Wow! Big move for the Braves. Getting a young SP like Hudson that has a chance to anchor their staff for years to come, if they can afford to re-sign him.
It's impressive that they were able to get him without giving up Marcus Giles, I thought that was what the A's were holding out for.
I thought the same thing! I was about to come in here and tell him this was posted in the wrong forum.
That's what happens when you have a strong farm system. You can trade away prospects and get an established star in return. I really like the Braves organization and what they are doing. Other than having a hard time filling up their oversized ballpark, this organization has done everything right over the last decade or so.
Man, what a steal by the Braves. I can't believe that is all they had to give up for Hudson! I was hoping against hope that the Sox could get Hudson, but let's face it - Billy Beane is not going to trade with a team that has absolutely owned his team the last couple of seasons.
Sure looks like a steal for the Braves now Manny, but knowing Beane's past transactions, this might look like a gem of a trade for the A's when its all said and done.
This is a trade that should end up well for both sides. Oakland has been emphasizing defense the past couple of years, and Charles Thomas is an above-average defensive outfielder (albeit having only been in the majors for a year). Juan Cruz is a young player that can be tried either at the end of the rotation, as a long reliever, or as a middle-man with his fastball, while Dan Meyer is one of the Braves' top pitching prospects and could well end up starting the year in the A's rotation. They always used to say that you can tell which Braves' pitching prospects are going to amount to anything by seeing which ones they keep. It may still hold true, but with the numbers they've traded away in the past two years -- Meyer, Adam Wainwright, and Jose Capellan -- it may not always be the case. The thing is though, the Braves keep developing pitching prospects: Kyle Davies is still around, as is Macay McBride. Outsiders keep forgetting about Horacio Ramirez, returning after injury, and there are a couple of players who should find spots in the bullpen (Roman Colon, for example) next season. Both teams should benefit from this deal; were it not for Anaheim spending like crazy and Texas having some players, Oakland could easily win that division, while the Braves have to be considered the favorites in the NL East again (though RF in the short term remains a concern). Hudson's going to be really good for Atlanta for several years. It's a transition year for both squads, but as a die-hard Braves fan and an A's fan as well, it should be fun to watch.
Dunno if you're asking me about the prospect info or not, but I'm just an avid follower of the team....so that's pretty much where I get the information.
