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297 comments Add your comment
J-MAN
October 17th, 2012
1:28 pm
The main problem for McCann was not just him swinging hard but him tring to pull a HR every swing. to where teams would put that shift on him and he would still swing for the fences and would swing and miss or ground out to the SS or 2B in that shift. I said numerous times that he should bunt it toward 3RD base to keep the defense honest but he didnt do it except for maybe 2 times the entire season. Heck David Ross had something like 5 or 6 bunt hits including 1 in the play-in game. So Fredi did make the right choice in playing Ross. In fact in all my Fredi Bashing I made this ear he handld the play-in game as good as he could except for that safety bunt called for Simmons but the Braves got to emotional in the spotlight and made dumb errors and sadly Chipper did cost us the game. I hate that was his last image as a Brave.
beekay
October 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
Sign Tommy and trade him to the Yanks for A-Rod. Have the Yanks pay all but 30 million of the contract. We get our 3b who needs a change of scenery, the Yanks get rid of A-Rod which they desperately need to do to . They may be willing to pay 80 mill to save 30 mill and pick up a young pitcher just to get rid of the clubhouse cancer. I would pay 30 mill over 5 years for that risk
BravesFanSince80s
October 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
don’t ya just love the guys who come on here to make one horrible, “trashing everybody because I think their opinion stinks” comment as though that justifies THEIR opinion?:)
Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
October 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
[...] trade. Milt Pappas for Frank Robinson. Any time Billy Beane called Steve Phil more… Braves catcher McCann to have shoulder surgery – blogs.ajc.com 10/16/2012 After playing while hurt for much of a career-worst season, Braves [...]
Posts about The Braves From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Atlanta Braves Dugout Online | Atlanta Braves Blog
October 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
[...] trade. Milt Pappas for Frank Robinson. Any time Billy Beane called Steve Phil more… Braves catcher McCann to have shoulder surgery – blogs.ajc.com 10/16/2012 After playing while hurt for much of a career-worst season, Braves [...]
BravesFanSince80s
October 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
I have NO interest in seeing A-ROID in a Braves uni…
Cecil34
October 17th, 2012
1:42 pm
Heisenberg – thanks, I knew that once!
Chipper's ACL
October 17th, 2012
2:33 pm
Look this is a huge transition year for this team. Millions off the books and only a few holes to fill. Starting pitchng is huge question. I imagine Huddy and Maholm’s options will be picked up. With Medlin and Minor, Beachy will be back around mid season, questions surround Hanson and our top two pitching prospects. Does one break the rotation out of spring training or do both get packaged up for Headley or a LF? Venters may be a trade option as well. Is there really a need for 3 lefties in the pen plus he has dropped to the 7th inning man anyway and will demand a nice raise during arb next year. Let Mac walk, sign someone to share time with Ross, and lets see some surprising moves to solidify this team for ‘13.
David O'Brien
October 17th, 2012
2:42 pm
So DOB do you think the Braves hould extend McCann? RickC and phoenix are debating if you do or not. Personally I dont excercise the option but I do extend him at a reduced salary 3 years $24 mil. J-Man
If I had to guess today, I’d say they pick up the option but do not sign him after next season.
MIdtown
October 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21102975&c_id=mlb
J-MAN
October 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
Only way I would trade for A-Rod is if the Yanks eat up 25 million and take Uggla off our hands. Buth that aint gonna happens so its a moot point
J-MAN
October 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
Only way I would trade for A-Rod is if the Yanks eat up 25 million and take Uggla off our hands. Buth that aint gonna happens so its a moot point
J-MAN
October 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
Only way I would trade for A-Rod is if the Yanks eat up 25 million and take Uggla off our hands. Buth that aint gonna happens so its a moot point
Mikey
October 17th, 2012
2:56 pm
“Let him walk” ???? Do you realize if you pick up his option there may be 10 teams in the AL that would be willing to trade a quality player or players for a guy that will be 29 years old and when healthy can hit. The Yankees would take him in a second considering their lack of production at catcher as well the numbers McCann would put up in that sandbox as a D/H.
phoenix
October 17th, 2012
3:08 pm
After watching McCann struggle to catch, hit, throw and run the past couple of years, I’m still amazed at the number of Braves fans who think he still has some gas in the tank. He’s a great guy, a great team player for sure. So are Murph, Knucksie and the Hammer, but I don’t want them out there on the field any more either.
