The Blue Board

Braves have chance to deal for Carlos Beltran? Do it now
5:15 pm July 22, 2011, by Jeff Schultz

Before you shoot down the idea of the Braves trading a top pitching prospect like Mike Minor to rent Carlos Beltran for two months, consider this: He could be the difference in the them winning the National League East Division. And the pennant. And the World Series.

Beltran, who’s in the final year of his contract with the New York Mets, has been connected to seemingly every playoff contender in baseball’s rumor mill. But ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that there are only five legitimate pursuers right now: The Braves, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston and Texas. He pegs the Braves as the favorites.

There’s also a school of thought that Beltran, who has a no-trade clause, prefers to be traded to a National League team. In other words, if the Braves don’t get Beltran, one of their two biggest competitors – the Phillies or Giants — just might.

Beltran obviously isn’t the player he used to be, but he can still generate offense (entering tonight: .290, 15 homers, 61 RBI). He’s a switch hitter and can platoon in center field (Jordan Schafer) or right (Jason Heyward). He’s also a nice insurance policy should Chipper Jones struggle to return from a knee injury, or if he is reinjured (prompting Martin Prado to stay at third base and not return to the outfield).

But here’s the clincher: In four career playoff series with Houston and New York (22 games), he’s hitting .366 with a .485 on-base percentage, 11 homers and 19RBIs.

Imagine that as an option for the Braves in October.

If the Braves don’t have to mortgage their future for a rental player, general manager Frank Wren should make the deal. And since the Braves are deep in pitching, one prospect doesn’t qualify as mortgaging the future.

Do it.

losing Minor would not be that big of a loss IF we could get a quality player to come in and start in the OF right away ; would rather have someone for more than 3 months but will take what we can get

Faux Frank Wren™
Jonny Venters is 76 years old...in Braves reliever years.

Well now, this is interesting. Doesn't seem like we will get Beltran now...

Carlos Beltran went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in the Mets' win over the Marlins last night, and every game he plays could be his last with the team these days. Yesterday we learned that because of his no-trade clause, Beltran can not approve a trade until 24 hours after the deal. That means the deadline to move him is July 30th, not the 31st. The Mets have interest in top prospects, but Mike Minor (Braves), Domonic Brown (Phillies), Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler, and Brandon Belt (all Giants) appear to be long shots.

This is good news...

David O'Brien
Uggla tested out calf with some running. He's good to go and he's in the lineup for #Braves

Buster Olney
Could see Reed Johnson becoming one of most coveted trade pieces: .407 OBP, .978 OPS vs. LHP, owed only $300K for rest of year.BOS/PHI/ATL?

The Braves have 4 major problems that will keep them from winning in the postseason.

1). McLouth - No need to beat a dead horse. Among all the OF in MLB with at least 200 ABs (McLouth has 244), he ranks 94th in AVG, has absolutely no power or speed. He does have a .340 OBP, mostly due walks and his spot in the lineup. He normally hits 7th or 8th in the lineup and pitchers will walk him to get to the pitcher, although they don't need to and have stopped. His OBP will continue to drop as the season rolls along. McLouth doesn't produce, yet earns the fourth highest salary ($7 mil) on the Braves payroll behind Lowe, Uggla, and Hudson.

2). Lowe - Guy is earning ridiculous money ($15 mil), while having the worst ERA (4.34) in the Braves rotation. In his last 10 starts, he is 3-3 with a 5.34 ERA. The Braves are banking that Lowe will have a strong second half of the season, but he needs to almost be perfect to make up for how bad he has pitched the first 3 months. I don't see the Braves trading him, but if they do lets hope they upgrade the OF or SS.

3). Gonzalez - There are 22 Shortstops in MLB that have over 300 AB's. Gonzo ranks 5th in plate appearances with 370, but dead last in both AVG and OBP while having the most strikeouts (87). He only earns $2.5 mil and this is the last year of his contract. If the Braves resign him, they are the dumbest front office in baseball.

4). No true leadoff hitter - Schafer can't hit and rarely walks. The guy can flat out run and steal bases, but doesn't do any good when he can't get on base. His OBP is a joke and not what you want out of a speed guy.

If Jurrjens last 2 starts are a sign of things to come, then we need drastic upgrades in the OF and SS if we plan staying in the WildCard race. I will give him the benefit of the doubt because both Denver and Cincy are hitters parks, but Jair is missing on pitches and missing bad. If out pitching goes downhill just a little, we will not make the postseason. We are one of the worst offensive teams in baseball and as long as we keep McLouth, Gonzo, and Schafer...we will stay that way.

I'd do it..im not attached to Schaffer. Not really impressed with Minor either.

agreed

David O'Brien
Change of plans with #Braves Chipper Jones. He's going to play two rehab games in Rome after all. Tonight and tomorrow.

Asshole just wanted to go to Rome and mess around with some hoes and get drunk

Also, our good friend Jo-Jo Reyes was designated for assignment today.

Will he make it 14 games today Coot?