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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5,207 comments Add your comment
AdirondackDave
December 14th, 2009
12:32 pm
That’s good Lackey news on several fronts. If the Red Sox sign him it should definitely open up the market for Lowe. Also, I love it when the Sox do anything to annoy Steinbrenner & Co.
Wayne in Utah
December 14th, 2009
12:33 pm
RHR
So your saying there’s a chance…YEAH!
Wayne in Utah
December 14th, 2009
12:34 pm
At this point, anything for Lowe is a benefit. I am sure FW will get the best possible haul that can be had.
Faith and patience………
DAP
December 14th, 2009
12:35 pm
if cust and gomes played 1B, i would sign them both and have them platoon there. i think that would be a very effective platoon. heck, that might not be a bad idea for a LF platoon.
bravesgrl4life
December 14th, 2009
12:35 pm
McFann – yes, I know which part. The first one I told you about. I’ll be watching in style in 2010.
Wayne in Utah
December 14th, 2009
12:36 pm
Heading out to the coast for some laughs…..catch ya on the flip side!
(my mind is operating in “famous movie line” mode today……)
David O'Brien
December 14th, 2009
12:38 pm
If Wren can dazzle them with charts and graphs and some smooth talk the rewards will be great. But, from discriptions implied Gary MattHGHews Jr looks like the realistic possibility. — TennPaul
I’m not trying to pick apart everything you say this morning, man. Really, I’m not. But I couldn’t leave this one alone. So you think if Wren dazzles them, he can pull off a trade for a hitter (Matthews) who is owed $23 million over the next two seasons and hit under .250 with a TOTAL of 12 homers and 96 RBIs over the past two seasons. That’s 12 homers and 96 RBIs with a sub-.250 average in two seasons combined.
And he’s owed $11 mill in 2010 and $12 mill in 2011.
That’s not adding to your lineup; that’s subtracting from your lineup. I mean, you’re talking about a guy who had .675 and .697 OPS the past two seasons.
(For some comparison, Garret Anderson had .758 and .705 OPS totals, and had 28 homers, 58 doubles and 145 RBIs over the past two seasons. Matthews had 38 doubles, 12 homers and 96 RBIs over the past two seasons, to go with his puny OPS.)
Hillbilly
December 14th, 2009
12:39 pm
Also, I love it when the Sox do anything to annoy Steinbrenner & Co.
AdirondackDave,
Ain’t it fun to watch? If the Red Sox do sign Lackey, then Joba better start learining the words to “O Canada.”
P'cola Brave
December 14th, 2009
12:40 pm
Didn’t Matthews Jr use to be a pretty good player?
Redstick19
December 14th, 2009
12:43 pm
Garrett Anderson last year… people want Juan Rivera this year… okay, so are the Braves filming a sequel to the Angels in the Outfield movie or something? While his numbers look good from last year, Rivera has never been an everyday starter in the outfield. Plus he’s 31 or 32. No thanks, I’d rather get a AAA player that is close to being ready back for Lowe. Just my 2 cents- and I know this blog absolutely has a man crush on Rivera, so let the bashing begin.
MFin04
December 14th, 2009
12:44 pm
So if the Braves trade Lowe and Soriano, and get nothing in return but money to spend, yet there aren’t any free agents to go after, then what good does that money do?
Its not like you can go out and buy guys like Adrian Gonzalez, etc, when they aren’t free agents, and if the Braves aren’t going after Jason Bay or Matt Holiday, it seems like they are running out of ways to acquire major talent.
18 Wheels of Love
December 14th, 2009
12:44 pm
I hear when Matthews got the 30m deal all his agent did was show them his spiderman-espn-web gem catch on a continual DVD’d loop and said…”See that, web gem, espn baby. Booya,”
CB
December 14th, 2009
12:44 pm
TennesseePaul, I discovered a long time ago some days it pays just to read.
McFann O
December 14th, 2009
12:46 pm
bravesgrl4life I’ll be watching in style in 2010.
Sweet again! You’ll never go out of style!
Redstick19
December 14th, 2009
12:46 pm
DOB- I believe TennPaul was disappointed that it would come to GM Jr. instead of something better… but maybe I misunderstood.
Jeff in Dayton
December 14th, 2009
12:46 pm
All of this could have and should have been avoided; simply put, why was Hudson resigned? Lowe wasn’t great; but, neither has Hudson’s Braves career. Maybe someone can explain it to me because I just don’t get it.
