Braves Outfield Update
by gondeee on Dec 8, 2008 4:55 PM EST
in Trade News
42 comments
From Mark Bowman at MLB.com about the Atlanta Braves search for a left-fielder via trade:
The Braves are still looking at a number of power-hitting outfielders that they could land via trade. Three of the players currently on their radar are Rick Ankiel, Corey Hart and Jeremy Hermida.
It doesn't appear the Braves still have much interest in Ryan Ludwick. But they may talk to the Cardinals about Ankiel, whose drawback stems from the fact that he's a Scott Boras client who will be eligible for free agency at the end of the 2009 season.
The Braves likely wouldn't have to give up as much to get Ankiel as they would to land Hart, who will be arbitration-eligible for the next three seasons. There have been whispers that the Brewers may choose to trade Hart to slash some money from the payroll.
It doesn't seem like the Braves would have to give the Marlins a lot to get Hermida. But it appears they are more currently more interested in Hart and Ankiel.
Hummm.... a lot of new stuff to process there. Here are the stats from last year for the guys mentioned:
Can I have none of the above. Maybe these are just backup plans to backup plans. Hermida interests me a bit, and he's likely the most familiar to the Braves (and he did go to the same high school that I attended in Marietta). We would have to believe that he could improve beyond what he's already shown in the majors.
If we can get one of these guys without giving up too much, then that's a different story -- it's all about investment verses return. But I really don't think we need another "project" on our team next year, we already have plenty of those.
0 recs |
42 comments
Email
Print
Comments
I like Corey Hart. He had a rough september, but he is still a 20-20 guy with room to grow.
by gopherbroke on Dec 8, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
http://www.talkingchop.com/mlb/players/l.mlb.com-p.5944
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
by royhobbs on Dec 8, 2008 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Seriously…it makes too much sense.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 8, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Silly...
He’s not right-handed!
;)
- Oh, Bobby. -
by sdp on Dec 8, 2008 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
My apologies. How bout Jeff Conine?
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 8, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
never heard of him
"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 Dec 8, 2008 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I really don’t consider any of them projects. Hermida is injury prone but does have a lot of upside. IF he could stay healthy he should become a good player. You know what you get with Ankiel, good arm, a sketchy fielding center fielder, and a homerun bat without the average. Hart might be the most intriguing, When he came up as a rookie, he played very well. High average, steals, and power. He could be a gamble that pays off. I think all of the three are good options as long as the price is reasonable.
by smscardinals1 on Dec 8, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
None of the above?
Are you kidding me? You can make a case that all 3 are better than anything currently on the ML roster in terms of the OF.
Ankiel is intriguing, but he will be a FA, so on that one, I would pass.
Hart is a big RH bat. He had 2 terrible slumps last year. But he’s a decent hitter with pop. He doesn’t walk much, so he’d fit right in:P All kidding aside, I’d be ecstatic if they acquired Hart.
Hermida is another guy I’d like. A guy who just can’t seem to stay out of his own way. I think leaving the cavern that is the Marlins ballpark, he’d be a nice fit.
These are 3 guys that may not win the East alone, but certainly go a long way to improving the offense on the club.
And the key thing, relatively speaking, none are that expensive. And 2 are controllable for a few years.
by NorCalAtlFan on Dec 8, 2008 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The problem is that he did walk a decent amount in 2007, but seeing him drop from taking a walk in roughly 7% of his PAs to 4% in 2008 is a problem.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 8, 2008 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta have Hart!
I love Corey Hart and the thought of him being a Brave made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He’s a 20-20 guy, and you can almost bet you’ll see an average at or north of .275 with good potential for a couple of .300 seasons. He’s young, strong, and a hard worker, plus he brings much, much, much needed speed to the Braves – he’s def my pick out of those three!
by RonGantFan on Dec 8, 2008 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dude had a .300 OBP last year…lets not get too excited.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 8, 2008 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and speed isnt that big of an issue for a team that traditionally doesnt steal a lot
"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 Dec 8, 2008 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
who needs speed when you have the RAW BASESTEALING ABILITY of brian mccann?
