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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,098 comments Add your comment
SilverKey
December 3rd, 2009
4:43 pm
I still have a sinking feeling that Soriano will accept arbitration…
Macdaddy
December 3rd, 2009
4:45 pm
Is this press conference under way, or are we waiting for something. I’ve got the MLB page up here at work, but nothings coming up. Is anyone else seeing anything different?
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY—-
We agree 100%! Not a single bad decision so far.
If the offseason continues as it has so far, we’re going to be looking FANTASTIC for the start of 2010.
Macdaddy
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Yelp,… nevermind.
SilverKey
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
They outrighted Canizares!?
JBoog1285
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Barbaro outrighted!
erik
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
press conference is on
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
It’s live!
Braves outrighted Barbo Canizares to make room for him
RC
December 3rd, 2009
4:46 pm
Is the interpreter the same guy they hired for Kawakami?
Cameron C
December 3rd, 2009
4:47 pm
Canizares off 40-man
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
4:47 pm
Jurrjens4NLCY—-
We agree 100%! Not a single bad decision so far.
If the offseason continues as it has so far, we’re going to be looking FANTASTIC for the start of 2010.
The PC has begun……The Braves have DFA’d Barbaro Canizares to make room on the 40-man roster!!
Goldenglove002
December 3rd, 2009
4:47 pm
This is horrible. What was Wren thinking signing Saito the day after Wagner. I have come home 2 days in a row now to be excited by emails from the Braves announcing signins. Whats is gonna happen for the rest of the season.
Oh no! Barbaro Canizares outrighted!
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Saito terms: $3.2 million base plus $2.3 million incentives
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Oh come on, you KNOW there is something up Wren’s sleeve now since we won’t have Canizares to play 1st!
This is sooooo exciting!!
Macdaddy
December 3rd, 2009
4:49 pm
Yelp…, nevermind. Not Barbaro!
civilized white trash
December 3rd, 2009
4:50 pm
shoot we are screwed he wears a scarf no real ball player wears a scarf
teribble signing wren
SilverKey
December 3rd, 2009
4:50 pm
Saito doesn’t look 40, does he?
sidslidkid
December 3rd, 2009
4:50 pm
Bobby just dropped a big hint about a bat.
Nelson S.
December 3rd, 2009
4:50 pm
NICE BOBBY JUST DROPPED A LITTLE HINT ABOUT OUR OFFENSE!!!
erik
December 3rd, 2009
4:50 pm
booby just said frank is working on something else that will give them a chance to score more runs
Goldenglove002
December 3rd, 2009
4:51 pm
from Bobby: Braves are working on something else right now, Frank should be able to get us some runs soon
The man doesn’t sleep
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:51 pm
What was the hint? My speakers suck…
Hillbilly
December 3rd, 2009
4:51 pm
ah, but what’s his Eckstein Index, LOL? –scoots
Wurlitzer!! HA, HA!!
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
4:51 pm
Bobby Cox just said that “Frank is working on something else right now that hopefully will help us score more runs this year”.
What do you suppose that means???
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:52 pm
Thanks guys
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
4:52 pm
Random’s baaaaaack.
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2009
4:53 pm
Oh ****, 2.3 million in incentives? Are we even going to have enough money to afford Cameron and Laroche level batters? Might need to keep Barbaro’s number handy just in case.
Random
December 3rd, 2009
4:53 pm
P-Town Brave (December 3rd, 2009 4:07 pm): “So with everything happening right now, why not strike while the oil is hot and get a bat tomorrow…
Then again, 3 deals in 3 days may make my head explode “
So might striking while the oil is hot.
PS: TnBrian — “shore up”.
JEB
December 3rd, 2009
4:54 pm
Silverkey
Relax! Even if Soriano accepts arb – they can still trade him – even if they get no one of value in return.
RC
December 3rd, 2009
4:54 pm
Is it just me or does this translator use “you know” more than Jeff Francoeur?
