ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves beefed up for another playoff run, acquiring speedy outfielder Michael Bourn from the Houston Astros in a five-player trade Sunday.
The Astros received outfielder Jordan Schafer and three minor league pitchers, but the Braves didn't give up any of their top pitching prospects to land perhaps their first legitimate leadoff hitter since Kenny Lofton played for Atlanta in the 1990s.
"I'm excited," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He makes the defense do things they don't want to do. Pitchers are going to throw pitches they don't want to throw."
Bourn is hitting .303 and leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He goes from the last-place Astros to a playoff-contending team that has one of baseball's best pitching staffs, but was downright desperate for offensive help because of injuries and lackluster performances.
"We haven't had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time," said third baseman Chipper Jones, one of the numerous players slowed by injuries.
The Braves went into Sunday's game against Florida leading the NL wild-card race by 4½ games and trailing Philadelphia by five games in the East. They had been pursuing an outfielder for weeks, watching as the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence from the Astros and defending World Series champion San Francisco landed Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets.
Now, the Braves have bolstered their chances of making a second straight trip to the playoffs.
"Michael Bourn is a perfect fit for our club, which focuses on speed and defense to match up with our strong pitching," general manager Frank Wren said.
Schafer, once considered Atlanta's center fielder of the future, showed signs of finally living up to the hype since being recalled from the minors early this season. But he was hitting just .240 with one homer, seven RBIs and a team-high 15 stolen bases before going on the disabled list with an injured finger last week.
All-Star catcher Brian McCann and outfielder Nate McLouth also went on the DL last week. Jones is still on the active roster but has been bothered by a strained quadriceps. Outfielder Jason Heyward has been a major disappointment, hitting just .219 before Sunday, and slugging second baseman Dan Uggla, despite a recent surge, was still saddled with a .206 average.
The Astros also sent an undisclosed amount of cash to the Braves to cover part of Bourn's salary. He is making $4.4 million this season.
"It's definitely tough leaving Houston, my hometown," the outfielder said in a statement released by the Astros. "But I understand the trade. I have the chance to be in a pennant race, so I'm happy about that."
Wren acknowledged looking into a trade for either Beltran or Colby Rasmus before those players were dealt in the past week. The Braves also were linked to trade speculation involving Pence, San Diego's Ryan Ludwick and other outfielders.
Those deals didn't work out because Wren wasn't willing to give up more than one of the teams' top pitching prospects: Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor or Randall Delgado.
Turns out, the Braves didn't have to give up any of them to acquire Bourn, who isn't eligible for free agency until 2013.
In addition to Schafer, the Braves parted with right-handers Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. The 26-year-old Abreu was at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 41 games this season. Clemens, 23, and Oberholtzer, 22, were both at Double-A Mississippi.
"We could have had Beltran if we'd have given them the player they wanted," Wren said. "We're not going to do that for a rental."
Beltran is in the final year of his contract and can become a free agent after the season.
The Astros, struggling with baseball's worst record, have totally dismantled their team over the past two weeks to build for the future. They received nine minor leaguers, a player to be named and Schafer in the deals for Bourn, Pence and second baseman Jeff Keppinger, who was sent to the Giants.
"We'll definitely miss them," Brett Wallace said. "But we've just got to keep our head down and keep working hard, just focus on what we have in here and keep going."
Schafer plans to take batting practice in a few days, and the Astros believe he'll be able to come off the DL as scheduled on Aug. 11. He will move right into the Houston lineup as soon as he's healthy.
"He seems thrilled with the opportunity to be here," manager Brad Mills said. "His finger's feeling pretty good. We'll get some X-rays on it and see how it's going."
Even though the Braves held on to their top prospects, Houston was able to land three pitchers who all have a strong chance to make it to the big leagues, according to Mills.
"It's kind of exciting the guys we got back," he said. "We've got some pretty talented players coming this way."
Atlanta was looking for someone who could blend right in with a harmonious clubhouse.
"We play like family, so we're looking for somebody to fit in with that," said Martin Prado, who's been forced to flip-flop between the infield and outfield because of the injuries. "We'll all try to make him feel at home so the process will be shorter."
The Astros were playing in Milwaukee, but Bourn never made it to Miller Field. Instead, he was off to catch a flight to Atlanta and possibly join the Braves in time to take their team charter to Washington, where they open a series on Monday.
Wren might not be done.
The GM said he was still in talks and could make another deal before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline to complete non-waiver trades. The Braves would have interest in another hitter and perhaps a right-handed reliever.
