One American League scout gets the sense that the Braves may be willing to trade Yunel Escobar, according to Mark Bowman and Chris Hempson of MLB.com. However, Bowman notes that the Braves aren't actively attempting to deal the 27-year-old and that it would take an "extremely attractive package" for Atlanta to move him.
Escobar has performed below expectations so far this year, posting career lows in batting average (.250) and OPS (.651). Not only is the shortstop struggling on the field, but Bowman suggests that "some members of the Braves organization" wouldn't mind parting ways with Escobar, due in part to his approach to the game.
There are a handful of teams, including the Tigers and Angels, who may look into acquiring a shortstop before the July 31st trade deadline. If they do, Escobar would be an intriguing option, though he won't come cheap. Considering his age and his .301/.375/.426 slash line in over 1500 plate appearances from 2007 to 2009, the Braves won't be inclined to sell low.
I don’t see how you trade this guy. His defense makes up for that .250, which has been rising throughout the year. He is a solid piece for this club. And if they do trade him, who do they have to take over for him??
this guy is an enigma. i dont get him, is he just one of these guys who thinks he doesnt have to work at anything?
I bet it will take at least a top-100 prospect and a top-200 prospect for Wren to even listen to an offer.
I bet it will take at least a top-100 prospect and a top-200 prospect for Wren to even listen to an offer.
The Braves don’t have anyone in the minors to take over for Escobar, and Diory Hernandez is a long way from being fit enough to start. Infante can’t play short, same for Prado, so the Braves would have to get a SS in return. I just don’t see how they could get anyone of Escobar’s caliber along with another piece, e.g. a bat at corner OF. Trading Escobar makes no sense unless they get blown away by an offer, which the Angels and Tigers don’t have. Escobar’s WAR at this point is 1.1. Unless the Tigers offer up Austin Jackson, a trade will never happen. The Angels don’t even have anything of comparable value to offer. Sounds like an empty rumor to me.
The Braves don’t have anyone in the minors to take over for Escobar, and Diory Hernandez is a long way from being fit enough to start. Infante can’t play short, same for Prado, so the Braves would have to get a SS in return. I just don’t see how they could get anyone of Escobar’s caliber along with another piece, e.g. a bat at corner OF. Trading Escobar makes no sense unless they get blown away by an offer, which the Angels and Tigers don’t have. Escobar’s WAR at this point is 1.1. Unless the Tigers offer up Austin Jackson, a trade will never happen. The Angels don’t even have anything of comparable value to offer. Sounds like an empty rumor to me.
Yeah, I agree. If the Braves had a half decent back-up, I would at least consider this option. I haven’t ever like him for the Braves team, but I do understand he is our best option at this point. I dont buy this one right now.
Yeah, I agree. If the Braves had a half decent back-up, I would at least consider this option. I haven’t ever like him for the Braves team, but I do understand he is our best option at this point. I dont buy this one right now.
This is somewhat interesting… A year ago the A’s and Braves were in heavy talks that would have sent Holliday to the Atlanta outfield and Escobar to the Oakland infield.
But why would the first place Braves trade their starting shortstop?
Can you post a link to that? The Braves would have NEVER traded Escobar for a one year rental player like Holliday. They reluctantly were willing to trade him for Jake Peavy a couple of years ago but there have been no trade rumors since then.
Ken Rosenthal talks about how the Dodgers might consider shopping Matt Kemp around. I’m a Braves fan and frankly I would love to see Kemp control centerfield considering he doesn’t eat up much salary and is a very productive player. Maybe the Braves could put together a package of Yunel and once highly touted prospect Jordan Schafer (he’s still valuable, but he came back just last month from a pro-longed wrist injury) together and possibly add one of the many pitching prospects the Braves have to offer. The Dodgers could ask Furcal to move to second base and the Braves wouldn’t lose anything cause Omar Infante would fill in nice at short (he’s doing well this year) and they could bring up infield depth from the minors, which they have plenty of.
I mean I’m a big fan of Yunel, but Matt Kemp is just one of those players who brings a lot to the table. Not to mention the Braves have a highly touted shortstop prospect in the minors named Edward Salcendo (even though he’s 18 and is at rookie ball) who has been drawn comparisons to Hanley Ramirez. But that’s a long time from now and the Braves would have to find a gap player till he arrives.
This might be one big fantasy, but you never know. No one expected back in the early 90’s when the Braves traded for Fred McGriff to get them over the edge!
Ken Rosenthal talks about how the Dodgers might consider shopping Matt Kemp around. I’m a Braves fan and frankly I would love to see Kemp control centerfield considering he doesn’t eat up much salary and is a very productive player. Maybe the Braves could put together a package of Yunel and once highly touted prospect Jordan Schafer (he’s still valuable, but he came back just last month from a pro-longed wrist injury) together and possibly add one of the many pitching prospects the Braves have to offer. The Dodgers could ask Furcal to move to second base and the Braves wouldn’t lose anything cause Omar Infante would fill in nice at short (he’s doing well this year) and they could bring up infield depth from the minors, which they have plenty of.
I mean I’m a big fan of Yunel, but Matt Kemp is just one of those players who brings a lot to the table. Not to mention the Braves have a highly touted shortstop prospect in the minors named Edward Salcendo (even though he’s 18 and is at rookie ball) who has been drawn comparisons to Hanley Ramirez. But that’s a long time from now and the Braves would have to find a gap player till he arrives.
