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Braves Acquire Juan Francisco From Reds

By Zachary Links | April 1, 2012 at 11:00am CDT

The Braves acquired third baseman Juan Francisco from the Reds in exchange for right-hander J.J. Hoover, according to a press release from the team. 

Francisco, 24, has appeared in 81 games for the Reds over the last three seasons, posting a slash line of .284/.331/.450.  The left-handed hitter was out-of-options and MLB.com's Mark Sheldon writes that he showed up to camp overweight and did not properly rehabilitate a right calf injury that he suffered over the winter.

Hoover, 24, will report to the Reds' Triple-A affiliate.  The 6'3" hurler split time between Double-A and Triple-A last season, making 14 starts and 29 relief appearances.  In total, Hoover registered a 2.64 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 2011.

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68 Comments

  1. Brandon 20

    13 years ago

    Didn’t see this coming, despite Francisco’s poor performance this spring…why can’t the Reds seem to get good 3B from their farm system? Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Larson now Juan Francisco.

    Reply
    • rfffr

      13 years ago

      Watch him be Chipper’s successor.

      Reply
      • Julie Batson

        13 years ago

        In the whirlpool. 

        Reply
    • docbot

      13 years ago

      Let’s not forget Jeff Branson or Willie Greene.

      Reply
    • Special K

      13 years ago

      Encarnacion was from the  Rangers farm system.

      Reply
      • Brandon 20

        13 years ago

        Yep but he still spent time in our system. Same with Russ Branyan, spent time in our system then came up and wasn’t anything so we let him move on then he became good. For some reason, if a 3B comes up in our system and plays for us…he’s no good, send him elsewhere and he’s good.

        Brandon Larson being the exception.

        Reply
  2. Joe Lanza

    13 years ago

    Why are people surprised? Francisco was out of options, and the Reds have 5 players competing for 2 bench spots. 

    Todd Frazier plays 6 positions and is a better fielder than Francisco, who really can only play 3B.

    Reply
    • CalvaryCougar

      13 years ago

      Thank you….it was bound to happen dude couldn’t stay healthy and fraizer was a top prospect

      Reply
  3. philliesfan136

    13 years ago

    Robbery for Atlanta. I think Francisco will be a good player.

    Reply
    • slasher016 2

      13 years ago

      Considering the Reds options were to just DFA or trade him (since he was out of options and not making the team) they got a pretty damn solid pitcher in return. 

      Reply
      • Amish_willy

        13 years ago

        Exactly, both teams made the trade due to each of their strengths. Francisco was in the same boat David Ortiz was with the Twins when he was taken, or numerous others that didn’t put it together even though they still very well could. For the Braves they got some 3b help for a relatively low cost, while Francisco finds himself in a pretty terrific opportunity, a team with 3b & LF openings from the get-go. The Reds get an arm back like the one they sent the Padres way in the Latos trade, Brad Boxberger. Which is hellofa lot more then the Twins got for Ortiz, so yeah, not a bad last resort return for the Reds.

        Small trade and all, but a pretty decent example of a true trade. Some team will probably get Kyle Blanks from the Padres in the same fashion during the next year. Sucks to lose those guys, but opportunities are limited and sometimes other options make more sense.

        Reply
        • rundmc1981

          13 years ago

          Add Pedro Alvarez to the list in the next 2 years.

          Reply
      • philliesfan136

        13 years ago

        Yeah, I over exaggerated. Not complete robbery. They gave up a solid pitcher, but if Francisco lives up to the potential he has with his raw power, I think it was worth it.

        Reply
        • rundmc1981

          13 years ago

          True, but Hoover was the 13th-highest ranked prospect in a farm system loaded with arms. He has upside.

          Reply
    • Jay

      13 years ago

      Robbery. I don’t really think that’s a good word for this.  Yeah he has power numbers but really that’s all he has ever shown his defense is not very good and he does not really bat for average either.   Fraizer had a good spring and has shown decent numbers in the past too.  Not a bad move I feel for the reds to get a pitching prospect too out of this.

      Reply
  4. Leachpunk

    13 years ago

    This is a bad April Fools joke for the Braves

    Reply
    • rundmc1981

      13 years ago

      Why? ATL isn’t deep at 3B/LF, and we give up a pitcher that wouldn’t be utilized because of all the talent in front of him. Hopefully a change of scenery is what Francisco needs, possibly motivating him. Not bad career numbers and he still has time, though not much.

      Reply
      • Leachpunk

        13 years ago

        He has been hurt off an on for the last couple seasons and he has no plate discipline.

        Reply
  5. Brv Rocks

    13 years ago

    Would have preferred Todd Frazier.  Don’t really like this trade for Atlanta.

    Reply
    • TophersReds

      13 years ago

      We prefer Fraizer too, which is why you didn’t get him. Can one of you Braves fans give the rundown on Hoover? I’ve never heard of him, and I don’t know how I feel about this trade. I liked Francisco honestly.

      Reply
      • Bravesfanatic

        13 years ago

        A good young pitcher. Projects as a 7th inning arm due to lack of good 3rd pitch. Was probably going to be a midseason call up for us

        Reply
  6. nm344

    13 years ago

    Those are good looking stats for Hoover.  Is there a reason he went into the bullpen?

    Reply
    • rfffr

      13 years ago

      Atlanta’s pitching surplus?

      Reply
    • smt1

      13 years ago

      Hoover is a fine pitcher, but he was behind Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Beachy, Minor, Teheran, Delgado, and Medlen in terms of cracking the rotation. I guess Livan Hernandez too. And Vizcaino when he comes back from surgery next year.

      Reply
      • Amish_willy

        13 years ago

        Yeah, but pretty much everyone views Hoover as a reliever going forward. I’m sure at some point in the season he would have been a nice option to fill a pen void, but clearly the Braves aren’t worried about that.

        Reply
  7. Matt Talbert

    13 years ago

    Yep a young Aram for sure I think.

    Reply
    • Tko11

      13 years ago

      For sure I think? So are you sure or not?

      Reply
  8. sportfan

    13 years ago

    I think this Trade is going to help both teams

    Reply
  9. Jason

    13 years ago

    After a little research, he’s a career .301 hitter against RHP.  With Chipper starting on the DL, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a shot at 3rd when there’s a RHP starting and plugging Prado back into LF.  The whole Diaz/Hinske platoon for LF just isn’t appealing.

    Reply
    • TophersReds

      13 years ago

      One of the knocks on Francisco is his poor plate discipline. Just take a look at his spring numbers: 16 strikeouts 0 walks. But when he gets a hold of the ball, it goes a LONG way. He hit one into the Ohio River last year.

      Reply
      • Amish_willy

        13 years ago

        The year Francisco walks 30 times in a season someone will have to throw him a party. Not a bad (cheap) 3b option for the Braves in this time of limbo. His power truly is insane. He gets 600 PA’s he could one day hit 35+ homerun’s. He’s going to have strike out less then he has in the majors to get to that point, and that’s a big question mark for him right now. His offensive game is similar to Kevin Kouzmanoff. Not sure if he has it in him to be improve as much defensively as Kouz did as 25-26 year old. Those guys are okay spot-filler while they’re cheap.

        Think both teams will be content with this trade.

        Reply
        • TophersReds

          13 years ago

          Francisco vastly improved his defense in the last year or two, and has made a few jaw-dropping plays defensively. One day he amazes you in a good way, the next day he amazes you in a bad way.

          Reply
  10. Tim D.

    13 years ago

    This is a move that makes sense… But the Reds need a Lefty off the bench

    Reply
    • Leachpunk

      13 years ago

      Willie Harris

      Reply
  11. TophersReds

    13 years ago

    Francisco can also play left if you didn’t know.

    Reply
    • Brad426

      13 years ago

       He’s never played a game there in the bigs… are you saying that because he’s played there in the minors?

      Reply
      • TophersReds

        13 years ago

        Correct. He’s not going to win any gold gloves in the Left, but he is more than serviceable.

        Reply
        • adub

          13 years ago

          I seem to remember him getting some time there the last two  springs with not-so-hot results. I like this trade for both teams: upside arm for the Reds, upside 3B for the Braves. Both guys are young and have some time to figure things out. Not every trade has a clear winner/loser. 

          Reply
  12. Chippers_Knees

    13 years ago

    Both teams win. When it comes to their systems and rosters they each gave up next to nothing to upgrade the depth they were lacking in other areas.

    Reply
  13. NYBravosFan10

    13 years ago

    Great trade. Hoover was probably never going to get a shot at the rotation and keeping his talent in the bullpen would be a waste. This just looks like a classic case of teams trading surplus for what their team actually needs. Braves don’t need the pitching but they need a third basemen so Prado can just stay where he is. Plus I just watched a video of him hitting a 502 foot bomb piece that cleared GABP and ended up in the ohio river. Awesome.

