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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,421 comments Add your comment
chin music
December 9th, 2009
3:25 pm
in what way has kenshin kawakami been a bust, dogg father? he was pretty darned reliable after a shaky april. you’re by no means the only person who’s said this. what i don’t understand is, why does this myth persist?
RSM
December 9th, 2009
3:26 pm
Rosenthal is reporting that Carols Guillen of the Tigers is available. Not a big power threat, but decen averages until last year, and I believe he has played some first and corner outfield for the Tigers. He is a switch hitter. Tigers supposedly looking for pitcher to flip in deal with Dodgers for Pierre. May be a fit…what is the consensus?
Ron Roberts
December 9th, 2009
3:26 pm
DOB, don’t they usually have these meetings in locations with more tropical climates and such? I mean, I KNOW they’re “winter” meetings, but A. it’s not winter and B. who said “winter” meetings have to have “wintry” weather to make it feel like a true “winter” meeting? Gotta think those past gatherings in places like Arizona are looking PRETTY PRETTY good right now, eh?
Efrim
December 9th, 2009
3:26 pm
Say the Braves trade Soriano to the Rays. What kind of prospect should they expect in return. This guy is a top flight reliever, and they are only wedded to him for one year (though they could resign him). I think we should get a good piece back for him, but that is just my opinion.
You’d think so. But I bet they don’t give up much for him. It’d be great to get LHP Matt Moore for him. Or RHP Nick Barnese. Or 3B Matt Sweeney.
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 9th, 2009
3:26 pm
I can’t believe it…
Noah
December 9th, 2009
3:26 pm
Kawakami has not been a total bust and I look forward to him being even better next year, man what a great 5th starter, this team is loaded with starting pitching.
O.J.
December 9th, 2009
3:27 pm
Damn, looks like we are going to have to give Soriano up for absolutely nothing, probably a PTBNL
bravito199
December 9th, 2009
3:27 pm
I think could very well be Pat Burrell plus a good prospect Reid Bignac?? for Soriano because the Rays dont have too much money so they would off set Burrell’s cost by sending us a good prospect
RM
December 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
KK is in no way a bust. He had a 3.86 ERA last year and beat some top names in head to head duels. Sure, his walk to K rate is a bit high but it’s the Braves offense’s fault he had so many losses. They just didn’t seem to show up for a couple of our pitchers.
O.J.
December 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
Damn you Soriano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost us draft picks, and now we probably get nothing in return, not anything of significance.
Might as well just keep and wait for Lackey to sign, then push Lowe really hard.
FEAR
December 9th, 2009
3:28 pm
KK a bust? that’s hilarious. try again
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 9th, 2009
3:29 pm
Has anyone every thought that it could be Soriano and some of our prospects for possibly a bigger deal with Tampa…
Maybe a three team blockbuster…of our own.
Patrick
December 9th, 2009
3:30 pm
I’d rather keep him then give him up for nothing, get rid of Lowe and get a cheap hitter. If it’s a 6 inning game, even Kawakami could reach double digit wins next year…
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
the logic being Mclouth has more speed given he hasn’t lost it to age unlike Cameron who just had 7 steals, and his speed makes him the guy with more range. But the real reason is Cameron is open to changing positions, and the Braves need a RF.
Once again, Cameron is one of the best CF in all of baseball. He is a BETTER defender than McLouth. Range has as much to do with routes to the ball and the jump at contact as it does with speed. And I think Cameron is probably really close to McLouth as far as speed goes. Stolen bases have absolutely nothing to do with speed in the field. And I haven’t heard anywhere that McLouth is opposed to moving to LF.
We do need a RF if you don’t want Diaz out there. But chances are, if Diaz doesn’t start in RF, Heyward will be out there. Cameron or McLouth would be playing LF if Heyward is ready.
ncscoots
December 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
Hey, if we can’t get Ryan Freel, then Nomar would be the next best alternative for my money!
Gotta get the name right, it’s “Nohhhh-mahhhhh!”. He’s worth a roster spot just for at-bat antics and twitches.
BASteve, you’re right, we’ll pull Leyland down to one of the cigar bars down here, LOL. Fine libations in those establishments, too, in case you’re wondering! Cohibas, cocktails, and conversation with we three might be an interesting evening, eh?
