Addition by subtraction: The Braves trade Yunel Escobar
It wasn’t just that Yunel Escobar was slow to learn a second language. He was slow to learn to be a professional. How many times do you have to be told to hustle — a concept that should be universal — before it’s clear you just don’t care to do it?
No one can suggest the Braves didn’t give him a fair chance. He played 446 big-league games for this club, and his excesses worsened over time. And it’s one thing to hang on to a problem if the problem is hitting and driving in runs, but at age 27 Escobar had ceased doing that. He has no home runs, 19 RBIs.
Even with the Braves in first place, this was the right move at the right time. We shouldn’t worry about the absence of Escobar roiling the waters. He was always the guy most apt to upset the others with his disregard for the game and its conventions. He was always the Brave the others could count on to carry himself least like a Brave.
Escobar’s defenders believed the language barrier — he defected from Cuba — led him to misunderstand and be misunderstood. Coaches Chino Cadahia and Eddie Perez, each of whom acted as interpreters, told me as much last season. But should a big-league player fail so repeatedly to perform the basic task of playing hard? The message seems to get through to Omar Infante, a Venezuelan who also uses translators.
A tiny example: On a Sunday afternoon earlier this season, Escobar drove a ball in the gap in left-center. His hit brought home the go-ahead run, but somehow he managed to get thrown out at second base on a ball so perfectly placed that it would have been a double for anybody else in the big leagues. (Put it this way: Sid Bream would have made it.)
Escobar got thrown out because he watched the flight of the ball and admired his work, as opposed to running hard. The Braves noticed. The Braves always noticed. As one man in the clubhouse said afterward, exasperation in his voice: “He has been told time and time again.”
About the trade: This isn’t an exchange of equal talent. Alex Gonzalez is a serviceable big-league shortstop who played on a World Series winner with Florida in 2003 and delivered the biggest hit — a walk-off homer in Game 4 — of the Series. He’s 33, which means he’s not a long-term answer. (Inside baseball: As a Marlin, Gonzalez was known as “Sea Bass.”)
Loading ...Perhaps Tyler Pastornicky, the minor-league shortstop also acquired in this deal, will develop. But what Frank Wren suggested Wednesday was that the Braves aren’t much worried about tomorrow. “We’re two years away from having to worry about that,” the general manager said. “After the 2011 season … we’ll cross that bridge at that time.”
This trade tells us the Braves no longer saw Escobar as a long-term answer, either, and they were justified in that conclusion. “He’s a talented guy,” Wren said of Escobar, “but we needed to make some adjustments on our ballclub. It just wasn’t happening here.”
This is a happier clubhouse than it has been in years, and not just because the team is in first place. Because these guys like and respect one another. The one guy who didn’t fit — and who was never going to fit, no matter how many chances the Braves offered — just got traded. “In the short term, this really improves our ballclub,” Wren said, and it improves it not because Gonzalez is a greater talent but because he’s a real pro.
Addition by subtraction, I believe it’s called.
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438 comments Add your comment
JAXDAWG
July 14th, 2010
1:14 pm
Lineup:
Prado 2B
Chipper 3B
Heyward RF
Glaus 1B
McCann C
Gonzalez SS
Hinske/Diaz LF
Blanco/Mclouth CF
Pitcher
I think that we will make anotehr move too. Prehaps the bullpen or OF.
Kris
July 14th, 2010
1:14 pm
Ted M – you sir, are an idiot. You think he will hit 10 more HR’s…based on what…exactly…your gut???
Ted M
July 14th, 2010
1:15 pm
Now what’s up with center field?
Mark get to work on that one pronto!
Scott W.
July 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
So Kris no HR and loafing in the field is what you wanted to keep? Plus we got two prospects.
CSpin
July 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
JAXDAWG — a bullpen move? Riiiiight.
Jeff
July 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
Kris — man, what are you, Yunel’s agent? LOOK AT ESCOBAR’S CAREER NUMBERS!!! He had one good year, and more often than not, he doesn’t hustle and doesn’t come through in teh clutch. And what’s wrong with getting rid of Reyes? With is ERA he was never gonna crack our rotation anyway.
