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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
2,843 comments Add your comment
N8
December 7th, 2009
10:28 pm
Here’s another “flip-side” to the silliness of the draft and compensation. The Cubs finished 83-78, and are the last “protected” pick in the first round next year at #16. The Braves finished 86-76, and have an unprotected pick at #20 that is currently going to the Red Sox for Wagner, unless Wren signs a higher ranked free agent than Wagner. More than likely, unlikely.
But as we know the Braves didn’t make the playoffs last year. But had the finished with 3 less wins, they not only would have been picking at #16, but wouldn’t be giving up that pick for Wagner.
Talk about a fine line.
Braveworld
December 7th, 2009
10:28 pm
Tyger, if he don’t pitch nobody would want him next year and if they do for not much $$$
unbelievable
December 7th, 2009
10:28 pm
Soriano accepts arbitration, its a no-brainer!
1. Get more money on a 1 yr. deal.
2. Dont play me, I extend my career by a year.
3. Trade me after June, I only stay there 3months
a. Im always injured and may get a big reduction next year
b. Im a middle reliever FA next offseason not a closer
jeffrey d
December 7th, 2009
10:28 pm
screw soriano and the horse he rode in on.
That would be Horacio Ramirez
Rick
December 7th, 2009
10:30 pm
Think the Padres would take Lowe (with the Braves eating a good portion of the $$), Medlen and KJ for Gonzo?
Is there some contest going on here that I’m not aware of to see who can come up with the stupidest trade suggestion while disguising it as a legit idea and not joke by the poster?
Deacons10
December 7th, 2009
10:31 pm
Rick yes you guessed it. Did you hear that the Padres wanted Norton too?
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:32 pm
Pete – Milton Bradley is never going to happen for the Braves. BOLA for bloggers who agree with you, they also have experienced encounters of the third kind and should be cherished.
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:32 pm
Make that BOLO!
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
10:32 pm
Mariners are spending money they could want Lowe..Lowe for Jose Lopez would be a dream
Justin
December 7th, 2009
10:34 pm
Mr. DOB is awful quiet must be some sort of news coming pretty soon hopefully not only about Sori maybe a hitter as well.
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:35 pm
Pete – your Vasquez for Vernon Wells comment should qualify you for a firing squad!
Daybed Wagmoe
December 7th, 2009
10:36 pm
I wonder if Soriano does accept arbitration and spends the year in Atlanta as the 6th inning guy, I’m not entirely buying the whole idea that his status a year from now will be as strictly a middle reliever. If he does wind up in Atlanta and is a middle reliever (which won’t happen anyway), when he hits free agency next year, his reputation is not going to be that he’s a guy who can do it all in the bullpen — he’s a reliever with experience closing (a la Takashi Saito this offseason, who last registered a save in April 2009), and he can pitch in the middle innings just the same.
ease19
December 7th, 2009
10:36 pm
I guess that I am in the minority here but Soriano accepting arbitration to me is not a bad thing. Either we have have an awesome bullpen next year (minus a bat) or we have an equally attractive trade piece for said bat. Same with Gonzo…Yes we would lose draft picks, but in a relievers market, would it be not be possible to get a greater return for “seasoned” veteran closers?
Gary O
December 7th, 2009
10:36 pm
Looks like Randy Wolf is close to signing with the Brewers according to mlbtr. (If that happens, then we know they are not in the market for Lowe). It will be interesting to see what Wolf’s salary price will be.
For the record, they say the Mets also have strong interest.
Mekons
December 7th, 2009
10:37 pm
The reason they have the no-trade thing on draft picks is so that rich teams can’t bribe a team drafting high with some washed up vet and a ton of cash to pay the draft bonus plus. The Yanks would seriously pay lousy teams many millions to steal their draft pick and monopolize the young talent. Can you imagine how you would feel if the Yanks gave us $20 million and some castoff like Melky for Jason Heyward? Your head would explode. That’s why there are those rules.
The whole idea of the draft is to make lousy teams competitive. Having sad sacks around, like the Phillies and Braves during the 30s, can destroy a franchise. The Kansas City A’s had to move to Oakland to get out of the trap of trading Roger Maris for washed up Don Larsen and Hank Bauer plus cash (there were other players involved, including Marvelous Marv Throneberry). Their fans were just fed up at sending young stars to the rich teams. That was before the draft, of course, but the concept is the same.
TnBrian
December 7th, 2009
10:38 pm
I wonder about a KJ/C.Jackson swap. I don’t know how Arz. values Jackson after last year, but I think I would do that deal if I could. Guy can play 1st, right?