Joe
December 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
Carl Crawford will be a Brave!!!
brian
December 9th, 2009
3:32 pm
we will not get LHP Matt Moore for Soriano – he was one of the top arms in the SAL this year
Chris
December 9th, 2009
3:33 pm
Hey Dave, welcome to Indy!!! Make sure you try out St. Elmo’s Steakhouse and/or Bazbeaus’ Pizza. Also check out Nicky Blaine’s Cigar Shop (I think you’ve stated you like cigars) and Kilroy’s Bar. I hope you have a good time here and that the Winter Meetings come back soon!!!
MaineBrave
December 9th, 2009
3:33 pm
Joe i thought you were serious for a second, smh.
brian
December 9th, 2009
3:34 pm
if Soriano was packaged with prospects/players to get Upton or Crawford we should all start saluting Wren now.
Not going to happen
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
Cameron is HANDS DOWN better in CF than Nate.
brian
December 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
bravito – that is the one way the Braves get a good prospect – if we eat Burrell’s contract. Hopefully Burrell could play 1B because I don’t know if I could watch him play 1B. His speed reminds me of Sid Bream or Bruce Benedict
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
I’m trying to regroup, after spending 15 minutes in the middle of the mind-numbing scrum/circus surrounding Scott Boras, who just walked up to the second floor by the media workroom and drew the largest crowd that any single individual has drawn since we arrived.
rammerjammer
December 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
We expected a draft pick for Soriano, nothing more. So don’t get your hopes for a “deal.” It’s going to be a prospect, that’s it.
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:38 pm
Don’t the Cubbies need a closer?
RM
December 9th, 2009
3:38 pm
Carl Crawford would be wasted on the Braves. He makes 10 million dollars next year and it’s his last year. We’d get a one year rental. Also, the guy is way too good at stealing bases to come to the Braves where he might be allowed 20 tries a season.
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
Just FYI: Found out that Soriano’s agent, Peter Greenberg, is a really good friend of Astros GM Ed Wade. But also heard Astros are leaning toward cheaper Lindstrom.
Braves 4 Life
December 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that the Braves want a solid return for Soriano and want the other team picking up the tab. Not sure they have the leverage for that.
Stick to your guns Wren…
MaineBrave
December 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
Crawford a waste?
Let's Put Our Heads Together, and Start a New Rumor up
December 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
The Rays are in play, let the Carl Crawford rumors begin!!!
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
DOB: Sounds like a pretty strategic walk by the media room by Mr. Boras.
Marmmol is the Cubs closer…Lou Pinella stated that in an interview yesterday with Cox
MaineBrave
December 9th, 2009
3:40 pm
ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that the Braves want a solid return for Soriano and want the other team picking up the tab. Not sure they have the leverage for that.
Random
December 9th, 2009
3:40 pm
Tiger Woods (December 9th, 2009 12:51 pm): “LaRcohe wanted a longer contract than 1 year. He wants 3ish. One reason why we didn’t.”
That is not a reason that the Braves did not offer LaRoche arbitration.
(It might have been a reason for him to decline arbitration had it been offered.)
NCmike
December 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
Takashi Saito breaks his silence…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjF93E4LjlA
MaineBrave
December 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
Nice let them work out a Mutual agreement
Fischerking04
December 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
Screw Crawford…Zobrist Zobrist Zobrist!!!
Soriano, KJ and Schafer for the Z-Man!
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
NCmike…I just burst out laughning at work…
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2009
3:42 pm
Chris, I doubt I’ll be able to do all or much of that between now and tomorrow when I head to the airport. Particularly since there’s about 50-60 mph wind outside and windchill about 900-below zero.
RM
December 9th, 2009
3:43 pm
I’m just saying, you can’t really act like speed is a factor when judging potential Braves acquisitions. Our team seems to be inept when it comes to using and exploiting speed. Maybe it’s Cox, but you wouldn’t think so since we had some speedsters in the 90s.
MZ
December 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
Affleck, you was the bomb in Phantoms, yo!!
Noah
December 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
Speed fell out of favor throughout baseball in recent years and i think is coming back a little. Its not just the Braves.
FEAR
December 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
‘Stros make more sense since the Brewers got Hawkins
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:45 pm
There’s a reason that it seems every trade proposal on this board contains us shipping Jordan S. and KJ.
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2009
3:45 pm
I guess eventually, people will believe that the Braves are unlikely to get a top prospect or any kind if impact major leaguer back for Soriano, while also expecting the other team to pay his high arb salary or work out a multi-year contract with him. Like I said, teams wouldn’t give up a draft pick to sign him as a free agent, so why would they give up what they hope a draft pick would eventually become — a top prospect or impact major leaguer — to get Soriano a couple days later?
