Forget Peavy, how about

by BlueVol03 on Oct 8, 2008 8:26 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

some other young pitchers that won't cost as much. We are still rebuilding so there's no need to mortgage the farm system to win now.

Names to consider that would come cheaper than Jake:

Zach Greinke - offer Frenchy and Medlen

Jeff Niemann - offer Flowers and Owings

Jeremy Sowers - had a bad year so could get him cheap

Ian Snell - once again, bad season makes him slightly cheaper

I know these trade values are probably way off, but they are all cheaper than Peavy. Who would you want?

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Peavy!!!

would settle for Greinke in the right scenario, but I wouldn’t touch the others.

by scstrato on Oct 8, 2008 9:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Niemann would be a great pick-up; controlled for six seasons, reasonable #3-4 upside, and part of a surplus of arms in Tampa. I’ve heard he’s not valuable coming out of the bullpen because of the length of time he takes to warm up. If we could pry him away he’d be a very good addition to our rotation.

I wouldn’t take on Snell or Sowers at all.

by 17843 on Oct 8, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve seen Niemann pitch about 15 times the last two years in AAA and I really like him. He doesn’t seem to walk a lot of guys and he gets a huge amount of leverage with his 6’9" frame. Plus, he’s a Braves type of guy, very personable, very professional. I don’t know if I’d want to give up Tyler Flowers for him, but he’d be a nice aquisition. Maybe Niemann for Brandon Jones, a couple of players that neither team is sure they’re sold on, the old ‘change of scenery’ trade.

by cbwilk on Oct 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Front End Guy

Not opposed to trading Brandon Jones (who will never be a starting OF in Atlanta) for Niemann, but I fear we are missing the ponit.

The Braves need to acquire front end (1 or 2) of the rotation starters. Only Grienke fits that bill right now. Snell has the stuff, but has not yet proven that.

Personally, I would rather sign CC or Derek Lowe (since we have the money) then unload the farm again. In my opinion, since our first round pick is protected, this is the year to sign a stud free agent.

However, if we can trade from a position of depth (CF or pitching) in our farm system, then I am all for a deal to bring an ace type pitcher to Atlanta. However, we gave up an awful lot (Feliz and Andrus are much bigger losses than Salty right now) to get Tex, and I am fearful of doing so again.

by dmack on Oct 8, 2008 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree.

I am not a huge fan of selling off parts of our farm system, even though I know it is necessary and many of the farm players are for trading. However, after the price we paid for Tex and the amount of time we had him for, I would be a hard sell to trade many of our prospects other than those we know are not going to be in Atl. such as B. Jones, Lilli., prob. Medlen, and a Flowers, though I like him and would like to see how he develops in our system but is blocked by McCann and if he is even capable to move to 1st Freeman when he gets to Atl. If we trade for a pitcher or LFer we need to control him for min. 3 yrs. in my opinion.

by Shaggy3391 on Oct 8, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greinke is going to be nearly untouchable. I’m not sure I’d be willing to give up premium prospects for three years of a good but not great starter with a history of emotional/mental issues. Fair or unfair, that’s the brush he’s drawn with.

Lowe is a good signing if we had a playoff team assembled and just needed a big gun to pitch 200 innings and rack up a 3.75 ERA. We don’t though.

Sabathia is never a good signing for the amount and length he’ll get.

Jones won’t be enough for Niemann. Gorkys probably would be and would fill a weakness in the Rays system.

by 17843 on Oct 8, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont know about Niemann, the guy is about 25 or 26 years old when next season starts. He doesn’t have much regular season experience in the majors either. Why not just start Morton or Reyes INSTEAD of goin after Niemann? I like Morton and Reyes more than Niemann and plus why trade a top prospect like Flowers for a guy that may or may not be as good as Morton or Reyes and plus he is older than Morton and Reyes. If you really look at it, it makes absolutely no sense to go after Niemann when we have Morton and Reyes. If we dont have the patience for Morton or Reyes what makes anybody think we will have patience for Niemann, we will ONLY go after Niemann if we dont have to give up much at all. We need proven guys or half way proven guys thats better than Niemann.

braves#1

by rockybull on Oct 8, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I won’t argue that picking up Niemann doesn’t make much sense when you’ve got Morton and Reyes, it really doesn’t make sense to get another end of the rotation/AAA starter. But I will say, having seen all three a bunch at AAA, Niemann is much better than Morton and Reyes. And you have to understand that I’m as big a fan of Charlie Morton as anyone. While Morton and Reyes tend to be off and on, Niemann is pretty steady. Sometimes he’s spectacular, but he’s rarely bad. I really don’t think we should go out and get him, if we’re going after a young starter someone a little more established would be a much better pickup. But, if we did get Niemann, cheaply, I’d be all for it.

by cbwilk on Oct 8, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The last place..

