The Braves are considering Clint Barmes as one potential way of replacing Chipper Jones, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Braves, who lost Chipper to season-ending knee surgery last week, cannot deal for Barmes yet, since the Rockies have yet to place him on waivers. Martin Prado, who should soon return from the disabled list, would play third and Barmes would play second if the Rockies and Braves were to complete a deal.
The Braves have a number of players in the organization who can play third. Troy Glaus will not return to the hot corner, but Prado, Omar Infante, Brooks Conrad and even Eric Hinske are options.
Aramis Ramirez, Pedro Feliz, Wes Helms, Adam Kennedy, Jose Lopez, Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta, Ty Wigginton, Edwin Encarnacion, Melvin Mora and Willie Bloomquist are among the infielders who could become targets for Atlanta should GM Frank Wren decide to make a trade. The Braves had not asked the Mariners about Chone Figgins as of last Friday.
Dear Frank Wren,
No Clint Barmes plz. Kthnxbai.
No thanks. They have plenty of players with similar stats already.
cant agree more that their third base situation can be dealt within their organization. Omar Infante definately deserves a shot and eric Hinske could also platoon at third. I wouldn’t be to keen on moving prado or brooks conrad their. Barmes is not necessary but I wouldn’t be surprised if the braves take a big look at jose lopez. He would fit very well at third in Atlanta but for now, lets stand pat.
~MLB Insider
I think, if this is true, they would use Barmes off the bench in a utility player role and continue using Infante/Conrad at 3B.
Consider him and move on. Barmes’s career .256/.301/.407 line ain’t great and this year’s .243/.308/.364 is even worse. I would much rather see Infante get a shot.
I bet Wren and Co. see his .289/.336/.492/.828 career line against LHP and very solid glove at 2B/SS (and some games at 3B) and like what they see. I know his OBP is low and righties can handle him but as a super utility infielder who hits lefties – a need of the Braves – he could be a very useful player.
The Braves could in theory platoon Conrad (.874 OPSvsRHP) and Barmes (.828 OPSvsLHP) at 2B/3B with Prado playing everyday switching between 2B and 3B. This would allow Bobby to keep using Infanted everyday all over the field in 2B/SS/3B/LF/RF/CF keeping everyone fresh and our bench depth intact.
Those are valid points for sure, but do the Braves need another utility player? This team seems to be a team of “utility” players who are alll performing ok. Wouldn’t it be better to look at a longer term solution at 3B? There are two better 3B options at 3B on Colorado alone (Mora and Stewart) in my opinion. Why not go after Stewart and use a 3B platoon next year if Chipper returns while having a player you can stick in the lineup everyday?
As far as I’m concerned, Chipper is still our 3B next year. There is no need to invest large amounts of money or prospects to aquire a long term 3B when we may not even need one until 2013.
I sure hope he is. It would be nice to have a Plan B though.
Stewart IS a much better option than Barmes, which is why there’s NO WAY the Rockies would offer him now. He would definitely get picked-up on waivers by another NL team before the Braves had any shot at him.
This off-season is his first year arbitration eligible, so he’s under team control for several more years. I believe he’s in-line for a break-out season in 2011 and a possible multi-year contract to buy-out his arbitration years.
While on paper that sounds pretty good, the last thing the Braves need is another platoon position. Players do much better with consistency and with this idea you have guys coming in and out and playing various positions. I don’t think Prado would do well switching between separate positions and having to continue to think differently about what position he’s playing every other day. They’re better off finding a strong player at one position and using their utility players like they do now.
Up until about a year ago, Prado was a utility player. It was his job to switch back and forth between positions and he did it quite well.
I agree that Barmes would be a great addition to the bench…that would allow Infante and to stay in starting lineup and still have a super utility guy on the bench.
Theres just no way we can take Infante out of starting lineup…He’s batting .378 last 17 games while rest of the team has batted .213 during that stretch. At this point we need to just get another utility guy who bats righty. The only other move we might make is Freeman but Glaus has actually played better of late…When Prado gets back Id like to see Bobby give Glaus a day off every few days and run out there with Prado at 1st, Infante at 2nd and Conrad at 3rd.
I want Chone Figgins and/or Aramis Ramierz. Those two bats can most likely make an impact in our lineup. While Barmes is just a very good utility player.
