Braves Expect Trades

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien talked to Braves GM Frank Wren, and he learned that Wren expects to "make a deal or two."

DOB says the Braves are looking to add a proven bench bat.  They can spare an out of options reliever from the group of Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop, Tyler Yates, and Royce Ring.  O'Brien sees Yates as the one to go.  Catcher Brayan Pena and first baseman Scott Thorman are other possible trade chips.

As for who's coming to Atlanta, O'Brien pretty much ruled out Reed Johnson and Robert Fick.  He considers Wes Helms a possibility.  The Orioles and Giants are two teams with veterans to spare, though most are of the overpriced variety. 

Comments

[daslied]

Criminy, just sign Piazza. He's only a type B, and can possibly still squat.

[Mace27]

How about Tyler Yates to Detroit for Timo Perez?

[Boswa73]

Aurilia could be a fit...he's not as expensive as some of the other Giants veterans and can play any infield position. I wonder if they'd look into a free agent like Tony Graffanino for the bench

[TigerFan54]

Yates for Timo Perez would be great for DET.

[Bravesfan89]

^ Yeah, that isn't going to happen. Thames for Yates and Ring would be a better deal for BOTH teams. Agree?

[FineHamAbounds]

"Criminy, just sign Piazza. He's only a type B, and can possibly still squat."

You know, that's not a half-bad idea. He's a power threat off the bench, and can backup 1B and C in a pinch.

[FineHamAbounds]

Oh, and he wouldn't cost much at all.

[bravesbeast]

Well, if the braves are considering wes helms, the obvious asking price for teh phillies would be a lefty reliever, and I just do not see the braves trying to help out the phillies, as a lefty reliever for them would probably add more value to their team than helms would do for us. I would not mind rich aurilia by any means, but do think we could do better.

If the braves are trading yates or any reliever to the tigers, it would probably be for marcus thames. Timo Perez seems to be a same type of player as josh anderson or gregor blanco, so just seems to be an overkill trade for the braves. You have to again hope that wren will try to explore the options of Matt Murton, Juan Rivera, or maybe even Nady if we can afford him.

[FineHamAbounds]

As silly as it sounds, the Giants probably don't want to part with Aurilia... he's almost their best hitter, and they need him to play 1st and 3rd.

[Boswa73]

Aurilia is top of the depth chart at 3rd base but it could depend on whether how highly they view Frandsen (I don't know the answer to that question). Thorman could be part of the deal on the Braves end if they are looking for someone to play first base. I wonder if the Giants would go for a Thorman/Ring for Aurilia/Kline deal

[bravesbeast]

Why would the braves want to take on kline's contract when they already have two other lefties (Ridgeway and Ohman) and Gonzo coming back in June? That makes little sense. Now, Aurilla would be a nice addition. However, I would like Ryan Raburn from the tigers instead, he has more upside being a younger player, and he also can play the outfiled as well as third. I would even take him over thames perhaps, even though i would take either or when it comes to yates.

[TigerFan54]

Raburn seems too valuable as a multipositional player for the Tigers to give up for bullpen help. I'm sure that they would rather take someone cut when the season begins than trade him away.

[Boswa73]

bravesbeat, Ridgway will not be on the roster come opening day anyway. Kline makes less than $2MM in 2008...that's not a major contract. With the big lefties in the NL East (Howard, Utley, Beltran, Delgado, others), the Braves could use another lefty until Gonzo comes back in June

[scatterbrian]

it may be a stretch calling Dan Johnson proven, but he's definitely cheap and available.

[bravesbeast]

Acutally Boswa, it is still up in the air. Ridgeway has been the better performer, and if the braves do trade royce ring, he more than likely will make the team. However, it the case the braves do not keep him on the roster, they are not looking to trade one out of option lefty for another. They have Ohman to face all those hitters, and again gonzo is coming back, so another lefty reliever is not really a need. We want a right handed bench power bat, and Thames is more the answer to that.

TigerFan, Raburn is wishful thinking. I figured it would probably take ring and yates both to get him. I figure we will get our bench hitter out of one of our arms, and raburn is about as ideal as a player can be to fill our needs.

[TigerFan54]

I seriously doubt that we would trade for both Ring and Yates. Raburn seems to be a great bench player, especially if Inge gets traded. I would much rather trade Thames, because we have a decent backup in AAA.

[bravesbeast]

As to which i can understand completely. Thames would be ok, but the braves do have outfield depth. Raburn again just seemed ideal, but maybe that is why he is too valuable to give away.

