Braves-Mets Shocker?
(No, Not Rocker)

Jason Michael Barker

After taking a couple of days off to finish its Christmas shopping, the trade market re-opened this week with some huge ramifications in the National League East. We'll begin by looking at the Braves, who hooked up with the Padres on a six-player deal Wednesday, followed by Thursday's trade between the Mets and Astros.

To Atlanta: 2B Quilvio Veras, LF Reggie Sanders, 1B Wally Joyner
To San Diego: 2B Bret Boone, 1B/LF Ryan Klesko, P Jason Shiell
I love this deal from Atlanta's side. Veras is a huge upgrade over Boone at the plate, and he gives the Braves the one thing they've been missing the past couple of years: a competent leadoff man. Veras has a .371 career on-base percentage, and posted a .368 mark last season. He's also quite solid, if not underrated, in the field. Veras has never slugged over .400 in his career and he's not going to hit 20 homers like Boone, but the gains in OBP far outweigh the loss of power, particularly when the Braves need people to get on base in front of Chipper Jones.

Sanders should get the starting job in left field, and he brings an interesting mix of skills -- 20 home run power, 25-30 steals, decent on-base ability -- sort of a poor man's Barry Bonds. Sanders' biggest problem in his career has been staying healthy as he's never played more than 140 games in a season, but he has managed 130+ each of the past two years. He could be a good fit in the number two spot in the order, right behind Veras and in front of Jones, which would certainly help Jones improve on last seasons' measly RBI total.

I would have liked this deal even better if Atlanta hadn't picked up Joyner, but at the same time I understand the need for insurance in case Andres Galarraga isn't 100% after an 18-month layoff. Joyner had a miserable year in 1999 and he's never really hit for typical first base power, but as recently as 1997 he hit .390/.486, followed by .370/.453 in 1998. I don't expect much from him next season, but I doubt the Braves do either, so this isn't a horrible acquisition.

Meanwhile, San Diego picks up some much-needed power production in Boone and Klesko, who should comprise the right side of the Padres' infield. Klesko has 30 homer power, but hasn't reached the mark since hitting 34 in 1996. Of course, you have to wonder if the Padres checked out Klesko's splits -- he simply doesn't hit left-handed pitching. From 1996 to 1998 he had 306 at-bats against lefties, and managed to hit .297/.317 (OBP/SLG) against them. Last season he hit .179/.163 against lefties in 49 at-bats. In other words, he could use a good platoon partner. Say, isn't Butch Huskey available?

Shiell, 22, had a decent season at single-A Myrtle Beach, posting a 3.77 ERA in 26 games (17 starts), striking out 90, walking 36 and giving up 119 hits in 114.2 innings. The Padres also cut salary in the deal, as has been their modus operandi this off-season.

Not to be outdone, the Mets completed a deal of their own Thursday, hoping to keep up with Atlanta...

To New York: P Mike Hampton, OF Derek Bell
To Houston: P Octavio Dotel, OF Roger Cedeño
I think the perception here is that the Mets won this trade in a big way (in one online poll I saw nearly 75% of voters felt this way) because of Hampton. However, I believe further review will reveal that Houston will come out on top in the long run.

Yes, Hampton is a good pitcher, but his 1999 was out of line with what he's done the rest of his career, both in terms of hits allowed and strikeout rate. That could mean he's figured something out and taken a big step forward, or it could mean it was a one-year wonder. He's also a free agent at the end of next season, and the Astros had tried (and failed) to sign him to a long-term deal. Houston also managed to stick the Mets with Derek Bell, who might have been the worst regular in baseball last season. All told they got rid of nearly $11M in salary commitments for next season, and picked up two good young players in the process.

After never getting a shot with the Dodgers, Cedeño made the most of his playing time last season with the Mets, putting up a .396 on-base percentage and stealing 66 bases in 83 attempts, an 80% success rate. He gives the Astros a great leadoff man, allowing Craig Biggio to slide down to number two in the batting order, and will cover the large centerfield ground in Houston's new ballpark.

Dotel gives the Astros another outstanding young pitcher to complement Scott Elarton. At first glance Dotel's 5.38 ERA last season doesn't look impressive, but a look at his peripheral numbers reveal a bright future -- he allowed just 69 hits in 85.1 innings, and struck out 85. He was plagued by 49 walks in those 85.1 innings, but has tremendous stuff and will now be working under Larry Dierker, one of the best managers around when it comes to handling young pitchers.

To recap, the Braves did very well with their deal, revamping the top of their batting order with Veras and Sanders. The Mets helped themselves in the short term by picking up Hampton, but Houston dumped a ton of salary and picked up two cheap young players who should contribute well into the next decade. Hampton has said he wants to test the free agent waters, and if he doesn't remain in New York the Mets will have given up quite a bit for a year of his services.

about the author

Now that the Braves have Reggie Sanders, Jason Michael Barker is secretly hoping he'll find Otis Nixon under his Christmas tree. Dash his hopes at jmb@strikethree.com.