Braves Seek Outfield Help In Stagnant Market

First thing I read was: "Braves were willing to offer top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson" and thought Wren lost his mind.

The Braves are lucky to be just 4 games out with the lack of offense they have in the outfield. I saw Bobby was trying Diaz in center and right field the last few games. I think the Braves front office knows they made a mistake in not getting a big outfield bat this off season, but getting starting pitching was the main concern and its that starting pitching that has the Braves still in this NL east race.

I think we should send down Schafer for a month or two and bring up Blanc for CF. Blanco has been getting better after a really bad start in AAA posting a .355 OBP in May and hitting .350 over the last ten games. Blanco would give us a solid OBP leadoff guy and let Kelly take his May .828 OPS down the order where he can knock in some guys.

Anyone we could trade for or even Diaz/B.Jones would be an upgrade over Failcoeur.

Brad Hawpe for Charlie Morton/Francouer/and a low level prospect

* i didnt mean play the prospects i meant we didnt want to trade the top prospects

"Holliday keeps putting up decent numbers(i think i read somewhere he was on pace for 21 and 96 rbis...might be wrong but if so thats gonna be more than the ATL outfield put together)but people are considering him disapointing so maybe we dont have to give up as much to get him."

Beane values draft picks more than most GM's...Holliday will still cost alot.

You know who the Braves could use now? Andruw Jones.

The only deal Hanson would be involved in is in a deal for Adrian Gonzalez...

The braves should trade for Pujols. The cards may trade him since he's getting closer to free agency. He used to play outfield.

Holliday hasn't been that much worse than Bay this year. There's only a 0.2 WAR difference separating the two. And he's doing this in the biggest pitcher's park in MLB not named Petco.

Has Wren called Freeman off limits yet? I could see Freeman being westward bound.

Has anyone thought about Josh Willingham from Florida or Matt Murton from Colorado? Neither are an "impact" player, but Willingham has 9 HR on the season and is from Alabama. Murton has only 1 HR but I think has a .474 SLG to Jeff F's .344. Murton is a Ga Tech grad...

"Holliday hasn't been that much worse than Bay this year. There's only a 0.2 WAR difference separating the two. And he's doing this in the biggest pitcher's park in MLB not named Petco."

Posted by: melonis rex | June 01, 2009 at 07:43 PM

For right handed batters, Fenway has also had the largest home/road differential in baseball over the last 8 seasons. The monster turns easy flyballs into XBH's on a regular basis.

Gabe Gross from the Rays wouldn't cost too much and could platoon with Francouer (Even this year Jeff has managed a respectable OPS vs. LHP). Gross can provide top tier defense and a be an above avg bat vs RHP, also he can be expendable to Tampa if Matt Joyce stays in the majors.

I doubt Texas will be seller's...they have the best record in the AL, and that division isn't looking as goo as people thought before the season.

Rick Ankiel would be a perfect fit. A MI or SP prospect would definitely work for the Cards...

I was just thinking: Imagine how well Andruw would be doing in New Yankee Stadium (herein referred to as Coors East). Texas has been a launching pad for him, but Coors East has given even crazier offensive numbers.

Posted by: venn177 | June 01, 2009 at

True, but keep in mind the offenses that have been playing the majority of the games at yankee stadium are MUCH better than the AL west opponents playing in Arlington.

Brad Hawpe for Charlie Morton/Francouer/and a low level prospect

Posted by: Bravesfan21 | June 01, 2009 at 07:28 PM

Charlie Morton and a low level prospect have no more value with francouer than they do without him. He has zero value.

No way. If I am Frank Wren, I am not giving you Medlen or Gorkys Hernandez for Brad Hawpe, a good hitter (better at Coors, but still a good hitter on the road), but he gives a lot of his offense back because he is probably the worst fielder at any position on any team in baseball. He is a completely appalling outfielder, plus even while I said his H/R splits aren't anything extreme, you are always taking a chance with a coors hitter. I think the Rockies would be wise to move Hawpe before teams realize what a truly horrific outfielder he is, if they haven't already.

Andruw Jones? Sure, .280-30 because he's not totally embarrassing himself in Texas?

Guess that .233 road average isn't a concern?

I wasnt sure if they just wanted an OF. remember, the have Chipper and Mccann in the middle.

''No way. If I am Frank Wren, I am not giving you Medlen or Gorkys Hernandez for Brad Hawpe, a good hitter (better at Coors, but still a good hitter on the road), but he gives a lot of his offense back because he is probably the worst fielder at any position on any team in baseball. He is a completely appalling outfielder, plus even while I said his H/R splits aren't anything extreme, you are always taking a chance with a coors hitter. I think the Rockies would be wise to move Hawpe before teams realize what a truly horrific outfielder he is, if they haven't already.''

