El Trade-O

Fans beg for a trade and when it turns out it isn't Dan Uggla and BJ Upton for Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout they are outraged. Yet if no trade is made they're still angry. They say if we don't "fleece" the other team the GM should be fired. Was the Dodgers/Braves/Marlins trade good or bad? Not that we can judge immediately – in truth it will take years to determine. Let's look at the principals:

 

Hector Olivera can play 3B, LF, or 2B. Dodgers paid his $28M bonus and Braves only have to pay his relatively cheap $6M salary. This past spring the Braves pursued Olivera but now are paying much less for him. It's not like he's been playing 200 games the past 17 years like most 30 year olds in the MLB. The Braves have scouted him and feel good about him. People say he's injured but it's only a hamstring – an injury than hampers most players sooner or later. Since I've hardly heard of him and have never seen him play (few have) how can I have an honest opinion? He's tearing up the minor leagues this year: 348/392/493/885.

Puig I wouldn't want. The Dodger players dislike him. A cancer both on and off the field. More trouble than he's worth.

 

Michael Morse can also play LF. The Braves also get a draft pick. The key to the deal is Olivera. This trade for offense signals the Braves plan to contend next year.

 

Alex Wood has been ok but nothing more. 1.41 WHIP and .288 average against. The Braves still have Miller, Teheran, Mike Minor, Folty, Wisler, Jenkins, and several other prospects.

 

Jim Johnson will be a free agent at the end of the year. Now Vizcaino takes over as closer. He will probably outperform Johnson. Next year the Braves have closers Jason Grilli and Shea Simmons returning (and others).   

 

Set-up man Luis Avilan has proven to be inconsistent. Having led baseball in appearances the past three years, he's also worn out.

 

Jose Peraza has not excelled in AA or AAA. Everyone loves him but he has yet to meet expectations. Rookie Jase Peterson has been thrown into the fray ahead of schedule and held his own. He may only be hitting 250 but that should improve. There are also other option in the minors.

 

ROB: Wow - a lot of teeth gnashing about the trade. Mark Bradley has a good column about the trade.  I hate to trade 2 young controllable assets for 1 controllable asset.  However, I have concerns about Peraza at the major league level.  I think the bottom line is if Olivera is your starting 3B for the next 5 years and is able to put up an OPS+ of at least 110, then it was a good trade - regardless of what Wood and Peraza end up doing.  That would be tremendous production for the reasonable contract he has.

 

The Braves are going to have a ton of money to spend next year (and the year after as well).  If Olivera can lock down 3B, this narrows their focus to C and LF.

 

ME: Friday night I kept score out at Gwinnett and thought it weird that Snitker pinch hit for the number 9 hitter in his first at bat. Weird that 1B Kazmar moved to SS and backup catcher Yepez pinch hit and stayed in to play first. Saturday night Snitker kept the same lineup. Only later did I realize starting SS Castro was being called up to replace Uribe/Kelly. Two pitchers on the Charlotte Knights' roster: Kyle Drabek and 37 year-old Brad Penny (who spent 2014 in Jupiter and New Orleans. At Gwinnett it's always interesting to see if there are familiar names on the opponent roster.

 

Got Gant's autograph Friday night at CoolRay for bobblehead friend Alex. Gant chatted with me longer than it took him to sign. T told him I remember when he was in Sumter and that got him going. Sugar Ray started but only went three innings. I didn't see Moylan pitch but he had the relievers greet every player on the way out to the bullpen, snaking through all the players stretching on the ground. Snitker has the GBraves wearing high navy hose, but Moylan and one other pitcher wear stirrups instead.

Went back Saturday for the Cox bobble and saw several of the bobblehead regulars. I was sick (sneezing) and didn't feel good so I didn't mind leaving early to pick up M. On the way to my car I found a foul ball. The condos they built in right field gives CoolRay a more homey feel – very nice. Also scored a Todd Cunningham autographed ball. 

After losing Uribe and Kelly I didn't think losing 2 of 3 in St. Louis was too bad.

 

After I said all that nice stuff about the Yankees I started reading the Sports Illustrated midseason report. SI says the Yankees have such an old lineup that they have been lucky to have avoided injuries so far this season, and they'll fade down the stretch.

 

I wouldn't be good on sports talk radio because I would tell the truth and not just say things to fire up the listeners to get them to call in. Those guys keep giving out the number and ask people to call – but rarely take calls because they're in love with their own voices. Saying the Braves should trade for Puig when he's an overpaid team cancer on and off the field. Some of those radio guys aren't even believable.