David O'Brien
December 7th, 2009
10:38 pm
Hedley, I wanted Turner Gill or Nolan Cromwell to take the job, so if Nutt doesn’t, won’t be big letdown for me….
Salamander (I think you asked, or someone did), I’m only drinking Starbucks out of convenience, since it’s in the lobby and we’re all working in a hotel with temps in the 20s outside, so wandering around downtown looking for an alternate coffee spot would be kinda impractical…
But not nearly as impractical as dogsbrekky’s silly suggestion. Dude, working here. In a downtown hotel. Not practicing survival techniques in the outback.
unbelievable
December 7th, 2009
10:39 pm
“Mr. DOB is awful quiet must be some sort of news coming pretty soon”
of course news is coming
Braveworld
December 7th, 2009
10:39 pm
DOB may be in rest room after so much coffee…hope not!
Bob
December 7th, 2009
10:40 pm
Soriano accepts arbitration.
h ttp://bravesologist.blogspot.com/2009/12/rafael-soriano-accepts-arbitration.html
northbeach Scott
December 7th, 2009
10:41 pm
Mekons, so protect the teams from themselves, for they no not what they do? Sounds like Obama Ball.
Shawn G
December 7th, 2009
10:41 pm
Per Bill Shanks Twitter:
Cox: clubs knocking on the door for Kelly Johnson
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
10:42 pm
Hot stove mentioned today about Mariners shopping Jose Lopez. If Soriano stays and we trade Lowe for Lopez,we could still sign Cameron/Derosa/Dye,and have a great bullpen.
TnBrian
December 7th, 2009
10:42 pm
Bob, I think we all hope you’re joking.
Justin
December 7th, 2009
10:42 pm
Hey i said maybe something besides Soriano everyone and their mom knows news on Soriano is coming
Braves_Fan_RSD
December 7th, 2009
10:43 pm
Bob that was posted at 6:34 today with no other reporter saying anything I have to believe that one is false
Shawn G
December 7th, 2009
10:43 pm
p.s. Am I late with that? Probably. lol
o-me
December 7th, 2009
10:44 pm
Clubs knocking door for KJ===let him ride!!!!!!!!
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
10:44 pm
Bob
December 7th, 2009
10:40 pm
Soriano accepts arbitration.
h ttp://bravesologist.blogspot.com/2009/12/rafael-soriano-accepts-arbitration.html
#%#%!
i know what Wren said, and I believe he thinks it’ll go that way. but i’d rather things be simple for the Braves for ONCE dangit!
Andy K.
December 7th, 2009
10:44 pm
Bob, that link has been floating around for a while, and it hardly seems factual to me, I mean, it’s a fan blog, how could they know already and not DOB, Bowman, or Shanks, all of whom are at the Meetings.
David O'Brien
December 7th, 2009
10:44 pm
Braves are really pushing for a Lowe trade, will only revert to Vazquez if they exhaust all efforts to deal Lowe.
They’ve got some nibbles on both Kelly Johnson and Ryan Church, but more serious interest in KJ than Church.
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:45 pm
Pete – here I agree with you. Cameron reminds me of Ron Gant (at least in the Phila 1993(?) series. Just fanned, and fanned. Damn, man, I can still feel the breeze. (You are not forgiven for your Milton Bradley view, however!)
Braves_Fan_RSD
December 7th, 2009
10:46 pm
The bravesologist (who I have never heard of and I don’t believe to be credible) link Bob posted is false. Soriano has NOT accepted arbitration as of yet.
Andy K.
December 7th, 2009
10:46 pm
DOB, so the general consensus of the Braves brass is to trade Lowe then try and extend Javy’s contract? Because it would be upsetting to trade D-Lowe then lose out on Vazquez after this year.
David O'Brien
December 7th, 2009
10:47 pm
Shawn G: Thanks for that. We posted it here and on our own Twitter feed right after Cox said it early this afternoon.
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:47 pm
DOB- the Lowe position is one I have advocated. Find a team that needs pitching, and pitch Lowe. Offer salary contribs, if necessary, but get rid of this 45m albatross, yesterday. (Don’t need a sabremetrican for this view, do we?)
Randy S
December 7th, 2009
10:48 pm
Can someone tell me what exactly Milton Bradley did? I mean, this year? I know he has done a lot of terrible things, so I just kind of tune out when there is a story about him. What got him suspended for th rest of the season?
David O'Brien
December 7th, 2009
10:49 pm
Someone asked about the Twitter address. I had it wrong in the blog, had a period between ajc and braves. The correct address is simply @ajcbraves.
