Rumors Afoot: Could we Get Andruw Jones Back?

by gondeee on Jul 23, 2008 9:23 AM EDT in Trade News

Here are some rumors being reported by Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus that involve the Braves:

The Rangers were clear winners at last year’s deadline, already seeing a payoff from last year’s deals. They might try again, making smaller deals focused on 2009. They might again have a match with the Braves, dealing one of their extra OF bats — Frank Catalanotto, Marlon Byrd, or even Milton Bradley — for Mike Gonzalez. There hasn’t been much interest in Hank Blalock, but he’s another name that could clear waivers.

I really don't want to get rid of Gonzalez unless we're getting premium young talent back, and none of those guys are (A) premium or (B) young. Unfortunately, this rumor has multiple sources.

Once again, no one seems to know what the Dodgers are doing. Reports that they’re showcasing Andy LaRoche and discussing Matt Kemp in deals are balanced against discussions involving Jack Wilson on the low end and Mark Teixeira on the high end. A rumor has been making the rounds that the Dodgers would be willing to eat some of Andruw Jones‘ deal and send him back as part of a package for Teixeira were shot down by both sides.

So, no one knows what the Dodgers are doing, but there's the rumor nonetheless. I shudder to think why in the world we would want Andruw Jones back. Hasn't he proven (both this year and last year ) that he's not the player he used to be? No mention of James Loney, but my guess is he's the guy the Braves would want.

UPDATE 12:00PM 07-23-08

Braves beat writer Mark Bowman responds to Will Carroll's speculation about the Braves trading Gonzalez to Texas:

Reacting to that rumor on Wednesday morning, one Braves official said, "Gonzalez will not be traded before the deadline or during this off-season unless Texas offers us Josh Hamilton."

I'd take that... Josh Hamilton is a real hero. <gondeee vomits a bit in his mouth>

Bowman also has this to say about Will Ohman, possibly our most tradable player at the moment:

Interest in Ohman has picked up recently. The Braves are looking for something greater than the Type B compensation they'd receive if they were to offer him arbitration and lose him to free agency this year.

I still think Ohman has more value if he's packaged with Teixeira, so maybe they'll wait until near the deadline to make any deals. I also think Ohman's value goes up once Brian Fuentes gets dealt. The teams who lost out on him may get desperate and up their price on a guy like Ohman.

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Comments

If we trade away Gonzalez

I think I’ll shoot myself. We don’t need to be going back into the dark ages of Kolb, Reitsma and Wickman, no matter the cost. Despite what certain GMs believe, competent closers don’t just grow on trees, and Gonzalez is no small sample.

I’d rather this be a bait-and-switch situation, and get some team wet over Soriano instead. I may be the only one, but I think he’s on his Dr. James Andrews season before the source of his mystery soreness will be revealed to be some ligament tear somewhere, resulting in a TJ season. I’d rather someone else deal with that nonsense than us.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 10:09 AM EDT 0 recs

I we trade Gonzo I’ll shoot Smoltz’s Beard. Mostly because I’m not much of a masochist.

by yondaime4 on Jul 23, 2008 11:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

I hope you mean me, because if you shoot the real John Smoltz in the beard you better start running.

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 Jul 23, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

Would bullets

penetrate the actual beard?

My guess is no.

So running would not help.

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Where Chuck Norris has another fist, John Smoltz just has more fastballs. I would run and baseballs would come flying at me at 95MPH

by yondaime4 on Jul 23, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes! More Fastballs!

John Smoltz puts his pants on just like you, 1 leg at a time.

The difference is that once John Smoltz gets his pants on, John Smoltz throws 95mph fastballs!

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

There was this great radio spot

That John Smoltz did a few years ago…

“I’m just like everybody else. I get annoyed when people talk doing a movie too. When I get annoying at a talker, I do what everyone else does. I throw candy at them …

... at 98 miles per hour.“

I don’t even remember what he was sponsoring, but damn was that a great commercial. No, it wasn’t the one for Haim Habib, his friend in the jeweler business, either.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sweeeeet!

by Lizziebeth on Jul 23, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Haha, that sounds hilarious. Living outside of DC has left me devoid of any Smoltz-related commercials except for the weak Home Depot ones.

Someone on here mentioned a Smoltz commercial in which some company was trying to talk him into shaving their logo into his beard…that I need to see!

