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653 comments Add your comment
CSP
December 2nd, 2012
10:16 pm
When Frank says this “because the guys that are most available don’t fit us great,” I hear: “Cause we’re trying to get by on the cheap AGAIN”. Braves are always one bat short.
Zac in Tempe
December 2nd, 2012
10:20 pm
Ichiro?
Angel Eyes
December 2nd, 2012
10:21 pm
Well got to get some work done. See ya.
smitty
December 2nd, 2012
10:30 pm
1 word: ICHIRO.
The guy is an absolute specimen at 39, and is worth a 2 year deal at 5-8 million per. The revenue he brings in from Japan will pay for his salary AND his signing would repair any damage the KK signing was for future imports from Japan, or Asia in general really. He can lead off and play LF.
jack
December 2nd, 2012
10:34 pm
What’s the up side of a guy named Testa, KC property currently playing in Australia, have a decent season offensively? Came out of Belmont College.
southgabrave
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 pm
Has anyone figured where all the cap money went that the Braves created since the end of the season? Chipper (14 mil), Lowe (10 mil), Jurjjens (5.5mil), Bourne 7.5 mil?), Hinski (1.5 mil), Ross (1.5mil?)and Hanson (4 mil?) plus Diaz. I had all these salaries at hand but they escape me now. These are fairly close anyway. That total in my addition, is in the neighborhood of 42-45 mil. Now I know we had to give raise for arbitration and BJ Upton got 15 mil and B Mac got a raise to 13 mil. You would then have to take his salsry from last year which was at 10 mil i believe with incentives. but are you to tell me that we only have 10 mil left from the 42 mil? That would mean we gave out close to 14 mil in arbitration/contracts. Am I missing something here? Upton 15 mil, Mc Cann and additiional 3 mil plus raises from arbitration equals 32 million? really? 32 million plus the stated 10 left to spend? I dont think so…..
Did we sign some other FA I missed? I sure hope so because in my math something is missing!!!!!!!
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
10:42 pm
Trading Simmons for Elvis Andrus makes no sense for either the Rangers or the Braves. The only reason the Ranges want Simmons is to flip him to AZ for Upton. They can’t do that if they’ve traded Andrus to us. The Braves have already said they don’t want to trade Simmons for Upton as much as they’d love to have Upton. So why would the Braves trade Simmons to Texas so that the Rangers can get Upton? Makes no sense and won’t happen..
Sherlock Holmes
December 2nd, 2012
10:45 pm
Ichiro (for reasons mentioned above!) or The Flyin’ Hawaiin (’cause he a baller!) for two years at 5-8 million. Case solved.
ATL Sports Junkie
December 2nd, 2012
10:50 pm
Pagan, Victorino, Swisher and Ross are all viable options in LF and/or at leadoff but they may cost too much for the Braves. Justin Upton, Curtis Granderson, and Josh Willingham are all desirable trade targets but will likely cost too much. Forget Shin-Shoo Choo…he’s a Scott Boras client and will soon be eligible for arbitration. Some other players rumored to be available include Peter Bourjos, Logan Morrison, Dexter Fowler, Drew Stubbs, Brett Gardner, Michael Cuddyer, Mike Morse, Chase Headley, Alfonso Soriano (if CHC eats the bulk of his contract), Jacoby Ellsbury, and Alex Gordon. Furthermore, Reed Johnson is a logical fit for ATL as a bench player if Wren chooses to re-sign him.
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
10:55 pm
I would look for a McCann trade to an AL team most likely NY as they let Martin get away. This might have been the plan all along as the Yankees really don’t have a catcher right now. McCann is gone after 2013. It’s a near certainty…. He is much less of a risk to an AL team next year because he’ll probably be able to swing a bat before he can throw at full strength. I know how many people here think Uggla is not tradable but the Dodgers want to win and are not looking at numbers right now as much as they are wanting to win games. The Red Sox unloaded Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett’s contracts and Crawford was on the DL the rest of the year and might not be able to throw well until after the All-Star game in 2013. Just saying there’s a chance. Uggla has the potential to provide a lot of offense from 2B and might thrive in a line-up with more stars where he can hide in the batting order instead of having to carry the team like he did last year when Chipper was out.
