A report came out last night that the Atlanta Braves have notified the New York Yankees that they are interested in shortstop Eduardo Nunez. John Harper foolishly and annoyingly suggests that the New York Yankees should consider packaging Nick Swisher with Eduardo Nunez in exchange for starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens. Harper thinks that Jair Jurrjens could come in and provide the New York Yankees with the No. 2 type starter that they’ve been coveting since Cliff Lee opted for a return to the Philadelphia Phillies. Personally, I’m just getting tired of everyone – fans, writers, “experts” – tossing around middle-of-the-rotation products as top-of-the-rotation solutions. I already talked about the Chicago White Sox’ John Danks a couple of days ago and I would actually trade less for Jair Jurrjens – whose peripheral stats reveal that he would be miscast as a front-end starter. The New York Yankees would be better off just paying Edwin Jackson his Scott Boras negotiated salary. Perhaps I’m just a starting pitching snob, but if my team is going to trade away key pieces of the present and near future, I want the return to make a bang.
Another thing that needs to stop among Yankees fans in this particular case is the hypothetical trade proposals bringing OF Jason Heward to the Bronx. I would love that as much as anybody, but let’s be serious. That dude isn’t going anywhere. Especially not for a package centered around Nunez and Swisher. Might as well just throw some mediocre packages together for Tommy Hanson while your at it. Fans of every team throw out silly trade proposals, but I’m just asking that we sprinkle a pinch of reality into our crock pots of fantasy.
As far as what might happen in the real world, I’m not quite sure yet. It really depends on how much the Braves value Nunez compared to the Yanks. Even though Nunez is a bench player in the Bronx, he provides a lot of value because he can back up 2B, SS, 3B and the OF. His defense at those positions may leave something to be desired, but to have a backup at each of those positions in one package is a luxury that shouldn’t be dismissed too easily. Not only that, but Nunez has some offensive ability. He’ll probably never sniff Derek Jeter’s level of production, but he’s not going to be Rey Ordonez either. Now if the Braves view him as a starter, as Harper suggests, they might be willing to open up discussions beyond Jurrjens.
This will be an interesting (potential) partnership to keep an eye on. The Atlanta Braves have a lot of pitching talent – of the young and established variety – and the New York Yankees have a starting-caliber shortstop. Both are hot commodities and each one wants the other. This will certainly be a situation that will produce plenty of additional speculation. Stay tuned.
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Well written. I agree all the way.
Steve S. brought up Tim Hudson as a possible trade return from the Braves. The more I think about it he makes some sense. With one year left on his deal at 9 million and a 9 million dollar option for 2013 he seems to fit salary wise with what Swisher is owed this year. He wouldn’t be a number 2 I don’t believe, but it’s worth discussing. He’s a valuable innings eater who should win at lest 15 games, but I’m not sure if I would make the trade of Swisher and Nunez for Hudson.
Thanks T.O.
I’m not the biggest Tim Hudson fan, but I think I like him more than Jurrjens. He’s not really the “bang” that I’d like to see returned if Swisher and Nunez are moved, but he’s solid. You figure he’s going to be consistent and the big stage isn’t going to rattle him. He profiles as a prototypical No. 3, but dealing Swisher in this case would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face because the Yanks would need to then find a new right-fielder.
Also wouldn’t the infield defense (much improved, but still not stellar) be a concern when considering a guy like Hudson?
Right there with you Craig.
Not only that, I don’t want another pitcher from the Braves. We always seem to get the short end of that stick. Cash is going to have to get creative to get a big time pitcher back, odds are if he makes a trade there won’t be any smoke, it’s going to happen before we hear anything about it.
Yanks really haven’t had much luck trying to pilfer Braves pitchers, have they? I love that last point you make. Everyone is talking about this guy or that guy, but I definitely think any trade that the Yankees make will be one that none of us sees coming.
no way the braves trade Hudson. He is going to retire a brave. plus i think he has a no trade clause
That works out for both parties as far as I’m concerned. Hudson is definitely a solid pitcher, but I would rather not see the Yankees trade away stud prospects for him.
Just because I feel like laughing, what have Yankees fans been throwing around as ideas for trading for Jason Heyward? Yes, he had a bad season last year, but I think firing our hitting coach will help tremendously.
We have two young SS coming up through the system that will be ready in 2013 and possibly later this season, so trading a lot for a one year rental doesn’t make too much sense on the Braves’ end.
Haha, well let me at least clarify that it wasn’t the majority of the fans. However, there were enough that suggested an Eduardo Nunez and Nick Swisher for Jason Heyward package. Some of the reasons were humorous as well. I read a comment saying “if the Braves are a win-now team, they might want to upgrade their offense”, another one along the lines of “Jason Heyward fell out of favor last year” and ridiculous stuff like that. I like that the fans are aiming high, but c’mon, let’s at least pretend to be a little realistic.
Heh, fell out of favor and win-now strategy? John Schuerholz tried that and all of us across the south just love watching Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus, and Matt Harrison kicking ass for the Rangers and Adam Wainwright be the Cardinals’ ace when he isn’t blowing out his elbow. Their non-WS wins aside, the Braves won’t be trading huge packages again anytime soon hopefully.
It’s true Frank Wren said nothing is given with Heyward next year, but everyone can speculate til we’re blue in the face over whether that was some psychological ploy to motivate him for working out and improving or what have you.
Uggla not trying to be a .300 hitter, Heyward playing up to par, and a full year of Bourn will greatly improve our offense without making panicked moves. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love seeing Swisher in a Braves uniform. I remember crying bloody murder when the Braves didn’t jump on him when he was available.
Yea, Jason Heyward is one of the top young talents in the game. 2011 was just a bad year that resulted from a shoulder injury if I remember correctly. I’d imagine that the Braves are smart enough to not cut bait this early.
No way in hell Tim Hudson gets TRADED!
Well, I wouldn’t say no way in hell. Hudson is getting up there in age (36) and he’s not exactly cheap (owed at least $10 million over the next year). Not to mention the Braves are bursting at the seams with young top-of-line pitching prospects. I imagine that they’d rather move Jair Jurrjens, but Hudson is far from untouchable.
With all of that said, I hope the Yankees stay away from Mr. Hudson.
Looking at the numbers you would think hudson is touchable, but being a braves fan and knowing hudson, he is a brave through and through, he doesn’t want to leave. Not to mention when a team like the braves are youth heavy, you need a guy like hudson who is money. He provides stability when you never know when a young guy is going to have a slump or elbow injury. One season removed from having lowe pitching like he was in single A, jurrjens re injure his knee, hanson throw out his shoulder, I would think the braves are looking for a dependable veteran like hudson, who is valuable in the locker room, and is a known quantity, to anchor the lineup.
And Jurrjens is absolutely ace material. until he hurt his knee after the allstar break, he was leading in wins era and top two i think in whip. The question would be what is the deal with his knee.
I think you could be absolutely right about the Braves valuing Hudson more than other teams – even if other teams’ perceptions are in line with what his true value is. The Braves expect to contend next season and there is every reason to believe that he could be a big part of a successful run. Not to mention, all of the trade speculation could be moot. You can correct me if I’m wrong, but as a ten-and-five player (ten years in the league, five with his current team) Hudson has the right to veto any trade. Again, correct me if I’m wrong, but if he does have a full no trade clause there are a number reasons that he would choose to stay in Atlanta.
As far as Jurrjens, I’m not as sold on him as you are. His knee definitely hurt his production last season, but his career FIP is 3.88 which is fine, but just not what the Yankees should be looking for from a second ace. I’m also not a fan of his sub-7 strikeout rates.