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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,843 comments Add your comment
brian
December 7th, 2009
11:39 pm
WOW – you are kidding me
jeffrey d
December 7th, 2009
11:39 pm
How was Francoeur a fluke? He had 3 good years with the Braves, struggled for a year and a half, got run out of town, then resurged with the Mets.
That’s 3.5 good years, 1.5 sucky years. Fans only remember him for the horrible streak he went through at the end of his Atlanta career. But dude had a lot of potential and I think that trade will haunt us. In more ways than the fact that we traded a righty for ANOTHER lefty.
C's
December 7th, 2009
11:39 pm
Jerry Crasnick says that Soriano is accepting arby.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
DOB
Is the feeling around the Braves that if Soriano does accept they will look to move him this offseason?
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
Soriano, you’re a tard. Take the money and run.
convict
December 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
ESPN reporting Soriano has accepted arbitration.
shmoe
December 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
IKYMF!!
JReeves
December 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
per DOB’s twitter account, Soriano leaning towards accepting arb….ugh
Nate from NCState
December 7th, 2009
11:41 pm
I would have done the same thing if I was Wren, I think, but man, what a tough spot. I know they say they can trade him and all that, but now not only does a team have to take on his salary, but also give up players for him. What a shame.
Lost out on some good draft picks too.
TnBrian
December 7th, 2009
11:41 pm
Well, I hope Wren’s comments from earlier if Rafy accepts won’t be a distraction for them. DOB, thanks for the not so good news, I guess.
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:41 pm
hell we could get luke scott for soriano
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:41 pm
P’cola Brave,
Frank Wren has flat out stated that if they are forced to arbitrate him, that they WILL deal him somewhere. The Braves have NO desire for him to be on the team now.
Gary O
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
Maybe Liberty will raise payroll to accomodate Soriano’s unplanned salary (if he takes arbitration and the braves are unable to trade him).
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
I say move Soriano to Baltimore for Scott.
stamper
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
P’cola,
honestly, i dont believe one player will be our savior, nor do I think 2 players will be… not of those i mentioned, at least. none of them are really the answer. the braves need a game changer, and we’re unlikely going to find one this winter.
I like our rotation, i like our bullpen – on paper (we’ll have to see how our ending trio hold up over the course of the season). but i don’t like our lineup, and i don’t like our outfield… at least how it’s constructed right now. I don’t believe an outfield that includes any of the players i referenced above will do it. nor do i think a Type B free agent (including LaRoche) at first is enough either. We’d be a B- in the field, and a B- at the plate. if the braves are serious about contending, we need someone more offensively impacting than anyone we’ve been associated with thus far… that was what i was implying in my earlier post.
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
I know Wren thinks he’ll trade Soriano if he has to, but MAN what a freaking pain the ass. Soriano, we dont want you. Go away.
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
Soriano will have to approve any trade till June 15th.
Gary O
December 7th, 2009
11:43 pm
Maybe Liberty will raise payroll to accomodate Soriano’s unplanned salary (if he takes arbitration and the braves are unable to trade him).
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
P’cola
You are right about the left handed bats. Should we deal Heyward for Mike Stanton? Maybe McLouth and Adam Milligan?
Or, we can deal our immature SS for Matt Kemp! (BC was talking about Yunel on XM earlier today, stating that he wants recognition from his peers, but his actions on the field are keeping him from getting said recognition. Lauded his play on the field as being outstanding.)
Bobby's Cox
December 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
If he accepts it’s because he’s scared of all the other pitchers that are available like I posted last night.
Rosenthal or Gammons or someone also tweeted today that the Dodgers were going to trade Sherrill too. So on top of Hoffman, Gonzalez, Soriano, Rodney, Hawkins, Valverde, Kevin Gregg, and Lindstrom, there is also Sherrill.
Too many options, lower salary. Sucks.
Mike
December 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
According to Jerry Crasnick from ESPN, “As the deadline approaches, it appears that Rafael Soriano will accept salary arbitration and return to pitch for Atlanta in 2010. Soriano apparently felt more comfortable with a sure thing from Atlanta — one year and $6.5 to $8 million — than going out on the market ”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove09/news/story?id=4717538
wilymo
December 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
Raffy’s accepted arbitration…
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:45 pm
maybe we can get the yankees to take both lowe and sori
Bob
December 7th, 2009
11:45 pm
But, but….Soriano won’t take arbitration! Many here said so!