BravesFanSince80s
October 17th, 2012
3:26 pm
Mikey, if the Braves pick up his option, that does not make him trade bait on any level whatsoever. Why would a team give up ANYTHING for someone in the final year of their contract (see Texiera fiasco)? IF the Braves pick up his option, and at that price unless the docs think his shoulder is gonna be better than new, I really don’t think they will, then McCann gets a good send-off to his next team in the American League nothing more. Why would any prospective AL teams interested in McCann give up something for a player they can just sign during the off-season? The logic just doesn’t follow. And that’s only IF McCann recovers well enough to play at anything like his previous capabilities, and given the fact that this is his throwing shoulder, AND the front shoulder on his swing which pulls the bat through the zone, that’s a really big IF…
jl
October 17th, 2012
4:09 pm
Let’s see~ Brian hit for better average than Uggla, Hmmm! What the heck does that say about Uggla? He has a torn batting style! Wonder if surgery could fix that? Nahh! He just sucks~
reckingball
October 17th, 2012
4:12 pm
The Braves will pick up McCann’s option, if his operation is successful.
He will have about the same numbers in 2013, that he has had in seasons prior to 2012.
Ralph
October 17th, 2012
4:30 pm
$13million???????????????????????????????????????????
Mikey
October 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
Assuming he is healthy, (big if) you exercise his option, there will be a market around the trading deadline (July 31) that would get something of value as opposed to nothing if he walks. Dempster,
Victorino, Reed Johnson all brought value to their respective teams despite the fact they had 2 months remaining under contract.
BravesFanSince80s
October 17th, 2012
5:18 pm
if you say so Mikey, now even Mark Bradley says they should pick up this ridiculous option, I guess the Braves have Yankees money to throw around nowadays, geez…
jojo
October 17th, 2012
6:25 pm
Good Luck BMAC. And to the powers that be: pick up the option on Brian and David Ross. You got a terrific backup catcher just waiting to be asked—- Martin Prado. He’s played anywhere he’s been asked to play and done a fine job.
knockerhomerx
October 18th, 2012
1:23 am
Braves fans which l am a fanatic fan, l love Brian McCann. l love Georgia boys playing for our hometown team. l am still disappointed we had to let Jeff Francouer go to the Mets. lf the Braves had Jeff’s arm in RF and Jason’s arm in LF, no one would run on us or tag up either. As a Braves fan, l want decisions made that are best for my team. Nothing personal just business, BMc. l can not sign your option. l could not before surgery, and certainly not after surgery. Now we get you for 3/4 of season, maybe 2/3 really healthy. 12 million in this economy. Sorry, l truly love you. l can not sign that option. GM Wrenn, bring up the kid, Bethancourt with Ross on a 1 year contract to mentor him. Best of luck Brian, heal and come back strong.
Playoffs!!!
October 18th, 2012
7:37 am
Wren didn’t think he would need surgery. Wrong!
jim
October 18th, 2012
10:42 am
The focus of the discussion is what to do about McCann’s option with the assumption that Ross can be had for another year and could assume a platoon role or more as needed. Ross will be 36 next year, octagenerian for a starting catcher. He certainly realizes that he has few years left in the game and that this will be his last best opportunity to sign a multi-year contract with decent money. As much as he would like to remain a Brave, he will not likely sign a one year contract for anyhing less than 5 million dollars, if at all. If the Braves need a catcher to play 70 or more games next year in the event that McCann is not ready to start the season or will not be productive or able to play on a regular basis, is Ross the guy to assume that load? Ross will likely get some very tempting offers to be a back up on several teams during the FA period this winter. Will the Braves be likely to go as many as three years for a 36-year old catcher? It is not a given that the Braves will or should retain Ross given the cost and needs the team may have.
Nick N' Richmond
October 18th, 2012
11:20 am
DOB, I read somewhere that the Royals may listen in on talks for Moustakas, or even Wil Myers for a Starting Pitcher. Any chance the Braves would entertain trading Me
Meds, Delgado, Teheran, or even Minor for one of these guys? Both can fill the holes we have in the field. IDK, just sayin.
jim
October 18th, 2012
11:46 am
Two days on and still no word about McCann’s surgery or prognosis.
jim
October 18th, 2012
11:56 am
Nick,
From a Royals perspective it would take Medlen, (possibly Minor AND Delgado) to get Myers. Moustakas might be had for Teheran and some combination of Hanson, Graham, and Gilmartin.
The first trade idea is very tempting, but would not give up Medlen for the potential of Myers. If the second trade could be arranged without including Delgado, I would jump at it.
David O'Brien
October 18th, 2012
12:08 pm
Two days on and still no word about McCann’s surgery or prognosis. – Jim
Not sure how you missed it, unless you just didn’t bother reading the story. The prognosis was made immediately after the surgery, and reported here that night, in blog that’s still posted — the VERY BLOG YOU’RE COMMENTING BENEATH.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/10/16/braves-catcher-mccann-to-have-shoulder-surgery/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
From said blog:
Dr. Xavier Duralde, Braves orthopedist, performed surgery on the posterior portion of the right shoulder, which should prevent further subluxations (partial dislocations) like those McCann endured frequently while hitting during 2012. A tear in the labrum was larger than an MRI had shown and was repaired arthroscopically….
