Why not Cespedes?

[rico43]

As things seem to be evolving, the Red Sox sound very much like they want to snare Sandoval in addition to Ramirez and put Hanley in LF. That leaves Cespedes as an odd man out, it would seem. The Red Sox (few) needs might match up well here. Catcher and pitching, right?

Gattis value as a C-DH would be huge to a team like Boston, maybe he and Minor or Carpenter/Northcraft or Hale might draw him out. Then, make them take BJ. Then, sign a Cuban, any Cuban, and all of a sudden your lineup is looking pretty dang good -- and you still have Justin to put in RF or to trade!

(This scenario would lead to re-signing Floyd and or Harang, I'd think).

[Dalyn]

I can think of a least one letter...I mean reason.

[Metaphysicist]

Does he play the Braves Way™?

[Dalyn]

Just messing around.

It's an interesting idea. He would be a better option defensively in RF than Justin, I think. But he is frustrating as hell to watch at the plate.

[rico43]

Just messing around.

It's an interesting idea. He would be a better option defensively in RF than Justin, I think. But he is frustrating as hell to watch at the plate.

Except when he is driving in runs. Oakland's offense shriveled up after his trade.

[bravesnumberone]

I thought we were trying to get away from those types of hitters.

[Dalyn]

Except when he is driving in runs. Oakland's offense shriveled up after his trade.

That was a coincidence. Trust me. I watch a ton of Oakland games. He had a great rookie season and once the pitchers figured out a few things about him he became a huge frustration offensively.

[Dalyn]

I thought we were trying to get away from those types of hitters.

Exactly. He turned into the same kind of hitter that sunk our team this year. He would've been a perfect fit.

[clvclv]

For the same reason we traded Heyward and are trying to trade Upton...

Lack of control and contract he'll be asking for (now a Borass client BTW) - can't see any reason Hart would move Heyward and Justin (both arguably better players) if we were interested in trying to build around Cespedes.

[Dalyn]

For the same reason we traded Heyward and are trying to trade Upton...

Lack of control and contract he'll be asking for (now a Borass client BTW) - can't see any reason Hart would move Heyward and Justin (both arguably better players) if we were interested in trying to build around Cespedes.

You can't build around a player like Cespedes anyway, especially in the NL.

[bravesfanforlife88]

Gattis wouldn't be a great fit. Yeah he can catch but the upside for most al teams would be to have him dh sox already have Ortiz and when he retires ramirez and Sandoval will probably shift into that role

[BremanFan88]

Let's see, strikes out a ton and doesn't get on base. Sounds about right. This is the exact kind of production we had to watch from most of lineup. Why do we want another?

[blueagleace1]

As things seem to be evolving, the Red Sox sound very much like they want to snare Sandoval in addition to Ramirez and put Hanley in LF. That leaves Cespedes as an odd man out, it would seem. The Red Sox (few) needs might match up well here. Catcher and pitching, right?

Gattis value as a C-DH would be huge to a team like Boston, maybe he and Minor or Carpenter/Northcraft or Hale might draw him out. Then, make them take BJ. Then, sign a Cuban, any Cuban, and all of a sudden your lineup is looking pretty dang good -- and you still have Justin to put in RF or to trade!

(This scenario would lead to re-signing Floyd and or Harang, I'd think).

What about Allen Craig?? Signed thru 2017 at a fairly cheap price.

[GovClintonTyree]

What about Allen Craig?? Signed thru 2017 at a fairly cheap price.

That is an excellent idea. He'd be the one.

[Braves1976]

That is an excellent idea. He'd be the one.

I thought about Craig too but he seems to get injured more playing the outfield. So he seems a better fit for a team with an opening at first base or DH than us.

[Braves1976]

You can't build around a player like Cespedes anyway, especially in the NL.

Agreed. As I think you know from past posts, I watch a lot of A's games too and my take on him is the same as yours. The A's are one of my favorite AL teams to watch in fact.

I am surprised anyone would even suggest Cespedes given that he's a free agent soon, etc.

[yeezus]

No thanks on Cespedes. Feel he's a little overrated at this point despite the huge power.
Huge no thanks on Craig. He's 30, had a few pretty lucky seasons, and the Cards knew it.

[50PoundHead]

Cespedes only as a stop-gap (I think he's a free agent after next season). I'd rather have Craig and hope he rebounds. Craig was terrible in 2014 at both stops, but he did well 2011 - 2013. Trouble with Craig is that he's signed through 2017.

[Braves1976]

Cespedes only as a stop-gap (I think he's a free agent after next season). I'd rather have Craig and hope he rebounds. Craig was terrible in 2014 at both stops, but he did well 2011 - 2013. Trouble with Craig is that he's signed through 2017.

Cespedes is a free agent after this year and will probably cost too much in a trade for only a stop-gap in a rebuild/retool year. While Craig seems prone to injury more when playing the outfield. That is why I think he makes more sense for a team he can play first or DH.

[50PoundHead]

Cespedes is a free agent after this year and will probably cost too much in a trade for only a stop-gap in a rebuild/retool year. While Craig seems prone to injury more when playing the outfield. That is why I think he makes more sense for a team he can play first or DH.

I'm more concerned about long term commitments, so Cespedes only having one year left on his deal doesn't bother me. I don't view Cespedes as an on-going piece.