The trade deadline nears. Will Braves GM Wren pay the piper?
Mike Minor could be the key man in a major move. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Look on the bright side. If you have to put your catcher and your center fielder on the disabled list, better to do it four days before the trading deadline than four days after. Right?
“You didn’t give me the alternative of not putting anybody on the disabled list,” Fredi Gonzalez said, speaking before his Braves played the second leg of their odd Wednesday doubleheader. (The first part ended at 1:50 a.m.) But the DL has become to the Braves as the Downtown Connector is to the Georgia DOT — a place of high occupancy and much consternation.
Among other developments over the course of 19 innings Tuesday-into-Wednesday, the Braves lost their best player. Brian McCann went on the DL with what we like to call Braves Syndrome — a tweaked oblique. Jordan Schafer, who got plunked in the left forearm in the 11th inning, was disabled with a broken left index finger. (”Needs to take the target off his left arm,” Gonzalez said.)
Complicating matters, Chipper Jones remained unavailable to do more than pinch-hit Wednesday night, and Jason Heyward, who was hitting .222, didn’t start because the Pirates were deploying left-hander Paul Maholm. This was the Braves’ starting outfield: Martin Prado, who’d gone 0-for-9 over the 19 innings; Nate McLouth, who was hitting the McLouthian .228, and Wilkin Ramirez, just up from Gwinnett. Batting cleanup for your Atlanta Braves: Dan Uggla, just now nuzzling up to .200.
The belief before those 19 innings was that general manager Frank Wren would make some manner of major trade ahead of the deadline. That belief is now a raging conviction. But doesn’t the knowledge that the Braves are without McCann complicate matters?
“Obviously it changes things a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “I think we were going to try to improve our club no matter what — even if Mac hadn’t gotten hurt. Now maybe the asking price just got a little higher.”
Did it? Said Wren: “It’s not as if he’s out for the year. If that was the case, things might be different. But for what we’re trying to do, the dynamics haven’t changed.”
A day that began with plate umpire Jerry Meals making a lousy call that became the buzz of the sports world remained frazzled throughout. (The Braves would win Wednesday night in a scant 10 innings, amassing two runs on 14 hits.) Colby Rasmus, identified by some as a person of interest to the Braves, was shipped to Toronto by St. Louis. Various reports held that Carlos Beltran, seen as the biggest of available names, was headed to the Giants, who might again play here in the Division Series.
It had been reported by Buster Olney of ESPN that the Braves removed themselves from the Beltran bidding by refusing to part with any of their four top pitching prospects — Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor, Randall Delgado. Was that indeed the case?
Said Wren: “We’re not going to trade those guys for a short-term fix. That really doesn’t make sense. Those are premium-type prospects.”
Such a hard line makes sense — in theory. Beltran will become a free agent at season’s end and is represented by the dreaded Scott Boras. If the Braves are going to deal a Minor or a Delgado (or both), in a perfect world it would be for a guy like Houston’s Hunter Pence, who fills a need, makes reasonable money and is under contract through 2013. That said …
When you look on this lineup, you see, shall we say, imperfection. The scary part is that Uggla has hit in 18 consecutive games and raised his average, at least for a couple of innings, above the Mendoza Line, and still the Braves are hitting under .240. And that was with McCann having an MVP-type season. What happens these next few weeks?
“We’d like to improve our team,” Wren said, and the proper adjustments could make this club, which is on pace to win 93 games, a world champion. But those adjustments could come at a hefty price. As much as baseball are loath to part with young pitching, sometimes it’s the only way.
We’ll know soon enough if this GM is willing to ante up. The guess here: He’s willing, and he will.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
261 comments Add your comment
Bill
July 27th, 2011
9:50 pm
Giants win..wilson save 38..
JohnGTFan
July 27th, 2011
9:51 pm
Latest update has Houston holding on to Pence and trading him in the winter.
Bill
July 27th, 2011
9:52 pm
What ever Braves do I hope it makes everyone happy and the Braves better..good nite and God Bless you all.
Eric Jay the Brave Fan
July 27th, 2011
9:54 pm
Alright enough injuries! Take some steroids already.
M
July 27th, 2011
9:57 pm
10 hits. 1 run. Typical of the braves. How is that possible anyway?
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
9:57 pm
Tonights Septet: (sent 20 minutes ago, but didn’t make it for some reason)
For those that clamor for Pence
Your judgment seems to be dense
For what the Astros require
The Braves aren’t quite that dire!
Though the lad can swing the stick
With talent the young Brave arms are think
So armchair GM’s back to your mouse with a click!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
Mr. Clutch …weak grounder to short… This aint ‘99 anymore.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2011
9:59 pm
Julio Lugo has struck out four times.
