Braves Stuck In The Middle

i dont think we have any interest in bringing him back... he is not hitting worth anything, and i think we could target Hu or Brignac in trade

Offensively, Lillibridge has take a couple steps back this season. Some players go through that, but it's caused his value to plummet this year. He's looked terribly overmatched in his few big-league bats this season, to the tune of nine strikeouts and zero walks in twenty-six at bats.

another name that i really like is Jason Donald from Philly... anyone think a player like Grabow could get Donald?

I would think the Pirates would want someone better than Lillibridge.

Can I have an explanation as to why the Red Sox would have any interest in Mark Texiera. I have heard that they do but this puzzles me. They currently have the best fielding INFIELDER let alone the fact that he plays 1b/3b in kevin youkilis. Why would they ever trade youkilis for texiera?

So far this year he's also flashed some nice power. I just dont understand why they would even look into texiera. Thats something the yankees would do. epstein is better than that.

I dont see the pirates acquiring texiera. Perhaps the angels would move kotchman but once again I dont see that happening with texiera's numbers.

Loney is probably the most untouchable Dodger after Martin and Billingsley. Amazing defender, hits for power and average and has recently been on an insane tear. Forget about it.

Also, the Braves signed Julian Tavarez.

Santana/Beckett FTW, I don't see the Sox sending Youkilis away either.

I think there are a couple of reasons Teixeira is a consideration for the Sox:

1) If they could sign him long-term, he's a young(ish) replacement for Manny Ramirez. Pay Manny $20m next year, or Tex?

2) David Ortiz might take longer to return than previously thought.

3) Youkilis has and can play LF. It's not ideal, but leave Manny at DH, or switch Manny and Youkilis between LF/DH. And Teixeira isn't as good as Youkilis, but he is a solid defensive 1B.

But I still don't think they'd give up Youkilis to get Teixeira. They have a lot of prospects that could make it happen, but they'd probably insist on a 3-day window to sign Teixeira long-term. And if Ortiz comes back soon and healthy, then they probably won't bother.

Loney's gonna stay put. Although it would be a pretty even trade I'd rather keep him. The Dodgers need to focus on the middle infield and Third Base more.

I wish the braves would trade Teixera to a team with a consistient power source, and the Dbacks, Dodgers, Angels, and Rays come to mind. The Braves need to get a young player with ML experience out of the deal rather that would be a pitcher or someone.

So here are perhaps a few ideas.

Dodgers- Target Loney or Kemp, and also ask for a young bullpen arm (Mcdonald, Meloan, Wade) as well, and perhaps a lower level prospect, or maybe Clayton Kershaw and Laroche, but no, not two of loney, kemp, and Kershaw....

Angels-Why no ask for Kotchman and Adenhart, or Kotchman, Wood, Jose Aderondo or whatever his name is, use that as a starting point, and see what potential could get done

Dbacks- Would love to get conor Jackson and max scherzer, but highly unlikely.... Why not ask for Conor Jackson and a bullpen piece, like a tony Pena, and then a low level pitching prospect.....

Rays- yes, I know they have Pena, but why not.... They have the young prospects to get it done, even though they probably are looking for an OF first....They have the young pitching, get one of their better pitching prospects and Desmond Jennings in a deal....

These are just some ideas, if you hate them I can understand, but just some ideas that could make Trading Teixera worth it....

Well Bravesbeast, you sound like the Braves fan version of BaseballGuru. You want the world for that guy, especially when you consider the guys you are asking for. Loney's overall offensive numbers are almost equal to Tex, with a higher BA and better defense. Not to mention that Loney is 4 years younger and much, much cheaper.

"Angels-Why no ask for Kotchman and Adenhart, or Kotchman, Wood, Jose Aderondo or whatever his name is, use that as a starting point, and see what potential could get done"

First of all, no way are the Angels going to package Arredondo...he's arguably the third best reliever in the organization, and possibly the heir apparent to K-Rod, if they can't resign him. No way he goes, not without substantial pitching in return.

And I'm sorry, but I don't see how much of an upgrade Texeira would be over Kotchman. OK, he'll hit a few more home runs, but that's about it. And while that may sound like something considering the Angels offensive struggles this season, it doesn't make sense because Kotchman already has been one of the few consistent hitters in the lineup. You'd basically be trading the one stud you have for a slight upgrade at the same position; so now the one good hitter on your team is now slightly better, but everyone else is struggling. Plus that slight upgrade is due to become an overpaid free agent this offseason.

After watching the Angels' offense come alive this past week and a half, I really don't think they're going to try a trade of that magnitude.

Why trade for a 1st baseman? Move Chipper to 1st help him stay healthy possibly and trade for a 3rd baseman or fill from within. There are more options that way I think Chipper would do good at First.

Tex isn't going anywhere because no one is going to pony up the farm for half a season of a Boras-signed 1b.

