Braves outfielder Brandon Jones was designated for assignment today to make room for Eric Hinske, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jones, 26, hit .281/.360/.419 in his third Triple A stint.
Heading into the 2008 season, Baseball America ranked Jones the 70th-best prospect in the game. At the time BA said the Braves considered Jones their "long-term answer in left field."
renegade
Everyone loves former high ranking prospects.. someone will scoop him up thinking hell bounce back.
renegade
Everyone loves former high ranking prospects.. someone will scoop him up thinking hell bounce back.
Steve Shoup
Seems like a player the Pirates might be interested in. A young cheap backup with some upside, while they wait on their OF prospects to develop.
martinfv2
There were rumors the Pirates were interested, when the Braves were eyeing Jason Bay at the ’08 trade deadline.
Steve Shoup
ironic since if they signed him Jones could replace the OF (Moss) they got in the Bay deal.
martinfv2
There were rumors the Pirates were interested, when the Braves were eyeing Jason Bay at the ’08 trade deadline.
Steve Shoup
Seems like a player the Pirates might be interested in. A young cheap backup with some upside, while they wait on their OF prospects to develop.
BravesRed
They should of got rid of him instead of Anderson, at least he can still somewhat hit.
BravesRed
They should of got rid of him instead of Anderson, at least he can still somewhat hit.
HansonAce
You know Dayton Moore is already on scooping him up….
HansonAce
You know Dayton Moore is already on scooping him up….
Ian_Smell
I remember the Pirates were going to get him for Bay. Glad they didn’t do that trade, just for the sake of Andy LaRoche.
Ian_Smell
I remember the Pirates were going to get him for Bay. Glad they didn’t do that trade, just for the sake of Andy LaRoche.
bravesfan 2
I would have DFA JoJo Reyes but Brandon Jones works. He did have that one good series where he single-handedly beat the Angels but other than that, he never really developed into a major leaguer. See ya in KC BJ.
atlbraves312
I think they should DFA Jo Jo Reyes. I mean. Do we really need him? We got Kris Medlen. I think it will suck to see this guy go.
Freak
Jo Jo may have sucked for the Braves in the past, but they don’t have many guys in their system ready to be called up if someone in the rotation goes down with an injury. The good pitching prospects are too young to fill that spot at the moment. He is definitely needed as an emergency starter…
jonathan180iq
All of JoJo’s peripherals started pointing towards his tendency to be a mid-tier pitcher, but he can’t throw strikes. He could be a valuable weapon from the left side but he first has to learn to hit his spots. If he can’t do that, he’s destined for another medicore year(career) in AAAA.
atlbraves312
I think they should DFA Jo Jo Reyes. I mean. Do we really need him? We got Kris Medlen. I think it will suck to see this guy go.
bravesfan 2
I would have DFA JoJo Reyes but Brandon Jones works. He did have that one good series where he single-handedly beat the Angels but other than that, he never really developed into a major leaguer. See ya in KC BJ.
Kyle
Totally wouldn’t be surprised if the Reds signed to make their Minor League system “even stronger”.
Kyle
Totally wouldn’t be surprised if the Reds signed to make their Minor League system “even stronger”.
drumzalicious
ugh. def thought it would have been Marek
drumzalicious
ugh. def thought it would have been Marek
bbxxj
I don’t have many beefs with the Braves FO, but not giving Jones his fair shot at regular playing time last year was a mistake.
I remember when Griffey signed in Seattle our FO said they would go with internal options Jones and Diaz in LF but alas they signed Anderson who could barely take a walk or hit for power and couldn’t field at all but he could take ‘professional at bats’. Looking back it was 2.5 mil wasted and now we may never know what Jones could have been in ATL.
He is still a solid hitter but his HR power has dropped instead of risen and his defense was never that stellar to begin with. I can see why the Braves did this but we could have known for sure if he was given the gig in LF in ’09 along with Diaz who could of become the full time starter should Jones have struggled.
jonathan180iq
I agree with you, except that Brandon’s swing is simply too long. You can get away with a long swing in the minors and be one of the better hitters but that’s what was going to hold him back at the big league level and our organization knows that. He has all the tools, no doubt. But he has to shorten that swing if he wants to advance his game much beyond where it is now.
bbxxj
I don’t have many beefs with the Braves FO, but not giving Jones his fair shot at regular playing time last year was a mistake.