Hawpe is a great player. He has a rocket of an arm and can get to the balls he should. his bat is also above average. his home/road splits are nearly similar. The colorado effect doesnt apply here and its a shame that everyone rips all Colorado players because of where they play

Hawpe is a nice player, but Colorado guys always worry me. Plus, he's left handed and ideally, the need a right handed hitter.

"The colorado effect doesnt apply here and its a shame that everyone rips all Colorado players because of where they play"

Agreed, yet Youk and Pedroia never have to hear that argument even though they play in the most hitter friendly park in the majors for righties. Youk hit .120 higher at home last year, while Pedroia hit .70 higher. Look at what Bay is doing this season. Colorado gets an unfair bias, espescially now that the humodor is there.

"Hawpe is a great player. He has a rocket of an arm and can get to the balls he should. his bat is also above average. his home/road splits are nearly similar. The colorado effect doesnt apply here and its a shame that everyone rips all Colorado players because of where they play"

Actually I ripped him because his defense is as bad as any outfielder in baseball. I even said that he barely has any splits, but it is still a chance. He is not a great player, he is just a very good hitter, who looks like he probably will be able to hit anywhere, but you can't say for sure. He is slower then hell and he is a brutal outfielder. That is why I ripped him. It seems as if you didn't even ready anything I wrote other then the first line.

Also, it is not a shame that people are wary of Coors hitters, seeing as how there is a laundry list of them that couldn't cut it after they left.

nrmax88,

Hasn't the humidor cut down some of the home-road differential for the legit hitters? Holliday's sure evened out the final couple years he was there. Spilborghs' splits aren't that bad either, from what I recall.

while we're throwing our ridiculous trade proposals how about Hanson for Jayson Werth (cost controllable for several more years at reasonable cost) and a solid 25hr 90rbi performer with above average arm and above avg speed. We'll also give back Carrasco.

So how's about it. carrasco and Werth for hanson? maybe we can throw in a low A top prospect like a Knapp or a solid AA performer like Worley?

Posted by: philsWSchamps | June 01, 2009 at 08:41 PM

Stupid...nothing else to say

can't blame me for trying. Before his struggles this year Carrasco was considering a top prospect. He was around 50 in BA's top 100 and Werth would definitely shore up their outfield for several years. oh well. i doubt the braves and phils would deal anyways.

But a rotation in 2011 of

Hamels
Hanson
Drabek
Happ
Moyer (haha)

would look real good!

Nelson cruz is perfect for the braves. Power and a little bit of speed. Would jv and frenchy low level prospect do it

J V for Hamilton!!!!! That would be sweeeeeeeet! You could move him to right when Gorkys gets the call, platoon in left with GA and M Dizzy, Hamilton in center, Dero in right.

"Phils, are you serious? Hanson wouldn't be traded for Peavy, why the hell would the braves trade him for Werth? that's really stupid"

Can you not smell the sarcasm he had in his statement?

Victor Martinez / Mark DeRosa and Jamey Carroll.

For Tommy Hanson / Kris Medlen / Gerardo Rodriguez/ Cody Johnson /David Francis and Jeff Francoeur

Martinez give you the power hitter 1st baseman / catcher
You can put DeRosa in the Outfielder and use him in Utility and Carroll is a upgrade in the infield defensively and can play SS and can hit some .

Padres hang up as soon as they hear the name Adrian

I agree. Maybe if the deal had Cody Johnson (19HRS this year in A ball) instead of Heyward i would do it, but again its all just for fun.

baseballnuts, your last trade would never happen. i dont think the braves would trade hanson for derosa and martinez straight up (we already have a pretty good catcher too if you didnt know...)

Neither do the cubs right now

That is one of the reasons why the Cubs did not get him, and why the Braves hung up and stopped talks.

Braves will not trade Hanson, so just stop. Also, Andruw Jones has been below average away from Arlington this season, still an upgrade over what we have but not by too much. Right now the trade targets look to be Luke Scott, Mark DeRosa, Josh Willingham, etc. Those type of hitters and not the big names like Alfonso Soriano.

on july 3rd, if the braves dont need power, there will be an OF hitting about 400 on the dodgers who will be available. just so you know...

Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | June 01, 2009 at 08:07 PM

The braves are reportedly looking for a power hitter, juan pierre is a terrible fit.

Posted by: 86 Mets | June 01, 2009 at 08:10 PM

If Frank Wren is so dumb that he is going to limit offensive production to home runs then someone please fire him now. Juan Pierre would lite the Braves offense on fire. He would lead off! Any time you put guys on base in front of chipper you are going to score runs. Not to mention the guy can steal and play some mean defense. He also wants out of LA. Homeruns are great. yeah, chicks dig them. But do you really think there is a guy out there smashing balls out of the yard whose team isnt going to ask an arm and a leg? The answer is no! So please use some intelligence and start looking for other answers. Juan will cost a lot less than any of those Holliday or Bay pipe dreams and honestly will help out the Braves far more in the end.

phils, if we were going to go for a young, cost controlled player like werth, why not go to LA and shoot for a player like ethier?

and i have another name that i dont think ive heard on here yet, elijiah dukes? i know he's a hothead with some problems, but bobby cox managed to straiten out sheffield a few years ago why not him?
or call up the blue jays and try to piece together a package for alex rios? there are a huge number of options that havent even been talked about yet, and im willing to wager that its going to be something unexpected like that that frank wren pulls the trigger on

washington is looking to move Willingham/Kearns not Dukes or Dunn. Don't know what it would take in terms of prospects to get rios but I know he has a nice sized contract attached to him

You know what is amazing is how there is so much hype for Hawpe, but when you bring Luke Scott's name into the conversation Braves fans don't want him. WHY???

