MLB Trade Rumors: Carlos Quentin Could Be Traded, Braves Interested

The Chicago White Sox are only 3.5 games out of the AL Central race, but they've already indicated a willingness to deal players from their active roster, sending Edwin Jackson to the Cardinals (via the Blue Jays). Now comes word that they might trade one of their best hitters, Carlos Quentin. From Ken Rosenthal:

Source: Braves "hot" for Quentin - and White Sox love ATL's young arms. One holdup: the condition of (Dayan) Viciedo's thumb at AAA. Would replace Quentin for White Sox. Hasn't played since Saturday.

Quentin is arbitration-eligible for 2012, which would be his final year before free agency. Viciedo is currently hitting .307/.365/.500 in triple-A, with 16 home runs in 374 at-bats -- pretty similar to Quentin's line in the majors of .262/.353/.510 mark, with 20 home runs in 347 at-bats. Of course, one's in the majors and one's in the minors, so it won't be a clean lineup swap.

The Braves are looking for an outfielder to play with Martin Prado and Jason Heyward, especially one who hits right-handed to complement Nate McLouth and Jordan Schafer. But in order to get Prado, Heyward, and Quentin in the lineup at the same time, one of them would have to play center. Or Prado would have to play the infield. Or ... heck, I don't know. As Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes:

Like Braves' Fredi G said yesterday, get player here and he'll worry about where to play him. Would apply to Carlos Quentin.

They could move the athletic Heyward to center, or Chipper Jones's lingering quad injury could open up a spot for Prado in the infield. Or there's always Jim Bowden's theory:

If Braves were to trade for Pence, he'd play RF and not CF, Heyward would get optioned until Sept so he can get bat working again

Uh, okay. I'd assume that applies to Quentin too, and if so, wow. Somehow I don't see that happening ...