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
I agree with rammerjammer, I don’t see how you go from just expecting to get draft picks for a guy to getting back a productive MLB player for him. If your throwing prospects in with Soriano, you could do better, but that’s a completely different scenario than just finding someone to take Soriano. Soriano alone is only getting you a prospect or two, and won’t be highly touted ones either.
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
Fans down here in SoFla can’t stop laughing that another major league team covets Matt Lindstrom.
ugaaccountant
December 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
Crawford or Upton for Soriano + a little something from us = Gold
Zobrist = not going to go crazy for him yet, not enough track record to proclaim him > Crawford/Upton. Why is everyone thinking he’s available anyway? Crawford is available for financial reasons. Upton is wishful thinking that he’s available since he had a down year.
Any prospect for Soriano = Still a good idea
Burrell = We want a player that swings a good bat, not one who names himself Pat the Bat.
LOOGY
December 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
That’s why u package Soriano…
Thrillhouse44
December 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
Has Barry Bonds made the rounds at this year’s meetings?
Noah
December 9th, 2009
3:47 pm
7-8 million doesn’t seem unrealistically high for Soriano considering what others are getting unless you think he won’t match last year or will be injured.
bravito199
December 9th, 2009
3:48 pm
Mark Bowman on Mlb.com
dmack2027
December 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
I really hope the Braves do not settle for the return on Soriano. He is valuable, even with his contract, and should not be given away.
If the Braves truly can move forward with their offseason plans without trading him in the next days, I hope they do so, and let the market for closers develop a little bit.
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
I hope the 2010 firstbaseman for the Braves is not of the Wally Joyner/Rico Brogna ilk.
ugaaccountant
December 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
Lindstrom is awesome! He has double the ERA of Soriano! So he’s twice as good for a quarter of the money!
Wait, highest ERA wins right? Nevermind.
rammerjammer
December 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
RM,
Glad your visit to the Bureau of Misinformation wasn’t a total waste.
Fischerking04
December 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
Who knows. I’m just glad that the meetings seem to be gaining speed.
AdirondackDave
December 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
Only reason that I can think of to sign Sheets to a minor league contract is that he’s lights-out when he’s healthy, which I grant you is almost never… so far. Heck yes, I’d sign him. Since when can you have too much pitching??
TennesseePaul
December 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
DOB: Olney also tweets the following: Saw John Schuerholz in lobby talking with Gregg Clifton, agent for Glavine. Could be discussion about role for Glavine with ATL front office
Heard anything to that extent concerning Glavine?
Second: Was it truly a fact that no team want to “give up a draft pick to sign Soriano” or was it that Soriano didn’t like the terms of the potential offers from teams willing to give up the draft pick? Because the initial phrasing sounds as if teams would have simply left Soriano standing at the FA table unsigned until after the June 10th draft. I can’t imagine it going down that way. I’d think some team would have signed him prior to Spring Training. Perhaps Soriano just didn’t want to wait that long?
Efrim
December 9th, 2009
3:52 pm
DOB, I do think the Braves can’t just trade Soriano for an organizational prospect or filler. They should at least get a prospect of some value.
People screaming for Crawford or a team’s top prospect are insane.
Baba O'Riley
December 9th, 2009
3:52 pm
If we can’t get anything return for excess pitching…you have too much pitching.
Fischerking04
December 9th, 2009
3:53 pm
If Wren is serious about getting another OF and 1B through FA we can expect marginal returns. They all seem to be flawed other than Bay, Holliday and they are much too expensive.
Chief Nock A Homa
December 9th, 2009
3:53 pm
Can someone tell me why we are not pursuing Jason Bay???
Wren himself has made it clear that we are not getting the big bat from a trade – that only leaves two options – within the organization or from free agency…. Obviously he’s looking at the free agents…
Again, why are we not busting it for Jason Bay???
NCmike
December 9th, 2009
3:53 pm
I know it’s not ideal, but would Burrell be that bad? His defense can’t be any worse that Anderson’s (could it????). Ok, nevermind. I just had a visual of Burrell manning LF.
