Real GM suggests Braves add power hitter.
Specifically a swap of JJ and Nelson Cruz is mentioned. I've been the conductor on this train of thought for months now, and think Cruz would be the perfect fit for us. It's a rare trade that would benefit both teams evenly and immediately.
5 months ago
king of games
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My only question...
… is whether the Rangers would even care to consider another pitcher if (when) they sign Darvish. If they don’t, I think it’s a no-brainer (plus, they’ll go out and sign Fielder). But I truly expect that there’s only a 10% chance that Darvish fails to sign with them.
"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)
Even if they sign Darvish they could use another front-line starter.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Jan 12, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
With Nolan Ryan in Texas they could ALWAYS be after SP
The proposed trade would help both teams immediately. However, I’d be cautious of Nelson’s injuries (same can be said w JJ I suppose) but pitching is worth more and when JJ is healthy he’s a legit #1. Cruz + a young or middling prospect then maybe, but then your back to a logjam. Jhey bounces back, same with prado, and Bourne is Bourne. Wouldn’t be the worst trade, but not my 1st choice either.
Think about it this way though...
If you’re concerned with Nelson’s injuries, that’s why we keep Prado. He can spell Cruz in LF and Chipper at 3B.
by Ace_of_Braves on Jan 12, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
Prado to the bench with Cruz in LF and Teheran/Delgado pitching makes this team better than Prado in LF and JJ starting. At least IMO.
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on Jan 12, 2012 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
this sounds like a great deal to get that "power" bat everyone seems to drool over...
but lets say Atlanta pays Cruz. Bmac’s up for extension soon, so i’d think Chip’s money would offset what Mac will get or close to it. Then they still need solutions for CF and 3B when #10 hangs em up. Well in this brillian scenario of tradeing probably the best trade chip Atlanta has for an expensive slighty older LF just makes NO sense. I get these threads are for “dreams” and killing time… But lets be serious, FW would NEVER do something so INCREDIBLY stupid!! How then does he get the cost controlled CF and/or 3B of the future?? Only one of them 2 positions could possibly be from FA, the other almost CERTAINLY will be from trading JJ…. just my 2 rational cents. Itching for ST to get here now with no football..
Regarding the POWER bat everyone wants...
Most POWER hitters SO about 100+ times a year… Uggla, Jhey, FF, Mac; all have 25-30 HR power in a normal or good season. You don’t find too many teams with 8 or 9 power hitters, and if there was they wouldn’t be successful.. Braves have plenty of power when half the lineup isnt in a career worst slump. To counter that you want guys with speed and contact abilities who DON’T SO too much.. Uggla is/was the RH power bat they needed and got.. Time to just fill holes and avenge the disgrace of 2011..
For next year, Hanson could become that big trade chip
considering his price tag goes up considerably, and we’d still have Hudson, Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Delgado, maybe Vizcaino, or Medlen, and others, and could probably go that Rodrigo Lopez style of cheap vets of the scrap heap for deep depth waiting in AAA.
And next year, you’d have a projected lineup of
C-McCann
1B-Freeman
2B-Uggla
3B-Prado
SS-Pastornicky
RF-Heyward
CF-??? (Bourn, Myke Jones, among other possibles, maybe this is what you target in the Hanson return)
LF-Cruz
With time for Terdoslavich, Milligan, or another to develop and take over LF once Cruz is a free agent that following winter.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 13, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
If Hanson proves healthy
Then absolutely he could be the next trade target. However, last season with JJ and Tommy hurt the SP couldn’t barely get out of the 5th inning. The youngins’ will be great in a yr maybe 2, but then you have Minor, JT, Beach, and Delgado all looking at paydays around the same time. Just not ideal to handle it that way IMO. I feel like I’ve talked this Cruz thing to death so to each his own.
And you'd have Carlos Perez, Sean Gilmartin, Abraham Espinosa, and others ready to slot in...
when those guys start looking for their payday, and the process starts all over again.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
I get that with a budget you have to keep some turnover
Losing multiple SP around the same time, for a 2nd time, and hoping the next group will be studs also is far from a sure thing. You can get a LF for 7MM or so. Look at the playoff teams: Gardner, Ibanez, Craig played well but no superstar, and Tampa and Detriot are escaping me rite now. Look at the Yankees though; Gardner hits for NO power, they should move him then since he’s in left? Or does granderson and cano make up for it? Kinda like Mac and Uggs??
Teheran/Delgado
Both are ready and to some extent, particularly Delgado, have confirmed this.
Both are destined to be top of the rotation guys. That said, with 7 starters,
my guess is if JJ is not traded pre-season, Hanson and Hudson healthy
in April the 2 rookies, with option(s) will get innings at Gwinnett until the
inevitable injury call up.
With Prado able to fill in at 4 positions plus his intensity and likely future at
3rd, I don’t see Wren letting him go.