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 Jul 23, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

That was me

and it was on the radio…..

by secondbass on Jul 23, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Express Oil Change and Tune Up Clinic, I believe. I usually hear the ads every morning on WSB 750AM.
Sorry if I’m wrong, somebody just stuck a searing hot poker in my eye at work…(at least that’s what it seems like).

by Lizziebeth on Jul 23, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah...

those are right, I think.

by secondbass on Jul 23, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Matter of fact..

It’s for tire and lube express, and they’re always supposedly trying to talk him into doing strange things, like ‘get to be John Smoltz’s catcher for a game with every oil change’, or whatever. They’re quite funny….

by secondbass on Jul 23, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Radio? Seriously?

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 Jul 23, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Has

Dmitri Young, or Lastings Milledge started endorsing Eastern Motors yet?

“Y’JOBS YO CREDIT”

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I can't resist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzS9SxDLFlk

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 5:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good lord, those are terrible commercials…althought I find Portis hysterical.

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 Jul 23, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not that I’ve seen…just Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Antwan Randal El, and the late Sean Taylor.

Oh, and this guy…

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 Jul 23, 2008 5:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's only a matter of time

We need a poll to see who will get Motor’d first:

Dmeathook, Dukes, or Milledge

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

You never know…maybe they’ll throw us a curve and get Pete Orr to star.

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 Jul 23, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Never question John Smoltz!

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 Jul 23, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gonzalez isn’t untouchable in the truest sense of the word, but he’s pretty damn close.

by VegasAces on Jul 23, 2008 10:12 AM EDT 0 recs

If we trade Gonzalez in one deal and trade for Andruw Jones in another deal…well…I don’t know what I’ll do…

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 Jul 23, 2008 10:14 AM EDT 0 recs

I might start following the Nationals

Do we still get to pick up Andruw’s $19 million option next year?

by TradeAndruw on Jul 23, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up 0 recs

Did just typing that

make you throw up in your mouth a little?

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

That was meant for Beard

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Basically…I tried to come up with something clever and funny to say, but I just got a little sick to my stomach instead.

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 Jul 23, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

I love Gonzo

Those Texas players are garbage. I’d want Neftali Feliz back in any Gonzo package. Can’t we move some of our other bullpen options?

by TradeAndruw on Jul 23, 2008 10:52 AM EDT 0 recs

Bradley is good, but he isn’t young…as stated…and he can really only play LF…and probably poorly. Still, he’s one hell of a hitter.

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 Jul 23, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

Is it just me

Or does the career path of Milton Bradley remind anyone else of Kenny Lofton?

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

Haha, you mean playing on multiple teams over the years?

Bradley (9 seasons): Montreal, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Texas

Lofton (17 seasons): Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco, Chicago, Pitsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Texas

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 Jul 23, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

Basically

I’m just waiting for Bradley to go back to Cleveland, to take the place of Travis Hafner.

They need a special wing in the HOF for guys like Bradley and Lofton: their hat can be this:

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Haha…classic

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 Jul 23, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's depressing just to think about......

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 11:02 AM EDT 0 recs

Garbage

I don’t think there’s any way that we get what Gonzo is worth back in a trade because of his injury history. Besides, getting what was reported there are definitely win NOW moves, and if we trade Gonzalez that is exactly OPPOSITE of what our mentality would be. If we’re trading from the bullpen, then we’ve given up on the season.

Also, Mark Bowman offers a rebuttal here: http://trades.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/07/gonzo_not_on_braves_selling_li.html

Key quote by Braves official: “Gonzalez will not be traded before the deadline or during this off-season unless Texas offers us Josh Hamilton.” ... Do eet!

And there’s no effin way we take back Andruw. Well, I take that back. They can include Kershaw and we might be willing to make a deal… :)

by soup du jour on Jul 23, 2008 11:45 AM EDT 0 recs

Adam LaRoche for Josh Hamilton…that’d be the day.

