The Atlanta Braves wanted Ryan Dempster. They didn't get him. The backup plan was Paul Maholm. They got him. It's safe to say now that the Braves are glad things worked out the way they did, as Talking Chop explains.

Maholm has been brilliant since joining Atlanta from the Chicago Cubs in a trade that also landed Reed Johnson. Meanwhile, Dempster has been downright awful for the Texas Rangers. Dempster joined Texas after previously not agreeing to a trade to the Braves.

In three starts since the trade deadline, Maholm has posted a 1.97 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 23.0 innings pitched. He's won two of those starts. Dempster, meanwhile, has pitched to the tune of an 8.31 ERA and has given up a whopping 5 homers in 17.1 innings pitched. Dempster's numbers likely would've been better at Turner Field as opposed to hitter-friendly Arlington, but it's tough to see his performance would've better than Maholm's has been.

To boot, Maholm came cheaper, as the Braves didn't have to give up MLB-ready starter Randall Delgado to obtain him.

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