Darkcow
December 2nd, 2012
11:03 pm
If you like good music, I found a great interview with our very own DOB:
http://afterdark.wfpk.org/dave-obrien-atlanta-braves-ajc/
southgabrave
December 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
@ DOB
Maybe you could do a piece on the current salary structure of the Braves.
I would love to have a Keppinger and Reed Johnson on our bench. They both hit for a 290-300 average and can play multiple positions well. You could probably get both of them for 5-6 mil combined.
Also Rahji Davis sounds good also. He would continue to add speed to the team as well a defense. He has a good bat and a good attitude. As for Ichiro, he scares me at this stage of his career. He still possess good speed but his obp continues to drop and he is not getting younger. Davis I believe would be a safer bet at a better contract. Save that 10 million contract for a more friendly 6-7. Davis could probably be had for 2 prospects (with 1 being a top pitcher)
Your bench would have Keppinger (2b, ss,3b and some OF) Johnson ( all OF positions ) Laird (C) and bring up Mejia ( strong bat and 300 avg at AAA)to back up Freddi. That leaves Pastornicky and Fransisco.
I would believe that spends about 12-13 mil for a LF and strong full bench. By my addition the Braves still have 3-5 mil to spend at the trade deadline.
Darkcow
December 2nd, 2012
11:04 pm
If you like good music, listen to this interview I found with our very own DOB:
http://afterdark.wfpk.org/dave-obrien-atlanta-braves-ajc/
Yuuup
December 2nd, 2012
11:06 pm
Steve,
The Braves aren’t swapping Simmons for Andrus. The Braves wouldn’t make that trade, and neither would the Rangers. The Rangers could of had Justin Upton if the would have included Andrus in the deal, but like the Braves with Simmons, the Rangers told them no. Easy to read between the lines. If The Braves would trade Simmons, or the Rangers would trade Andrus, Justin Upton would be on one of those teams right now.
Mike Geigerman
December 2nd, 2012
11:06 pm
Hamilton !!!
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
11:08 pm
If Wren unloaded McCann and Uggla’s contracts we could possibly sign Grienke and trade for Upton or Willingham. We could move Prado back to his natural position of 2B and be set with solid D up the middle with Simmons, Bethancourt and Upton. I know Bethancourt isn’t ready to hit major league pitching but neither was Simmons last year which is why we started out the Pastornicky at SS. The Braves realized they’d rather have a light hitting brilliant defender at that position and then Simmons surprised us with his bat.
I know how many people on here will think it’s dreaming to unload Uggla but it won’t happen if we don’t try for sure. I for one think Wren has something really big up his sleeve and won’t be surprised by much of anything he’ll do next week..
If we have a solid LF and we move Prado back to 2B we can let Fransisco have a real shot at 3B. He has so much natural power and hit better when he was getting more at bats strung together. If it doesn’t work we could always play Prado at 3B against lefties and have Janish play 2B on those days.
Yuuup
December 2nd, 2012
11:13 pm
I think Wren has something going on right now that is huge. Don’t be surprised if they trade either McCann or Uggla at the winter meetings. As someone stated above, a team like the Dodgers would be interested in Uggla for his power alone, and have the money to take on his contract.
I can also see a few AL teams inquiring about McCann, and knowing that his option got picked up, and that he will cost more next season (provided he had a good season), it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Braves go with Laird for the entire season and try to unload McCann. They do either of those deals, and they will have plenty of money to spend.
jbill
December 2nd, 2012
11:23 pm
On MLB Winter Meeting TV@ 11:15..just said Wren told them not to count the Braves out on Zack Greinke..Zack has said he wanted to play in Atlanta in perfect world. Braves can’t pay what Dodgers do but who knows…I couldn’t believe it when I heard it.
