Braves Transaction Rumors

The Braves have several problems in their outfield, and one of the options may be trading Jeff Francoeur.



Mark Bowman of MLB.com writes in his blog that the Braves are faced with an outfield that began the weekend ranked last in the National League in homers in slugging percentage. A bold way to improve things in the future would be to trade Francoeur.



"At the ripe age of 25, Francoeur might one day regain the power that has been absent since his 29-homer, 2006 season. But as they continue to patiently await the return of this power, the Braves find themselves in a position where they have to at least explore the option of trading him to a team that believes they can fix him," Bowman writes.



The Braves could persuade Rangers GM Jon Daniels to "roll the dice" with another ex-Braves player. With Andruw Jones finding a new lease on life with the Rangers, Texas is loaded with outfielders and many other top prospects who were once destined for Atlanta.



While they may not get much in return for Francoeur, they might get nothing back if they non-tender him in the offseason.

ESPN Rumors

A bag of balls

I still wnat to keep our OF the same, Schafer will improve so will Francouer. LF is ehh.

[quote name='Jayson Stark']• Frenchy toast: Here's how one front-office man describes the Braves' efforts to export Jeff Francoeur: "They're trying to peddle him everywhere. They're calling people all over baseball. But nobody's biting. Right now, he's about as ugly as he can get offensively. He's the kind of guy we'd think about taking a gamble on over the winter -- if he gets non-tendered and you could take him for a very low base. But right now, I think they're stuck with him."[/quote]



Full Jayson Stark "Rumblings & Grumblings" article

Well, at least most everyone thinks he stinks now. It should be easier for delusional Braves fans to accept it when he's finally released.

They just did

http://bigurb.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07...s_baseball.html



I wonder who'd be in with Escobar. Would you Braves fans do it?

It says prospects, and to get Holliday, I think they would have to put someone pretty good in there, which is worth it. I like how Escobar plays, and I really don't want to give away a really good prospect like Hanson or Heyward. Maybe someone smaller

not worth it even if it's just Escobar.

[quote name='Jacob Matthews' post='80727' date='Jul 14 2009, 02:50 PM']It says prospects, and to get Holliday, I think they would have to put someone pretty good in there, which is worth it. I like how Escobar plays, and I really don't want to give away a really good prospect like Hanson or Heyward. Maybe someone smaller[/quote]



wait. I was thinking Halladay not Holliday. No, I definately hope that trade doesn't happen

Escobar has fallen out of favor with someone, so that's why this has popped up.



It would definitely be farm system-destroying on a Mark Teixiera-like scale because there would have to be a lot of value going to Oakland to get Matt Holliday alone. He's only a rental, so it would be an absurd idea. Unfortunately, Wren is open to this kind of stuff, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.



It would make Bobby Cox happy to see Escobar go, but it may easily hurt the Braves in the next couple of years.

for half a year of Mark Teixeira the Angels gave up Casey Kotchman and Marek.



Escobar has more value than Kotchman and Marek, and Teixeira is better than Holliday. Add getting half a year of Cabrera and this trade still isn't good.

I personally think Escobar isn't as good defensively as the Braves broadcasters act like he is. He is alright with the bat. I think we have ZERO chance of ever keeping him when his contract runs out, so why not try to get another player with less attitude who maybe would be willing to stay with the team? Just don't give up anyone in our farm. I hated seeing Gorkys go in the McClouth trade. Bobby himself described him as one of the best defensive CF he had ever seen, that must be stating a lot considering what Andruw was when he first came up.

Why the hell would they want ocab if they have Yunel? And whoever said that orlando does not have an attitude, boy are you wrong.

[quote name='SamtheBravesFan' post='80744' date='Jul 14 2009, 03:20 PM']It would definitely be farm system-destroying on a Mark Teixiera-like scale because there would have to be a lot of value going to Oakland to get Matt Holliday alone. He's only a rental, so it would be an absurd idea. Unfortunately, Wren is open to this kind of stuff, so I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen.[/quote]



He isn't so much of a complete rental as you would think. If the Braves could not sign him back to the team then he would be a Type A and we would get 2 compensatory draft picks. However we would probably waste them by trading for other ridiculous players

According to this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...908.html?sub=AR



The Nationals may have some interest in Terry Pendleton as manager, if they cannot get Bobby Valentine. I hope this could be a reality. I figure he would be more likely than Ned Yost to take it as it would be his first opportunity to manage and Yost has already had the gig with the Brewers and may see it as pointless as bad as they are.



Its probably highly unlikely but a guy can dream can't he?