Bobby's Cox
December 7th, 2009
11:47 pm
What would really suck is if Gonzalez accepts arb too.
MIBravesFan
December 7th, 2009
11:47 pm
Well now they have two pitchers to trade that other teams will need.
nolie
December 7th, 2009
11:47 pm
Medlen is an incredibly valuable commodity. More valuable than Jurrjens for me, given his extra year of service PW
he’s valuable to the Braves but he’s too unproven to be more than a sweetener to other teams
Goldenglove002
December 7th, 2009
11:48 pm
I want to hear from Soriano why he chose this route. Seems quite interesting to me.
rupert
December 7th, 2009
11:48 pm
soriano=jackass
TnBrian
December 7th, 2009
11:48 pm
I realize this is just a wrinkle in Wren’s planes compared to this time a year ago, but damn, bad luck seems to follow this man. Fortunately, he seems to make his own good luck in the end.
bbspell22
December 7th, 2009
11:48 pm
Rosenthal is saying Soriano has accepted.
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:48 pm
Goldenglove002,
i guess he doesnt like money? only reason i can see.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:49 pm
Maybe we can trade Soriano to the Angels for Rivera. They need some relief help with Fuentes being unconsistent. I don’t know if Soriano is enough but worth a shot. To me Rivera is the biggest impact bat available that we can afford.
wilymo
December 7th, 2009
11:49 pm
Basically came down to the following factors:
1) The most interested teams with the cash were interested in him as a setup guy and the numbers being thrown out there still wouldn’t have matched the amount he’ll be able to make in arbitration (Yanks, Mets, Sox, etc.). Getting save opps over Wagner will be easier than say Papelbon or Rivera.
2) Type A status really hurt his market
3) Many of the teams with closer questions either don’t want to spend big $$ on a closer or really didn’t want to give up a draft pick
4) Every team basically views this year’s reliever class as 1a, 1b, 1c and will wait it out and see who comes the cheapest
5) It will make an arbitration offer next year less likely since he’ll be coming off an even higher salary
6) He’ll still have some control over where he can go since he’ll basically have a no-trade clause until June 15th.
7) Even if Atlanta releases him in Spring Training, he’ll get up to 45 days termination pay (approx $1.5-2 mil) and be free to sign without draft pick compensation.
Justin
December 7th, 2009
11:49 pm
Wayne there is also alot of proof that a 20 yr old 1st baseman and 21 year old rf works I mean look around its happens almost everyday. (Justin Upton last year) and Miguel Cabrera say 5 or 6 years ago. Yeah we hit the jackpot by having 2 players capable of doing so, I dont think so but stranger things have happened (Soriano accepting arb lol)
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:50 pm
theres 8mill that could have been derosa’s
chop33
December 7th, 2009
11:50 pm
SI_JonHeyman soriano accepts arbitration. Stays a brave. Team will be slightly surprised. After making $6,3 mil in ‘09, might top $7 mil.
F U soriano… F U.
Mekons
December 7th, 2009
11:50 pm
Wayne
Seriously, I love Schafer. But no, hiding a major injury is not cool. He couldn’t hit a pitch inside at all. He was hurting our team and lying. If he had put on a cast in April, he would have been back in July. It was a stupid decision. And he has already made a couple of those.
I think he can take the CF job, but the Braves have to be sure he will stop lying. Good lord, he would swing at beanballs.
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:51 pm
seriously though what if Gonzo did accept ..what in the world would happen?
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:51 pm
Bobby’s C
With Frank Wren’s track record, if Gonzo accepted, I would still not be concerned. Not to worry folks. FW will do what is necessary.
Worst case scenario: Braves deal one or both of them (if they did both accept) for lower level prospects. We might lose a bit between the draft choice and what we could get in a quick trade, but not too much.
HEY, if they both accept arbitration, maybe my idea of giving FF a full shot to start would be more acceptable???
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:52 pm
Andrew in PA,
this blog would crash in armageddon mode.
Daybed Wagmoe
December 7th, 2009
11:52 pm
Now that Soriano’s accepted arbitration, I don’t see why he would reject a trade if it gives him the opportunity to close with a team that’s willing to pay his ~$7-8 million salary. It would seem to give him the ideal situation — a higher one-year salary than he would’ve commanded on the open market (or that’s what it sounds like), the chance to close full-time for a team, and the chance to hit the free agent market in one year and command a fat deal.
