GM Hot Seat Trade Deadline '11: Go Big or Go Home

Last night I hinted that I may have an idea to bring Matt Kemp to Atlanta and I'm going to deliver on that idea. I will admit that this is not my all-time favorite idea, but I managed to make a whole lot of sense out of it. For what it's worth, I figured two ways this could possibly work. Both seem like feasible options to me; one focusing primarily on 2011 and the other with a focus on 2011, but with a watchful eye on the future. The wanna-be-GM in me wants to go with the latter, but for the sake of Braves fans who want instant gratification, I'll present the first option. 

Now, I'll be completely honest. Matt Kemp's name is probably only coming up because of the monetary issues Frank McCourt is having in LA. If he were not in so much debt, Kemp would be a keeper, no doubt about it. However, with his impending payroll obligations looming and MLB looming to seize control of the team to quick sell it, Kemp's name just may hit the table; especially if potential new ownership of the team wants to liquidate some of the contracts on the Dodgers roster. Matt Kemp, though, is still a very valuable player. He will not come at some bargain basement price tag like some people will like to think. The Dodgers will extract as much as they possibly can if Kemp is to be moved. The Braves are one of the few teams out there capable for paying up to the extravagant price while not mortgaging their future. 

Before I get started and knee deep into this, I'll refresh everyone on the layout of my GM Hot Seat posts. Considering this is the trade deadline edition, we do not have to worry about free agent signings like the off-season editions, but there are some assumptions that need to be stated. With that in mind, I present the acquisitions first, then list the assumptions after them, quickly followed by the final 25 man roster including any DL spots that I feel are worth mentioning for the stretch run. That said, we're off and running.

Trades

• Nate McLouth and $1.2M to the Seattle Mariners for a C-prospect.
• Nate McLouth's remaining salary for the season at the trade deadline will be around $2.2M. Sending the Mariners some money will not only help them gain some depth for their outfield, but it will also make the investment a low-risk buy. In return the Braves net a C-prospect, well short of what they spent to acquire McLouth from Pittsburgh just a couple years earlier. This is a classic way for the Braves to just cut their losses. The total payroll savings from this move will be approximately $1M on the season payroll.
  
• Scott Linebrink to the Texas Rangers for Julio Borbon.
• I'll be the first to say that I like Scott Linebrink and what he brings to the Atlanta bullpen. However, when you are maneuvering and jockeying for position to land a player the caliber of Matt Kemp on a rather tight payroll, there will be "casualties", if you want to call it that. Trading Linebrink is merely an additional cost-saving maneuver that will allow Frank Wren to dump an additional $0.7M or so at the deadline. In return, he'll receive a 4th outfielder with tons of speed and who rates well defensively according to UZR. Borbon would bring the element of speed and a potential starter in left field for the long term if Prado has to be shifted back to the infield for whatever reason.
  
• Randall Delgado, Tyler Pastornicky, Jordan Schafer and Brett Oberholtzer to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Matt Kemp, Jamie Carroll and $1M. 
• Ouch. Sending away 4 of your top prospects is a painful move to make and very reminiscent of the Teixeira deal that John Schuerholz is highly despised for. Like the Teixeira acquisition, this seems to be extremely short-sighted, as Kemp can only be retained for a season and two months before becoming a free agent in 2013. However, the major difference is that Kemp is not represented by Scott Boras which will make it exponentially easier to negotiate a longterm deal if we so please. The move adds about $2M to the payroll, as Kemp's remaining salary is approximately $2.4M and Carroll's is $0.6M, keeping in mind the $1M in payment via the trade.

25 Man Roster (Rotation in order by salary amount)

Derek Lowe

Tim Hudson

Jair Jurrjens

Tommy Hanson (assuming health)

Brandon Beachy (assuming health)

Cristhian Martinez

Scott Proctor

George Sherrill

Eric O'Flaherty

Cory Gearrin 

Jonny Venters

Craig Kimbrel

CA Brian McCann

1B Freddie Freeman

2B Dan Uggla

3B Chipper Jones

SS Alex Gonzalez

LF Martin Prado (assuming health)

CF Matt Kemp

RF Jason Heyward

CA David Ross

IF Brooks Conrad

OF Julio Borbon

PH Eric Hinske

UT Jamie Carroll

DL Kris Medlen - He will assume the bullpen role being occupied by Cory Gearrin when he returns and we can ease him back into high leverage situations.

The assumptions/conclusions

The assumption here is that Beachy, Hanson and Prado return to health and are reinserted into the rotation and the lineup respectively. 

We will also kind of assume Kris Medlen will return from Tommy John surgery at some point late in the season to potentially help us out of the bullpen down the stretch. His return and the presence of Cory Gearrin in the system allows for the Linebrink trade. 

Julio Borbon will be primarily used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement late in games, shifting Prado to the infield for someone like Chipper or if Uggla continues to struggle offensively. 

Jamie Carroll brings back a veteran presence to the utility role that we lost when we traded Omar Infante and will be used for spot starts and defensive double switches. 

The lineup, once everyone is healthy, will be as such on most occasions:

2B Martin Prado

RF Jason Heyward

3B Chipper Jones

CF Matt Kemp

CA Brian McCann

2B Dan Uggla

1B Freddie Freeman

SS Alex Gonzalez