Braves Not Likely To Move Escobar

WooooooHooooooo....that is the best news I have heard in a long, long time.

thank god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark Bowman-voice of reason. I think McCann since the glasses has been no. 1 offensively but Escobar has been fantastic with the bat and hopefully will improve in the field as he regains his lateral quickness

Perhaps we can also put to bed the rumors about the Braves trying to trade Vazquez too. Dude has been their ace and one of the top 5 pitchers in the NL this year, despite his win/loss record.

Posted by: scottandwtb | July 06, 2009 at 05:23 PM

I'd trade him if there's an overwhelming offer and I don't think he's untouchable because of our pitching depth. That's exactly why trading Escobar made no sense though, we have no SS depth behind him throughout the entire organization

how in the world are there no trade rumors about kris medlin?? i love the guy, but in a package starting with him, how much more will it take to get Dunn? throwing dunn in that lineup and taking frenchy would make that a scary lineup.

I still bet he gets traded.

Medlen is viewed by the rest of the majors as at best a #3 hence not a centerpiece of a big trade. That's my thought on why he isn't rumored to be on the move. The Braves would be smart to wait until the off-season and use Kotchman and some pitching prospects to get Dunn to play first for a year or two (if he accepts arb.) and then hand the job to freeman

That's good to hear.

Because Medlen is really, really good and shouldn't be traded unless it is for a YOUNG hitter who isn't a rental. Dunn is only signed through next year and makes a ton of money. He is also grossly overrated. I think the Braves are rebuilding...and Kris Medlen is part of that rebuilding.

Posted by: BravesAllTheWay | July 06, 2009 at 05:36 PM

Medlen is a good prospect. Dunn is nowhere near overrated, much less grossly overrated. It would take Medlen plus pieces to get Dunn. His career power numbers are better than Teixeira's for half as much money.

why not get alexis rios from toronto would be nice

i want give a shout out to mlbtraderumors.com,

i know its their job and all, but they stay on top of everything! they do their job well and keep braves fans very informed! there is no other site on the net that even comes close to the coverage of trade rumblings than mlbtraderumors. god, i love this site!

Posted by: bravesphanatic | July 06, 2009 at 06:01 PM

x2 Kudos

why not get alexis rios from toronto would be nice

His contract

Dunn, if he plays 1B, is a good idea. His defense isn't otherworldly bad at first but in left field he negates his offensive ability. Just to give you an idea he was worth 1.3 WAR (5.9 Million) last year and is on pace to finish near 1.8 WAR (roughly 8.2 Million) this year. He is the worst fielding starting OF in the majors and should either DH or play 1B. The ideal LF solution is Holliday but we can't take on that contract and I wouldn't trade Schafer, Freeman, or Heyward for him

Posted by: bravesfan22193 | July 06, 2009 at 06:06 PM

When your starting left fielder is G. Anderson your point about defense is mute. As bad as our offense is, Dunn will help us win more games than pop flies that he drops.

The ideal LF solution is Holliday but we can't take on that contract and I wouldn't trade Schafer, Freeman, or Heyward for him

Posted by: bravesfan22193 | July 06, 2009 at 06:06 PM

Dunn makes more $$$ than Holliday.

Come on, the Royals still have some Karma that needs to come back to them for the Dye for Neifi Perez trade. Teahen for Escobar would complete that episode of Karma.

When your starting left fielder is G. Anderson your point about defense is mute. As bad as our offense is, Dunn will help us win more games than pop flies that he drops.

Posted by: Tomahawk | July 06, 2009 at 06:28 PM

Fair point that Dunn wouldn't be that much of a downgrade defensively from Anderson, but he's starting to hit and I don't think the Braves will look to replace him. Still if the Braves get Dunn it should be as a first baseman but I think that is a move for the off-season when you can juggle payroll and players around. The Braves will actually have the payroll flexibility that with a couple of moves they could afford to have dunn at first and holliday in left

The Braves just need to wait until the offseason to acquire any players. I am not for trading anyone but Jeff Franceour and Kelly Johnson. They could possibly get Corey Hart for those two players? I dont know.

There is a ton of options the Braves can do during the offseason. They are right in the middle of buying or selling. They can trade Vazquez and or Derek Lowe to free up some salary space. I would love to see the Braves try to sign Matt Holliday.

If they sign Holliday, release Franceour, dont resign Garrett Anderson, and acquire Corey Hart(i.e. trading KJ and franceour or another package), their lineup in 2010 could be...