Breaking News |Breaking News
July 27th, 2011
10:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
M:
It’s possible because (1) the Pirates haven’t walked anybody; (2) the Braves wasted 2 chances with bunts despite not having anybody in the lineup that can hit with men in scoring position and (3) they’ve struck out 9 times already – worst team at making in contact in the league.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Gonzo actually did something…
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:04 pm
oh, boy there’s a good lookin girl said wren
right here close to the Braves bullpen
a sundress so blue
and the face of few
i tossed her a ball and just said “when”
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
Make that 10 strikeouts – and another out with RISP.
Just wnat both teams were praying for – extra innnings!
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
10:05 pm
11 hits, 4 doubles, one run. Remarkable.
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
TODD:
Nice retort limerick my man.
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:08 pm
Gwinnett Fred, a limerick carries 5 lines.
Columbus
July 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
Wren will make the best move possible if the right player is available. Only an idiot would have given up Minor for a 2 month rental. Pitching is most valuable and to give it up a player that will work this year and future years is a MUST. Do not FORGET there is another trade deadline come Aug. 31st and there may be a few more sellers at that time. But if the deal does not feel right, dont do it. Like the saying goes, sometimes the best deals are the ones you dont make.
Also if you havent noticed, the Braves starters are all righties. ALL righties. We could use a lefty or two in the rotation next year or sooner. We may need to trade some of our OTHER pitching prospects for a lefty starter and if we traded Minor also, we would deplete our prospects and still only have one lefty starter for next year. So if you look at the BIG picture, Beltran would have been most likely too costly. Minor is a LEFTY STARTER, YOUNG AND CHEAP so he is worth MUCH more than a rental of ANYBODY. Especially when we have NO lefties and need RH bat or two, a shortstop, a reliever. Prospects would be gone before you know it with Hudson aging and Lowe on the way out asap. You do not GIVE them away for a rental.
Bravefanforever
July 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
Wren will not make a major trade. He is scared.
How long can we live on the 95 title.
Heyward is another Francour trade Heyward for majot talent now!!!!!
mr. D
July 27th, 2011
10:09 pm
Mark are we spoilt,soured?….lol We all were believing, will Wren do anything to confirm that belief?………that this team can and will be in the playoffs and contend again?
LOB Braves
July 27th, 2011
10:10 pm
When you have Ramirez, Lugo, Seabass, and McLout in the lineup, you have no chance. And of course also with Linesuck or Proctor.
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:11 pm
Todd:
What’s your point??? I said your 5-line poem was a limerick, just like I said my 7 line poem was a septet. Are we not reading carefully before making less than intelligent posts?
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
More thinking has to go into a septet.
But back to serious matters.
This Braves lineup makes me cringe almost as much as that disaster of a lineup we put on the field against the Padres in the 1998 playoffs. Holy Crap – that team couldn’t beat the Toledo Mud Hens!
UGA Grad
July 27th, 2011
10:17 pm
Mark, I am tired of losing games 2-1 or even winning games with that score. JJ is a free agent after this year and I see him headed to the Bronx. I say trade Jurrjens for Kemp straight up. Am I crazy thinking this.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
You mean the one with Tony Graffanino, Eddie Perez, Gerald Williams and Danny Bautista?
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:18 pm
wth is moderation?
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:19 pm
Yes, that “lineup” – but I was avoiding listing names – many of your readers might be too squeamish!
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2011
10:20 pm
I’m moderating.
M
July 27th, 2011
10:20 pm
12 hits now. 1 run. I wonder what the record is. Gotta be close.
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
little know fact in baseball rules. after the 10th inning the 3erd base umpire moves behind the plate
DetroitBraves
July 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
Columbus, I think you’ve overstated Minor’s value, with or without caps lock. Unfortunately, the Mets probably did not. So with Wheeler on the table, a Minor for Beltran deal wasn’t likely an option.
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:21 pm
I suppose that’s better than ovulating
todd grantham
July 27th, 2011
10:23 pm
told yo Freddie’s teh real mccoy
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2011
10:24 pm
The Pirates are wallking a man hitting .205 with first base occupied.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2011
10:25 pm
Braves win. Ross with the single.
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:25 pm
M:
Record is 14 hits allowed without scoring any runs at all.
Steve Avery, back in 1993, Beat the Pirates 2-0 with a 13-hit shutout!
So this isn’t anywhere close to a record – but still incredibly frustrating nonetheless.
Theo Williams
July 27th, 2011
10:26 pm
Way to go, Ross!!! That’s a hit!
Gwinnett Fred
July 27th, 2011
10:27 pm
Mark,
Yes, they walked a .205 hitter – but is still the most dangerous hitter in the Braves lineup the past 3 weeks!
