Matthew Pouliot
Jul thirteen, 2011, 9:15 PM EDT
Atlanta Braves
First-half report: 54-38
Standings: path Phillies by three 1/2 games in NL East, five up in wild card
Needs
Outfield: Jordan Schafer has had his moments, but he also has a .599 OPS in 169 at-bats whilst filling in for Nate McLouth and Martin Prado. The Braves offense is very good when absolutely everyone is wholesome and McLouth is the worst participant in the lineup, but including another outfielder is really a need to. Players are going to keep acquiring damage,
Tiffany Keys, and even though Prado’s versatility makes him a huge asset in that department, the Braves need someone to cover left field when Prado is needed elsewhere.
Bullpen: The Braves have gotten superb relief so far,
Tiffany Necklaces, but they currently have Jonny Venters on pace for 90 appearances, Craig Kimbrel on pace for 83 and Eric O’Flaherty on pace for 79. They could use one more solid right-hander capable of taking some of the burden off their big three.
Infield: If the Braves can’t bring in a starting-type outfielder, maybe they can at least go get a quality backup for Chipper Jones so that they’ll no longer have to play Prado at third base. The return of Omar Infante to Atlanta would work if the last-place Marlins decide to sell.
Target
Josh Willingham (OF Oak): The addition of Dan Uggla was supposed to help out a Braves team that has typically struggled against left-handers, and it probably will pay off in time. Still, to date, the Braves are hitting .208 and slugging .333 against southpaws, compared to .249 with a .407 slugging percentage against righties. Willingham isn’t a perfect solution — ideally,
Tiffany Style, the Braves would bring in someone capable of helping out in center as well — but he’s a very good bat with plenty of NL East experience.
Proposed deal
Willingham and RHP Brad Ziegler for LHP Mike Minor and LHP Brett Oberholtzer
I wouldn’t propose that the Braves give up Minor for Willingham alone,
Tiffany Key Ring, but for Ziegler, too,
Silver Tiffany Rings, it might be worth it. Ziegler incorporates a one.95 ERA in 32 1/3 innings this season, and he’s limited right-handed hitters to a .219 average and two homers in 525 career at-bats. He is weak against lefties, but the Braves already have three quality southpaws.
It’s still a pretty high price to pay, but Brandon Beachy‘s emergence has made Minor expendable. The left-hander would likely be a fine No. 3 starter in Oakland. Oberholtzer, who is currently sporting a 4.03 ERA as a 22-year-old in Double-A, probably ranks as Atlanta’s sixth- or seventh-best pitching prospect.
The Braves have gotten superb relief so far
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