Braves and Giants Trade Partners
By Fred Owens
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants trade for Mike Leake pushed Tim Hudson to the bullpen. Could this make it easier for the Braves to engineer a sentimental return to Atlanta and possibly move Chris Johnson at the same time?
What’s The Trade
The Braves front office upset a lot of fans with the trade of Alex Wood and Jose Peraza, almost as much anger as followed Wren low balling that contract offer following the 2013 season.
Returning Huddy would create a groundswell of emotion from fans who were ready to storm the castle when Wren let him walk and insert a veteran into a rotation with at least one arm on an innings limit. It’s likely Huddy’s last year and retiring in Atlanta would be a bonus for him and the Braves. It might also provide a way to move Johnson.
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The Braves would have to take most of Johnson’s contract of course but there’s reason to believe a new home and a
real
new manager -Bruce Bochy -would reinvigorate a demoralized Johnson. Between the lines he could provide the Giants cover at first and third base and a solid hitter against LHP from the bench.
Orchestrating The Trade
The Giants need bullpen help. They’ve been looking all over but haven’t found a match they liked. The Braves could offer a choice of relievers like David Aardsma, Jason Frasor, Josh Outman or about anyone other than Arodys Vizcaino. We could even provide a guy like Todd Cunningham to back up their shaky and often injured outfield defense.
It was just pointed out that McGehee had been released and signed back with the Fish, I apologize for missing that. He wasn’t important for the Braves simply a way to take something in return to encourage the Giants.
That’s A Wrap
Admittedly this is a pie in the sky idea but one that makes sense is a sentimental as well as practical way. It would also be a great PR move and the Braves really need one of those.
I have no idea if John Hart even considers such things but this kind of thing would bring some fans back on board and salve a lot of injured feelings.
Could it happen? Sure why not? Will it? Probably not but it’s something worth pursuing.