I don’t really see what he would gain by rejecting any trade that would give him a chance to close full-time…unless he just wants to collect a fat paycheck while doing the minimal amount of work.
stamper
December 7th, 2009
11:52 pm
I don’t believe that Soriano’s douchebaggery is going to affect how Wren goes forward.
wilymo
December 7th, 2009
11:52 pm
Its definitely a calculated risk and could go either way in terms of how it works out for him but in the end I think his agents got the feeling from every team out there that teams just aren’t going to be throwing around big money for relief pitchers this year.
Wide Right
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
Soriano accepts…I’m of the thinking this more problematic than Wren is letting on
jeffrey d
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
theres 8mill that could have been derosa’s
Really? I mean, I know this is a cruddy situation, but DeRosa?
smittybat
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
The Soriano situation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It means if we have to trade him we can get somebody we want in return if there’s enough interest in him. I don’t see the Braves having any problems moving him and I think they’re going to play it out as if he’s going to be moved and go on with their existing plans.
sidslidkid
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
You guys ever heard of the saying “You can’t have too much pitching”…… it’s B.S.
chip off the ol block
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
looks like its official, Raffy is still a Brave… for now that is
ChurchMan
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
So the Yankee/Red Sox-esque teams want to spend huge dollars, give multiyear contracts … but these same big market team can’t get Soriano a 1 year deal??
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:53 pm
I think someone will step up and be interested in Soriano. Draft picks are more valuable these days. I’d want a decent player or prospect for him since this is negating our draft picks.
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
He Soriano agrees to be traded,could we move him as early as tomorrow?
J-MAN
December 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
Look if we can Trade Lowe’s contract we can keep Soriano. And I want players that want to be Braves so we need to be glad Soriano loves Atlanta
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
well, i guess this means the braves gets to trade soriano to improve the offense with lowe…
rupert
December 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
imagine that, soriano hurting the braves in a crucial situation, figures
Goldenglove002
December 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
Who knows, if the Braves luck out this could be still be good for them. I think it’d be hard to question whether or not the Braves have the best pitching staff in baseball now. Deal Lowe and they have 15 million to spend. They could still get Cameron and an okay bat at 1B for that money. This isn’t the end of the world, just might require a slight change of plans.
One other thing though. KJ and Church are as good as nothing now. Any GM willing to give up anything would be making a mistake, as the Braves are pretty much forced to non-tender those two now.
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:55 pm
J-MAN,
if soriano loved atlanta he wouldnt be a d-bag and force us to pay him big bucks for one year of middle relief.
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:55 pm
andrew in pa- i think there is certainly a chance for him to get traded this week, especially while teams talked to soriano’s agent today…
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:55 pm
Utah, no hard feelings
Bob
December 7th, 2009
11:55 pm
Soriano can’t be traded before June 2010 without his consent.
And don’t blame Soriano: blame Wren. He is the one who offered arbitration.
John Adcox
December 7th, 2009
11:56 pm
The good news is … we could sure win a lot of games 1-0. The bad news is … we may have to.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:56 pm
Soriano doesn’t love atlanta as much as he loves making 7mil+ next year.
J-MAN
December 7th, 2009
11:56 pm
Besides It could open something up like Soriano and Lowe for Prince Fielder
Mania
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
How can you blame Soriano? That’s a good chunk of guaranteed money. Yeah, I’m not excited about it but Wren gambled and lost on this one. If we can’t trade him, at least he’ll be there when Wagner’s arm falls off.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
I would imagine that Soriano will be dealt by Christmas
John
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
This is actually probably going to be a blessing. Now MORE teams will be wanting Soriano since he wont cost them a draft pick! Just makes FW work a little bit more lol
sidslidkid
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
“…I want players that want to be Braves so we need to be glad Soriano loves Atlanta” – J-MAN
Soriano doesn’t want to be a Brave because he necessarily loves the team. He wants the most money he can get in 2010… and that’s with Atlanta (at least until we move him).
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
J-MAN,
I’m so certain a team wants to take on THOSE salaries.
ChurchMan
December 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
“And don’t blame Soriano: blame Wren. He is the one who offered arbitration”
Bob … every team in this situation would have offered him arbitration
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:58 pm
He has to consent to any trade before june 15.. If he said no…he would ride the pine till June 15.