Bravesfaninnashville may know something we don’t.
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
11:25 pm
The Braves either need to trade some of this young pitching, some combination of “Teheran, Delgado, Minor, or Gilmartin” for an established major league LF who is affordable like Willingham or even Justin Upton or they need to sign a major league pitcher like Lohse or Sanchez and then trade the young pitching for a Wil Myers, Stanton or Alex Gordon. I don’t know why but I think Wren is about to have his best winter meetings ever and hope the rumor about getting the team ready to sell is true. That might motivate Liberty to let them spend some money in order to drive up the sale price because a winning team is on the field. Maybe the sale could trigger a negotiation of a new TV contract at the same time. Isn’t’ the TV contract tied to Liberty Media and Warner? If so that could be a condition of the sale to the new owners.
jbill
December 2nd, 2012
11:26 pm
Someone said Ellsbury awhile ago..Boras is his agent just say no.
Ralph
December 2nd, 2012
11:28 pm
1. Simmons SS
2. Prado 3B
3. Heyward RF
4. Ludwick LF
5. Freeman 1B
6. BJ CF
7 Hudson P
8. McCann C – Yuk
9 Uggla 2B – Yuk Yuk
SportyNuts
December 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
Christ, some of you are completely delusional.
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
11:33 pm
jbill. Just a hunch about Grienke because the Braves great runs of success were obviously centered around Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz. This could truly give the Braves a front line rotation and the best bullpen in the game. One more reason to try to do this is because the Nationals are in on him big time. Imagine the Nationals rotation of Strasburg, Grienke, Gio and Zimmerman wow scary. The Nat’s would be favorites to win the NL East for at least 5 years with that rotation and core of young players they have. The NL East has been a Braves prize possession for a long time and I think they want it back. I believe Grienke would rather play closer to home and would perform better away from the Hollywood Circus.
Fan since '96
December 2nd, 2012
11:33 pm
People are dreaming too much. Trade away McCann and Uggla to sign Greinke to 20 mil per year or more (that’s what he’s asking and he won’t take a discount to play in ATL, trust me!!). How are you going to fill the holes in LF and 3B, assuming you move Prado to 2B?? Good thing none of you are our GM otherwise we’ll e in big trouble. All we need is a LF and there are a lot of reasonable options our there both via trade and free agency (Gordon, Dirks, etc). Stop coming up with scenarios that aren’t gonna happen, it might happen in your PS3 but not in reality.
jbailz23
December 2nd, 2012
11:34 pm
jbill – what is this winter meeting tv you speak of and how do i get it?!?!
Sid Bream's Mustache
December 2nd, 2012
11:34 pm
I think Victorino is an affordable signing, who will provide speed and quality at bats. I wouldn’t surprised if he actually has better power numbers this year than Upton too.
SportyNuts
December 2nd, 2012
11:36 pm
@jbailz23: MLB Network
jbill
December 2nd, 2012
11:38 pm
direct TV.# 213 on now!
Fan 96 I didn’t say get Zach..the MLBN said what I said above that Wren said. get it.
SportyNuts
December 2nd, 2012
11:41 pm
Comcast: Channel 123/823HD
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
11:46 pm
Fan since ‘96…. We all need to remember this post you just made because I think one of those two contracts ” Uggla or McCann could happen” Also since you’re being rude and condescending in your reply I can now ask you if you can read or not because Frank Wren just said in this article.
“I think we’re going to have to do some digging, because the guys that are most available don’t fit us great,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said, without citing specific players.
This signals to me that Wren is going to get really creative and that might require freeing up some salary which are most likely McCann and Uggla.
