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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
374 comments Add your comment
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
12:49 pm
The only player who meets the conditions of being semi-young, able to hit over 40 hrs, 130 plus RBI’s , score over 100 runs and hits over .300 consistently:
Josh Hamilton…
The ghost of Joe Torre
December 4th, 2012
12:51 pm
Meanwhile, Brian McCann needs to learn how to play third base ASAP.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
12:52 pm
DOB- good reply last post, by the way what would you think about giving up Medlen or Minor for Stanton or Myers?
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
12:52 pm
Well as a braves fan we all know we cant shop at the same stores as the Yankees of the wold. We have to settle for the players just under Hamilton unless we strike gold like we did with Chipper.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
12:52 pm
Braves fan don’t want to wait a couple of years. We want it now.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
12:54 pm
veteran in the sense that what the Braves need is not years of service, but veterans with playoff experience and WORLD SERIES experience
ryan
December 4th, 2012
12:54 pm
Nats getting stronger Braves have to do something soon .
ryan
December 4th, 2012
12:55 pm
With the Nats getting stronger the Braves have to do something .
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
12:55 pm
And you think you’ll get there with Michael Young, Cody Ross, Ichiro, Victorino? I don’t and then we’ll be in the same predicament we’re in now.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
12:58 pm
yes Golden Sombreros, I think if the Braves make a move it should be one of those players
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:00 pm
J. Upton will end up in TX. Then will trade David Murphy to some team.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
Golden Sombreros——-Agree with you 100%, we need a real impact player like Stanton and there is and never will be a better time to get him.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Young has playoff as well as WS experience as does Cody Ross. Both of them would fit right in with the Braves.
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Those players will not put us over the top. I say no to all of them and go internal if they are the only options.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
1:04 pm
if Braves can get Stanton without overpaying, I say go for him
TN Braves Fan
December 4th, 2012
1:04 pm
Im not going to act like I know the money part of this business and still not sure what the D-Backs would have to have for Upton… Is there a chance however you send Hudson, and or Maholm (or a younger starter) and a young SS not named Simmons for Upton… And if so does that free up the money for Greinke?
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
Stanton or Greinke seem like pipe-dreams to me, but I’m sure all Brave fans would be happy as hell with that.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
1:09 pm
Diamondbacks want to get rid of Justin Upton, there has to be a reason, he should be their cornerstone, otherwise why is it that every year they want to trade him and want too much in return. It is my feeling that Towers really wants him out of Arizona, be patient and Towers will almost give him away just to get rid of him
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:10 pm
So you mortgage the Braves future to get J. Upton for 2 years which is what is left on his contact. Just because his brother plays here does not mean he would re-sign. Didn’t the Brave learn from this with Texiera. We thought he would re-sign since he was a GT boy. That trade costs the Braves alot. TX benefited, went to WS with our former players and laughed all the way.
David O'Brien
December 4th, 2012
1:12 pm
Braves fan don’t want to wait a couple of years. We want it now. — skeeter
Couple of years? Many of them don’t want to wait a couple of days.
So easy a caveman could do it...
December 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
Janish SS
Prado 2B
Heyward RF
Upton J LF
Upton BJ CF
Freeman 1B
Francisco 3B
McCann/Laird C
Uggla+$10M and Simmons for J Upton
Ok, my work here is done, where is the bar?
TN Braves Fan
December 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
Not saying mortgage the Braves future… I sad Hudson and or Maholm.. and one young player
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
Wren already made one mistake by signing one Upton, I just hope and pray he doesn’t double that mistake by getting the other one.
Seattle Braves
December 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
So its Ryan Ludwick Then, Right?
Or Should the Braves risk trading for Upton?
OR Sign whats left….
OR DO NOTHING?
Which one do you think is going to happen and why?
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:16 pm
Most people in baseball know J. Upton is clubhouse problem. It has been discussed numerous times with the commentators on ESPN in the last two weeks. Not worth the problem. Remember last August when Chipper said Melky was not on the team anymore, was because he was a PROBLEM. Braves want TEAM PLAYERS, not “me” players, those concerned with only themselves and their stats.
