Both Ankiel and Willingham are hitting less than .245, and both would cost Atlanta good prospects in return. Both are mediocre players. Ankiel is a rental who would walk after 2009. It seems to me that history has already taught us not to make trades like this.

Making trades isn’t as easy as it sounds. Fans pick out players in other organizations and pan over them, but nobody knows what those GMs are demanding in return.

It is my personal opinion that Frank Wren has been patient for four reasons:

1) It’s still May.

2) Nobody is running away with the lead in the NL East Division, and the Braves have remained within a couple of games of the leaders.

3) I think it’s pretty clear that Bobby Cox likes Garrett Anderson, and believes he will warm up at the plate.

4) These trades cost prospects. When opposing GMs know your team has a specific weakness that you need to fill, they always try to sell high and give you their least desirable players, undervaluing your best prospects in the conversations.

Wren knows he has a good enough pitching staff to contend, and he also knows the future of the franchise depends on prospects like Hanson, DeVall, Spruill, Hernandez, Heyward, Freeman. I think Wren will showcase a few guys like Medlen, but he isn’t going to cough up the key young guys upon whom the future of the franchise depends. I think we all know there will be some moves to come, but I seriously doubt Wren will do anything foolish. If that means targeting 2010 and 2011 over 2009, it might be the smart move in the long run.

Do you really believe trades are that simple?

Most of you guys are thinking about winning the division. Willingham is not the kind of player that is going to take us to the top. We play in one of the toughest division in baseball ppl. We need a bobber. Jermaine Dye, Ankiel, or even Maggalio. Come guys think big, not small. We have the pitching, just need some real power