Escobar out of Atlanta?

Only a few days after the Braves dealt Jeff Francoeur to the Mets, it looks like they maybe inclined to deal Yunel Escobar as well. According to a recent article, the Braves have begun to take calls regarding the talented shortstop, although an exact trading partner has not been revealed. The Braves would need a shortstop in return what with Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante on the DL and Elvis Andrus in Texas.

Clearly, Escobar needs an attitude adjustment, his pouting and mental lapses are not acceptable. But he is just far too talented and frankly too cheap to deal to another team. I don’t care what they have to do to get him to act like a 26 year old, bench him, fine him, dress him up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz or better yet get a veteran to take him under his wing and teach him how to act like a major league ballplayer. But to just trade him, is like giving up and that’s not the way the Braves should act.

The article also hinted at the Braves interest in A’s outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday is a solid outfielder that flourished in Colorado, but has hit a few bumps since being traded to Oakland during the off season. However the major sticking point regarding Holliday is his pending free agency at the end of the season. The Braves would have to be able to sign him to an extension prior to trading for him and even then I don’t know if this is a good idea or possible. (He is a Scott Boras client, after all.) The prospects they would have to give up would revival those sent to Texas for Mark Teixeira. But if they are able to secure him to a long term deal, it could mitigate the loss of players.
(Photo: AP; source)