You know ‘96 if you disagree with someone you can just simply respectfully disagree you don’t have to be so arrogant about it. Also when you say Grienke won’t take a discount to play in Atlanta “trust me” why should we trust you when it’s been said by many people in the baseball media that Grienke has made it clear he’d like to play in Atlanta and most think he doesn’t wear the NY, LA pressure very well. For him hundreds of millions of dollars may be enough and he just might prefer to play for a little less in a town he’d enjoy more than NY or LA.
jbailz23
December 2nd, 2012
11:47 pm
Perfect guys, thanks!
Hole in Dan Uggla's bat
December 2nd, 2012
11:51 pm
Delgado and Tehran are not that impressive and Braves will rue the day they held on to them. They are 4 starters at best. Got beat to the punch by Nats on Span deal. That gave Nats NL East again. I have said it for a year, Uggla is the problem. His strikeouts and inability to move runners kills our lineup. and we pay him 13 million. 2014 we will still have Uggla and Tehran and Delgado will still be below average starters.
James 123
December 2nd, 2012
11:56 pm
Enter your comments here
ugaaccountant
December 2nd, 2012
11:57 pm
Guys, enough with bagging on Uggla and Upton’s contracts. They are only getting market rate for what they provide. It’s just the reality of baseball now. If you want a good veteran, he will cost a ton.
BravesFanInNashville
December 2nd, 2012
11:58 pm
I’m not saying Grienke won’t sign with the Dodgers, Angels, Rangers or Nationals because he certainly may but I’m also not saying the Braves have no shot. Also this isn’t the only way the Braves can put a winning team on the field. Obviously the Braves have a lot of pitching. Now the question is where do the Braves prefer there cost savings to be? Young rotation that’s cheap for a long time or solid dependable certain rotation that has some high priced but reliable arms? This could allow them to trade some of the young pitching for Wil Myers, Stanton or Justin Upton.
James 123
December 3rd, 2012
12:01 am
Atlanta and Toronto make a deal for R. Davis for pitching.
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2012
12:07 am
R Davis is a possibility and should be very cheap trade cost.
ferg57
December 3rd, 2012
12:08 am
We need an established ace like greinke just in case we find ourselves in a one game playoff again…which is likely if the nationals continue to improve. Greinke wants to play with the Braves and would be the perfect pitcher for the “whoever has the best pitcher wins play-in” game that all us Braves fans loved so much last year. Fat catchers don’t last in the ml very long and its time to get something for McCann now. Betencourt may break out offensively and Laird is a solid replacement. Both are atleast as good as McCann defensively. Free Mac’s salary with a trade to get a good prospect and get Grienke. Trade Tehran or Delgado and Pastornicky for Justin Upton. But if that doesn’t work out, a Constanza and Reed Johnson platoon in LF wouldn’t be that bad. IMO
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:08 am
prove it James123
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:10 am
Dont know what difference it makes that victorino or Suzuki are coming off years where they posted career worst on base percentages…………so did the $75 million ma, upton. What a joke.
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:11 am
any trade throw schafer in for tax
Darkcow
December 3rd, 2012
12:12 am
1. Simmons
2. Prado 2B
3. Heyward
4. Justin Upton
5. Freeman
6. Fellachio Upton
7. Francisco
8. Laird
Grienke
Huddy
Medlen
Minor
Delgado
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:12 am
These posts about trading McCann and/or uggla are laughable. Does anyone seriously believe there is another GM in MLB who will be suckered into a deal for either of those players?
Darell
December 3rd, 2012
12:15 am
Guys, if you want to know about salaries go to this link http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots. As far as to what the Braves should do, well we all like to play “Fantasy GM” but it is really more complex that all of us know. I am a good friend of Andrew Freidman of the Rays. You have so many things to think about when speaking of trades. In reality, the Braves match up with Royals, ChiSox, Indians,and Twins for a Sp for a LF trade. As far as Ugglas contract, yes it looks bad when he is not hitting which has been a while. It will be really hard to shed a contract like that without taking another bad one on. A match would be Uggla for Vernon Wells. Who would want that? The only way the Braves are going to spend money is to get butts back in those seats and fill up that stadium consistently. They do not have the resources as other teams with these huge tv contracts.
