Even though on the surface it would appear that the A’s wouldnt be looking to take on payroll, acquiring Kawakami is the kind of move that their GM Billy Beane would make……with the possibility of flipping Kawakami for some prospects next year before the trade deadline.

Trading Kawakami to a team like Oakland would free up a spot in the rotation for Tim Hudson in mid August. The Braves could use Kris Medlen as a fill in until then.

Just an idea that I believe has possibility.

Also, if the Braves were to let Hudson walk at the end of the year, they would get draft picks as compensation.

Either way, Frank Wren would have a number of options to pick from when he decides which course of action he wants to take this winter. I’m confident that he can do the job.

Many of you may not want to keep hearing this, but like it or not, Jason Heyward WILL NOT be called up to the Majors in 2009. The Braves will MORE THAN LIKELY have him follow the same path as Tommy Hanson. If the Braves bring up Heyward in June of 2010…..then he wont be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2013 season…..and not eligible for free agency until after the 2016. If the Braves bring him up in late August and makes the team out of Spring Training….then he becomes eligible for both salary arbitration and free agency a year early.

Like it or not, economics play a BIG PART of the decision making. I am more than ok with that, because I know that the Braves are on a budget and I want to see them get maximum use of the dollars they spend.

Tim Hudson has a $13 mil 2010 option, or the Braves can buy him out for $1 mil if they dont want to exercise the 2010 option. You might want to look it up.

i understand what your saying, but its a pretty simplistic way of saying what 80 percent of a pitcher is. tim redding isnt even half the pitcher tim hudson is. if tim is a 10, then redding is a 2 or 3, buddy.

Would you send Medlen back to Triple A? If so, then basically you’ll rarely see Kawakami pitch because the starting pitching rarely gets knocked out early. Or what about Manny Acosta? If so, then Kawakami would have to be able to come in for an inning in either the 6th, 7th, or even 8th innings (depending on how often the other relievers have been used).

Kawakami isnt a short inning kind of guy. He is slow to the plate (which would be disastrous for a short relief pitcher). Kawakami walks a number a hitters (again disastrous). Also, Kawakami is the kind of pitch who tends to get hit early, then settle down to grind it out. However as a short reliever, a reliever cant afford to struggle early. He has to be able to come in and get it done IMMEDIATELY.

So knowing all that (unless you disagree with my assessment of Kawakami’s short relief abilities)……..how much would having Tim Hudson take Kawakami’s spot in the rotation really help? After all, would Hudson be expected to pitch more than 6 innings and give up less than 2-3 runs a game (which is what Kawakami has been doing since his struggles in April)?