Fantasy Recap- Making moves in MoTown

The News
The Atlanta Braves have traded veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria to the Detroit Tigers for SP Jair Jurrjens & OF Gorkys Hernandez. Renteria has two years $20 million left on his contract, with the Tigers holding an option for the 2nd year.

Fantasy Outlook
The Braves didn't waste any time moving Renteria to the Detroit Tigers. The Braves were openly shopping Renteria hoping to clear a path for rookie standout IF Yunel Escobar. Escobar filled in admirably for Chipper Jones at 3rd and Renteria at SS throughout last season compiling a .326 BA while playing 94 games at 2b/3b/SS. With a very reasonable 2 years $20 million left of Renteria's contract it was a little surprising the Braves didn't wait a little longer to see if they could get more value as they didn't get a great return for a player of Renteria's caliber. With that said we must all commend the Detroit Tigers on a job well done, landing one of the best SS in the NL last season and someone who has valuable playoff experience.

This move officially sends the steady bat of Carlos Guillen to 1st base which has been a problematic position for Detroit the last few seasons. Renteria is also added to a potent lineup joining the likes of Magglio Ordonez, Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez, Guillen and the do it all man Curtis Granderson. From a fantasy perspective Renteria is in a perfect position to succeed and perhaps improve on his user friendly stat line of '07 (87-12-57-11-.332). Carlos Guillen should remain productive and will add 1st base to his position eligibility. Renteria will likely improve on his numbers from last year as part of Detroit's offensive machine, though it is unknown where manager Jim Leyland will bat the former All- Star.

With the Braves Yunel Escobar immediately becomes the starting shortstop and will likely provide his owners with a user friendly line. In only 319 AB's last season Escobar hit .329 54-5-28 and chipped in 5 stolen bases, with 500+ AB's Escobar could be a good player to take late in drafts. Jair Jurrjens will compete with Jo-Jo Reyes to be the 5th starter, but in a rotation that includes Mike Hampton, Jurrjens will likely get his chance to stick in the rotation. Jurrjens is someone to take a flier on, but keep in mind he isn't a strikeout pitcher accumulating only 13 K's in 30.2 IP. Jurrjens has shown flashes, last year he went 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA, but more telling is that in his 3 wins Jurrjens pitched 17 innings allowing only 6 hits and 6 walks and 3 ER. He projects to be a good middle of the rotation starter and should be someone taken late in drafts or watched closely as his role with the Braves becomes more clear.