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
1:19 pm
Well if you aren’t big on J-Up Ralph then how in the world do you think we could pull off Stanton? I haven’t heard anything from Miami about trying to shop him. Regardless oh how ticked off he is. I would be excited about that if it could happen though. Stanton is a beast.
Golden Sombreros
December 4th, 2012
1:22 pm
I’d be willing to bet that most coveted playes are “problems” in some way or another. It’s hard to find a guy like Chipper to build your organization around these days. He set the barometer pretty darn high for all us Brave fans. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for a player. Did you ever think tht J-Up needed some maturing to do like his older brother supposedly did this past season. Not to mention he has been aware that the Diamondbacks have been trying to get rid of him for a while now. Can’t imagine it would sit to well with you if you were him, regardless of the uber millions these guys make.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
I can wait a couple of days. I just want a competitve team that will go to playoffs, hopefully to WS. Plus hoping we don’t get that bumbling umpire crew ever again. Cox and Schuerholz spoiled me during that long playoff run. I sat many of nights in an near empty stadium throughout the 70’s and 80’s. I am a true die-hard fan.
Ry
December 4th, 2012
1:25 pm
After seeing the contract that Pagan received from SF, I am surprised the Braves didn’t pursue him harder. I would much rather have him with a $40 mil/4 yr contract than they are paying Upton. That would have allowed for even more financial flexibility.
Larvell Blanks
December 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
What do you consider athletic: ability to hit 30 hrs, strikeout 150-200 times in season and bat .250 for year. Plus drive in less than 90 runs. This makes you fuzzy. Oopps, Those figures are close to Uggla too.
Boy, what I wouldn’t give to see Uggla hit .250 with 30 homers and 90 RBIs!
Deep Breath and Reload
December 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Isn’t it ironic that the Braves may have set the outfield salary bar a bit high due to what they gave Upton? This is a team who isn’t flush with money and has to be creative, yet they may have priced themselves out of the left fielder market due to signing Upton.
I still find it hard to believe that the Braves offered a full 20 million more than the Phillies did and it seems the Phillies were the main competition for Upton.
Say what you will about the Phillies…. they spend lots of money for top free agents and maybe even over pay for them…. but they aren’t going to over spend for upper-mediocre pieces like Upton.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Golden Sombreros
Well if you aren’t big on J-Up Ralph then how in the world do you think we could pull off Stanton? I
Carroll
December 4th, 2012
1:28 pm
As for Simmons, who knows how good he could be down the road. But sometimes trading a “could be” for a “sure thing” works out pretty well. (See e.g., circa 2004 the braves parley one good month by Chuck Thomas for a guy named Tim Hudson.) Anyone heard from Mr. Thomas lately? I think he may have delivered a pizza to my door last weekend.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:28 pm
Stanton is indeed a very good player just Miguel Caberra was when he played for the Marlins. I think he would fit very good with the Braves. Not sure the Marlins would trade him to us or any other divisional foe. Most likely will be dealt to AL. I know we got Uggla from them. But Stanton is different, really different. We can all wish for Stanton. I would take him over any player mentioned up for trade or being a free agent now.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:29 pm
Well if you aren’t big on J-Up Ralph then how in the world do you think we could pull off Stanton?
Because I would be willing to give something of equal value (Medlen or Minor) to get Stanton.
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
1:30 pm
I’ve said before another way to spin this is to sign Sanchez or Lohse spending that $10 Million or so per year there and then trade one of our pitchers Minor or Medlen for a young controllable OF like Myers or Stanton. Granted we’d have to add another player or two to get them but Minor or Medlen would be the centerpiece. This way we’ve kept our budget of around $10 Million and still got our OF covered and have a good rotation to go forward.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
Pagan wanted to play in Frisco, he shopped around and waited for Giants best offer and took it
Remember when everyone thought Pete Rose was going to sign with Braves, Turner was going all out for him, the Braves, Cards, and Phils were in a bidding war for him, Cards dropped out after Turner made a big offer, when Phils heard the offer that Turner made they said no, fans in Atlanta were excited because Rose would come here because Turner offered him more. The next day Rose announced that he was going to take the Phils last offer and signed with them
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
BravesFanInNashville——-If we traded Medlen or Minor for Stanton or Myers we could use Delgado and Teheran to fill the void until Beachy returns in July.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:47 pm
It will take a lot of players to get Stanton. We all think the owner and GM were dumb for that trade with Toronto. But they are not that stupid. Going to take multiple players to get just Stanton. Just one of our young starters, ie Minor, Medlin or Beachy (healthy) won’t cut it. Wishful thinking, just won’t happen.