1. Mclouth
2. Escobar
3. Jones
4. Holliday
5. McCan
6. Hart
7. Kotchman
8. Prado
9. Pitcher

With that lineup, you could average 5 or 6 runs a game, and with the braves' starting pitchers ERA of 3.75 this year so far, the Braves could easily win 100 games in 2010 and start another Playoff run.

The Braves should trade Vazquez for Nelson Cruz. They get another power pitcher and we get a right-handed power bat. I love Javy and have wanted him for years, but we have enough pitching depth and he is the most tradable pitcher. This would be a win-win for both clubs.

if the Braves get Dunn it should be as a first baseman but I think that is a move for the off-season when you can juggle payroll and players around. The Braves will actually have the payroll flexibility that with a couple of moves they could afford to have dunn at first and holliday in left

Posted by: bravesfan22193 | July 06, 2009 at 07:45 PM

Completely agree. Braves should have some cash available this winter. one of Hudson/Vazquez will be gone by Christmas.

I would love to get Nelson Cruz...he'd provide a young power right-handed bat that we desperately need and we match up perfectly with Texas seeing as how they need pitching...

When your starting left fielder is G. Anderson your point about defense is mute. As bad as our offense is, Dunn will help us win more games than pop flies that he drops.
_______________________________

Agreed (except it's "moot"). I used to watch Dunn play a lot live when he was with the Reds and I don't think he is much worse than Anderson. Sure he drops a lot of balls and kicks stuff around and basically looks like a bull in the proverbial China shop (in fact, his tactic should be to put his glove on the end of a broomstick and just jam it into the ground... that will catch about as many balls), but he hits 40 HR's. That will cover up a lot of errors unlike Anderson's weak power production with limited defensive range. Having said all that I wouldn't want to trade much for him and the Braves can't afford him, so it's probably all moot after all.

When your starting left fielder is G. Anderson your point about defense is mute.

Posted by: Tomahawk | July 06, 2009 at 06:28 PM

Hate to be the guy, but could you use your brain basket for just one second and realize that the word it 'moot' not 'mute'?

The Braves are not trading Lowe, that's stupid. We payed way too much for him and he's too productive, despite this rough patch as of lately. Also, trading Kotchman is another idiotic idea. He is one of the most underrated first baseman in the league. Yes, he is not a power hitter, but his glove is way above average and he will guarantee you an out and an a good average.

Escobar for Ellsbury(Red Sox)
I want Ellsbury in a Braves uniform. His speed and glove is exactly what we need in right field, despite having a lefty glove. Having Ellsbury, McLouth, and Schaefer(next season) in the outfield should save us some runs that we can't afford. Plus McLouth would best fit as a third bat and Ellsbury speed and hitting ability is what we need as a profound lead off man.

Escobar is great, don't get me wrong. I just don't think he has the power or consistency in the future to stay as our number five hitter. And his errors are giving me ulcers.

Frenchy for Cabrera(A's) or Bloomquist(Royals)
This would just to fill the eighth hole in the line up with speed, as well as the position with one gold-glove and one potential gold-glove shortstop.

1. Ellsbury(RF/LF)
2. Prado(2B)
3. McLouth(CF)
4. Jones(3B)
5. McCann(C)
6. Diaz/Anderson(LF/RF)
7. Kotchman(1B)
8. Cabrera/Bloomquist(SS)

My comment above would be a very little upgrade, but seems to be the best option without giving away our best prospects and Javy, who is our second most productive pitcher as of now behind JJ.

i agree with bravesfan.
We have too many infielders, too many starters and very little power. Adding an intimidating presence in that lineup would create some serious problems for the rest of the NL.

Actually, the Red Sox have a lot of outfield options so the gap in center would not exist. As for a huge hole at short, that's what Bloomquist or Cabrera would be for because either team can afford to trade these two players with their "supposed interest" in Frenchy and depth in their infield.

Moving McLouth into the third hole would prove him as the power hitter that he really is. McLouth has the most power on the team, but since he is basically the only one with speed Cox is forced to put him as the lead off man. Having a McLouth, Chipper, McCann and then Anderson/Diaz is more powerful than one may think.

As for getting Holliday and Dunn, if you really want power that makes sense, but I don't want to ruin our outfield with terrible fielding. Dunn is more of a DH, however we are talking National League. Plus both players would suck our salary away for next year, when we need to start looking for a power hitting second baseman or shortstop, i.e. Uggla(FL can't really afford him for too much longer). As you can see, I don't think too much of Escobar's potential. Yes, I cut him slack for his injury, but he is not going to remain this great of a hitter all season.