BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Braves Trade For Cubs Outfielder Reed Johnson And Pitcher Paul Maholm.

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Monday, July 30, 2012

Braves Trade For Cubs Outfielder Reed Johnson And Pitcher Paul Maholm.

Watch out Astros, someone else has entered the firesale race!

The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Reed Johnson and left-handed starting pitcher Paul Maholm from the Chicago Cubs.

Malholm is a having a solid year with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.238 WHIP. He should fit into the Braves rotation as the fourth or fifth starter, giving the rotation two left-handed starters.

Johnson gives the Braves a veteran outfielder and right-handed bench bat. Atlanta has been searching for an additional right-handed bat all year, but with the injury to Matt Diaz, it became necessary to acquire another right-handed option.

Johnson is hitting .307/.361/.452 this season, which are a tick above his career numbers.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:01 PM | 42 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: braves, cubs, paul maholm, reed johnson, trade

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1. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:19 PM (#4196632)

Johnson's pretty much a perfect fit for the Braves. Maholm's just a decent pitcher, but the Braves can use as many of those as they can find. It looks like Kris Medlen's Bogus Journey continues, however.

2. spike Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:22 PM (#4196634)

He's going to start tomorrow at any rate.

3. Brian White Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:25 PM (#4196635)

Yeah, what's this team got against Medlen?

Well, it's two pitchers, neither of whom are Teheran, Gilmartin, Minor, or Delgado. There's not exactly a ton of pitching in the minor league system outside these four, is there?

4. flournoy Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:26 PM (#4196636)

Ryan Dempster just tweeted that this trade is off.

5. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:26 PM (#4196638)

Having a pretty good season plus has a 6.5 mil option for next year so a decent aquisition. Reed will resign in chicago next year

6. Sweatpants Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:27 PM (#4196639)

Atlanta has been searching for an additional right-handed bat all year, but with the injury to Matt Diaz, it became necessary to acquire another right-handed option.

Diaz has been pretty useless this year even when healthy, and he hasn't been good since 2009. Regardless of he injury, replacing him is a good call. Too bad - he's a fun player to watch and root for.

7. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:28 PM (#4196640)

If none of the top pitching prospects are going the other way, I like this as a Braves fan. Johnson is a major upgrade over Costanza. Maholm isn't a huge upgrade over Medlen, but...

8. Honkie Kong Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:29 PM (#4196643)

I will wait for the prospects going back to comment ( hopefully something like Avilan + Gearrin ).
But still not a fan of this trade. Maholm is not what the Braves need.

There is no such thing as pitching depth, but damn, thats a lot of pitchers they have turned over in 1 year.

Over the past year

Pitchers traded/given away :
Hoover ( if he developed, the Braves would be more comfortable about Medlen starting ).
Redmond ( RH Maholm, though Janish was someone that the Braves needed )
Diamond ( Maholm's Canadian twin )
Lowe ( good riddance )
Clemens / Oberholtzer / Abreu : Traded for Bourn, struggling now. Dunno why Oberholtzer is in AAA.

Others
Vizcaino : TJ
Beachy : TJ
Minor / Delgado : Rookie road bumps
Teheran : First tough year
Hanson : Shoulder issues
Jurrjens : Knee issues and ineffective

9. Brian White Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:29 PM (#4196644)

Per Jerry Crasnick, one of the pitchers is Jaye Chapman.

10. Honkie Kong Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:33 PM (#4196650)

Per Jerry Crasnick, one of the pitchers is Jaye Chapman.

Undersized righty reliever. In the Buddy hernandez mould.
Braves develop a ton of these...

Talking of undersized relievers, anyone know where Benino Pruneda is this year? Injury?

11. Brian White Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:35 PM (#4196653)

Also, if this is the Cubs fire sale thread (it has more posts than the Soto trade right now), this is floating around on Twitter - Alfonso Soriano has said he would refuse to go to the Giants in a trade.

So, uh, Alfonso Soriano is not available.

12. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:36 PM (#4196655)

But didnt turn down the dodgers!

13. Brian White Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:40 PM (#4196658)

Crasnick reports that Arodys Vizcaino is the other one going to the Cubs. Damn, I didn't even think he could be traded, when on the DL. I like this deal less now.

14. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:41 PM (#4196660)

Talking heads on MLB Tonight just said Reds are in talks for Matt Garza.

15. Honkie Kong Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:43 PM (#4196661)

Crasnick reports that Arodys Vizcaino is the other one going to the Cubs. Damn, I didn't even think he could be traded, when on the DL. I like this deal less now.

Can you be traded when on the DL? this took a turn from being irritating to blech.

16. flournoy Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:43 PM (#4196662)

The only pitcher listed as traded or given away in number 8 that I think is regrettable is Scott Diamond. I don't remember who was on the Braves' 40 man roster at the time, but I'm sure there was someone else who could have gone to make room for him before the Rule 5 draft. Oh well - it happens.