I remember when Griffey signed in Seattle our FO said they would go with internal options Jones and Diaz in LF but alas they signed Anderson who could barely take a walk or hit for power and couldn’t field at all but he could take ‘professional at bats’. Looking back it was 2.5 mil wasted and now we may never know what Jones could have been in ATL.
He is still a solid hitter but his HR power has dropped instead of risen and his defense was never that stellar to begin with. I can see why the Braves did this but we could have known for sure if he was given the gig in LF in ’09 along with Diaz who could of become the full time starter should Jones have struggled.
Guest 440
too bad…
Guest 440
too bad…
Matthew
I was just looking at the 40 man roster and noticed that they had no room for anyone else. If Heyward makes it out of ST someone else has to be cut or traded…
bbxxj
When Heyward gets added I imagine we either trade Jo-Jo Reyes (as he still has a fair amount of value) or just DFA James Parr or Gregor Blanco. Parr doesn’t have great overpowering stuff but he can spot start and eat trashtime relief innings and Blanco as we know had that fantastic OBP and BB% in 2008 but Schafer beat him out in ST and he wallowed in AAA just like Jones however he has enough speed and good enough defense (plus at the corners and acceptable in center) to still have value.
Dropping Parr or Blanco wouldn’t be huge losses by any means but I would prefer to see if we can get some sort of prospect for a team looking for a #4/5 LHP starter for 400k.
inkstainedscribe
I’m a bit surprised Blanco wasn’t dropped instead of Jones, either. Guess the Braves want an insurance policy for CF in case McLouth, Melky, and Schafer get hurt …
inkstainedscribe
I’m a bit surprised Blanco wasn’t dropped instead of Jones, either. Guess the Braves want an insurance policy for CF in case McLouth, Melky, and Schafer get hurt …
Matthew
I would guess it would be one of the pitchers maybe even Acosta. Blanco almost was dropped last year. Their are some names that could be dropped. I just hope if he (Heyward) is seasoned enough they don’t make the 40 man the issue on whether to start him out in 2010 in the majors.
Matthew
I would guess it would be one of the pitchers maybe even Acosta. Blanco almost was dropped last year. Their are some names that could be dropped. I just hope if he (Heyward) is seasoned enough they don’t make the 40 man the issue on whether to start him out in 2010 in the majors.
jonathan180iq
Yeah, we should have sold high on Blanco after 2008.
bbxxj
When Heyward gets added I imagine we either trade Jo-Jo Reyes (as he still has a fair amount of value) or just DFA James Parr or Gregor Blanco. Parr doesn’t have great overpowering stuff but he can spot start and eat trashtime relief innings and Blanco as we know had that fantastic OBP and BB% in 2008 but Schafer beat him out in ST and he wallowed in AAA just like Jones however he has enough speed and good enough defense (plus at the corners and acceptable in center) to still have value.
Dropping Parr or Blanco wouldn’t be huge losses by any means but I would prefer to see if we can get some sort of prospect for a team looking for a #4/5 LHP starter for 400k.
Matthew
I was just looking at the 40 man roster and noticed that they had no room for anyone else. If Heyward makes it out of ST someone else has to be cut or traded…
Alldaybaseball
He should have got a chance. Never was playing bad. The power never seemed to develop though. As a Braves fan, I would be ok if Kansas actually picked him up. I would eb happy if he could just get a shot somewhere.
Alldaybaseball
He should have got a chance. Never was playing bad. The power never seemed to develop though. As a Braves fan, I would be ok if Kansas actually picked him up. I would eb happy if he could just get a shot somewhere.
scottbravesfan19
Pretty disappointing I think. I wish he could have had a shot, but he just never really showed that next level everyone hoped for out of him. I doubt we trade Reyes just because he is our unofficial #7 pitcher if disaster were to strike. Plus you still never know with him, I would rather Blanco or Parr preferrably Parr go. Never have been that impressed by “Chuck James V.2”
Corey Bishop
Chuck James v2 is Jo Jo Reyes….
scottbravesfan19
I was just referring to when Bobby Cox said James Parr reminded him of Chuck James being sneaky quick.
