Bush to Braves Rumor

[tony2sweet]

My former college roomate lives in Atlanta. He listens to 790 the zone in Atlanta and heard the Braves inquired about Dave Bush for Saltalamacchia . The host Steak Shapiro also mentioned the Braves were talking to other teams as well for starting pitching.

[endaround]

I could see this happening in the offseason, but I don't see how they trade Bush for a guy that really has no place to play in Milwaukee right now.

[qrk10000]

If this rumor is true, it certainly is worth consideration. I hate to lose Bush because I think he is line to have a solid second half. However, Saltalamacchia is a heck of a hitter, is young, and is a catcher. He could also back up Prince at first base. I would like this deal even more if we could get the Braves to trade us one of their relievers too. They have some good ones.

[hauser42]

However, Saltalamacchia is a heck of a hitter, is young, and is a catcher. He could also back up Prince at first base.

 

He could move to LF also to replace the platoon next year.

[qrk10000]

End, I think this is a deal that you make now solely because the longer Saltalamacchia plays and improves, the less the chance we can land him for someone like Bush. In the offseason, the Braves might be seeking someone like Sheets, Villy, or Gallardo for him, something obviously we don't want to do.

[Invader3K]

Man, I'd have a hard time turning that one down. The Brewers don't really need Salty right now, but he's such a great player, and was basically the Braves top prospect, IIRC. Plus, he has the funny name factor which would make him popular in Wisconsin, to boot.

 

Frankly, I'm kind of sour on Bush myself, and would be ecstatic if we could get a player like that for him, even if we don't have an immediate need.

[brewerfan82]

Do it.

 

Considering I think Gallardo and Villanueva have to be in the starting rotation by the beginning of next season, Bush will have to go anyways and this is a great return.

[pogokat]

Not a fan of saltalamacchia at all...so i wouldnt really like this deal, but it would be a pretty impressive haul for Melvin...i would have to imagine that the brewers would be throwing in a lower level prospect along with bush...

[SheetsCyYoung04]

I am a huge fan of Dave Bush, but I highly doubt this would happen. Salty is 22, and hitting over with a .800+OPS. I know they keep troting Kyle Davies out to the mound, but I think the Braves could do alittle better than Dave Bush. Aaron Harang comes to mind as a possibility though I believe the Reds have said they arnt moving him.

[And That]

Saltalamacchia has some character issues and isn't a top tier catching prospect IMO, but like Pogo said, that's a heckuva haul for Dave Bush. Damien Miller is gone after the season, and I'd really like to have someone that could push Estrada.

 

If Salty could play LF for the time being, he may even allow us to trade Mench+ for bullpen help. I guess I'd have a hard time turning this down, what with Gallardo and Villanueva spinning their wheels (albeit in a valuable way for the team) in the bullpen.

 

Having Parra and Oxspring as viable bottom of the rotation options in AAA makes this even more palatable.

 

In the end, I guess this comes fown to how much you value Dave Bush. Do you think he can get better, to the level many of us think he could pitch at, say a 200 inning, league-average ERA guy, or will he always just be that unlucky guy?

[sbrylski]

Bah. I'm a huge supporter of Bush, and I think it would be awful to sell low on him.

 

Also not as high on Salty, for reasons already posted.

[Never Outhustled]

I too am not a fan of Salty, but I wonder if we could use Salty to get what we really want? Could salty land us young top late inning guy, or be used as the center piece of a package to aquire a top starting pitcher? It seems like theres not as many teams that are desperate for catching as usual, who really needs catching?

 

Also, is this Bush's real value, or has Salty's value already taken a hit because of his character issues?

 

And lastly, is Bush the apple of there eye, or would Atlanta be interested in Vargas too?

[BrewCrewRising]

What are Salty's supposed character issues? Did he punch somebody for calling him psycho or something like that?

 

I like Bush, but at the same time, I think he peaks as a "#3 guy" and kind of hovers around being a "#4". I think he'll always have good numbers, but he's never going to be that consistently dominating guy who just sometimes gets punched. It seems like when he gets beat, it's because teams have his number. So, while I like him well enough, he's not untradeable.

 

If Salty is the catcher they claim him to be, that's a great haul, and takes care of catching for the Crew for the time being - a position that has vexed the Crew in the past.

 

But if we trade him now, you open up that can of works with keeping CV's and YG's innings down this year. That's about the only place I'm truly uncomfortable in regards to this rumor.

[JoeHova]

I like this deal alot. Salty should be valuable in some role, even if it's not as a catcher.

 

Bush is good but not even close to irreplacable and the Brewers will have to thin out their starters via trade at some point anyway.

 

edit: hmm, I just checked the numbers and Salty is not as overwhelming a hitter as I was led to believe by Braves fans. That said, I still like the deal, just not as much as I first did.

[And That]

Bush is good but not even close to irreplacable and the Brewers will have to thin out their starters via trade at some point anyway.

 

But can you get a better deal once Bush gets better, like many think he will?

[Oldcity]

Salty is something that I hadn't really considered. He's a pretty good hitter but not near what he was pegged to be. Plus I've heard about his character issues, as others have mentioned.

 

I'd rather just see what we could get for Vargas, but at least this is a feasible rumor.

[endaround]

I find it a more than fair return, just that it weakens the Brewers this year.

[PeaveyFury]

It doesn't weaken the Brewers if it's coupled with a Gwynn for Otsuka-type deal, as Jarrod would be a nice upgrade from Mench as the LHP part of the LF platoon.

 

Definitely strengthens the offense this year and going forward.

[endaround]

But can he actually play the outfield? If he can it would be great, but if he's just a C/1B then it doesn't do much for this year.

[PeaveyFury]

Not being able to play the outfield doesn't stop Mench from playing out there.

[dadofandrew]

If Damian wants to be a backup and the Brewers need a backup, I think he'll be back. They both like each other, and he'd probably take less to play in MIL.

[Never Outhustled]

Quote:

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Not being able to play the outfield doesn't stop Mench from playing out there.

---

 

Mench can't hit anymore, but he has been very good defensively. Salty has never played the OF, so odds are he'd be a wreck out there.

[aracko]

When will Kevin Mench be up to Brewerfan standards? He has been playing some dang fine baseball lately. I think its time to lay off. The guy is going to produce for us.

[BucEbadger]

Gotta say i think Bush for Salty is a very good trade as Salty would go to AAA for the rest of the season allowing DM to bring up Parra or Balfour...

 

SP

Sheets

Capuano

Suppan

Gallardo

Vargas / Parra

 

BP

Cordero

Turnbow

Wise

Villy

Shouse

Spurling

Balfour / Thatcher

 

Also would not mind seeing Melvin Move Gwynn/Gross and Vargas for Otsuka.. Then that changes alot of things on the active roster then with Villy and Gallardo moving into the rotation and Parra going to LR and Balfour coming up to be another setup man with Otsuka and TBow while Thatcher stays at AAA

[apereira2222]

Also would not mind seeing Melvin Move Gwynn/Gross and Vargas for Otsuka.

 

 

Apparently Gwynn alone for Otsuka was nearly a done deal if not for injury. I would be worried about getting rid of Vargas without an immediate person to step in. It's too soon to promote Yo, and although Villanueva would be an upgrade, he would leave an enormous hole in our bullpen unless Balfour can prove he can do it in the major leagues too.