“Do it right, do it light.” These were the words we said back in the day working out for football in the weight room. What does this mean? When someone would get caught doing say 8 squats instead of 10 the whole team would be punished by running sprints. In other words do it right the first time so you don’t have to pay for it later. This is how I feel about the Braves current trade predicament. Do we trade for a low-risk low-production hitter, or do we use the assets we have worked so hard to accumulate over the past few years to get an impact player.

The answer? Go big or go home. The Braves have the third deepest farm system in the league behind the Rays and Royals. What separates us from them is we are already a very talented team. 

Here is what I propose. Trade for Dodger’s center fielder Matt Kemp. Here’s why.

Since Andruw Jones’ last great year for the Braves in 2006 the center field position has been a reputable black hole. Since then we have had Willie Harris, Mark Kotsay, Josh Anderson, Gregor Blanco, Nate McLouth, Rick Ankiel, and Jordan Schafer post unimpressive numbers in center field. The last thing we need is a corner outfielder, and assuming that we can just plug someone who has never played CF into CF is reckless and naive (i.e. Jason Heyward and Hunter Pence). If we were to acquire Kemp we would have an offensive monster in every sense of the word in CF for the next year and a half (barring extension). There has been much said about his attitude and and maturity. But it obviously looks like he has turned the corner. From all accounts the likely cause for his lack of production last year (if you call .250, 30 homers, 90 RBI’s, and 20 stolen bases a bad year) was his highly publicized break up with pop singer Rihanna. Broken hearts heal and it looks like he has moved on.

It would take a lot to get Matt Kemp. We would be looking at another Mark Teixiera trade in the making, but it would be worth every penny. When trading a substantial amount of prospects you need to make sure you don’t wipe out an entire wave of prospects. It is also a good thing to trade prospects being blocked by players in the majors. The other thing you need to realize is you have to give to receive. This is what I believe it would take to get Kemp: Mike Minor, Randall Delgado, Christian Bethancourt, Matt Lipka, Jordan Schafer and maybe a throw in. 

It sounds like a lot because it is. But it still leaves us guys like Brandon Beachy, Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizciano, Paul Clemens, Edward Salcedo, Andrelton Simmons, Tyler Pastornicky and a host of others (and that doesn’t include the guys we develop from this year’s draft.) 

When people ask why me why should we make a big trade like this I say “because we can.” Face it, there is no such thing as an eight man rotation. We have the assets to get the best man for the job with out wiping out the farm system. I don’t understand why we should settIe for anything less. I understand the reluctancy to unload all these great prospects, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Trading for guys who have solid numbers will only leave us with the same problems this time next year. Do it right the first time and we won’t have to.

What do you think?