Corey Bishop
ah yes, forgot that. Good point.
Corey Bishop
Chuck James v2 is Jo Jo Reyes….
scottbravesfan19
Pretty disappointing I think. I wish he could have had a shot, but he just never really showed that next level everyone hoped for out of him. I doubt we trade Reyes just because he is our unofficial #7 pitcher if disaster were to strike. Plus you still never know with him, I would rather Blanco or Parr preferrably Parr go. Never have been that impressed by “Chuck James V.2”
whitesoxfan424
Please white sox, pick him up. We need a lefty OF option. We have several people we can DFA.
whitesoxfan424
Please white sox, pick him up. We need a lefty OF option. We have several people we can DFA.
jcrabtree7
To the Land of Missfit Braves he will end up ( Kansas City Royals)
jcrabtree7
To the Land of Missfit Braves he will end up ( Kansas City Royals)
venn177
I don’t know why, but I burst out laughing at this.
FutureBravesGM18
It’s so true the Royals are like the Braves AAAA team
jonathan180iq
Between the Nats and Royals, it’s like 18 players came from our organization. Always a good joke.
yahoo-LPD6JNIVWC47SGIDOR5TZGXELM
Any thoughts on whether the Yankees might take a gamble on Jones? According to some sources, the Yanks only have 2 mil to enhance their left field position. If it isn’t Reed Johnson who i hope they end up getting(Damon…sigh), why not take a gamble on Jones?
Freak
When the Yankees take a “gamble it doesn’t really count. If it doesn’t work out they can just go buy someone better next year….
yahoo-LPD6JNIVWC47SGIDOR5TZGXELM
Any thoughts on whether the Yankees might take a gamble on Jones? According to some sources, the Yanks only have 2 mil to enhance their left field position. If it isn’t Reed Johnson who i hope they end up getting(Damon…sigh), why not take a gamble on Jones?
Blauser2Lemke
Should have traded him for something when he was highly thought of – see Charles Thomas!
brandon3849
When he was highly thought of, we were planning on him being our future LF’er. We just let him cook too long…
I still think he can become a solid, if not unspectacular, MLB reverse.
Blauser2Lemke
Should have traded him for something when he was highly thought of – see Charles Thomas!
Joe
Royals say hello to your new outfielder!
Colin
DFA’d doesn’t mean he’s not a Brave anymore, guys. It means they now have 10 days to trade him, release him, or outright him to the minors. (To outright him, he’d have to clear waivers.) So…he could still be a Brave, playing at AAA Gwinnett.
jdub220
I doubt he clears waivers. Some team would take him.
gwells
so… they dropped a young, 26 yr old with a 780 OPS last year to pick up a 32 yr old with a 780 OPS last year (774 career OPS) …
hrm. what was the point?
AkronHammer
giants scoop him up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AkronHammer
does anyone even use the term ” scoop up” anymore…? lol
formerdraftpick 2
I can picture either the Pirates, Royals, Cards, or Indians picking him up. If the Pirates do, Pearce or Moss will hit the dfa list. The Cards are in play for a left handed pinch hitter on the cheap. The Royals…’nough said and the Indians are also looking for some cheap talent as shown with the recent signing of Duncan.
ATLBravessince93
Royals are going to pick him up.
bravesfansince93
Royals are going to get him. Frank Wren should of DFA Jojo Reyes instead of Brandon Jones. Jojo Reyes is just garbage. Brandon Jones has some upside.
goldenglove002
He’ll be on the royals in a few days…
Why are people complaining? What was he, like the 11th OF on the Braves depth chart? He didn’t have any future with them. The only other viable drop option would have been Marek, and starting pitching depth isn’t as good as OF in Atlanta
Katsumara
A real shame to see him go. I thought he’d be at least decent.