Subcribe to this Feed
Braves Looking for Pitching?
Before the season the Pirates were expecting big things out of Chris Benson. A former phenom that was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery, Benson was another year removed from that surgery and had showed some of his original potential in the second half of last season. Experts were believing that he would soon return to being the staff ace of an improving starting rotation. But things have not worked out this season and things have degraded between him and his manager so much that he was publicly challenged by his manager to improve on his game, often a last resort by a manager that is unable to get through to his player.
So is it time to cut ties to this pitcher who is still able to wow the scouts with this stuff? Rumors are floating around that this is possible. One of the more significant rumors is of him moving to the Braves. The Braves, a team that has been known for its highly talented pitching for over a decade, is in need of a stabilizing presence in the rotation beyond Maddux, Hampton, and Ortiz. Maybe a change of scenery and the aid of pitching coach Leo Mazzone and fellow Tommy John survivor, John Smoltz, can turn the career of Benson’s around.
Let’s take a look at what it may take for the Braves to acquire a former blue chipper like Benson. First, a starter will be needed to take his place in the rotation. Although the Braves may be pushing Jason Marquis after his ranting when sent to the minors, Horacio Ramirez may be the pitching replacement for the Pirates. Horacio, under the right tutelage, could blossom into a very good #3 starter for the Pirates.
The Pirates will also need to address their lack of offensive punch with this trade as well. Kelly Johnson is blocked from the majors by Rafael Furcal, and Wilson Betemit, his power shows definite major league possibilities. Defensively, he isn’t a gem, but a switch to second base could relax him and let his offensive prowess show. Second base is a position that the Pirates lack depth in, could make the Bucs highly interested in him. A future double play combination of Johnson and Double-A prospect Jose Castillo could be promising for Pittsburg fans.
Rounding out the trade would be another good arm that the Braves always have an abundance of in the minors. This could be A-Level prospect Dan Meyer who, through June 14th, had an ERA of 3.06 and a BB/K ratio of 14/86 in 75.2 innings of work. One of Atlanta’s many talented minor league arms, Dan could join a future rotation that would include Sean Burnett, Bryan Bullington, John Van Benschoten, and Chris Young, an interesting set of hurlers, to say the least.
For this trade to work for the Braves, Benson would need to turn things around and rather quickly, as the midseason mark is approaching and the Braves will need to prove that they will be able to survive in the playoffs past the first round. Such a turn around for a pitcher doesn’t usually happen in just a couple months. But it did happen for Woody Williams after he was united with Dave Duncan and Daryl Kile in St. Louis.
Lofton to the A’s
The aging Kenny Lofton has stepped up and shown some offensive prowess lately prompting rumors of trades to a few destinations including the Phillies. As of June 14th, Kenny was carrying a .297 average and a .360 on-base percentage to go along with his 14 stolen bases. Although these figures may diminish over the season due to his age, he should be a decent leadoff hitter for a contending team.
A good signing by the Pirates, Lofton was immediately labeled for trade bait if he produced for Pittsburg. The Bucs have a centerfield prospect in Tony Alvarez at AAA that may be ready to get some seasoning in the majors to prepare for next season. This trade will give him the room to have a go at sticking in the majors. So, why not trade Lofton and see what you can get out of him?
One team that might be interested could be the A’s. It is doubtful that Chris Singleton can carry them through the playoffs as their leadoff hitter. A speedster with a knack for getting on base at the top of the lineup could help the Athletic’s offensive woes immensely.
So, what can the Pirates get in return for Lofton? Although they may be enticed to trade for Jason Grabowski, who is tearing up AAA right now, to replace the struggling Aramis Ramirez, they may have to take a lower prospect or two. Hence the name of Esteban German. Once a significant prospect for the A’s, he didn’t have a good season last year and fell out of favor with the A’s. The A’s have Freddie Bynum progressing though the system and trading German would give the roster spot at Sacramento to Bynum to prepare for next year.
Pokey Reese, signed for his defensive abilities, is hitting near the Mendoza Line, and Abraham Nunez is not doing much better. Esteban German could be the future spark for this lineup at the top of the order and serve as a cheap, serviceable player for the next few years. Currently he is carrying a .291 average and, more importantly, a .383 on-base percentage for Sacramento.
If they can get the Phillies or another team into the mix, the Pirates may be able to add another player like Chad Harville, who is wallowing in the minors. He may turn out to be a useable reliever for the Pirates as a throw-in on the deal.
Lofton cannot alone fix the offensive problems of Oakland, but he should be able spark the lineup and possibly cause a chain reaction of the “hitting is contagious” disease.