I don't think anyone would have to pony up the farm for Teixeira. I think an impact player and a couple of mid-level "prospects" would get the job done.

Youkilis, Bowden, Tejada
to Atlanta
For Teixeira

Texieria isn't going anywhere, one bc he likes atlanta and is going to stay, if nobody has relized this yet they will soon, hampton is done after this year which will be 15 million in salery same with Smoltzs and Glavin if they dont come back, Braves could have over 30 million available this offseason. What i dont understand is why barry bonds hasn't been signed yet, i personally hate the man but this is a business and if he gets my team the the playoffs ill deal with it for half a season. this is a no-brainer! you trade no-body u get the *home-run king* to put in the middle of the line up with 3 other allstars and u pay him the minimum salery. Tex is finally warming up. Blanco/kotsay, Escobat, Jones,Bonds,Tex, McCann, Francoeur, Johnson, Pitcher. Best lineup in baseball and Francoeur will bat 300 the second half of the season quote me on it. Lets reinvest in a Starter with our incredible farm system. Even if the braves dont resign Texeria, it increse the pay salery that much more and the get type A player picks in the draft which are just as good as most prospects they would get now.

FutureGM,
I'll laugh so hard when Atlanta trades Teixeira.
It really is their best option.

"Tex is finally warming up. Blanco/kotsay, Escobat, Jones,Bonds,Tex, McCann, Francoeur, Johnson, Pitcher. Best lineup in baseball"

Ya know, I saw that "best lineup in baseball" get murdered by Kuroda in person last night.

He went to Tech, has family here, doesnt want to be traded and the Braves need him. they aren't out of it. but call me up and feel free to laugh when it happens

FutureGM,

Fellow Braves fan here.

A lot of what you said isn't going to happen. I mean A LOT a lot. But one thing sticks out.

Signing Bonds.

Frank Wren might as well defecate on the statue of Hank Aaron in front of the Ted. I know Bonds would outperform every outfield option we have by a long shot, but come on. It's not gonna happen. Be realistic. It's not happening. Francoeur has a better chance of OPSing .900 the rest of the season.

Teixeira is a goner too. If they can get 1 major league ready player in a two-for-one deal they should pull the trigger. This will have a more immediate impact on the big club than the picks will, along with less risk. The guy turned down $140MM from the Rangers; the Braves won't be shelling that out to him and frankly I don't want them to in their current state. *crosses fingers that Arthur Blank buys them in a few years*

I honestly can't see Youkilis being traded for Teixiera, considering Youk is still under team control and Tex is going to be a free agent eager to test the marker. The only way the Sox might get involved is if Ortiz is out for most/all of the year and they bring him in for his bat. If that is the case, the Red Sox have a very promising 1B prospect Lars Anderson that Atlanta would probably target, not Youkilis.

loney as good as tex with the glove baloney and like the dodgers have a better lineup than atlanta come on bro

One thing I'd like to point out as a fellow Braves fan to the unaptly named "FutureGM" is that Hampton's salary isn't all from ATL as there is a lot of deferred money from Colorado & Florida.

I know BONDS in the town of HANK ARRON is stupid but it makes them a winning and in 5 years know body will know he played his last year in ATL. Babe Ruth played his last ear her nobody know that. Montana played his last year in KC people dont remember that, it wouldn't be a stain and people wouldnt know. i

bonds would sell tickets bc fan would go to boo, and your right blank needs to buy them but liberty is incresing pay roll

AA- u notice bonds wasn't playing last night that had perry an awful 7th string outfield playing

CO and Fl are only paid the majority for the first 5 plus year the braves have the majority the last 2 years

AA NOT ONLY WAS BONDS NOT IN LINE UP BUT AFTER PLAYING A 17 INNING DAY GAME AFTER NIGHT GAME AND THEN FLYING ACROSS THE US TO PLAY THE NEXT DAY I WOULD SAY THEY WERE PROB PRETTY TIRED BUT AA how did that line up look with chad on the mound tonight he got rocked your # 3 hitter is your catcher who could not carry mcanns jockstrap in a suitcase

AA....

Dude, you are overhyping a bit too much. No, Loney is not have nearly as good an offensive season. Tex has 9 more homers, 19 more RBIS and 9 more runs. Loney may be hitting from the higher average.... but in terms of a feature run producer, Tex is kicking Loney's ass. Furthermore, bullshit that Loney is a better defender than Tex. Tex has won a GG at first and and consistiently is praised as one of the bestm gloves in the business.

The dodgers have good young pitching, and a plethera of decent young run producers lacking major power (loney, Kemp, laroche, Martin, Either). Therefore, it does make sense for the Dodgers to move a young hitter and bull pen arm to make a move for Tex, but he meets a need for the dodgers that no one on their curren roster can provide.

And Payday....