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 Jul 23, 2008 1:00 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Update

Alfonso Soriano: “I would love to spend the rest of my career in Washington.”
/departs to the highest bidder via free agency

Andruw Jones: “I would stay in Atlanta if they make a fair offer.”
/departs to the highest bidder via free agency

Pedro Martinez: “My heart is in Boston.”
/departs to the Mets via free agency

Rafael Palmeiro: “I did not take steroids.”
/took steroids

Jonathan Papelbon: “I am better than Mariano Rivera”
/is not better than Mariano Rivera
is not actual quote, but clearly believes it

Manny Ramirez: “I love/hate Boston”
/Manny being manny whatever the eff that means

Wilson Betemit: /hits game winning homer for Braves
/traded to Dodgers 42 seconds after game ends for Danys Baez

Braves official: “We will not trade Kyle Davies for Octavio Dotel.”
/trades Kyle Davies for Octavio Dotel

The point of all this? Anything is possible, no matter what is said, done, or heard. Nothting is likely, unlikely or impossible, and no player is untouchable. Just because some official said that Gonzalez will not be traded for anything less than GI Josh the Real American Crack Smoking Hero, doesn’t mean a thing. Watch us get Gerald Laird, Cattalanotto, and some minor league scrubs for Gonzalez. Anything, is possible, reiterate. Sit back and enjoy the show, because it’ll be entertaining until July 31, 4:01 p.m. EST.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 1:50 PM EDT 0 recs

A question.

Is the bit of resentment that I detect from you and gondeee about Josh Hamilton due to the fact that you really don’t want him on the team or the fact that the media is constantly sucking him and his achy breaky story off? Just a bit curious, is all.

by soup du jour on Jul 23, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ding

As a player, I’d give a kidney to have him slugging away for us. But the person, the media is going way overboard with his yes, admirable comeback, but are essentially cramming down our throats that he’s some sort of hero for overcoming a sordid past that could’ve been pretty easily avoided by being able to say “no” at a point where he was already on the cusp of being the next big thing.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

And as such, this is why I hate the media. When I was in high school, I used to watch SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight like I was, well, addicted. Then I grew up and realized what was going on. Yet, I am still as informed, probably more so, because of the internets. Even video on demand highlights – I can get everything I need from the computer, and skip over the worthless crap that I have no interest in watching/hearing.

I like Josh Hamilton, and respect what he has done, as much as anyone else. But that being said, even I am getting sick of hearing about him.

And he is not a hero. Are we so far removed from 9/11 that we are already forgetting what that word really means? I sure hope not.

by VegasAces on Jul 23, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Baseball Tonight

I can remember a time when that show was it – if I’da had tivo back then, it would have been FULL of Baseball Tonight. Now, I never watch it – and I mean absolutely never. Waiting around for 18 seconds worth of Braves coverage just doesn’t get it.

And Sports Center – I dropped it many, many years ago. Not only do they ignore the Braves, but baseball in general takes a back seat. I can remember when the X games started up (which I’m sure some here love – I don’t). Anyway, they’d give air time to all these made up sports and marginalize baseball like it was the red-headed stepchild. And when collecge football starts up, which I also can’t stand, well baseball may as well not exist. Hate Sports Center!

I just got up from a nap – in the mood to gripe!

by secondbass on Jul 23, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

Are those shows still on TV?

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

ESPN

I watch less and less and less of it, as time progresses. It’s so stale. The same names and faces dominate and permeate throughout the entire network(s), and they’re just too big for their own good. I don’t even know why NESN exists, considering between FOX, TBS, and ESPN, 70% of Boston Red Sox games are televised nationally. The combination of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan are vomit-inducing, and I’m always thankful when a ESPN Braves telecast is blacked out because I’m local, and can enjoy Boog and Butthead instead.

Their personalities all suck, from Stephen A. Smith all the way to Jim Rome, their afternoon programming is all lame, subjective, and not informative, and I agree that baseball takes way too much of a backseat to everything else. Baseball starts when the afterglow of the NCAA tournament is still lingering, and the NBA playoffs embarks on “Forty games in Forty nights wtf”, putting baseball as second fiddle. Baseball goes on, but the moment college football and then the NFL starts, the MLB playoffs vanish, unless the Boston Red Sox are doing something.

And don’t get me started on Poker. It’s bad enough fat American League pitchers can be called athletes.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 23, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

To be honest...

