Deal is Done

[KB21]

The Braves are trading Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, and Neftali Feliz for Mark Teixiera and Ron Mahay.

[Popeye]

Damn, i wanted a younger left handed reliever(C.J. Wilson). Ron Mahay is like 40. If Texiera doesn't sign with us than we are [censored].

[KB21]

The Braves appear to be close to getting Octavio Dotel from the Royals. The Royals apparently are hot for Kyle Davies. Personally, I'd rather dump Roger McDowell and give Kyle an opportunity to work with Kent Willis as the pitching coach, but Dotel would really help a worn out bullpen.

[coachx]

Love the deal !

A lefty in the bullpen is a no brainer.

Improvement at 1st base is a no brainer, especially a gold glove winning SWITCH HITTER whi is also a local Ga. boy.

Chipper and Smoltzie won't last forever, they need some help now and we have to get A. Jones out of the "4" hole. A .215 BA and 170 SO will not get it done.

A switch hitter hitting behind Chipper is just plain nasty. Chipper's BA will go even higher once A. Jones' .220 BA and 170 SO is not hitting behind him. Chipper will get some pitchess to hit.

Move A. Jones to the 8 hole before the pitcher and lets win some games.

[KB21]

I like the deal only if the Braves are able to sign Teixiera long term. If this is a one and one third season rental, then it isn't a good deal.

I think a lot of fans think Tex is the missing link, the key to the Braves becoming legitimate World Series contenders this year. I don't think that's the case. The Braves problem has been pitching, both starting and relieving. Yes, Tex improves the line up and gives the Braves arguably the best line up in the national league, but he doesn't pitch. The Braves will still have just two starters that they can count on in John Smoltz and Tim Hudson. I love Chuck James, but his inconsistencies mean he should be no more than a 4th starter at this point. How long can we really count on Buddy Carlyle as well? It looks like Kyle Davies is probably going to Kansas City, and it's obvious that Jo Jo Reyes isn't ready for the majors as he still has control issues and problems with walks. Maybe they try to stretch Ledezma out, because they say the reason they got him was because of his potential as a starter.

Ron Mahay will help out the bullpen as a lefty specialist, and if they do land Octavio Dotel, then the pen should be complete. However, I think a lot of our pitchers have regressed under Roger McDowell, and I think he needs to be replaced by someone like Kent Willis.

I think we still lack the pitching to be a legitimate world series team.

[Admin]

I like Tex, I think he is a hell of a player, but according to the ESPN article those are the Braves top 3 prospects. If that's the case that is an awful lot to give up for him IMO.

[DrReality]

I hate to see Salty go. Hell of a prospect. Guess we gave away some of our youth to try and get SMoltz and Chipper there while they still have a chance.

[TroyMcClure]

Quote:

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The Braves appear to be close to getting Octavio Dotel from the Royals. The Royals apparently are hot for Kyle Davies. Personally, I'd rather dump Roger McDowell and give Kyle an opportunity to work with Kent Willis as the pitching coach, but Dotel would really help a worn out bullpen.

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I'm with you, but for this year, this makes us better. Davies needs Leo. Without him, I don't know if he will succeed.

[chillzatl]

You talk about our 3-5 guys like they're just getting lucky out there when they do well and then you throw McDowell under the bus like he's garbage. Naturally you have an agenda. You've found a guy you like, who you think can get something done that McDowell isn't doing. What exactly that something is, I can't quite put my finger on.

If you've ever given Mazzone any credit for what pitchers did under him and if you would give Kent Willis any credit for the pitchers who did well under him, then you better have the sack to give McDowell some credit for the guys who are doing well under him.

As for being a WS team, it's been proven that you only need two aces to get it done in the post season. We've got two aces and then some, IMO. I agree that we need more consistency down the line, but if we make it into the playoffs we'll be as feared as any team in the NL, and rightfully so.

[Admin]

Do you think that this is an even trade? This could end up being one of those trades where all of the guys the Braves are giving up could become big time players. Tex is a damn fine player though and still has a lot of years ahead of him. You guys really need Andruw and Chipper to play their best ball though if you are going to win it all. I'd be surprised if anyone beats the Red Sox this year, although stranger things have happened.

[KB21]

Salty is a great prospect and was considered to be the Braves top prospect. Elvis Andrus was considered by many to be the Braves second best prospect. He's 18 years old in high A ball, a defensive whiz, but he has had some struggles at the plate this year.