The dye-contrast MRI last week showed the injury in greater detail, and when Duralde operated Tuesday he found the labrum tear was “slightly larger” than the exam had indicated, the Braves said.
A team official said McCann is expected to return to light baseball activities in four months and, if rehab goes as planned, should be able to return to full baseball activities in six months, around mid-April. That timetable would likely sideline McCann for at least the first month of the season.
Braves general manager Frank Wren hasn’t commented on whether the surgery or McCann’s rehab period would have any effect on the pending decision regarding the 2013 option.
Jim, what more “prognosis” are you expecting?
jim
October 18th, 2012
1:08 pm
Sorry DOB,
I read the post McCann to have surgery earlier and thought at the time it read surgery to be done on that day. Did I misread the original post or was there an later update? I thoght your reply to Heap 16 was written before the details of the surgery were available and didn’t see a later reply.
J-MAN
October 18th, 2012
2:15 pm
So when is the deadline for the Braves to pick up the option on McCann
David O'Brien
October 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
Jim, no problem. Yes, the story was updated that night, after the surgery.
J-MAN
October 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
I said back in May that the Braves shouldn’t pickup the option on McCann because of the numbers and the gradual decline since his best season in 2009. And the Shoulder and following surgery either serves as a reason or excuse (Depending on how you view it) on why he Struggled but look at his defense in fielding pitches and blocking pitches, he was awful plain and simple, and that has nothing to do with his shoulder. His approach has also contributed to his struggle and IMO his shoulder problems. He always trys to swing for the fences on every pitch and has gotten away from driving the ball the other way like he did from 2005-2010. Teams know this and put that shift on him and he fails to make adjustments If he would bunt on that shift he would be a .300 hitter because he would keep defenses honest. But as much as I like Mac 13 million is way too much. Plus DOB you even say no to an extension well if thats the case just save the 3 mil this season as well because he aint gonna be ready until May.
Braves catcher McCann to have shoulder surgery | The Surgery Alternative
October 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
[...] McCann, 28, was an All-Star in six consecutive seasons and a five-time Silver … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) This entry was posted in Shoulder Surgery Specialist and tagged Braves, catcher, McCann, [...]
David O'Brien
October 18th, 2012
3:29 pm
But as much as I like Mac 13 million is way too much — J-Man
Not sure where $13 million came from or why so many folks use that as the amount, but it’s wrong. The option is $12 million. Not $13 million, it’s $12 million. Never was $13 million, don’t know why anyone though it was $13 million, but it’s $12 million regardless of whether 150 people say it’s $13 million. Twelve. Million.
Felix
October 18th, 2012
4:24 pm
Love McCann but $12 million is just too much.
jim
October 19th, 2012
9:25 am
McCann’s 2013 option poses a problem for the team and the player. The team has the problem of paying McCann $ 12 million knowing he will miss at least a month of the season and is coming off two injury plagued seasons with declining production since the AS break in 2011 or letting him walk with no ready alternative replacement in 2013. McCann has the problem that if the team declines the option he enters his FA year coming off his worst season in his career and a major surgery. His value will be nowhere near what it was a year before or possibly a year after. The best solution for the two parties would be for the Braves to decline the option and negotiate a two yeat deal at a much lower rate with incentives that allows McCann to make back a good portion of the $12 million if he has a productive year. If he doesn’t the Braves get him for one more year with a similar deal that gives him a year to regain strength in his shoulder and prove he is still a productive player for the FA market in 2015 or indicate to all concerned that he is at the end of his good years and no longer will merit the big pay day. This is not an ideal situation for both parties, but it gives the Braves another year for Bethancourt to develop in the minors and McCann a chance to increase his FA value albeit one year older than he would like.
Kyle
October 19th, 2012
10:24 am
DO NOT PAY MCCANN. YOU MIGHT AS WELL FLUSH YOUR $ DOWN THE TOILET.
JW
October 19th, 2012
10:24 am
Personally, I’d pick up the option and then see how it goes from there. The team leader (Chipper) has just retired. The “next” team leader, from what I understand, would be BMAC. I think it would be good for him to be around next year, that it’s too much of a shock to the system to have arguably your top two team leaders leave at the same time. Plus I have faith he can get back on the horse if healthy. Have him come back, next year will unfortunately likely be his last in Atlanta, and hopefully some combo of Prado, Freeman, and Heyward will transition into team leader roles.
Granted, this is just an outsider’s opinion, I’m not familiar with the clubhouse. I’ll leave that to DOB to comment on.