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:15 am
yes Larry I do..they’re some crazy GM out there.
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2012
12:16 am
We wouldn’t have picked up McCann’s option if it wasn’t cheaper than fair market value. That’s exactly why options exist.
Klaus
December 3rd, 2012
12:17 am
If Wren can make room for Greinke which seems like a biblical IF then I could see them trade Medlen or Minor in a package to KC for Myers.
You cannot add a pitcher regardless of caliber and throw a platoon in LF so Wren will still need to make a trade for capable bat not a light hitting CF over 30.
For as long as LF has been held by a human bookmark this team has flopped or missed the post season entirely.
We have won the WS and division titles with mediocre SS but the OF produced in spades. A powerful OF with good pitching gets you a ring.
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:21 am
That’s horse manure about mccanns option. The only reason wren picked it up is to avoid the criticism of simply letting McCann go and get absolutely nothing for him. He waited too late to trade him, period. Should have unloaded him two years ago. You didn’t have to be Branch Ricky to know McCann would eventually wind up in the AL as a DH.
Klaus
December 3rd, 2012
12:21 am
Personally locking up a pitcher for 20mm a year for 6 years seems like a bad idea. I would prefer Justin Upton in the OF and go with the rotation we have more or less.
When you move Mac at the deadline on let him walk next year you can use that 12mm on a very capable arm plus have some portion of 20mm in additional money available to extend people or tweak the team.
Upton brothers is my first choice.
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:25 am
Agree on Upton brothers 1st..but would love to move Uggla
BravesFanInNashville
December 3rd, 2012
12:26 am
ugaaccountant…. I believe the Braves picked up McCann’s option because they didn’t want to let him go for nothing in return which would have happened if they declined the option because it would have made him a free agent.
Larry30.. I agree with jbill. there are some crazy GM’s out there and offensive power from 2B is a rare commodity. I don’t think the Braves should trade Uggla if they have to pay $1 of his salary but the Dodgers just might be interested because of how he could fit into that lineup in LA. Look I never made a guarantee I just asked a question. Bottom line is we’re all Braves fans here who want to see the team we love improve and win. So we’re all on the same side.
Joe
December 3rd, 2012
12:26 am
Please dont let Reed Johnson slip away!!!!
Darkcow
December 3rd, 2012
12:27 am
Why is Wren so enamored with RH power? Has he even watched any playoff baseball in the last 10 years?! We need more guys like Prado, who put the ball in play more often than not. Not more Ugglas and BJ Uptons.
Uggla was brought in to give Wren his oohs and aahs seeing how far he can hit the ball and that, so far, has proven to be a huge bust. Now he goes out and signs ANOTHER .240 hitting “power” guy?! Didn’t he learn his lesson? I mean at least Uggla was a decent hitter before he came here. Upton has been pretty bad for a few years now and he signs him to the richest contract IN BRAVES HISTORY!! More than Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Hank Aaron, Andruw Jones, Rafael Furcal, Fred McGriff…. Is this the standard now?
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:27 am
All this talk about having money to spend in the future on other teams players. At some point mr. Wren had better start figuring out how he is going to keep our own players like Freddie and Heyward.
Joe
December 3rd, 2012
12:28 am
For everyone saying they shoulda traded McCann 2 or 3 or 4 years ago, lets not for get hindsight is 20/20
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:29 am
Darkcow: it’s because wren is no smarter than many of the people who post on here saying “all we need is another big bat.”
Get Real
December 3rd, 2012
12:29 am
You know, you Atlanta fans sure are demanding for a city who averages 20k tickets sold a night…
If you want these players so badly, get season tickets and show up.