Hey – just like last night – take ‘em any way we can get ‘em!
DetroitBraves
July 27th, 2011
10:29 pm
I wonder how we would feel about this deadline and the various rumors had not the Teixeira transaction, and it’s ultimate futility not transpired.
MB, do you remember what you wrote about the deal at the time? I’m not picking on you. I, for one, was excited to land a bat that could have made a difference. I don’t remember many mainstream “experts” questioning the move at the time, though there is a bit of revisionist history when it’s brought up today.
Maybe we’re a bit wiser this time around, but hopefully that experience doesn’t paralyze the organization.
UGA Grad
July 27th, 2011
10:38 pm
I have to say, it is always comical to me when people say the Tex trade set the franchise back so many years. Yes, Andrus and Feliz are young all-stars; Harrison looks like a possible good #4 starter; Salty is with the Red Sox now DH’ing and Beau Jones is lost in minor league world. I can’t really argue about Andrus as he could be starting for us (maybe Pastornicky or Lipka can be legit). I agree that Feliz with this bullpen would be sick, but it isn’t like our bullpen has an era of over 5. Harrison, we already have 6 “great” young arms in AAA and AA. Salty would have eventually been replaced by Freddie. And again, Jones has made no impact. Please people, quit acting like the braves are the Royals because of that trade. I bet the ones saying all this were the ones begging for big Tex to come to the ATL.
tybeedawg
July 27th, 2011
10:39 pm
isnt JJ under team control next yr? Just arb eligible for the first time?
Tony
July 27th, 2011
10:45 pm
B.J. Upton may be batting what McClouth is with TB, but inject him into the Braves lineup and his average should rise tremendously. He has a little pop, too…so Upton, Prado, Uggla, Freeman…hmmm! Speed is a tremendous asset on the offensive side of the ball…gotta have it to score runs.
Mark Acres forever
July 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
Go get Willingham, platoon him w/ Heyward in RF & w/ Prado in LF when Chipper’s out of the lineup. He’s not going to cost you much. The problem remains what to do about CF. Seems the organization doesn’t want to put Heyward there, even if its temporary. Mclouth & Jordan ain’t getting the job done. Afraid there’s little to nothing we can do about it. Trading Jordan & 1 of our stud minor leaguers for BJ doesn’t exactly fit the bill, unless BJ figures it out here…
UGA Grad
July 27th, 2011
10:50 pm
He may be, but I think another team can pay him a big salary if they want to. I can’t talk though about that because I understand arbitration about as much as how to build a rocket.
Hillbilly D
July 27th, 2011
10:52 pm
Trade someone for one of the Cubs bats…Soriano, Ramirez, or Fukudome…
As a Cub fan, I’d offer this: Fukudome is a singles hitter, who starts off good and goes downhill through the season, in the batting average department. He is a good defensive player. It’s doubtful the Braves would make that move.
Soriano is done, and has a humongous contract that goes 2-3 more years, I think. Can’t see the Braves making that move.
Ramirez is going pretty good and has some value but he plays 3B. Can’t see the Braves making that move either, although it’d be good for the Cubs.
Big Braves Fan
July 27th, 2011
10:52 pm
prospects are just that,prospects. They haven’t proved anything at the major league level. Go get Hunter Pence. The guy has proven himself. With the way the Braves scout pitching and hitting prospects they will be ok.
DetroitBraves
July 27th, 2011
10:52 pm
UGA Grad, totally agree. Harrison is nothing special, Salty could not play for Atlanta (not ahead of McCann and his bat wouldn’t play anywhere else). Andrus is the one I would like back. Feliz is talented but he’s had some physical problems in the bullpen. I believe Atlanta would have slotted him in the rotation, but would he have held up there? Maybe. He has less value in the bullpen. Yeah, I would gladly take him back but young pitchers that are already showing some wear and tear don’t necessarily have the longest shelf lives.
sports
July 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
That was a dirty call against Pittsburg last night. Play for 19 innings and then get screwed by the umpire. That turkey was out 2 yards before home plate…this is why baseball needs instant replay. That umpire should be fined and suspeneded for the rest of the year.
Greg
July 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
Imagine how the offense would be if everyone was healthy with dan hitting the way he is. His average this month is awesome! Just hope he can keep it up. What would be funny is if his hit streak gets up into the 40’s. Would be funny considering how bad he was the first 3 months.
tom
July 27th, 2011
11:06 pm
uga grad have we won anything recently? won a playoff series? i rest our case. it was a setback when you lose any all star. it took us 3 years to recover and were still suffering offensively from it.
choozer
July 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
Braves really needed a guy like Jeff Keppinger instead of Lugo to back up the infield spots. Giants had the good sense to get him, and now the Braves are having to start Lugo. And paying for it.