Latest Kearns rumor

[WVPacman]

The Bong jokes ran for a while...isnt that worth something in the Reitsma deal???

LOL,nobody will forget about Bong and the Bong jokes.

[Crash Davis]

The Braves remain interested in Reds OF Austin Kearns, who also is on the Royals' and Nationals' wish lists. The Reds, however, don't want to trade Kearns until he increases his value to the point where they will get a quality pitcher in return.

Of course the Braves want Austin Kearns. If I was running a first class operation, I'd be looking to steal Kearns away from a team that doesn't value him as much as I do. He'd make a very nice fit as the RF and cleanup batter for the Braves.

You know what? Good for them. We don't need Kearns. We have Rich Aurilia.

[Tommyjohn25]

trading one of the young OFs isn't going to do anything to help in the short help. The Reds need at a minimun of 6-7 new pitchers. The farm system is also devoid of OF prospects for the most part. The only one at the moment is Dickerson who is 23 at High A.

I agree, I think trading any one of our young three (pena, dunn, kearns) would be nothing but a step back, for many reasons including the one you stated above about our farm system outfielders. I do not however, have an easy solution to our surplus of outfielders right now. Although I do know that RA doesn't need to start in front of FeLo in turn letting Freel play second which in turn would allow us to at least make the competition between Kearns and Pena again. Which I suppose is at least a baby step in the right direction.

[flyer85]

When you 6-7 pitchers away you are not going to be competitive this year, unlikely to be in 2006, so you have to shoot for 2007. By then the problem(too many OF/1B) will have been long solved.

Of course the smart answer is to solve it now by finding new homes for Jr and Casey, which is not possible with our current GM, because it would take some real creative thinking. Something that is obviously not a strong suit for DanO(not sure he has a strong suit)

[Red Leader]

Trading Kearns.
Possible returns.
WAS-not really any "package" that would interest me.
KC- What about Justin Huber, is he still catching, or did they move him to 1B.
ATL- Brian McCann tops my list. I would center a deal around him I like him that much. Toss in a nice upside arm, and you'd have a deal.

[flyer85]

KC- What about Justin Huber, is he still catching, or did they move him to 1B.

moved to 1B

I'd rather package Randa to the Dodgers for Navarro or Martin

[TheBurn]

If it is going to happen, anything other than a top pitcher would be a step back, IMO.

[traderumor]

I would imagine that we would end up with someone like Horacio Ramirez from the Braves for Kearns. And that is probably about the best they have to offer of someone that would come in immediately to our rotation. Only problem is he isn't very good, like Brandon Claussen not very good.

[RedlegJake]

After seeing this off season DanO's judgement of player's abilities I think I'll hope he doesn't trade any of young outfielders. We'd wind up with more Ortiz/Weathers/Mercker/Weber/Milton type arms.

[striker42]

Braves fan here. Brian McCann? Y'all do aim high don't y'all. McCann is among, if not the, best catching prospect in the game. He has 30 HR power, will hit .300 and has been compared to Jason Varitek as far as being a team leader. He's also probably 4th on the Braves list of untouchable prospects.
Jeff Francoeur- Next face of the franchise
Andy Marte- Possibly the game's best prospect
Kyle Davies- Will step into the rotation next year but could do it now if a trade makes it neccesary
Brian McCann

My guess would be Horacio Ramirez would be the biggest part of a deal. He's also far, far better than Claussen. Frank Robinson compared him to a young Tom Glavine. I don't think he's that good but he's still a very good young lefty. He probably tops out as a very good number 3 starter or a solid number 2. He's also capable of a 3.50 or maybe even lower ERA right now. I would think the Braves would throw in another prospect to sweeten the deal. Macay McBride, lefty who most likely is destined as a dominant lefty reliever, is one. Scott Thorman, lefty first baseman with light tower power, is blocked in the Braves system and could also be an option. McCann for Kearns is a bit much.

[Falls City Beer]

Major leaguers who produce are almost ALWAYS worth more than any prospect. With Atlanta's stank offense, you'd think McCann could crack the lineup, if he's all that and a bacon burger.

[OnBaseMachine]

I don't want Horacio Ramirez.

High WHIP and bad walk/K rate(115 BB/144 K in 272 innings).

I want McCann or Davies as the center piece of a deal for Kearns.

[Red Leader]

Thanks for your input, striker. My question to you is this. If the Braves are 2 games out of the NL East lead come the trade deadline in July and Kearns is sorely needed, don't you think the Braves would include McCann in a deal? They already have Estrada...

I realize that even if both Mondesi and Jordan get hurt you could probably start Andruw, Chipper, and Lagerhans in the OF and play Marte at 3B, or Marte in the OF for that matter, but all I'm saying is that if the Braves FO decided Kearns was the player they want, I think they'd be willing to deal McCann for him.

[Tony Cloninger]

I think some of these Braves pitchers, that are propsects, just pitch better under Mazzone. He seems to know what he is doing .... while the pitching gurus of this organization seem to turn everyone they touch into Ben Hayes circa 1983 clones.

[OldXOhio]

I'd rather see DanO give Casey and/or Junior away (literally for a A ball prospect) than to trade Kearns at this juncture. As mentioned above, I think the best you get for AK is a H. Ramirez type and that doesn't have the look of anything that will brighten the future.

Truth be told, just stay away from the Braves altogether. It'd be another case of highway robbery. Keep in mind, there's a reason Schuerholz is said to be targeting AK.