Kris
December 4th, 2012
1:48 pm
Choo is a great player but will be costly for one year rental.
Get Granderson to play LF and leadoff, or Jason Kubel with his 30 homers to play LF and bat 5th in the order behind Heyward and Freeman.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:50 pm
skeeter——-Make the offer, if they turn it down then sweeten the deal.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:51 pm
With that comment on Rose, I wonder if Wren has made a formal bid to Hamilton and his agent. Both Josh and his wife said deal is not about money. He could sign for alot less than the highest bid. Maddux did that to stay with Braves. What could it hurt for Wren to initate talks and make an offer.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
1:52 pm
HINSKE SIGNS WITH DIAMONDBACKS
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
1:53 pm
you are right skeeter make an offer
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
1:54 pm
If I was GM I would make an offer for Stanton, then up the offer as much as possible without robbing our minor league system. Once is enough on that.
Has anyone heard Greinke’s name mentioned lately?
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
1:54 pm
Ralph ….. True but it would be good to have one more established pitcher to help Hudson and whoever remains between Minor and Medlen. I’d hate to have 3 rookies in the rotation.
Kris
December 4th, 2012
1:58 pm
Carroll, you mean Chuck James, not Thomas
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:58 pm
BravesFanInNashville————
Hudson
Maholm
Medlen or Minor
Delgado
Teheran
Only two rookies
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
1:59 pm
Really Delgado is not a rookie
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:00 pm
I personally think we need to leave our pitching and relief staff intact. We have the best pitching staff in baseball, why break it up. Trade some of our pitching prospects. If that isn’t an option, then you have to sign a free agent for LF or for 3rd. Doesn’t have to be a long contract, one or two year contract. Or if we want to stay in house, the only option is to sign Greinke, not middle of staff pitcher.
ppaddy123
December 4th, 2012
2:02 pm
So, let me see if I’ve got this right, some of you guys want to trade our good, young, CHEAP starting pitching (Minor and/or Medlen) for Mike Stanton (sorry I refuse to call him Giancarlo)??? I really don’t think YOU understand the VALUE of starting pitching. Most teams can only run 2, maybe 3 quality starters out every day. When Beechy returns, the Braves will have 5 quality starters! We’re going to again have one of the best bullpens. J-Hey and Freeman are going to continue to “fill out” their 6-5 frames. I think Braves management would love a guy like Stanton, but the truth of the matter is, this team will be dynamic offensively in 2013. Bmac will return to form….we’ll be fine.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:02 pm
Delgado is still basically a rookie. He wasn’t impressive when he pitched in majors. Yet he was better than Teheran.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:03 pm
I believe Miami will trade Stanton and KC will trade Myers, they are just waiting for the right offer, we are in the best position to make that offer.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:04 pm
Hinske has just signed with ARZ
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:05 pm
ppaddy123———-Just how long do you want to keep Delgado and Teheran in the minors?
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
2:06 pm
True Ralph…. but that’s turning over 40% of our games to Delgado and Teheran and that could turn out good or really bad… Kyle Lohse is a ground ball pitcher and he’d be really effective at Turner Field. We’d have the money to spend for the insurance since Myers or Stanton will be cheap for years. I’d hate to have the reverse problem we have now which is great line-up but can’t score enough runs and the bullpen gets over used when the back end of the rotation pitches. We have no idea how well either of them will do until they actually get on the mound and try. So if it were me I’d rather have another established pitcher that we know will keep us in games and not wear out the bullpen.
O.J.
December 4th, 2012
2:06 pm
Actually Kris, they meant Charles Thomas. Not Chuck James. James was a pitcher.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:08 pm
BravesFanInNashville———Perhaps Delgado and Teheran would be more comfortable and pitch better if they had an offense behind them.
