I am certainly glad that I was not drinking anything as I have seen Twitter blow up with all of the rumors surrounding the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets today. Otherwise, I would have spit all over my computer.
The rumors surrounding the Braves as being the front-runner for Carlos Beltran is interesting. I think it is a perfect storm. When the Mets made it clear that they would eat all of the salary that Beltran is owed for the rest of the season, that opened up the race for every team in the majors that is still hoping to make the playoffs. For one thing, it is surprising to see the Pittsburgh Pirates listed as “buyers”. I think that is awesome. They deserve it. Maybe they will forgive the Braves for sending them into the downward spiral if they can make the playoffs.
The latest in the rumor mill is that the Braves are the front-runners because the Mets like the Braves’ lefty Mike Minor. I will admit one thing to you: the Braves will not trade Mike Minor to the Mets for Carlos Beltran! Not gonna happen. Here’s why:
The Braves have learned the hard way about sending players in a deal for a rental player. Mark Teixeira still sends chills down my spine, and everyone’s spine in the Braves’ organization. That trade is one of the main reasons why Texas is as good as they are this year and last year. Without that haul of prospects, Texas would not have made the playoffs nor would they be on such a roll right now.
At this point in time, the Braves are in a position of power. They have arguably the best pitching staff in the Majors. They have a solid back-end of their bullpen. And they have an offense that has struggled this year, but has shown signs of life. Add this with the best pinch-hitting bench in the Majors and the Braves have the luxury of sitting still at the deadline. Will they? Probably not. But, they could and they still would be ok.
They also have the best collection of young pitching in the game. They have Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson leading the charge. Brandon Beachy has been outstanding. Mike Minor and Julio Teheran need an opportunity to play. Randall Delgado and Arodys Vizcaino are moving quickly. This doesn’t even include other top arms that don’t get as much press time. Needless to say, the Braves have some great arms that makes their future bright.
I believe that the Braves will need to trade someone mentioned above to improve their team at some point. I don’t think it is right now. Carlos Beltran is not the answer. He would be a nice addition. He would be a guy that could help the offense and could help us dethrone Philadelphia.
However, he is not the solution to the Braves’ problems. We need someone to fix our centerfield problem for more than just August and September. The Braves cannot and will not be blinded by temporary success at the expense of future failure. Dealing Minor would hurt the Brave because two months of Beltran would not be strong enough of a return for years without Minor.
My thought is that if the Braves wanted to fix center field, they should bite the bullet and acquire Colby Rasmus from the St. Louis Cardinals. He is apparently available. He is not the right-handed bat that we need, but he is the player that we need in center field. If Minor is the guy to get Rasmus, do it. If he’s not and this is what the Mets are asking for, please say no.
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So Ur telling me that the braves luxury is that they have plenty of young major league ready pitchers but we shouldn’t use one of them to help our struggling offense I personally don’t think that makes any sense were currently not using minor and if he gets us beltran I think the braves would be stupid if they don’t trade him,I really don’t think the the outfeild is the problem Alex gonzalez on the other hand is the worst hitter on the team is rather see my 90 yr old grandma bat in his place but that’s just my opinion the braves need to do something before the deadline our offense needs a lil extra boost to make us playoff contenders
Nice illustration about your grandma. I agree on the point of Alex Gonzalez. He looks pathetic at the plate.
I was only saying we shouldn’t trade Minor to get Beltran. I am all for trading him to acquire a hitter, just not for two months of a hitter. That is moot now that Beltran is in SF. Hopefully this will mean that we will get someone else.
Another day another nerd looking for grammar mistakes with nothing useful to say.
I don’t think the Braves should trade Minor for Rasmus or Beltran. Derrick lowe isn’t getting any younger and will need to be replaced soon. The offense has been scoring a lot of runs lately and with Chipper coming back soon that will probably continue.
JUST TRYING TO HELP THE GUY OUT…ANYWAY, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GO AFTER A RIGHT HANDED BAT OFF THE BENCH AND ANOTHER SOLID RIGHTY RELIEVER SO SCOTT PROCTOR CAN MERCIFULLY BE RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES. I JUST DON’T SEE WREN TRADING AWAY ANY OF OUR TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS FOR A 2 MONTH RENTAL PLAYER. I WOULD RATHER TRADER 2 OF OUR PROSPECTS AND GET PENCE, HE IS YOUNGER AND HAS MUCH MORE UPSIDE COMPARED TO BELTRAN. AT LEAST WE COULD KEEP PENCE AROUND FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS IF WE GOT HIM.
Stop yelling. Hoping for a hitter to add to our lineup.
Speaking of grammar….James…..Trader*…. good one buddy.
…what a dick
Ricky, you are an idiot. The Braves will definately make the playoffs, they will just either be the wild card winner or will catch the Phillies in the east. In order to do this I believe they should trade for Beltran, or maybe Pence. Pence will be expensive but he can be locked up through 2013. If they have to give up, say Vizcaino and Delgado for Pence, they should. I also think they should trade Lowe (to maybe the Blue Jays?) in order to get a c+ or so hitting prospect in return. This would open up a stop for Julio Teheran, who needs a chance in the majors. He is arguably the best right-handed pitching prospect in the minor, neck-in-neck with Shelby Miller. The Braves are set at pitching for years to come.
Beltran is out, rightly so. They need someone in the lineup. From what I gather, the Astros are asking for the moon in terms of prospects. Seems like Pence will still be in Houston come Sunday afternoon. I am hoping Wren pulls off a miraculous trade.
We need to hold on to Lowe. He is a machine in the late season.
Trading Minor for 2 months of an oft injured liability is not worth discussing. I, cough, give Wren more credit than that.
You get your wish, apparently.
We need Jose Reyes !!! He’ll solve our leadoff problem we’ve had FOREVER….we can offer Gonzalez and a pitching prospect or two (provided we can seal a deal with Reyes within 3 days). Maybe the Mets will throw in Beltran for one of our outfielders. The Mets still would have replacements for the two positions and would gain some hot prospects…The Braves win because we end up with Reyes (for awhile) and Beltran to get us over the hump this year. Right?
hippo
go braves!