Bob
December 7th, 2009
10:50 pm
They’ve got some nibbles on both Kelly Johnson and Ryan Church, but more serious interest in KJ
How can this be? Johnson sucks according to the braintrust of this blog, and yet teams want to give up something for him?
Rob - in pain (from SC)
December 7th, 2009
10:51 pm
DOB
What are you hearing on the Lowe front.
AdirondackDave
December 7th, 2009
10:52 pm
Church is kind of the forgotten guy here. I’m a little surprised and glad to see he’s drawing some interest. If he can get us a solid prospect, sounds good to me.
Justin
December 7th, 2009
10:53 pm
unbelievable
December 7th, 2009
10:39 pm
“Mr. DOB is awful quiet must be some sort of news coming pretty soon”
of course news is coming
I was refering to something similar to the last 3 posts from DOB ya know something besides Soriano. Something that hasnt been talked about for days.
Shawn G
December 7th, 2009
10:53 pm
Anything to help man. Didn’t get time to look through all the pages.
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
10:54 pm
if Church can get us ANY prospect, that’d be a victory
Andy K.
December 7th, 2009
10:54 pm
I did some investigating and the so called “Bravesologist” Blog dude is a 21 year old from Queens, NY, so naturally Soriano’s agent has given him this piece of information first.
o-me
December 7th, 2009
10:54 pm
Cards close to deal with Penny.
Vazquez has said he want to stay with Braves..keep and give 2-3 more years.
Trade Church and Kelly
glord1
December 7th, 2009
10:54 pm
Eric from MO
December 7th, 2009
10:06 pm
glord I think you could package a deal around Freeman, Schafer, and Medlen. Hanson is the best pitching prospect in baseball(if you still consider him a prospect) and Heyward is the best hitting prospect in baseball.
Eric – I doubt Medlin, Schafer and Freeman are enough for Gonzalez. You are talking about three good prospects for an absolute stud that is cheap and under control for a few years. Gonzalez is worth far more than Tex was because of contract control and cost. Imagine what Gonzalez would put up for numbers out of his home ballpark. You can bet GMs all across baseball are having that thought in their heads.
I should have said no deal would happen without one of Hanson, Hayward, Escobar or Jurrjens involved with other prospects good as well.
Josh
December 7th, 2009
10:55 pm
What about Carlos Delgado at first for a year. let him try to prove himself on a one-year contract for next offseason
Randy S
December 7th, 2009
10:55 pm
Okay, I see what Bradley did now (I, how you say, googled it?). Pretty typical for him.
Bravesfan54
December 7th, 2009
10:56 pm
NCScoots – dang, I’ve agreed with you for so many of your posts, but not this one. The Braves are withing striking distance ritht now; and so I reject your 5-year plan which relies upon untested youth. While this doesn’t mean I am not impressed with our organizational talent (indeed I am!), I fell into a Shaffer trap last year, and, you can say “it was his bum wrist”, but I ain’t buying that. This guy owed us more truth than that. He acked like a rookie phenom whose star came down over our Bethlehem, only he didn’t turn out to be our center-fielder saviour at all. I don’t want to give him up, or any of our youth, for a rental. The middle ground does not require this.
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
10:57 pm
Mariners are making headlines..now maybe wanting Granderson
Steve
December 7th, 2009
10:58 pm
So it sounds like Kenshin will definitely be back next season? Isn’t his contract a little more attractive to shop around? Also, I don’t see Lowe having another year of 4.67 ERA, given how solid he was in the previous 4-5…what says you, Dave?
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:02 pm
May be a little late on this but it sounds to me that if Soriano accepts they plan to turn around and deal him as long as he consents.
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:03 pm
one hour to go…. tomorrow, we should see alot more action in the trade front. braves might even get involved in a deal. tuesday and early wednesday is when the winter meetings really pick up, while monday (the first day) and thursday is alot of talk and rumors.
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:05 pm
P’cola- i wouldnt expect it, but if soriano does accept soriano, the braves could trade him for an offensive piece somewhere, and wouldnt be terribly suprise if they traded him before the meetings was over. dont think it will happen, but trading lowe might happen before the week is over. and kelly johnson will be most likely be traded in the next few days.
cor
December 7th, 2009
11:05 pm
DOB,
During the summer, you recommended some of your fav BBQ joints on Memorial Drive or Moreland Ave….Can you please refresh my memory if you get a chance. I am visiting from Athens, GA. Re
freddy freeman
December 7th, 2009
11:06 pm
freddy
freeman
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:06 pm
whoops, i meant if soriano accepts arbtriation
freddy freeman
December 7th, 2009
11:06 pm
freddy
freeman
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:07 pm
My gut tells me he will accept and then be dealt to a team that needs a closer who was afraid to give up picks.
unbelievable
December 7th, 2009
11:09 pm
then they will have to give up a decent prospect
BravesFanChris25
December 7th, 2009
11:10 pm
Brewers on the verge of signing Wolf on 3 year deal.