Dude, give up on ur ability to compare players to one another. Russel Martin is about as valuable a young catcher as mcann is, no questions asked.

"I dont see the pirates acquiring texiera."

You are a genius, sir.

Tex is a gold glover BTW, for those of you knocking his D.

Chipper's chronic foot problems preclude him from moving to 1st.

If "value" is determined not only by ability, but also by lenght of contract/monies owed, then in this instance Youkilis is worth more then Teixiera.

It would be downright foolish for these two teams to discuss this as the Braves would want more then Youkilis without giving up anything else and the Red Sox would want more then Teixeria without giving up anything else.

Youkilis is the starting 1st baseman for the AL in the All-Star game for both offense/defensive reasons. Hardly makes sense to deal Youk's contract/control of him for the slight upgrade of Teixiera for 1 season.

Perhaps if the Braves dealt Teixiera/Lillibridge to the Sox for Youk, the Sox would do it, but no way the Braves would do that.

If the Sox gave up Youk/a prospect, perhaps the Braves would do it for Tex alone, but no way the Sox do that.

Honestly, Ken Rosenthal/Buster Olney and the other guys that come up with this nonsense should really be required to quote sources because their theories usually resemble fantasy league trade offers more then actual trade offers. Never do they seem to consider contracts or organizational depth issues.

Youk is signed for 3 more years, Lars Anderson is about 4 years away. (currently hitting .316, 12HR, .928 OPS at single A)

bravesbeast first of all i was talking about aa talking about atlantas line up no he is not as good as mcann to me would you trade mac for him and how about chipper is he as good as chipper our #3 hitter i know he is a very good player was really just being a smart a$$ but no way i would trade mac for martin

baxter4218, if I were the Braves I'd do the Youk for Tex-plus-Lillibtidge deal in a minute.

Lilly may find his bearings again but he's not hit AAA pitching at all and has been completely overmatched during his brief stay in Atlanta.

Youk would fill a lot of blanks on that team, esp. as a high OBP right hand hitting masher.

Texiera will have a better 2nd half, if u have followed tex career he paces himself, for the whole year and he willend up right about .290 with 40 HR and 120 RBIs and a Gold glove. not many people have those stats. this isn't bullshit i just made up look at the stats and the pace he is on. he started slow thats y he isn't an allstar

yep futuregm tex does this every year this is really one of the best first halves he has had that is really scarey i hope the bravos find a way to keep him maybe since he likes georgia so much he will pull an andrew if he thinks he will be traded they say he turned down 8 years @140 million 17 a year he might take that from atlanta and they can do it with all the young guys they have

bravesbeast, that Rosenthal article Tim linked to on the main page is a revelation. Looks like the Dodgers won't make a trade of consequence with anybody. Wow.

yeah i agree, its logical and helps out both parties

Well Bravesbeast, you sound like the Braves fan version of BaseballGuru. You want the world for that guy, especially when you consider the guys you are asking for.Loney's overall offensive numbers are almost equal to Tex, with a higher BA and better defense. Not to mention that Loney is 4 years younger and much, much cheaper.

Posted by: AA | July 08, 2008 at 06:22 PM

Maybe start with research and then do name calling...

In 331 At bats, Tex is hitting .275/.381/.492
with 17HRs 55 walks and 67RBI. Also, a .998 fielding %.

Loney, who also has 331 at bats, is hitting .302/.360/.459
with 7 HRs 30 walks and 48 RBIs. He has a .991 fielding %.

Tex has never had a fielding % below .992. Over the last 4 years, he's never had a fielding % lower than Loney's highest. Tex's 162 game averages yield twice the number of home runs, 32 more walks and a higher OBP and SLG. You're trying to get to the playoffs and your team is 25th in runs scored and 28th in home runs. You have to give something to get something.

You're right though, Loney's batting average is higher.

That single handly might be the greatest arguement. If only if you could slap the dumb ass who thinks Loney is good

a little added research loney 17 errors last 180 games tex 14 in last 538 games loney as good um as they say in the south hell naw

besides that the braves cant hit, the braves played the best defense over the past week. They should have there own web gem set.

we need a bat for left field and move blanco to cf and a back up catcher so mac can rest maybe rob b from the bluejays

Any team who inquires about Teixeira should expect to throw out the money issue. He isn't a 34 year old who a big salary that ends after the season. You shouldn't be asking for him if you don't think you can re-sign him.

If he's traded then the Braves should accept nothing less than the other team's top positional and pitching prospect. And more than likely one or two mid level prospects should be included. They could use a LF, but I think they can get that by trading B. Jones, Lillibridge, and/or Prado.

Adenhart, S-Rod, and Sean O'Sullivan?

Anyone who thinks they need a backup catcher totally disregards the fact that Corky made the team because of his defense (primarily his arm), not because they think he can hit. Either way Clint Sammons is the backup next season and could be right now if they really are worried about Corky's bat.