Trade rumor Braves fans should love

[coachx]

This sounds much better then the Beltran rumors. This guys is just as good of a hitter, younger, cheaper, and under contract for next year.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/07/28/heres-why-carlos-quentin-makes-sense-for-braves/

The slugging corner outfielder currently has 20 homers, 62 RBIs and a .510 slugging percentage, to go with a .262 average and .353 OBP. Needless to say, he could be a huge boost for the Braves’ scuffling offense.

He’s got more homers and RBIs than any Brave this season, and five more homers (and four fewer RBIs) than Carlos Beltran, who was just traded to the Giants. In his past 11 games, Quentin has hit .341 with three homers and 11 RBIs.

He’s right-handed, 28, and unlike the 34-year-old Beltran, Quentin is under contractual control for another season. So he wouldn’t be a three-month rental before free agency, like Boras client Beltran.

That, plus the fact that the White Sox are in the other league instead of the same division of the same league, would seemingly make the Braves more inclined to part with one of their top pitching prospects, long as it wasn’t Julio Teheran or Arodys Vizcaino.

That’s assuming it would take that to pry him from the White Sox, who are only 3-1/2 games out of first place now in the AL Central parity division, but already have a Triple-A replacement for Quentin waiting in the wings.

The White Sox have been scouting the Braves’ minor league system, and the Braves had one of the top scouts, Dom Chiti, at Chicago’s recent series against Cleveland.

Quentin, 28, is making just over $5 million this season, so he’d be owed less than $2 million the rest of the way. With the year he’s having, he might boost his salary to more than $8 million through arbitration next year before he’s eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.

[CBAreject]

This sounds much better then the Beltran rumors. This guys is just as good of a hitter, younger, cheaper, and under contract for next year.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/07/28/heres-why-carlos-quentin-makes-sense-for-braves/

I think Beltran was undoubtedly the better player (switch hitter with MUCH higher OBP and at least average defense), but what makes this more palatable is that he's an asset that may be either flipped in the offseason or allowed to walk the season after with draft picks as compensation. Quentin would definitely decline arbitration, given he would be 29 and up for a huge contract as a FA in 2012. Beltran came without the promise of draft picks, and the Mets were wanting roughly the same package (Mike Minor). The downsides are 1) Quetin's defense is reportedly atrocious and 2) if Chipper doesn't retire in the offseason, we'd have a hard time playing everybody, since we'd have 3 star corner outfielders to play in 2 spots. I would suggest trading him in that case, but it would be nice if chipper retired gracefully and Quentin could take over his lineup spot having Prado move in to 3rd.

[coachx]

One other imortant factor is the Braves main weakness is lack of hitting left handed pitcing. I believe the Braves still have the worst BA and OBP vs. left handed pitching of any team in the majors.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/06/16/braves-307-obp-troubling-worse-vs-lefties/

Quentin hits lefties to the tune of .278 with a .388 OBP. Not to mention he averages 1 HR ever 13 AB vs. lefties.

You hype Beltran b/c he is a switch hitter but he hits lefties very poorly with only a .232 BA and .288 OBP. Sure he is a superb hitter vs. right handed pitching but that doesn't address our #1 weakness. Quentin is the kind of bopper this batting lineup is missing.

If we have to sit a guy who is hitting .223 and .167 vs. lefties so Quentin can hit then so be it b/c it obviously makes the team much better. Its time to score some runs ! This lineup, as currently constructed, will struggle vs allstar pitching come playoff time. We were losing close games in the playoffs last year.

Heyward is averaging 1 HR for ever 42 AB vs lefties.

Quentin is averaging 1 HR for every 13 AB vs. lefties.

Fact: Braves have more at bats vs. lefties then other team in the majors.

Edited July 29, 2011 by coachx

[AHawks89]

Quentin would be a great pick up. Who do you we would deal to get him in a Atlanta Braves uniform?

[coachx]

Quentin would be a great pick up. Who do you we would deal to get him in a Atlanta Braves uniform?

Mike Minor most likely.

[CBAreject]

You hype Beltran b/c he is a switch hitter but he hits lefties very poorly with only a .232 BA and .288 OBP. Sure he is a superb hitter vs. right handed pitching but that doesn't address our #1 weakness. Quentin is the kind of bopper this batting lineup is missing.

Good point.