While the Mets dominated most of the off-season headlines, the Braves made a blockbuster deal of their own as they landed Gary Sheffield from the Dodgers. In exchange the Dodgers get Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez. Thsi gives Atlanta a starting outfield of Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Sheffield.

Not really sure what to make of this, as Sheffield seems to be one of those guys who is NEVER happy and ALWAYS looking to renegotiate his contract. Interesting to see how this plays out.

I'm glad to see Brian Jordan away from the Braves. He seemed to always be in the center of the Braves dominance over the Mets. A Met killer with his constant knack for game-winning, back-breaking late-inning achievements. Good riddance.

So the Mets make all kinds of moves and now the Braves counter with a big one of their own.

Meanwhile, the Phillies signed free agent pitcher Terry Adams. He never started before last year, he finished the season with a "tired" arm, he's already 28, and yet he could make (including incentives) $19 million over 3 years....whoop-de-damn-do.

As a Dodger fan who has grown weary of Gary Sheffield's annual off-season whining, I say good riddance. I hope that he can finally find some level of contentment and stop feeling that he has been "disrespected" now that he has left the Dodger organization. After all, his skills have never been in question, just the attitude.

~Adam

As a Dodger hater, I'm sad to see Sheffield go. He was a clubhouse toxin and was a major distraction for most of last year. On the plus side, the Dodgers basically traded away their major offensive player and got little in return.

Great news.

No offense, but this thread should be more accurately titled "Dodgers Unload a Mouth." Just who initiated this trade?

Despite any player's personal stats, baseball is, was, and always be a TEAM sport. Dodgers win this trade.

Can't wait for Sheff's first return to Dodger Stadium; finally, guilt-free booing!

Jordan - chronic injuries, yet a knack for clutch homers. He certainly pulled victory from the jaws of defeat on many occasion for the Braves. And yes, he owned the Mets like the bitches they are.

Perez - lackluster pitcher that has never produced the results that Mazzone (ATL pitching coach)expected from him. This is a great move for Perez. He obviously wasn't able to make the jump under the pitching coaches in Atlanta. The worst that can happen to him is that he continues as the same disappointing pitcher he's been. The best thing that can happen is that he blossoms under new coaches in LA.
Given that he will no longer be able to pick the brains of Maddux and Glavine, however, my money's on Perez goin' bust; more losing ahead. AAA by end of year.

Sheffield - Some folks in LA would have you believe that Gary is the second-coming of Albert Belle. Puh-leeeze! While Belle hated everyone, and everyone hated him, Sheffield has merely had run-ins with management/ownership (for the most part). And given the shitty manner that LA has run their franchise for the last decade, I fail to understand how anyone can blame him.
The Dodgers suck! And I live in LA. Thank God I'm not a fan of their's, or I'd never be able to hold back the urge to vomit every day.
My suspicion is that Sheffield will bring a pissed off attitude toward mediocrity to ATL. And he will find a franchise and group of players that succeed.
I see Sheffield succeeding in ATL, maybe 45 HR, barring injury.

On the balance, Jordan's constant injury issues tips the scales to ATL on this trade. Which I pains me to say, because I really love Jordan for his classy attitude and clutch hitting.

I think the Braves maintain competitive fire inside the lockeroom while adding another power hitter. Sheffield strikes me as a guy who hates to loose. I suspect the Braves are a good fit for him but that team is not done. They need speed-- desperately-- and they should have made a run at David Wells because they need pitching help.

Z

Enough with the overstated 'clubhouse toxin' silliness... Reggie Jackson rode a similar label to the Hall of Fame.

Sheffield is a major offensive improvement on Jordan, Met-killer or not. I can only hope this is the year the Braves' frontline pitching starts aging, otherwise it's an NL East dogfight with the Mets.

Sheffield is bound for the Hall of Fame if he maintains his average of 30 homers over the next few years, and while he lacks Jordan's defensive and running skills, he gives the Braves a reliable, quick bat. Jordan deserved to to go, just as the Cardinals shipped out his former outfield companion, Ray Lankford, to San Diego last year.

Both are really handsome, though, but Sheffield has hairier chest, I think, while Jordan has the thicker thighs and behind!

Atlanta, BTW, had better capitalize soon, because its sure Hall of Famers Maddux and Glavine are reaching the ends of their glorious runs in the next five years.