Rasmus gone. Beltran going. And the Braves get … Nieves?
It was a painful night/early morning: Jordan Schafer after getting plunked. (AP photo)
Busy afternoon, eh? Colby Rasmus, often listed as a Braves’ target, has been traded to Toronto for Edwin Jackson, who’d just been traded from the White Sox and is now a Cardinal. ESPN is reporting that Carlos Beltran, listed as a target for every decent team, is all but ticketed for San Francisco.
And the Braves themselves? Well, they just bought catcher Wil Nieves from Milwaukee. For cash.
About Nieves: He’s 33. He’d made the Brewers’ opening day roster but got sent to Class AAA after hittting .140 in the bigs. He then hit .170 for Nashville. Which means he might wind up batting cleanup tomorrow night at Turner Field.
OK, I exaggerate. Actually, the Braves will send Nieves to Gwinnett. But this is getting grim.
Today the Braves placed both Brian McCann and Jordan Schafer on the disabled list, and Chipper Jones is again available only to pinch-hit. Tonight’s outfield: Martin Prado in left, Nate McLouth in center, Wilkin Ramirez (summoned to take Schafer’s roster spot) in right. Jason Heyward isn’t starting because the Pirates are throwing lefthander Paul Maholm.
Nieves is cheap insurance in case David Ross and/or J.C. Boscan can’t catch every inning these next two or three weeks. And there now seems little doubt that Frank Wren will indeed make some sort of big(ger) move before Sunday’s deadline. This roster in July 2011 is starting to bear the look of last season’s team in October, which isn’t what you’d want.
There’s a buzz around the clubhouse as we speak, and it’s not just because of the 19-inning game only recently concluded on a terrible call. All the Braves aren’t even here yet, manager Fredi Gonzalez having told them they didn’t need to report until 5:30 p.m. (Usual time is before 4.) Nobody’s taking batting practice. A few guys are playing catch. Everybody else on hand is sitting around wondering what can happen next.
Stay tuned, won’t you? Back soon.
By Mark Bradley
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168 comments Add your comment
Robert
July 27th, 2011
5:44 pm
“Robert ……….Due to his playoff experience, Bobby will be brought back if they make it.”
To do what? To fulfill the prophecy that it wasnt worth it to get Beltran?
Dirtybird98
July 27th, 2011
5:44 pm
The Braves need to go out and get Ichiro. The Mariners aren’t going anywhere,so they could use the prospects.Lord knows the Braves need some speed to manufacture some runs since they don’t have much power,plus he can play good defense.
Wren
July 27th, 2011
5:46 pm
I am open to suggestions. Must be an excellent player…..and cheap.
Breaking News |Breaking News
July 27th, 2011
5:46 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Discard Proctor In Spite Of Last Night
July 27th, 2011
5:48 pm
Carlos Quentin… do whatever it takes to get him.
TMAC
July 27th, 2011
5:48 pm
I feel much better. THWG. Enjoy that pre-season national championship lowcountry.
SAL
July 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
If there is a trade to be made at least get somebody that will be around for more than couple of months. McClouth won’t be back in 2012. Shafer is decent defensively but is horrible offensively (not seen improvement yet). Will Chipper be back? If he is, does history says maybe 100 games. With OF unsettled next year & beyond get somebody that will be in Atlanta for a couple of years. I like Carlos Quentin from White Sox (got 2012 before free agency). Beltran is NOT a solution to problems.
Dennis Reynolds
July 27th, 2011
5:50 pm
HAVE to go after Pence. If the Braves even CONSIDERED a Minor for Beltran trade then they need to go all in for Pence.
Offer them Minor, Delgado,Hoover, and Bethancourt for Pence.
You cant sit on prospects forever just to say you have them. These are the reasons you stockpile young talent (esp if your already overstocked with quality pitching).
You just HAVE to do this. Wren has GOT TO do this.
Terry
July 27th, 2011
5:51 pm
Butch Davis out at North Carolina.
Tony
July 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
Oh yeah SAL, Carlos Quentin is another one. Upton, Pence, or Quentin.
Ryan
July 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
We need them both though. Bourn and Pence. Expect Prado to play 3rd, Pence LF, and Bourn CF
Buzz me
July 27th, 2011
5:53 pm
gotta get rid of Liberty MEdia and get an owner who cares like Mr. Blank or Mr. Marcus
john
July 27th, 2011
5:53 pm
We’ll be alright-don’t panic–David Ross is an excellent catcher and will need to get timely hits–He can do. Still have our pitching to get us thru. Could use a extra pitcher in the late innings. Don’t give up the farm to get someone–alot of talent on this team–normally people step in and hold down the fort. I expect the Braves will get it done!