Darell
December 3rd, 2012
12:30 am
Can always get Andruw Jones back to play LF. He’d be around $5 mill or less and could work platoon.lol
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:33 am
Joe, I was regularly posting the opinion the braves should be looking to trade McCann while he had a ton of value as the “best catcher in baseball” (which he has never been, he has always been average at best defensively) and was being called an idiot for suggesting to trade him. Like I said, you didn’t have to be a genius to know mccann’s baseball destiny.
ugaaccountant
December 3rd, 2012
12:33 am
So you guys think a mid-payroll team spent 13M to get a sandwich draft pick when McCann leaves next year? Hilarious
Darrell
December 3rd, 2012
12:35 am
I would love to know what Cincy wants for Billy Hamilton. Now THAT is speed!
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:35 am
I had season tickets 8 years and only missed 4 games in that time..where’s your ticket get real.
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:36 am
No I think he signed McCann because Wren is hoping that McCann might bounce back and be worth something on the trade market at the deadline, a big if. Bottom line is Wren screwed up. McCann’s defensive skills have been deteriorating year after year and he has struggled at the plate for the past two seasons. He should have just cut his losses.
ferg57
December 3rd, 2012
12:39 am
All in on Justin Upton = sick as freak outfield. Grienke, Hudson, Medlin, Minor, Delgado/Beachy rotation……Give me that and I won’t only show up for the games, hell, I’ll give every dog a bath on Bark in the Park days.
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:39 am
I, too, paid 10 grand each year 2010 and 2011 for season tickets. The problem for braves fans is not the payroll number. The probably is having a GM who consistently buys high and sells low. We simply don’t get our money’s worth from our payroll expenditures.
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:39 am
I agree Larry30 on Mac
Get Real
December 3rd, 2012
12:40 am
The city of Atlanta will never know what it is to be a true baseball town. I’m not saying the people who post on here are not passionate, knowledgeable fans. I’m just saying no matter how good the Braves are they can’t get people to come fill the stands. They have been winning, and winning with exciting players, for the past few years again and still can’t get people to come out. Go to a game in Boston and witness it for yourself. That town deserves to win. Their fans deserve to win.
BravesFanInNashville
December 3rd, 2012
12:40 am
Larry30…. totally agree unless Wren can trade McCann to an AL team that is thinking long term he will probably regret picking up the option on McCann. Who knows though there might be a loyalty factor because McCann signed a cheap extension when Francouer wouldn’t. The Braves might feel like they owed it to him to pick it up and not make him face free agency after an injured season that ended in surgery.
Get Real
December 3rd, 2012
12:42 am
Hypothetically, let’s say the Braves win the World Series this season. Does anyone really think the next season the stadium will start selling out like it should?
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
12:44 am
If Wren is throwing around $12 million as loyalty money, then he’s even more incompetent than I already think he is. McCann signed the contract and that’s all he was owed. I used to get a little sentimental about our home town “heros”, but I was convinced in ‘94 that its just a business, so treat it like one.
jbill
December 3rd, 2012
12:46 am
All u guys have great opinions..lets hope Wrens makes the right deals..Goodnight and I’ll check back in the morning.
good deal 57..I have three K-9 police dogs that need a bath.
southern son
December 3rd, 2012
12:52 am
Cody Ross will finally be a Braves by the end of the week!
Darkcow
December 3rd, 2012
12:52 am
Exactly, Larry30.
I know the fans want to see our organization treat our players fairly and remain loyal to them, but come on. These guys make more money in 6 months than we will make in our entire lifetime. We are fans of our team and want to see them win. If holding onto a player for the sake of loyalty hinders our chances of winning even by the slimmest of margins, then we as fans should be very upset. We spend our hard earned money on this hobby of watching baseball and we should demand nothing but the very best team on the field financially possible. I think McCann has done a great job for Atlanta during his time here, but at this point there are better options out there to make this team better.
BravesFanInNashville
December 3rd, 2012
12:54 am
Sadly I think one of the challenges with the Braves attendance is that Turner field is not in a great neighborhood, it’s not easy to park there, there are no good restaurant and hotels close to the stadium (within walking distance) like there are in many other cities like, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Wrigley, Fenway and on and on. If you are traveling from out of town you want to have good hotels and restaurants to eat at when you aren’t at the game. That’s not as important to locals but people coming from out of town don’t have a lot great choices close to the ballpark.
