The Braves and Blue Jays swapped shortstops today and it's time for you to weigh in. We've heard from the experts, but what do you think? The Blue Jays sold high on Alex Gonzalez for a player with star potential. Does that make them winners? The Braves acquired the player who leads MLB shortstops in homers for someone who has had his ups and downs in Atlanta. Does that make them winners? Maybe one of the minor leaguers will be the difference-maker. Let's see what you think:
Considering the short-term and the long-term, which team won the Alex Gonzalez–Yunel Escobar swap?
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This was just plain pathetic on the Braves part.
Gotta say the Blue Jays on this one. The only way that they don’t win this trade is if Yunel continues to put up numbers like this season.
It was smart on their part. Esco has great potential, but he’d worn out his welcome in Atlanta. Not to mention he’s not hitting for crap this year. They’re in a win now mode and he isn’t providing anything to them.
It’s pathetic to watch him bat this year. He’s not clutch either.
I’m a die hard Braves fan, and I’m happy for the trade.
Being a Braves fan all my life, I know I’m going to be called bias….yet, I’ve watched almost every game Yunel’s played, and while he’s a good defensive SS, he took way too many plays off. If you watch just highlights, yeah, this is totally a steal by the Blue Jays. But play after play, and his hitting hasn’t been as good as advertised, I just can’t say the Braves didn’t do the right thing.
People being stuck in situations they don’t like hardly ever succeed. Yunel seemed like he just didn’t like being in Atlanta. Now we’re going to find out if it was just about Atlanta & not getting along with teammates & manager, or if it really is a character flaw in Escobar.
The Braves might have sold low, but who knows how much lower it would have gone if he stayed??
The Blue Jays might come out smelling like roses if Yunel performs to potential, and I’m OK with that as a Braves fan, because he wasn’t really living up to that potential with all the negative surrounding him in the ATL.
I agree. A change of scenery could be for the best for Escobar (see Alex Rios), or he could continue to be a problem. Only time will tell, I guess.
I believe the Jays won this one. First of all Alex Gonzalez has a weak OBP and would be considered a flash in the pan this year. Knowing how inconsistent Alex Gonzalez is throughout his career it was best for them to move him while they had the chance. The only bad part on the Jays were the prospects they gave up and right now Tim Collins is throwing the ball real well. For the Braves side they lost big time by giving up Yunel Escobar I believe he is going to be good down the road and if the Jays can adjust Yunel’s attitude towards the game they should be good. Not to mention when you look at Alex Gonzalez’s OBP its worse then Yunels! So I guess you could say that the Braves missed out on this trade.
Buster Olney said it best, “The Braves have one of the best clubhouses in baseball, and that Escobar was having problems says a whole lot about him; not many have problems with ATL.”Number’s don’t mean a whole lot if you can’t get along with anyone. Ask Milton Bradley about that. Even Gary Sheffield was fine in the Braves clubhouse, if Yunel couldn’t make it there, he’s not going to change his attitude in Toronto.Sorry, but I read somewhere Yunel wasn’t integrating into the clubhouse due to a lack of other Cuban players to get along with. How many Cuban’s are playing in Toronto right now??
Ask Barry Bonds, too. Really, how do numbers not “mean a whole lot”? They quite literally mean what you’re doing between the lines.
And if EVEN Gary Sheffield was fine, maybe that says more about the small value of chemistry than it does about the Braves clubhouse.
The Braves threw Escobar away in this deal. However, if he was a loafer and malcontent as Braves fans NOW suggest, it’s not such a bad thing. Both teams win in that case. Provided Escobar hustles and plays with the right attitude with Toronto.
anyone who doesn’t know how the braves operate would say that this was a dumb move. This was a two part trade. First Bobby wants to win and the braves want to win for him this year so he gets the send off he more then deserves. Part two is that escobar doesn’t fit into the tradition and hustle environment that everyone embodies from the field crew all the way to scherholtz. They need some production from the 7-8 spot and with J hey coming back Escobar didn’t fit into what was a great great team chemistry and Gonzo has a great personality with still pretty good D I wll admit Escobar is great defesivly but he seems to boot balls when we can’t have that done and almost has a problem with balls you don’t have to do super human things to get to and throw the guy out. Been a Braves fan for ever. I agree 85% with this although a lil more future return would have been nice. But if this is a sell now win now scenario. im in. Becuase this team is exciting with or without him. Plus the two prospects aren’t really scrubs. Not the best but the braves farm system know how to take talent and turn them into real ball players. So keep these guys in mind. This is just another move that shows what class the braves sit in.
P.S. we love you Coxie go out on top.
If they have a tradition and “hustle” environment, what where they doing trading for Sheffield? And would this mean Escobar is a better fit in Toronto where “tradition and hustle” aren’t as important?
It’s funny how all the Braves fans argue on this trade’s behalf with things like intagibles, which can’t be quantified, and therefore, they could never be told they’re wrong.
I know they wanna win for Bobby Cox, but Alex Gonzalez for Yunel Escobar? Really. Say all you want about Gonzalez’s home runs (will not keep it up) and Cox hating Escobar (Cox is gone after this year and Escobar has a long career ahead), but this was a horrible move for the Braves. I don’t think the Braves are going to be any better this season with this trade, and they just hurt their future in a big way.