[jacklaf]

do the tigers see raburn as having more value than thames though? from what i've heard about him, i would love to have raburn in atl, but i wouldn't mind thames either, and given their respective statuses on the tigers' depth chart, i would think it would take more to land thames. perhaps detroit does realize how valuable raburn is and would ask for more for him...

[TigerFan54]

From my point of view, the reason we traded Omar Infante this offseason was to make room for Raburn because he is ideal in many backup spots and actually has a decent bat.
I know a lot of people like Thames, but supersubs like Raburn are harder to find.

[Boswa73]

Bravesbeast, I haven't seen a single thing to suggest that Ridgway will make the opening day roster. And he hasn't been the better performer, especially after the collapse he had today. And my idea was for Kline/Aurilia, which would bring a "power" bench bat who also offers some versatility in the infield...it makes more sense than you want to let on...and it wouldn't be a given that Ridgway makes the team if Ring is traded (though Ring seems to have the best chance of clearing waivers, so Yates, Boyer or Resop seem to be faves to get traded)...Ridgway COULD make the team to start the year but he was actually acquired for depth at the AAA level.

[bravesbeast]

Actually you are again wrong, as RidgeWay had fewer walks, a lower WHIP, and a lower ERA before today's collapse. He has also displayed more control, so you need not let his one outing to today cloud the rest of his productivity this spring.

And regardless, your offer still makes no sense, because you seem to be not understanding the fact that the braves already have Ohman, and even if they were to go with one lefty, gonzalez will be back by June, so then Kline will be of no need to us. The reason you have not seen anything about ridgeway not making the team is because ring has not been traded, and therefore Ridgeway would be sent down to the minors first because he is the only one with options. If the braves were to trade ring and the we wanted two lefties, it is OBVIOUS ridgeway would be the second lefty until Gonzalez comes back.

Let's quit harping on your deal, which makes no sense, and actually use some common sense to understand the braves are not going to use their surplus of relievers to bring in more relievers, unless those relievers are of higher value to our team, and kline really has not value to our team. Thanks.

[bravesbeast]

make that you have not seen any headlines of ridgeway making the team

[bravesbeast]

However, I will acknowledge that today could have ended Ridgeway's chances, but as you yourself said, he is still depth to have, so the braves already have depth in lefty relievers, they do not reallly need any other options at that position.

[Boswa73]

Ridgway would have had to be lights out all Spring to have a shot at making the roster out of camp. They are much more likely to keep one of the out of option guys on the roster than Ridgway, since he has options. And they may have depth in lefty relievers, but there is very little experience, so why not trade youth to an old team to gain that experience while still gaining a bench bat...I never said it would happen or should happen but it makes more sense than you want to let on, son...

[scribbletone]

I think Dan Johnson is definately a smart idea for Atlanta. He is a pretty good hitter, but is buried in Oakland behind Daric Barton and Mike Sweeney. He'll never get any at bats there unless they are trying to showcase him for a trade. I'm just not quite sure that the Athletics would be terribly interested in what Atlanta has to offer. My question is this: If the Braves were already making a deal for Kotsay and were willing to give up Devine, then why not ask for Dan Johnson in the deal as well, even if it means taking back a little more salary or something?

And I seriously doubt that the Tigers move Ryan Raburn. He's a key cog in their bench, and I think they would more readily move Marcus Thames because of his lack of versatility.

[bravesbeast]

It makes more sense to you because for some reason you are having a hard time understand the braves current situation.

Very Little Experience? Ohman has been around for 3 or 4 years, and Gonzalez had been dominant for nearly 3 and a half before his injury. I think that is plenty of experience to bank on, with Ridge as a nice compliment in terms of depth. Why have an overkill in an area where you already have effective pieces, yet you use in just a small amount? And why acquire a piece in Kline that you will have to move in two months once gonzalez comes backs?

As for sending Ridgeway to the minors and keeping out of options guys, i already mention that point in a previous post.

Stop trying to correct my statements when you are having a hard time of validating your own. We need to use our bullpen depth to give us a strength on our bench, not to get more bullpen pieces that gives no value at all. Aurilla is a nice option, but Kline is just too much of a headache, and is not really a need of Atlanta's, little boy....

[Boswa73]

scribble, for the Devine deal, I don't think the Braves were looking at Johnson because they were hoping Thorman would impress in Spring Training. Obviously, he hasn't, at least not to the point where he could be viewed as a valuable backup or power bat off the bench.

