Braves had jersey with "Bay" stitched on the back

[sdp]

Jason Bay had heard the rumors, but really didn't know the particulars.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the Friday before last season's trade deadline -- which ultimately saw the the Red Sox trade Manny Ramirez, Brandon Moss, and Craig Hansen to get Bay in return -- the Braves came just minutes away from securing the services of the outfielder for themselves.

The deal would have sent Concepcion Rodriguez, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones, and Jeff Locke (the North Conway, NH, native who was ultimately dealt to the Pirates this season to acquire McLouth) to Pittsburgh for Bay.

It seemed like such a certainty that the Braves actually had the uniform, with Bay's name affixed to the back, made up. But, according to the sources, in the end Pirates team president Frank Coonelly stepped in, nixing the deal because there wasn't enough major-league talent coming back in return.

"That's news to me," said Bay of his Braves' uniform. "I don't put much stock into 'what ifs,' but I'm glad here."

Link (http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/rob-bradford/2009/06/22/five-things-we-learned-you-learn-something-new-about-n?page=0,1)

Excuse me while I go cry.

[Johndeerebrave]

I really did not need to read that...:mad:

[Dreamscape]

Wow...what a steal that would have been.

[JanShan12]

That was a disappointing post. :(

[Freddy_Ballgame]

Bay's doing a great job for the Red Sox but there's no guarantee he would be producing like that in Atlanta. Different ballpark, different team approaches and a lot of question marks in the Atl lineup may have made a drastic differece. The Sox work pitchers while the Braves are urged to "be aggressive!" Which method would you say works better? (I do realize having the kind of talented lineup the Sox have makes a difference!)

[Wahoo]

Bay's doing a great job for the Red Sox but there's no guarantee he would be producing like that in Atlanta. Different ballpark, different team approaches and a lot of question marks in the Atl lineup may have made a drastic differece. The Sox work pitchers while the Braves are urged to "be aggressive!" Which method would you say works better? (I do realize having the kind of talented lineup the Sox have makes a difference!)


He's playing out of his mind this year, but he was a damn good hitter prior to ever going to Boston. I'm confident had we traded for him, we would have at least one outfielder producing a .900 OPS.

[Hobbes]

Is that you WahooBrave?

[Wahoo]

Indeed.

[Hobbes]

Well, welcome to the new place!

...and I've reinstated your post count.

[Wahoo]

Well, welcome to the new place!

...and I've reinstated your post count.

Sweet. I feel like I just punched in a code into game genie and advanced to level 10! Thanks Hobbes.

[Chris_Moderato]

I usually read these things and think "Meh." What are you gonna do? It would've been nice, but our offer wasn't enough to get him. Just because the Braves were so confident it was going to happen they printed a jersey just means they got ahead of themselves. Not like we haven't seen that before, eh?

[wordslayer©]

Got this off another website:

Frank Wren has been working tirelessly to fix the offensive weaknesses that the braves have in their lineup. When asked about possible moves that the braves would make, he wouldn't name names, but behind his office door hung three brave's jersey's:

Hanley Ramirez
Albert Pujols
David Wright

Who said we were the dumbest organization in baseball? Pffft.

[KB 34]

I usually read these things and think "Meh." What are you gonna do? It would've been nice, but our offer wasn't enough to get him. Just because the Braves were so confident it was going to happen they printed a jersey just means they got ahead of themselves. Not like we haven't seen that before, eh?
I hardly think they care about the $20 they spent printing a jersey though.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

not the 1st time this has happened with the Pirates....maybe the 3rd time will be the charm...of course it'll probally be a deal we don't want then...