The Braves best and worst moves of recent memory

John Schuerholtz and Frank Wren are on equal ground when it comes to bad trades. While both have lit up fans curiosities, and applause, they have both faced tenacity from those whom would admonish their hasty trades for players whom have walked away from the Braves at the prime of their careers. A prime example and the first that would come to mind is one of the last major trades under John Schuerholtz as general manager.

In 2004, Schuerholtz traded away a blue chip prospect, Adam Wainwright and Eli Marrero to the Cardinals for J.D. Drew. Drew had fallen out of favor with the Cardinals organization and a change of scenery seemed to be necessary. Wainwright was considered the bigger trade chip, but the Braves felt like they had lost a big bat in the middle of their lineup when Gary Sheffield left for the bigger paycheck awaiting him in New York. While J.D. Drew would go on to have a big year in Atlanta hitting for 31 homeruns and anchoring the heart of their lineup, he choose to leave for the Dodgers organization in the '05 offseason. Eli Marrero was nothing more than a means to an end. However, Wainwright has become a fixture in the heart of the Cardinals rotation. In 2010, he and Chris Carpenter anchored the powerful Cardinals rotation. He finished in the top 5 for Cy Young balloting. He continues to be a solid front of the rotation starter, despite just recently undergoing Tommy John Elbow Surgery. He will be sorely missed for what he could be contributing to the Braves rotation.

But, the biggie of them all still remains the one that stings the most in the heart of Atlanta. Mark Texeira, 'Big Tex' turned down an extension with the Texas Rangers in the 2007 off-season. In the middle of 2008, Texas GM Jon Daniels swung a deal that brought Neftali Feliz, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Beau Jones to them for Mark Texeira and Ron Mahay. While Beau Jones continues to languish in the minors, 'Salty's' tenure as the Rangers catcher of the future went for naught, and Harrison has turned into nothing more as a swingman in the bullpen, Andrus and Feliz are shaping up to be perennial all-stars.

Big 'Tex' was as good or better than advertised in his 1 year plus in an Atlanta Braves uniform. Mahay was also a solid contributor in their bullpen. However, their presence in Atlanta were both short-lived. Texeira was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2009 mid-season for what little Frank Wren could fetch in 1B Casey Kotchman and minor lifer, Stephen Marek. Kotchman was subsequently used to fetch 1B Adam LaRoche for his second go-around with the Braves. Marek continues to try to find room in the Atlanta bullpen with little hope. This trade still haunts the Braves and will continue to do so until the Braves find their situation where they can get more in return than they gave away.

The Braves have also parted ways with former All-Star starter Kevin Millwood, dependable Jason Marquis, once promising prospect Joey Devine & a slew of other under the radar moves. Each of these moves doesn't sting as much as the aforementioned moves. However, with the bad comes the good.

Some of the better moves pulled off under the current general manager's tenure are visible in the current Braves roster. Probably one of the best moves so far under Frank Wren's direction is the trade that brought power hitting second baseman Dan Uggla to Atlanta. In a stroke of pure genius, Wren was able to acquire Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins for super utility man, Omar Infante and LHP prospect Michael Dunn. While both may have a good career in Florida, there is no doubt that the Braves got the better of the deal. Infante's increased playing time because of injury last year may have gotten the Braves the best trade chip of all time. Uggla then was signed to a serviceable 5 year/62 Mil contract extension, which makes this trade that much better.

The trade that brought Omar Infante to Atlanta flew way under the radar when it was made, but now seems like the steal of the decade for Atlanta. In the year that Frank Wren became GM, he traded blue chip prospect Jose Ascanio to the Cubs for the aforementioned Infante and LOOGY Will Ohman. While Ohman would only be in Atlanta's bullpen for one season, he alone was worth the trade. He was very effective against LH hitters. All Infante has done since is become a clubhouse favorite, increase his homerun and BA and become integral in bringing over the RH power hitter the Braves have desperately needed since Andruw Jones' departure.

Although Uggla will undoubtedly be the power hitting presence the Braves desperately need, the Mark Texeira sweepstakes stand as the benchmark for bad trades.

