point… when we’re neck-and-neck w/ the Phils next season in August, all you fairweather fans will be calling him the best GM in the game…
jason vivian
December 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
What about the 19 yearold thats a future ace? Visciano. thats better than the stupid picks theyd get next year. Plus this was Vasques CAREER year at 33. I dont see him coming close to that even if he stayed .. And if you think your going to arb Tommy and Jair the next three seasons your crazy!!! Those boys will have multi year multi million dollar deals before 2012!!
Mark Bradley
December 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Frank Wren is holding a teleconference at 3 p.m. I plan to listen and report.
sam
December 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
did someone just say 2010 Braves and World Series in same sentence?
jason vivian
December 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
LOVE IT Ray Pugh ..Couldnt have said it better !!
Ted M
December 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
If this trade was just a salary dump, why not dump lowe’s salary for nothing? this trade is senseless any way you look at it.
bill_in_atl
December 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
So Mark, you would rather have Vazquez over Hansen and Jair? Really? You’d take him over Hudson, too? Sure about that?
You said we traded our “best pitcher” away, but frankly I wouldn’t take him over any of the three I just listed.
He was OUTSTANDING last year. It was his best year ever. Why would anyone think he will repeat the same level of success in 2010? He might be even better but logic tells you he will regress a bit and that Lowe will improve, making them comparable pitchers. I’d take either as my #4 SP in a heartbeat going into 2010.
Clearly the Braves need to flip some prospects (and an OF like Schafer, Diaz, McClouth or Melky) including perhaps the best player they got in THIS trade to get a big bat and I hope it’s Adrian Gonzalez.
If this move is made with no secondary purpose, then I would agree it’s awful but you have to let the man play his hand before you can judge the success of the trade.
Ray Pugh
December 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Prez you don’t know that! Nobody has ever even so much as implied that Vazquez would accept a “hometown discount”…
KennesawDAWG
December 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Wow, Frank freaking Wren. not cool. Trade our best pitcher to the gayest team for a guy name Melky? What the heck is wrong with you? YOU SHOULD HAVE TRADED DEREK LOWE! Even if you traded Dan Kolb for him, but Javy? This pisses me off, I really despise my teams general manager and if we suck next year, we deserve to suck. How about we trade Frank Wren for someone who does what the heck there doing up there.
jason vivian
December 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
Love it Ray Pugh … Its soooooo true !! If you dont like Cox or Wren then find a new team!!!!
bvillebaron
December 22nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Last Boy Scout and others:
Some of your comments are amazing. Do yourselves a favor and check out Vazquez’ career numbers and you will see that he had a CAREER year last year. You all are also apparently ignoring the fact that he becomes a free agent after this year and there was no guarantee that the Braves could sign him to an extension. I said it earlier and I will repeat it again, Vazquez NEVER WAS AND NEVER WILL BE AS GOOD AS TIM HUDSON who the Braves have for 3 more years at almost $3 million less per year (I also prefer Jurrjens and Hanson over Vazquez, particularly considering the age diferentials).
All of you are right, Melky does not get me all warm and fuzzy, but by most accounts Vizcaino is supposed to be a high end prospect (despite how much some of you all love Vazquez, the fact is the Braves have a 5 not 6 man rotation and I will take Hudson, Jurrjens, Hanson, Lowe and Kawakami over Halladay, Hamels, Happ, Blanton and Moyer (?) any day) and Dunn is deemed by my co-worker die-hard Yankee fan as someone who throw in the upper 90s and could be a good (left-handed set up man) if he gets more control (may happen since he is a converted OF).
As I also said earlier and some (only a few) have also pointed out, let’s evaluate this trade after all of Wren’s offseason moves have been made.
Ted M
December 22nd, 2009
2:33 pm
teleconference at 3 p.m. …that will be one big load of crap. but I’ll have to listen anyway.
Jon Kontract
December 22nd, 2009
2:33 pm
The Barker trade is an interesting comparison.
A decent, aging starter for a young speedy outfielder (Butler) and two prospects (Jacoby and Behenna). I bet the Indians fans were all bent out of shape about giving up their stud for “nothing” (Granted – Barker did not have a career year in 83 like Javy did in 09).
