Still not buying that Fowler will ever play LF till I hear him, or Luhnow, say it directly... he's got too much $$$ on the line to make that concession. He's either the CF or he's getting traded.
How is he a mediocre hitter? His OPS would have ranked #4th in the majors for LFers last year. #10 for 1B, #3 for C.
A guy that hits .260, 20-25 hr, 60-70 ribs, and a .320 ob isn't super strong hitter, not terrible by no means and the slugging is nice but seems redundant with Carter to me.
Braves can't talk until the physical is complete. Just semantics. Anyways, Luhnow has cornered the market on a shortage of power by now having 3 of the top 20 HR hitters in baseball. So much power, love it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash">#Braves</a> had been trying to sell AL teams on Gattis as 500-600 AB guy, 30-plus HRs who can DH plus play some LF/C. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/555458774308495360">January 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What if he did that in less than 400 ABs? I also don't see why having two Chris Carters would be a bad thing.
Still has upside and control, I do like that for sure. Seems like a semi fair trade but I'd feel better if I knew what position he'll play.
Say he gets 550 abs, that's 7 more homers by average but there is also a point of diminishing returns and the fact that he is at most an average fielder right?
This will be an interesting transition period for Astros fans. For years, we've measured our value in prospects. Now, with trades like this, it looks like we are ready to start measuring with the actual product on the field. This is why you build a strong farm system. To be able to make trades like this. Spoiler alert, we've still got a kickass system, and now we have a 30 HR guy on our big league team.
Lets just say the benchmark for mediocrity in left is Carlos Lee. In his prime, do you think he really cost us all that many games with his fielding out there? If Gattis can provide the power people think he can here, I think its a positive move.
If he has a line of .260 with 80 ribs, 27 bombs and an 800 ops I'd be happy no doubt, but that means he has to progress more and be able to handle 150 games.
I think some more moves are brewing, maybe not...but we have 4 quality catchers and like 6 quality OFers
That's if he plays left, and come on if Carlos Lee is your bench mark for defense then the entire MLB would be plus left fielders
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Evan Gattis is a prime example of why you don't disregard prospects because of their age. Evaluate talent, not DOBs.</p>— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/555461254543060992">January 14, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Great post. You have to also love this move considering the lack of power in baseball generally right now. Luhnow is taking advantage of an opportunity to capture a quality that is severely shorted right now. I was just looking at the 25 man roster right now and it looks good. I mean really good. Wish we could find an ace somehow but other than that the team looks ready to win.
Well my point was he was a terrible fielder, presumably much worse that Gattis, but given how small left field is at MMP, do you think his terrible fielding really cost us all that many games? I am just saying that I am not too worried about whoever our left fielder is being a defensive liability.