JasonInFL
December 7th, 2009
11:58 pm
Of course it hurts and throws a wrinkle in the plans to upgrade the offense…regardless of what FW says, Soriano accepting is unexpected. Now, that doesn’t mean FW won’t come out ok in the end…like he did last year (mostly)
J-MAN
December 7th, 2009
11:58 pm
Hey you dont know that maybe he likes Atlanta and still wants to make 8 mil a year it could be both you know
John Adcox
December 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
I agree, Churchman. Even knowing what we know now, Wren made the right call, and now he’s got depth and options.
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
yeah but now Atlanta doesnt like him.
LOOGY
December 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
…This isn’t a bad thing.
Zack Jones
December 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
I don’t blame soriano. I still like him. Odds are someones gunna get hurt. No one is gunna trade for him. I already know it. So we’ll be lucky if we can get someone atleast like laroche.
rupert
December 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
I worry about his value knowing that he has to accept the trade (which he can be coerced into doing probably), but also that other teams know the braves will have to trade him. If I was Wren I would do some kind of about face and say they might just keep him etc. and wait a some time so that maybe he would have higher value. Right now I don’t see teams sending much in return when they know the gm has to trade the player to make payroll fit.
Deacons10
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
I love having Soriano back. Wren could turn around and package Saito and KK for a bat perhaps??? Come up with a package to send them to LA in exchange for say Matt Kemp?? Dodgers need pitching and their front office is a train wreck.
Gone Viral
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
The bad news is that we’re out a pair of top 50 picks in the draft.
The good news is that we’ll now get a player or two hand picked by the Braves who will be presumably closer to major league contribution. I’ll be very curious to see what KJ + Church + Soriano translates to be in terms of players/prospects.
P'cola Brave
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Soriano is as good as traded. No way he wants to come back and throw the 7th after being the closer. He has his money and won’t cost picks. The market will pick up a little bit depending on Wren’s price for him.
LOOGY
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Quit the Soriano hating. His highest ERA. with us was 3.00. Y’all are acting like Chris Reitsma accepted arbitration or something.
Andrew in PA
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Soriano to the Astros for Carlos Lee
richbrave
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Enter your comments here
Wayne in Utah
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Mekons
I wasn’t the smartest guy in the world when I was in my early 20’s. I choose to cut the kid some slack.
Justin
I could be dead wrong, and FF could stink it up in the spring, but I would just love to see him get a shot.
The_Superhoo
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
thanks alot soriano. you just made the team you stuck with worse. enjoy your money.
P'cola Brave
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
Deacons10
Braves said earlier they aren’t moving KK.
LOOGY
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
At worst we’ll get an impact player for him.
Gary O
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
I just wonder if this will delay Wren’s hunting for a big bat…
chris
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
geez, everybody! soriano WILL be traded. this gives the braves another trade piece! so stop whining that soriano just ate up $ 8 million of the payroll
Bob
December 8th, 2009
12:01 am
Bob … every team in this situation would have offered him arbitration
Then “every team” would have been at fault too.
Don’t offer arbitration if you don’t want the player to come back.
uga-brave
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
so why is soriano to blame?
P'cola Brave
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
Maybe we can package Soriano and KJ in a package for someone this week. Angels, Orioles maybe, Boston, Texas. Who knows
chris
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
soriano can be a piece of the braves getting a bat somewhere.
richbrave
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
The witching hour is upon us and no word from GONZO’s camp. Itn’t that illegal?
Andrew in PA
December 8th, 2009
12:00 am
Soriano to the Astros for Carlos Lee
Is this true ANDREW?
David O'Brien
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
Greenberg texted me confirmation. Yes, they accepted arb offer
The_Superhoo
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
LOOGY,
at worst we get NOTHING for him.
J-MAN
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
Besides I’m not for giving that money to Marlon Byrd anyways? And I know Soriano brings the Heat and you have to admit right now we have the BEST BULLPIN IN THE MAJORS. To go along with One of the best Starting rotations. We need to shed Lowes contract for a some prospects and give Freddie Freeman a shot now, Show some BALLS and put the kids in now!!!!
MamaDawg
December 8th, 2009
12:02 am
Valverde turned down arbitration. Soriano should’ve followed him.
BravesFanChris25
December 8th, 2009
12:03 am
After cooling off, I’m willing to be open minded. I have faith in Wren and if Wren can get some offense plus keep Soriano without the payroll being and issue, then it’s a good thing.
The_Superhoo
December 8th, 2009
12:03 am
every team in MLB KNOWS we don’t want Soriano. wth can we get for him now?