Does this remind anyone else of the Scott Rolen-Edwin Encarnacion swap from last year? I thought it was a clear win for the Blue Jays at the time, but I’ve since been proven dead wrong.
It’s a different situation. Rolen wanted to be traded, as I’d guess he had an issue with Cito Gaston, much like he did with LaRussa. Encarnacion meant nothing, Zach Stewart was the key to the trade.
Glaus trade had nothing to do with Cito or any clubhouse problems. Jays wanted to keep him, guys and Cito loved him because he was a great hardworking guy. But he asked to be traded because he wanted to move closer to his family. It had nothing to do with Toronto either, he just wanted to move closer to family, that’s all.
What are you talking about? I said nothing about Troy Glaus! Glaus was traded for Rolen, and a few years later Rolen was traded for Encarnacion, Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart.
It is kinda similar. However, Rolen has a resume of being a very productive player. Alex Gonzalez is an all glove shortstop. His HR production is an aberration.
Career #’s: .248 BA, .294 OBP, 81 OPS+, 5 WAR.
vs.
Career #’s: .291 BA, .368 OBP, 105 OPS+, 12.1 WAR
Who won out?
Btw, 1. was Alex Gonzalez, 2. was Yunel Escobar.
Take into account Jo-Jo Reyes -3.5 WAR, and the two prospects that Atlanta got back, and you’re a lot closer to even.
you are correct, sir. people think it’s an Escobar for Gonzalez trade. it’s NOT. it’s an Escobar and Reyes (who should never be on a MLB roster) for Gonzalez and a LHP who is striking out 15 players per 9 innings (Collins…who is VERY similar to Billy Wagner) in Double A AND a Double A SS (Where he’s going for the Braves) who is FAST (Pastornicky) and can play 2B or SS. Remember, the Braves have VERY little minor league depth for positional players. While I don’t think the Braves won this trade, the Blue Jays didn’t either. I think it’s a toss up but I like what the Braves will have in 3-4 years MORE than the Jays.
Ur right, but the braves win this trade right now as well
I think Collins will be the person who sways this as a ‘winner’ for Braves, if he performs to expectations. Pastornicky has been solid, but a recent interview with the farm director states that he believes he will move to either 2B or the outfield, because while he can play SS, he isn’t very good at it. But he’s a fast little man, and I really think the ‘future’ winner could be the Braves. Odd, considering it’s the Jays who are building towards the future.
Gambling on prospects, imho, does not constitute a good trade when the MLB talent you are giving up greatly exceeds what you receive in return. Perhaps if the Braves were rebuilding, yes, but for a win-now organization, this makes no sense. If you use the personnel reason, then this was probably a good clubhouse move. The question becomes, however, was this not a Cox v Escobar issue, as was portrayed by the anonymous Atlanta player stating that Cox hates Escober? And if so, rewinding time back to Tuesday, who was going to be with the Braves longer, Cox or Escobar?
Potentially good trade in 2-3 years, terrible one for now.
LOL
you are seriously comparing a TEN YEAR PLAYER to a 4 year player?
Yunel’s average will drop to the 260s in a couple of years.
You have your crystal ball with you at all times? And it’s not only a 10 yr player, its a terrible 10 year player.
well Escobar is a horrible 4 year player then.
First off, BA is a horrible stat to draw on. Jose Bautista is a good example of that this year, Carlos Pena last year.
Second, all you’ve been doing is bashing Yunel Escobar for the last 24 hours since the trade happened. Get over it.
Braves get alex who is hitting amazing this year and is very good defensively. Jays get escobar who is immature and lacks concentration on the field. Yeah, he was great last year but this year he is hitting awful, but he is still pretty good defensively except for when he forgets how many outs there are or he makes an easy throw really difficult and almost ends Glaus’ season. Braves also get a speedy double A SS, who will be good for PRs in the post season. And they aslo get a stud lefty in double A who has 73Ks in 43IP. The Jays get a lefty who was a super high ERA (like 7) and he just doesnt look good this year. Braves win this trade hands down, u have heard from me: the TradeKing. And I like the Jays alot, theyre just kinda stupid :/ bye alex! I willllll misss uuu
i think it really comes down to the Braves have been looking for an excuse/reason to trade him. he has played so well the last two years it wasnt an option. with his struggles in the first half and the mental mistakes it was the Braves “out” to trade him. i do believe the sold very very low but the move is win now. only time will tell how this actually played out.
My two cents on the whole Bobby hates him: Not every player is going to be the exact mold you will want. i think every team needs alittle flair/attitude/cockiness. Yes escobar had his mental errors but the guy is a stud. Sometimes you have to bend a bit both player and coach.
after all that who cares as long as Gonzalez plays solid this year into the playoffs GO BRAVES!
Couldn’t agree more. The Braves basically gave away Escobar because Bobby Cox didn’t like him.
The Braves swapped a young-immature primadonna and a pitcher they’ve been trying to get rid of in Reyes for a veteran SS who has some post season experience and two prospects who could very well become trade bait later this season. Yes, Escobar is great talent, but other than last year, that talent has yet to be fully realized. This is a great move for the Braves to help not only their clubhouse, but on field play as well. This isn’t the power the Braves were looking to add, just taking care of some long overdue business. Wren has another trick up his sleeve for an outfield bat and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.
As a long time Braves fan I will miss #19 but I guess I need to change my name (and avatar) now.The Jays won big time on this trade and it wasn’t even close.