I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.
by bigjoe on Dec 8, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If you don’t factor in leverage (because I don’t know how to), McCann’s 5 steals and 0 CS is worth about 1.25 runs. B.J. Upton’s 44 steals and 16 CS is worth about 1.04 runs. You heard it here first: BRIAN MCCANN IS A BETTER BASE STEALER THAN B.J. UPTON
by VictorW on Dec 8, 2008 10:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
you are SUCH a nerd. high five
I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.
by bigjoe on Dec 8, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i am totally using that stat everywhere i go
"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 Dec 9, 2008 12:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I really wish
We could just sign a free agent bat, and not give up anything. But while I’m at it, I’d like a pony too.
by someguy917 on Dec 8, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m a big fan of Cory Hart and I’d like to see the Braves pick him up. But, that’s dependent on what they have to give up. Of course, getting a young power hitter would be nice.
And the Braves have wanted Hermida since he was drafted. I think he was 14th overall or thereabouts and the Braves were down at like 27 and they ended up settling on Francoeur. Joking, wasn’t settling at all…at the time. That’d be my fear in getting Hermida though, you’d end up with an injury prone, left handed version of Frenchy.
by cbwilk on Dec 8, 2008 5:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Francoeur
The Braves drafted at #22 that season and the only reason that Francoeur fell to the Braves was the concern that he would just go to Clemson and play D-1 football. Teams thought it would take a big signing bonus to get him to sign and it did to the tone of 2.2 million.
by mauck98 on Dec 8, 2008 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep, all true. Thanks for getting the facts that I was too lazy to look up.
by cbwilk on Dec 8, 2008 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hart would be awesome
I agree with most everyone. Hart would be great depending on the price.
by Dandrews on Dec 8, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Which Corey Hart are we talking about?
Because the one from 2007 is fine like wine. You have to hope that you aren’t getting the one who walked in roughly 4% of his PAs last year.
I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.
by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 8, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. But with a good hitting coach, he should to improve some. What’s that you say? TP is still here? F*ck. Nevermind:(
by NorCalAtlFan on Dec 8, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
MLB Network
Anyone hear about the MLB Network thing they were showing on mlb.com? Looks hype as balls
by SayHeyWerd on Dec 8, 2008 5:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
no prospects for LH hitting OFs please
With so many established lefty sluggers out there and coming down in price every day as economic realities begin to sink in, I oppose giving up prospects in trade for an Ankiel, who would be another Boras rental disaster.
The corner OF job is really only a hole until Jason Heyward is ready. We shouldn’t mortgage our future to fill seats in 2009, or because of pre-mature pessimism on Jeff Francoeur. I’d be happy taking a shot with a relatively inexpensive free agent like Juan Rivera in left field in 2009, and expect to contend in 2010 or whenever Heyward begins producing in the majors.
If someone like Hart is available for our spare parts — guys like Prado, Brandon Jones, Anderson, Blanco, Parr, or Boyer, then by all means grab him. But shoo opposing GMs away from our promising AA lefty starters, or guys like Schafer or Kelly Johnson who still have a higher ceiling to hit.
by JimK on Dec 8, 2008 5:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
What’s your expectation for when Heyward will be ready for the majors? He’s going to be at Myrtle Beach in 2009 and the Braves typically leave guys at the A ball level there for the whole season (unless it’s a very short promotion, like the one Heyward got this season). So then, if all goes to plan, he starts 2010 in AA and yes, he has a realistic chance of getting called up to the majors, but the better high end guess is that he splits the year between AA and AAA. So even with that very positive projection, he’s making his debut in September of 2010 and then probably has a job in 2011.