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:55 pm
I wouldn’t be suprised to find out KK was a hired assassin that killed all of Saito’s family and now he’s signed with the Braves to avenage his family’s honor…
… Oh wait, that was the plot to Ninja Assassin. My bad.
UNCBrave
December 3rd, 2009
4:55 pm
Can we please get OFFENSE NOW? A HR hitter…That was the GLARING weakness of this team last year
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
4:55 pm
What jersey number did they give him? I missed seeing the back of the jersey. Thanks!
Andy K.
December 3rd, 2009
4:56 pm
#40-Saito
bravesgrl4life
December 3rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Oh, the agony of waiting another 2 months and a week and a half!!! I can’t wait to see what FW (aka “Cobra”) is going to do next. Sure hoping I get that Braves Christmas package I’ve asked for
Off for home now, so I’ll chat with you guys later.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
4:58 pm
I think Takashi spent the 3M on that watch… Dammmmn thats a nice watch.
Nelson S.
December 3rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Wren’s tie is just outstanding, wonder what it’s going to be tomorrow for our next move…..
RC
December 3rd, 2009
4:59 pm
Where are the terms posted? I find it REALLY suprising that we have an additional $2.3 million in incentives committed on top of the $3 million base…..
VP
December 3rd, 2009
4:59 pm
Baseball America rates the Braves farm system in the 6-15 range in MLB. According to them the depth took a hit in 2009.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/12/01/farm.systems/index.html
Long time Braves fan
December 3rd, 2009
4:59 pm
I find it interesting that the Braves have been in contact with Saito since the end of the season and have been working on signing him for weeks. So, with all of this work going on out of the public eye, a bat may very well be added very soon.
Daslied
December 3rd, 2009
5:00 pm
Random, I believe your 4:53 wins. Kudos.
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
5:00 pm
Andy K Thanks!!
VaBraveFan
December 3rd, 2009
5:00 pm
ugaaccountant
I think Wren made the right moves. He wouldnt put our payroll in a jam knowing we have offensive needs. He replaced Gonzo/Soriano with Wagner/Saito and for 10 million thats a good deal. Gonzo and Soriano were a big part of the teams success. So that was a huge need. Wren will prolly fill 1b and LF with a couple solid 20-25 hr hitters. Everyone that thinks were getting Holliday or Bay needs to forget it. It could happen but were talking Lowe and his salry in whole being gone and then having no payroll left what so ever. Would you rather have a Awesome player and a below average player or 2 good players. Cameron and Roachy , with this already awesome pitching looks really really good to me.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:01 pm
RC,
“Saito terms: $3.2 million base plus $2.3 million incentives – all but $500,000 of those based on games finished – Wagner’s department!”
- Ken Rosenthal via Twitter
Cherokee
December 3rd, 2009
5:01 pm
Assuming Proctor is able to come back effectively from his surgery and maintain his sobriety, we already have one more reliable arm in the bullpen GV
I think that is a bigger assumption than I am willing to make. He might be a help, but he just as likely might be worthless. I’m not counting on him till I see him getting it done on the big club. They make those kind of signings pretty regularly and they seldom pan out. It would be nice though…
Nate from NCState
December 3rd, 2009
5:02 pm
UNC Brave, I agree that we need a home run hitter to help out with our offense, but I’m sure as you know it is all about stopping the other teams offense.
Something the tarheels forgot to do last Saturday…
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
5:03 pm
bravesgrl4life
Oh, the agony of waiting another 2 months and a week and a half!!! I can’t wait to see what FW (aka “Cobra”) is going to do next. Sure hoping I get that Braves Christmas package I’ve asked for
Oh me too!!!
The present I’d like to have most under my tree this year is hearing we’ve signed Jason Bay. 
Add that to Wagner and Saito….boy, does that make a pretty package, kwim?
dmack2027
December 3rd, 2009
5:03 pm
If healthy, I like both of these signings. Both of these guys have good stuff.
