The first somewhat significant offseason trade happened this morning as the Atlanta Braves traded RHP Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians for High Single-A pitcher Chris Jones. The Braves will eat $10 million of the $15 million on Lowe’s contract for 2012.

DLowe is headed to Cleveland

Despite going 9-17 for the Braves last season, I think this is a pretty good trade by the Indians. If you look at the market for starting pitchers out there, what else are you going to get for one-year and $5 million? You are going to get a Brad Penny or an Aaron Cook. I would take Lowe over any of those type of ham n’ eggers.

Lowe finished the 2011 season with a 5.05 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, and a 2.5 WAR in 187 innings. Lowe’s 59 percent Ground Ball Percentage ranked second in baseball and now with Fausto Carmona back in the fold and Justin Masterson, the Indians will have three of the top eight ground ball pitchers in baseball from 2011. They also Ubaldo Jimenez in the rotation, who has been known to throw a ground ball or two as well.

While it’s great to assemble a staff of ground ball pitchers, there’s only one problem with that; You need an infield who can help support them. Needless to say, the Indians’ infield defense isn’t the best in the world. The Indians’ infield defense had a -34 UZR last season. Unless things change, I could see a lot of four-hoppers getting through the infield in 2012.

In return, the Braves will get Jones, who is a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher. He was in High Single-A in 2011 and finished the season with a 3.36 ERA, 8.2 K/9, and a 3.7 BB/9 in 72.1 innings. He doesn’t project to be anything more than a left-handed specialist according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.

From the Braves perspective, they no longer had any use for Lowe. They have plenty of starting pitching depth and can take the $5 million they are going to save in 2012 and invest it in other areas.

The Braves need a shortstop and I could see them using the money to make a run at Jimmy Rollins or maybe they will entertain the idea of bringing back Rafael Furcal. I also think the Braves need some major bench help. And no, bringing back Eric Hinske isn’t the answer.

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By The Baseball Index