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Braves, Cardinals Talk Ankiel
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves and Cardinals discussed a trade for outfielder Rick Ankiel. However, the Braves did not want to give up Mike Gonzalez. I'm surprised; one year of Gonzalez for one of Ankiel sounds like a good swap for the Braves.
Rosenthal says the two teams also talked about swapping Blaine Boyer for Joe Mather, but that didn't pan out either.
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I agree that sounds like a good trade, but wouldn't that leave Atlanta's bullpen more susceptible if it already is? Sure, if Moylan and Soriano come back quickly and effectively it would work out, but without Gonzalez, there is no safety valve for the bullpen.
I don't know how else the two teams could hookup, but trading Gonzalez is too big of a gamble.
Posted by: FiNch | December 09, 2008 at 01:28 AM
I disagree. If the Braves trade Gonzalez, they're without a sure thing at the back of the bullpen. Soriano's good when he can actually take the ball, but he's got that balky elbow and spends a lot of time hurt.
Posted by: FineHamAbounds | December 09, 2008 at 01:28 AM
"I'm surprised; one year of Gonzalez for one of Ankiel sounds like a good swap for the Braves."
I seriously hope you were joking. No offense, but Ankiel is not worth a very good closer.
Posted by: Bravesfan89 | December 09, 2008 at 01:29 AM
I can't see the Braves trading Gonzo. With Moylan and Soriano coming back from elbow surgeries, trading Gonzo could very possibly leave the Braves without a closer. It also appears that Smoltz's rehab is way ahead of schedule and he is eyeing a spot in the rotation.
Posted by: bravesfan23 | December 09, 2008 at 01:32 AM
That would be hardly a fair swap.
Gonzalez for Ankiel?
Then the Braves need a closer because there is no guarantee that Soriano will be back. Sure Moylan could possibly handle it but there is not guaranteed date for his return either.
Plus even with one year left Gonzo is more likely to sign an extension than Ankiel. to my knowledge Gonzo isnt represented by Boras.
Plus i dont know why the Braves are truly going after him we need a Right Handed hitter not another Lefty.
If they dont want to give up Ludwick i say move on to someone that fits what we NEED. Ankiel is a nice hitter and all but he is a lefty.
now Cory Hart on the other hand is someone who could fit the bill.
Also wouldnt mind the Braves picking up a mid rotation lefty starter it seems as though with all this speculation of our rotation we have only speculated Right Handed Pitchers.
Posted by: drumzalicious | December 09, 2008 at 01:32 AM
drumzalicious: the Cory Hart rumor from earlier has already been put to an end. The Brewer's GM said he isn't available...
Posted by: mtzxc | December 09, 2008 at 01:34 AM
lol you just broke my heart lol oh well.
Posted by: drumzalicious | December 09, 2008 at 01:40 AM
A very good closer? Please. Gonzalez has had his moments, but lets not start putting him in the upper echelon just yet.
And Tim, for Pete's sake, get some sleep!
Posted by: Michael | December 09, 2008 at 01:41 AM
He is a very good closer. The upper echelon would be saying he is an elite closer or comparing him to K-Rod or Papelbon
Posted by: bravesfan23 | December 09, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Bravesfan23: How is he a very good closer? The guy only pitched 33.2 innings in 36 games last season and only 17 innings in 18 games the year before. He isn't so much of a good closer as he is a walking injury risk.
It's one thing to not want Ankiel on your favorite team just because he's another left handed bat, it's another to make it seem like this trade is completely off base.
Posted by: mtzxc | December 09, 2008 at 01:50 AM
I like Ankiel, but there's no way this would be a good deal for Atlanta. I don't trust Soriano any further than I could throw him to be an effective close and Moylan is coming off of elbow surgery, not to mention having basically zero time at closer.
Tim, I honestly cannot believe you think that's a good deal for Atlanta.
Posted by: preluderl | December 09, 2008 at 01:51 AM
When your career high in saves is 24, and your career high in innings is 54, and you have a lengthy injury history, you aren't even close to a very good closer.
