In the first major trade of the baseball off-season the Atlanta Braves traded SS Edgar Renteria to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Jair Jurrjens and OF Gorkys Hernandez. Renteria is a 12 year veteran and a proven commodity that will amply hold down the SS position for the Tigers.
The Braves were willing to trade Renteria because they believe that Yunel Escobar is ready to step in and play SS for them everyday after he had a fine rookie year in 2007. In 319 at bats, Escobar hit .326 with a OBP of .385 and SLG of .451. He scored 54 runs in 319 at bats which is good for a run average of .169.
Renteria also had a fine year for the Braves last season. He hit .332 with a .390 OBP and a .470 SLG. He scored 87 runs in 494 at bats for a run average of .176. So Escobar's run average of .169 last season was not much behind what Renteria did. Hence one can understand the Braves willingness to trade the veteran SS for two prospects.
The prospects the Braves got back have plenty of talent and both are very young. Jair Jurrjens is just 21 years old and will be 22 by next season. His minor league numbers are pretty good but not outstanding. In 502 innings (a lot of innings for his age) his record is 35-21 with a 3.21 ERA with a 7.2 K rate and a 2.1 BB rate. A fine K to BB ratio of 3.4. All at AA or under. But those numbers indicate he can definitely pitch at the major league level and probably with some success. In 30 innings at the major league level last season he went 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA.
Gorkys Hernandez is just 20 years old and speed is the name of his game. In 174 minor league games, nothing above A ball, he stole 74 bases. He also hit .303 with a .348 OBP and a .413 SLG. He's scored 125 runs in 686 at bats for a run average of .182. If he can do that at the major league level the Braves have gotten a pretty good player.
Who got the best of this trade? Renteria is coming off arguably his best statistical year with the bat. He hit .041 above both his career batting average and career OBP and .063 above his career SLG. He will hard pressed to do that again. The Tigers may well have traded at the high for him but they do get a solid veteran to handle their SS needs.
The Braves acquired two minor leaguers with obvious talent. Jurrjens looks like he can pitch at the major league level and have decent success. He could make the Braves rotation next spring and give them years of quality starting pitching. Hernandez has blazing speed and looks like he has enough other tools to be a major league player also. You cannot teach speed. Hernandez is probably a few years away from the majors but it certainly looks like he will get there and be a decent player.
This is a trade that will most likely benefit both teams but I believe the Braves will end up coming out ahead on the deal. They dealt a veteran player at the high end of his ability to acquire two very young and talented players who can help them win for many years into the future.