That’s all assuming everything goes to plan, actually slightly ahead of plan. It’s likely Heward won’t be ready for a full time Major League job until 2012, as a 22 year old rookie. Under that scenario you have at least three seasons before he’s ready. Never mind that our centerfield is precarious, though hopefully Jordan Schafer can lock it down before the end of the year, and Francoeur is on thin ice in right field.
The idea of blocking a prospect is silly unless the guy is actually major league ready. There’s no reason not to acquire a player because you might create a logjam in three years; things will solve themselves.
by cbwilk on Dec 8, 2008 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think the idea is not to waste $ and/or prospects on 5 years of declining production for a FA outfielder. I think signing Dunn for 3 years would be the ideal situation, and trying to trade for a young pitcher, e.g. Matt Cain or Chad Billingsley – not saying they’re available, but I’d rather do that than waste talent on Ryan Ludwick. If you’re going to give up prospects, it should be to get controllable talent.
by buzzdeadwax on Dec 8, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I would take Hart in a second, provided he doesn’t cost too much. Ankiel I would pass on. Hermida would cost a shit-ton considering a) several teams have inquired about him, and b) the Marlins won’t want to trade within the division unless the trade is very much in their favor.
And of course there’s our good friend Adam Dunn…
by coldriver10 on Dec 8, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Marlins/Nats deal from awhile back
involving Olsen/Willingham descredits your b) hypothesis. And Hermida isn’t any good, anyway… the only logic I see in targeting him is the fact that he’s from Atlanta. That way we can have too hometown bums manning the corner outfield spots.
by get swoll yunel on Dec 8, 2008 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wear sunglasses at night...
That is all.
by Hizilla on Dec 8, 2008 6:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hermida would be a decent buy low proposition. Controlling Ankiel for one year is the major downside.
by 17843 on Dec 8, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I thought we were looking for power. Someone to hit between chipper and McCann
I say no to all unless we give up scraps. I’d let Diaz start in left before Hermida and I consider Diaz a scrap. I mean hermidas got upside but is this serious. Hart is the best of all of them but he’s still not what we need. We need a damn fast mother fucker to lead off. Don’t care what position he plays at. We need one guy to hit 35+ HR’s and we need starting pitchers.
None of those guys bring that to the table. I think you guys are just excited to hear a new rumor.
by Charmin519 on Dec 8, 2008 6:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We need a damn fast mother fucker to lead off…We need one guy to hit 35+ HR’s and we need starting pitchers.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
There isn’t a DFMF to lead off available right now that I know of. The guys out there who might hit 35+ HR’s are Dunn (a lefty, we want a righty), Dye (apparently, we’re not talking about bringing him back), Ludwick (quite possibly a fluke), Ankiel (a Boras client, and if we were gonna deal with him we shoulda kept Tex…ouch it hurts just thinking about it), Hermida/Abreu/Bradley/Ibanez (all of whom make me go, ehhh).
So, given what possibly available in Hart, I’m all for it. I think his 300 OBP was low for him. I see him doing better next year no matter where he is.
by RonGantFan on Dec 8, 2008 6:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hart has a great combination of speed and power. He’s not Juan Pierre fast or Adam Dunn powerful, but he’s a pretty decent combo of the two.
by coldriver10 on Dec 8, 2008 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i will slowly nod at the prospect of jeremy hermida, and even slowlier nod at the prospect of corey hart.
HEY DANNY, remember the corey hart rats from august? that was hilarious
I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.
by bigjoe on Dec 8, 2008 6:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Corey Hart, just so I can sing “Sunglasses at Night” everyday.
by iLukeisamazing on Dec 8, 2008 7:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Anyone else think it's funny that we're looking to acquire one of three sub-.340 OBP corner outfielders?
by BraveBronco0121 on Dec 8, 2008 8:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
we had 2 OF like that last season…i guess with SK gone, wren wants to keep the trend of 2 alive (assuming blanco starts in CF over anderson…if not, HELLO TRIFECTA!!!)
I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.
by bigjoe on Dec 8, 2008 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
