Odds & Ends: DeRosa, Mateo, Mets, Cubs

The only way Jurrjens is moved is if its for a young, controllable power hitting outfielder. Ryan Braun comes to mind.

I like Jurrjens a lot, but he's been insanely lucky.

He posted a 4.02 xFIP in 2008, and a 4.44 xFIP in 2009, his FIP and ERA numbers have both been better than his peripherals indicate.

Braun, on the other hand, is one of the very, very best young hitters in the game, with a career wOBA of .400, and he's signed VERY reasonably, he's owed just $41.5M through 2015 (!).

Honestly, I think that Braun is one of most untouchable players in the game, because of his combination of production, youth, and relative cheapness.

Jurrjens is 2 years younger than Lincecum and put up a ERA .3 lower than him last year. If Lincecum is untradeable, I don't see why Jurrjens isn't.

I am one of very few Braves fans who would trade JJ but I would see whats out there. I think he is a great pitcher but luck seems to even out at some point. I think he is as valuable right now as he will ever be.

Scribble, I really do agree that Jurrjens isn't as good as Lince but I'm not sure you can see how lucky he is just by his peripherals. His fastball has so much movement that he gets alot of weakly hit balls that reduce his babaip. That looks like luck and isn't as good as a K but it isn't all luck.

While I wouldn't say JJ is just lucky (though there is some truth to that), I agree he is someone I'd 'consider' trading if I were the Braves.

Obviously the return would have to be nice.

I've said this before, but Choo and Laffey (maybe throw in Shoppach too) for JJ and Church could work for both clubs.

Imagine an OF of Heyward, Choo, and McLouth for the next 4-5 years with a rotaiton that would still include Hudson (assuming he does sign a 3 year extention), Hanson, Vazquez, Lowe, and Kawakami plus Laffey as a backup (and the other decent options the Braves have).

Indians need a front-line starter and with LaPorta a better OFer than 1B right now and Brantley on the verge of cracking the everyday lineup, the Indians could part with Choo.

It'd have to be a big return, but JJ is NOT as good as his ERA indicated this year. Still one heck of a pitcher, but shouldn't be untouchable.

Though you can't fault the Braves if they decide to hold him obviously.

I like how these stats compare JJ to Lincecum with strikeouts and K:BB ratio. Anybody who actually watches the Braves know that JJ is a ground ball pitcher, he has a great two seamer and has developed a nice slider. He shouldn't be compared to Tim Lincecum because they are two different types of pitchers. I will say that if you put JJ in a Phillies uniform or any other team that can actually score runs he would have had 16-18 wins last year. I think trading him would be a big mistake, the Braves should focus on moving Lowe... Not a 23 year old who is improving every year.

"Why would any organization actually consider trading that?"

Same reason anyone trades anyone. Because they think they can fill a bigger hole. Just spitballing here, but what about some kind of Jurrgins for Crawford or Upton trade. In both cases I see it only working out if the parameters are expanded, but it would give the Braves the offensive catalyst they need.

"The whole point of that blog was to call out the stupidity of talking about trading him at this point."

of a few of the bloggers talking about trading him that is.

"He is a 23 YEAR OLD that threw 200 INNINGS of 2.60 ERA baseball last year. Under team control for cheap for years. Why would any organization actually consider trading that?"

Because he's not quite as good as his ERA indicates, and right now his trade value is sky high, the Braves could land a huge haul for him.

It's called selling high, and for a team like the Braves, with an apparent surplus of starters and numerous other holes, it makes sense to speculate that Jurrjens could be traded.

Obviously, moving Lowe, Vazquez or Kawakami is more likely, because of their high salaries, but the idea of trading Jurrjens isn't completely ludricrous.

Jurrjens is a great pitcher, but he's not quite on that monster upside level of guys like Lincecum, Price, Kershaw, Strasburg, etc.

Braves just sign Dye and Abreu
for next year. Problems solve.
Trade Lowe for Russell Martin and cash. Send McCann to Boston for Bard and Bowden.

I have argued with other Braves fans about JJ many times. Many fans call JJ an "ace" and that they wouldn't trade him for anyone short of Pujols - that is just crazy talk. The Braves would be foolish not to accept an offer of something like BJ Upton and a prospect for him. Upton is a VERY talented player who had a bad season last year. His value is low right now but it won't be that way for long. He would solidify one of the outfield spots for the Braves outfield for the next several years.

However, The main problem with the Braves trading Jurrjens now is the financial aspect. He is young and not yet arb eligible. Four of the other five starters are millionaires - so one of them will be traded.

Ok scribbletone, I really wonder if you have ever watched the Braves or Jurrjens? How can you say a guy doesn't pitch as well as his ERA indicates? He is not a strikeout pitcher, and yet every stat is K:BB or K/9. Get over yourself, how can you say a proven winner isn't good. I agree he isn't a # 1, but don't give me that crap that he isn't as good as his numbers, if anything he should have had 4-5 more wins... So go back to loving guys like Verlander and Beckett who try to beat everyone with fastballs and K's... Instead of a guy that gets ground balls... Either way Hanson and Jurrjens should be untouchable, I mean come on David Wright had the lowest X/Penis/Size rate this season (Stop using stupid stats to try and prove points!)