AdirondackDave
October 19th, 2012
11:05 am
Mac is likely to lose all of next april and if he is re-signed will sit 20% of the balance of the season. I can’t see Wren paying $12m for what will amount to 110 games IF Mac stays healthy all of ‘13.
My guess is they decline the option. After that, who knows. Maybe they agree on a 4 year deal for $40 plus option year with Mac or maybe they trade for a stop-gap to share catching with Ross (who very like will re-sign for 2 years) until Gattis or Bethancourt can take over.
BravesFanSince80s
October 19th, 2012
12:13 pm
guys, guys, guys, McCann is pretty much done as an “every day” catcher performing at a high level. Even if he comes back from this surgery relatively healthy, his body has more than proven itself incapable of handling the grind of catching 130-140 games a year. It’s not gonna happen. He is far better off going to the AL where he can extend his career, possibly exponentially (provided he can still hit after this) so pretty much any possibility of his being a Brave after 2013 is all but nonexistent….
JNick
October 19th, 2012
12:26 pm
Why on earth would they decline a $12 mil option, then throw $40 mil at him, when they have Bethancourt (Braves #2 prospect) waiting in the wings? Given a healthy 2013, the Braves will get a better idea on Bethancourt’s prognosis as the opening day catcher in 2014. It makes no sense to sign McCann to a contract extension unless A) he has a remarkable return to health/renewed dedication to TAKING CARE OF HIMSELF PHYSICALLY and B) Bethancourt regresses severely/is significantly injured for all of 2013. Even then, McCann has declined in health and production every year since he signed this original contract, and of course he’ll be motivated this year to “return to form” and “put up good numbers” – it’s a contract year!!! Once he signs on that guaranteed line, he can go back to being the slowest runner in MLB, being a stubborn all-pull-or-nothing hitter, and force the Braves to eat money in order to trade him to an AL team when his production really tapers off….
BL: decline option, offer him $6 mil for 2013 to re-prove himself and re-establish his value. If he declines, wish him the best of luck, and re-sign Ross along with someone like Napoli or AJ Pier and platoon them in 2013. Take the money saved and get a LF or 3B.
Oh…and stop with the “Trade Uggla” talk…no one will want him or give anything of value in return….
BravesFanSince80s
October 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
if Wren could get Cleveland to take Lowe, SOMEBODY might be willing to take Uggla, sure, we won’t get anything for him and will have to pay him quite a sum of money NOT to play for us, but at this point, I’m fine with that. Cut your losses, no use in sending him out there another year to “see” if he miraculously turns it around. Hell, at this point, if he managed to hit .250 with 25 HR’s and 75RBI’s, who cares? The last 2 years over-shadow that by a HUGE margin…
BravesFanSince80s
October 19th, 2012
1:01 pm
Ugly Dan would have to hit something like .300/40/120/.650 next year before I would say keeping him made sense…
jim
October 19th, 2012
1:08 pm
Prado doesn’t need to transition into a team leader role. What make McCann the team leader over Prado? Seniority? Prado certainly leads by example more than anyone else on the team and where has this veteran leadership taken us in the past? Who is the team leader on the Tigers or Cardinals? Verlander and Carpenter? They certainly would be among the names mentioned. What about Hudson for the Braves? Team leaders provide a good example for younger players. That’s Prado and Hudson. Heyward and Freeman are also ready to step into leadership roles and Simmons seems to have the confidence and bearing to be a leader also.
JNick
October 19th, 2012
1:34 pm
@BravesFanSince80s, there are like 3 guys in all of baseball who might put up those numbers. Paying $30mil over the next 3 years for Uggla to NOT play for your team is stupid. Sure, we got someone to take Lowe, because we paid 2/3 of his salary (for ONE year). But look at Soriano – even with the Cubs offering to pay most of his contract, no one wanted him…same with Uggla. We’re stuck, deal with it, and hope he does something different this off-season, shows up to camp locked in, less bulky, and not trying to hit the ball to South Carolina every time he comes up.
JNick
October 19th, 2012
2:25 pm
The Braves are finally rid of all of the albatross contracts (Lowe, Jurrjens, McLouth, Kawakami), where we’re no longer paying guys millions to play minor league ball, or play for someone else. Give Fletcher and Walker a chance to break down Uggla’s swing and rebuild it, the way they did with Heyward.
jl
October 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
Seriously “JNick” ? Uggla needs to rebuild his swing with another club! He will swing at anything..
Rebuild?? How about build one in the first place, never seen him have a re-buildable swing. He just sucks!
Has the worst eye for pitches, I have ever seen!