GLE
July 27th, 2011
5:53 pm
CAN U SAY WAIT TIL NEXT YR?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
5:54 pm
TMAC, do not be so oversensitive. You got called out on a post and now you result to jibberish. If they whole thing works for you knock yourself out. I busted you. Sorry you cannot handle it maturely. I am here to discuss the Braves. You can move on or move out. Your choice big guy…
jonny
July 27th, 2011
5:55 pm
come on guys lets be realistic here no matter what the braves do it is only gonna hurt us name all of the big trades we have made for all star hitters the last couple of years and then you will realize that they stink once on the braves something must be going on…. we thought getting rid of terry pendelton as our hitting coach would help… not really
kevkat
July 27th, 2011
5:57 pm
The question is do we want to have an opportunity to win now and possibly get to the World Series. All this commenting about don’t get a Beltran rental and let’s get someone for the long term cause we’re looking down the road crap has run it’s course. Would Beltran guarantee a World Series berth,heck no, just like Tex didn’t get us there, however, it showed we were trying to get to the World Series. But hey, let’s just hold on to all that great pitching potential and get an average or maybe slightly above average outfielder or reliever and keep looking down the road!
TOMY FOURNIER
July 27th, 2011
5:57 pm
I wrote a few days ago…that Atlanta is a “PRETENDER”…NOT A “CONTENDER”…AND TAHT’S THE TRUE…NO MATTER WHAT WREN DO IT…NOT CHANCE…NOT FIRST PLACE AND NOT WILD CAR…YOUI WILL SEE…THIS TEAM IS PATETIC, NOT GOOD HITTER, NOT BUNT,NOT STEAL BASES, NOT MOVE THE RUNNERS…THE WORST MANEGER AND COACH STAFF.WITH FOUR OR FIVE OUT ON THE LINE UP…HOW YOU THINK THAT’S A CONTENDER TEAM….COME-ON…HELLO!!! .
Tony
July 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Buzz me…so, so true about Liberty “ME”dia. Bring back the old Turner days in Atlanta!
Tom
July 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Ok, now we all know Beltran is going to SF,along with newly acquired Keppinger(.300 hitter), kinda makes them favorite with Philly! Pence is a RF, not a part-timeCF or LF, he is not coming here to split time with Heyward! McCann and Schafer now on DL, with Chipper hurting< we have no chance to make WC now. 33yr old reserve catcher obtained hitting .170 in minors, WOW!!!!!!!!!
kirkinga
July 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
Well if the bats are gone, I guess I could live with acquiring a very good arm for the pen. I think Adams would be worth the cost especially given the lineups the Braves might face in October.
Dennis Reynolds
July 27th, 2011
5:58 pm
If Wren has anything hanging down there he will go all in and quit making these silly Farsworth/Ankiel deals. That LF revolving door has been almost a bigger joke than 1st base. Now we got Freeman for years to come. We need Pence to hold down LF for years to come as well.
We are SO close to being a Championship caliber team for not only this year, but the next 5-7 years. Look how the Phillies did it. They have had a core group of players for years now and theyre all very good players.
Freeman=Howard
Uggla=Utley
HOLE=Rollins
Prado=Polanco
Mac=Ruiz
PENCE=Ibanez
HOLE=Victorino
Heyward=Werth
Were just a few moves away from having a team that will rival that group of players.
Columbus
July 27th, 2011
6:00 pm
Yeah dream BIG Tulowitzki! That would be BIG and appropriate!
jonny
July 27th, 2011
6:01 pm
whydidnt my comment get posted
Casey
July 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
I bet Mike Hampton is ready for the call..
keith
July 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
Mark,
I still like Bourne a lot for this Braves team….of course, pence would be ok, too. Other than that, I say keep their pitching…I was really hoping for Beltran. this business of 2nd and 3rd with 0 outs and 0 runs is a MAJOR problem…has been most of the year.
GO BRAVES!
Mister Frisky
July 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
We need Bourn,Pence,Ichiro,JJ Hardy.Prado to 3rd full time Chipper to ph.That’s should just about do it.
jonny
July 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
As much as we need a bat its not gonna help us
we will turn him terrible like mcclouth, uggla, and like evry other bigname player we trade for that then turns awful
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
Go get a bat like CQ that gives you power this year while not limiting you for what you can do next year. Postionally it may be tough to work it out but Chipper cannot be counted on at this point. He can play 3-4 days a week, and Prado can fill in for him. Or Prado can sub Uggla 1-2 times a week. Keeps all the players fresh heading into October.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
Hardy just signed a extension in Baltimore.