I don’t think there is good solution short term because it doesn’t make sense to tear down a perfectly good ballpark but if it weren’t for the olympics being in Atlanta Turner Field might be somewhere else.
Darkcow
December 3rd, 2012
1:00 am
Outfield:
Heyward, Upton, Upton, Reed Johnson, Gattis
Infield:
Freeman, UGHla, Prado, Simmons, Laird/Bethancourt, Francisco, Pastornicky, Janish
Starters:
Greinke, Huddy, Medlen, Minor, Delgado
Bullpen:
O’, Johnny, Walden, C Mart, Avilan, Kimbrel
Larry30
December 3rd, 2012
1:04 am
See you later braves fans. Enjoyed the back and forth.
BravesFanInNashville
December 3rd, 2012
1:05 am
Darkcow and Larry30… I’m not saying if Wren and the Braves picked up the option IN-PART out of sense of loyalty that I agree with it. I also think it’s a business and should be treated as such but McCann did sign with us for much less then he would have received if he just played out the contract because for several years he was an All-Star/Silver Slugging Catcher making very little money compared to his market value.
As I stated I think Wren made a gamble on picking up McCann’s option hoping he could trade him and get more than for him than just letting him go as a free agent. And NO I do not think they signed him to get a sandwich pick after the 2013 season that’s ridiculous. First of all in order to get that pick the Braves would have to make another qualifying offer of more than $13Million and if McCann is still not completely healed he’d probably take it and the Braves would be right back where they are this year. So that is not why the Braves picked up the option IMO…
I don’t know why people can’t just talk baseball without having to get so touchy about it. Hey we’re all Braves fans and we’re just speculating and that’s the fun part of the offseason.. Chill out and enjoy the hot stove guys..
Unrealistic Braves Fan
December 3rd, 2012
1:21 am
I think we should trade Dan Uggla for Justin Upton straight up. It’d totally be worth it and as soon as we trade him, I’m sure he’d find his swing, bat .300, and smash 40 homers.
Brandon
December 3rd, 2012
1:39 am
Last year was the 1st year in 7 seasons that mccann was not an all star, and he was CLEARLY injured for at least the majority of the season. He’s never been the greatest defensively, but when he gets going, he can be the MVP on the team because the damage he can do on offense. Fans here are giving him the same stupid treatment that they gave heyward and prado last season after their lackluster performances in 2011. Very hard to put up good numbers if you are not playing at 100%. When you consider all that mccann has done and can still do when healthy, the fact that there are not many other catcher options anyways, and that the fact that you could still possibly trade him (because mccann still has value),it without doubt made sense to exercise his option.
Mike McDonald
December 3rd, 2012
3:32 am
Jeff Fancoeur in LF makes the Braves’ OF the best defensive one in NL.
No. 1 Braves Fan
December 3rd, 2012
5:31 am
Frank Wren will wake up early and read all of the comments and recomendations above before heading to the meetings this a:m. However, after reading same, he will laugh and go do what he knows is best. Just kidding guys, some of your suggestions may happen. I hope its the best ones.
The Real Brave
December 3rd, 2012
6:54 am
Would have appreciated a shorter blog instead of a copy and paste from earlier ones.
Brave New World
December 3rd, 2012
7:16 am
Get Victorino.
skeeter
December 3rd, 2012
7:39 am
McCann will be back to his old self. Surgery will be a success. He tried to play through the shoulder injury, give him credit for that. Suspect Uggla will be back to making a presence like he did in Miami with bats around him again. Don’t be surprised if we see Wil Myers in left field especially if the Braves are the surprise team in the Greinke sweepstakes.
old man
December 3rd, 2012
7:56 am
Hokie:
Dirks has been off my radar screen.
Anybody, Hokie says he has good speed, but very low SB numbers. Why?
