<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sources: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Braves&src=hash">#Braves</a> among teams actively pursuing <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> starter Bud Norris. <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSportsLive">@FOXSportsLive</a></p>— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/statuses/360593752861048832">July 26, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Seriously, if we trade with the Braves, we cannot let Frank Wren take us to the woodshed again. Nothing like reliving this mess: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/anatomy-of-a-baseball-trade-10202011.html
Yeah... his Bourn trade was awful. I still, though, have to give him credit for that Pence trade. Very well done. To think it got us Singleton, Cosart, Santana, and essentially Wojo (Happ). Well done for a man that usually flexed his incompetence.
The 4th player in the Pence trade was Zeid. We got Happ and Villar from the Oswalt trade if I remember right. Glad we were able to flip Happ for some potential. Also, hopefully Villar is a quality starting Shortstop and then that trade will end up looking decent as well considering our hands were tied a little with Oswalt.
We also got Anthony Gose in the Oswalt deal who was flipped for Wallace. Too bad we were on the wrong side of it.
For a year rental of Bourn, Wren only gave up (of note) Brett Oberholtzer and Paul Clemens. Both players still have some promise for the Astros. The Astros could have got more but they did alright.
It was a year and a half of Bourn. The Astros gave up a year and half of an all-star for potential back of the rotation players, and I happen to like them more than most. My big problem is, Wade didn't try to negotiate. Wade acted like he was in the 11th hour on Bourn, when he wasn't. The Braves had Hanson/Jurrjens as apparent all-stars in their rotation. Beachy had been up to the majors. And then they had the big 4 behind them. Vizcaino (injured) was ultimately traded for Paul Maholm. Heck, I'm pissed we didn't trade Wandy to ATL for Vizcaino.
Yeah, Bourn was one of the best center fielders in the league at the time. The problem was I'm not sure Ed Wade really believed that, even if everyone else did.
Finally, we keep waiting for the Astros to deal Bud Norris. But how do we know they won't move him this winter instead of trading him now? Three clubs that have had various levels of interest tell Rumblings the price on Norris is so high (i.e., two elite prospects), it reminds them of how the Rays used to gauge interest in the likes of Matt Garza and James Shields in July so they could focus on those teams' systems before dealing them the following winter. One exec's description of the gap between how his club valued Norris and what the Astros asked for: "We weren't in the same street, the same neighborhood, the same town or the same ZIP code. I'm not going to say we needed a passport, but you could say we were definitely a few states apart."
I for one am glad to read this and hope it is true. I see no reason to move Bud if we are not getting top shelf level prospects back. I know he isn't a front of the rotation starter, but we should be at the point that if we trade a veteran it is because someone overpaid because of need, and the guy/guys we got back have a decent chance at being a higher level player than the one we are giving up. I certainly hope it isn't to "dump" his salary which I think is around 3 million. The guy is only 28 years old, if we are ready to begin the road to contention in 2015 it isn't like he would be at the end of his rope at that point.
I agree. It also demonstrates that we may be done tanking next year, and having Bud around will help us win more games and hopefully start to win the fans back.
there is no way in hell they are simply floating his name out just to "gauge interest". the perfect storm of factors are in play right now to where his value will never be higher. the trade deadline is upon us, and bud freakin norris is arguably the top available arm, on a bargain contract. that's not going to happen again. ever. there is no chance that they could get more for him in the offseason than they can now.
I think this has several potential meanings: 1) Posturing - Crying about the asking price might make make us reduce our price (their hope) 2) Win Now - A potential suitor has to be looking at his post season chances. While sacrificing too much future might be too bitter a pill to swallow, I have to believe that most people most of the time will put resources into winning now over winning later. So much of it comes down to whether someone thinks Norris puts them over the top is terms of beating out their immediate competition for post season play vs whether they can do it without him. 3) Staying Ahead - One has to look at what your competition is doing and whether they are getting better and whether you need Norris to stay ahead of them. Things may look good now, but what if the club right behind you in the standings lands Norris and you dont? Or has significant other help in the cards? So getting Norris can be keeping him off the market for others.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Also hearing <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Braves&src=hash">#Braves</a> aren't roaring down the Bud Norris trail. Lacks big-game experience they would look for if they deal for a starter.</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/statuses/360850779424301056">July 26, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
