Braves play through trade winds
BALTIMORE — When the Braves began their 10-game trip, they were 6 1/2 games behind the Nationals in the National League East and players looked forward to making a run once slugger Freddie Freeman to the lineup for one final push.
But one day after the trip began the Braves traded veterans Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe for a pair of pitching prospects. Not only that, they traded them to the Mets, who also are chasing the Nationals in the division.
Freeman returned on the same day, but the trade made for the future hurt the Braves’ chances now.
“It’s a business and you understand that, but at the same time, we probably had a chance to get Freddie back and see what happens, but losing those guys is going to hurt for a long time,” Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski said in the aftermath of the trade.
With the Braves looking to make moves for the future, the possibility of more trades is looming over the team as the losses pile up.
The Braves have tried to trade infielder Chris Johnson but have found no takers. Trade speculation also swirls around relief pitcher Jim Johnson, who took over closing duties after Jason Grilli suffered a season-ending Achilles injury July 11 at Colorado.
Gonzalez said it’s only natural that the trade talk permeates the clubhouse.
“This time of year you find when you walk through clubhouse or the door closed in (my) office it’s, ‘What’s going on?’” Gonzalez said. “You get a sense of that. But I think that’s every clubhouse that has that type of feeling, whether you are dealing players or deals are coming to you to help in the pennant race.”
Still, the Braves were only seven games behind the Nationals after losing four of the first five games on the trip. But if the Braves are to make a run at the pennant they’ll have to do it without two of their best hitters.
At the time of the trade, Uribe and Johnson ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in offensive production among Braves hitters, as measured by on-base plus slugging percentage. They’ve been replaced in the lineup by 30-year-old rookie Adonis Garcia and reserve outfielders Jonny Gomes and Eury Perez.
Braves players know they have fewer proven hitters to help them win, but Pierzynski said their expectations don’t change.
“All you can do is play,” he said. “If you are here, you are here; if you are not, you are not. The 25 guys we have here, that’s who we are going to fight with. We’ve done it all year, and we’ve done it right.”
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