David O'Brien
December 9th, 2009
3:54 pm
Wren’s meeting with a few of us at 4 p.m. in his suite, as he has each day. Just an update — he hasn’t been getting into many specifics, as you know, this offseason.
jjschiller
December 9th, 2009
3:55 pm
DOB: I understand that we can’t afford NOT to trade Soriano… But is there any reason he’s the top priority? You got Wren to tell you there’s no specific accounting-related date we have to move him by… Why not see what return you get for him in Spring Training when someone loses a late-inning reliever to injury. It’s not like THAT never happens…
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 9th, 2009
3:56 pm
I don’t care what anyone says I’m on Wren’s bangwagon no matter what information he discloses.
A full bromance a brewin.
MaineBrave
December 9th, 2009
3:57 pm
Hope for some great news at the 4 o’clock meeting
RM
December 9th, 2009
3:59 pm
This is really going to stink if we let Soriano go for chump change and end up unable to find a bat anyway.
It really is a shame that we should be talking about if/how we should move somebody like KJ or a pitcher but we get stuck with the Soriano drama because he accepted arb.
Barnstable Mass
December 9th, 2009
4:00 pm
DOB,
What are you working with at the meetings? Iphone, Laptop, combo?
bob dylan
December 9th, 2009
4:00 pm
probably not many specifics because telling DOB is like telling a 15 year old girl who farted in second period. kinda like the time you thought the braves signed KEN GRIFFEY JR. really fudged that up huh?
Noah
December 9th, 2009
4:00 pm
DOB: What exactly is the Braves budget for next year and how much do they have left. Can we assume if we offload Lowe they would have $15 million they could spend or would it still be less?
Wayne in Utah
December 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
Would Brignac be asking too much for Soriano? Then we could deal that pre-madonna Escobar to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp!
NC Braves Fan
December 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
TennesseePaul: two things – one, it’s not the draft pick alone, but the draft pick + the $$ needed to sign Soriano to a multi-year deal most likely that scared a lot of teams off.
And you are right, some team would have eventually stepped up if Soriano would have declined arb – trouble is, it probably would have been for less $$ than Soriano would have been happy with.
It all goes back to the arb decision – if Soriano felt comfortable that he would have gotten a multi-year deal with the same annual $$ he was going to get in arbitration, he would have declined the Braves arb offer.
Fischerking04
December 9th, 2009
4:02 pm
K-Ros is saying that the Rox will most likely non-tender Atkins making him a FA. Any chance he would move over to 1st?
Jeff Blowzer
December 9th, 2009
4:03 pm
Frank Wren is not stupid enough to go after a .240 strikeout artist like Mike Cameron.
rammerjammer
December 9th, 2009
4:03 pm
DOB, is this 4p summit a Frank idea or a carryover from the JS regime? I think it’s pretty smart, myself, to keep the local guys in the loop.
AustinBrave
December 9th, 2009
4:04 pm
RM- Remember we offered arbitration to him. So its really our fault. I would not give him away either, he’s one of the best. If nobody wants him we will have the best pitching from top to bottom in the majors. Pitching wins titles…….
Wayne in Utah
December 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
Noah
Dave has stated on numerous occasions that they have not specified exactly what the payroll will be. I think it is probably somewhat fluid at this point. Before Soriano accepted arbitration, the prevailing thought was that if we could unload Lowe and not sign KJ or Church, we would have 15-20 million potentially to spend. Maybe some less.
Efrim
December 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
Would Brignac be asking too much for Soriano?
I’d say that’s a bit too much, Wayne. I’d be pretty happy with their third base prospect Matt Sweeney. He was included in that deal that sent Kazmir to the Angels. I doubt they would do it though. All the leverage is with the opposing team.
Noah
December 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
I don’t think the 4pm thing is only a braves thing, I think most teams are doing it.
Tiger Woods
December 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
Ben Sheets’ agent Casey Close met with the Rangers yesterday, and according to ESPN’s Richard Durrett, the pitcher “is apparently looking for money similar to what he made his last season in the majors — 2008, which was $12 million.”
For that one guy wanting Sheets for like 2 million. lol
Hillbilly
December 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
I guess eventually, people will believe that the Braves are unlikely to get a top prospect or any kind if impact major leaguer back for Soriano, while also expecting the other team to pay his high arb salary or work out a multi-year contract with him. Like I said, teams wouldn’t give up a draft pick to sign him as a free agent, so why would they give up what they hope a draft pick would eventually become — a top prospect or impact major leaguer — to get Soriano a couple days later?
DOB,
There are few things in this world that are guaranteed.
1)The sun will rise in the East.
2)Men will never understand women.
