Earlier today, rumors popped up that Frank Wren and the Atlanta Braves may be pursuing a trade for Reds leftfielder Jonny Gomes.
While completely speculation, the rumors definitely have some legs.
The Braves have been rumored across the web on notable sports news sites such as FOX Sports and ESPN to be interested in acquiring a right-handed corner outfielder—preferably one who hits left-handed pitching.
Gomes fits that mold perfectly.
In fact, he fits that mold so perfectly that many assumed the Reds would not make him available at all.
Perhaps it should not be such a surprise that he could potentially be on the trade block, though.
On the season Jonny Gomes is hitting .213 with 11 home runs and has driven in just 31 runs. He has struggled overall as the Reds' everyday left fielder and has failed to replicate the breakout season he had for Cincinnati in 2010.
He does, though, mash left-handers as his .340, .446, .547 line suggests and that would be extremely helpful to a Braves team that has posted a pitiful .210, .285, .337 split versus southpaws in 2011.
Gomes would come aboard and give the Braves some much-needed balance off the bench and provide Fredi Gonzalez with a potent lefty-mashing bat to combat tough divisional foes like Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. He could even come off the bench to provide a threat against Phillies interim closer Antonio Bastardo.
Gomes' salary also would not be prohibitive, as he makes a reasonable $1.75 million in the final year of his contract with the Reds. He will be a rental and would likely leave after the season's completion.
With the Reds looking to utilize Fred Lewis and Chris Heisey more often, Gomes will certainly lose playing time down the stretch. A move to Atlanta could make sense not only for the Braves and Gomes, but for the Reds as well, who could pick up a prospect to prepare for trades for pitching help.
Many may view it as an unnecessary pick up, as the Braves would still lack ideal punch in the heart of their order. However, for a single prospect (let's just say a guy like J.J. Hoover) or a middle reliever (maybe Wren will get lucky and unload Proctor or Gearrin on the Reds) and the ability to tandem Gomes with Eric Hinske, our left-handed threat off the bench, it would be a pretty smooth move on Frank Wren's part.
It would likely spell the end of Nate McLouth's tenure in Atlanta or prelude a demotion of Jordan Schafer to Triple-A Gwinnett, but the upgrade in offensive ability—notably the ability to hit lefties—would be very welcome.
The move would also provide a bit of insurance for the Atlanta Braves.
If Chipper were to miss more time with injury later in the year, or just simply need a day off, the Braves would then be able to run a platoon of Hinske and Gomes out to left field with Prado shifting temporarily to third base.
Adding Gomes would not be the cure-all addition that many fans might be hoping for, but it would be a solid addition for the 2011 Atlanta Braves.
The front office would no doubt still need to make several more trades—perhaps for a reliever and utility man—but Gomes would be a big step in the right direction. With additional moves like trading for a utility man like Omar Infante and a reliever like Luke Gregerson or Kyle Farnsworth, the Braves could further improve upon their weaknesses.
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