It's understandable that Prado isn't the answer. Tough to play 1st and 2nd base at the same time.

Interesting that the Braves didn't offer LaRoche arby. Worst case scenario is Rochy at 1/10Mish and buying another year to figure out if Freeman is any good. I assume they have a plan to fill the black hole at 1st.

None of those mentioned other than Boston make a lot of sense. The only other possibility I can think of is the Angels, with their deep system.

HE IS NOT GOING TO BE TRADED SO JUST SHUT UP ABOUT IT WILL YOU GOD.

We can't not speculate idly. It's what we do.

At least he put the umlaut on über.

His proposed teams are rather poor, actually. It would be more interesting to speculate some about dark horse candidates, since Boston is the one big-player that really makes a ton of sense. Why not a team like Oakland? They have plenty of talent to send to San Diego, Gonzalez is in his prime and studly, and he is super cheap - which should make him more palatable to ownership. They could toss Barton along with the meat of the deal to offer SD a cost controlled option at first. The question is, what would they have to include as the meat? I assume Anderson is off limits, but who else might do it?

Oakland makes sense in that their offense is terrible, but their biggest needs are at 3B and SS. If they weren't in rebuilding mode, they might consider someone like Brett Wallace or Chris Carter as the main piece in a trade. I don't think they'd trade for someone with only two contract years left though.

Would Braves fans not seriously consider a one for one Heyward/Gonzalez swap?

Straight up - I think you have to at least consider it.... I mean - Heyward looks like a monster, but he hasn't had his 1st major league at-bat yet. Gonzalez is already a stud, he's reasonably priced for 2 more years, and he's still 2 years to the right side of 30.

I'm not saying I'd pull the trigger, but one for one? Heyward might end up better than Gonzalez, but in all seriousness, in the realm of the possible -- there really isn't a whole lot of realistic room in the "better than Gonzalez" area.

Plus Atlanta will be able to ship Gonzalez off for talent in a year and a half when they aren't competing for a playoff spot, either that or let him go in free agency and pick up draft picks. Either way if Atlanta trusts their scouting they should be able to replace Heyward in some way.

if Atlanta trusts their scouting they should be able to replace Heyward in some way.

Really? Can any team really say they "should" be able to replace one of the top 2 prospects in the minors?

Just because you are good at drafting/scouting doesn't mean you can replace a talent like Heyward. First, one must be available. Second, other teams must not get such a player first. Third, you must duplicate your ability to spot the player.

Talent today is better then hoping for talent tomorrow.

Talent today is better then hoping for talent tomorrow.

Wouldn't that argue for getting Gonzalez? Not like they can't pay to keep him with the Vasquez and Hudson contracts expiring before and extension would kick in.

The A's could try and extend him 2 years once they get him. With Chavez and Ellis coming off the books they will have some freedom soon. Gonzalez will like getting the guaranteed money.

If they traded something along the lines of Wallace + Mazzaro + Desme + Cunningham they might be able to wrestle one of the 3B San Diego has already (Headley or Kouzmanoff) which would help replace Wallace. I'm not sure who the Padres like as far as these guys go but they would also save about 9 million bucks.

Then they could give Gonzalez 4 years 50 million with a bonus upfront to replace his current contract. He gets mega-rich now and 40 extra million on top of his contract but won't be a free agent until 2 years later.

It won't happen but it would be a fun offseason if it did.

How close are the Braves to competing? If they add a major bat next year, will they be serious postseason contenders? If so, I'd do the Heyward deal. The pitching staff is pretty special, but it has a short shelf life given contracts and age.

As good as he is, Gonzalez just doesn't match the A's needs. I expect Barton to be an average to good 1b for league-minimum money. I don't think Wallace has more than a 30% chance to stick at 3rd, which makes him the 1b/DH of the future. A Gonzalez trade would be fixing what ain't broke, and overlooking what is (2b, 3b, SS).

My trade idea is Adrian Gonzalez to the Marlins, Josh Johnson to the Phillies, and a package of prospects to the Padres centered around Michael Taylor. The Phillies have a window of a few years to potentially dominate the NL, and this would give them the best rotation in baseball. Michael Taylor is ready now, but they have no use for him this year and likely no need for him in 2011 either. Dom Brown should be ready by the time the Phillies actually need another outfielder. Even after thinning out the farm system in the Lee trade, the Phillies still have a couple B+/B prospects in the lower minors--pitcher Trevor May and catcher Travis D'Arnaud--that would make good secondary pieces for the Padres.