17. Honkie Kong Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:47 PM (#4196664)

I'm sure there was someone else who could have gone to make room for him before the Rule 5 draft.

It was worse. They had room. The Twins were willing to return him, but we swung a trade for him ( getting Billy Bullock for him ).
Billy Bullock is the new Juan Abreu. Throws hard, no idea where it goes.

18. flournoy Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:48 PM (#4196665)

Can you be traded when on the DL?

Yes. The most recent example involving the Braves is actually from one of the trades you mentioned earlier - Jordan Schafer was on the DL when the Braves traded him to the Astros.

It just doesn't happen very often, for obvious reasons. I imagine that often when teams trade for injured prospects, they keep them as PTBNLs until the player is recovered, just in case the recovery doesn't take place like they expect. Then they could choose another guy from an agreed upon list.

19. Sweatpants Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:49 PM (#4196667)

Crasnick reports that Arodys Vizcaino is the other one going to the Cubs. Damn, I didn't even think he could be traded, when on the DL. I like this deal less now.

Ugh - and they might not even have needed Maholm, but it's too late now to wait and see if Medlen can cut it in the rotation again before making a deal.

20. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 30, 2012 at 11:56 PM (#4196669)

Can you be traded when on the DL? this took a turn from being irritating to blech.

It just needs Commish approval.

21. Brian White Posted: July 31, 2012 at 12:06 AM (#4196672)

Ugh - and they might not even have needed Maholm, but it's too late now to wait and see if Medlen can cut it in the rotation again before making a deal.

Well, even with Medlen in, it helps to have another starter on hand if this whole "Mike Minor: effective major league starter" thing we've seen this past month evaporates into thin air, as I kind of expect it to. Plus Maholm has another year of team control. And another outfielder is certainly useful, as another layer of Chipper insurance.

I'm starting to think that Vizcaino might not ever cut it as a starter. He's already got one arm surgery under his belt, and the Braves seemed to have a mind to make him a reliever before then anyway. He's got a lot of talent, but if he's a future reliever, whose future is clouded by Tommy John surgery recovery, I think dealing him is acceptable. It isn't the steal that the Bourn trade was, but I suppose I can live with it.

22. Dag Nabbit has the talking pillow Posted: July 31, 2012 at 12:16 AM (#4196675)

If it makes Braves fans feel better, Maholm has allowed 1 earned run or less in each of his last seven starts. It's not like he's going to keep it up, but here's his line since June 29:

45 IP, 33 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 9 BB, 32 K, 1 HR, 1.00 ERA. He's 5-0 and the team is 7-0 in his starts.

Yeah, sample size and regression to the mean, and all that. But if it makes anyone feel better, the guy has been on a tear lately.

23. Dan Posted: July 31, 2012 at 12:34 AM (#4196680)

Not Cubs related, but trade related: Travis Snider pulled, seen exchanging goodbyes. Unclear where he's headed so far.

Edit: Traded to Pirates for Brad Lincoln. That's a weird one.

24. Dan Posted: July 31, 2012 at 12:35 AM (#4196681)

We need a trade deadline catchall thread.

25. Nasty Nate Posted: July 31, 2012 at 12:54 AM (#4196687)

previous discussion about Maholm trade value.

26. Walt Davis Posted: July 31, 2012 at 01:19 AM (#4196698)

Seems a little odd. If Dempster for Delgado falls through, were they not interested in 1.5 years of Garza for Delgado? Or do the Cubs think 1.5 years of Garza is worth more than Delgado? If the latter, toss in one or two of these pitchers and send Garza and Johnson the other way. Or do the Braves not want Garza?

Anyway, seems like a nice haul if it really is Vizcaino. I recall he was a big name prospect there for a while. What's the injury, shoulder or elbow?

27. Dan Posted: July 31, 2012 at 01:25 AM (#4196701)

He had TJ surgery in the spring.

28. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: July 31, 2012 at 01:47 AM (#4196710)

Which wasn't Vizcaino's first struggle with arm issues, I believe. He had been shut down during previous seasons for various ailments. I want to say there's a shoulder issue in his past, but I'm not sure.

29. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: July 31, 2012 at 01:55 AM (#4196715)

Vizcaino is a heck of a pickup for the proverbial sign-and-flip-at-the-deadline idea which never actually seems to work in practice.

30. base ball chick Posted: July 31, 2012 at 03:17 AM (#4196738)

i don't know why youse guys are so down on maholm. he's a solid pitcher. reed johnson is a solid OF/PH

malholm can help your team NOW this year. who knows if arodys will even pitch again - or be more than a reliever?

and the bourn trade was a complete and total massacre. paul clemens had a 6+ ERA at AAA and got sent down. oberholzer had a 5+ ERA at AA and had no business being promoted and he's sucking at AAA. abreu has a 6 or 7 ERA. jordan schafer is lousy and lazy - average fielder, lousy bat, decent runner. michael bourn is teh awesomeness

31. with Glavinesque control and Madduxian poise Posted: July 31, 2012 at 03:51 AM (#4196744)

As a Braves fan, I cannot fault BBC's assessment of the Bourn trade. This year at least, Bourn, as a hitter, is an idealized version of a young Rafael Furcal: all the speed in the world, but can turn on an inside fastball while at the same time understanding that trying to do that would be a bad idea for him.