…Jo-Jo needs to be is in the rotation. I mean it’s not hard to grasp the fact he’s been truly horrible and really has shown no signs that he will improve.

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by RainDelay on Oct 8, 2008 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What? Reyes cut his BB% drastically and raised his K% drastically from 2007 to 2008. It’s not hard to imagine him improving further given that he was 23 this year. The Braves hardly have three starting pitchers who should be in the rotation more than Reyes, much less five.

by 17843 on Oct 8, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many starters would pitch very well in AAA for two straight seasons and get only two ML starts out of it? Niemann can’t control that he was treated as a red-headed stepchild in 2007 and that the Rays had a reliable rotation from mid-April in 2008.

Niemann is what he is, probably a #4 starter with #3 upside. That’s definitely worth trading for, especially when he hasn’t lost any ML service time and will be controlled through his most valuable seasons. As for whether we shouldn’t acquire him when we have Reyes and Morton, I don’t see why we shouldn’t. We have two pitchers who may turn into #4 starters. You don’t stand pat there hoping that they indeed do turn into #4 starters, you go out and add another name to the mix hoping that when 2010 comes around you have enough pitchers to make a rotation behind Hudson and Jurrjens.

by 17843 on Oct 8, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok if you read fully what i said i would not trade Flowers for him. I said we would only go after him if it did not cost much. And i believe thats true. I would definately trade for Niemann if it only cost Brandon Jones and a top 10 player. I guess it just depends on the prospect but i like Flowers more thats why i wouldn’t want to put him in a trade for Niemann. He is still a Catching prospect and they should be traded for somethin a little better than Niemann. Real good young Catchers have more value than mid 20’s pitchers that hasn’t pitched much in the majors in my opinion. He might be destined to play First in the future but until he moves to first he is still gonna be considered a Catcher. But of course this is just my opinion, im not sayin any of yall are wrong but this is just what i think.

braves#1

by rockybull on Oct 8, 2008 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

niemann

is the most interesting of the bunch. he’s a big kid.

by son.of.sourman on Oct 8, 2008 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i don’t like neimann because of the rice factor. david aardsma, phil humber, and matt anderson just scream THIS WONT END WELL

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Oct 8, 2008 9:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how about delmon young

to play left field.

I know all the problems, but he’s still very young, rumored to be shopped around on the cheap, projectable, and could benefit from the kind of clubhouse the braves provide.

by son.of.sourman on Oct 8, 2008 11:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I got to watch Delmon a lot when he was in AAA too and I’m a big fan. He really is an all around player and a guy that’s just fun to watch. I’m surprised he hasn’t hit for more power in the bigs. From what I’ve seen the behavior issues are a real concern, but he really likes playing baseball, and I think you’re right, in a clubhouse like the one the Braves have, he might flourish.

by cbwilk on Oct 9, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s still got tons of potential, but where’s the progress after two major league seasons? You can imagine him being an impact player in his prime, but that’s five years and 2,000 outs away.

by 17843 on Oct 9, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree about...

Forget Peavy, I think he would end up costing us too much. I think a interesting guy to look at is Edwin Jackson, who I think we could get relatively cheap. I also would like to see the Braves bring Glavine and Hampton back on incentive based deals, as well as Smoltz who I’d put in the pen. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Braves sign Andy Pettitte, though I imagine that would be very unlikely. I think the offseason additions should be short term solutions(a.k.a. old) that bridge the gap to our prospects, plus at midseason we will have Hudson back.

I think Jackson has shown great improvement and at the age of 25 could prove to be a guy who sticks around for a long time while being a quality starter.

My solution for left field would be Burrell, we need a powerful Right-handed bat.

by MatM on Oct 13, 2008 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t be sure about Hudson being back at mid-season.

And Edwin Jackson’s peripherals have taken a step back. If we can get him for relatively little in return he’s worth taking a flyer on and seeing if he’s better than the #5 starter he’s pitched like.

by 17843 on Oct 13, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

TJ surgery generally requires 12-15 months… and unless the Brvaes are in some kind of playoff race in August i see no reason to bring back Hudson early, maybe in September so he can get some innings and get in the swing of things, gain some confidence fro 2010

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Oct 15, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs