Braves to sign Furcal, making Escobar available?

by MixFMKyle on Dec 16, 2008 12:08 PM EST Comment 33 comments

Multiple outlets are reporting that the Braves have reached an agreement with free agent SS Rafael Furcal. Several reports also mention that this signing means Yunel Escobar will be made available. Escobar was mentioned early on in Peavy trade talks, I guess those could fire up, and I am sure the Dodgers, A's, and Blue Jays would be interested as well. Should this be a guy the Reds are interested in as well?

Escobar has been pretty good at the MLB level at a position that isn't exactly easy. in 833 MLB at bats, he has posted a respectable .303/.373/.420 batting line. As the solid OBP shows, he isn't afraid to walk, with 86 in the 833 AB's. He has K'd 106 times.

Beyond the Box Score recently ranked him as the Number 8 most valuable shortstop in 2008. He seems to have plus range and be above postion average offensively. Would he be worth giving up an arm or two for? We know the Braves have been interested in Bronson Arroyo at the deadline each of the last two seasons. Obviously with so many teams hunting for help at short, the price will be a bit high. The Braves may even opt to kept Escobar, and move him to second base and opt to trade Kelly Johnson instead. Why not package Arroyo and a youn bullpen arm and take a shot?

Maybe an Arroyo and Roenicke package could get us a young, affordable shortstop for the next 2 or 3 years? If the Braves don't want Bronson's salary, maybe they would like Homer. Either way, If I was Walt, I would be on the phone.

Poll

Yunel Escobar?

Get It Done, Walt

25 votes

Pass. Lets pray Gonzalez is back, if not we still have Kepp

2 votes

As long as we don't have to overpay

12 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

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Comments

The Braves say Escobar is not available

Kelly Johnson is moving back to LF.

by rojosoto on Dec 16, 2008 12:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

MEH

Bronson’s gotta stay.

by obc2 on Dec 16, 2008 12:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i would trade Brendan's mom for a shortstop like Escobar

and i know they are saying that Johnson is moving to left and Furcal will play 2B, but that could also just be posturing to bolster the market. i imagine they want a better hitter than Johnson in LF, so i think they still would move either of them in the right deal. obviously i dont want Johnson, but Escobar could be the most valuable player to be had this winter. i dont know if a deal centered around Arroyo would get it done though. i imagine they will ask for Cueto, but if a deal like Arroyo and Homer would get it done i would jump at it.

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 16, 2008 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How about

Arroyo/Bailey, Valaika, Fisher/Roeneke, Dorn. They would get a pitcher under control for a few years, a 2nd baseman with good upside, some bullpen help, and an outfielder close to the majors. I would substitute any of our AA or AAA except Stubbs. He would fill the biggest need for this team so I would be willing to overpay.

by CamIam on Dec 16, 2008 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

4 players for Escobar?

That’s quite a bit of overkill.

by rojosoto on Dec 16, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont think so

We get an above average defender at SS with good on base ability. it is going to take a good haul for the Braves to consider trading him. Since we do not have a pitcher the quality of Peavy that we can afford to part with it is going to take more players. Plus none of the players above would be missed in a scenario where you acquire Escobar. Valaika would have no place to play, we depth in the starting rotation and the other guys dont really have a spot on the team right now.

by CamIam on Dec 16, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't mean we should give up all of those players in one deal though.

I think we could get that done without including Valaika, especially if we give them Arroyo and Bailey.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Dec 16, 2008 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was including

Arroyo or Bailey in that deal, not both. But I would think that deal would get it done.

by CamIam on Dec 16, 2008 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats probably what it'd take to get him... So NO!

Since I don’t totally believe the Padres and think they are now going to make something happen with Atl for Escobar and a package for Peavy.

I’m also not sold on Escobar. He would be a solid player but I truly believe he wouldn’t have much more of an impact than a possibly healthy A-Gonz. I would rather trade with Anh for Erik Aybar or a much lesser package for Maicer Izturis. Who’d both be upgrades at the SS position.

by BigRedMechanic on Dec 16, 2008 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't spend that much to get Escobar either

but he would be a humongous upgrade over Gonzalez. He’s at least Gonzalez’s equal defensively and offensively he’s good for at least 50 points in on base percentage – something the Reds are in desperate need of.

Like I said though, I don’t think the Reds have what it takes to get him or should give up what they would have to to get him.

We’’re in process of trying to a guy with a trade record of working with pitches

by Slyde on Dec 16, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Escobar would be great in the 2 spot

1. CF / Dickerson/Hopper
2. Escobar
3. Votto
4.Our Big Bat TBN
5. Bruce
6. Phillips
7. Encarnacion
8. Hernandez
Pitcher

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on Dec 16, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You made one mistake

While you have the CF leading off and the slap-hitting MIF hitting 2nd, everyone knows the 3 spot goes to another OF and the 1B hits 5th.

Geez.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Dec 16, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And

Phillips will hit 4th.

by Pops Daniels on Dec 16, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Me neither...but maybe Brendan...

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Sir Winston Churchill

by Madville on Dec 16, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One bit of temptation has been removed from Walt's path

The Orioles signed Cesar Izturis to a 2-year, $5 million contract.

by Brendanukkah on Dec 16, 2008 1:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

... and Castro is back on the market

by ken on Dec 16, 2008 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Escobar and Francoeur

The Reds should definitely be interested in Escobar if he’s a possibility. The Braves have also been shopping Jeff Francoeur… which the Reds also might want to look into. He had an off season last year but he could be the extra right-handed bat that the Reds are looking for. Plus, he’s got an awesome arm.

Most of the Francoeur talks, I think, have been with the Royals for Zack Grienke… so they want a starting pitcher.

by Deaner on Dec 16, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

any talk anyone ever had about Francouer for Grienke

was either joking or drinking. Frenchy was one of the 5 worst players in all of baseball last year, and Grienke was close to as valuable as Jake Peavy. i dont want anything to do with him, even if the Braves wanted to give him away.

jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
the Batmobile lost its wheel
and the Joker got away

by Charlie Scrabbles on Dec 16, 2008 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs