Braves decline to offer Gonzalez arbitration
The Braves did not offer salary arbitration to free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez on Wednesday’s deadline, choosing not to risk him accepting and commanding more than $3 million in arbitration.
The Braves forfeited a chance at gaining a supplemental draft pick from another team that signs him.
Gonzalez, 34, is seeking a two-year deal, which the Braves weren’t prepared to offer. He seems likely to get one on the open market, given the demand for shortstops this offseason. Clint Barmes just signed a two-year deal with the Pirates worth $11 million, and veteran shortstop Jamey Carroll signed a two-year deal worth at least $6.5 million with the Twins.
But Gonzalez also might have chosen to stay in Atlanta where he seemed to enjoy his time, and given the raise he’s likely to command on his $2.5 million salary, he did not fit into the Braves plans. Gonzalez is coming off a standout defensive season but hit only .241 with a .270 on-base percentage.
The Braves are looking to either sign or trade for a shortstop to serve as a one-year bridge to prospect Tyler Pastornicky. They also have highly thought of Andrelton Simmons progressing well behind Pastornicky.
The Braves have reportedly expressed interested in the Yankees’ Eduardo Nunez, though as a possible heir apparent to Derek Jeter, the price for him is likely to be high.
As a Type B free agent, the Braves would have receive a supplemental round draft pick between the first and second rounds in next year’s draft from the team that signs Gonzalez, had they offered arbitration. Gonzalez was the Braves’ only ranked free agent.
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253 comments Add your comment
MIke#1
November 23rd, 2011
11:25 am
I hope Drew Sutton pans out. Hearing good things.
MIke#1
November 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
34 year old SS that stopped hitting from the day he came to Atlanta. He’ll probably go .300/.400/.500 with 30 HRs next year with another team.
Bobby Hill
November 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
So I guess all that talk about Seabass being such a great asset because of his glove was just bologna.
Around The Horn
November 23rd, 2011
11:36 am
FRANK’S FORESIGHT
Wren wanted Gonzalez badly enough just one and a half seasons ago to trade Y. Escobar for him.
I guess Frank changed his mind.
Some foresight.
I wish the Braves had Yunel back.
ray
November 23rd, 2011
11:40 am
here we go again. let another guy walk for nothing. if he wants a 2 yr deal, why would he accept arbitration and take a 1 yr deal in a good market for SSs ?
if they trade for another SS, they have to pay whoever it is.
coming off a poor year, how much of a raise can he get anyway ? $3-4 mill /yr isn’t much nowadays.
this is a team with no budget from Liberty Media according to some fans ?
PS only good news is that new CBA from yesterday makes Cuddyer and Wilingham signable without signee losing a 1st round pick
National League Free Agent Arbitration Offers | Forex News
November 23rd, 2011
11:41 am
[...] The Braves did not offer arbitration to Alex Gonzalez (B), according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
invictus mon
November 23rd, 2011
11:44 am
FIRST!!! To post FIRST, although I’m obviously not 1st.
Rick
November 23rd, 2011
11:44 am
“Wren wanted Gonzalez badly enough just one and a half seasons ago to trade Y. Escobar for him.
I guess Frank changed his mind.”
I think it’s more so the fact that Gonzalez’s wants do not fit with the Braves’ needs.
“coming off a poor year, how much of a raise can he get anyway ? $3-4 mill /yr isn’t much nowadays.”
The fact that they traded Lowe for only $5mill in salary relief says otherwise, or at least when talking about the Braves.
Reality Braves Fan
November 23rd, 2011
11:44 am
If Frank Wren would acquire a legitimate hitter in LF, we could bring Alex and his glove back.
Please don’t tell me Josh Willingham will be in LF next season !
Don’t we have enough .240 hitters in this mediocre lineup?
Furman Bitcher
November 23rd, 2011
11:45 am
Sign Wilingham now and keep Prado
Money Ball
November 23rd, 2011
11:45 am
Alex Gonzalez for Yunel Escobar.
I guess old Frank got skunked again.
Time for a new GM !
invictus mon
November 23rd, 2011
11:48 am
I really don’t konw why fans are saying we’re hampered by budget restraints by Liberty Media. Even without getting more money from them to go shopping, we’ve cleared enough in payroll to get the bridge we need at SS. We’re one player away in the outfield, and I’m sure something will shake loose there. 1st, we’re not so far away we need an astronomical budget to replace the team. The top free agents on the market really aren’t worth what they’re commanding. It’s as an unexciteable FA group as has come through in recent memory. Biggest team needs, an outfield bat, Heyward to come back around, bridge at SS, and a world class hitting coach. All due respect, nothing about that screams budget constraint to me. Chill people, I’m glad we got rid of Gonzo, he was worthless at the plate. That’s one problem solved and we saved $3M doing it. Saved $5M to fix the last problem with Lowe. Seems like Wren is making some great business decisions here.
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
I’ve got Josh Willingham on the speed dial.
I just love guys that hit .240 (or less) and hit those solo homers.
wjones
November 23rd, 2011
11:50 am
Anyone remember what Yunel was batting when he was traded? Also, make up your minds–you folks who want management to be “tough” with the players, were you defending keeping Yunel, who burned bridges weekly with the Braves?
invictus mon
November 23rd, 2011
11:51 am
If Atlanta fans had their way every year we’d all go crazy trying to learn the last names and numbers of the 25 new Braves each year, twice on leap years.
cornjolio
November 23rd, 2011
11:51 am
Tim Hudson is in his final contract year. Trade him & his $9 million salary so Frank can acquire a REAL slugger for LF. His overall career in ATL has been average at best.
cornjolio
November 23rd, 2011
11:53 am
Yunel hit .290 w/11 HRS & 48 RBIS with a .369 OBP in 2011
Its amazing once a player gets away from the fence swingers in ATL how much better they do.
Chris from the Rock
November 23rd, 2011
11:53 am
And starting at SS, batting eighth….Brandon Hicks! (crickets)
invictus mon
November 23rd, 2011
11:54 am
Yunel’s 1st season as a non Brave he was TERRIBLE. His batting was worse than Gonzo’s. Wren looked like a genius, but no one saw it because they didn’t want to. He was an attitude problem in the clubhouse, didn’t hustle on the field all the time, but that was all excused because he made circus play after circus play at SS and he was a clutch hitter (something Gonzo could never be confused of). Wren saw that train going downhill. Ya Yunel corrected for it some last year, but really guys? Only trade he’s made that left my head spinning was the Vasquez trade. That one still doesn’t make sense to me.
Odelay
November 23rd, 2011
11:54 am
No need to bring A-Gon back when they just gave Josh Wilson a Minor League deal. Wilson does just as good of a job of not hitting a lick while playing great defense. I like it. We’ve got an option now to fill in until Pastornicky’s ready and it won’t cost millions of dollars.
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
11:55 am
We love the fence swingers in Atlanta. The kids just love it when the fireworks go off after a meaningless solo HR.
Billy Marlin
November 23rd, 2011
11:57 am
before the new drug testing agreement kicks in 2013, maybe you can re-acquire former can’t miss Brave Jordan Schafer for left field !
Mike
November 23rd, 2011
11:59 am
Or coke head Logan Morrison from Marlins
Rick
November 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
“Tim Hudson is in his final contract year. Trade him & his $9 million salary so Frank can acquire a REAL slugger for LF. His overall career in ATL has been average at best.”
Average at best? He’s arguably been the ace of the staff the past couple season. 3.22 ERA in 2011, 2.83 in 2010.
“Only trade he’s made that left my head spinning was the Vasquez trade. That one still doesn’t make sense to me.”
Although it didn’t make sense, it actually worked out quite well. Vasquez had a terrible year in 2010, getting Mike Dunn led to Dan Uggla, and we also have one of our best prospects in Vizcaino.
Billy Marlin
November 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
Haven’t had a legit SS since Furcal escaped town and you traded away Yunel Escobar because Chipper and the other rednecks in the clubhouse didn’t like him. Chipper gets what he wants.
Once Chipper retires the Braves might go back to being a legitimate threat in the NL East.
Billy
November 23rd, 2011
12:01 pm
A tiny example: On a Sunday afternoon earlier this season, Escobar drove a ball in the gap in left-center. His hit brought home the go-ahead run, but somehow he managed to get thrown out at second base on a ball so perfectly placed that it would have been a double for anybody else in the big leagues. (Put it this way: Sid Bream would have made it.)
Escobar got thrown out because he watched the flight of the ball and admired his work, as opposed to running hard. The Braves noticed. The Braves always noticed. As one man in the clubhouse said afterward, exasperation in his voice: “He has been told time and time again.”
Billy Marlin
November 23rd, 2011
12:02 pm
Rick,
Dan Uggla is a good thing?
a porn star chasing .232 hitting solo homer hitting goof is good for the Braves?
The Marlins are still thanking Uggly for leaving !
Red Bird
November 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
The Braves “noticed”.
Yeah, the Braves noticed their wildcard lead evaporate and the Cardinals march triumphantly to another World Championship.
Rick
November 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
“Dan Uggla is a good thing?
a porn star chasing .232 hitting solo homer hitting goof is good for the Braves?”
Assuming he hits like he did for the first 5 seasons of his career and not like the first half of last season, yes.
Rick
November 23rd, 2011
12:04 pm
“The Braves “noticed”.
Yeah, the Braves noticed their wildcard lead evaporate and the Cardinals march triumphantly to another World Championship.”
What does that even have to do with having Gonzalez instead of Escobar? Gonzalez was arguably the hottest hitter on the team at the end of the season until he got injured.
Billy
November 23rd, 2011
12:06 pm
Marlins Traded Miguel Cabrera because he could stay sober or coke out of his nose and was the laziest player on team. Do the Marlins have any Americans on the team? Oh yeah LoGo
milesarcher33
November 23rd, 2011
12:07 pm
Odelay: Your post confuses me. Are you confusing Josh Wilson for Jack Wilson?
milesarcher33
November 23rd, 2011
12:07 pm
Odelay: Your post confuses me. Are you confusing Josh Wilson for Jack Wilson?
Devil's Advocate
November 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
The Braves are on a budget. The first modern rule of corporate spending is “a dollar spent is a dollar too much.” It doesn’t matter that we’ve freed up cap space or offloaded $5 million of Lowe’s salary, the Braves probably won’t spend big at any single position since they opened up for Uggla last year. I’d be shocked if they spent more than $2 million per year for a SS for 2012-13.
bruce mac
November 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
DOB, what about the guy we got from Seattle last year?
Whatever
November 23rd, 2011
12:16 pm
Yeah Yunel is pretty durable also. Playing in 133 games. Complain about Chipper?
Homo the Brave
November 23rd, 2011
12:18 pm
Bring back Edgar Renteria.
Braves choose not to offer arbitration to Alex Gonzalez | HardballTalk
November 23rd, 2011
12:19 pm
[...] O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Gonzalez is looking for a two-year contract and it’s tough to blame him after seeing [...]
Braves choose not to offer arbitration to Alex Gonzalez | HardballTalk
November 23rd, 2011
12:19 pm
[...] O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Gonzalez is looking for a two-year contract and it’s tough to blame him after seeing [...]
DREW
November 23rd, 2011
12:21 pm
The Braves will look at things with long term as priority, which isn’t a bad way to do it as they have put themself in a very good position going forward. They are not going to spend a lot on something that they’ll only need for one year. While this can be frustrating because they aren’t going all out to win next year, remember that there is so much luck involved. Just look at the NL playoffs the last two years.
Felix
November 23rd, 2011
12:22 pm
Now Frank Wren will probably go out and sign a 39 year old lifetime .230 BA shortstop to a 5 year contract for $8,000,00 a year.
Let's Go
November 23rd, 2011
12:26 pm
I don’t care what Alex did while he was in Atlanta, just getting rid of that slacker Escobar was worth it.
TommyP
November 23rd, 2011
12:36 pm
Great move.
And no way Gonzalez gets a multi-year deal. Those other guys are true utility guys. (Carroll and Barmes)
Drew
November 23rd, 2011
12:37 pm
You people complaining about solo homers need to realize they can’t control if someone is on base in from of them. Just a logical thought…something many of you seem to no nothing of.
Also, Devil’s Advocate, there is no “cap” in baseball. So no need to free up cap space. Did you mean to post on the Atlanta Falcons’ board?
VOR
November 23rd, 2011
12:37 pm
Everyone seems to forget that Pastornicky was acquired along with Gonzo in the Escobar trade…
Red Bird
November 23rd, 2011
12:38 pm
The Braves’ haven’t been relevent since 1999, their last World Series apearance.
They really look like they know what they are doing. Keep overpaying old players and plugging holes with retreads and Kmart specials. The blue light is on, Frank Wren !
urban redneck
November 23rd, 2011
12:39 pm
i would like to pee on anyone that wishes yunel was still here.
Ozzie
November 23rd, 2011
12:40 pm
Wren/Braves have struggled with player evaluation (when to hold/fold) and remediation (fixing). Escobar was fixable but Bobby was too old, tired and wasn’t able to reach him. The spanish speaking of bench coach wasn’t either but he kept collecting a check. Add in the language issue with the other players, style of the team (reserved, green eye shades) and he was doomed.
He could have been sent to the minors for repair work on his behavior (that would have hit his pride, benching just pissed him off) but wasn’t. Just like Frenchie should have been put in AA or AAA for at least a half a season versus being send down for a few days and then shortly thereafter traded for nothing.
The Braves off load their problems on other teams via trade or release players only to see them (in the short or at most intermediate term) completely turn it around. Heyward could be the next victim of this trend. Mark it down he is on that trajectory.
Apart from horrific dumpster bin pitchers Wren/JS has picked up along the way and then tossed aside most of the position players who have been cut loose (and were good before ATL) have returned to good if not very good performance levels. You have to ask yourself (many have) “why is that?” It is happening too many times to be dumb luck.
ATL has something wrong with its core but they artfully mask it with a veneer that the media and people who watch them from afar are swayed by. They are trading on their name, their history versus what they are actually doing especially at the ML level.
No major bats up n down the minors. People are taking what objectively look like utility players or 4th OF (Pastor, Terd) and hyping them up to be 6-12mos away from ML readiness.
Pastornicky has a below avg arm and a lead glove. He will be an Infante w/o the arm at best not a starting SS with years in that one position.
Terds hit a bunch and then faded in the AFL that is about it.
It is nice to notice these guys but there is nothing excellent in the minors right now apart from pitching.
Until the FO gets broomed and the style/staff of on field mgt (up and down the major and minor leagues) changes the Braves will give up early or hang on too long failing to find a middle ground. Great talent will be screwed up and tossed away blaming the player w/o blaming mgt. It takes two to tango or players could run the games themselves w/o coaches.
don
November 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
Don’t the Braves have Elvis Andrus to take over at shortstop. Surely even the dullard Braves weren’t dumbl enough to trade him, were they?
Joe Nuxhall
November 23rd, 2011
12:46 pm
So some still think that the Braves have money available to buy a good SS and LF. Yes, that’s true if you’re going by last year’s salaries. They don’t realize that for some odd reason baseball players get nice pay increases each year. It’s usually worked into their contract – small, but huge when compared to the common man’s earnings. Meanwhile, all of us in this office have worked for four years without a wage increase.
Gumby
November 23rd, 2011
12:48 pm
In my opinion this is stupid. Alex is great defensively, seems to be well liked, he still hit .241, and now they have to sign a bridge to Pastornicky!!! Hello, you already had one and his name was Alex Gonzalez. Keep him. Find the money and let him be the bridge and mentor. This really hurts for Mark Cuban to decline the Braves. We have never recovered from Ted Turner no longer being our owner and Cuban would have fit the mold.
JC Brave
November 23rd, 2011
12:50 pm
Everyone seems to forget that Pastornicky was acquired along with Gonzo in the Escobar trade…
Who cares about that sh!t? Pastornicky is just a bridge between Alex-No-Hitting-Gonzalez and Andrelton Simmons…
Brandon
November 23rd, 2011
12:54 pm
Are people forgetting that Tyler Pastornicky was in the Escobar deal as well. And why are people so upset gonzo is gone when everybody talked so badly about his offense all season? Seems quite hypocritical to me
Six year Old Boy at Turner Field Next June
November 23rd, 2011
12:59 pm
(As Uggla goes up to hit)…………………….Daddy, what is a porn queen?
Bobby Cox
November 23rd, 2011
1:00 pm
Gonzo knew he couldn’t hit anymore, never really has hit except in Toronto on a home run factory team. He focused on D and excelled. We need a MLB player, i.e. a player who can do both (hit/play D). Farm is loaded with SS prospects. Its time to have a good old fashion competition amongst super talented young players. I just pray Julio Lugo and his minor league contract isn’t a sign of a bigger role for him. After all the new CBA changes the rules for signings, so who knows as of yet. But, If Lugo is on the bench Im coming back
JC Brave
November 23rd, 2011
1:07 pm
Ozzie – You hit the nail on the head, my man.
Gumby – One part of ”Gonzalez is seeking a two-year deal” you don’t understand? The Braves want someone cheaper thanks to Liberty Media and because they need to solve their other needs.
JC Brave
November 23rd, 2011
1:10 pm
Meant ”What* part of” instead of ”One part of..”
don
November 23rd, 2011
1:11 pm
JC Brave is correct. Pastornicky is just a fill in. Simmons, though no Andrus by a long shot, is likely the future.
ATLcracker
November 23rd, 2011
1:11 pm
Let’s state the escobar trade completely. It wasn’t straight up escobar for gonzalez.
Toronto got SS Yunel Escobar and SP Jo-Jo Reyes (7-11 5.57 ERA for toronto/baltimore 2011)
Atlanta got SS Alex Gonzalez, SS Tyler Pastornicky and LHP Tim Collins ({subsequently traded for Ankiel/Farnsworth] who was 4-4 3.63 ERA with 60 SO in 67 innings for Kansas City this year as a Rookie.) I would say heavily in Atlanta’s favor so far plus we got rid of this-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP-oaX5×3q0
Sweet Old Buck
November 23rd, 2011
1:12 pm
First, Jack Wilson, followed by Tyler Pastornicky, then Andrelton Simmons. Works for me. Terdo goes to third unless Salcedo breaks out, which puts Terdo in LF. How’s that for the future?
LOB Braves
November 23rd, 2011
1:13 pm
Yay. The no-hitting Seabass is gone.
David O'Brien
November 23rd, 2011
1:14 pm
Are people forgetting that Tyler Pastornicky was in the Escobar deal as well.
And Tim Collins, too. Braves ended up trading the little lefty reliever to K.C., though. He had a 3.63 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 67 innings in 2011 as a 21-year-old rookie for the Royals.
ChillyMutt
November 23rd, 2011
1:17 pm
Ummm $2.5 million for one year? I would gladly sign Alex for that. Not going to find a better defensive SS than him.
Worldwide Clyde
November 23rd, 2011
1:17 pm
Elvis Andrus would fit in perfectly right now. That trade for Teixeira was just as bad as the Dominique Wilkins trade.
david
November 23rd, 2011
1:18 pm
We should not have traded Escobar
PMC
November 23rd, 2011
1:21 pm
Given the fact that he cost money, he was not in the Braves plans….
Sweet Old Buck
November 23rd, 2011
1:22 pm
Forget Willingham! Carlos Quentin will be in LF.
PMC
November 23rd, 2011
1:23 pm
Gonzo, for all his hitting woes, may have been the most consistent player on the team in September, even through his injuries. The guy hit some big home runs late.
Everyone else on the team, forgot how to play baseball.
Stop Using "Brave New World"
November 23rd, 2011
1:23 pm
What is everyone complaining about? Gonzo has never finished an entire season with a batting average over .280 or more than 23 HRs. Career (12 years): .247, 152 hr, 665 rbi, 1123 so, 289 BB in 5552 ABs.
For Comparison: This Brave SS career: (13 years): .262 avg, .760 ops, 122 hr, 513 rbi, 937 so, 569 BB in 4522 ABs. Career season high avg .308, HR 17s. ops: .887
Jeff Blauser.
UKUGA
November 23rd, 2011
1:25 pm
Did Alex get another standing ovation?
PMC
November 23rd, 2011
1:29 pm
I’m sure now that they have at least 7.5 million to spend next year, they’ll be able to find someone before Spring Training that can play short stop.
dap01
November 23rd, 2011
1:35 pm
Actually Hicks would be just as good as Wilson, Gonzolas, or any other defensive SS that our budget will allow. What are your thoughts?
If we want a .240 hitting SS that can hit 10 hrs, we already have him in Hicks. Hicks would be good if he was hitting 8th and there was some (any) outfield production.
PMC
November 23rd, 2011
1:36 pm
Does Terdoslavich have good mobility and an above average throwing arm?
fishy
November 23rd, 2011
1:36 pm
Bring back the Thrashers
Obozonomics
November 23rd, 2011
1:38 pm
Quick find some occupy people to protest this 1% salaries….
ATLcracker
November 23rd, 2011
1:40 pm
Just read Dave O’Brien’s article where an Arizona Fall League scout compared Atlanta draft pick LHP Sean Gilmartin to Steve Avery. I wonder if some of you younger fans realize how good Avery was before he got hurt. Last 3 full years before the injury 667 innings pitched W-L 47-25 ERA 3.24 376 SO. In the 1991 NLCS against the Pirates with Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, Bobby Bonilla et al he pitched two consecutive 1-0 shutouts. Truly a tragedy his career ended so soon.
jim
November 23rd, 2011
1:42 pm
SS is primarily a defense-first position. Given Chipper’s statuesque range at 3B, the Braves cannot afford a below average defensive SS (Pastornicky) or the left side of the infiield will be where grounders go to become base hits. Unless in the unlikely event they sign one of the two R’s, they are unlikey to find much (if any) of an upgrade over Gonzo on the market short of a trade.
Harvey's
November 23rd, 2011
1:46 pm
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
jim
November 23rd, 2011
1:51 pm
At this stage of his career Avery threw in the mid 90’s. He was a consensus top 5 draft pick when he was selected. Avery did not have very good seasonal numbers in ‘95, but he pitched well down the stretch, including the clinching game against Cincinnati in the Divisional Series, and Game 4 of the World Series.
TruthSeeker
November 23rd, 2011
1:59 pm
If Wren coukd get Nunez for Jurrjens, he should jump at that deal. Is it equal value? Probably not, but considering that Jurrjens’ stock is at an all-time low right now, it’s probably about as well as Wren could do to get a versatile player with a quality bat who can bridge the gap at SS until Pastornicky is ready. Then, down the road, Nunez could possibly be Chipper’s replacement at 3B.
A player like Nunez would have a ton of value to fhe Braves, and we have the necessary trade chip to get him.
JC Brave
November 23rd, 2011
2:01 pm
Then, down the road, Nunez could possibly be Chipper’s replacement at 3B
HeII no!
BDUD1
November 23rd, 2011
2:04 pm
Why dont the Braves just move Prado to short, Use the money not spent on Gonzalez, add it to the kiddy and find a bat in left field..?
Fundamentals folks, Fundamentals……
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
2:06 pm
Josh Willingham is 33, hits .240 & he’s from Alabama.
From a PR standpoint he’d be perfect fit in Atlanta.
I’ll pencil him in for LF.
Let the solo HRS commence ! I’ll have to order extra fireworks for next season !
Jose Reyes
November 23rd, 2011
2:06 pm
Please pick me up Braves.
Steve
November 23rd, 2011
2:08 pm
Can we trade Frank Wren?
nelson
November 23rd, 2011
2:09 pm
finally , bye bye gonzales
sign reyes cmon wren..
bravo-n-knoxville
November 23rd, 2011
2:10 pm
Yunel “Kangaroo Kid” Escobar was a waste due to his ‘tude and lack of hustle. You know…useless as titz on a boar hog with saber like teeth protruding from ‘dem jaws…no thanks!!!
Jack Wilson will probably be re-signed for about $1.25-1.5 million for 2012 and serve as our starting day SS…unless Tyler Pastornicky wears it out this spring…imho.
Jose Reyes
November 23rd, 2011
2:13 pm
Jerry Seinfeld named his woggie dawg after me. Frank, if you pick me up, Jerry will have no choice but to trade his Mets hat in for a Braves hat. I’m his favorite Met player ever you know. Think of the publicity….Maybe Seinfeld will even do the tomahawk chop.
dap01
November 23rd, 2011
2:14 pm
DOB: If the Braves are going to go with a defensive SS (meaning no offense), then why don’t they let Hicks man the position for 1/2 of the year and then turn it over to Pastornicky? Isn’t Hicks defensively strong?
The line up will be fine with Hicks hitting 8th, if there are legit hitters in 1-7 in the lineup.
What are your thoughts?
Native Atlanta
November 23rd, 2011
2:14 pm
No matter what the Braves do, Im betting it will be the wrong decision in the long run.
hop
November 23rd, 2011
2:14 pm
another bad trade by frank wren and the braves.
the braves will be worse in 2012 as the east becomes stronger.
Brave New World
November 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Sign Jimmy Rollins. We get a gold glove, switch-hitting shortstop with leadership ability who can steal 30 bases, and hit about .270 with some power. His 3-4 years at $12 million – $15 million per year will feel like a budget pinch in 2012, but with Chipper and Lowe off the books in 2013, it will be just fine. Plus, we automatically weaken the aging Phils’ line up even further.
Nerdbucket Moylan
November 23rd, 2011
2:27 pm
I know DOB vehemently disagrees to this day, but trading Escobar at mid-season (we had 2nd best record in MLB at the time) helped to kill this team in 2010. We dealt Blanco whose OBP was .394 in 2010 for RicK AnKiel obp=garbage. Wren helped to stifle the heck out of the team in 2010. We looked primed for a playoff run before these moves.. We already had low obp mccout, melky, and other jokes in the lineup bringing the OBP down. At the time of the Escobar trade, 95% of this blog heralded it as a fantastic trade. Joke. If we HAD to deal escobar do it in the offseason. Booby only had a half season left to go and we already had our eyes set on a cuban manager for next season Maybe they could’ve meshed? Lest we forget, Chipper defends Escobar to this day. Ozzie 12:40pm pretty nice post,man. Something is wrong with our talent evaluation somewhere. KK, Lowe, Mccout, Alex Gonzalez, Rick Ankiel, Melky Cabrera, Jack Wilson, Scott Linebrink. We are striking out way too often….Wren ultimately calls the shots so we need to put the heat on him.
jim
November 23rd, 2011
2:36 pm
BDUD,
PRADO CAN’T PLAY SS !!!!!!!!
Why not Nunez as a bridge to Pastornicky? Nunez >> Pastornicky
jim
November 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
Sign Rollins, …. we automatically weaken the aging Phillies —
Rollins is one of the AGING Phillies. His nubers and playing time have been down the last 2 years, and he will demand and get a multiyear contract. We don’t want to be part of hat contract 3-4 years out.
Pissed off Ralphus
November 23rd, 2011
2:41 pm
Trade Pastornicky for a Pastor’s blessing, a DVD of Little Nicky, some popcorn and go get a proven Jose Reyes! It’s time to let the past go (Yunel/Gonzo), quit farting around and go for a proven stud.
Nerdbucket Moylan
November 23rd, 2011
2:53 pm
Jamey Carroll would have been the right signing for our current situation. Twins had to give him $6.5 mil over 2 years and we shouldve offered the same. Seems reasonable to me, what about ya’ll? I know that he turns 38 this winter, but consider that he’s consistently a well above average obp producer, .(356 career), and he’s versatile. Also, consider the fact that if Pastornicky, (or Simmons though unlikely), shows that he’s ready late in 2012 then Carroll becomes trade bait or he fills conrad’s role. Those bloggers calling for Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins should just save their keyboard.
richbrave
November 23rd, 2011
2:54 pm
Oh stop with the silliness! Don’t you realize that WREN intends to leave A-GON’s position vacant, and play with no SS next season.
It’s a plan to cut payroll don’t you see. We really only need three infielders with the way JONES – UGGLA – FREEMAN handle the glove.
Rumors are that BOURNE will be shaded over in left center and HEYWARD in right center with no third outfielder either.
VOILA! All we need now is a utility bench player to back up PRADO at SS when we want to flood the infield against the better hitting teams. CONRAD is out.
BRILLIANT plan don’t you think?
Playoffs!!!
November 23rd, 2011
2:59 pm
If Escobar is so much of clubhouse problem, why did the Blue Jays give him a 2-year $9 million contract recently?
He didn’t fit in here? Maybe we should have got rid of the rest of the team and kept Yunel
Just a thought.
Pissed off Ralphus
November 23rd, 2011
3:02 pm
LOL@richbrave. Leave the position vacant……LOL! Couldn’t do any worse than we did in September!!!!
zorba
November 23rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Elvis come back in a trade sending Wren away. That Texeira deal was one of the worst in the Major Leagues in the last ten years. Ugh…
glove51
November 23rd, 2011
3:23 pm
The Vasquez trade was a SLAM DUNK WINNER for the Braves. How anyone can question that deal and still comment on any player personnel decision is beyond me.
James
November 23rd, 2011
3:27 pm
@ Around The Horn
It wasnt that the Braves wanted Gonzales badly,it was more of them badly wanting to rid themselves of Escobar.
smalltownbravesfan
November 23rd, 2011
3:29 pm
just imagine for 1 moment that we do not make the trade with Texas, Andrus is @ ss, Harrison and Feliz in starting rotation. WOW Hudson, Hanson, Feliz, Harrison, Minor, Teheran, Beachy etc…..
James
November 23rd, 2011
3:29 pm
@zorba
Well said..
smalltownbravesfan
November 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
also have Salty as back-up catcher and first baseman
Mr. Enigma
November 23rd, 2011
3:37 pm
For as frustrating as he was to watch hit, Gonzalez was the only guy worth a damn at the plate in September.
Even in that one game when he tried to come back from the calf injury and had to come out later, he still cranked a RBI double the opposite way off Cliff Lee.
But like Chipper said, there seemed to be some supernatural forces going against the Braves in September. Of course the one guy who has it figured out at the plate gets injured and knocked out of the last 10 games of the season.
Just wasn’t meant to be in 2011.
Mr. Enigma
November 23rd, 2011
3:40 pm
smalltownbravesfan
Don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but Matt Harrison isn’t exactly panning out as planned for the Rangers. 2008-2010 were very ugly for him. Though he did have a nice season this year, he wasn’t very good in the playoffs.
PMC
November 23rd, 2011
3:52 pm
Richbrave, clever. But I was planning on them signing Ghostman for short and left.
Ghostman is a terrible fielder, but he always seems be on base.
J-Man
November 23rd, 2011
4:22 pm
Any news on Nunez from the Yankees coming here?
crm300
November 23rd, 2011
4:27 pm
You clowns that think Frank Wren has done such a bad job should do the same analysis of every other team in baseball. No GM makes all the right moves. Funny how the Braves are always in contention for a playoff spot with such a bad GM! Get some perspective!!
Plate Appearance
November 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
WREN’S TRADE POLICY
Wren has stated his trade policy as that of being “SURE to strengthen the Braves” — per DOB’S blog.
I guess in 2010 that policy wasn’t yet in effect with the Y. Escobar for A. Gonzalez trade.
That trade sure does look pretty bad now Frank — especially with your apparent need to make another trade now for a SS — and with Yunel flourishing in Toronto.
Go Go you Pilots
November 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
Well now that the Braves decide to let Gonzalez go he will sign with Miami Marlins n play shortstop for Ozzie Guillen….which will get them 15 more wins and a wildcard spot next season while we watch from sidelines again….Way Go Wren u like don waddell screw up and one thing is Braves will stay anyway just as the thrashers under ASG.And another is Houston be in AL in 2013 playin ball in west with Texas n La angels and Oakland A’s and seatlle ….And next in news The sale of Tampa to Montreal and they be playin in canada in 2014!
Liberty Media CEO
November 23rd, 2011
4:43 pm
You mean we own the Braves?
Farnsworthy
November 23rd, 2011
4:44 pm
Alex who?
Go Go you Pilots
November 23rd, 2011
4:46 pm
Yea some reason why a Manager who kept cap tippin at other team and sayin to Larussa Its yours now…and fast u can say Bobby cox was here we choked Just as Redsox choke and while Wren was sleepin Phillies get the redsox relief Pitcher which means Phillys will win east again.chipper will say again we better then them and we will Lose to them…..Marlins make wildcard in Ozzie Gullien first year and will show love as he will throw at braves next year n hit chipper Jones in leg and he run home to Farm!
Alex No Can Hit
November 23rd, 2011
4:47 pm
Thank God ! Alex was an automatic out. Good riddance !
Bob
November 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
I’m thinking this arbitration formula is all wrong. How ’bout taking the amount the player thinks he is worth and adding the amount the team wants to pay. Then divide by two. Seems fair to all corncerned?
bobbyc
November 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
Actually I would love to see the Braves trade for Hanley if the Marlins sign Reyes or make a go at Bonafacio bc he can serve at SS and then when Pastornicky or anyone of the young SS prove worthy he can move to CF or be used as a Infante type.
Nerdbucket Moylan
November 23rd, 2011
4:52 pm
Its clearly obvious that Wren does not value OBP. He should be fired immediately. Most of the homers on the blogs love trades for the sake of trading. Thus, most bloggers love Wren because he makes a lot of moves (and boy does he rush). And the large majority of those moves have gone to hell. What do we have to show for his tenure thus far? One playoff appearance? We’ve got holes at SS (he created that hole), left field, second base low obp brought in by wren, going to have a hole at 3b next season (nobody in minors), gonna have a hole in CF as it stands now after this season. I know this has been incredibly negative… but Wren has to go!!
2 hot scott
November 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
Here’s an idea, resign Wilson to a 2 year deal. Let him start opening day until June at shortstop, give Pastornicky 2 months at AAA to get his swing down and bring him up. Wilson moves to the utility infielder role for the next year and a half, and is insurance in case Tyler or Simmons isn’t ready. As for trading Prado, then who’s your opening day 3rd baseman in 2013? If Pastornicky and Simmons are the real deal, who’s better suited to move from short to 3rd base? Either trade Jurrjens for a power-hitting 3rd base or outfield prospect who will be ready in 2013.
Yunel's Crappy Attitude
November 23rd, 2011
5:07 pm
I am an immature douche bag and wore my welcome out in Atlanta and will do the same in Toronto. Go Fidel
garynpOH
November 23rd, 2011
5:11 pm
really Yunel was a jerk, if you weren’t one the bench then you don’t know have a clue of the negative impact he had. this may have been more than just bad chemistry but who’s to say, rednecks……
amazing how wise and insightful some people can be
Nerdbucket Moylan
November 23rd, 2011
5:12 pm
Here’s an idea-deal Minor and Vizcaino for Yonder Alonso and a reds first round pick. (Something along those lines) I know Alonso is left handed blah blah. He could actually play some third if needed, and could potentially take over for Chipper at third in 2013. Reds desperately need sp and the end of their pen with Arodys and Chapman would be sick. Alonso=high obp and power, plus he’s he’s young, cheap, and controllable. We’ve got SP depth to deal from…just crossing my fingers that Tommy H lets his arm heal. Only way those rotator cuff tears will fix themselves.
HAL
November 23rd, 2011
5:25 pm
heywards trajectory looks like somone whjo died two years ago FLATLINE!!!!!
Daniel
November 23rd, 2011
5:34 pm
Shift Prado to SS. Problem solved.
Now we need some LF from trade or free agency. Cant be that hard to improve on Prados 2011 Production in LF and theres little doubt Prado will hit better this year according to his career averages. He’s also been sound defensively at 3rd, and above average at 2b So I think he would be a avg fielding SS with a .280/.340 bat.
So now, the only hole is LF, assuming Heyward returns to projections, which is a whole new topic.
Coach (2011 Fredi G. FAILED)
November 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
Braves…..broke ass bastards.
Nerdbucket Moylan
November 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
Daniel, Prado should have been our SS last season. Sticking with grumpyface gonzo last season and his garbage below .300 obp tells me that braves mgmt doesnt believe that Prado is capable of playing ss. I wholeheartedly agree with you, though.
James
November 23rd, 2011
5:58 pm
@ crm300
Hello Mr Wren!!
ohhhYEAH
November 23rd, 2011
6:09 pm
Too bad Wren wasnt smart enough to go after Seizmore like i suggested THE DAY AFTER the Indiands let him go. now they re sign him for FIVE MILLION? which, coincidentally is exactly what we saved on Lowes contract this year. Good one Wren. Yeah i know Grady has had health problems the past two years but honestly, are we gonna find anyone with more upside for that price? nope
Packer Ed
November 23rd, 2011
6:10 pm
Good old Frankie Wren, the inept General manager of the Atlanta Braves hired and kept by Liberty Media/Time Warner,
Frankie’s motto, play rookies and I will overpay 2nd tier free agents.
And if that does not work, lets make trades to shake it up.
If Frank Wren were a ship he would be a ship without a rudder.
Yunel Escobar
November 23rd, 2011
6:31 pm
Booby Cox and Terry Pendleton messed with Yunel’s head too much, and try to make me do unnatural things with the bat.
If Chipper doesn’t like you for some reason, you will be in Chipper’s dog house. He can sit on bench with an inflamed hemorrhoid or ingrown toenail; but he’ll tell the media that a teammate is lazy or not playing hard enough.
I miss Atlanta and my fans there. But in Toronto they realize they have shortstop for many years to come while Frank Wren is scouring the minor leagues looking for yet another shortstop in Atlanta.
Frank Wren es el loco !
gcs
November 23rd, 2011
6:32 pm
I guess now we can call him A-Gone.
Bill
November 23rd, 2011
6:34 pm
Holy Cow! some of you GM’s need to cool it…you don’t just trade for someone because you want them..the other team has to get equal value. Frank Wren is doing a good job. Damn its not even Winter meeting time yet..FW will get the job done but it takes two to make a trade. Some on the names fans asking for make you lol…..
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
6:34 pm
If Mark Cuban bought the Braves I’d have even more money to waste on aging, over-the-hill free agents. I could even give Chipper a big fat raise.
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
6:41 pm
In 2010 Derek Lowe was paid $15 million for an ERA over 5.00; Kawakami got $7 million for not even playing. McLouth got $8 million for hitting, well, I won’t mention that; and Uggla got $14 million for hitting .232 with a bushel of solo home runs.
Wow ! That was half the team payroll !
Thank you Liberty Media for allowing me to keep my job another year !
If this were Boston, New York or Philly, towns that have a real media,my a** would have been fired !
O-me
November 23rd, 2011
6:48 pm
Frank Wren you not in Boston,NY,etc..you in Atlanta Ga. That says it all.
Sam
November 23rd, 2011
7:05 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team. Wants to go to GT
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
Joe
November 23rd, 2011
7:05 pm
Braves should sign Rafael Furcal he’s a free agent now.
Tampa Gator
November 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
Tim Hudson….average at best???????
Making the all-star team and consistenly being the best pitcher on the team……when not injured…..is far from average. Without Hudson, the Braves would have won 10 to 15 less games last year. Hardly average performance type stuff. When on, and most often he is, Hudson is still one of the most reliable and hard to hit pitchers in baseball. The Braves almost always are in the game when Huddy pitchers….almost every time. That is again….far from average…..what he is….is an intense competitor who hates to lose….and the Braves need a lot more Hudsons on their team.
Tampa Gator
November 23rd, 2011
7:27 pm
That should have read……..”when Huddy pitches”….not “pitchers”
Tampa Gator
November 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
Is Sam repeatingly posting a site for a virus or something…..and how long will he continue to post the same thing over and over again????? Any bets??????
Tampa Gator
November 23rd, 2011
7:31 pm
Toronto can have Escobar……..and Atlanta fans hated him when he was here….and he was inconsistent, lazy, and a cancer in the clubhouse……all of which Gonzalez was not. Too bad he also forgot to hit when he came here for some reason. But I think Braves fans will begin to miss Mr. Gonzalez this summer when balls go up the middle and are not picked for outs or double plays….and turn into game winning singles or game changing singles.
Pete
November 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
even thought the braves did not offer AGon arbitration, they could still sign him to a contract.
BartBuzz
November 23rd, 2011
8:00 pm
The Braves need a SS who can hit and an OF with some punch. Maybe the new pitching coach can turn things around. But I know that’s wishful thinking.
jim
November 23rd, 2011
8:02 pm
If we can’t have a SS that can hit AND field, then it is better to have one who can field and not hit, than one who can hit but not field.
SmyrnaBob
November 23rd, 2011
8:09 pm
I say wait until after the first round of HGH testing before signing anyone.
garynpOH
November 23rd, 2011
8:22 pm
i think Sizemore would have been a good addition as well. Has all the talent but the injury risk is a concern
michael
November 23rd, 2011
8:23 pm
I salute all the braves fans that understand the value of a proven reliable defensive shortstop. Not to disparage Mr. wren but he rationalized spending $15 million a year for Lowe and over $6 mil a year for Kawakami when the thought was we were short on pitching. They were signed as a “bridge” to our younger hurlers coming to ATL. These were players that played every 4 or 5 days. Gonzalez is an everyday player superb as a defensive anchor to the infield and the thought is $6-7 mil over 2 years is too much. I don.t understand the logic. If he needs to be traded, there will be a market for a player of Gonzalez’ skills over the next 2 years. I agree with the person that said that fans will miss Gonzalez when they see innings prolonged by average play at shortstop.
If the Braves have championship hopes, not investing in defense at shortstop is like doubling down on a 16 against a 10 in Vegas. It’s one thing if we’re going to sign Rollins or Reyes.but that’s not going to happen.
Delbert D.
November 23rd, 2011
8:31 pm
Wilson, SS Prado, 3B
Spot Jones at 3rd, pinch hit role when he’s able to perform.
Somebody in the organization can play left field, can’t they? Hinske?
This is a transitional year. 3rd place, best shot. Next year, Jones’ salary is off the books.
Braves20
November 23rd, 2011
8:58 pm
Good move removing an anchor that has been around our neck for the past year and a half. Average fielder, lousy hitter and absolutely no hustle.
mayorbob
November 23rd, 2011
9:00 pm
I could strike-out Alex G….
FDR
November 23rd, 2011
9:20 pm
September 2011:A choke that will live in infamy.
Frank Wren
November 23rd, 2011
9:24 pm
Why does uncle John always say that I have rocks for brains?
Nat Freemont
November 23rd, 2011
9:30 pm
The escobar trade for Gonzo – we got the best of them till Wren gave up Tim Collins who will be a biggy in years to come – Yunel will be a solid SS for many years to come but he pouted more the Gonzo.
smallmouth6
November 23rd, 2011
9:53 pm
Harvey’s: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ (most boring comment found in a blog)
smallmouth6
November 23rd, 2011
9:55 pm
FDR: Probably not. It was bad, but it still was just for a wild card spot.
Chief Noc-A Homa
November 23rd, 2011
10:02 pm
braves want to get rid of AG, NOWAY! braves announcers said he was one of the greatest ss in baseball!
Honest Ingine
November 23rd, 2011
10:17 pm
HEY, Wren was talking about Freddie Gonzalez……not Alex…. LOL
SoWeGa Fanatic
November 23rd, 2011
10:54 pm
When traded, Escobar wasn’t hitting his weight, was a cancer in the clubhouse, extremely low class, egotistical, and a crybaby, so why would anyone want him on a team? He is his own team.
Bill
November 23rd, 2011
11:56 pm
Sam give it a break. The kid will sign with someone.
Mike Mangan
November 24th, 2011
12:13 am
Who will open the season at SS ? Dont be surprised if it’s Raffy Furcal..I am sure by now the need at short will make John S and Frank W all but forget the past debacle,Maybe he can find lightning in the bottle(poor choice of words,Sorry)and Furcal can rejuvenate his career which began ti turn around when he left L/A…As for outfielders,No arbitration for Ryan Ludwick and yes I still like him better than Matt Diaz,He is worth a look.
mike
November 24th, 2011
6:53 am
Was not a fan of Gonzo or Escobar, both had their momentary lapses fielding routine groundballs. Escobar’s attitude stunk up the clubhouse, Gonzo had a couple of embarrassing moments where he stood in the batters box admiring a would be home run when it bounced off the wall. I’m good with Pastrinicky , who we got in the trade.
vermont 39
November 24th, 2011
7:32 am
Go Braves…too much hate going on here!!!
Yunel is old bad news and Gonzalez is GONE!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Or is it just a Northern Holiday!!!
C. Tampa Ironworse
November 24th, 2011
8:29 am
DOB is now reporting Braves MIGHT sign Mark Cuban. Is that true, Dave? Or just another made up story?
Bill
November 24th, 2011
8:47 am
Happy Thankgiving DOB and Braves Fans..Eat well!
BRAVESNATION4EVER
November 24th, 2011
9:21 am
Never mind yunel escobar or even Alex Gonzalez because they were not elite shortstops according to the BRAVES-not to mention this ATLANTA team has not even had an elite shortstop since RAFAEL FURCAL and the BRAVES are still looking for a total quality shortstop like FURCAL. GO BRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hoho
November 24th, 2011
9:35 am
Yeah, happy thanksgiving!
Why do people keep suggesting Prado can play SS? He can’t. But I do like the idea of holding onto him & giving him another another shot in LF or 3B in case (most likely when) Chipper gets injured.
Hopefully, Wren is talking to J. Wilson for the stopgap SS position & that’ll be pretty good. The Braves have the pieces; they just need them to perform in 2012.
fordcobra
November 24th, 2011
9:46 am
@Mike#1
They always do! The Braves buy them when they came off of a tremendous year they come to Atlanta and forget how to play the game. SAD!
bravesfanbob
November 24th, 2011
10:50 am
For the people who are wanting Jose Reyes, just remember over the last 3 years, he has played 295 games. Chipper has played 364 games over the last 3 years, and he’s 40. Reyes is a speedy guy who has major hamstring problems. If he means so much to his team, then why weren’t the Mets a .500 any of the last 3 years? As far as Gonzo, he played great defense, and did as well overall as any $2.5 Million shortstop in the league. There’s still the chance the Braves re-sign him to a 1 year for about the same money. Jack Wilson is a free agent, by the way. If you have any ideas at shortstop, well go to this site…http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/players/?tcid=nav_mlb_players and tell me who out of those we could get to improve the position. Shortstop is in a major downtrend now that steroid testing is in MLB. It’s back to the way it was before the 1990’s. We need to worry about left field. A trade bottling JJ and Prado could net us a large bat. Then the shortstop worries are a lot less to think about.
Frank Wren
November 24th, 2011
11:07 am
I am getting rid of Alex because he hit 240 last year. As you know, I prefer 230 hitters.
Skeezix
November 24th, 2011
11:24 am
I usually don’t stay up late but last night I stayed up and watched the Duke/Kansas game at the tournament in Maui. Wow! Instant classic. Reminded me of why I love NCAA basketball.
Pogo
November 24th, 2011
11:40 am
Prado at shortstop? Then you have another .250 hitter in the lineup, only this one can’t field either.
garynpohio
November 24th, 2011
11:41 am
seemed like we did well with Rafeal Belliard back in the day. so maybe Agone gets another one year deal. if not we use no hit wilson until the young guys come up. There is no way we will see money spent for a hitting SS this year. of course even if we traded Wilson for Braun or Kemp there are those that would complain.
Baseball Fan
November 24th, 2011
12:49 pm
“don’t know whatcha got till it’s gone !!!
Gonzo did a fine job at SS, the most difficult defensive position in the infield. If we had more offensive consistancy at 3rd then Gonzo’s bat would be just fine. Offense at 3rd is easier to replace than defense at SS.
msapirate
November 24th, 2011
1:12 pm
This is pretty immaterial. I don’t see why Wren would commit himself to bringing Gonzalez back so early in the offseason when finding a comparable replacement could be cheaper and relatively simple; good glove, no bat. Teams win every year with challenges at shortstop.
Explore any trade opportunities available, sign a veteran stopgap while the prospects further develop. Just don’t give this action (or lack of) any more attention than it deserves within a long offseason of numerous opportunities for an active GM (Wren). Resigning a veteran journeyman isn’t necessary vital when you examine the overall direction the club is taking.
Busch Leaguer
November 24th, 2011
1:25 pm
The Braves have an abundance of starting pitching,they also have a tight budget . The Red Sox need starting pitching. How about a trade? Minor or Beachy or maybe Delgado to the Red Sox for Jed Lowrie and maybe OF Josh Reddick. Both of these Red Sox meet Frank Wren’s #1 requirement they both make less than $500,000 a year and neither is arbitration eligible for at least 2 years.
Hit A Single
November 24th, 2011
2:46 pm
Gonzalez = way too many strikeouts. Defense was great all year. Just looked like he was so down on himself all year.
Hit A Single
November 24th, 2011
2:47 pm
Josh Reddick is the replacement for J.D. Drew. Red Sox have been grooming him for that.
Busch Leaguer
November 24th, 2011
2:50 pm
If Reddick is too valuable for the Red sox to give up ,then how about 3B prospect Will Middlebrooks?
Busch Leaguer
November 24th, 2011
3:45 pm
It appears that the Braves massive collapse in 2011 has not motivated Frank Wren to make any major moves to improve the 2012 team. I hope the front office will keep all of their options open during the MLB winter meetings. If the Braves hope too keep pace in their division the offense will need a major upgrade from last year.Maybe Wren is hoping that Uggla will step up and carry the load and McCann will bounce back from his late season swoon,and Chipper will find the fountain of youth”and be able to play more than 125 games next year. Maybe Heyward will figure it out and prove he can hit major league pitching.Maybe Freddie Gonzalez will learn from last year and improve his game. Sure sounds like too many “Maybes” to me.
atlantamelo
November 24th, 2011
4:10 pm
I hope fw is just double talking us and is serious discussions with Rollins. What a coup that would be. I’m hoping our talks with KC are still open for jj and Martin. We may as well get something for jj, we know we won’t be able to resign him cause of Boras and I just don’t think Martin is happy in lf and/or back to super utility role. I’m hoping we can get this Seth Smith kid, his splits are awesome and would be perfect platoon with Matty D. AND, if we could somehow get this Moustakas kid, that would be awesome. I think he can play some outfield and would be our next 3rd baseman for years once Chipper retires. I’m not a Chipper hater, frankly it irritates me when you so called Bravo’s fans trash him. True we have to deal with his injuries during his last hurrah, but if you were watching, he was a big plus with the bat when he was in there and he deserves our respect. If we somehow ended up with Rollins, Seth Smith, Moustakas, and maybe a reliever, we’d be set. Heck, we had the 3rd best record in the majors with a month left to play. No one can explain why what happenned happenned, surely that slump is forever buried and forgotten.
ohhhhYEAH
November 24th, 2011
4:16 pm
JACK WILSON? what a joke. whoever just said that was a good option clearly didnt watch every single one of his painful at bats last year for us
Busch Leaguer
November 24th, 2011
5:01 pm
Jack Wilson is gone , The Braves invited Josh Wilson to spring training ,he used to be a Brewer.
bravesfaninNashville
November 24th, 2011
7:51 pm
People can we FOR THE LAST TIME see that Prado is NOT a SS. There is no way could play there and be an asset to the Braves. His best position is 2B and he is a serviceable 3B with not enough power to take up a corner spot on a team looking to win. If Frank Wren can get any value for him terms of outfield prospects he needs to do it because he’s about to be a highly paid back-up.
Logan
November 24th, 2011
9:05 pm
Please do not speed read the first sentence in the 7:51pm post.
Brava
November 25th, 2011
12:06 am
Sorry, Logan, I read it and agree. Prado is not an option at SS, a position he does not play.
The Mick
November 25th, 2011
9:52 am
Say no to Lugo…..We can do better….Sign Gozo for1 year.. He is better than anyone else out there that is available for the same amount of money.
Random
November 25th, 2011
11:28 am
Gumby (November 23rd, 2011 12:48 pm): “In my opinion this is stupid. Alex is great defensively, seems to be well liked, he still hit .241, and now they have to sign a bridge to Pastornicky!!! Hello, you already had one and his name was Alex Gonzalez. Keep him. Find the money and let him be the bridge and mentor.”
I totally agree.
Thanks for sparing me the time to come up with similar words myself.
oh
November 25th, 2011
11:33 am
for the last time see that prado is not a-ss (1st line Logan) lol
Ozzie
November 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
The 2B market is drying up so at some point Prado will hit peak value and Wren is going to trade him. Furcal is fading but he wants a multi year deal and ideally to stay with Cards.
Sam
November 25th, 2011
12:52 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team.
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
CJ from VT
November 25th, 2011
1:04 pm
The Braves should get RH 1B Curt Smith (late of the Dutch National Team, where he hit a ton). He went to college in the northeast (at Maine-so you might not have heard of him) and played for us here in Vermont (on 2 NECBL Championship teams), and he probably won’t hit for a ton of power at the major league level, but he is a great pure hitter (he was just unlucky enough to be stuck in the minors behind Albert Pujols), and is deadly vs. leftys. He’d make a great right handed pinch hitter or minor league insurance at Gwinette and he is a great guy in the clubhouse(he’s from Curacao’ like JJ and Andruw before him). Can someone forward this to Frank Wren, Bruce Manno & Co. please?
jb
November 25th, 2011
1:53 pm
Sam u – r- a idiot
Brava
November 25th, 2011
3:06 pm
Just want to weigh in that I think Wren is making a big mistake here. Gonzalez, while less than average on offense, is one heck of a great defensive SS. One of the big positives of the 2011 season was the Braves’ much improved defense and a lot of the credit for it goes to Gonzo. I just don’t see how Wren signs a SS to be a bridge to Pastornicky for one season without compromising the team’s defense. Unless I’m totally missing something about available shortstops, there doesn’t appear to be any better options available for a one-year signing.
Alex BYE BYE Baby
November 25th, 2011
4:57 pm
I like the idea of signing Jimmy Rollins too.
garynpohio
November 25th, 2011
7:12 pm
is sam trying to lure people to a virus or is the guy in the video his son, give it a rest.
Sam the Retard
November 25th, 2011
10:04 pm
I am Sam and I poopied my pants. Can I have an ice pop? Will you watch my silly video or I will have a conniption fit and cry rape.
Braves FaN
November 26th, 2011
12:03 am
Jimmy Rollins is a winner who will play with a chip on his shoulder. Bat him leadoff and move Bourn down to 2nd in the lineup with his high average and contact skills. Try to get Quentin from the White Sox or maybe someone like Thames from Toronto to play left field.
Braves FaN
November 26th, 2011
12:04 am
Oh yeah, PRADO CANNOT PLAY SS!! Just wanted to say what’s been said a million times, lol.
jb
November 26th, 2011
8:42 am
Just say no to Gonzalez and Wilson. Sign Ronny Cedeno for one year. The kid can pick’m with great range. The bridge to no where!
Bernie
November 26th, 2011
9:01 am
Well I’ve noticed besides getting rid of Derek Lowe nothing’s happened. Well Braves fans get ready for the same old season next year because Mr. Wrenn is going to sit pat with the same players he had last year with no one that can hit besides Bourn. Jurjiens and Hanson will still be on the team with no real input because they will probably get hurt again. And Heyward will still be standing around with his same old lowing 200 batting average. Mr. Wrenn please give us something to hope for next season.
bamabrave
November 26th, 2011
9:20 am
Why is everyone so in love with Pastornicky? Another bust
MR
November 26th, 2011
7:04 pm
What’s next Frank? Another rebuilding year disguised as a legit run at the WS? I jest of course, I know you’ll never have a legit chance at winning anything, but I am interested in what two glaring weak spots on the team you’ll be ignoring this upcoming season only to partly address them too late in the season.
Frank Wren
November 26th, 2011
8:09 pm
Everything is well in hand. You may not see the Braves signing any great players that could help us win, but behind the scenes, rest assured that I have a secret plan to win the World Series.
Trust me.
phil
November 26th, 2011
8:52 pm
I forget…
How did we end up in the playoffs this year? You know, the ones we were sure to make back in late August?
Who cares about Gonzo….pitiful hitter.
Erk
November 26th, 2011
9:56 pm
Why would Tony Gonzales want to play for the Braves…
why
November 26th, 2011
10:27 pm
Why would anyone wish to play for Braves?
Gray
November 27th, 2011
12:16 am
When Wren traded Escobar, Yunel had an attitude problem, which everybody knew was detrimental to the team. He’d gotten lazy and sluggish,in his defense.
So, Wren brings in a shortstop, who changed that and, now, that Alex has become an expensive comodity, everybody thinks Wren should quit.
I, for one, see this a business!
G. Tampa Bedwetter
November 27th, 2011
12:22 am
HIRE BOBBY COX ! ! !
HuH?
November 27th, 2011
1:24 am
Just read Billy Martin complaining (again) and suggesting the Braves will be better off without Chipper Jones(again).
Jones is the best position player in Braves history, and still one of the best three or four 3rd basemen playing today…at 40 years old, mol.
phil
November 27th, 2011
10:14 am
Why should the Braves be offering Tony Gonzalez anything, he plays for the Falcons. Bunch of dummies, they will never make the playoffs.
phil
November 27th, 2011
10:18 am
Liberty should move the Braves to Tijuana, because I’ll never go to another game, so there is no need for them to be here.
bravesfaninNashville
November 27th, 2011
2:45 pm
I understand wanting to have a surplus of pitching because of injuries but if you don’t have enough good position players it doesn’t matter how much good pitching you have sitting in the minors while your major league SS, LF and RF are performing way under league averages. We could get at least ONE stud OF prospect for ONE of these great pitching prospects. If we did that we could survive with a plus defender at SS that has at least a speed component to his game. We need an outfielder that has as much promise as Fredi Freeman at 1B. I know we aren’t giving up on Heyward and he may prove to have a breakout year this year but in order to take some pressure of him we need a stick in LF that can ad the respect that Dan Uggla does to the middle of the order.
Laughing Jack (OUT LOUD)
November 27th, 2011
4:59 pm
I am glad Braves management doesn’t sit around like fans talking about the past failures, or how things didn’t work out, or we should never have traded, nor ought to have paid. The Braves management seem to go about their business with an eye on the future. What do we need to continue fielding a competitive team? Also, I’m not so sure you can lay blame for team failure at the feet of Liberty Mutual’s purse strings. The man at Liberty Mutual is not pulling the strings on the Braves as a George Stinebrenner or any other millionaire owner. Fan comments here continue to amuse me.
K-man
November 27th, 2011
5:43 pm
I just looked at the Baseball America August 10, 2011 article on National League players with the best Tools. Their rankings had:
1) Jair Jurrjens ranked as the 2nd best Pitcher in the NL behind Roy Halladay and in front of 3rd place Clayton Kershaw, who recently won the Cy Young award for 2011..
2) Brian McCann ranked as the 3rd best NL Defensive Catcher (he was 2nd best in 2010),
3) Michael Bourn ranked number 1 as the NL Best Defensive Outfielder, NL Best Bunter, NL Best Baserunner, and NL Fastest Baserunner
4) Martin Prado ranked as the Number 2 Best NL Hit-and-Run Artist (he was ranked the 2nd Best NL Defensive 2B in 2010)
Makes sense to me that the Braves would ask for a lot in any potential deal involving Jurrjens or Prado. Better yet, I’d rather keep both of them. But, I can understand if Frank Wren thought the best way to improve the Braves was to deal from the surplus we have in Starting Pitching by dealing Jurrjens, as long as he gets good value in return.
So, for you amateur [read that terrible] evaluators of Jurrjens, McCann, and Prado skills… Shut up — your ignorance is truly showing.
wjones
November 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
“phil
November 27th, 2011
10:18 am
Liberty should move the Braves to Tijuana, because I’ll never go to another game, so there is no need for them to be here.”
Well, I guess that settles that.
bravesfaninNashville
November 27th, 2011
6:44 pm
K-man….. Well said… totally agree about the evaluations of our players by bloggers. Overall Frank Wren has done a better than expected job considering his salary limitations. He has put together a team that could win now but is set up to be very good for a long time. I think he is 1 right handed power hitter away from having a team that could win the WS.
Pull the trigger FW
November 27th, 2011
6:56 pm
any way Rockies would take Prado, JJ, & maybe a young pitcher for Tulo @ SS? they are looking for pitching & a 2nd baseman, what is Tulo making per year?
BravesfaninWis
November 27th, 2011
7:06 pm
Another week passed, and absolutely no news about the Atlanta Braves. About typical of this franchise.
BravesfaninWis
November 27th, 2011
7:08 pm
I don’t see the Braves as contenders next season regardless of their record this past season. They are cheap, and every other team in the division is going to be stronger with the exception of the Mets. When you have 3 teams ahead of you in your division alone, you are done. The reason for that is because the Braves are cheap, and they sit on their hands.
Felix
November 27th, 2011
7:56 pm
Worse collapse in Braves history and what has Braves management done after all this time? Fired a hitting coach and got us a guy named Hoover.
Just great!
What a lame bunch.
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
wjones
November 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
“phil
November 27th, 2011
10:18 am
Liberty should move the Braves to Tijuana, because I’ll never go to another game, so there is no need for them to be here.”
Well, I guess that settles that.
<<<<<<<
Not me saying that drivel…
phil
November 27th, 2011
8:47 pm
Fire FG…
Golf-one
November 27th, 2011
9:03 pm
Elvis Andrus was traded two years ago
barves
November 27th, 2011
11:59 pm
why not start chipper at SS? Wasn’t he drafted as one? then just stick Ross at third to keep his stick in the line-up.
We need to do a trade with the japanese team that signed Willy Mo Pena and get him to be a PH and back up catch (he could probably do it, the added production will make up for defense)
Then we can get Jose Reyes to come manage the team and we’ll win a super bowl
wjones
November 28th, 2011
12:42 am
barves, I don’t think Jose Reyes wants to manage yet. But I’m sure that Manny Ramirez is available.
bravesfaninNashville
November 28th, 2011
1:05 am
barves……… I like where you’re going with this……
reckingball
November 28th, 2011
2:43 am
The Braves will probably win the 2012 WS.
veaserva
November 28th, 2011
9:03 am
I am glad the Braves are letting Gonzalez go . Now let’s hope they replace him with a much better player . But knowing the Braves they will bring in someone who are worst than Gonzalez
Not Automatic
November 28th, 2011
10:28 am
Who was Sandusky’s favorite mascot ? Chief-Knockup-A-Homer…
DawgDad
November 28th, 2011
10:55 am
I realize I’m late to the party . . . has plan-B at shortstop emerged yet?
Say what you want about A-Gon’s gone-away offense, he could play shortstop. Thinking positively here, expecting Wren to land an average defensive shortstop as a replacement, the Braves infield defense in 2012 still figures to be among the worst in the league.
Braves20
November 28th, 2011
11:57 am
That’s exactly what we had in Gonzalez – an average defensive shortstop – ranked 14th out of 22 qualifying MLB shortstops last year. Somewhere there is a middle of the pack defensive shortstop you can actually hit.
Jimbo
November 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
As the world turns, Im not getting young but restless.. I look like walking dead waiting for Braves to be smarter than a 5th grader ..and make the DEAl…are stupid like judges on X- Factor to pick a 12 year old smart @@@ to win. Football I like but its not Baseball..I miss.
Dent
November 28th, 2011
2:25 pm
DOB,
Is J Broxton an option for the Braves? With Moylan out or done would he fit as a right handed 6-7th inning guy with an incentive laced contract?
Stanley
November 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
I miss my Mommy.
Bill
November 28th, 2011
4:22 pm
Broxton would be ok..for 1 year.
Yunel Escobar
November 28th, 2011
4:48 pm
The Braves are messing with Jason Heyward’s head, like they did to me and Frenchie.
They make us do unnatural things with the bat.
I see Jason flourishing one day, in a uniform that doesn’t say Atlanta on it.
Alex BYE BYE Baby
November 28th, 2011
5:17 pm
New blog please DOB ? Any prospective trades or free agent signings ?
David O'Brien
November 28th, 2011
5:55 pm
Is J Broxton an option for the Braves? With Moylan out or done would he fit as a right handed 6-7th inning guy with an incentive laced contract? — Dent
No, because Broxton is going to go somewhere where he can try to re-establish his value in a one-year contract, to get a big deal a year from now. You don’t do that pitching the sixth or seventh innings. He’ll go to a team where he can be a closer or at least part-time closer, I’m sure.
OLDNAT'L
November 29th, 2011
1:04 am
Should have kept YUNEL!!!!!!!!
Mitchell
November 29th, 2011
2:05 am
Maybe if Frank Wren had fired Bobby Cox after failing to make the playoffs in 2009 for the fourth consecutive season and finishing no better than third in any of the previous years following the streak of division titles we’d still have Yunel at short and not be stuck in this constant downward spiral.
Who knows, if only they had gotten rid of him after a fourth World Series loss in nine years we might not be stuck on one pathetic, freaking playoff series victory since the turn of the century.
nate
November 29th, 2011
3:15 am
deion was the last true leadoff man we had that could steal sum bases..why didn we try for reyes????
nate
November 29th, 2011
3:22 am
i have been a braves fan since gerald perry and ozzie virgil..im 32, i hate to say this but freddi g is just another bobby cox..its like they care more abt playing golf and gettin the season over than winning in the post season. we have one of the better teams every yr and once the post season comes we just give up. its a let down every yr to be a braves fan. we have the better pitchers, hitters, fielders but we dnt do anything at the end of the yr. it would be nice to have a coach that we kno can get us to where we need to be.
KC
November 29th, 2011
9:16 am
Who are our Rule 5 Draft eligable players that we could loose? Does anyone know. I know the Rule 5 Draft is up comming and I have not seen a list for the Braves for who we might loose to the Rule 5 Draft.
Murph
November 29th, 2011
10:24 am
DOB, the main blog is broken! It’s not allowing comments
David O'Brien
November 29th, 2011
10:37 am
Just changed a setting, main blog should be re-opened for comments now. New blog coming later today.
Dorothy Davis
November 30th, 2011
12:01 pm
Why is it the Phillies make trades that they hope will win them a Championship and the Braves make trades and let go good players to “SAVE MONEY”? Next year (2013) will be a disaster, with McCann on the “GONE” list to save money and the team will be mostly Farm Players. They cannot keep hopeing the fans will be loyal with that kind of management!!
Random
December 1st, 2011
8:47 am
CR: “The Braves did not offer salary arbitration to free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez on Wednesday’s deadline, choosing not to risk him accepting and commanding more than $3 million in arbitration. . . . . Gonzalez, 34, is seeking a two-year deal, which the Braves weren’t prepared to offer.”
The length of the contract AGonzalez wanted is not a factor — if the Braves had offered arbitration, it would have resulted in a one-year contract.
So the Braves cannot hide behind or use the excuse that they didn’t want to offer him a two-year deal — it was the measly $3-4 M they did not want to give up.
IMO, they should have ponied up for one more year. Who better to mentor young Tyler, who has the offense but needs work on his defense?
Chief Noc-A Homa
December 3rd, 2011
9:52 pm
Can’t be, no way braves announcer said he was the best ss in the NL, you don’t reck’un they were blow’in smoke do ya?
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