This is a GREAT trade Kris… even if Gonzalez only hits .275 and hits 10 more homers this year and goes .270-12-80 next year, that is STILL MORE PRODUCTION THAN WE GOT FROM ESCOBAR.
dawgsfan1990
July 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
How do you make this move and not get Bautista?
TMoney
July 14th, 2010
1:16 pm
I’m so so on this move right now. On the one hand, Escobar has not lived up to his potential (especially this season). Every time it has seemed Escobar was waking up, he’d go on another 3-25 stretch. I mean, he’s only batting .178 in his last 16 games, during which he started at .254 he dropped to .238.
On the other hand, Escobar can go on tears wear absolutely rakes the ball. In July and August of 2009 he batted .329 (56-170) with 6 HR and 32 RBI. When he gets going, Escobar can go to town.
I think that, short term anyway, this is a going to be a good move. But sometimes, it’s better to not only look at the short term, but the long.
Ross
July 14th, 2010
1:17 pm
The story of this trade is not arithmetic, it’s chemistry. Escobar was generating too much noxious gas in the clubhouse. The stats are hardly important, although they are in our favor. He’ll fit in great with the other Venezuelans who are carrying the team.
Kris
July 14th, 2010
1:17 pm
If this guy is such a ‘proven’ power hitter at SS, then why is it he couldn’t even find a job this off-season until late February? You would think a proven power-hitting SS, being that there are like 5 in all of baseball, would be a hot comodity.
News Flash – he ain’t a power hitter and he ain’t a hot commodity. He is at best a meidocre SS having a lucky year in a hitters park.
Ted M
July 14th, 2010
1:17 pm
Kris – He is having great year and playing on a first place team should invigorate him even more.
I guess that makes it my gut.
Hinske Da Man
July 14th, 2010
1:18 pm
Nice move. I always liked Escobar for his defensive plays, but he wasn’t the consistent player at the plate that I was hoping he would be. He was lazy, and to flamboyant in Atlanta. I wish him well in Toronto, but lets face it, he wasn’t going to help this team anymore.
Gonzalez is a nice answer at SS for us as we make a run for the division title, and he already leads the team in HR’s when he starts tomorrow. If he works out this year, sign him for next year as well and we all know that Edward Salcedo was being groomed to be our starting SS in a few years. I like this trade and it confirms (for me anyways) that the Braves are going to do the things they need to, in order to make this team a contender again.
Scott W.
July 14th, 2010
1:19 pm
@ Kris because he’s 33 stupid, we don’t want him to retire here, we just want his production for this Pennant push.
Kris
July 14th, 2010
1:19 pm
Ted M, well like I said – you sir are an idiot.
Time Out
July 14th, 2010
1:19 pm
I question Yunel’s arm strength.
LL429
July 14th, 2010
1:21 pm
I thought we were grooming Elvis Andrus to be our shortstop of the future. Why don’t we call him up? Oh yeah, we gave him away too. These desperation July trades are ridiculous for the long term stability of the team. Now we’ll have to replace 3/4 of the infield within the next two years.
RM
July 14th, 2010
1:21 pm
Escobar hasn’t hit a single HR all season. This is definitely an upgrade IMO. Go Bravos!
Jeff
July 14th, 2010
1:21 pm
Kris — you said “He is at best a meidocre SS having a lucky year in a hitters park.”
Couldn’t people have said the same last year about Yunel?
Kris, I ask you again: what is the upside of keeping Escobar and Reyes??????? Were they going to help us win the World Series? NO!!!
The fact that Wren even MADE a trade might spark this team… they might say “Hey, Frank is really making a move to help push us over the top… let’s go win the whole thing!!!”
And once again Kris — WHAT IS YOUR REASONING FOR KEEPING A MEDIOCRE, INCONSISTENT .238 STARTING SHORTSTOP????? Could Atlanta have made ANY trades to make you happy? Quit complaining and see how it pans out!!!
