Buying or Selling?

Written by Colin on June 24, 2008 – 7:45 am

Are the Braves buying or selling in the trade market this year?

Will they be pulling out some of the stops to try and make a postseason run?  Or will they be selling the recently hot Mark Teixeira to the highest bidder?

I believe the answer lies in the next few series.  Last night we dropped a game to the Brewers and Ben Sheets, who was absolutely phenomenal.  But he’s their ace.  If we want to be buyers, we’ve got to finish out the series strong.  This losing at home stuff can’t happen if we keep playing .300 ball on the road.

If we lose out to the Brewskies, we have nothing to look forward to.  Next is on the road to Toronto - and for anyone who can’t remember, we are horrible on the road.  Horrible.  Toronto is in last place in the AL East, but we need to take the majority of that series to be buyers.  We’re only 4.5 games back (albiet in fourth place) and we can make up some of that space and try to come back and contend.  A great place to make that up is next week’s series against the currently first-place Phillies at home.  A buying team sweeps the Phillies.  A selling team continues to meander its way just below the .500 mark.

We’re definitely a selling team if we lose the majority of the Brewers and Phillies games.  We’re losing our potency at home and not gaining much on the road.

Do you want the Braves to buy or sell at this point?  Is it worth trying to salvage the season and make a postseason run?  Or should we throw it in the scrap heap and build for next season?

Tags: buying or selling, Trade Rumors, Trades
Posted in General |

Yates Traded to Pirates

Written by Colin on March 26, 2008 – 10:51 am

The Braves traded out-of-options reliever Tyler Yates to the Pirates for minor league starter Todd Redmond.  Yates lost the battle to start the year out in the big leagues and the Braves chose to trade him rather than put him on waivers in hopes he’d make it back to the minors.

Redmond went 22-21 in 70 appearances over three seasons in the minors, after being drafted in the 39th round in 2004.  The 22 year old prospect has two solid pitches - a low 90s fastball and a curve, and he’s working on his changeup.  He apparently has great control - Baseball America says he’s got the best control in the Pirates’ minor league system.   He struck out 97 batters in 160 innings last year.

We should see Redmond go to either high A ball or AA ball.  I’m impressed that the Braves are able to get a decent pitching young pitching prospect for a middle reliever out of options.  We may never hear from Redmond again, but he could also continue to develop and see the big leagues before it’s all over.  The Braves do have one of the best development systems in baseball.  Welcome to the Braves organization, Todd.  Hope you enjoy your time here.

Tags: Todd Redmond, Trades, Tyler Yates
Posted in Roster Moves |