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
2:10 pm
That’s assuming KC or Miami would trade us Myers or Stanton and as I stated earlier I would trade Minor or Medlen for ONLY Myers or Stanton and no one else. Then I would only do it if we had a plan B to replace them in the rotation without having to rely on BOTH Delgado and Teheran.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
2:10 pm
pitchers pitch better with defense behind them, pitcher has nothing to do with offense
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
2:11 pm
Bring back Blauser… not entirely true.. pitchers pitch better with leads and knowing the offense can score runs so if they give up a run or two the game isn’t automatically lost.
Mike
December 4th, 2012
2:11 pm
I understand that we valued Simmons so much but then again, it was the same for Hanson, and see what happen to him, right now, There is two question, 1) If we can win the NL East 2) Can we get to the WS as a Wild Card. I hate to say this but NO on both accounts, sometimes you have to take risk and if Simmons can yield you a better player then do it because Nats has already got Spain and Harden plus they are not done yet.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:13 pm
DOB
What are your friends in Miami telling you about Stanton? Will he be traded?
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
2:14 pm
Nats have been building that team for years now, they had those terrible records and drafted very well and saved money, and at the right time things came together and now they have the money so they can make moves they would never have made as little as 3 years ago
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:16 pm
Mike——-Who are you talking about that is better than Simmons, hope your not talking about Justin Upton.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:16 pm
Looks like J Hamilton and Rangers are working on a 4 yr contract. That takes away one bidder on Greinke.
archie
December 4th, 2012
2:18 pm
The Diamondbacks have just signed Eric Hinske (what, Corky Miller and Greg Norton were unavailable?) Evidently they did not see him play in 2012, I guess they can’t afford advance scouts. Remember the game in LF, when he was incapable of well, playing baseball? At least it’s good news for beer and doughnut sellers in Arizona!
O.J.
December 4th, 2012
2:18 pm
Skeeter, heard the Rangers were going after Hamilton and Greinke, so you can squash that
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:19 pm
I might trade Simmons for Stanton because that would be a big plus in offense but no way would I trade him, nor will Wren, for Upton which would be a big loss in defense and not much gain in offense.
ppaddy123
December 4th, 2012
2:21 pm
ppaddy123———-Just how long do you want to keep Delgado and Teheran in the minors?
Well, if it were up to me, I keep them, and their VALUE as potential trade pieces until they can’t be kept on the farm anymore. Question: has either proven to be better than what we have now? No. How old are they? How does their “minor league clock” look as far as keeping them protected?
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:21 pm
Braves and ARZ have concluded a trade is not possible between them concerning J. Upton. Great.
Let’s work on other trade potentials.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:24 pm
skeeter———–Hope your right about that!
ppaddy123
December 4th, 2012
2:24 pm
All I can say, you guys wanting to trade Simmons……………….your eyes are lying to you! This kid will be one of the top SS’s for the next decade!
Mike
December 4th, 2012
2:26 pm
I dont mean just Justin Upton, i think we just overvalued these young players too much sometimes like Simmons, Hanson and other young players that was going to be something but didnt pan out here. Right now, the LF market is drying up very fast and we have to use a Journeyman and Rookie in a position that was a problem for many and many of years. We got the pieces to get a better player but we saying that Simmons is the next coming of Jeter so we cant make the deal.
James 123
December 4th, 2012
2:26 pm
What are the Royals asking for Alex Gordon.
kazoo
December 4th, 2012
2:26 pm
If Braves acquire a left-fielder, it’s got to be somebody who is very solid–good contact hitter, good OBP, good defense, especially now that they’ve got two guys–upton and uggla—or strike out a lot. Braves paid too much for upton.
braves fan in queens
December 4th, 2012
2:27 pm
Somebody mentioned packaging a deal to the cleveland indians for asdrubal cabrera.
Asdrubal at third, simmons at short, prado in left.
I second this!!
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:28 pm
ppaddy123—————I’m not one wanting to trade Simmons unless it would greatly improve our club, I agree totally on his value however trading him, Medlen or Minor for Stanton would greatly improve our club, forget Upton.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:31 pm
I would package BJ with Delgado and Teheran to get Stanton. Wouldn’t blink my eye with that deal.
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
2:35 pm
Alex Gordon is not the answer. He hits Left Handed he doesn’t hit for power and he only stole 10 bases last year while getting caught 5 times. He made $6 Million last year and will get a raise next year. I’d rather have Prado play left and take our chances with Franscisco at 3B before I trade away a good pitcher for what Alex Gordon brings.
