I just pray that this flurry of activities will turn out better (immediately!) than the deal that sent the Pirates a lefty 1st baseman.

....

Last deal of 2007:  Schuerholz sent both Wil Ledezma and Will Startup to the Padres in exchange for Royce Ring.

My hunch was a trade involving a certain Bronson Anthony Arroyo.  I was wrong.   It didn't happen.  Instead, we got more bullpen.  At least we want have to listen to the Stones "Start It Up" each time Will Startup takes the mound.

Who's gonna bat 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the lineup?  And just how happy will lil' Larry Jones be, now that he has some protection in the lineup!

Ok, I'm a little late.  But at least I am doing it, right?  lol.

So here is the breakdown of the trades the Braves made over the past couple of days.  Let us know what you think this will do for the Braves in the present and future.

Trade #1

Braves get Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay for Jarrod Saltalamacchia (I finally learn how to spell his name and they trade him), Elvis Andrus, Netfali Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones.

Teixeira is a gold-glove first baseman who has averaged 35 HR and 113 RBIs per season over his first 4 full seasons.  He played in all 162 games in 2005 and 2006.  He missed more than a month this season with a strained left quadriceps.  He has a .297 avg this year with 13 HR and 49 RBIs.  Since coming off of the DL, he has hit safely in 14 of the 17 games he has played.  Teixeira will wear #24.

Ron Mahay is a left handed specialist that the Braves dearly needed.  Opponents are hitting just .236 against him this year.  He has a 2.77 ERA in 28 appearances.  Mahay has 32 K's in 39 innings and has only allowed 3 HR.  He will wear #49.

Trade #2

The Braves acquired Octavio Dotel from Kansas City for Kyle Davies.

Dotel will fill the role that left hander Mike Gonzalez filled before he went on the DL.  Dotel made 24 appearances this season and had a 2-1 record with 11 saves in 14 opportunities.  He will wear #26.

Trade #3

The Braves traded Will Startup and Wil Ledezma to the Padres for left hander Royce Ring. 

Ring is a hard throwing lefty who will also fill a much needed role in the bullpen.  Ring will start off at AAA Richmond to get some innings in before he heads up to join the Atlanta club.  He appeared in 15 games for the Padres this season.  He posted a 1-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and 17 K's in 15 innings pitched.  He also appeared in 27 games for Portland (AAA), going 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA.  Opponents hit .188 against him with 44 K's in 31.2 innings.

So what does everyone think about these deals?  How would you grade our total trade decisions?  How do you like what we received and what we lost?  I would like to know what everyone thinks.  I, personally, think this is a huge move by Schuerholz and company.  This is going to bring good things to Atlanta this season, but what does the future hold?  Let's hear it Braves fans.