Posted by: Michael | December 09, 2008 at 01:55 AM
I'm pretty sure if you will read my posts i never said the trade was off base. I simply said that he is a good closer. Since coming back from TJ surgery he hasn't had any other health problems and pitched very well in save situations. I also said i don't think the Braves would trade him because of the question marks surrounding Moylan and Soriano.
Posted by: bravesfan23 | December 09, 2008 at 01:58 AM
One rumor that surfaced during the day on Monday was the possibility of a deal in which Ankiel would go to the Braves. However, Mozeliak said he didn't see any particularly good fit with Atlanta. The Braves, like the Cardinals, are seeking starting pitching, rather than looking to offload it.
The Cardinals do not expect to be able to add a closer in a trade for an outfielder, so they'll plumb the free-agent options for a ninth-inning pitcher. Trevor Hoffman is not on St. Louis' radar at this time, nor is it likely that the Cards will trade for a setup reliever and convert him to closing.
However, unlike in the starting rotation, the Redbirds might be willing to commit more than two years to a closer.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081208&content_id=3706103&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl
Posted by: Cardsfan387 | December 09, 2008 at 01:58 AM
I dont think the argument is that he is a good closer that no one should let go of. i think its the fact he is the only person healthy enough to handle the back of our bullpen. that was the problem for the braves last year. they didnt have anyone to handle the back of the bullpen till almost the end of the season. i cant tell you the number of games i watched where the bullpen blew leads and couldnt hold runners. it seemed the deeper into the game the worse the reliever got.
even though he isnt one of the best he is the only one with true closer experience in the back of our bullpen.
now if soriano had been healthy all last season and was as good as he was supposed to be i would say ship him out in a heart beat but because there isnt a guarantee of him being back i dont see that happening. plus who wouldnt want a bullpen of
CL: Soriano
Gonzalez
Moylan
Ohman
Acosta
Boyer
Bennett
Although if our Rotation is good enough not to need Campillo i say keep him in the bullpen and ship out someone else.
Posted by: drumzalicious | December 09, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Gonzo had one injury with atlanta that lasted through parts of each season I believe. Before that he had 3 lights out years in Pittsburgh. I won't call him an outstanding closer but I will call him an outstanding left handed reliever who could be an amazing closer.
Ankiel is a line-drive power hitter with little gap power, not an impressive eye, defensive issues(.968%, 8 ERR, only 4 A), AND he's never played a full season as a regular(120 games, 413 ABs last year)
If the Braves were to trade Gonzo I would hope they would go after a kid like Hart and not a giant question mark like Ankiel. Plenty of teams would love to give Gonzo a shot(including MIL or maybe Texas, where MGonz is from.)
Posted by: insomniac | December 09, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Mike Gonzalez had Tommy John surgery in 2007. It takes 2 years to come back from Tommy John surgery. He blew a save this year for the first time since 2004. That was 39 straight saves he had. How many other closers have that kind of streak going?
Also for the person that said his career high for saves is only 24 you do know he has been playing on some really bad teams?
Also you need to seperate his numbers in save chances and non-save chances. He is a lights out closer but put him in when it's a non save situation and you're asking for trouble.
A Ankiel for Gonzalez trade would be highway robbery for the Cardinals.
Posted by: Tim | December 09, 2008 at 03:59 AM
Just a note when I said 2 years I meant in terms of baseball seasons your gonna miss huge parts of 2 seasons unless you have the surgery before or after the season than you only miss 1.
Posted by: Tim | December 09, 2008 at 04:01 AM
That would be a terrible deal for the Braves. Gonzo is a very good young closer who has a very good chance of re-signing with the Braves. Ankiel is a Boras client who has one year left on his contract. No thanks to that.
Posted by: BravesAllTheWay | December 09, 2008 at 06:57 AM
Yeh not sure why we're even considering Ankiel...thought we were looking for a right-handed slugger, but I guess if we can get him for Boyer and a middle of the road prospect...bring him on over!!
Posted by: bennie2323 | December 09, 2008 at 08:19 AM
Great trade for the Cards, if it happens!
Posted by: Tater16 | December 10, 2008 at 06:04 AM