3)When a player’s name is mentioned as “available,” on MLBTraderumors.com there will be a line-up proposal including his name posted on the MIB blog within 3 minutes followed by the phrase “Make it happen!” This will occour no matter how sucky the player may be.
4)When a team is mentioned on MLBTraderumors as a possible desitnation for a Braves player, a trade proposal featuring said player and a quantity of unwanted cast-offs will be made on the MIB Blog for one of that mentioned team’s top 5 players, without regard to reason or logic.
These are guaranteed, DOB. It’s not debatable.
Wayne in Utah
December 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Pugh
Yeah, it was intentional. It’s a crime shame that we don’t have any more foe paws to use in our posting!
Justafan
December 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Yahoo said Cubs were after Cameron if they could move some one. Cubs player not named.
Nate from NCState
December 9th, 2009
4:06 pm
Hey why the hate they bob dylan? Sounds like someone’s bitter because his they don’t play his music on the radio anymore.. yikes!
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 9th, 2009
4:07 pm
Again, why are we not busting it for Jason Bay???
That’s an easy one to answer. He would command over 15% of the payroll all by himself. That’s also why they want to move Lowe so bad, to free up around 15% of the payroll.
LOOGY
December 9th, 2009
4:08 pm
Braves trade Rafael Soriano to the 1960’s for Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
FEAR
December 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
HAHAHA!!! Sheets for 12 mil? If someone signs that. We can trade lowe and eat none of his salary!
Justafan
December 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
Jason is a great Bat but no arm and no defence. Hell of alot of money…I pass.
Ron Roberts
December 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
I say ’screw trading Soriano’ for just a freaking prospect. Take him into the season and use him only when you need to, and come the trade deadline, there’ll be a team out there in more dire straits than now and might/would come off something more valuable. Then we “only” play $3.5 million or so for Soriano screwing us over. If it doesn’t happen, we’re stuck eating his giant arb salary, but he’ll hit the open market next year lacking much, statistically to get much coin with. Serves ‘em right.
Wayne in Utah
December 9th, 2009
4:10 pm
Efrim
Really, the only way that the advantage comes back to the Braves, is if they hold onto him until spring training and then wait for some big closer to go down to an injury.
I suspect FW is getting pressure to just get rid of him. And if that’s the case, we can expect little more than a mid level prospect or fringe major leaguer.
But you know me, I am always looking for an excuse to unload that pre-madonna SS of ours!
Marc in FL
December 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
Soriano and mid prospect for C. Pena, sounds good, do it
trob
December 9th, 2009
4:11 pm
braves better be getting ready for this season. its cox’s last time around and they need to work hard in the offseason to compete tnext year. We need a strong bat to win a world series. go bravos
Macon Braves (RIP)
December 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
Frank Wren is not stupid enough to go after a .240 strikeout artist like Mike Cameron.
He is smart enough though to go after a 20+ HR guy that plays stud defense and would fill a need in the OF.
Random
December 9th, 2009
4:12 pm
How do you see the narrative, Chopper?
How do you see the narrative, Chopper?
Noah
December 9th, 2009
4:13 pm
Soriano’s Arbitration salary won’t be giant. He made over $6million last year, its not like he was at the min last year.
Mike S
December 9th, 2009
4:13 pm
FischerKing, Atkins played a lot of first base last year and is probably better suited for that position defensively. I think he’d be a perfect fit, if he’s non-tendered, in that he can play 3rd as well when Hoss needs to sit, should be cheap, and will be looking for a change of scenery and good situation to bounce back from a poor year last year.
P-Town Brave
December 9th, 2009
4:13 pm
DOB-
Just make sure you and Shanks don’t get into an impromptu fight in front of Frank like Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell did (rival news teams) in Anchorman
RM
December 9th, 2009
4:13 pm
Crazy question here: If we absolutely can’t move Soriano, would it be possible to give him a mult-year deal in exchange for less money per year than he might get in arbitration? Of course, we’d still have to work out the closer situation and who does what but it might buy some wiggle room money-wise in a pinch.
Richard Hamilton
December 9th, 2009
4:14 pm
I’m of the mind that you keep trying to trade Lowe and you eat Soriano’s salary if you can’t even get a half way decent prospect. If your just going to give him away, one of the big market teams would gladly take him off your hands when the season rolls around.
There is no way the Angels would balk at trading a bucket of balls and bats plus some disney land tickets to take Soriano off our hands.