Less Than 48 Hours Until The Deadline, Frank Wren Needs To Step Up To The Plate

Time to go to work, Frank!

We now have less than 48 hours until the MLB trade deadline and the Braves and GM Frank Wren have yet to make a move to bolster a pennant run.  In the last two weeks, this season has taken a turn that reminds many Braves fans of last season.  Brian McCann, Jordan Schafer and now Nate McLouth have all made their way to Disabled List and Chipper Jones is battling a leg injury while trying toworking his way back in to the lineup.  

Today, the Braves called up Jose Constanza from Triple-A, and the 27 year old outfielder will make his Major League debut tonight.  A career minor leaguer, Constanza is certainly not the answer to any of the Braves looming lineup issues.

About a month ago, I wrote this column cautioning Wren and the Braves not to give up the future for a rental player.  The fluidity of the injury situation has me thinking that the Braves may need to make a move to avoid a playoff fate similar to 2010.

It's very obvious the Braves aren't going to trade top pitching prospects Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado or Arodys Vizcaino.  Why they are reluctant to trade Mike Minor is surprising to me, however.  In my opinion Minor projects as a 3rd starter and the Braves just drafted and signed college lefty Sean Gilmartin, a similar pitcher to Minor, maybe with a little less velocity.  Rumor has it the Braves turned down a Minor for Beltran straight-up trade from the Mets, which if true, is crazy to me.  I know the Braves don't want to face Minor inside the division each year, but that would have been a great deal for the Braves, given its stable of other pitching prospects.

It looks as though Wren's hand may be forced given the recent rash of injuries.  Braves' eyes and ears are now turning to the likes of Hunter Pence, Carlos Quentin, B.J. Upton and Ryan Ludwick.  Of these, Ludwick would be the cheapest and Pence the most costly.  Houston is looking for multiple MLB-ready prospects and have already turned down a huge offer from the Phillies for Pence.  The White Sox are in contention in the AL Central and won't be looking to dump Quentin for cheap.  Tampa Bay is certainly willing to move Upton, and he could fill the need for a center fielder.  The Braves may be able to pry Ludwick from San Diego for less than one of the prime pitching prospects.

 

Will Frank Wren step up and make a big move?  My guess is yes, but how big all depends on whether or not he will move Mike Minor.  If so, the Braves could get Quentin or Upton.  If not, it could be Ludwick.  It's safe to say that the next 48 hours will hold the key to the Braves' World Series potential.

Will The Braves Make The Move For Carlos Beltran?

Is Carlos Beltran the "big bat" the Braves are looking for?

Now that the Astros are saying they are not going to trade Hunter Pence next week, all eyes turn to New York and Carlos Beltran, as he is now the biggest impact player openly on the trade market.  There is no doubt the Braves have interest in Beltran, but will they make the move?

If the Braves do make the trade for Beltran, he will strictly be a rental player, as his contract is up at the end of the season.  I think the Braves wanted Pence more, as he is under contract past this season, but the Astros wanted a multi-player package of top prospects, which the Braves were smart in declining.  Concerning Beltran, the asking price is lower than Pence, but is he worth a top prospect for 2+ months of service?

That's the question the Braves must answer.  The Mets were in town to watch Mike Minor's start for the Gwinnett Braves last night, and it appears that he would be the centerpiece of a deal.  If the Mets are willing to swap Beltran for Minor straight up, I think that's a good deal for Atlanta, as there is plenty of starting pitching depth in the minors.  I hear the Mets are willing to help by picking up most to all of the money left on Beltran's contract this year, so this could be a good deal for the Braves if Minor is deemed expendable.

Do the Mets want more than just one top level prospect?  Here is where a possible trade could reach an impasse.  If the Mets are looking for another MLB ready prospect, is it worth it to the Braves for two months of Beltran?

In my opinion, making a trade for Beltran is a risky proposition under any circumstance due to his penchant for the disabled list.  He has spent tons of time on the DL in the last five years, and an injury could make the trade a complete bust.

If it's Beltran for Minor with the Mets picking up Beltran's contract, I'd make the deal.  My gut feeling is the Mets want more that just Minor, and the Braves are hesitant to give up too much for a rental player.  Another player rumored to be a target for the Braves is Jonny Gomes of the Reds.  He would be a much cheaper target and wouldn't be forced to be an everyday player.  He could fit in a platoon against lefties, as outfielders Nate McLouth, Jordan Schafer and Jason Heyward are all left-handed hitters.  As reluctant as the Braves are to trade coveted prospects sometimes, Jonny Gomes appears to be a more likely addition to the Braves roster.

Derek Lowe On The Move?

Will the Braves trade Derek Lowe to help bolster the lineup?

For a couple of weeks, I've been hearing that Derek Lowe's name has been  floating around as trade bait in the Braves quest to secure another bat for the lineup.  I love the idea!

Derek Lowe is making $15 million this year, but teams that are on the verge of contention are always looking to grab starting pitching at the trade deadline (July 31).  Lowe would be one of the most proven veterans on the market, making him a commodity, despite having a below par season to date (5-7, 4.30 ERA).  It would be huge if the Braves could find a suitor that would pick up the rest of his contract, but the Braves will probably have to pick up some of the remainder to get another team to bite on the trade.

Who will make a move to pick up Lowe and what will they offer the Braves in return? Where will the newest addition play in the field?  If he's an outfielder, who is the odd-man out when Chipper returns and Prado moves back to left?

While I would love to see Lowe dealt to the Cardinals for Colby Rasmus, it's highly unlikely the Cards will part with Rasmus.  Detroit is said to have the most interest in Lowe, but looking at their lineup, it's hard to find a good fit for the Braves to receive in return.  If the Braves did trade Lowe, would it be for a minor league package to clear salary to make ANOTHER move with another team for a big bat?  Remember, the Braves did get John Smoltz and Jair Jurrjens from the Tigers!

In my opinion, if Lowe is dealt to Detroit, it would be for the scenario listed above.  The Braves will never get Miguel Cabrera and Lowe for Magglio Ordonez would be a loss for Atlanta.  There are no other big bats in Detroit, and I don't see the Braves wanting Brennan Boesch (left-handed) and the Tigers don't have any MLB ready hitters in AAA.

Lowe has recognized the possibility of a trade, even making light of it in this AJC article.  Moving him may be necessary if the Braves are serious about acquiring a thumper to add to the lineup.

Do you think the Braves will move Derek Lowe?  If so, where will his destination be?