[bravesbeast]

i really do not think the braves want to upgrade on scott thorman, as they want to use thorman to go and get a more proven benchh bat, and dan johnson is not really than more proven than thorman

[bravesbeast]

Johnson and Thorman are mostly a wash, so it really would not make sense or add value to the braves

[Boswa73]

I wasn't referring to Ohman or Gonzalez not having experience. I was talking about Ring and Ridgway...and as far as acquiring Kline, what if Gonzo doesn't come back strong? Then you're stuck with Ridgway who has done nothing but embarrass himself at the major league level...I understand the Braves' situation just fine thanks...experience gives you insurance if Gonzo doesn't come back as planned...A lack of insurance policy was what cost the Braves when they lost Hampton again last season...they had depth but no experience, hence the cluster of crap they threw out there 60% of the time...

[bravesbeast]

Well, if you have two experiences lefties, that is enough.... if gonzalez does not come back strong, then you can make a move for kline or another arm, or ridgeway could come in and do just fine, or ring could still be there if he passes through waivers.... however, at this point and time, we are focusing on adding a proven bench bat.... and btw, there is a difference between need depth in the starting rotation and needing depth in terms of LOOGYs.... you always have a need for quality depth with starters, but for LOOGY's you have less need of expereience, because there is so much turnover in terms of success in that area, so any depth you have is a plus, but a lack of experience does not prompt you to make moves.... In the past the braves have had no depth at the LOOGY position, while they seem to have plenty this year....

You may have knowledge of the name of the players on the Braves roster, however your understand of team makeup and trades and just baseball in general could use some work...

[scribbletone]

In that case I'm not quite sure who the Braves plan on getting that is noticably better than Thorman. Its not like the Pirates are gonna give up Nady for some of these mediocre relievers. Same goes for Murton, Crisp, Rivera and all the other decent options out there. The only guys you'll be able to get then are overpaid old guys like Helms and Aurilia. Not that those guys are bad, but if Dan Johnson isn't noticably better than Thorman, then I seriously doubt that an aging Rich Aurilia is.

And boswa I sorta got that I was just kinda talking about the Kotsay trade in retrospect.

[bravesbeast]

I really think the braves want a proven right handed power bat for the bench, which really does not offer a good compairson in terms of a pure upgrade over thorman. Helms and Aurilla are those options, yes, i just was thinking the braves get get a younger option with perhaps more power.

[Boswa73]

scribble, the factor that would make Aurilia a better option than Thorman is versatility. He can play every infield position.

[Boswa73]

"You may have knowledge of the name of the players on the Braves roster, however your understand of team makeup and trades and just baseball in general could use some work..."

And by the way, screw you if you want to make a judgement on my baseball knowledge based on a couple of comment posts...

[scribbletone]

bravesbeast, if that Braves want that kind of player, they aren't going to get it with a package of mediocre, unvaluable relievers. They would have to give up some decent prospects to get someone like Matt Murton, a guy like you described.

and boswa, I was talking solely about their ability as hitters off the bench. But his versaility is a valid point, and would make him more valuable than Thorman in terms of that. But I doubt he's a noticably better hitter, and from what I've seen thats primarily what they're going after.

Couldn't maybe Brandon Jones be that guy though, if he can prove he can hit in the majors? Or hell, even start Jones, and let Matt Diaz be that quality bat off the bench

Or hell, maybe even Juan Uribe. He sucks in terms of contact and getting on base, but when it comes down to it he has pretty good power and is a good fielder. He wouldn't cost much either, so maybe Royce Ring would be a match. The Sox might be able to use a bullpen arm anyways.

[bravesbeast]

Scribble, i never expected, much less stated, anything about getting murton for a reliever, i stated it would take one of our good young pitcers to get rivera, and expect the same to get murton....

and Boswa, all I have to base my opinion on when it comes to your baseball knowledge is the comments you make, again it is common sense man... please try to adapt

[scribbletone]

bravesbeast, which of your young pitchers did you have in mind? Because in my opinion someone like Jurrjens or James is way too much, and someone like Rohrbough, Teheran or Hanson is still probably too much as well. So who were you thinking of?

[Boswa73]

Bravesbeast, yes, all you have to go on are my comments, but to say that my overall baseball knowledge is weak based on one trade idea that doesn't make sense to you is a little quick. All of your generalizations come from a disagreement with my logic, which is fine, but don't call me and look your nose up at me because you disagree. Unless you know Frank Wren personally, you're no bigger, better or smarter fan than I am...

[daslied]

Would Kevin Millar be available, and for what? The Orioles need a bit of everything.

Tony Clark from the Padres? They need outfielders badly. Blanco?