Not bad pick up for them.
smittybat
December 7th, 2009
11:11 pm
cor, check out Daddy Dz, it’s on Memorial. Also Fox Bros is off of Moreland on Dekalb Ave just south of L5P
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:14 pm
I know a lot of folks on here are going to knock this point, but if I am the Braves, I give Freeman a shot this spring, and if he wins the job, give it to him. He and Heyward both seem to be close, and might provide each other with motivation, etc to get the job done.
I would have a backup, maybe somebody like Xavier Nady who could cover either first or the outfield. Swisher?
Swisher/Nady, McLouth, Heyward, Diaz, Freeman, Schafer and KJ/Church.
I think out of these 7 players, maybe we could find 5-6 to go north with.
(yes, I know, I am going to catch hell for this suggestion……)
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:15 pm
Wayne I like what your saying but I think your maybe a year early. One more year of seasoning would be good for Heyward, Freeman and Schaefer.
FaninFaytown
December 7th, 2009
11:16 pm
when they said it would go down to the last minute… i mean is that really necessary?
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:16 pm
Very decidedly left-handed, huh….
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:16 pm
FaninFaytown,
That’s why everyone in the know expects it to just be a ploy to garner FA offers. No other reason to let it go on so long.
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:19 pm
P’cola
I don’t think so. Sometimes, we baby these guys too much. We are supposed to have batting coaches and veteran players on the big club that can help these guys along.
I think Heyward makes it out of the gate. Freeman might be a bit farther away, but I would give him every chance to make it.
I think Schafer was ready last year before he hurt his hand.
The Marlins and some other clubs do it all the time. What better manager in baseball than Bobby Cox to show these kids how to do it.
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:20 pm
he may be working on deal right up till dead line.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:23 pm
Wayne I agree with Heyward and Schaefer being major league ready. I think Freeman needs another year. I thought Schaefer was ready last year and hoping he makes the team this year.
Zack Jones
December 7th, 2009
11:23 pm
DOB, Bobby Cox retires this year, who you pick to replace him?
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:23 pm
Agree with you UTAH except the last sentence.
shmoe
December 7th, 2009
11:23 pm
I hope FW makes a substantial announcement along with the Soriano/Gonzo news…
Evan
December 7th, 2009
11:24 pm
Betancourt accepted arb, sounds like there’s a good shot Valverde will. Maybe this will encourage Soriano not to, as he will be one of few solid free agents out there. Here’s hopin’.
mav34
December 7th, 2009
11:24 pm
I think Baltimore is team that could have some interest in Derek Lowe. They have a good , but young staff. Maybe they would like a nice veteran to round out their rotation. They’ve been looking to spend money the last couple of years. It seems hard to get free agents to sign there, however. Do we match up with them for a trade? I know Luke Scott has been mentioned here before, but he just doesn’t impress me much, but it might work as a salary relief move. Do they have anyone else we might be interested in ?
stamper
December 7th, 2009
11:24 pm
As mentioned on Bowman’s blog, Wren is looking at 10-12 potential players who fit their needs (right handed). who do you think they might be? Thus far we’ve been mentioned with having alleged interest in the following:
Rivera, Cruz, Conor Jackson, Willingham, Cameron, Byrd, DeRosa, Dye and Uggla
That leaves 1 to 3 other players… and they would be?
Furthermore, do any of those 9 really seem to be the piece that’ll take us to the playoffs??
Mekons
December 7th, 2009
11:26 pm
If you were Soriano, wouldn’t you game the system? He has a chance to get a huge contract from someone terrified of trading actual prospects instead of draft picks. If I were him, this is exactly what I would do. Gonzo has not accepted arb yet either, as far as I can tell. If we have to take them, we can save miles on our starters and wear them out. They know that. This is just posing. They might be willing to take arb, but they want to be traded. The Braves can just yank their starter after five and let these guys pitch the middle innings. That will kill their FA ratings.
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:26 pm
o-me
Don’t tell me you are one of the non-believers??? Bobby is probably one of the best motivational managers of all time.
There are a lot of folks who think he is too old fashioned. Those folks are going to be damned disappointed when his replacement comes along and is not half the manager he is.
I hope we get a great replacement, but I am not holding my breath.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:27 pm
It seems that a lot of people think we are going to sign one guy and he’ll be the savior. It seems to me that we will make two moves making us a playoff contender. One guy from the list of available guys wont do it but two might.