Wren
July 27th, 2011
6:04 pm
Stop worrying. I intend to deal Proctor and rest my case.
Dennis Reynolds
July 27th, 2011
6:06 pm
Bourn>Schafer
Pence>Any other alternative (Ludwick, Willingham, etc.) and Scafer
If we get Pence, I think we should put him in CF while Chipper plays and LF when he doesnt. He more than capable of providing good D in CF.
Aardvark Base
July 27th, 2011
6:06 pm
Word is that Pence is not in the starting lineup tonight in Houston.
Chicken Little
July 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!
Skyrider
July 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
Don’t be so sure the Braves are going to get Pence either. CBSsports.com is stating that the Astros will now keep Pence and look to deal him in the offseason.
rabiddawg
July 27th, 2011
6:09 pm
Why wait until Sunday at 11 pm to pull off a trade? It’s obvious what we need(ed) all along. Pull the trigger before we are 10 back. who cares about keeping a mike minor.
Adam Jones JR
July 27th, 2011
6:11 pm
I still think Wren has something up his sleeve. Rumors have been very minimal over the past three days and what exist has no legs…..
Adam Jones might be the sleeper here, he’s young (25), a righty, above average defensive centerfield, bats .290, hits for power (currently 18 hr) and has ability on the base paths. Oh, and he is under team control for two more years. Orioles are not anywhere close to competing in the AL East and have very little pitching support. Perhaps we could spare a few of our attractive pigeon holed prospect pitchers to aquire a high potential centerfielder such as Jones. Sure would be nice to see the name Jones in centerfield again!
Its Worth a call Wren.
SAL
July 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
B.J. Upton has the stats to be the right handed version of Nate McClouth or Rick Ankeil. I hope he isn’t the target to fix Braves woes. His .227 batting average would make him a perfect fit with what we already have in the OF.
Law Dawg
July 27th, 2011
6:15 pm
Any chance Wren goes out and gets a short stop? Hell, could Prado play SS if we trade for an outfielder?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
6:17 pm
I was anti-Upton but if you look at his home/away spilts he is raking it on the road. So a poster menioned a change of scenery may do him good may have been right. Upton is hitting close to .280 on the road with 9 homers and a .360 OBP%.
Mister Frisky
July 27th, 2011
6:19 pm
Think of the bright side we have all those pitching prospects that the Braves are hoarding.For what I have no idea.
Athenzdawg
July 27th, 2011
6:19 pm
I’m so tired of the Braves always having platoon players is it too much to ask to have a roster of 9 solid people(8 excluding the pitcher) that we can feel confident in? Over the last 5 or so years how many times have we had platoon at positions where everyone can see we needed upgrades but no one made a move. This was a huge problem with Bobby when he was here at second base with Keith Lockhart. I just want a team you can throw out there realize that they are not hitting less than 2.40 and we except this. Quit with all these players who can’t play…..If you can’t hit then don’t bring them up.
Discard Proctor In Spite Of Last Night
July 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
We need Carlos Quentin. Mike Minor is perfect trade bait. Do it now Wren!
Adam Jones JR
July 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
Low Country,
I’m with you on Carlos Quentin, defense would be skechy though. Non the less, an upgrade from McOut…….
Im surprised Wren isnt targeting Wiggington, we did last year at this time. He plays third and corner outfield which would address concerns of Chipper and right handed outfiled option. Not a superstar, but solid contributor with versaitility at positions needed most.
Lets go Wren…
Bobby Bobby
July 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
Forget Pence. Marlon Bird or CF from the twins. Braves do not need a corner outfielder. Also some relief help. I think Moylen and his summer vacation/tweets to Disney World and NYC may have put him in dog house with management.
Scooter
July 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
Why the #$@!!@## do any of you want Heyward to play at all (hurt or not) Heyward and Gonzo are just AWFUL right now. Also, If we make another move like we have the past few years I’m done with the management/Ownership. We have a surplus and should be VERY active.
Time
July 27th, 2011
6:25 pm
BJ Upton
Brett
July 27th, 2011
6:28 pm
Is Julio Franco available?
jonny
July 27th, 2011
6:29 pm
Is Julio Franco available?
YESSSSSSSS we need julio the key to our success plus we need matty diaz back he was so clutch for us
jmor
July 27th, 2011
6:31 pm
“There is no doubt that Wren won’t make a deal” The double negative is confusing. Do you think he will or won’t make a big deal?