I've got a few thoughts about why the Braves did this trade:

1. I think this is a sign that Bobby and John are going to retire in the next couple of years, and they are doing what they can to make a run now.

2. They think Salty is a catcher and isn't an option at first base. Salty is blocked by Brian McCann, who signed a long term extension this spring. McCann is going nowhere.

3. As far as Elvis's future with the club, the Braves love Yunel Escobar. I can't emphasize love enough. They believe that Yunel is going to be their short stop for the next 10 years or so. I've read several comments about how the Braves feel that Yunel is a young Edgar Renteria.

4. Matt Harrison is a guy who some had rated as the organizations' top pitching prospect, but the Braves like a few other guys better. First, there is Jo Jo Reyes, who isn't ready for the majors yet but is the guy the Braves feel is their top pitching prospect. Then there is Tommy Hanson, who dominated at Low A ball this year and has done well since being promoted to High A ball. Then there is a pitcher they signed as a draft and follow guy from last year's draft named Cole Rohrbough, who has flat out dominated at Danville this year. He's averaging 15 strike outs per game, and has a 0.86 WHIP. There is also James Parr and Justin Lyman, who they like a lot, as well as Moises Hernandez, who is at Mississippi right now.

I do agree that this is a lot to give up, and I also believe that the only way this turns out to be a good trade for the Braves is if they can resign Tex to a long term deal.

[KB21]

I don't see any results from Roger McDowell.

IMO, Chuck James has stalled his progress under Roger. Kyle Davies has regressed. Over the course of the season, Rafael Soriano and Bob Wickman have regressed.

Yet, I see Kent Willis spend one day with Lance Cormier at Richmond, change some of the things he is doing with his lower body mechanics wise, and watch Cormier go out and pitch an 82 pitch, complete game shut out afterwards.

I see Roger McDowell as the Merv Rettenmund of pitching coaches.

[chillzatl]

I disagree.

Chuck James is still a young pitcher and he may or may not have the stuff to be great, but I think he's been more consistent over the last 10 games than he ever has been. Apart from one 6 run game and one 4 run game he's been practically lights out.

Kyle Davies is what he has always been, a guy who couldn't handle the pressure of pitching in atlanta. Apart from the first time they brought him up where he had his 21 inning stretch without giving up a run, he's been painfully inconsistent. Most of that time was with Leo too.

Soriano has just been over worked.

Wickman hasn't regressed, he's just been partially exposed. Another way of putting it is to say that he's been used in situations that don't fit his style. ie, bringing him in when you need K's.

Does McDowell get no credit for Hudson being Hudson again? Does he get no credit for James or Carlisle?

I personally think that you're over-stating the impact of a pitching coach from the get go. They all do the same things and in EVERY CASE, those things work for some guys and against others. Mazzone, despite being regarded as a saint around here, screwed up more great prospects than he built into great MLB pitchers. His biggest claim to fame, apart from getting lucky and having 3 HoF pitchers to work with, would be keeping guys healthy and having a lot of 1-2 year rental players do well for him while they were here. But again, how much credit are you going to give him for that?

[DrReality]

Who will be our backup catcher since Salty is gone. They don't list one on their depth chart. That's crazy. Gotta have someone to back up McCann.

[frosgrim]

I guess they'll call up Bryan Pena who was on the books as the BU catcher at the beginning of the season.

In regards to re-signing Tex. I think the Braves will make this their #1 priority. Several reasons I think this will happen:

1) Tex LOVES Atlanta. According to the AJC this morning Tex is buying a home here in Atlanta. Tex was here 7 months ago looking for a place. Tex's GT coach told the AJC that Tex wants to live in Atlanta and that he wants to play for a team that has a chance to win every day.

2) The books will be clear of big contracts by the time Tex is looking for his big contract. Smoltz may or may not retire in two years. A. Jones will not be with the club. Edgar will be gone (maybe even this year). Chipper will be in his club option year. So, the money will be there.

3) Liberty has to keep payroll at its current level or increase it to meet its competitive requirement clause in their deal to purchase the Braves. Tex, Frenchy and McCann (can we call him something cool, how about Thud?) are a potent trio to build an offense around. Put in KJ, and Escobar and this team is really set.

So if I were to bet, I would say that Tex re-signs with Atlanta. The wild card is if Boras gets in Tex's head and says he can go to the Yankees for 4 billion a season.