Ever since the trade was announced Ed Wade (nee Boffo) has been getting quite a bit of nasties for pulling off a supposed coup in the Hunter Pence deal, then getting second-class goods from the Atlanta Braves for underrated center fielder Michael Bourn.
↵Jordan Schafer was basically a freebee and I'm not convinced on the scouting reports I have read on Brett Oberholtzer. His numbers may read slightly similar to Jarred Cosart's, but he reminds me of a distinctly less attractive (baseball player wise) David Wells. He looks like a durable 200-inning thrower, but whether he can propel himself to a middle of the rotation lynch-pin is a different matter. As for Paul Clemens there are a number of varying opinions. He aced his short stay at AA Corpus Christi, but has a meagre innings pitched total at 23
↵But getting sold magic beans by Frank Wren, might not have been all Wade's fault.
↵On FanGraphs, Scouting the Sally's Mike Newman discusses the Rule 5 draft and the buzz that can surround some prospects. I certainly remember Oberholtzer's name being bandied around Twitter weeks before the trade happened. I was happy the Astros got him, rather I would have liked him with Mike Minor or Randall Delgado.
↵Newman talks about a conversation in June with a source of his:
↵↵↵Without prompting, the contact said, "Don't be surprised if he (Oberholtzer) is traded. I'm just hearing too much buzz surrounding him right now." A month later, Oberholtzer was with a new organization. In general, the Atlanta Braves are masters at guiding the conversation surrounding their prospects.
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Sounds like Ed Wade got suckered.
↵Again.