The Braves Did Well to Get Derrek Lee

I wanted to get this up sooner but the real world got in the way. It’s never too late to read some more on the trade though.

Usually looking at a trade, one of my first thoughts is whether the incoming player provides enough of an upgrade to warrant replacing another player and losing whatever was traded away. Of course that isn’t always the case because of salary dumps or trades based on compensation picks. In this case, the Braves have almost nothing to lose by acquiring Derrek Lee.

Capitol Avenue Club broke down the first and second half stats of both Lee and Troy Glaus. In the first half, Glaus hit .254/.361/.441. In the second half, he has hit .196/.294/.301. For Lee in the first half, he hit .233/.329/.366. In the second half, he has hit .313/.356/.583. Which would you rather have down the stretch of a pennant race? It’s no question you want Lee’s hotter bat and better defense.

Both Lee and Glaus are reaching mid-30’s and have similar career lines. Both have suffered injuries in the second half and aren’t having normal seasons by their standards. But a trade this late is meant for the purpose of who can produce for the next however many weeks are left. The Braves believe that person is Lee and there’s plenty reason to believe it.

The trade also presents another plus for the Braves in that Lee could either be a Type A or B free agent at the end of the season. Whether he would accept is uncertain but the possiblity of compensation picks is there. This is more consolation for the Braves.

Another plus for the Braves is what they gave up to get Lee. Robinson Lopez is a 19-year-old with a great arm who I had ranked 22nd in my prospect list prior to this season. The high ceiling is there but it comes with plenty of uncertainties, as is usually the case with a 19-year-old pitcher in A-ball. He has struggled at Rome this season but has plenty of time. There’s no way of knowing his outcome but the Cubs did well to snag him from the Braves.

However, he was the main piece and that is good to see from the Braves’ standpoint. Jeffrey Lorick is a college lefty reliever who came into the season as a sleeper to move through the system fast. It hasn’t exactly happened because of a lack of strikeouts, something you wouldn’t expect from a college lefty in A-ball. He has potential to be a good reliever but this season has been a bit of a disappointment to me. Tyrelle Harris is a big college righty who has moved through the system fast, starting this season at Rome and currently residing where he should be in AA. He’s huge and has a big arm, giving the potential as a late-inning guy. The Braves did well to get Lee for an uncertain 19-year-old and two relievers.

And the final plus for the Braves is the financial compensation. The Cubs were willing to eat half of the $3.4 million remaining on Lee’s contract this season, giving the Braves a bargain for what he could be worth to the team down the stretch.

There really is no reason not to like this trade. It gives the Braves a right handed bat with power and spells Glaus’ legs until he attempts (note the word “attempts”) to rehab at third base. Whether Glaus succeeds at moving to third base or not is not even a risk to the Braves; they have nothing riding on it. They have the potential for compensation picks as well as having the Cubs pick up half the tab. It’s a win for the Braves.