The Marlins would trade one elite player for another with a more favorable contract. Though Adrian probably has a bit more trade value than Josh Johnson, the Marlins would get a premium for trading an ace within the division. With Hanley and Adrian, the Marlins would have perhaps the best 3-4 lineup combo in the league. They can decide in a year whether to deal Adrian and replace him with Logan Morrison or try to extend him and move Morrison. Either way, his contract puts them in a better situation next year than they would be with Josh Johnson. If Johnson has another great year, his arbitration award will be enormous, and if he has a bad or injury-plagued year, he'll probably still be owed more than Adrian and not be considered as elite. Johnson's trade value should decline relative to Adrian's no matter what happens this year. This would not hurt their chances to contend this season and it would improve their future position.

I think Michael Taylor is a really good fit for the Padres. A right-handed line-drive hitter shouldn't be as hampered by Petco as a lefty power hitter like Adrian. Taylor would be a much better defensive corner outfielder than Kyle Blanks, who would then supplant Adrian at 1b. Mat Latos, Simon Castro, and Trevor May could be the core of a strong rotation down the road if Castro and May continue to progress, with the guys from the Peavy trade filling out 1 or 2 spots on the back end. D'Arnaud is a few years away, but scouts seem to love his potential. I think this would be a fair trade for the Padres that suits their needs well, though the Red Sox certainly could offer more if they decide Adrian is their #1 priority.

The only hang-up in this deal may be the Padres’ desire of über prospect Jason Heyward.

Similarly, the only hang-ups in me dating Scarlett Johannsen are:

1. She's beautiful and famous. I'm normal.
2. My wife
3. Ryan Reynolds
4. We don't actually know each other.

If it weren't for those small obstacles, I'm pretty sure we would be hanging out this Friday.

3. Ryan Reynolds

Dude, if you can't beat out Ryan Reynolds ...

They could toss Barton along with the meat of the deal to offer SD a cost controlled option at first.

If the Pads trade Gonzalez, Kyle Blanks gets 1B. Blanks is the only reason that trading Gonzalez would make any sense for SD ... there are way more reasons for them not to but they ain't gonna listen to me.

Plus I don't think anybody wants Barton.

Plus I don't think anybody wants Barton.

I do! I actually still think he's going to be pretty good.

The Red Sox could not possibly get Gonzalez without including Buchholz (and probably Kelly), but the Braves could do it without including Heyward, and the A's could do it without including Wallace?

Hitting prospects are worth more than comparably talented pitching prospects, though Wallace shouldn't be in the same tier as Heyward.

The pitching staff is pretty special, but it has a short shelf life given contracts and age.

How so? Vazquez is the only one NOT under contract for at least two more years. Hanson/JJ are young. Lowe, Hudson, and Kawakami are mid-30's, but, at worst, 4th starters.

I do! I actually still think he's going to be pretty good.

I meant I think he has very little trade value to non-Shooty enitities :)

billyshears Posted: December 02, 2009 at 01:00 AM (#3400909)

The only hang-up in this deal may be the Padres’ desire of über prospect Jason Heyward.


Similarly, the only hang-ups in me dating Bradley Awesomeness are:
1. He's HOTTTTT and famous. I'm normal.
2. his wife
3. my husband
4. We don't actually know each other.

If it weren't for those small obstacles, I'm pretty sure we would be hanging out this Friday.

fixed

Wouldn't that argue for getting Gonzalez? Not like they can't pay to keep him with the Vasquez and Hudson contracts expiring before and extension would kick in.

For a team with the Braves' budget, 6 years of cost-controlled Heyward is better than 2 years of cost-controlled Gonzalez. Even taking into account the chance that Heyward busts completely, that is still alot of money difference that can be spent on other pieces of a good team. Hypothetically, for the Yankees or Red Sox a similar trade if it filled a need (and they had a Heyward-caliber prospect) would make sense since they can resign Gonzalez for 4 more years and the extra money wouldn't be as large a percentage of their budget.

Would Braves fans not seriously consider a one for one Heyward/Gonzalez swap?

Nope. Not for a second. Jason Heyward *could* conceivably go all Brad Komminsk on us, but the odds are low on that happening. This isn't your run of the mill prospect. This kid is Pujolsian. Not a chance in hell I'd send him anywhere, for anyone (excepting perhaps Pujols.)

If the Padres were to approach a potential trade of Gonzalez sanely, I'd certainly send them Jair Jurrjens and Freddie Freeman for him. But they're no more going to get Heyward for Gonzalez than they were going to get Hanson for Peavy last winter.

Bradley Awesomeness

Who?

But they're no more going to get Heyward for Gonzalez than they were going to get Hanson for Peavy last winter.

The Padres probably had a good chance but blew it holding out... and then Hanson went on to dominate in the AFL and that was it.

Bradley Awesomeness

Who?

Brad Ausmus, of course.

Brad Ausmus, of course.

Ah. Should've guessed.