Braves trade Escobar.

[boomboommsu]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/07/blue-jays-acquire-yunel-escobar.html

for Alex Gonzolez.

seems like a good move for the Braves, right-handed power hitter for the middle of the lineup without sacrificing defense, cheap option for next year leaves flexibility to fill the position long-term via trade or FA, with lots of potential upside for the Blue Jays. Gonzolez has been pretty consisent this year, so seems the Braves are trading for that instead of rolling the dice on Escobar and his upside.Escobar's attitude problems probably factored in.

 

[fieldman]

Alex Gonzalez isn't very good. He has performed over his head the first half of this season. I think Bobby Cox was just tired of Escobar's mental lapses.

I guess the front office believes in the development of Edward Salcedo

 

[wbc40]

They have a serious chance to make a run here in Bobby Cox's last year, and Gonzalez adds a little more pop to the lineup. Which wouldn't have taken much, seeing as Yunel has exactly 0 home runs this year.

 

[mstatefan88]

I'm sick of Yunel and his lazy attitude. Gonzalez is an offensive upgrade as of right now, and we need a right handed bat beside Glaus to pick us up. I expect theBravesto pick up his 2.5 million 2011 option, which will give Brandon Hicks one more year to get adjusted to the game and learn what he needs to do to be an everyday SS. Really wish we had been able to keep Elvis Andrus. He would be a perfect fit at the top of this lineup.

 

[57stratdawg]

Yunel has a great deal of potential, but Gonzalez is already a very solid player. I dont think he's performed over his head either this year. The Blue Jays hit a good bit of homeruns, but I think the Braves will put a better lineup around him.

I haven't watched the braves in a week or two, but this is their lineup now as to my guess.

1 - Prado
2 - Heyward
3 - Chipper
4 - McCann
5 - Glaus
6 - Gonzalez
7 - Cabera
8 - Omar In
9 - Pitcher

Really, Chipper is the weakest part in the top of that lineup IMO. I'm sure some will disagree..

 

[mstatefan88]

Chippers OBP is 2nd best on the team out of all starters, so he still is getting on base. Ithink Infante is gonna start splitting time with Cabrera in left full time now. Bobby is really liking Gregor Blanco, and hes producing, so I think the lineup will look a little more like an Infante/Cabrera in leftand Blanco in center.

 

[jcdawgman18]

Escobar's attitude problems probably factored in.

He didn't run out ground balls and always made dumb errors at big times. What's even more baffling is that he was doing this IN A CONTRACT YEAR.

 

[boomboommsu]

against R: against L:
1.Prado Prado
2.Heyward Heyward
3.Chipper Chipper
4.McCann Glaus
5.Glaus McCann
6.Hinske Diaz
7.Gonzalez Gonzalez
8.Cabrera/otherCF Cabrera/otherCF

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

His bat comes and goes but he is great on the field at SS.

 

[llmsudawg]

nm<div>
</div>

 

[MSUCosmo]

Blanco is a fading journeyman just like Jo Jo Reyes was. A centerfielder with zero power is typically your leadoff hitter and with Prado entrenched there, Blanco gives you nothing offensively. The Braves need pop in their outfield. Your HR threats are typically 1st, 3rd and the corner outfielders and while Chipper has become a walk machine, he's no longer a power threat. Heyward is a definite step up over Frenchy, but he's not a 30-35 homer guy quite yet.

The Braves banked on that fluke season where McLouth hit 25 homers and now they've got a collection of punch and judy hitters (Blanco, McLouth, and Cabrera) and a couple of 4th or 5th outfielders (Hinske and Diaz) fighting for playing time at 2 positions. And now Infante is in that mix.

 

[MSUArrowCS]

that he's monitoring McLouth's recovery very closely with regard to further moves. He also mentioned that multiple moves are possible. I would love to see the Braves land David DeJesus, and the KC/ATL connection is there.