Also, he has played basically half a season for the last two years. Injuries? Platoon?
Can he field/throw?
tom
December 3rd, 2012
8:03 am
rays are glad to rid themselves of upton— Braves are HOPING to change uptons attititude??? after youve given him 15mil @ yr?? hes an above average defensive guy …avg at best with hitting avg.. and can be moody… what do i know??? i would have went another direction….
Oldham
December 3rd, 2012
8:11 am
Jordan Schaefer will win the left field position, hit leadoff and have a solid year.
FEAR
December 3rd, 2012
8:27 am
If we can get a good deal and the cubs eat most of it. How about Soriano? Terrible in the field but he is a right handed power bat.
Mr Pitts
December 3rd, 2012
8:27 am
Would one of the stat geeks cut and paste a couple decades of stats and salary information so we can decide who we’re going to throw money at next.
DaveinNEPA
December 3rd, 2012
8:37 am
Jordan Schafer should consider himself lucky if he makes the AAA team!!!!
I’m all in on getting J. Upton but not at the cost of Simmons or one of the frontline SPs.
Barring a deal for Upton, then I would go all out for Victorino. The guy switch hits, can bat leadoff, plays excellent defense, has great speed, great arm and brings quite a bit of energy too.
sam
December 3rd, 2012
8:37 am
DOB: I’m suprized that Jose Constanza isn’t mentioned by the Braves as a lead off and left field option. Are the Braves down on him for some reason?
come on
December 3rd, 2012
8:40 am
I will not take the braves seriously unless they make the move for Justin Upton. We will be the same out in the wild card round until we make a move to compete. The last two seasons have seen the hawks dump joe johnson to free the team to make a move this offseason to win, and the falcons trade up to get julio and now we are 11 and 1 nfc south champs with a month left. however the braves continue to put mediocre products out there and expect us to still come, they need to learn a lesson from the hawks and falcons spend a dollar to make two.
Ted M
December 3rd, 2012
8:49 am
How Much will Reed Johnson likely cost the Braves?
GAFALCANDAWG
December 3rd, 2012
8:51 am
I would love to justin upton. This guy can fly in the outfield. They need this guy. Always a brave and stay a brave
TeheranTime
December 3rd, 2012
8:51 am
Are Wink and Darkcow the same person? I am seriously laughing out loud!
Ernest
December 3rd, 2012
8:58 am
I agree with Sam. I’d rather look at a Constanza/reed platoon (unless one of them really distinguishes themself) and use that money to lock up Heyward/Freeman to long term deals before they hit arbitration. This was done with several players in years past with success (I think Chipper may have been one of them).
Matt K.
December 3rd, 2012
9:01 am
I have never played baseball competitively, so this might be a stupid question…but is there a big difference between playing in right outfield vs. left? if there weren’t why wouldn’t they consider more seriously about Shin Soo Choo? When he played the lead off role this past year, he hit .300, plays great defense and also can add some pops. And Cleveland wants starting pitcher prospect, which Atlanta has. is it because he’s represented by Boras?
Loser Hoosier
December 3rd, 2012
9:06 am
So Braves get nothing for Jurrgens ? Could have signed him and packaged him in a trade.
Don
December 3rd, 2012
9:08 am
It may be difficult to find a hitter like Uggla and Upton who hits LESS THAN .250 and approaches 200 STRIKE OUTS per season – especially one like Upton who also has an On Base Average of less than .300 – or a power hitter like Upton who hit ONLY .168 with NO (ZERO) home runs against the best 1/3 of the Pitchers.
This is absurd.
Don
December 3rd, 2012
9:08 am
It may be difficult to find a hitter like Uggla and Upton who hits LESS THAN .250 and approaches 200 STRIKE OUTS per season – especially one like Upton who also has an On Base Average of less than .300 – or a power hitter like Upton who hit ONLY .168 with NO (ZERO) home runs against the best 1/3 of the Pitchers.
This is absurd.