YankeeDawg
December 14th, 2009
12:46 pm
Gents, we get payroll freedom w/ the Lowe trade to go buy our two type B FA bats. We don’t need a bat back. Removing him from the books and only books, b/c I thought he played admirably for us and was a stand up guy, allows us to re-balance our own player inventory.
We won’t get Nady, we rarely get any Boras clients that are FA’s. Consider that an operational requirment for our payroll. I’m jinxing the season by saying this, but we’ve got plenty of pitching.
TnBrian
December 14th, 2009
12:47 pm
FisherKing04, well, judging from my comment the other day about a Lowe plus Schafer for Rivera that was shot down by a few here I’ve come to think we get the same value for Lowe as we got for Soriano. Unless they threw in like half or more of Lowe’s remaining contrac,t than maybe, but I doubt they want to do that. Might as well keep the guy if they have to do that, right?
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
12:49 pm
DOB, man you got me rolling on the floor here laughing. Of course it was a joke. I even spelled his named with the HGH. Maybe this will help
, 
And P’cola Brave: Yes, when he was on the juice and playing in Texas. That’s how he got his atrocious contract to begin with. There was the double deal that winter in LA. One team over payed for MattHGHews Jr, the other for Pierre. And they both still seek to be free from them. The Dodgers signed many an outfielder to cover for the Pierre mistake.
Lew
December 14th, 2009
12:49 pm
Random-I may respond to THAT when I quit laughing my not quite as fat ass off.
TenPaul-Marte may well have been the most valuable of ALL of our prospects. He brought us two All Star years from Edgar Renteria (with Boston paying a major chunk of his salary) which lead to us acquiring Jurrjens and Hernandez, who in turn brought us McLouth. Hype will get you rewards, too.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
12:51 pm
But I do enjoy… the free exchange of ideas and theories… Aahhhhhh it makes for a good day. And all before 1pm!
TnBrian
December 14th, 2009
12:51 pm
MFin04, I hear you… to a point. To me, a guy like Nady & Cameron would be big upgrades to go with maybe a better Prado, Escobar, Chipper & maybe McCann for 2010 than what they dealt with early this year with Frenchy,Schafer,KJ, etc. Heyward could be a big help too. Besides, that Cameron guy who we all seem to like might be wanting $9-10m a year. He’ll get it too.
rammerjammer
December 14th, 2009
12:53 pm
Trade Vazquez for a one-year bat. You’re not going to re-sign him after this season anyway.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
12:53 pm
Marte may well have been the most valuable of ALL of our prospects
Well put Lew. I agree. But one walks a fine line between sustaining the hype of an over-hyped player and playing said player. You have to have good people around that can watch the guy in 60 at bats in the majors and say: “sell! sell! sell!” as his value was as high as it would ever be.
We traded Hernandez recently… was he included for Vazquez?? That deal just keeps on giving. Millwood lasted a while but was never as fruitful
THE BEAR Illegitimi non carborundum
December 14th, 2009
12:54 pm
If the Braves get anything for Lowe. above relief from that $15 million contract, consider it a Christmas present.
MZ
December 14th, 2009
12:54 pm
My favorite Baby Braves memory came in early 2005. It was the Mississippi Braves’ inaugural season, and I was sent to cover the team’s second-ever home game. Wish it would’ve been the first, but this one turned out to be better …
The M-Braves were taking on the Montgomery Biscuits, and I was excited for a number of reasons. The fact that I’m a lifelong Braves fan didn’t hurt, but there were others. Anyway, first things first – the Braves won. Secondly, I don’t remember why but Snitker (manager at the time) went FREAKIN’ BALLISTIC on an umpire and was promptly tossed. He didn’t Phil Wellman nuts, but close.
If I remember right (this is the only part I’m spotty on) McBride started on the bump. Boyer came in later, and those guys were just lights out. They earned their top prospect status even if they never did pan out in the bigs.
The biggest part of the night though belonged to a couple of kids named Brian McCann and Scott Thorman. EACH guy fell a triple shy of the cycle, and their bombs were just that – BOMBS. Up to that point, I’d never seen a non-big leaguer hit a ball as far as McCann’s homer went.
Francouer was obviously the draw. He was who people wanted to see. He was what sold tickets. He went 0-for-5 with 3 Ks. Or something like that. Point is, he had a bad night. But it was easy to see that he really was a man among boys in AA in 2005. Which is why he earned a mid-season call-up and went nuts on big-league pitching the rest of the year.
Just a great, great experience. Oh, and Delmon Young was playing for the Biscuits, and if I’m not mistaken, he got tossed too for arguing balls and strikes.