David O'Brien
December 4th, 2012
2:35 pm
Hinske signed with D-backs, will mostly PH and play a little 1B.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:37 pm
Wren could offer KC Delgado and Teheran for Myers now that KC is more open to trading him instead of Billy Butler.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:37 pm
skeeter———-Agree though it would mean using Gilmartin or some other unknown rookie until Beachey returns, I think it would be worth it.
O-my
December 4th, 2012
2:37 pm
Steeter would trade his mother to win!
ppaddy123
December 4th, 2012
2:40 pm
@Ralph, No one is going to trade Stanton for Minor or Medlen straight up. I think his bat would be a great thing to have, but history shows time and time again, starting pitching is the most valuable asset a team can have. And while I don’t think Medlen will repeat his awesome performance from last year, both he and Minor and Beechy are going to be the nucleus of the Braves starting pitching for the future. And I know it’s only my opinion, but I think Simmons WILL BE one of the best SS’s of his generation.
rico carty
December 4th, 2012
2:41 pm
Snakes making Kubel available.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:44 pm
ppaddy123————Your probably right, I just wish we were not in such a desprate need for offense, you are going to have to give up value to get value.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:44 pm
LaRouche should be re-signing with Nats very shortly. Nats keep on making deals while Braves sit idling in neutral.
bravesfaninnc
December 4th, 2012
2:45 pm
“Somebody mentioned packaging a deal to the cleveland indians for asdrubal cabrera.
Asdrubal at third, simmons at short, prado in left.”
I had been thinking that the Braves may be better off going after a middle IF to play 2B, move Uggla to 3B (where his lack of range won’t kill us) and keep Prado in LF. Think of the up the middle defense if Simmons is at short and Cabrera at 2B.
LF Prado
2B Cabrera
RF Heyward
CF Upton
1B Freeman
3B Uggla
C McCann
SS Simmons
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:47 pm
I think Gilmartin will be a better pitcher than Delgado or Teheran. He probably will win 5th spot in spring training whether those two are traded or not.
Ralph
December 4th, 2012
2:49 pm
rico carty
December 4th, 2012
2:41 pm
Snakes making Kubel available
Good,lets trade them BJ for him then they could have the brothers togather.
randy
December 4th, 2012
2:50 pm
Ralph…..keep the pressure on, you are absolutely right. Braves have to get Myers.
glorydays
December 4th, 2012
2:50 pm
Haven’t read all the blogs so pardon my ignorance. R the Braves in on Kubel? All he has to do is play the leftfield line and foul territory.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:52 pm
When Beachy returns he will put on a total innings program like Srassburg was with the Nats. Not a bad idea, protect for the future.
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
2:54 pm
ARZ wouldn’t trade us Kubel for BJ. Then they would stuck with two problems.
glorydays
December 4th, 2012
2:55 pm
Would like to have Parra, what a killer OF that would be defensively.
Seattle Braves
December 4th, 2012
2:59 pm
What are the Braves trying to accomplish here in the winter meetings? We have secured Janish, signed BJ “too much money” Upton, signed Laird, traded “Um Bop” Hanson for Where’s Walden, and Let Ross, Hinksie “im ok with” and JJ “bout time” go away.
Sooooo…. We still need a bat, perferrably a RH left fielder or 3rd baseman. Bullpen good, Starters are great, and the bench needs work. Assuming we re-sign Reed Johnson.
SO what now?
Coach D
December 4th, 2012
3:03 pm
“Significant trade” = Delgado & prospects to the Marlins for Stanton, G.!!!!! Get ‘er done, Frank Wren!! Right-handed bat with unbelievable power. Just what we need. Include Simmons if necessary….
Coach D
December 4th, 2012
3:03 pm
“Significant trade” = Delgado & prospects to the Marlins for Stanton, G.!!!!! Get ‘er done, Frank Wren!! Right-handed bat with unbelievable power. Just what we need. Include Simmons if necessary….
skeeter
December 4th, 2012
3:03 pm
It’s after 2 pm in Nashvile so Wren can’t checkout early to save a couple hundred dollars. Just means $200 less we can spend on a starting player or bench player.