With the Hanson for Walden trade, the Braves might have an extremely good bullpen next year. O'Flarety, Walden, Venters, and Kimbrel being the main guys most likely.

[QUOTE="36Ounces"]

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]

With the Hanson for Walden trade, the Braves might have an extremely good bullpen next year. O'Flarety, Walden, Venters, and Kimbrel being the main guys most likely.

[/QUOTE]

Didn't mind shippin Hanson, he played like trash last year. And yea the bullpen gonna be tough.

[/QUOTE]

I would feel more comfortable keeping Hanson if he wasn't a Boras client, wouldn't mind not giving up on him if it wouldn't cost a ton. But as it is........

I have a sneaky feeling Wren is also up to something clearing the $4 Mill owed to Hanson

[QUOTE="CycleOfViolence"]

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]

With the Hanson for Walden trade, the Braves might have an extremely good bullpen next year. O'Flarety, Walden, Venters, and Kimbrel being the main guys most likely.

[/QUOTE]

It basically was troubled goods for troubled goods. Hanson has seen his velocity drop quite a bit and his shoulder is a red flag. With that said Walden has seen a velocity drop too and has had command issues. For Wren, Hanson's value was low and the Angels were desperate for starting pitching. As a Braves fan and while bummed Hanson is gone I like how Wren was able to get a servicable player in return.

[/QUOTE]

Right, but this trade frees up around 3.5 M as I think Walden is at the league minimum. Also, he is not expected to be the closer which might help him. He might not be the primary 8th inning guy. The way it could work out, Avilan 6th inning, mixture of EOF, Venters, and Walden for 7th and 8th innings, then the Kimbrel in the 9th. If Walden plays like he did as a rookie, Braves might have the best pen in the majors. Assuming Venters also returns to pre-2012 stats.

But perhaps, I am giving Walden a little too much credit. Walden is entering his third year, and last year could have just been the sophmore slump.