JNick
October 19th, 2012
2:40 pm
I’m not claiming to be a professional scouting director or hitting coach, but hey, if you have more insight on the subject, I’m sure the Braves are anxiously awaiting you to submit your resume…
JNick
October 19th, 2012
2:44 pm
…when you are hired as Wren’s #2, and you find a team dumb enough to take someone with $36-ish mil left on his contract, while getting something of value in return, I’ll applaud you.
southgabrave
October 19th, 2012
3:38 pm
TheMarlins are “talking” with the Yankees about Alex R for a lot more per year than Ugga, but I reall doubt you find any takers on Ugg’s. As far as Mac goes, is it the money or lack of producton? I believe his production will return. It may not be to the same as before, but better than most catchers.
If you let him go, what starting catcher do you get for decent money? BTW, get the same normal Mac production, average 285-300, HR’s 25-30, RBI’s 85-100!! Yea, that is what he usually gives you when healthy. You guys ready to take a chance an say Mac, is done at 29y/o? If you just let him walk, I hope you are right.
Take the option and if he can’t come back strong, he can be traded to the AL to DH. If not, you dont resign him the next year. Which mistake is the worse? Let him go to soon or spend too much money for 1 ONE year?
Man you guys are loyal to your players arent you? Six all-star years and you get hurt and play hurt for the team, dont produce, and you get booted! I sure dont want to play/work for you!
Help is close by
October 19th, 2012
3:51 pm
Estrada is down in Newnan running a restaurant. Mac sent him out of town, maybe he can come back
ala Sheets!
The Man
October 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
You pick up his option because of several reasons:
A) allowing him to leave is akin to selling low, but with a limited return as you receive no draft compensation without a qualifying offer ($12.5 mill, which is less than his option), so you lose him and get nothing in return
B) due to his position, even if he hits .250/.340/.420 he’s going to be worth more than his contract price
C) if potential free agents see that you reward your star players by dumping them when they get injured , your franchise becomes a less appealing destination
D) He’s only 29, and still in his prime, if he was 34 this would be a different argument, but he’s much more likely to have a good year than a bad year
E) the posterior labrum doesn’t affect throwing like the anterior labrum does, so this shouldn’t hurt his catching ability (which is above average regardless of what your highly biased “eyes” tell you
As far as Uggla goes, he was the 7th most valuable 2nd baseman in baseball this year (when you combine hitting, fielding and baserunning) but I fully expect all of you to reject this as this isn’t exactly the home of forward thinking ,modern baseball statistics.
Who the heck ever said we should trade Uggla for A-rod is crazy. The Yankees might throw in $80 mill but A-rod has played 212 games the last 2 years, is 37 AND has 5 more years on his deal, you want to be paying him $6 mill a year to be below replacement level at ages 40-42?
Batting average is really the single worst way to judge a player. you have to look at their total contribution. Uggla may not be playing as well as we had hoped, but he has been equal to the cost of his contract so far.
The Man
October 19th, 2012
4:13 pm
i meant MORE THAN HIS OPTION, my bad
southgabrave
October 19th, 2012
4:44 pm
@ the man
I can agree with you for the most part on McCann, but Uggla, nah! Uggla is the highest paid 2nd baseman per year in MLB, aboveUtley. You say he ranks 7th in value in 2B. I would say he doesnt rank that high. He is the worst starter in the everyday line-up, with the seond highest salary, below only Chipper. Now he is the top salary per year starter! A good value? I think not. If his value was that high, a trade would be easy to make. That isnt possible. The Braves would have to eat part of his contract I believe the Braves would like to rid themselves of that contract.
southgabrave
October 19th, 2012
4:46 pm
As for A-Rod and Uggla comparison, both are HIGHLY overpaid!
David O'Brien
October 19th, 2012
4:58 pm
For those wondering about Justin Upton, this from our notes network man in Arizona:
Dbacks GM Kevin Towers seemed to set the price in any Justin Upton deal, indicating it would take a high-level position player and a pitcher, both presumably available to plug right in, for the D-backs to consider a move. Towers, like managing partner Ken Kendrick, said he expects Upton to return in 2013, although also said he will field calls in case he gets a deal he cannot refuse.
MikeY
October 19th, 2012
5:41 pm
Note that the Braves have to pay a $500K buy-out if they decline the McCann 2013 option. So the net cost of accepting the option is only $11.5M. And they may get some insurance money to cover the first month of the season.
Teddy B
October 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Thanks for your service, B-Mac but I think its time for us to move on. No telling if he’ll bounce back from this surgery. Also, catcher is a very physical position and I’d be worried that he may get hit pretty hard and have problems all over again. The article says it all….injury after injury. We just can’t bank on a guy like this, he always misses the important games!
Let him go and begin searching within and outside the organization for our next starter.