However, it seems like Wren would have learned his lesson several years ago when he took chances on older pitchers (Smoltz and Glavine). He gambled they would be healthy and able to take the ball, and he was wrong. Last year, he unceramoniously cut ties with both, and went in another direction (healthy younger pitchers). We may have come full circle. With the amount the Braves spent on Saito and Wagner, they could have certainly been able to afford Gonzo.
the japan braves
December 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
awesome question – is this all leading up to a ichiro trade lol
Helllllo
December 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Anyone catch D.O.B? at the end? Woot Woot!
Andy K.
December 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Wow seems like Wren has been really hard at work, and judging from Bobby’s hint a bat is on the way hopefully. He seemed pretty excited.
RemoW
December 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
For the anti Wagner guys, He is a great sign if not for just his talents, dude has some serious heart. Square up shooter that will look you in the eye. No more 8th inning “not sure if I can go” Soriano bs!
I will be sorry to see Gonzo leave. He had a ton of heart too. But Wagner just fits the Brave mold with a little attitude. We need that!
NC Braves Fan
December 3rd, 2009
5:04 pm
Ooohhh Nate from State with the 5:02 Tarheel SMACKDOWN! LMAO!!!
O.J.
December 3rd, 2009
5:06 pm
I saw DOB at the end, good stuff!! Also, Asians age very well, as i was thinking the same thing about him looking really young. But did anyone catch when Bobby almost seemed to let the cat out of the bag about whats next? He said something like, Frank and Bruce are working on something else as well and then said we should have some offense soon, or something to that extent.
TnBrian
December 3rd, 2009
5:07 pm
I already like Saito. Seems like a cool guy & he must take care of himself because he looks no older than 25.
The look in Bobby’s eye when he mentioned that Wren & the guys were working on getting someone to help us score runs makes me think it’s a good one coming in. We’ll see soon, I hope.
Andy K.
December 3rd, 2009
5:07 pm
So one one’s upset that Saito took James Parr’s number? Where is the outrage!
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:07 pm
Cuddyer from the Twins? Willingham from the Nats? or what if we had our wish and Holliday signed with us? Maybe Adrian Gonzo from the Pads for maybe Medlin/Freeman/Schafer?
O.J.
December 3rd, 2009
5:07 pm
TnBrian, he is Asian, all Asian people age very well.
Mike S
December 3rd, 2009
5:08 pm
Forgot that Saito and Wagner finished the season together in Boston. Takashi just had some great things to say about Wagner, called him a “special” person to him, and said they sat next to each other in the pen and chatted all game. Bobby also said that when he, Frank & Roger went up to visit Wagner in VA that Wags had nothing but great things to say about Saito, which confirmed what the Braves FO and scouts were thinking. Pretty cool.
Oh, and DOB making an appearance at the end of the presser before they turned off the feed!
BBFCFM
December 3rd, 2009
5:08 pm
anybody heard the rumor of swapping Derek Lowe for Mike Lowell? It’s hot off the stove, but I cannot confirm the validity of it
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:09 pm
This team as the starpower to put some butts in turner field and to contend… For the WS title!!
big chief
December 3rd, 2009
5:09 pm
dmack, They could have afforded Gonzo with the money they spent on Wagner and Saito, but they got alot more experience in the pen now with these acquisitions. Not to mention a stop gap for when Kimbrel is ready to come up and close around late 2011-2012.
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:09 pm
loved it when Wren was asked if everyone should keep their schedule for tomorrow clear. Wren didn’t say no……
civilized white trash
December 3rd, 2009
5:09 pm
wagman = check
saito = check
papleban = soon coming
RC
December 3rd, 2009
5:09 pm
So one one’s upset that Saito took James Parr’s number? Where is the outrage!
They TUK ‘ER NUMBER!
O.J.
