Comments on: Should the Braves Trade Andruw Jones?

By: Trev

Trev — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:19:00 +0000

JC,

Sorry to be OT, but since you brought up THT2007, I was wondering if you had anything in it like last year? (Your PrOPS article was very good.)

By: Jeff M.

Jeff M. — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 22:10:05 +0000

Like many, emotionally, I’d like Andruw to stay. Moreover, if he’ll sign then the whole trade stuff is moot. And, I think the Braves would be idiots not to sit down with him after the season and see if something can be worked out (I’m guessing that they don’t need to be told this by another arm chair GM). And if he signs, the question is moot. Why, after all, would you trade a great defensive center fielder who often is explosive offensively as well?

That said, I’m figuring that he’s out of here after next year. I don’t think the Braves will offer anything above 12 million for 2 or 3 years (which is less than Furcal got, by the way, and Andruw is SO much more valuable than Furcal). In such a situation, if you were Andruw would you sign an extension for 3 years 36 million? Probably not. So, between getting something for him and nothing but next season, I’m for getting something.

If you can get a starter, a reliever, and an outfielder that upgrades LF, then we should do it. Or, perhaps, if we could get a team with deep pockets (like the Red Sox) not only to take Andruw but also to take say Hampton or Hudson as well, the payroll relief might be worth it. Heck, a question might be, would you trade Andruw and Hudson/Hampton for Manny and a cheaper/younger pitcher? Manny’s expensive, but only for the next two years (thereafter, he’s a “team option” player)?

By: Johnny

Johnny — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:43:02 +0000

Andruw is at his highest value during the off season. The Braves deal from weakness if they are out of it and dealing in season. Besides Andruw is a 10 and 5 man. So this whole discussion is probably moot.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 01:35:43 +0000

I’d love for the Red Sox to get Andruw, but I don’t know if the Braves and Sox could agree on what Andruw is worth. The Red Sox will undoubtedly portray the deal as a last opportunity for the Braves to get something in return for Andruw before his possibe FA departure.
Maybe if a Manny deal netted a solid young starter (say, Ervin Santana, a pretty big if at this point) they could come to an accord, but given the track record of Boston’s front office when they set a value for a player they don’t budge. Atlanta’s proposal of Lester, Hansen, and Crisp was deemed to high and I don’t think Andruw has drastically increased his worth since the deal was shot down. If the Braves want that type of deal, I don’t think they’ll find it this winter.

By: Mac

Mac — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:48:51 +0000

Yeah, unless the deal includes someone who might be a star, I’m against it. On the other hand, there’s talk of ditching free agent compensation again and we could wind up not getting anything for him. But put it off until during the season; if the Braves are noncompetitive and Andruw won’t re-up, then we talk.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 17:59:04 +0000

Emotionally I don’t want them to trade Andruw.

From an objective point of view they shouldn’t trade Andruw……unless someone is willing to do a deal like the one Schuerholz proposed to Boston, 2 plus arms and a useful everyday for Andruw. But the Sox couldn’t pull the trigger.

Pitching, as always but even more so this winter is going to be at premium levels. It wouldn’t be worth it to do a one for one trade unless we get a Verlander or a Santana etc. Even then I would have to really think hard given the durability issues that even premium pitchers have.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:36:54 +0000

I think a crucial part of the decision is the Braves payroll and ownership status for next year. If there is no other way to pay for some additional pitching, then trading Andrew might be necessary. But you’re spot on in saying that the Braves need to think carefully about comparing Andrew’s offense and runs saved in center field to the runs that will be saved by acquiring more pitching.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:34:37 +0000

I agree with you JC. I don’t think any trade for Andruw would really help that much–it’s not as if the Tigers are going to trade Justin Verlander, for example. I could see something along the lines of Jake Peavey, Scott Linebrink, say for Andruw, but given Peavey’s struggles this year, that would be an iffy trade. Trading for pitching is difficult and I suspect the Braves would lose more from not having Andruw in center than they would gain from another starter (unless it was a great starter).

I also agree with signing him for three years; that would protect against his possible decline in his mid-thirties. But I don’t know about $15 million for a team with an $80 million payroll and saddled with other big (and largely unproductive) contracts.

I don’t think they should trade him this winter unless they get absolutely bowled over. I’m not the biggest Andruw fan in the world–I don’t see him as the HOFer that a lot do–but they clearly will have a hard time replacing him and one pitcher anyway would not help that much.