Teddy B
October 19th, 2012
5:54 pm
I think what most people don’t understand is that if he gets popped real good trying to make a play behind the plate, his shoulder might give way again and he may have trouble swinging the bat again. He’s had so many trips to the DL the past few years, I just can’t see him staying healthy in 2013 at all.
His knee is going to give him problems again sending him to the DL, then he’ll come back and strain his stomach muscles trying to throw out a runner sending him to the DL, and then he’ll come back and get in a nasty collision at the plate and fray his shoulder again sending him home for the year. Not worth the $12 mil AT ALL to take a gamble on his health when we know how thats worked out the past few years!! I like B-Mac as a player and as a person, I really do….BUT he needs to be on an American League team that can coddle him and offer up a safe cozy DH spot when he’s got boo boo’s.
David O'Brien
October 19th, 2012
7:12 pm
Gattis just keeps hitting wherever they send him. In 7 games in Venezuela, he’s 9-for-27 with 4 doubles, 1 HR, league-leading 8 RBI, .593 slugging and .947 OPS in 7games.
If he stays healthy, gonna be interesting to see the numbers he puts up in Triple-A next season — and even more interesting to see how long he stays there before getting his first shot in big leagues.
AZBravoFan
October 19th, 2012
8:05 pm
How’s Gattis’s fielding coming along. Do they have him in the OF in Venezuela or still 1B?
sigh.........
October 19th, 2012
8:34 pm
@southgeorgia
Uggla is 3rd in 2B salary behind Utley ($15.285 mill) and Cano($14mill)
Ken Stallings
October 19th, 2012
9:21 pm
That Justin Upton notice from the Diamondbacks GM is just another case of a GM trying to rake in a pidgeon! Upton is not worth two good players for him. If their GM is serious about demanding that, they Upton stays with the D-Backs next season.
Ken Stallings
October 19th, 2012
9:23 pm
Seems more clear than ever …. Braves need to save that $12 million. Hate to see McCann go, but that is too much money to spend on a player with two seasons prior of injury woes — not short term, but long term and season-impacting.
BravesFanSince80s
October 19th, 2012
10:09 pm
@the man: I bet tons of teams throughout baseball history wish they had “sold low”…
chipontheroad
October 19th, 2012
11:43 pm
Gattis is gonna save us
Rufio
October 20th, 2012
9:58 am
When do the Bravea have to exercise the option on BMac? If he is progressing well and the surgical reports are promising then I would say the Braves need to exercise the option year
Another option is buy out his contract and offer him a two year 17 million dollar (9 million per year with buyout) contract. Again, it depens on the advice of the surgical team reports and the advice of the in house medical staff. This is why the Braves were smart having Dr. Chandler on staff after his hand issues stopped him from being a surgeon. Plus, they need to sign David Ross right away! He has been the best back up catcher in baseball in the last 3 years. In 10 years, he will be the Braves manager!
jim
October 20th, 2012
10:07 am
If the Braves decline the option, McCann is in a very bad position. He will enter what becomes his free agency year coming off a serious injury and the worst year of his career. His value on the open market will be at it lowest, and this free agency will be his last best chance at his biggest payday. He needs another year to prove he still has value before entering free agency and the Braves need another year before Bethancourt and/or Gattis are ready to take over the job. It is smart for the Braves to decline the option and offer him a $6/7 million dollar contract with incentives that could earn him closer to the $12 million in his option and for McCann to accept such an offer to make himself more attractive in what would be his free agency year of 2014.
jim
October 20th, 2012
10:17 am
David Ross is another difficult question for the Braves. He has been the best backup catcher in the game over the past 3 years with the club, but a backup catcher only catches once or twice a week– 30-40 games per year. With McCann coming off an injury and not being ready until mid May, the 2nd catcher will have to catch considerably more than 40 games in 2013, and may be a platoon or the primary catcher. At 36 years old, that role might be too much for Ross. Also this free agency is probably the last contract he signs and if a team offers a 3-year deal he would be very tempted to take it. The fact that Ross has been the best backup makes him very valuable to other teams, some of whom will be willing to overspend for his services. Should the Braves overspend to kieep him?
Option Play
October 20th, 2012
10:32 am
Sign McCann for the option year and see how things progress, duh…
BravesFanSince80s
October 20th, 2012
10:51 am
I just love all these people who think 12 million dollars is nothing to a team with a 90 some-odd million dollar payroll. You guys who say “just pick up his option and see how things progress” do realize that would mean the Braves are tying up roughly 15 PERCENT of their payroll on one player who you are then “seeing how he progresses”? THAT IS RIDICULOUS…
JoeFan
October 20th, 2012
12:47 pm
Although Wren has thrown millions and millions away on the likes of Lowe and Kawakami can’t believe he would be willing to just toss another $12 million at a player he personnaly knows has had two consecutive bad seasons and may or may not be serviceable in 2013. As a business decision this one is a no brainer, he lets McCann walk, signs Ross plus a another veteran catcher to share the load until Betancourt or maybe Gattis is ready for promotion.