Brave4life- 1995 all over again
July 14th, 2010
1:22 pm
1 year of Gonzalez……gave up on Escobar too soon
Trip
July 14th, 2010
1:22 pm
for those of us that watch the Braves every day, it’s not really a surprise that they traded Yunel. It appeared to me, that he was almost giving up out there. when he would pop up a ball he would just look like: “o well, it’s just not my year”. I think that’s how he, we, and the braves organization felt. I think it was joe simpson that said he would get really upset when he was charged with an error when he thought it should be a hit…I mean what kind of kid dwells on that kinda stuff? he had a great year last year and he did carry us for a big part of that, but look at his numbers, they are not that great. A-Gon already has more HRs this season than yunel has ever had in a season. This is obviously a good trade for this year and imo, doesn’t really hurt our future. Pastronicky has a lot of speed and is a pretty good hitter (Edward Salcedo is probably our future @ SS) and this Collins kid has a good arm, so I really like it. I think Yunel’s potential is overrated. A-Gon is not a great hitter, but a good RH power bat they we desperately need at a cheap price.
Beano
July 14th, 2010
1:23 pm
Noxious gas can be overcome without giving up young talent, David Ross.
Mark Bradley
July 14th, 2010
1:23 pm
Sorry to have been distant today. My attention was needed elsewhere for a bit.
DHD
July 14th, 2010
1:23 pm
Great move. Escobar and his lazy arse attitude had to go. It was a cancer in the clubhouse. I am shocked that we got a good s and 2 good prospects. Wren does it again.
Cito
July 14th, 2010
1:24 pm
Thanks Braves! Let’s see, the Braves had the best record in the league with Yunel, and now they’ll have a more peaceful clubhouse and be less of a team. Oh yeah, nice priorities.
P
July 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
Clubhouse fire at the Ted tomorrow night!
Be there.
alphadog
July 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
What’s our magic number to clinch??!!
P
July 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
Make that “pressbox”
chief pitchanono
July 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
I think this is a good move and it does improve the club right now, but I don’t think Wren did this as a solution to our power shortage. This was done to simply address the Escobar situation. They wanted to move him as soon as the opportunity came along. I think it is very likely we could see a power bat added for the outfield soon, but probably depending on Heyward and McClouth’s performance over the next 10 days or so.
Wess
July 14th, 2010
1:25 pm
Let’s just call up Elvis Andrus. Oh wait…………………..
BravesFanLostInOhio
July 14th, 2010
1:26 pm
Mark, you’re forgiven. How about some player quotes now while DOB is still in route?
BravesFanLostInOhio
July 14th, 2010
1:27 pm
Enough with the Elvis comments…the trade made sense at the time. Remember, then his path was blocked AND we thought we had a legit shot at keeping Tex.
Jeff
July 14th, 2010
1:28 pm
Cito — The Braves had the best record in the league DESPITE YUNEL ESCOBAR, not BECAUSE of him.
Geez people, where is all this Esco-love coming from? THE GUY NEVER HUSTLED!!! He made bone-headed mistakes, gave away runs by not hitting in the clutch, and never seemed very interested. And he has hit as many homers this year as ME!!!
This is a great move. We have away two mediocre, average guys who were not going to be around in a couple of years anyway (Braves SS: see Salcedo). So this is a small gamble, but with a lot of upside.
Trip
July 14th, 2010
1:28 pm
It’s ironic about Andrus, cause Yunel is the reason they were OK with trading him. Time will tell on Elvis Andrus and i think he could become a good SS, but I like A-Gon more for our team this year
Braves73
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
I can’t believe how anyone can find fault with this deal. Sure, Escobar definitely could reclaim his form and produce numbers like he did last year (.299,14,76) but’s not all about the stats. He has constantly underperformed and tends to let offensive slides disrupt his enormous defensive potential. Plus, his overall antics in the field could not be tolerated anymore (see last weeks defensive lapses against the Mets to name one).
If you look at the trade in it’s entirety, Wren did a great job of improving this club for the immediacy of this year with a big right handed bat, and two prospects (shortstop & pitcher). You also have to consider the experience the Gonzalez has had on two winning ball clubs (Marlins ‘03 & Red Soxs). He has the maturity that Esco lacks, and even if he produces a notch below his current stats, it’s still an improvement.
