The Braves Need A Bat....Badly

Brian McCann is out for a month.  Chipper Jones is day-to-day with a multitude of injuries.  Jason Heyward is in a season long slump.  Martin Prado hasn't performed well since coming off the DL.  Nate McLouth and Alex Gonzalez suck at the plate.  Need I say more? 

The Braves will make the playoffs.  There's almost no question of that.  Their pitching alone is enough to carry them into the postseason, but if Atlanta wants to avoid another early exit in October, they'll need to add another legitimate (preferably right-handed) bat to their lineup.  They'll also need at least two of the guys mentioned above to snap out of it and start hitting. 

With Colby Rasmus heading to the Jays, and all signs pointing to Beltran going to the Mets (thank god- at least the Braves didn't end up with the most over-rated and over-paid player in NY Mets history), it's time to dig deep and get a deal done.  Atlanta has been reluctant to move any of their top four pitching prospects (Minor, Tehran, Vizciaino, Delgado), but as long as you get someone in return that will be around for more than three months, it might be time to pull the trigger.  Here are four scenarios that will play out well for Atlanta fans.  We'll call the group of four pitchers listed earlier as the "First-Tier" prospects, and everyone else in the system a "Second-Tier" prospect for the purposes of this discussion.

1. Braves send 1 first-tier and 3 second-tier prospects to Houston for OF Hunter Pence
It's the best case scenario for the Braves, but will cost them a ton to pull off.  The package I've listed might not even be enough to get the job done.  Look, Pence is still under club control for two more years, and is one of the most electric players that is available.  He's a legit middle of the order bat, plays good defense, and is an all-around great person (at least according to everything I've heard).   He plays right field, which created somewhat of a positional problem in the OF, but either Pence or Heyward are capable of playing in center with some work.  If you're going to have to give up a haul to get a bat, give up more and get a good one. 

Could Hunter Pence be Atlanta bound?

2. Braves send a first-tier and a second-tier prospect to Houston for OF Michael Bourne
He'll bring speed, defense, and be a legitimate lead-off hitter.  A little bit bigger risk, just because you'll need your other guys to hit behind him.  The Astros are much more likely to part with Bourne than Pence, and it fills a dual role. 

3. Braves send 3-second tier prospects to the Rays for OF BJ Upton
Not my favorite proposal.  He only has one year of arbitration left, and will be looking at a raise from $4.85 million.  And, despite hitting 15 HR this year and over 50 RBI's, he only sports a .227 BA.  The Braves need guys to get on base more consistently, and Upton's a career .250 hitter with a .702 OPS.  There's just something about Upton that makes me a little uncomfortable, but he'd be an upgrade over what is in place now.  I'm just not sure he's enough to push this team over the top. 

3. Braves send 2 first-tier and 2-second tier prospects to the Baltimore for OF Adam Jones
You're giving up the farm, but you're getting an All-Star outfielder coming into the prime of his career in return.  He's under club control for two more years, and is showing signs of becoming a top-tier outfielder in the game.  He makes $3.25 million this year, and will be due raises through arbitration the next two seasons.  If you're going to give up so much, get the best guy back you can.  Jones may fit that bill. 

It's time for Frank Wren to roll up his sleeves and make a deal.  I'm excited to see what he has planned.