Lew
December 14th, 2009
12:55 pm
rammer-If he is not traded, I’ll bet you some of my artwork that Javy DOES sign an extension.
Random
December 14th, 2009
12:55 pm
Howzabout Hideki Matsui — do you think he could return to LF after a full year DHing?
He might could be had for one year with (or without) a vesting option for say $6-7M per. (Or more. Or less. I’m just guessing.
)
But he sure can still sure hit the ball, that’s for sure, golly.
Lew
December 14th, 2009
12:56 pm
TenPaul-Gorkys was included in the McLouth trade. Lillibridge and Flowers were traded for Vazquez.
MFin04
December 14th, 2009
12:57 pm
TnBrian – some people don’t think we’ll be able to get Nady, and if we end up losing LaRoche, and only signing a guy like Cameron, which I don’t really like/dislike….we still have a hole in the middle of the lineup and haven’t really upgraded at all. We simply gave away 2 pitchers for money that we can’t spend on anything worth while.
DeRosa, Nady, Cameron for 10 million seems absurd.
You might be off keeping Lowe and Soriano if that is all that you get for their contracts.
I’m sure Frank Wren will figure something out, he has done very well so far acquiring talent. It would just be nice to have someone that can hit fourth everyday, especially if Chipper continues to struggle.
unbelievable
December 14th, 2009
12:57 pm
Matsui cant play the field, he’ll stay in the AL
Andrew in PA
December 14th, 2009
12:58 pm
Rosenthal says Lackey deal is probably close with the red sox,i hope the angels come calling for Lowe
Nova Scotia Steve - #40
December 14th, 2009
12:58 pm
DOB – I hope we have heard the last of the term “Baby Braves” – I can’t stand it either
Lew
December 14th, 2009
12:58 pm
I bought a couple boxes of old Minor League cards-each with an official autographed baseball and three signed cards. I ended up with an Elvis Andrus’ baseball, and signed cards by Andrus, Gorkys Hernandez, a signed Chase Headley card, a ball signed by a Dodgers’ prospect in Chinese and a signed Nick Adenhardt card. Not too shabby.
O.J.
December 14th, 2009
12:59 pm
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Lackey had a physical today with the Red Sox, which is “an indication that he is close to an agreement with the team.”
Well, if he signs soon, wonder how long we have to hear if Lowe is going to be moved, could it be before or after Halladay is traded?
Lew
December 14th, 2009
1:01 pm
Random-He couldn’t be much worse defensively than Loaf was. If not overly expensive, he could be a good power pickup. Make Kawakami and Saito happy and they could save us $$$$ by sharing a translator.
Vol_In_Ohio
December 14th, 2009
1:01 pm
TennesseePaul –
Maybe you should rip REM or something.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
1:01 pm
That’s right Lew. Thanks. That Marte really did pay off.
MFin04
December 14th, 2009
1:02 pm
Who is the better pitcher John Lackey or Derek Lowe, (5/83 mill seems comparable to 3/45mil)?
Lew
December 14th, 2009
1:02 pm
Let us hope that the Red Sox sign Lackey. Not only could it mean a trade of Lowe to the Angels, it could open a market for Lowe with the Yankees. I still would like to see him traded for Swisher.
RC
December 14th, 2009
1:02 pm
I just saw the people were discussing Jack Cust as a platoon 1b. If a platoon is an option, what about Ryan Garko? San Francisco just non-tendered him, and the guy KILLS left handed pitching. Just another possibility to add to our speculation list (and one that I’m SURE is on Wren and Co’s actual list).
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
1:03 pm
Maybe you should rip REM or something.
Even I know there are lines not to be crossed. Plus I like REM, albeit not nearly as much as DOB. But I truly enjoy the band.
NC Braves Fan
December 14th, 2009
1:04 pm
What (if any) role may Scott Boras play in the Lowe trade issue I wonder? D-Lowe doesn’t have an no-trade of course, but I wonder if Boras has a FA starting pitcher on the market?
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
1:05 pm
Let us hope that the Red Sox sign Lackey. Not only could it mean a trade of Lowe to the Angels, it could open a market for Lowe with the Yankees
Lew, his signing would open all sorts of inroads. I read where the Mariners were looking in on Lackey… perhaps they can be enticed. The more competition the more likely the Braves can move up the ladder from Gary MattHGHews Jr.
