Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 04, 2007
Braves-Cubs Trade

The Braves fill a hole in the bullpen as they pick up Will Ohman from the Cubs:

The Braves, filling their need for a left-handed reliever, have acquired Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante from the Cubs for Class AA reliever Jose Ascanio, according to major-league sources.

The deal, first reported by ESPN Radio in Chicago, creates payroll flexibility for the Cubs for other pursuits. Ohman is under contract for $1.6 million next season while Infante is projected to receive about $1.5 million in arbitration.

The Braves, bracing for the loss of Ron Mahay as a free agent, entered the meetings intent on acquiring a left-handed reliever. Infante presumably will fill a utility role similar to what he did in the past for the Tigers.

Ohman can strike batters out. We'll see if the Braves can improve his control and make him extremely effective.


Posted by David Pinto at 11:18 AM | Trades | TrackBack (0)
Comments

The Cubs were third in the league last year in bullpen ERA, so they must have thought Ohman was expendable. He has been walk-prone, nearly five per nine in his career. But he put up his best walk rate in 2007. The Cubs didn't care for the five ERA, I guess.

Lefties who strike people out are supposed to be so highly prized. We'll see if Atlanta can push Ohman's walk rate down further and turn him into a valuable situational lefty.

Posted by: Casey Abell at December 4, 2007 12:26 PM

Ohman was traded because of his mouth, not his arm. Throwing the team trainer under the bus when you get demoted to AAA isn't the best way to impress your employer.

Posted by: Bud Selig at December 4, 2007 12:48 PM

Lou ain't the most even-tempered sort. But the 4.95 ERA probably did in Ohman more than any untoward remarks. Especially when the rest of the bullpen is pretty solid.

We'll see if the Braves can help Ohman locate the plate better.

Posted by: Casey Abell at December 4, 2007 01:04 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?