Welcome to Spring Training and the Boys of Summer

As if nature, herself, feels that spring is around the door with spring training about to begin, temperatures across the nation have started increasing. Today, Braves pitchers and catchers report for spring training. In 3 days, position players will also report. On Friday, the Braves will have their first full squad workout. As with most other major league clubs, the enthusiasm in the clubhouse is high. There is almost a magical feeling to the atmosphere, as if the Gods of baseball are smiling down, as the Braves report to Disney's Wide World of Sports in Kississimee, Florida.

As always, the off-season was filled with some highs and lows. We had a retirement, several trades, non-tenders, prospects thrown into the spotlight, key injuries, and the end of a legendary skipper's managerial career. First, let's highlight some of the off-season's brighter moments.

In a stroke of pure mastery, Frank Wren was able to pull off one of the off-season's best trades. While most of the off-season centered around Free agents Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Rafael Soriano, Adrian Beltre, and the trade that brought Adrian Gonzalez to hitter friendly Fenway Park, the Braves went under the radar and got one of the perennially best second basemen for very little, considering what other players of his talent usually fetch. In November 2010, Frank Wren traded super utility player and clubhouse favorite, Omar Infante and one-third of the Vazquez/Logan return, Michael Dunn. While both players were initially penciled in to serve on the 2011 club, the haul of Dan Uggla was just too much for GM Frank Wren to turn down. The Atlanta Braves bench will be severely depleted without Infante's services, but they were able to re-sign Eric Hinske at a serviceable 1.25 Million with a club option for 2012. It what many saw as a landslide victory in the Atlanta Braves behalf should go down as one of the best moves in the post-John Schuerholtz era. Only time will tell.

After the Dan Uggla trade, the next task was to sign Atlanta's newest second baseman to a extension that would keep him in Atlanta beyond the 2011 season when he would become a free agent. Frank Wren carefully evaluated the 2B market and was able to sign Uggla to a manageable 5 year/62 Million dollar contract that covers his last year of arbitration and 4 years of free agency. After the Uggla extension, the offense was pretty well set for the 2011 season. Having Eric Hinske back in the fold was a huge step in the right direction to keep some of the Braves excellent bench intact. But, in another stroke of genius, Joe Mather was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals. He is projected to serve as Omar Infante's replacement as the super utility player the Braves definitely need with their often maligned position players (cough, Chipper, cough).

Finally, the bullpen was shored up with Billy Wagner's retirement by trading for Scott Linebrink for a draft and follow, Kyle Cofield. In what amounted to a salary dump for the White Sox, the Braves gained a middle reliever whom can continue mentoring young relievers Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel as they come into their own. The Braves also signed lefty specialist and former closer, George Sherill to shore up the left side of the Braves bullpen. All in all, it was a pretty good off-season for the Braves. The Braves not only cut payroll but they added the MUCH-needed RH power bat the lineup has been missing since Andruw Jones left via free agency.

There are always some moves that must be made, whether intentionally or because of necessity that can bring about negative results. Bobby Cox officially retired after 20 years as the Atlanta Braves skipper. He leaves behind an unmatched legacy and will surely be enriched in Cooperstown. This left a huge void in the Braves clubhouse. However, that void was quickly filled with the inauspicious return of Freddy Gonzalez. He quickly became the Braves new manager just 2 days after the conclusion of the divisional series with the Giants. But, much more turnaround was yet to come. The Braves subsequently non-tendered fan favorite Matt Diaz, and Troy Glaus, Derrick Lee, Rick Ankiel, Kyle Farnsworth, and Takashi Saito became free agents. Additionally, Billy Wagner informed the Braves that, despite his career best season as a closer, he was intent on retiring. The Braves will steam ahead with the youthful duo of Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters.

The 2011 season outlook is quite high for the Braves. Many sports columnists have them reaching the playoffs despite the Philadelphia Phillies ridiculously good rotation headlined by Roy Halladay, new free agent acquisition Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and fantasy sleeper Cole Hamels. It is this columnist and Braves' aficionado's belief that the Braves will win the wild card with a record of 89 wins +/- 2 wins. Let's hope for a great season filled with amazing moments. And, by all means, play ball!