CB
December 14th, 2009
1:06 pm
I think we are forgetting Seattle was also interested in Lackey,one more hope for Lowe.
dmack2027
December 14th, 2009
1:09 pm
If the Braves cannot get anything of value for Lowe, they should keep him. I bet he will be better next year. This is precisely the reason the Braves should trade Vazquez. If they trade Lowe, they will sign Javy and then we have another long contract for an older pitcher.
Traditionally, Lowe is the better pitcher, and it isnt really close. In my opinion, the problems with his hand impacted his control. This led to him being behind hitters and having to throw fastballs, in fastball counts, with imperfect control. He still made all (or most) of his starts and won 15 games.
For my money, I would rather go into battle with D. Lowe than Javy Vazquez for the next three seasons. If you sign Javy to an extension, you are doing so at the pinnacle of his value. He wont command 15 million per, but it will be close.
Gary O
December 14th, 2009
1:12 pm
If the Red Sox sign Lackey, then that might force the Yankees to make a move (maybe trade for Lowe if they can’t trade for Holladay).
Which is the same boat the Angels would be in. Trade for Holladay, or trade for Lowe.
I hope Lackey goes to the Red Sox.
Lew
December 14th, 2009
1:12 pm
Ten Paul-ONly way I’d take on Mathews would be for a complete dumping of Low-screw that. NO Mathews.
Lew
December 14th, 2009
1:14 pm
dmack-Vazquez is three years younger than Lowe. If signed to a three year extension, he would be Lowe’s age-at the beginning of his contract-when his new contract would end.
nick
December 14th, 2009
1:16 pm
I have the Braves payroll at about $87-88MM. That is with Moylan at $1.25MM and Logan at 600K and Proctors 750K. I filled out the bench spots at 400K so I would 25 men with a salary. Not counting Saito’s extra $2.3 in incentives.
That being said, IF the Braves eat about $3MM a year on Lowe’s contract then that leaves the braves with a payroll at $75-76MM. Last years payroll was at $96MM accoding to Cots. So, the Braves COULD have $20MM to spend on some hitting.
IF the Braves are out of the Bay/Holliday sweepstakes then I hope they sign Nick Johnson 1yr/$6.5MM with a vesting option with 550 ab. and Mark DeRosa to a 2yr/$13MM with an option. DeRosa makes ALOT of sense. He can play RF until June(Heywards arrival) then he will find plenty ab’s at 3B and 1B and against lefties in RF. And Johnson is a career .400 OBP guy that is a perfect stop gap for Freeman.
These moves would leave the Braves with about $7MM then you could take out $2MM for Saito’s incentives and you still have money left for the trade deadline or even a Garko bench bat.
Sorry so long too much coffee!!
CB
December 14th, 2009
1:18 pm
Lew, I’m with you on a Vazquez extension if we trade Lowe,I think we can get him for a 3r 30-33mi. We still need that veteran pitcher to mentor.
O.J.
December 14th, 2009
1:18 pm
NO NO NO on Nick Johnson.
ivan
December 14th, 2009
1:19 pm
John Lackey Rumors: Monday
By Tim Dierkes [December 14 at 11:52am CST]
11:52am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Lackey had a physical today with the Red Sox, which is “an indication that he is close to an agreement with the team.” Rosenthal expects the deal to be in the range of A.J. Burnett’s five-year, $82.5MM contract, yet the FOX reporter is unsure the Sox would guarantee five years. If the Red Sox complete a deal with Lackey, the Angels would get Boston’s #29 draft pick and the Blue Jays would be bumped to #67 or worse for Marco Scutaro.
Rosenthal also notes that the Red Sox are trying to sign Josh Beckett to an extension. Beckett, 30 in May, is up for free agency after the 2010 season.
AndyC
December 14th, 2009
1:24 pm
I see that Roachy is trying to break the bank with Seattle. As someone said earlier, good luck with that. I can’t say that I blame Roachy. This is his first year in free agency and he wants to get that big multi-year deal to put himself on easy street. Probably seems impossible now for him to come back to the Braves. Oh, well. Good luck Roachy.
njbraves
December 14th, 2009
1:24 pm
TennPaul…..Stop getting owned. Do you even follow the Braves??
Daslied
December 14th, 2009
1:28 pm
MFin04 – two things, regarding your earlier posts:
1. Wren doesn’t necessarily have to spend the $15MM for Lowe before the season starts. All sorts of people might become available mid-season, and that cash would help tremendously. So trading Lowe isn’t really a wasted effort.