Both of those guys make a ton of money. It is doubtful that the Braves trade for either one, particularly since Chipper said that he is coming back next year.
Aramis will make a ton (14.6 mil) Figgins only makes 9 mil next year (which is still a lot but not too much especially if he returns to form)
Barmes’ OPS+ has never been above 100 in his career, indicating he is completely below average. However, his glove did fill-in nicely when Tulo went down with an inury, and he can play all over the infield. As a Rockies fan, I say let him go sooner than later and give EY2 the keys to the keystone corner ASAP! He’s much more dynamic a player than Barmes could ever be.
Please take barmes from us. Seriously you don’t even need to give us anything
Yea, this would absolutely have to be a move for the bench. I guess they’d need someone to take Infante’s spot since he’ll be playing every day. Of course, if that’s the case why not go after Mora? It seems like he’d be a much better candidate to take over Infante’s utility role, since he’s having a better year. Prado at third, Infante at second, and Mora on the bench. I guess the issue might be Mora getting through waivers, though.
Would Barmes really be that big of an upgrade over someone like Timmons? I haven’t seen Timmons play much, so that’s not a rhetorical question.
Id def have interest in Aramis…I just havent heard us connected to him at all. That move could have a Fred Mcgriff type impact!!
Barmes would be better than Diory Hernandez or Brandon Hicks as the bench/utility player but he shouldn’t be a replacement for Omar in the starting lineup.
I think the big plus for Barmes is he can play SS…TImmons and Mora cant….I dont think.
How can the Braves consider Barmes if he isn’t even on waivers and may never be?
Pure BS speculation.
There is as much of a possibility of him being DFA’d tomorrow.
Barmes is decent option I think, I’ve seen worse players be traded to a first place team and abruptly go on a tear. My preference is Timmons, I’m really interested to see him in the big leagues but Barmes has power *potential* and put up respectable numbers in 08-09. Beyond that he’s hitting well with RISP.
This would also allow the Braves to keep the best bench in baseball in tact with Diaz/Melky, Conrad, Ross, and Infante/Barmes and we’d have three infielders that could spell anyone at any time with their position diversity.
No wonder we are having a hard time against left handed pitching. Almost everyone on the team is mashing righties this year, but our right handed bats aren’t getting it done against left handed pitching. Infante and Prado are batting well against everyone, but are both a little better against righties. Although right handed, Gonzalez has struggled against left handed pitching this year. Melky and Glaus are more or less a wash, as they are both putting up similarly mediocre stats against everyone. Hinske has been great against lefties but he usually sits. Diaz is slugging against lefties this year but isn’t hitting for average or getting on base. Lefties McCann, Heyward and Ankiel are mashing righties but aren’t playing well against lefties, particularly Ankiel, who is sporting a .186 SLG against them this year. vs RHP         vs LHP IF – Infante .369/.393/.444                 .284/.324/.347 2B – Prado .324/.364/.489                 .293/.341/.472 RF – Heyward .275/.395/.489                 .227/.324/.353 C – McCann .283/.394/.508                 .235/.345/.392 1B – Hinske .249/.333/.447                 .333/.375/.667 1B – Glaus .245/.335/.410                 .235/.375/.409 3B – Conrad .244/.316/.558                 .231/.310/.308 SS – Gonzalez .269/.319/.494                 .224/.257/.449 CF – Ankiel .264/.340/.484                 .163/.250/.186 OF – Cabrera .274/.328/.380                 .259/.331/.384 C – Ross .278/.409/.417                 .305/.369/.441 LF – Diaz .203/.263/.257                 .263/.306/.575
Barmes to the Braves? SOLD no, no..just take him.
Of course that leaves the Rockies thin for a back up at SS, even as a day off break for Tulo…knowing Tracy he’ll play Giambi at SS
I really think the Braves should get Ty Wigginton! i think he would be a great asset on the team and he can play 3rd, 2nd, and 1st base
Glaus has one year in his contract… I wonder if Aramis Ramirez would want to play third base this year, then make a transition to 1st next year. It won’t happen but hey I would take Ramirez over Glaus… Better hitter, doesen’t strike out as much, gets on base more(which wil appeal to the Braves, they lead the league in OBP), and drives in alot of runs.
Dear Frank Wren,
I agree. No Clint Barmes.
Thxbai.
Barmes needs to stay with the rockies. Him and Tulo have a strong infield together.