Braves fans: Which starter or pitching prospect gets traded for a hitter?

[alabamadog]

I would like to see them trade someone for Micheal Bourn if the Astros are willing to give him up.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

nm

 

[SchruteDog]

Bourn would be a good pickup IF Uggla and Heyward were pulling their weight. But a slap hitting base stealer doesn't do much if he's left standing on 3rd.

I'm not sure what the Braves can do. They need a run producer but where do you put him? Some of the pipe dream names that were thrown around were Willingham, Pence, Carlos Quentin. Do you bring them in as a 4th outfielder? Prado and Heyward aren't going anywhere. Can the Braves get rid of McSuck, do they send Schafer back to Gwinnett?

Wren has had 5 years to pick up an OF bat and he's failed to do it. Now he's stuck with an aging Chipper and a huge contract at 2nd so there's nowhere left for Prado to play but in LF. Braves beat writers keep preaching that Uggla will come around. I guess if you give him 6 months he's bound to have a good 2 or 3 week stretch (I think that is now) and he's raised his average to the mid .180s!!!

 

[tenureplan]

They don't need another left handed bat, so that makes Bourn iffy. Shaefer has more steals than Bourn since he has been called up anyway. Short of Pence, I would look for a right handed fourth outfielder in the mold of Diaz.

They could also make a move at short...Gonzalez is a Free agent at the end of the year (I would hate to lose his D though).

 

[TBonewannabe]

I wish we could get McCourt drunk and somehow get Kemp. I think Schaefer is done pretty well in CF, I would get rid of McLouth if possible. How in the world does Uggla lead the braves in runs scored? The guy has had to go on a tear to get to .180. Wish they had kept Prado at second. Braves could also use a SS but I reckon Pastornicky is supposed to be the SS of the future.

 

[SanfordRJones]

Unless they can dump Lowe and most of his salary, I would be shocked if they make any kind of major move. I could see them going after a utility infielder like Jeff Keppinger or Jamey Carroll, possibly a 4th outfielder (I would be pretty happy if they got Peter Bourjos from the Angels to play center and use either Schafer or McLouth as the 4th outfielder), or, probably more importantly, a right handed reliever like Koji Uehara or Mike Adams.

I don't see Gonzalez going anywhere this year or next year. They'll be able to re-sign him for a year for about what he's making now, and I doubt they would be able to find a better free agent shortstop for that price. That would give Pastornicky 1 more year to get ready for the big leagues.

There is no way I'd trade Heyward and Minor for Pence. That is way too much.

 

[boomboommsu]

...up until the Tigers demanded they pick up 3/4 of Lowe's contract. It may still happen, if the Tigers will pick up this year's tab for Lowe (giving them the payroll space to add Beltran without the Mets picking up any of his salary, so they won't have to send a good prospect to the Mets and play against him for years), with the Braves picking up a good chunk of next years salary(which they can). but the Mets are trying to get prospects for Beltran, so this isn't likely. It will becomeVERY likely if Beltran is still around after the deadline and clears waivers (but he probably won't). The only problem here is the Braves won't want to pick up a good chunk of next years salary for Lowe for a 2-month rental.

I just don't see them doing anything other than picking up a right-handed version ofHinske and a RH reliever.

Their other problem is they have 7 quality MLB starters for next year, but 2 of them are gone after 2012 (Hudson and Lowe) and 2 will never be signed to extensions (Hanson and JJ). So if they trade a starter to clear up space for Minor and Teheran next year, then they are simultaneously creating a hole for 2013.

Relatedly, i think the best package they can offer is Minor and Vizcaino. Minor gives you a MLB ready starter, albeit without an ace ceiling. Vizcaino is a potential ace, but is a year away and a much greater risk (extensive injury history at only 20 years old, delivery conducive to injury, is generally considered a Tommy John surgery waiting to happen). Those two complement each other pretty well, and doesn't affect the Braves plans at all at this point (their first round pick they just signed is a Minor-clone). They just haven't found an available player worth that that fits their needs. In the offseason, they probably will.

Picking up a LF instead of a CF isn't really a problem. Between Chipper, Prado, and Heyward all struggling with their health, there will be plenty of playing time available. Even if all are active, you can rest each one day a week (plus Uggla), and sit McLouth/Schafer against lefties, and get the new guy 6 or 7 games a week.

I don't see Bourn happening. He's a leftie that doesn't hit lefties well, so he's really not enough of an improvement over Schafer (especially considering he makes million$ more)to be worth what the Astros will want.

 

[tenureplan]

I have a feeling that the Heyward of this year is closer to what he will be long term. He is an injury waiting to happen and has a real hole in his swing vs LHP.</p>

 

[boomboommsu]

there's a good article on capitolavenueclub.com about Heyward 2010 vs. 2011. i can't see it from work, or i'd link it for you. but basically, his K rate, BB rate, and ISO are nearly identical to last year. the difference is in his BABIP (batting average balls in play), .340 last year, .255 this year, or something like that. i think he is not quite getting to breaking balls, being just on top of them, leading to too many ground balls and a lower BABIP. that's something that only the slightest of improvements will eliminate. he is very likely to return to last year's numbers, IMO.

Plus, he doesn't reach arb until 2013. Pence is already in his second arb year i think (and i think he's a Super Two). and Heyward is the local boy, a fan favorite (jersey sales leader), and African-American to boot (something Atlanta has been severely lacking in its stars). He ain't goin anywhere.