I enjoy PTI. But that’s about it. Its really become more about the person who’s announcing the sports rather than the sports itself. Of course, ESPN probably knows that. We can get box scores/video highlights all the time on the internet, so they try to sell their announcers rather than sports coverage. They’re afraid of going the way of paper news.

by soup du jour on Jul 23, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

you’re right, PTI is good. I love the banter between cornheiser and wilbon, but they never have both of them on at the same time anymore.

by yondaime4 on Jul 23, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

PTI's alright

But the fact that they don’t cover anything for more than 60 seconds or five good minutes of Brett Favre every time, I’d like it a lot more. I’m from D.C., so I’m used to Wilbon, and his more sympathetic approach to journalism, but Kornehiser irritates me. Double, since he got his Monday Night Football stint – journalist, he’s okay, but he’s far from a television personality, let alone a credible commentator.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 24, 2008 9:21 AM EDT up 0 recs

You mean you don’t want to find out what ground-breaking new info Eric Young and Fernando Vina has to say!?

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 Jul 23, 2008 4:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

And I kinda miss

the whole “Who’s Now” contest.

That right thur was quality sports television.

by gramsey712 on Jul 23, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

don’t get me started on former athletes and their ‘journalism.’ Howard Cosell should be rolling in his grave over the travesty that ESPN has made of real sports journalism. I mean seriously, what does it take to get on one their shows? Big boobs or one good season in a professional sport.

by yondaime4 on Jul 23, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

ok so Cosell was more of a commentator than a journalist, but substitute someone substantial in there.

by yondaime4 on Jul 23, 2008 5:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Former Athletes

Either you’re smart like Tiki Barber, or you’re entertaining, like Shannon Sharpe. There is no middle ground; know how to drop science and inform the viewer, or know how to bust great one-liners, and stir up crap with the active players.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 24, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

I don't want to hear ....

Eric Young say anything, because his voice makes my hair stand on end.

by sddbaker on Jul 23, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

I second that

Eric Young’s voice is pretty creepy…kinda like Michael Jackson creepy.

Fernando Vina is really painful to watch.

A-hem, and one former Braves named Ron Gant…not that good either.

by Sparhawk on Jul 23, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

But Ron Gant

has spoken to every Braves player in the locker room before the game and told them how to fix what’s wrong with em!

He’ll tell you all about it! Every inning!!

by gramsey712 on Jul 24, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1 for the Raffy reference.

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 Jul 23, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

+10

Quality post my man, quality.

by gondeee on Jul 23, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

a bit random but...

why do we need to acquire a first baseman if we trade Mark Texiera? Why can’t we figure that out this offseason? Frank Wren should be looking for the best possible trade package possible. If James Loney or Casey Kotchman isn’t included, then so be it. If the Dodgers will only offer Andy Laroche/James McDonald and the Angels will only offer Brandon Wood/Nick Adenhart or Jordan Walden, then so be it. I’d say both of those packages are better than two picks…..ESPECIALLY considering the risk we take by leaving it up to a Boras client signing somewhere. Tex could very well go to the O’s and cost the Braves a first rounder.

by NEBravesFan33 on Jul 23, 2008 4:57 PM EDT 0 recs

i say we trade frank wren for john schuerholz

by bravesguy95 on Jul 23, 2008 5:23 PM EDT 0 recs

oh yeah and bring back mazzone

by bravesguy95 on Jul 23, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

No thanks…Mazzone’s stint in Baltimore proved that most of the acclaim he received was due to three certain pitchers.

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 Jul 23, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah

Anyone who fails in Baltimore should not be a coach, manager, or general manager on the Braves….. er, wait, oops.

by gondeee on Jul 23, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

I would rather have

I would love for Smoltz to become our pitching coach eventually….

by Sparhawk on Jul 23, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

He practically already is

You think Bobby wants him around just because he’s good karma? No. He wants him to drop some pointers and suggestions to the younger guys. Case in point – Blaine Boyer. Boyer said that Smoltzie watched him pitch and noticed a small mechanical inconsistency, and pointed it out to him which he’s worked on – if you haven’t noticed, Boyer’s been sucking a lot less lately than how the season began. Back right after when Leo left, a lot of younger guys like Horacio Ramirez and Kyle Davies admitted to the better pointers they got from Smoltz and that oft-injured lefty than they did Leo, because neither of them fit into the “template” that was either Glavine, Smoltz or Maddux.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jul 24, 2008 9:18 AM EDT up 0 recs