This might be one big fantasy, but you never know. No one expected back in the early 90’s when the Braves traded for Fred McGriff to get them over the edge!
Trading Escobar would be a huge loss for the Braves as they have no one to replace him in the lineup. Infante is a terrible defender at shortstop and they have no one behind him at all, other than Brandon Hicks. The Braves minor league system is completely empty of shortstops that are major league caliber AND close to major league ready.
Also, IF the Dodgers trade Kemp they want young pitching in return. That is a fact. So, if the Braves want Kemp I am guessing that they would need to give up a young pitcher like Jurrjens. A trade of JJ for Kemp actually makes a ton of sense for both teams.
The Braves should lock up Escobar through his arbitration years, not trade him. He is a little flamboyant but I think the boring, bland Braves need a little fire on the field.
Why is every one saying omar is terrible at short? can someone post the stats on this? because every time ive seen him play there he has performed pretty well, both on the the field and at the plate
LOL @ Braves fans who argued that Escobar was the better than Jose Reyes prior to the 2010 season.
LOL @ Mutt fans who actually think Reyes is an elite shortstop.
Um look at his past years, look at this year, and look at his defense. If he isn’t elite then I don’t know what elite is.
It all depends on what you consider ‘elite’. His bat doesn’t really reach elite status, but his speed is. So if you take speed into account, I guess he is. I wouldn’t consider him an elite PLAYER, but I’d say he’s pretty close to being an elite SS. I can’t think of too many SS I’d rather have. No way is Escobar better than him, but last year he was showing potential to be at least as good a hitter as Reyes. Combine that with the fact Reyes didn’t play last year, and it’s understandable why some people would be lead to believe that Escobar is better.
LOL @ Mutt fans who actually think Reyes is an elite shortstop.
…Luke Dude I have been to 4 Braves games and the guy has this “attitude” like he makes a mistake and then “sulks” for the rest of the game and his body language is just plain terrible and it just does not reflect well on the team , on him and you just want to shake him and say “man you are a talented Major League shortstop and you are making a butt load of money and you are not in Cuba anymore !” At the beginning of the season it was said he was going to make a bigger effort to learn English and just in general try to stop all the stuff that he is still doing now. So I do not know what his problem is, maybe it is a real problem , I mean like Social Anxiety type problem , if he gave it a bigger effort he could be one of the top shortstops in the league.
His problem is that you don’t like him. He speaks English just fine. He just is afraid to give an interview in English. And who can blame him when he reads the garbage that is written about him. I see no attitude problem whatsoever in Yunel Escobar. He plays the game with flair and flamboyance, which is not a bad thing (except to people that like boring, no personality type players).
I’m a big Yunel Escobar fan and hope/don’t think we will trade him. But if you don’t see a bit of an attitude problem you aren’t watching the same team.
i agree, even a blind man could see how his lack of concentration//respect is detrimental to the team
..Man I like the guy , you don’t need to tell me what I like or don’t like. The guy needs to quit pouting like a baby and play the game.
His problem is that you don’t like him. He speaks English just fine. He just is afraid to give an interview in English. And who can blame him when he reads the garbage that is written about him. I see no attitude problem whatsoever in Yunel Escobar. He plays the game with flair and flamboyance, which is not a bad thing (except to people that like boring, no personality type players).
…Luke Dude I have been to 4 Braves games and the guy has this “attitude” like he makes a mistake and then “sulks” for the rest of the game and his body language is just plain terrible and it just does not reflect well on the team , on him and you just want to shake him and say “man you are a talented Major League shortstop and you are making a butt load of money and you are not in Cuba anymore !” At the beginning of the season it was said he was going to make a bigger effort to learn English and just in general try to stop all the stuff that he is still doing now. So I do not know what his problem is, maybe it is a real problem , I mean like Social Anxiety type problem , if he gave it a bigger effort he could be one of the top shortstops in the league.
Too bad we traded Elvis Andrus! The Braves don’t have the depth to trade Escobar and stay in contention. He might be having a horrible year at the plate but his defense has been strong.
I have to agree about Escobar’s attitude. My wife and I were at a game the other night. As ususal, little kids ran out on to the field and waited for the Braves to take the field. This happens a lot. Players sign a ball for the kid and thats it. The camera was right on Escobar as he is signing for a little guy. He never smiles, speaks, or even acknowledges this kid. I’m not a big “children” guy, but these kids are admiring these players. At least he could have smiled or nodded his head. Instead, he hands the bal back to the kid and looks into left field. Heyward was a class act. He was down on one knee giving the kid an experience of a lifetime! I can understand why Cox has had issues with Escobar. I say traded him! No one is bigger than the team!
The only way this could possibly make sense is if they could turn right around and acquire a guy like Stephen Drew before the deadline passes. If not then this is a move that’s best left to be explored during the offseason when it’s easier to acquire a suitable replacement. Creating a hole to fill another is not going to help the Braves try to win the division
The only way this could possibly make sense is if they could turn right around and acquire a guy like Stephen Drew before the deadline passes. If not then this is a move that’s best left to be explored during the offseason when it’s easier to acquire a suitable replacement. Creating a hole to fill another is not going to help the Braves try to win the division