December 3rd, 2009
5:11 pm
I dont know who this Papleban person is, but we dont need him for the bullpen, thats for sure.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:11 pm
anybody heard the rumor of swapping Derek Lowe for Mike Lowell? It’s hot off the stove, but I cannot confirm the validity of it
Allow me to be the first to shut down that rumor…
PeteSmith
December 3rd, 2009
5:11 pm
8- Your idea about trading two of the starters is sound B4L
no it’s not, it’s idiotic and dam sure not gonna happen
RC
December 3rd, 2009
5:13 pm
anybody heard the rumor of swapping Derek Lowe for Mike Lowell? It’s hot off the stove, but I cannot confirm the validity of it
Where would Lowell play in that situation? Also, he was a pretty terrible hitter last year, and still has a lot of money left on his contract (although not as much as Lowe….).
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
5:13 pm
JJ – breathe.
18 Wheels of Love
December 3rd, 2009
5:15 pm
Sounds to me like Wren may be spending some of that 15m in Derek Lowe that he is about to unload.
Bobby's Cox
December 3rd, 2009
5:16 pm
and judging from Bobby’s hint a bat is on the way hopefully. He seemed pretty excited.
Bobby’s gonna want to stay another year
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:18 pm
JJ – breathe.
??
PeteSmith
December 3rd, 2009
5:18 pm
I get laughed at but we will see. He is at the right age to have a break out season. He could become our most valuable asset. Austin
and well you should, but not as much as you will be laughed at in 2010 when he doesn’t even come close. 20 homers? hahahaha
BBFCFM
December 3rd, 2009
5:19 pm
I concur on the sentiments surrounding Lowe/Lowell swap. Just figured I would throw it out there. IT’s that time of year….no matter how absurd the rumor…I just…I just..I just have to put some stock in all of them
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
5:20 pm
JJ – you sound like your going to hyperventilate from happiness. Just reminding you to breathe.
PeteSmith
December 3rd, 2009
5:21 pm
ost importantly, that’s another 3M that can’t go to a quality cleanup hitter. Matt Holliday/Jason Bay/Miguel Cabrera no longer easily fixes our entire club as they wouldn’t easily fit under payroll even after trading Lowe. We’d have to fill every other slot left with mimimal salary players. Now the only cleanup hitters known to be available that would work is Adrian Gonzalez UGAACC
you must be crazy if you ever believed any of that was going to happen,It wasn’t and it still isn’t.
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:21 pm
will be sorry to see Gonzo leave I hear you Remo
For all reports Gonzo was a stand up guy Mark Bowman posted an article a few weeks ago about what a great guy he was inthe clubhouse and how he never once complained or mentioned that he was not the closer. The team that gets Gonzo will be lucky to have him….all he wants to do is win. That said, I always thought he was better when he was not rocking, but I still loved that rocking motion he did when no one was on base, it was just cool. Would it be too much to ask that he accepted arb? yeah it would… just wishful thinking. Did see a piece of foxsports.com(I think, this time of year I look at so many sites as you all do I am sure), that mentioned one NL exec who said Soriano would be a fool to turn down braves offer of arb.
RC
December 3rd, 2009
5:22 pm
This is what happens when you misspell “Wagner” on baseballreference.com. Why does this guy even have a page?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wanger001—
tvsportscaster
December 3rd, 2009
5:23 pm
By the way for those curious, they announced at the start of today’s news conference that Barbaro Canizares has been outrighted to AAA to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Saito, and yes you guys are right it does sound like something is percolating about a hitter, Bobby seem to go out of his way to mention that.
J-MAN
December 3rd, 2009
5:23 pm
Well it seems like Wren is batting a 1.000 on the free agents this as opposed to last year where he had the Burnett, Furcal and Griffey deals fall through. And with his history of pulling off great trades we could be the off-season winners for the 1st time in 10 years
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:23 pm
Soph,
Nothing of the sorts. I forgot to ask, how was your Thanksgiving?