Yankeedawg
October 20th, 2012
12:54 pm
$11.5MM, pick it up. See how Gattis does in Spring, decide then to either trade B-Mac to AL for Corner OF prospect, or most likely/wisely he’s a Brave one last year and see how the young ones do in 3A. Hopefully they don’t regress. I recall us all feeling this high and confident on both Pastro and Terdo last October.
Hot Stove at its finest.
Negative Creep
October 20th, 2012
2:04 pm
We should get “hose” as the Braves GM!
Hose
October 16th, 2012
1:39 pm
Ask the Angels for a trade. Give them some young arms for Mike Trout. The trade will help both teams.
southgabrave
October 20th, 2012
2:50 pm
@sigh…………
I stand corrected, you are right. It still doesnt change the worth of Uggla verses his contract.
Denny Lemaster
October 20th, 2012
2:59 pm
A 29 year old catcher with major arm/shoulder surgery just became a 36 year old catcher. McCann has physical problems with arm and knees. He is a injury liability for a catcher. He will be better served as an AL player so that he can DH 3 or 4 days a week. He is too large a gamble for the $$$ he will want after next season. Even if he came back and hit .260 with maybe 15-20 HRS and 60-70 RBI (all reduced because of missed injury recovery time), I still would not give him a big $$, long term contract. Catchers and pitchers are the firsts to go down physically. For those dreaming of ARod, get a life. The braves do not need a broken down, cannot hit HRs any longer because he is no longer juiced, head case, woman chaser from the dugout, bum like Arod. I got to see him in Seattle for several years. This Arod, is not the early Arod. Fame and $$$ have gone to the guy’s head. I did not say brain, cause I think it is Roid burned up.
BravesFanSince80s
October 21st, 2012
9:11 am
JNick, I think I made it pretty clear in that original statement that I was well aware we wouldn’t get anything for Uggla and that we’d have to pay a lot of his contract, NOT to play for us, but I made it quite clear that I was fine with that. If you’re not, ok, your opinion. I’m sick of having to watch the guy struggle day in and day out and it makes watching the Braves not nearly as fun as it would be, plain and simple…
SC Brave
October 21st, 2012
10:23 pm
I say don’t pick up the option, sign Ross and get Napoli to catch. If Gattis or Bethancourt reach major league level they can always use Napoli as B/U at first and third and a third catcher off the bench. He is a pretty versatile player and would be good on the bench for the difficult positions.
BravesFanSince80s
October 22nd, 2012
9:09 am
@ SC Brave: GREAT point! I’d forgotten Napoli was versatile! He was tops on my list for a FA catcher anyway, the combo of he and Ross (provided we can sign Ross back of course) would be a great tandem behind the plate for at least one year. Then, if Gattis winds up in LF or wherever, and Bethancourt isn’t ready again in 2014 (a possibility given his age and lack of hitting thus far) you can go with the same tandem in 2014 as well and not be any worse off for it…
what of it?
October 22nd, 2012
10:48 am
“McCann could have shut it down when the shoulder pain persisted instead of taking cortisone injections and possibly risking further injury, but said that wasn’t even something he considered.”
Instead he played hurt like he did last year and pulled down the team’s averages in almost every category. If he’d simply gotten the surgery when he should have he wouldn’t be missing any time next year. As it is, I’d pay a stop-gap catcher a fourth of what we give McCann and who will be ready opening day.
benchwarmer
October 22nd, 2012
12:19 pm
Partially dislocating on swing extention. Sounds like BMac was flirting with physical disaster. Luckly to come through all right. If surgery has fixed the problem and BMac can come back to his old self that is great. At thirty he should be in his prime and that is very good.
benchwarmer
October 22nd, 2012
12:25 pm
jim, I think your idea has merit.
David O'Brien
October 22nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Partially dislocating on swing extention. Sounds like BMac was flirting with physical disaster. Luckly to come through all right. If surgery has fixed the problem and BMac can come back to his old self that is great. At thirty he should be in his prime and that is very good.
I’m told by someone who should know that surgery went real well and he SHOULD be able to return to a high level. He was playing through serious pain last season. He’s young enough that surgery should take care of the problem. Of course, until he gets through rehab and then really starts to stress it every day through rigors of regular baseball activities, we’ll not know for certain.
