A Look Into the Future: Trades

myers to NYY for banuelos, betances, and montero?

Why Not? Remember the trade has to be good for both sides. We’re not looking to rob them blind and they shouldn’t be looking to rip us off. An all star Elite defense and speed CF for a somewhat unproven top 50 prospect, and a swap for a average, below average CF is atleast what we should expect for Bourn.

Now Wandy, I think we could get one but not both – especially from the Yankees. BUT, and this is a big one, NYY might get desperate – everyone around them have upgraded – the Red Sox got a P or hitter, Rays did something. Now they want Wandy, in that situation, yes, we could possibly get something like that.

The others? I agree completely unrealistic.

I 100% guarantee we will get nearly max prospect value in return for these guys, if we trade them at all. Some people will probably be disappointed, but I won’t be. I want to get some help, shed some salary, get better draft picks, and start moving in the right direction. I’d be happy to land some of these pie-in-the-sky dream scenarios like landing randall delgado by just giving up bourn, but i don’t see that happening.

I probably wouldnt do that for bourn, not because he isnt worth it, but because we already have that kind of a player in Jordan Schafer. I know I know, everyone thinks he sucks….he doesn’t, it two or three years he will be every bit as good as bourn and better (he has more power). He has the speed and range to become a gold glove center fielder and has started to show it as well as swing the bat better. He’s not worrying so much about the power and just looking to get on base, as a leadoff man should. Im not saying he’s there yet, itll take him a while, but id rather have patience then trade delgado for a player we already have. Schafer is young and hasnt had time to develope yet, he’ll come around, you’ll see.

Now as for Hunter Pence, I can assure you the Braves would unload for this guy. He has hit 25 plus homers in all but his rookie campaign, his slugging percentage is over .480 for his career, he’s got a strong arm and would be a solid defender in right field, and flat out, this dude would make us world series favorites. Pence is only 28 years old, he is having he best year of his short career, which to me means it will only get BETTER! We have yet to see the best from this kid, he’d be a perfect 3 spot hitter. Trade delgado, minor and mclouth for him and im sure the astros would atleast have to consider it. This guy is the closest thing to a player I’d be okay trading just about any prospect for, I’d do it for Kemp too but I’d rather Pence and here’s why:

1) They are posting similar numbers! Kemp is batting over .300, with 20+ homers and 60+ RBIs. Pence is batting over .320, with 10 homers and 60+ RBIs. The numbers there are not that different at all. The main reason behind the homer difference in my opinion is the unfriendly Astros ballpark. But even still, those are good ass numbers.
2) Kemp is a Scott Boras agent….Pence is NOT! Pence has made under 5 million dollars….for his career! Obviously that price will go up, but not to what Kemp’s would or to what it would if he was represented by Boras. Jones is going to retire after this season, he’s my all time favorite player, but I know its coming. This would ease the pain, plus we would be getting 16 mil off the books which would easily lock Pence up for two years, we could offer him a 5 years deal no problem.

The reasons are endless for use getting Pence over Bourn. A week ago, I’d probably say Bourn over Pence as well. But since Chipper went down, we have to find an outfielder with power, schafer and bourn together in the line up doesnt work. Prado will move to third and Heyward to left, the braves are looking for a right handed batter, that will come cheap, produce, and get us past the phils…That spells Pence! The left fielders out there are not that great and Fredi is confident in Heyward being versatile enough to play left and I think he could do it with ease. Also, if schafer stops hitting again..we could plop Prado into the leadoff spot, he proved very useful there last year, Imagine this line-up:

1) Schafer
2) Prado
3) Pence
4) McCann
5) Uggla( he’s coming around)
6) Freeman
7) Heyward
8) Gonzalez

Do you see any easy outs aside from schafer and gonzalez who will probably get better as the season goes. That line-up would be hands down the best in baseball, for a long time, and one of the cheapest.
With schafer, i can see a .280 hitter averaging 30+ stolen bases a year.
With Prado, a .320 hitter, with some power who can play almost any position.
With Pence, an all-star who hits over .300, with 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs
With McCann, an all-star who hits over .300, with 25+ homers and 90+ RBIs
With Uggla, eventually an all-star again, hitting .260 with 30-40 homers and 100+ RBIs
With Freeman, (who is a ROOKIE), a future all-star who hits .275 with 25+ homers and 100+ RBIs.. (thats a Bobby Cox projection that I believe is spot on)
With Heyward, well it appears he may not be the player we though he’d be, i personally think he needs to adjust his swing a bit, but even still hes a guy who can produce .280 with 20+ homers and 80+ RBIs.
With Gonzalez, I dont think he’ll ever be that 30 homer guy again, not with this team, but as a 8 hole hitter, him batting .260 with 20+ homers and 70+ RBIs, id love that.

Obviously these numbers are not for sure, that is just what these players are 100% capable of. Not many teams can say they have a line up capable of that. To be honest, I probably understated McCanns numbers since he’d be protected in the line up by Pence and Uggla.

And if chipper returns in time for a playoff run, imagine this:

1) Prado
2) Gonzalez
3) Pence
4) Jones
5) McCann
6) Uggla
7) Freeman
8) Heyward

Holy s**t thats amazing, thats a team poised for a deeeep playoff run. And Ive only started to harp on the offense, our pitching would be more than enough to do it alone but with power like this..itd be a walk in the park

I hope to the high heavens that this deal gets done, whatever it takes aside from Jurrgens, Hanson, and Freeman, id be willing to throw in a package of any other prospects. Lets see it Braves, be bold.

hoover and perez for bourn, even though i still doubt the braves bite. i’m sure i could find a reasonable trade opportunity with other organizations as well.

And i mean 2 good ones
I have made the point to talk about how deep they are at pitching esp with the fact that their ML rotation is built mostly of young pitchers already that will block some of their top prospects for years. They have the trading peices and should be willing to part with some

I think Pence to Boston makes alot of since if we trade him because of a few things. Yes some of their top prospects are gone but in a three team deal we could prob get some really good prospects and Boston will need a guy like pence cause they dont need a super star but the money he will prob start making will be like nothing to him. Just think how good he could be at number 5 or 6 in that lineup

Barmes would definitely be a defensive upgrade for y’all. His bat also appears to be coming around. Is there any guys in the system that you could think of that would matchup fair in a trade of Barmes for both teams.

I’d love it of course. I think if you take Minor out, it would still be a steal for the Astros, and still a longshot to get the Braves to agree.