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.
