Braves trade Reinteria

Word is the Braves traded Edgar Reinteria to the Tigers for a couple prospects. Not shocking considering that Escobar proved he can play short and has the potential to be a star.

 

God damn it. Not only does this suck for the Braves, but I lose him in my N.L. only keeper league. Fucking shit. Escobar does not have the potential to be a star and will never be equal to Renteria. He's a light hitting middle infielder with a solid glove and entirely too much attitude.

 

Translation: Renteria makes too much money and Escobar works cheap. Liberty Media showing where their priorities are imo...

 

On the plus side, Atlanta did get two legitimate prospects. This could work out well in the long run, but for now it's disappointing.

 

You could not have been watching the same player that I was. Escobar is a good hitter with speed and he has star potential written all over him. The trade was a given, in fact the Braves tried to move Renteria before the trading deadline in late season. I like the kid, he shows a lot of emotion and that can be a great thing. This deal was coming and everyone in the Major Leagues knew it, Escobar will be a Brave a long time.

 

Obviously not, but you were apparently watching one other people hadn't seen either. Escobar has no power to speak of, and was not a very good contact hitter in the minor leagues. His BABIP of .367 suggests that his average will drop a lot next season. So that leaves you with a ~.280-.290 hitter with insignificant power. In what universe is that a star? BA only had him ranked as the Braves' 10th best prospect coming into last season, and said:

Background: A Cuban defector who was a childhood friend of Braves catcher Brayan Pena, Escobar went in the second round after becoming draft-eligible just a month before the 2005 draft. He spent his first full season in Double-A, shifting between second base, shortstop and third base as part of a three-man infield rotation with Luis Hernandez and Martin Prado. He represented Cuba in the Futures Game last summer.

Strengths: Escobar has solid tools across the board. His smooth swing produces line drives from gap to gap. Though aggressive at the plate, he has good plate discipline and pitch recognition. He has consistent hands and a strong arm that's a plus at any infield position.

Weaknesses: Escobar hasn't shown the ability to drive the ball that many scouts projected before the 2005 draft. His modest range could prevent him from playing shortstop in the majors. He has just average speed and is a tick below average for a middle infielder.

The Future: A year ago, Escobar figured to be in a tight battle with Elvis Andrus as the Braves' long-term answer at shortstop. Because second baseman Marcus Giles was non-tendered, Escobar's best shot will probably come at that position or as a utilityman. He's ready for Triple-A.


If salaries weren't an issue, Renteria is obviously a lot better than Escobar, but they were so the Braves did the best they could I guess.

 

The thing I liked about Escobar this past season was his hitting in the clutch. He seemed to have the cool when it was 2 outs and his at bat counted. There were more than a couple on the Braves who did good at that and I remember Escobar being one of them.