2. I think I’d take Lowe for 3/$45MM over Lackey for what, 5/$80-90MM? I would think the majority of GMs are more concerned over the length of commitment to pitchers rather than the dollar amount. There probably aren’t too many teams that wouldn’t realistically consider somebody like Santana/Lincecum/Hallady at 2 years/$40MM.
O.J.
December 14th, 2009
1:29 pm
Sometimes I think people come on here to post things because they think its new information, without bothering to see if it had been posted already.
Matt
December 14th, 2009
1:29 pm
Cubs need Pitching?
Braves Send Lowe, Shafer, JoJo,
Cubs Send A Sornino, Derek Lee
nick
December 14th, 2009
1:31 pm
O.J.– Why are you so down on Nick Johnson? It’s not like they are going to give him a muti-year deal. He is a perfect stop-gap to Freeman IMO.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
1:31 pm
njbraves: thank you for your contribution.
NorCal
December 14th, 2009
1:31 pm
Cust would not really be a good fit for the Braves. He strikes out so much not because he swings and misses, but because he waits for the perfect pitch. When he gets it, he can hit it out or for extra bases. He is not all that great in the outfield either. Probably should go to an AL team for an extra outfielder/DH. He wants more money than the A’s want to pay him, probably an extra year deal.
ugaaccountant
December 14th, 2009
1:32 pm
Platooning 1st base, oh boy. That’s worse than when we had Kotchman penciled in to hit .300 and 15hr’s with good defense. You start talking platoon at 1b and we’re looking to be in the 5 worst 1st base plans in the major leagues. Heck the Royals have Billy Butler at 1b. The Pirates I think play Garett Jones there. The Padres have Adrian Gonzalez. Even the worst teams have good 1st basement.
Even if we drop the word “big” from our goal of adding a big bat or 2, I have to assume we intended to acquire someone who would at least be an everyday player.
RC
December 14th, 2009
1:32 pm
Cubs need Pitching?
Braves Send Lowe, Shafer, JoJo,
Cubs Send A Sornino, Derek Lee
Ignoring the fact that the Cubs would never do that deal, where do the Braves get the extra $15 million to make that deal work?
Lew
December 14th, 2009
1:33 pm
njbraves-Does he follow the Braves? Ten Paul has been here for several years longer than you have.
sidslidkid
December 14th, 2009
1:34 pm
“Cubs need Pitching? Braves Send Lowe, Shafer, JoJo, Cubs Send A Sornino, Derek Lee” – Matt
I think you might have a few people laugh at you for this post.
RC
December 14th, 2009
1:35 pm
Platooning 1st base, oh boy. That’s worse than when we had Kotchman penciled in to hit .300 and 15hr’s with good defense. You start talking platoon at 1b and we’re looking to be in the 5 worst 1st base plans in the major leagues. Heck the Royals have Billy Butler at 1b. The Pirates I think play Garett Jones there. The Padres have Adrian Gonzalez. Even the worst teams have good 1st basement.
Why is that a bad plan? Let’s say you have a guy who has a slash of .300/.400/.900 vs. righties, and a guy with the same vs. lefties. Are you telling me that you wouldn’t want those combined numbers at 1b over the course of a season?
Looking back, the Braves did it with Franco and LaRoche not too long ago, and it worked pretty well at the time.
Brandon from Warner Robins
December 14th, 2009
1:35 pm
Really? I dont think the Cubs would go for that.
Random
December 14th, 2009
1:35 pm
Jeff in Dayton (December 14th, 2009 12:46 pm): “All of this could have and should have been avoided; simply put, why was Hudson resigned? Lowe wasn’t great; but, neither has Hudson’s Braves career. Maybe someone can explain it to me because I just don’t get it.”
Probly not, but here goes:
Since 2001, Hudson’s been the best pitcher in MLB, by some reckonings, edging out even Roy Halladay.
“Halladay is one of the top pitchers in the game—he was fifth in the major leagues with 8.2 SNLVAR last season and has ranked in the top eight in that category each of the last four years and six of the last eight seasons. Furthermore, Halladay finished just a smidge behind Tim Hudson for most SNLVAR in the first decade of the new millennium, 56.31-56.29.” (John Perrotto, Baseball Prospectus, 13 Dec 09)
(Halladay is 2 years younger.)
O.J.
December 14th, 2009
1:36 pm
Nick, because he is too injury prone.
Matt
December 14th, 2009
1:37 pm
The cubs do need pitching so i think the braves should atleast talk to them. Who knows what can be done.