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Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
The Astros received outfielder Jordan Schafer and three minor league pitchers, but the Braves didn't give up any of their top pitching prospects to land perhaps their first legitimate leadoff hitter since Kenny Lofton played for Atlanta in the 1990s.
"I'm excited," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He makes the defense do things they don't want to do. Pitchers are going to throw pitches they don't want to throw."
Bourn is hitting .303 and leads the majors with 39 stolen bases. He goes from the last-place Astros to a playoff-contending team that has one of baseball's best pitching staffs, but was downright desperate for offensive help because of injuries and lackluster performances.
"We haven't had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time," said third baseman Chipper Jones, one of the numerous players slowed by injuries.
The Braves went into Sunday's game against Florida leading the NL wild-card race by 4½ games and trailing Philadelphia by five games in the East. They had been pursuing an outfielder for weeks, watching as the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence from the Astros and defending World Series champion San Francisco landed Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets.
Now, the Braves have bolstered their chances of making a second straight trip to the playoffs.
"Michael Bourn is a perfect fit for our club, which focuses on speed and defense to match up with our strong pitching," general manager Frank Wren said.
Schafer, once considered Atlanta's center fielder of the future, showed signs of finally living up to the hype since being recalled from the minors early this season. But he was hitting just .240 with one homer, seven RBIs and a team-high 15 stolen bases before going on the disabled list with an injured finger last week.
All-Star catcher Brian McCann and outfielder Nate McLouth also went on the DL last week. Jones is still on the active roster but has been bothered by a strained quadriceps. Outfielder Jason Heyward has been a major disappointment, hitting just .219 before Sunday, and slugging second baseman Dan Uggla, despite a recent surge, was still saddled with a .206 average.
The Astros also sent an undisclosed amount of cash to the Braves to cover part of Bourn's salary. He is making $4.4 million this season.
"It's definitely tough leaving Houston, my hometown," the outfielder said in a statement released by the Astros. "But I understand the trade. I have the chance to be in a pennant race, so I'm happy about that."
Wren acknowledged looking into a trade for either Beltran or Colby Rasmus before those players were dealt in the past week. The Braves also were linked to trade speculation involving Pence, San Diego's Ryan Ludwick and other outfielders.
Those deals didn't work out because Wren wasn't willing to give up more than one of the teams' top pitching prospects: Julio Teheran, Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Minor or Randall Delgado.
Turns out, the Braves didn't have to give up any of them to acquire Bourn, who isn't eligible for free agency until 2013.
In addition to Schafer, the Braves parted with right-handers Juan Abreu and Paul Clemens and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. The 26-year-old Abreu was at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 41 games this season. Clemens, 23, and Oberholtzer, 22, were both at Double-A Mississippi.
"We could have had Beltran if we'd have given them the player they wanted," Wren said. "We're not going to do that for a rental."
Beltran is in the final year of his contract and can become a free agent after the season.
The Astros, struggling with baseball's worst record, have totally dismantled their team over the past two weeks to build for the future. They received nine minor leaguers, a player to be named and Schafer in the deals for Bourn, Pence and second baseman Jeff Keppinger, who was sent to the Giants.
"We'll definitely miss them," Brett Wallace said. "But we've just got to keep our head down and keep working hard, just focus on what we have in here and keep going."
Schafer plans to take batting practice in a few days, and the Astros believe he'll be able to come off the DL as scheduled on Aug. 11. He will move right into the Houston lineup as soon as he's healthy.
"He seems thrilled with the opportunity to be here," manager Brad Mills said. "His finger's feeling pretty good. We'll get some X-rays on it and see how it's going."
Even though the Braves held on to their top prospects, Houston was able to land three pitchers who all have a strong chance to make it to the big leagues, according to Mills.
"It's kind of exciting the guys we got back," he said. "We've got some pretty talented players coming this way."
Atlanta was looking for someone who could blend right in with a harmonious clubhouse.
"We play like family, so we're looking for somebody to fit in with that," said Martin Prado, who's been forced to flip-flop between the infield and outfield because of the injuries. "We'll all try to make him feel at home so the process will be shorter."
The Astros were playing in Milwaukee, but Bourn never made it to Miller Field. Instead, he was off to catch a flight to Atlanta and possibly join the Braves in time to take their team charter to Washington, where they open a series on Monday.
Wren might not be done.
The GM said he was still in talks and could make another deal before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline to complete non-waiver trades. The Braves would have interest in another hitter and perhaps a right-handed reliever.
<!--columnistprofile is null-->
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
