Major League Mongering: Bronson Arroyo for Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Major League Mongering will look at players rumored to be on the move between now and the July 31st pseudo-trade-deadline.

The Braves are in second place and bearing down on the Mets despite a rotation that's giving lots of starts to Buddy Carlyle, Kyle Davies, Chuck James, Andrew Lerew, and Jo-Jo Reyes. It's all very un-Braves-like if you ask me. While most of those guys haven't been awful, it's pretty safe to assume that the Braves would like to add a veteran arm to solidify that rotation before the July 31st deadline.

Buster Olney wrote in his blog yesterday that a rumor was passed his way that the Braves were inquiring about Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo (Olney link is Insider only, sorry). Arroyo would be a guy that would make a lot of sense for the Braves. He eats up innings like crazy and he's got plenty of experience in pressure packed post-season pitching, having been with the Red Sox from 2003-2005. Add in the fact that he's had a pretty poor first half and the Braves may be able to prod Cincy to sell low on him, and you've got yourself the making of a deadline deal.



What might he bring back? Olney speculates that the Reds would ask for no less than Jarrod Saltalamacchia to finish the trade, and that's believable as well. The Reds have the makings of a strong rotation with Arroyo, and Aaron Harang, as well as Homer Bailey on the cusp of breaking out, and I doubt Wayne Krivsky would break that core up cheaply. The Braves are known to be shopping Salty because they've already got Brian McCann behind the plate and he's not going anywhere. The Braves would have to decide if getting Arroyo into the rotation is worth pressing forward with Scott Thorman and Julio Franco at first base (where Salty's been getting a lot of reps lately).

What other teams are interested? I haven't seen Arroyo's name linked to anyone else, but if he were known to be available I think a number of other contenders might come knocking. Just about every single rebuilding team in the league is asking the Braves about Saltalamacchia though, since he's one of the best catching prospects in baseball. The Braves will likely get a lot of good offers for him.

Should fantasy owners care? Well, neither one of these two guys are widely owned by fantasy players at the moment, but a trade would boost both their values by a good amount. Salty would be playing every day and Arroyo would be on a contender that would get him some run support. Both would be worth picking up for a stretch run if this trade goes down.

Olney link via MLB Trade Rumors