    Reply
    • Gunner65

      13 years ago

      Agreed. His power and talent were never an issue. The kid has unreal power potential … hopefully the Braves can get figure out a way to coach him. He is a bit of a head case though in that he either can’t or refuses to learn how to be a more disciplined at the dish. While he has gotten a little better … he still falls back into those “swing at everything” habits. When he is stuck in that rut pitchers were just burying 3 sliders in the dirt and he’d just couldn’t lay off. His conditioning has been an issue also … something else they will have to coax him into being better at in the off season. 

      Reply
    • Mitch Hausfeld

      13 years ago

      Francisco never hit a home run like that. I’m assuming it was actually Wily Mo Pena in the video because he owns the record for the longest homerun in GABP history.

      Reply
  14. Jacob 4

    13 years ago

    Not a bad move by any means. This basically just says that Francisco wasn’t going to make the team coming out of ST, so the only options you had were to option him to Louisville, in which case he would have had to pass through waivers, or trade him. He wasn’t going to get through waivers, so it was either get something out of him now or get nothing in a few days when someone else picks him up. With the injuries the Reds are dealing with in the pen, it’s not a bad idea to have another guy who can come up midseason and eat a few innings. 

    Reply
  15. MichaelH

    13 years ago

    Come out to Turner Field to watch Livian Hernandez and Juan Francisco. *sigh*

    Reply
    • Ryan

      13 years ago

       … on the bench, while the rotation has Tommy Hanson, JJ, and Beachy to begin the year with Huddy coming later. Not to mention a lineup filled with the likes of JHey, Freddie Freeman, Mac, Uggla, Prado, Bourn, and Chipper… *sigh*

      Reply
    • rundmc1981

      13 years ago

      Congrats, you found a reason to not go to a game. That’s why ATL is ranked 15th in MLB in attendance.

      Reply
  16. Aaron Egnor

    13 years ago

    Smart move for Atlanta – give up a 7th inning arm that wasn’t going to make the OD roster and get a young 3B with solid upside power potential and a pretty good glove.  He may end up being the second coming of Mark Reynolds but Atlanta needs more pop and this kid brings a lot of pop with him. Bat him 6th and see what he can do. 

    Reply
  17. rijored

    13 years ago

    That’s the problem with keeping an old player like M. Cairo who i like instead of keeping young powerful player like francisco who can hit a 3 run bomb against a righty late in a game, plus this is Rolen last year and Votto next last.

    Reply
  18. ctownboy

    13 years ago

    For those who say that Francisco doesn’t Walk enough, just look who his Manager is.

    Toothpick Baker is famous for saying that he wants his guys to be aggressive.  That he wants them going to the plate and swinging instead of looking to get walked.  He once was quoted as saying that they are called hitters and not walkers.

    To back this up, look at WHO his lead off and number two hitters have been the past four seasons and WHAT their On Base Percentages were.

    Toothpick had NO problem with Corey (two pitch At Bat) Patterson, Wily Taveras and Drew Stubbs leading off.  He also has had NO problem with Alex Gonzalez, Orlando Cabrera, Edgard Renteria, Paul Janish and now this Spring Training, Cozart and Valdez batting second. 

    I didn’t look all of their stats up but I am pretty sure Stubbs’ On Base Percentage last year was the highest of any of those players and it was only .329.

    So, for those who want to complain about Francisco’s free swinging ways and not learning some patience then the person you have to point the finger at is none other than Toothpick Baker.  Baker didn’t mind those other players being “aggressive” and having low On Base Percentages and I am pretty sure Francisco felt he could get away with being a free swinger also and not get punished for it.

    Reply
    • TophersReds

      13 years ago

      Do you enjoy complaing? I mean if thats what you like, then thats cool. But it seems like almost every post is a negative, long rant. Some optimism would be nice every once in awhile, considering it appears the Reds are your favourite team. I look at the realistic side more often than not, and I don’t agree with everything that they do, but overall the Reds and Bob Castillini are making an effort.

      Reply
      • Josh Bresser

        13 years ago

        Marty Brennaman

        Reply
    • josh 35

      13 years ago

      hes Mark Reynolds 2. we don’t need, or want, him.

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        13 years ago

        he strikes out like him, but mark reynolds walks 3 times more often

        Reply
  19. ctownboy

    13 years ago

     I was a Reds fan from the 1975 World Series until early in the 2009 season.  I stopped because I became TIRED of the HYPE always coming from Ca$htellini’s mouth and the non-sense BS from Toothpick Baker.

    Reply
  20. Ryan Mooney

    13 years ago

    Maybe francisco can hit on out of turner field..like he did last year at cincinatti

    Reply
  21. Ryan Gunstream

    13 years ago

    3rd base insurance after they move prado for better bat in OF later in the year

    Reply

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