Thread: Tommy Hanson Traded to Angels

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Angels have acquired RHP Tommy Hanson. The Braves have a ton of pitching. No word on what the Angels are giving up, but they have no more prospects. Could it be a left-fielder? Maybe Bourjous? Hanson is about to get spendy in arbitration? He's been hurt at times in the last year or two as well.

For Jordan Walden. Straight-up.

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

Jon Heyman is reporting that the Angels have acquired RHP Tommy Hanson. The Braves have a ton of pitching. No word on what the Angels are giving up, but they have no more prospects. Could it be a left-fielder? Maybe Bourjous? Hanson is about to get spendy in arbitration? He's been hurt at times in the last year or two as well.

Makes me wonder if they offered Hanson for Span but the Twins said no due to his injury riddled season last year. Bourjous for Hanson would mean the Braves got the bad end of this deal.

Hanson for Walden... that is another decent arm in the bullpen to go with Kimbrel, Venters and O'Flaherty - it makes me wonder if the Braves are poised to flip Venters to another team to acquire more offense?

Just curious, but would people here have been willing to flip Perkins for Hanson? Obviously Perkins and Walden are different, Walden is cheaper and younger, but Perkins is a lefty, still has a favorable contract and has a better recent track record. Just hypothetical.

Originally Posted by Bark's Lounge

Hanson for Walden... that is another decent arm in the bullpen to go with Kimbrel, Venters and O'Flaherty - it makes me wonder if the Braves are poised to flip Venters to another team to acquire more offense?

Braves sure do love their pitching. Here is a tweet from Jim Bowden "Braves-Angels Trade: Tommy Hanson for Jordan Walden deal has as much to do with which one isn't going to break down than it does talent."

That Makes a lot of sense.

Hanson just didn't look the same this year. Velocity down and ERA up. The Angels have never seemed comfortable with Walden despite the rocket on his shoulder and that probably has to do with his results thus far.

It looks like two teams have exchanged players that they are not comfortable with.

Originally Posted by nicksaviking

Just curious, but would people here have been willing to flip Perkins for Hanson? Obviously Perkins and Walden are different, Walden is cheaper and younger, but Perkins is a lefty, still has a favorable contract and has a better recent track record. Just hypothetical.

I dunno, I like Perkins and Hanson scares the hell out of me, its never good when a young pitcher loses that much velocity.

Angels got the best of that deal. A top of the line SP for nothin. A Twins fan should know what SP is worth.

Originally Posted by Top Gun

Angels got the best of that deal. A top of the line SP for nothin. A Twins fan should know what SP is worth.

That's not what you'll hear on any Braves board or from any scout in the business. Hanson has major concerns to worry about with declining velocity, declining mechanics, and already a poor attitude with management. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Hanson missed 2013 due to surgery.

Imo this trade shows that the Braves decided that they weren't going to bring back Hanson and took the best offer.

This is also likely the reason that they signed Upton vs trading Minor/Delgado for Span.

Originally Posted by kab21

Imo this trade shows that the Braves decided that they weren't going to bring back Hanson and took the best offer.

This is also likely the reason that they signed Upton vs trading Minor/Delgado for Span.

Minor/Delgado were never in play for Span, according to Mark Bowden. Hanson was gone last offseason when he turned down an offer to buy out his arbitration years, but strung the team along long enough that they couldn't afford to do the same for Martin Prado.

Were Minor/Delgado never in play or were they never in play because Hanson was already gone?

Tough to say imo.

Originally Posted by kab21

Were Minor/Delgado never in play or were they never in play because Hanson was already gone?

Tough to say imo.

Frank Wren has said that Minor/Delgado would require a monster return this offseason. Hanson was the piece they were hoping to move for an outfielder, but when you get a shot at a cost-controlled reliever of Walden's calibar, you jump on that. Bowden reported that the Twins came in asking for Minor or Medlen, and the Braves said Hanson or minor leaguers, and the Twins insisted they wanted MLB ready guys - then acquired a guy who might be ready for a September 2014 callup.

But it is still an incomplete argument unless the Twins were as high on JR Graham as some are. The pitchers that the Twins thought were worth Span were in the MLB. Did they ask for MLB ready guys or did they name guys that were in the MLB?

Originally Posted by kab21

But it is still an incomplete argument unless the Twins were as high on JR Graham as some are. The pitchers that the Twins thought were worth Span were in the MLB. Did they ask for MLB ready guys or did they name guys that were in the MLB?

They asked for Minor/Medlen. I don't know what else was bantered, but I do know that the Braves were very hesitant on moving Delgado/Teheran for an outfielder (though I'm not in that camp, personally).