UNCBrave
December 7th, 2009
11:28 pm
Betancoury accepts arb from Rockies
Logan
December 7th, 2009
11:28 pm
Wayne
(yes, I know, I am going to catch hell for this suggestion……)
Let me be the first!
Son….You’ve got cabin fever!!!! Already!!!!!
Justin
December 7th, 2009
11:29 pm
Yeah why not throw Heyward and Freeman into the fire it worked pretty good for us with JoJo Reyes Kyle Davies and Schafer (granted he was hurt) oh yeah and Francouer who proved to be a fluke.
David..(Athens, AL)
December 7th, 2009
11:30 pm
30 minutes …..
Mekons
December 7th, 2009
11:32 pm
Wayne I agree with Heyward and Schaefer being major league ready. I think Freeman needs another year. I thought Schaefer was ready last year and hoping he makes the team this year.
Schafer had a broken wrist and refused to report it. He’s healthy now. Someone has to hit him in the head with a clue-bat. He has to be punished by spending time in the minors, but he’s ML ready, IMO. But I would force him to lose salary by being at AAA. This kid seems to be a slow learner.
However, he is our best CF since Andruw. I’d trade McLouth long before Jordan.
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:32 pm
stamper
Could be some lefties in there. Swisher might be another. Gomes of the Reds? The list is long.
P’cola
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Freeman is a lock. BUT, if he comes to camp and punishes the ball, I see no reason to send him back to Mississippi or up to Gwinnett. Let the dude’s natural talent take him where it will. I have never believed that you ruin a guy by bringing him up early. Yeah, maybe RSF is not ready. Or Adam Milligan is not ready. But Freeman has played 2.5 years in the minors so far.
Let’s let the kids play ball!
Andrew in PA
December 7th, 2009
11:33 pm
Hey atleast the Braves would know what teams are interested in Soriano. They could trade for him and not give up a first round pick and the could have him at a one year deal with the ability to sign im long term if they choose..If would have more value if we trade him to a team
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:34 pm
I can’t blame Schaefer for not speaking up. You finally make the club and get hurt 4 games later. I understand not wanting to go on the DL because you wanna show your tough and can play hurt. Is it always the right decision? No, but I understand his thought process.
brian
December 7th, 2009
11:35 pm
no word yet? they are really dragging their feet
o-me
December 7th, 2009
11:35 pm
Utah, don’t forget this is BC last year. He needs to go out a winner not a babysetter. I was told all my life don’t do that your gone be DAMN disappointed..somethings I lost my butt but I also hit the jack pot a couple of time. You got to make progress are get the hell out of the way (TED Turner) I believe. Bobby is and has been great, lets move on.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:36 pm
What scares me most about our emerging young talent is they are all LH bats. We’ll have Schaefer, Heyward, and Freeman to go along with McCann and McClouth.
Alex Remington
December 7th, 2009
11:36 pm
Justin, it goes without saying, but Jason Heyward is a far, far better prospect than Jo-Jo Reyes, Kyle Davies, Jeff Francoeur, and even Jordan Schafer. He was a better prep player, he was drafted higher, and none of the others even came close to doing what Heyward’s already done in the minors. I don’t think Jason should start the year with the team, but he’s already a better player than those four ever have been.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2009
11:36 pm
Thats a lot of LH bats
chris
December 7th, 2009
11:36 pm
dont worry brian, we’ll know in a half hour or so, and maybe sone other news…
Gary O
December 7th, 2009
11:37 pm
jcrasnick posted at 11:36 pm that it looks like Soriano will accept arbitration.
Nate from NCState
December 7th, 2009
11:37 pm
This may just be my ignorance but Gonzo hasn’t “officially” rejected arbitration yet either… right?
Wayne in Utah
December 7th, 2009
11:37 pm
Justin
There is absolutely no proof that bringing up a player early hurts them.
Mekons
Your going to punish the team (if Schafer is one of our best options to go north with the big club, and you hold him back, you are punishing the team and it’s fans.) just because Schafer did something that a boat load of players before him have done? Would Pete Rose have reported that he was hurt, or would he have played through it.
Let’s cut the kid a little slack.
Logan
thank you!
The_Superhoo
December 7th, 2009
11:38 pm
Nate from NCState,
Boras is his agent. He will.
David O'Brien
December 7th, 2009
11:38 pm
I’m hearing Soriano is going to take arbitration. Not official yet, but that’s what I’m hearing
Bobby's Cox
December 7th, 2009
11:38 pm
It would be funny if Soriano wanted to accept arb but his agent didn’t get the word in in-time because there is no coffee in Indy.