RC
December 14th, 2009
1:37 pm
the slash’s i was using were avg/obp/ops….just in case anyone was wondering
Matt
December 14th, 2009
1:38 pm
By the way with 6 starting pitchers what are the plans for JoJo anyway? Triple A starter forever?
Efrim
December 14th, 2009
1:38 pm
Sounds like Lackey is going to sign with the Red Sox. I think this bodes well for us, obviously. I’d bet the Sox are going to make a big play for Adrian Gonzalez now, if they weren’t already.
nick
December 14th, 2009
1:38 pm
IF Lowe is traded, it will be for a couple of low A ball guys that we have never heard of that don’t have to be put on the 40 man roster.
They WON’T get a Juan Rivera or a major league ready power hitter. This is a salary dump people!!
Rob
December 14th, 2009
1:40 pm
Yes, yes and YES on Nick Johnson.
To reiterate my earlier post:
1) Sign Nick Johnson 1 yr/7m with vesting option for 2011 based on 550 plate appearances (give him incentive to play). OBP machine.
2) Sign 1B-OF Shelley Duncan to be bat off bench and fill in at 1B (or OF) as needed. Plus power, solid work ethic and makeup.
3) Trade Lowe for whatever. The primary plus is losing his 15m salary (or 12m if we have to eat 3m). I would love to net Swisher in return, but its a pipe dream methinks.
4) Either trade for Swisher (outside of Lowe, more than likely) or sign Mike Cameron for a corner OF spot. Other corner OF spot goes to Heyward (or Nady if he signs one year deal with low guaranteed to re-est value ONLY IF the club deems Heyward not ready in ST).
5) Sign OF Jonny Gomes to serve as a bench bat.
McLouth
Johnson
Chipper
McCann
Swisher/Cameron
Escobar
Prado
Heyward (or Nady)
That’s a good lineup.
ugaaccountant
December 14th, 2009
1:40 pm
If Derek Lowe, with us kicking in up to 3 million a year as sweetner, can’t get us a useful prospect or two, we need to go to trade plan b. I like Vasquez, alot, but Lowe’s career stats suggests he’ll get his ERA back under 4 this year. Even in a bad year, his % of quality starts or close enough to a QS aka the number of times the Braves had a good chance of winning, was a very healthy %. I’ve got no problem going into next year’s war with Lowe.
If Vasquez gets us a better trade return than Lowe + 3M a year (to get his salary down to Vasquez’s level) then we need to listen. It’s not simple because Wren may be hearing dozens of offers between the two, but there’s got to be something we can do to reach the needed 5 starting pitchers and bolster either our MLB or MILB clubs.
abwright
December 14th, 2009
1:44 pm
DOB, This may be the best blog of the year. I had forgotten the amazing number of rookies that played for the Braves in the last year of the division title streak.
With the arrival (Schafer, Medlen, Hanson, Valdez) and pending arrival (Heyward, Freeman, others) of the next wave of prospects and the hope of a return to at least the post-season, if not another division title, it is good to look back on the success and failure of so many might-have-beens.
Now that Kelly “The Kurgan” Johnson has fallen, McCann cann say, “There can be only one.”
Random
December 14th, 2009
1:45 pm
MFin04 (December 14th, 2009 1:02 pm): “5/83 mill seems comparable to 3/45mil”
Of course it does — it’s been a long established fact that not only does 15 = 16⅔, but also that 8 = 0.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
1:45 pm
I’d bet the Sox are going to make a big play for Adrian Gonzalez now, if they weren’t already.
I read the Padres were seeking two A-level 19 year old prospects in addition to Clay. Granted those two 19 years put up solid numbers in their first year in pro-ball, but still, that is so far down the system and away from the majors… I was a little surprised. I’d have thought the Padres would seek players closer to the majors. Of course the new GM probably drafted those guys while with the BoSox so he could be getting all Dayton Moore
ugaaccountant
December 14th, 2009
1:46 pm
Why is that a bad plan? Let’s say you have a guy who has a slash of .300/.400/.900 vs. righties, and a guy with the same vs. lefties. Are you telling me that you wouldn’t want those combined numbers at 1b over the course of a season?
If you’ve got a platoon that a) does that and b) has shown they can function that well even when not playing everyday let’s see some figures. I’m not as familiar with splits as some on here, but someone that hit’s .300/.400/.900 vs. righties is generally a very expensive free agent acquisition.
Looking back, the Braves did it with Franco and LaRoche not too long ago, and it worked pretty well at the time.
Worked pretty well, yeah, but not well enough that we could contend with today’s NL East. You get Halladay to the Phillies and they are looking at 100+ wins. Marlins and Mets and with a couple of good moves even the Nationals are nothing to sneeze at either.
