Chopping Network: Braves trade prospects for Ethier

November 29, 2010-

The Atlanta Braves shipped three well regarded prospects for right fielder Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers received southpaw MR-SP Aaron Poreda, SP Michael Main and AAA slugging LF Cody Johnson.

Ethier will fill the hole left with Braves' decision not to offer arbitration to Jeff Francoeur, who has started in RF for the GABA Braves for the last 6 years.

The Braves new skipper Terry Pendleton said getting a player of Ethier's quality was high on the priority list. "He's the kind of guy you can count on for a solid season every year...25 homers, 95 to 100 RBI are definitely within his capabilities," Pendleton commented.

When asked if the price was high, giving two possible starting pitchers and a potential big league slugger, Braves GM Jobo Foster said, "You just used the operative words..."possible" and "potential." We liked Poreda, Main and Johnson, but they're still developing. With Ethier we're meeting a huge need with an all-star player. We know what he can do. He adds power from gap to gap and to all fields for our lineup."

Ethier has hit .291 with 77 home runs and 344 RBI over his 5 year GABA career.

Braves send Vazquez to Texas for Gonzalez, Main

Monday, June 28th, 2010 - The Texas Rangers traded 32-year-old reliever Mike Gonzalez and 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Michael Main (pictured above) to the Atlanta Braves, getting 33-year-old starting pitcher Javier Vazquez in return. Braves GM Jobo Foster said the trade was made to bloster the bullpen with the reaquisition of Gonzalez, to make some financial room and to open a spot in the rotation for southpaw Aaron Poreda who, Foster says, has earned a shot with Atlanta. It is rumored that veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson may be on his way out of the rotation if his performance does not show marked improvement.