Stoking the Fires VI: Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors, All-Star Edition

I was not going to do another Stoking the Fires article, frankly because I thought that the Braves were done dealing this year—except for a potential Mike Gonzalez deal.

Now comes word from the AJC's Braves beat writer, David O' Brien, that the Braves are listening to offers for Yunel Escobar. My history of not liking Yunel is well documented. I don't like his attitude, and I've had no qualms about expressing my feelings about the young shortstop.

While I don't particularly care for the way Escobar carries himself, I cannot deny that any deal including him would have to be a whopper and the Braves would absolutely have to get a promising SS and a great outfield bat in return.

One rumor that is supposedly making the rounds in St. Louis has Escobar and prospects going to Oakland for Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera.

I do not believe this rumor for one second, as I cannot see anyone in their right mind giving up a player of Escobar's caliber for a couple of three-month rentals. Both Cabrera and Holliday are free agents after this season and Holliday's agent is the dreaded Scott Boras.

If for some reason this rumor proves true, however, I will personally revolt and boycott the Atlanta Braves, as I'm sure many of you will as well.

That said, I will explore what I consider good deals for Escobar. If you are a regular reader of my articles you may have heard a couple of these before, but I will get creative and explore other possibilities as well.

Padres

San Diego is nice this time of year, or any time of year for that matter. Kevin Towers likes Escobar. He was a part of the rumored deal for Jake Peavy this past offseason.

I would deal Medlen, Escobar, and Freddie Freeman for Adrian Gonzalez right now. This very instant.

To me this has to be the top option for any Escobar deal. I know the Braves dont want to give up Freeman, but acquiring the 27-year old Gonzalez would allow him to become the firstbaseman of the future. So giving up Freeman might get this deal done.

Blue Jays

Aaron Hill and Adam Lind to Atlanta for Escobar, Medlen, and Cody Johnson

Hill could move over to play SS, or Prado could move over there to allow Hill to play 2B. Adam Lind is a primo young player with primo hitting talent. This one would be a dream come true, but it is just that, a dream.

Orioles

Adam Jones and Cesar Izturis for Escobar

Adam Jones is going to become a tremendous baseball. He's already great, but his best days are ahead of him. Izturis would be a decent fill-in at SS for the remainder of this season. Still not the best potential deal.

Twins

Denard Span and Brendan Harris for Escobar and PTBNL

Harris would fill-in admirably for Escobar for this season and is young enough to be servicable at SS for a while. Denard Span is a star in the making. His speed and power is going to make him a force in the next few years. Of course, he is a lefty, and the Braves have too many lefties right now.

White Sox

Jermaine Dye and Alexei Ramirez for Escobar, Cody Johnson, and Kris Medlen

This will not happen. The Sox are in the AL Central race and Dye isn't going anywhere. But Ramirez is just about equal to Yunel Escobar in every category and may even be an upgrade over Escobar in power. Just another reason this one won't happen.

Brewers

Matt Gamel, Alcides Escobar, and Corey Hart for Escobar and Javier Vazquez

Great deal for the future. For now, not so much. I dont want to see the Braves trade Javy, but to get the top two prospects in the mighty Brewers organization would be major. Throw in Hart and you've got a great deal. Especially if Vazquez reverts to his former second-half self.

Cubs

Ryan Theriot, Jake Fox, and Josh Vitters for Escobar and Mike Gonzalez

This is another trade focusing on the future. Chipper Jones is declining and the Braves need a 3B ready for the 2012 season, if not sooner.

Vitters would be that guy. Theriot is a solid SS with very comparable numbers to Escobar's. Jake Fox is locked out of a stacked outfield in Chicago and could be the power answer that the Braves need in left field. The Cubs need a good late-inning reliever.

Nationals

Cristian Guzman, Josh Willingham, Esmailyn Gonzalez for Escobar and Todd Redmond

Guzman is a switch hitter with a good bat, and Willingham would be an awesome fit in LF for years to come in Atlanta. Gonzalez is a top 10 SS prospect for the Nats and could become the Braves future SS. This deal would increase the Braves payroll by close to $5 million for the remainder of '09.

I'm sure there are many more possibilities out there, but I simply do not see a deal happening for Escobar in 2009. It would appear that only a couple of my proposed deals would actually help the Braves win the East in '09, and of course those are the least likely deals (Dye, Ramirez, A. Gonzalez).

So for the many Escobar fans out there, I would not fret. I don't think he's going anywhere. At least for this season.