NC Dawg
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Escobar’s expressions at the plate indicate a player who isn’t happy and doesn’t care if he’s going to be thrown out at second. Lifeless expressions and likewise lifeless with the bat. Great move for the Braves!
pookie
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
well now escobar will have to learn to spek canadian too
RM
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Braves have a new HR leader and he’s the SS. That shows you how much they need some power in the line-up to have a real shot at the WS. Now go get another big bat for the outfield. Go Bravos!
Fischerking04
July 14th, 2010
1:29 pm
Ouch. I really liked Yunel despite the obvious criticisms. I really wanted him to be wearing a tomahawk when / if the light came on. It’s really unfortunate. Hopefully Gonzalez continues his good play for the rest of the season and one of these prospects works out.
Jeff
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
And by the way, Kris & friends, I am STILL waiting to hear what the tremendous advantages were of keeping Escobar and Reyes and why they were SUCH valuable parts of the Braves that we just could not BEAR to part with them.
All I see is a .238 non-hustling SS and a pitcher with a 6.4 ERA. ‘Nuff said.
Top Dawg
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
Great move for the Braves. What were the Blue Jays thinking?
richham
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
I think everyone is missing the main point here. The Braves just made a statement that they want to win this year and improve the club this year. I’m sorry but I’ve seen yunel loaf enough this year. He was the one who punched his ticket to toronto.
Yunel certainly has much more upside than Gonzalez, but if this leads to a world championship, who cares if he becomes the second coming of Babe Ruth?
Mr. Phil
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
@Mark
How did the Jays fall for this and do you recent articles calling for Escobar’s removal deserve any credit?
Jinxo1964
July 14th, 2010
1:31 pm
Good story, Mark. Agree this is a good trade. Maybe you could find this out: Is Tyler Pastornicky related to former K.C. Royals farmhand Cliff Pastornicky? Kind of an unusual name and wondering if they’re related.
ReddJonn68
July 14th, 2010
1:32 pm
Wow thats funny I didn’t here Wren or Cox complaing about attitude last year when he carried this ballclub finishing 20th in the MVP voting last season. Why the sudden change of heart, yes his bat is a little cold. They should have just sat him down, because with youth comes ignorance. We will need that youth in a couple of years if the prospect doesn’t pan out .
Scott W.
July 14th, 2010
1:33 pm
Two SS and a reliever for the price of .5 and a guy who never worked out.
Fed Up With Wren (Again)
July 14th, 2010
1:33 pm
I put it on DOB’s blog, I’ll put it here. I love this trade. Escobar was given many chances to play the game the right way and he didn’t. No use having him under control for three more seasons if he wasn’t going to hustle. Gonzalez is a solid veteran presence and the Braves get one more year relatively cheaply. I may have to come up with a new screen name…
Birmingham Bob
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Edward Salcedo is the shortstop of the future. So far this year, his stats between the DSL and Rome are: BA-.273, HR-1, RBI-17, SB-9, OBP-.389, SLG-.418, and OPS-.807. The one downside is that he has 31 Ks in 110 ABs. But, I’ll take Gonzalez of Escobar any day of the week. The man works hard and is an excellent ball player. He reminds me of the good old days when we had Jeff Blauser, except with more pop in his bat.
Johnnyd53221
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Guys….there is only so long a team can like talent….the ONLY reason we did not trade him before this was because he has power potential and could rake with RISP….NOW he has no power whatsoever and is horrid with RISP. Time to cut him loose I for one wish him the best and hope he reaches his great potential
Keith
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Kris,
It’s obvious that Alex is not a proven power hitter as you look at his career numbers…most of those include him not playing a full 600 ABs. But there are those exceptions where those guys have monster years, and I hope this is one for Alex.
Escobar was an anomaly. Last year he was clutch with RISP even with the head games and really dumb plays. This year, he’s been terrible at the plate and has had several mishaps in the field. So we all forget last year’s numbers…..but some really like the SS prospect, and I say for this year that this is a good move.
BravesFanLostInOhio
July 14th, 2010
1:34 pm
Yunel hustled less than G. Anderson. There, I said it.