I wanted him, we got Trey Hillman instead.

good I'm hoping that if/when Bobby goes, TP doesn't take over as manager.

They're taking calls from teams interested in Yunel Escobar.



There's nothing to the suggestion that the Braves could send Escobar and prospects to Oakland for Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera, especially since Escobar's much cheaper than Holliday and hitting about as well.



The Cardinals are interested in Escobar, but they wouldn't trade Ryan Ludwick.



O'Brien hears that the Braves offered Rafael Soriano to the Cards for Joe Mather last winter but the Cards wouldn't make the move.



Braves GM Frank Wren repeated that he doesn't want to move prospects and can't afford to add much payroll.

Very interesting that they are taking offers for Escobar.



Other thoughts?

Good. I'm glad that that Oakland rumor isn't true. That would have been a catastrophe.

Holliday is not the guy you want to trade right now with his diminished value and increased price. He hasn't been awful this year, but definitely has dropped off from the numbers in Colorado.



Are the Braves looking for an OF bat? I think acquiring Church was good as Francouer was pretty much stagnant in Atlanta. so maybe this outfield isn't as bad as I thought at the beginning of the year, but it's still not very good.

[quote name='RB!' post='83284' date='Jul 15 2009, 08:03 PM']Holliday is not the guy you want to trade right now with his diminished value and increased price. He hasn't been awful this year, but definitely has dropped off from the numbers in Colorado.[/quote]



Sure enough; which is why, even though he would be an improvement for the Braves in their outfield, it would be a stupid idea to give so much for him. I'd go so far to predict that Boras won't be able to get a huge contract for Holliday. It's clear that Matt is a product of Coors Field.

This is definitely interesting. The Braves are generally a young team in the field, if I am not mistaken with the exception of Chipper. Would adding Cabrera, along with his salary, and that of Halladay's be a good idea?

I also agree with you Sam, that Halladay was a product of the best hitter's ballpark. He had the best home average when a Rockie, I believe something like .363.

[quote name='C-Lo' post='83376' date='Jul 15 2009, 10:11 PM']This is definitely interesting. The Braves are generally a young team in the field, if I am not mistaken with the exception of Chipper. Would adding Cabrera, along with his salary, and that of Halladay's be a good idea?

I also agree with you Sam, that Halladay was a product of the best hitter's ballpark. He had the best home average when a Rockie, I believe something like .363.[/quote]



It would be an awful idea. Even though I think that Holliday's not going to get the contract that Boras wants, he's most likely not going to re-sign with Atlanta. Orlando Cabrera would also be a significant downgrade from Yunel Escobar. Since the shortstop market is so thin and Diory Hernandez isn't a good full-time option, the Braves would probably have to stick with him a few more years, which would hurt them.

its a crazy thought but I think we should bring Phillip Wellman in as Bobby's replacement. He definately has that fire to get his players motivated, evidenced by his tantrum a couple years back he threw in a game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. That is if we haven't got the means to lure Jaramillo away from the Rangers.

I believe the Braves will trade Kelly Johnson for a bullpen pitcher. After thursdays game I think Frank will want to upgrade the pen for some help. If they do that and bring Huddy into the pen and move Moylan to AAA for a while. They will make a good push towards the post season.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9858776...y's-edition



They always seem to be adding RPs. Wickman, Soriano, Gonzo, Mayhay, etc.

[quote name='TheHugeUnit' post='95416' date='Jul 28 2009, 11:24 AM']http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9858776...y's-edition



They always seem to be adding RPs. Wickman, Soriano, Gonzo, Mayhay, etc.[/quote]



(Mahay)



Probably because Bobby Cox burns them all out.



Wren has said that he wants to shore up the bullpen, and I don't blame him; the Braves have had an overused pen (some Braves fans say that's Cox's fault) bite them in the butt more than once this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...rumblings090813



I wonder what type of package the Indians wanted, probably started with Schafer and had two or three pitchers in it. Maybe even Teahren?

[quote name='TheHugeUnit' post='114132' date='Aug 13 2009, 03:44 PM']http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...rumblings090813



I wonder what type of package the Indians wanted, probably started with Schafer and had two or three pitchers in it. Maybe even Teahren?[/quote]



I don't think I would put more into it than just trying to see what the Indians might have wanted. I mean I don't see why they would have wanted to get him, what would they have done? I mean you can't take McCann out due to his above average, "ahead of his experience" game calling abilities and the fact that he is a very good hitter, it would have had to be strictly as a first basemen but with Freeman coming up, I would have to ask what that would have gained us?