I think most on here are missing the point. We’re getting a decent player (Cabrera) a great prosspect (Vizcaino). We also have the financial flexibility to make a run at Jason Bay or any number of infield players, including Uggla and DeRo.
I think Wren is playing pretty well with the cards he’s holding.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
2:34 pm
jason vivian-Vizcaino is an UNKNOWN, just as the picks are He could pan out or he could flop. We will have players come off the books each year to help sign TH and JJ. Hopefully those players coming off the books won’t be our best pitcher or best hitter. FW lasted one year in Baltimore. He’s on borrowed time here.
catfish31015
December 22nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Why don’t we get rid of Escobar while we’re at it, dipshlts.
Bob
December 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
This trade is good ONLY IF it allows the Braves to eat some more of the Lowe contract to trade him and secure Rivera from the Angels. This is the ONLY reasonable explanation for such a trade at this time.
If the Braves fail to consummate another deal for a power hitter, then this will be remembered as a terrible trade.
I want Wren to succeed. Otherwise, if he fails then the team fails. Let us hope that he can pull off another deal (or signing) so the team can enter the spring season with a level of comfort and confidence.
sam
December 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
i know how to cirumvent the mute on those teleconferences. lets all get on there an harass em..
Coach (2011 or Bust)
December 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Mark Bradley, join the dark side of the force, it’s more fun.
As for Frank Wren, he’s just as inept as Bobby Cox. Unfortunately for Braves nation the knuckle head isn’t retiring like Cox is.
jason vivian
December 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
SOOO UNKNOWN he was part of the Roy Halliday trade …
Rick
December 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Mark,
The closest thing to Greg Maddox in the big legues and the Braves find a way to trade him? In the business of MLB I am sure Chipper Jones would understand if we cut him and save a little money; and no, there would not be as much “backlash” over cutting Chipper as some would think.
He has never been beloved as much as he would think that he is.
Phil
December 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Wren and Cox, the two biggest BUFFOONS in the history of baseball. 2010 is going to be worse than I originally predicted.
frosgrim
December 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Jim H. probably has it right. This trade makes no sense on the surface, there HAS to be another shoe (or two) to drop. If not, then this is an awful trade.
However, if we get Bay, then it’s a good trade (e.g. JV for Bay, plus a top rated prospect= good trade).
jason vivian
December 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Whos coming off the books soon??? Chipper three years 14mill … Hudson three year Lowe three years thaMcClouth three years .. McCann two plus .. Come on if you dont have a clue find another team !!
JB
December 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Bradley,
Any chance you could take a few of the comments or questions off of this blog from the fans and let Wren hear them. “This is what Braves fans are saying today…”..etc. Although I’m sure he’s prepared, I’d still like to see him on the record respond to the people who spend their time, energy, and money on the team.
Savannah Seer
December 22nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Mark- when you go to the teleconference, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. He is the Great and All-Powerful Wren! Please call this inept comedian out for the fool he really is. If he only had a heart, a brain, and courage. At least he has a dog!!!! And it has fleas! and it has a name called MUTT!!! And we can only hope that the house called Turner Field falls on him!!!!
Adam
December 22nd, 2009
2:39 pm
We traded Vazzy for just Melky? News to me.
Mark Bradley = Idiot.
Wade
December 22nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Re”donk”ulous! What is Frank Wren thinking about? No wonder Bobby Cox is leaving after this year! Even Cox sees the writing on the WALL! I REFUSE to believe this was the BEST trade the Braves could find for Javy! On top of that, if you go and read the Atlantabraves.com website they make it sould like they just made the trade that will clinch the NL East! Give me a BREAK!
Braves fan since '66
December 22nd, 2009
2:39 pm
Yankees just got appreciably better and the Braves go no better than they were with G. Anderson. I hope Cabrera can field better than Anderson because, by the stats, the Braves moved one of the best pitchers in baseball to the best team in baseball without much in return. Am disappointed we could not have done better. I was looking forward to getting some power in one of the outfield corners. Guess not.