Take a look at the numbers Scott is easily more valuable than Hawpe. Age is negligible as Scott is only one year older. Contract is distinctly in Scott's favor. Hawpe is making $5.5 this year, $7.5 next year and has a $10 club option for 2011. But he can void the option and become an FA if he is traded. Scott is making $2.4 this year and is a Super Two player so he is under team control for another 3 years.

Fielding is also in Scott's favor by a big margin. Now I know most people will think since Scott is a DH he can't field. But that is pretty far from the truth. He has posted a positive UZR/150 rating every season (yes its negative this year but he's only played in the field a few times) with a his career number at 7.8 in left field, and 4.8 total. Hawpe on the other hand has been truly awful in the outfield. He has been in the negative column for every year with the exception of 2006, and has a career rating of -20.8. That's a 25.5 swing between the two outfielders, that is insane.

On offense its widely considered that Hawpe is the much bigger force but thats not entirely true. Hawpe has a career .287/.378/.502 and Scott has a career line of .272/.358/.512. A .009 difference in OPS is not a significant difference. What's even more surprising is that Scott out hits Hawpe vs. LHP .817-.762, despite usually being considered a platoon player.

I think Braves fans should take a real long hard look at Scott b/c to me he seems like the perfect fit for their outfield.

the dodgers love Ethier. he was our steal of the century from Billy Beane, and we wont give him up without getting some SERIOUS pitching

BravesRed,

i was gonna suggest him (Choo) as well as Hunter Pence and matt Kemp (although Dodgers don't need pitching as much as some others but the Astros sure could).

and atlbraves08,

for all the talk of rios, Werth's stats are better than his even with Werth in a prolonged slump. And before you say its his park he's much faster than Rios and 6 of his 8 HR's have come on the road including a huge upper deck blast to the "pitchers side" of Yankee Stadium.

oh and a recent survey of i believe it was major league GM's listed Werth as one of the two most underrated players in the game today. If he puts it all together he could steal 30 bases and hit 25 hr's plus play a solid OF.

Again my though was outlandish I admit as you don't trade a true #1 in the making in hanson (maybe somewhat out of fear of facing him later this year and for at least 6 years after that and I realize we have OF's in waiting in Dom Brown (in High A and should've been moved already) and Taylor in AA also should be moved to AAA.

I think they both would hang up at the same time.

braves hang up. you never trade great pitching for great hitting unless the hitter is that much MORE great than the pitcher which he's not.

"I doubt Texas will be seller's...they have the best record in the AL, and that division isn't looking as goo as people thought before the season"

Who thought the AL West would be any good this season? Every team coming in had problems.

What about trading for hank blaylock?

Can Hank Blalock play RF?

"I want Shin-Soo Choo."

Too bad

What would it take to pry Rios from the Jays? Guy is a 5 tool player.

"My solution for the Braves hitting woes this season and next would be first to call up the Orioles and propose a package for Luke Scott built around Charlie Morton. Orioles fans can come on here and say it isn't fair value and so on, but the fact of the matter is the orioles have an excess of outfielders and the Braves have excess pitching. Neither is elite, but Morton instantly goes into their rotation and has the talent to be a middle of the rotation starter."

I'm sorry but Morton does not headline a deal for a Luke Scott. Scott is not a rental or a salary dump. The O's don't HAVE to get rid of him. Morton doesn't scream prospect much less middle of the rotation starter. You are correct when you assess that pitching is the O's weakness but they need tangible starters not guys who have a 6.15 ERA in 15 starts in the NL. Morton is 25 now so him succeeding at AAA isn't that impressive, its expected. Morton would be behind the 3 O's rookie starters up with the team right now. Also he'd be behind guys like Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, Erbe and Patton in the minors. Of those 8 pitchers Morton is at least two years older than all of them with the exception of Berken. And all 8 of those pitchers have had more success than Morton and seem to possess better stuff.

I can at least make the case that the Braves NEED Scott you can't make the case that the O's NEED much less want Morton. Scott's 11 HR are more then the Braves top 4 OF's and 1B combined. Now i'm not trying to say that the Braves should give up Heyward or Hanson for Scott. I'm just saying they need to give up actual talent, not some 2nd tier prospect.