Matt
December 14th, 2009
1:47 pm
why dont try and sign G atkins?
P-Town Brave
December 14th, 2009
1:50 pm
Ok, not saying this would happen BUT how about this:
Braves get:
Juan Rivera
Kendry Morales
Angels get: (bc they can afford it and want big bats and a top SP)
Milton Bradley
Alfonso Soriano
Derek Lowe
Cubs Get:
Gary Matthews
Freddie Freeman
Jordan Schafer
JJ Hoover OR Zeke Spruill
May look like less from a Cubs perspective but give them payroll flexibility to resign Derrek Lee and to get another SP or bat while also allowing them to slot Schafer and sign a Mike Cameron type.
From the Braves standpoint, it gives them the LF and 1b they need while giving up two highly coveted pieces.
The Angels give up young talent, however, they also receive a better younger talent in Bradley for removal of Matthews Jr. AND receive the pitcher they need in Lowe AND get an extra bat in Soriano that projects well in Angel Stadium.
P-Town Brave
December 14th, 2009
1:51 pm
And yes, I know I am reaching here…but I like others have crazy off the wall ideas too…
nick
December 14th, 2009
1:52 pm
McLouth—-CF
Prado——2B
Chipper—-3B
Escobar—-SS
McCann—–C
DeRosa—–RF
Johnson—-1B
Diaz——-LF
Pitcher—-P
Good left right balance but not alot of power but if you don’t engage in the Bay/Holliday type player then this a more realistic line-up.
ugaaccountant
December 14th, 2009
1:53 pm
Clay + two A ball prospects?
Is this Medlen + Milligan + Zeke Spruill?
Or do they see it as Hason, Teheran, Betancourt?
Obviously Clay is nowhere near Hanson or Jurrjens class, but he is probably still more appealing than Medlen. Depending on how good the low level players are, we do have a few nice trade pieces at that level. We’d definitely need to get some prospects back via trading Vasquez or Lowe though.
Obviously the Medlen trade we could seriously consider, if Adrian would negotiate a long term contract. If the Padres seriously equate Bucholz to Hanson we’d have to walk away though.
Random
December 14th, 2009
1:53 pm
ugaaccountant (December 14th, 2009 1:40 pm): “If Derek Lowe, with us kicking in up to 3 million a year as sweetner, can’t get us a useful prospect or two, we need to go to trade plan b. I like Vasquez, alot, but Lowe’s career stats suggests he’ll get his ERA back under 4 this year. Even in a bad year, his % of quality starts or close enough to a QS aka the number of times the Braves had a good chance of winning, was a very healthy %. I’ve got no problem going into next year’s war with Lowe.”
Ahem, excuse me, sir — what is a “LOOGY”?
ugaaccountant (December 11th, 2009 3:45 pm): “I asked that yesterday. It has to do with a relief pitcher coming in to retire one batter. But i’m not sure if the pitcher is left handed or the batter is left handed.”
chuckw/deadjournalist
December 14th, 2009
1:55 pm
DOB –
I know this was before the Braves were your beat, but do you know how Russell Branyan was viewed by the organization when he was in camp with the team about 10 years ago?
He seems to be the type player who, potentially with a platoon partner, would a desirable option for the Braves. He wouldn’t command a long-term deal, could play a couple of positions, and provide a lot of power. If he could get 450 ABs (which shouldn’t be an issue between LF/1B and maybe a few starts at 3B) he seems to be a safe bet for 25+ HR power.
P-Town Brave
December 14th, 2009
1:55 pm
UGA-
So what you’re saying is that you wouldn’t mind having a Cust/Garko platoon?
I myself don’t care what anyone says, I still want Atkins.
McFann O
December 14th, 2009
1:57 pm
abwright McCann cann say, “There can be only one.”
Oh mann…so close. But you mean, “There cann be only one.”
Gyah, mann! Why, uh…w-w…um…dangit! What’s that cursed cliché I’m looking for??
P-Town Brave
December 14th, 2009
1:58 pm
I kinda agree w/ UGA. I am starting to believe that we’ll get better value by trading Vazquez…and getting a better return will probably mean we’re that much closer to a good 2010. Besides, Vaz is only under contract 1 more year and there’s no guarantee we can extend him.
Maybe they really should try to complete that before they decide who to send off?
Piedmont Blues
December 14th, 2009
1:58 pm
Matt,
No G Atkins because he’s a defensive liability and hasn’t hit away from Coors. And last year, he didn’t even hit at Coors.
