Hard to find many Braves fans cheering today’s trade, but prospects guru Kevin Goldstein and the folks at FanGraphs think Wren did pretty well.
“Any headline on this trade that does not mention Arodys Vizcaino is totally missing the point,” tweeted Goldstein. “But it’s not Cabrera who makes this deal work for Atlanta – that’s Vizcaino, an underhyped 19-year-old who destroyed A-ball as a teenager,” wrote FanGraphs. “The classic projectable teenage arm, Vizciano throws a mid-90s fastball with a hard breaking curve, and has proven nearly unhittable in his brief professional career. He’s not close to the majors, but he’s a significant upside bet for Atlanta long term.”
Check out my round-up of the deal on ajc.com. I noted that Cabrera’s 2009 numbers were nearly identical to Anderson’s (Melky: .274-13-68, 28 doubles; GA: .268-13-61, 27 doubles) in roughly the same number of AB’s.
–CB
Barring any imminent trades, this deal looks like a sacrifice of the present for the unknown future.
Maybe this time WE get to be the ones who get a young guy who becomes a mainstay in exchange for a veteran.
I don’t like this trade, but if this kid develops, I will feel a lot better about it later.
Yeah, trade Vasquez and watch Chipper struggle to 15 homers and 65 RBI. Money money money.
The beancounters are still in control of personnel, just as they were when those New York suits at AOL/Time Warner were running things. When Liberty bought the Braves, MLB stated that they wouldn’t be allowed to “flip” the franchise to another buyer and would have to hold on to it through at least 2011. That sale date can’t come soon enough.
We’ve got young arms in the minors. We need a hitter in the majors.
Roughly the same offensive production than Garrett Anderson. How many games did GA’s defense cost the Braves last year?
Don’t consider this trade complete unril we see where Vazquez’s money goes. If it doesn’t get spent, call it a crappy trade, but this seems to be opening up payroll/prospects for something else.
[...] Arodys Vizcaino is the second coming of John Smoltz. I assume that is doubtful, but according to Rowland’s Office, landing Vizcaino was a win for the Braves. Here’s to future days, but I’m not holding my [...]
Excuse me, we couldn’t get more for Vazquez than that all time great Melky Cabrera and a good A pitcher? If I had a dollar for all the great pitchers in A ball that never came close to their potential I’d be a very, very rich man.
The real problem is Wren is trying to build this team piecemeal. None of it adds up to what the Braves needed. Can’t afford Holliday or Bay? How about putting together a great package for Adrian Gonzalez? Too many lefthanded hitters? Not with a McCann, Chipper, Gonzalez and Diaz combination. Did you know Diaz hit .412 vs lefties last year and .347 for his career? And that’s with a 1.103 OPS for last year and .912 for his career. I’d give up Vazquez and Freeman and more for Gonzalez. If you retain his option for 2011 you have yourself a great deal. Then you get rid of Lowe next year to a team desperate for pitching (and get a prospect or two in return as well) you can afford to sign him for 2012.
Finally, Bobby’s replacement will probably make a million or two less and Chipper, unfortunately, won’t last forever. They will be able to afford a $20 million dollar a year contract in 2012. Heyward’s bat replaces Chipper and life is good.