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:24 pm
pete smith…..the phrase is as well you should not and well you should smart guy
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2009
5:24 pm
VaBraveFan – I want one cleanup bat for 1b and that’s it. I don’t want 2 average bats instead. I would rather commit 20M to a player we know is good than 10M each to 2 players we know are average. I’d use Jordan Schafer and Jason Heyward in the OF with McLouth and Diaz and feel very comfortable.
I admit there is a problem of who’s available, but I’d rather hold money open than committ it to players I find average.
Steve McP
December 3rd, 2009
5:25 pm
I like the signing of Saito but it seems strange that we are doubling his Sox salary in the current economic climate.
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:26 pm
Don’t think Prado will hit 20 homers but he will hit 50 doubles which I will take any day of the week. Always a “smart guy” like pete smith in the bunch, little petey is in the same group who last year thought I was a moron for saying Prado was a good player. I think Pete smith is trying to make up for his little petey.
nolie
December 3rd, 2009
5:28 pm
They outrighted Canizares!
that does not surprise me at all. I’ve said all along that he will not be on the big club. Terrible terrible fielder who can only play first and that ….terribly . Bye Cani.
Soph
December 3rd, 2009
5:28 pm
JJ – it was nice. I had the whole week off. How was yours?
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
5:28 pm
ANYthing could be in the works, kwim? With that look on his face, who’s to say that Wren hasn’t already found a taker for Lowe and have a big bat in line as well. We’ll never know till it happens. I can’t wait to find out! I just don’t know how much more excitement I can take.
Gone Viral
December 3rd, 2009
5:29 pm
“They make those kind of signings pretty regularly and they seldom pan out. ”
It seems like they pan out about once a year. Off my head, this decade has had Darren Holmes, Chris Hammond, Jaret Wright, Will Ohman Juan Cruz, Oscar Villarreal , Peter Moylan, Jorge Padilla, EOF and Jorge Sosa acquired cheap/free before offering solid seasons as Braves. And I’m probably forgetting a couple of others.
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:29 pm
full season Prado actually could hit 20 homers, but 12-15 sounds about right to me, with a .300AVG, .375OBP, .400SLG, .775OPS, 40-50 doubles, 80 or so RBI from the 2 spot…..
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2009
5:30 pm
Pete Smith – We had the budget. I’ve drawn it up dozens of times this month. We now barely have the budget (after trading Lowe or Vasquez) for 2 of Laroche or Cameron or Dye. That roster is playoff worthy, assuming good health, but not a serious contender for a world series title.
Jurrjens4NLCY
December 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
Soph,
Good, I had 2 Thanksgivings, One with a girlfriend (friend whose a girl) and one with my dad, grandma and her new bf (Akward!)
P-Town Brave
December 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
Random-
VERY funny…but you can’t do that to me while I’m still at work….I about spit my Coke all over my computer monitor
Hmm…since I can’t see this presser til later, can someone give me a little PbP on what was said…I hear we were hinted about a bat addition?
P'cola Brave
December 3rd, 2009
5:32 pm
Who did the Braves remove to make room for Saito??
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:33 pm
450 at bats this year Prado hit 38 doubles, 11 homers, 50 rbi (so maybe I was a little high on the 80 I mentioned earlier), .464SLG, .360OBP
Coach (2011 or Bust)
December 3rd, 2009
5:33 pm
So, Soriano and Gonzalez are replaced by Wagner and Saito while our Braves managed to save themselves a few million. Not bad, not bad at all.
But who is gonna replace LaRoche? Where is the big bat? How are the Braves going to improve the defense? and when are the Bravos going to find a REAL lead off hitter to replace what they lost four years ago in Furcal???????
These questions need answers……..not excuses, if the Braves are going to compete again.
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
They outrighted Barbaro Canizares.
erik
December 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
450 at bats 38 doubles that’s a hitter in my book.
jeffrey d
December 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
Is nobody else worried about the age of our two new relievers? They’re almost 80 between the two of them.
Remember in 2008 when we thought we were set with Glavine and Smoltz coming back to shore up the rotation?