32. bigglou115 Posted: July 31, 2012 at 04:22 AM (#4196746)

As far as I can see, this trade is about the pen and the bench. The Braves were determined to send Delgado down, which is probably a good move considering his age and ceiling. That meant that absent a trade they needed to move Medlen to the rotation, weakening the pen. Now they can leave Medlen in the pen, keeping it strong, and not see any fall off from moving Delgado to AAA. Any way you look at it Johnson is an upgrade to the bench.

Getting all that for an also-ran and a prospect who's admittedly high ceiling has been limited by injuries and a likely permanent move to the pen... done.

33. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 31, 2012 at 07:44 AM (#4196758)

If none of the top pitching prospects are going the other way, I like this as a Braves fan. Johnson is a major upgrade over Costanza. Maholm isn't a huge upgrade over Medlen, but...

As bigglou115 points out, it's not about upgrading over Medlen, it's about upgrading over Christhian Martinez. The Braves had four guys four one rotation spot next year - Teheran, Delgado, a very young Gilmartin and a TJ recovering Vizcaino. They needed both of these pieces to compete for a WS this year, and the Braves want to compete for a WS in Chipper's final year.

34. zonk Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:10 AM (#4196801)

I think I like this deal for both teams, actually...

Vizcaino goes to his 3rd org and there's obviously the TJ recovery, but a well-thought of but injured prospect and another live arm isn't bad for what amounts to an NRI and a scrap heap FA. I wouldn't have minded hanging onto Maholm -- his option is reasonable and assuming that at least Dempster isn't around next year, the Cubs might have trouble filling rotation innings.

Still - I like this trade from the Cubs perspective and given that Atlanta has about 3 or 4 SP candidates better than Arodys, I can't really see how it's not a smart move for them.

If Vizcaino makes it back - I think you'd have to say that he's probably the top pitching prospect in the Cubs system... The bloom is long gone off Jay Jackson, McNutt has struggled, Concepcion has bombed, and Chris Rusin excites no one.

35. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:24 AM (#4196810)

As far as I can see, this trade is about the pen and the bench

Bingo. They improved the team and gave up very little for it. Nice job Wren.

36. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:32 AM (#4196818)

The key to this from the Braves perspective is that Vizcaino is one of five potential starters from 2013-16 that they have baked out in the minors or on the DL: Beachy (obviously higher upside than Vizcaino), Teheran (always has been ranked higher in the lists), Delgado (better track record in the majors as a starter) and Gilmartin (hasn't been injured yet.) With Hudson, Hanson, Minor and potentially Sheets in the mix for 2013-14 rotation spots, you don't mind flipping Vizcaino and a live arm for two very useful pieces this year.

37. Der_K Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:45 AM (#4196821)

I like this for both teams as well.

38. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:51 AM (#4196829)

Still - I like this trade from the Cubs perspective and given that Atlanta has about 3 or 4 SP candidates better than Arodys, I can't really see how it's not a smart move for them.

Well, it's easy to see how it might be a dumb move for them - if Vizcaino is a front of the rotation major league starter, they sold very low on him. Generally, though, it's not a good idea to bet on the Braves mis-evaluating their pitching prospects, and the Braves' depth is pretty incredible such that even if Vizcaino is a solid MLB starter or a relief ace, they won't have given up too, too much.

I agree with the consensus that this seems like a fair trade, but the variance on Vizcaino is sizable enough that it could look really good for the Cubs with time.

39. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: July 31, 2012 at 09:52 AM (#4196832)

Will someone think of those Medlen kids?

40. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 31, 2012 at 10:22 AM (#4196874)

I think Vizcaino could become another Adam Wainwright, for the record. But then again, you take me back to the Wainwright/J.D. Drew swap and I'd do it all over again, no questions asked. The Braves traded away one of their lottery tickets for upgrades at two positions for the stretch drive. The Cubs traded away quality ML starters for future potential. It's a very good deal for both teams, considering where they are on the competition ladder.

41. Corn On Ty Cobb Posted: July 31, 2012 at 10:35 AM (#4196889)

This is certainly a better deal for the Braves than Dempster for Delgado. Braves fans thank you, Ryan Dempster.

42. Andere Richtingen

Posted: July 31, 2012 at 11:21 AM (#4196954)

Yeah, this looks like win/win for both teams. Figuratively from the Cubs perspective, where "win" means contributing to their radical rebuilding plan. The Braves get two players who should do them a lot of good down the stretch, and it looks like Maholm's option for 2013 is locked in.

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Monday, July 30, 2012

Braves Trade For Cubs Outfielder Reed Johnson And Pitcher Paul Maholm.

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