Rob in pain from (SC)
December 14th, 2009
2:01 pm
Ok, some on here need a reality check.
1- the Angels will not trade Kendry Morales
2 – The Cubs will not trade Derrek Lee
3 – No way in hell do we want Alfonso Soriano
4 – We are not trading Freddie Freeman
Schafer played with a bone spur and a broken bone in his wrist. Give the kid a chance and stop throwing him in every trade rumor
nick
December 14th, 2009
2:01 pm
I wouldn’t mind Atkins for $2.0MM as a backup 1B/3B PH type guy.
Daslied
December 14th, 2009
2:02 pm
The point of trading Lowe is not to get value in return. The point is to free up $15MM to spend on bigger needs. And let’s stop the “bad contract-swapping” junk – Lowe is valuable to most every club outside of Atlanta. Bradley, Soriano, Wells, etc., aren’t valuable anywhere. It ain’t like Lowe is Carlos Silva. Side note: Can’t believe nobody suggested that trade…
Now, if someone wants to pay Lowe’s entire contract while sending back an elite hitter…
Explicit
December 14th, 2009
2:02 pm
As far as I am concerned the jury is still very much out on Frank Wren. One in particular that I want to talk about today is one that may not even potentially happen but he’s trying. How can we pay so much money for Lowe and then after one season be so ready to ship him out of town for potentially nothing? I don’t overlook this type of move from the GM that is in charge of my franchise. Did he make the mistake last season or will he make it this season when it comes to Lowe?
I’m no big fan of how he unceremoniously dumped Glavine and Smoltz and I still say that there was room on this roster for them somewhere be it out of the pen or the rotation but having guys like them on your roster is always a help. I think that if the division titles of the 90’s showed us anything it’s that, “good pitching beats good hitting.” As it stands right now the rotation IMO shapes up as:
1. Hudson
2. Lowe
3. Vazquez
4. Jurrjens
5. Hanson
Now to me that looks good. If Wren wants to trade someone then trade Kamakazee…I mean Kawasaki…..You know who I am talking about! That guy that they seemed so dead set on getting from Japan because the first few they went after didn’t work out and because they wanted to be in the trend of getting a japanese pitcher. Now they have Saito (a guy with an actual track record in the majors) so they have their Japanese pitcher now. No need for Kawakoski .
Lowe is who he thought he was (not a staff ace). He’s an innings eater who is not a strikeout pitcher. He relies on a sinker to put the ball in play. He has a track record in the regular season and the post-season (ya know that place we keep talking about). If we are serious about getting into October perhaps trading guys that have been there before isn’t the way to go.
TennesseePaul
December 14th, 2009
2:03 pm
I am starting to believe that we’ll get better value by trading Vazquez
The problem with this is Vazquez lowers the “trading pool” as he has a no-trade clause block all teams out west… That includes two teams which were aiming for Lackey: Angels and Mariners.
TDub
December 14th, 2009
2:03 pm
LA Angels are an odd fit for a Lowe trade without prospects, they have a ton of right-handed hitters but none that fit our needs at OF and 1B if Rivera isn’t in the equation – at least none that they would trade without being totally nuts (i.e., Morales).
dpelfrey
December 14th, 2009
2:05 pm
Hope for the future…the reason why baseball prospects are hyped, why ESPN covers the NFL draft for 72 straight hours and why they televise the NBA draft lottery (they still do that, don’t they).
I don’t care how many times I’m wrong, I’m going to pump up prospects like they’ve already earned Hall of Fame consideration, if only because it makes me happy to do that.
Rob in pain from (SC)
December 14th, 2009
2:05 pm
Explicit
It just happens that we already have 4 starters better than Lowe.
DAP
December 14th, 2009
2:05 pm
RCI just saw the people were discussing Jack Cust as a platoon 1b.
Not exactly. Cust doesn’t play 1b.
The braves have a lot of space on the 25 man at the moment, and if they wanted to populate the roster by getting some platoon OF/1B types, they have a lot of options. Ryan garko, as mentioned, is a 1B/OF good vs. lefties, jonny gomes, an OF good vs. lefties, Xavier nady, a right handed OF/1B, jack cust, left handed OF, good vs righties, eric hinske, lefthanded OF/1B, good vs righties, and gabe gross, OF good vs righties.
A handful of those guys used right could be great additions. As I mentioned earlier, the braves have 5 spots on the 25 man that need to be filled, RF, LF, 1B, and two bench spots.