Wren is in a fairly comfortable place to lay back and see if he can sneak away
with a LF for prospects as ST shakes out and beyond that.
I is what I is and I'm sticking to my story
I could also see, if we can luckily get through May healthy
a deal of JJ to a team with high expectations that loses a starter or two, or has some really struggle for a strong prospect package. Nothing like the Greinke or Latos deals like we’ve wanted, but at least one top 50 guy and another low level lottery ticket.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
JJ isn't a #1, even when healthy
But he’s still a solid pitcher with above-average potential and more than good enough to help the Rangers a lot if the trade was to be made. The big issue with Cruz is that he’s only 31, yet has had played far fewer games than Chipper Jones has in the last five years. Bill James projects Cruz will be in 136 games in 2012, which, if that happens, would be a career high for him. Nonetheless, Cruz, if healthy, is a 130+ wRC+ hitter that can whack 25-30 HRs and put up a .280/.340/.520 line over 130-140 games. I’d trade JJ for the risk of having Cruz, especially since we have adequate backup in Prado. Cruz’s possibly declining defensive abilities shouldn’t be a problem in LF with Bourn next to him.
I do not, however, trade anything more than JJ. I agree that this trade would benefit both teams enough for it to actually make sense, but that hardly means there’s any chance it will actually happen.
by crimsonqueen9 on Jan 12, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
I'd consider throwing in something extra to sweeten the deal...
As long as it wasn’t a top-10 prospect. Maybe a blocked Low-A pitching prospect.
by Ace_of_Braves on Jan 12, 2012 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
Or a DH type bat, since they could use one and we couldn't
like Evan Gattis, Adam Milligan, etc.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
JJ would fit perfect for tex since he's a GB guy
And when healthy hes put up 2.00era and under with most other important stat being twoard the top of the league. I do think JJ is expendable obviously. Prado at utility and Cruz in LF = better team, sure. The issue I would have is that it’ll probably cost a pretty penny too keep Cruz in LF, which takes away $ the team might be able too use In a more important spot or extensions. LF’s can be found. As mentioned its not going to happen anyway so doesn’t matter really
Lee Dae Ho
Why doesn’t ATL have scouts in Korea…we could have tried to get Korean slugger Lee Dae Ho (Korean Albert Puhols) who was a free agent last year who signed in December with Orix Buffaloes? If that article was correct his new 2-year contract is only $9.8 million?
Because maybe because he's the size of a buffalo
I’ve seen Lee play before, and he is not a small guy by any means. He can slug, but not much else. He’s a DH, if he ever makes it the United States. Hell, I imagine he ends up a DH for the Buffaloes, since that league uses the DH.
No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.
You are correct
I have no idea how he every played third base at any level, the man is the size of a house. I think he’s more like the Korean David Ortiz, or even Bob Hamlin if were going solely off appearance. Can rake though.
http://tarpslides-r-us.blogspot.com/
I can see how he handled third base...
…does nobody else remember Bob Horner?
You don’t understand Bob Horner was about 6’1 235 when he put on weight. Lee is listed at 6’4 286. 286 lbs and he played third.
by mwhite on Jan 13, 2012 5:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Another free agent re-signs with his former team.
Some fossil named Selig… 2 yr/$44m or so. Does he play shortstop?
"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)
Not to make a big stink
but did anyone else realize that when the author wrote about the braves rotation last year he wrote
Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Mike Minor, and Derek Lowe made up for one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.
umm… I am pretty sure our fourth starter was a kid named Brandon Beachy, and I am also pretty sure he came close to getting on the ballot for ROY for his performance as said rokie 4th starter. Not to disparage Minor, he is fantastic too, but he was a spot starter. Beachy was the 4th man.
I kind of stopped reading the article after that…
All while Fredi is surrounded by a bunch of orangutans, trying to teach them how to bunt the rocks and coconuts that angry 300 lb gorillas are throwing at them,
by royhobbs on Jul 29, 2011 11:20 AM PDT
Strong Side / Weak Side: Chipper Jones
http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/chipper-jones,8431/
Well I’m glad somebody finally suggested it…
I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-C-B-Wilkins/dp/1449578454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257720610&sr=1-1
www.dropoutproductions.com
Sign Prince Fielder, convert to shortstop
Two birds, one stone.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
Nah, haven't you heard
Freddie Freeman used to play 3rd in high school and has a rocket arm. We’d move him to SS, let Prince play 1st.
http://sportsandgrits.com/
by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 13, 2012 10:00 AM EST up reply actions
rec
The resemblance is amazing
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby
by adc62 on Jan 13, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The bird really likes potato chirps!
/okaythatwasdumb
GATA!
by Jman781 on Jan 13, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The bird passed away last night...
…after Venters nailed it in the back with a 96mph sinking fastball. Reports are it still managed to throw a Godzilla-sized tantrum before finally passing out.
by crimsonqueen9 on Jan 13, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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