Claudell Washington
October 22nd, 2012
12:46 pm
I’d say pick up the option and put him at 1B, but I heard that Julio Franco and Greg Norton are both looking for invites to spring training :0
BravesFanSince80s
October 22nd, 2012
1:02 pm
if he were a pitcher, he’d be all but untouchable to all teams after that surgery, why do so many seem to think he’ll come back with a strong throwing arm that can catch every day at the major league level? I just don’t get it. It’s too big of a risk with the amount of money involved, and for all the folks who keep pointing out the silly insurance thing: It doesn’t matter much in the long run if insurance covers any of his contract that he misses while hurt because you have already COMMITTED that much of your payroll to him, so it is wasted money in terms of payroll regardless. We can spend 12 million dollars far more wisely than this, even Frank Wren can pull that off…
Mike D
October 22nd, 2012
5:36 pm
I have had the same injury. Twice in fact. Easily the most painful thing I have ever experienced. When you stretch your arm out, either to make a swing or catch a ball…ouch!
Beachy working on patience as he begins throwing program | Atlanta Braves
October 22nd, 2012
9:11 pm
[...] picked up, but we’ll see how that goes. In case you missed it, here’s DOB’s story on McCann’s shoulder surgery and Mark Bradley’s take on the Braves’ upcoming [...]
John A.
October 23rd, 2012
11:24 am
I don’t get it….Upper management has known for a long time that BAMC needed surgery so why did they wait to have the operation done? Does anyone else understand how this management team functions? They are continually asleep at the switch!!!! The future looks bleak as long as this bunch (Wren, Fredi, and John) are at the helm.
David O'Brien
October 23rd, 2012
11:31 am
I don’t get it….Upper management has known for a long time that BAMC needed surgery so why did they wait to have the operation done? — John A.
Either you’re indulging in some bold revisionist history or you merely missed the interview with Frank Wren the day after the Wild Card loss, when the GM still was of the belief that McCann would be able to avoid surgery.
In case you missed it, here’s the link to the whole interview:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/10/08/wren-discusses-braves-future-offseason-to-do-list/
You can scan about halfway down to the question, “Do you think McCann is going to be fine after surgery?”
Wren: “I think we first have to determine if surgery is necessary. And that hasn’t been determined yet. So I think there will be some testing to determine if surgery is necessary.
And there were 2 more follow-up questions about McCann later in interview:
Going back to McCann and the cyst in his shoulder, so there’s a possibility that can heal without having it removed surgically?
Wren: “From what we know today, it would not be a surgical repair. But because during the season we can’t do the MRI with [dye] injection — because you’re [sidelined] too long — once he has the MRI and we know totally and we get the medical report on it… But for what we know now, the prescribed treatment is rest.”
Between the shoulder and the knee he really struggled this season.
Wren: “He had tendinitis [knee]. He had an MRI the other day and the knee was clean. It was tendinitis, and if you get raging tendinitis in a joint, it can be very painful. And so he was battling that and he was battling the shoulder, and unfortunately with the shoulder, the only thing that can help it is rest. And during the course of the season you’re never going to get enough rest to get it turned around. We may find out with the MRI with contrast that there’s more going on in there. So that’s one of the things we need to find out.”
John A.
October 23rd, 2012
11:42 am
There seems to be a number of peole that think Uggla is worth the money he is being paid…….well I for one don’t think that way. Ever since he put on a Braves uniform he has played substandard…..his skills have deteriotated since the start, and with another years age on him, I believe we will see even lower numbers from him next season. I say get anything we can for him……he i a loser that gets a fat paycheck.
K Conway
October 23rd, 2012
12:48 pm
Cut him losse! Braves can’t afford him!!
Braves’ Brian McCann Needs Six Months of Rehab | Next Level Sports Network tMff53P1RHhjuuBwypsBz5mAwyU
October 23rd, 2012
1:56 pm
[...] was injured worse than previously thought and that he will need six months to rehab his labrum, Dave O’Brien [...]
Bobby Cerasuolo
October 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
No I say pick up his option then trade him and trade him fast and get what we can get for him. I say trade him along with Hanson and Pastoa to NYY for a catcher like Austin Romine ad Justin Maxell
Bobby Cerasuolo
October 24th, 2012
10:58 am
Heres what the Braves do pick up his option then send Him Uggla and Hanson to Texas for for Craig Gentry and Micheal Young. Then you take Uggla money and whats in the bank and you go after Upton signing him to a 5 year deal worth 98 million. Place Gentry in Left Upton Cf and Young at either 3rd or 2nd
TLane
October 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
I had surgery for a torn labrum on June 7. I have been through all of my rehab and cant imagine trying to swing a bat or play catcher at this point.
Kemp, Garza lead key NL players returning from injuries | Hit and Run - SI.com
February 19th, 2013
11:20 am
[...] on his right shoulder to repair his torn labrum and remove a cyst; the shoulder was actually prone to subluxation (partial dislocation) while hitting. The recovery period for such surgery is typically six months, [...]