The Braves make a Big Trade that will send ripples throughout the NL East

From ESPN.com:

"The Braves acquired All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates for three minor leaguers on Wednesday, a move to beef up Atlanta's offense in hopes of contending in the NL East.

The 27-year-old McLouth set career highs last season with a .276 batting average, 26 homers and 94 RBIs. The Braves desperately needed more offense from an outfield that produced only 10 homers through the first 51 games.

Atlanta gave up outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of its top prospects, along with pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke.

McLouth, who is hitting .256 with nine homers and 34 RBIs this season, fills several needs for the Braves. In addition to bolstering the lineup, he won a Gold Glove in 2008 and had 23 stolen bases. Since the start of the '05 season, he has the best stolen base percentage (64 of 69) in the majors.

Another plus: McLouth is under contract through at least 2011, having signed a three-year, $15.75 contract in spring training. The deal includes a team option for a fourth year at $10.65 million, with a $1.25 million buyout.

The Braves went into Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs trailing the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies by 4½ games. Atlanta hasn't made the playoffs since 2005, the last of their record 14 straight division titles.

By trading McLouth, Pittsburgh cleared a spot for one of its best prospects, 2005 first-round pick Andrew McCutchen. The 22-year-old outfielder was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was hitting .303 with four homers, 20 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

"I'm real excited, but I really haven't been able to kind of sit back yet and think about it," McCutchen said.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said trading McLouth "may be the toughest decision we have made in my time with the organization."

"Nate is a quality player and person," Huntington said. "But as we have said several times, tough decisions will need to be made as we build and sustain a championship-caliber organization. Nate has worked as hard as any player to become a starting major league player, proving wrong anyone who may have doubted him.

"When we signed Nate to a long-term contract, we did so with the intent on having him remain part of our core of homegrown talent. But the quality and quantity of talent we are receiving in this trade moves us closer to our goal of building that sustainable championship-caliber club."

Last summer, Pittsburgh had perhaps the best outfield in the big leagues with McLouth, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. All three have been traded since late July.

With the rebuilding Pirates likely to reach a record-setting 17th consecutive losing season this year and so few prospects in their organization, they're dealing what serviceable players they have for young talent.

Pittsburgh had coveted Hernandez when he was with the Detroit Tigers, before they traded him to Atlanta in an October 2007 deal for shortstop Edgar Renteria.

"A guy with impact speed, really play defense," Huntington said. "A dynamic, athletic outfielder."

Hernandez is headed to Double-A, and Locke will report to Class-A. Morton will go to Indianapolis."

With the Atlanta Braves in an early hole behind the Phillies and Mets in the NL East, What McLouth adds to the lineup is an offensive power that can alleviate the pressures from guys like Chipper Jones and Brian McCann. McLouth is a major addition to this Atlanta ball-club that I now believe has enough staying power to challenge the Mets and even the Philadelphia Phillies. In alot of circles, this deal may not feel as important or noteworthy as a possible deal that would include maybe Jake Peavy but Nate is a 5 tool player that will make immediate dividends for the Braves in the NL East. Should the Phillies and Mets be frightened? Maybe not but they should be made more aware especially with the struggles the Mets have gone through dealing with the injury bug and now Philly has lost Shane Victorino due to a Hip Injury (Which sucks because he was a major contributor to my Fantasy Team). In the end, both teams win in this trade because Atlanta is able to fill every hole they needed with the acquisition of McLouth and Pittsburgh continues to get younger with top pitching prospects like Morton and Locke including a big power bat in Gorky Hernandez.

Till Next Time,

I'm Nick Malone