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4,816 comments Add your comment
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
4:58 pm
Murph, whats more depressing is that we went from trying to fill our LF spot with Justin Upton. Now Bowman says we make look internal with Constanza/Gattis or leave Prado in LF and start Fransisco at 3B. Thats more depressing. Why free up salary to look internally?
Efrim
December 4th, 2012
4:58 pm
Lots of interest in D-backs’ young pitching.
Bauer + to Philly for Lee and cash?
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:00 pm
Choo would likely cost us Graham and another prospect.
Rick C
December 4th, 2012
5:00 pm
“If the Dbacks are taking Lee for Upton and sending Philly money wouldn’t you think we could send them Ahmed/Pastornicky, Tehran/Delgado and another piece or something and get him?”
Philly would be sending Dbacks money, and no.
Frank Wren
December 4th, 2012
5:00 pm
I have done my job. I got you Schafer and B.J. I let Ross go. What else do you bloggers want?
old man
December 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
***Arizona discussing all sorts of three- and four-way deals to get shortstop. Upton for Cliff Lee (per @pedrogomezESPN) could just be a start.***
Maybe the sellers have been holding out, and now they are looking at stuff they turned down earlier. Maybe Wren has been waiting for some panic selling.
Peter R.
December 4th, 2012
5:01 pm
Another thing I don’t understand is why on earth would the Nats trade Morse and resign LaRoche? Seems like the dumbest idea their GM has ever had. Watch LaRoche just go back to normal next year. The Nats with a fully productive Morse and Werth they could be really scary. Watch Werth never go back to being the player he was with the Phils. But the reason why he was so good there was because of Utley and Howard were racking in their prime. Werth’s contract next to Mike Hampton’s has got to be one of the dumbest decisions in baseball history.
Tumbledown
December 4th, 2012
5:02 pm
Cliff Lee is a slighly better haul for Arizona than Delgado/Teheran, etc.
The A Bomb
December 4th, 2012
5:02 pm
Nats fans would rebel if they could no longer sing Take On Me.
Efrim
December 4th, 2012
5:03 pm
Things are moving fast with Shane Victorino. Source says #redsox are in “good position” to seal the deal.
Of course things are moving fast. They grossly overpaid for him by an extra year and like $3 million per year. Victorino should of gotten a two year deal worth somewhere around $18-20 million.
Upton’s deal looks amazing, at this point. Boston is taking the route of “No draft pick tied to you? Sure, we’ll support your next three generations of Napoli’s and Victorino’s through college!”.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:03 pm
You’d think after shelling out 75 million to BJ Upton, and still having around 13 million and pitching prospects that we’ll land a LFer. If we don’t our team is much worse than the 2012 team, atleast on paper.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:04 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
#Dodgers becoming aggressive in shopping Harang and Capuano, source says. Could be a sign of confidence in landing Zack Greinke. @MLBONFOX
Tumbledown
December 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
Patience is needed on the LF front. Wren is trying not to sell the farm in any deal.
CB
December 4th, 2012
5:05 pm
Bowman telling P-Town to be patient on his twitter. LOL
Trader Jack
December 4th, 2012
5:06 pm
What I’m hearing out of Philly is that the Dbacks and Phils are talking and that there is a third team involved, possibly the Rangers
Braves' Nation
December 4th, 2012
5:06 pm
With Chipper, Bourn & Ross gone, and with the addition of Upton, how is this team any better offensively?
Its not.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:07 pm
Jim Salisbury @JSalisburyCSN
Ruben strongly shoots down Lee Arizona rumor. It is false, he says.
Dric
December 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
Braves can not let J. Upton go to the phillies. Why would D’backs want Cliff Lee?
Efrim
December 4th, 2012
5:09 pm
GordonEdes Gordon Edes
Victorino would play RF, which would seemingly end chance of Cody Ross returning to Boston, unless Sox have unlikely plan to move Ells
It looks as if Cherington tried the difficult task of attempting to make the Red Sox competitive in 2013 without giving up first rounders, tying the team into 5-7 contracts, or trading away prospects. They weren’t going to go all New York Mets on the Baseball world after the Adrian/Beckett and Crawford trade – so, go for 2-3 year deals for players like Ortiz, Gomes, Napoli, Victorino and Ross. I could see them having a lot of interest in Edwin Jackson, Anibal Sanchez or Ryan Dempster as they aren’t tied to a draft pick.
Hillbilly
December 4th, 2012
5:10 pm
Honestly, there’s no telling what’s on Kevin Towers’ mind or what’s coming out of his mouth. Dude is different, if you ask me.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:10 pm
Philly.com Sports @phillysport
MT @HighCheese: Amaro strong denial of Lee-Upton report. “I don’t comment on rumors but that one is Absolutely and unequivocally false.”
RJB in DC
December 4th, 2012
5:11 pm
Lew- on your 4:45 comment. His split sample size against left handed pitching is pretty small for 2012 (only 37). Same for his MLB AB’s with the Reds in 2011 and 2010. Constanza and Schafer don’t exactly rake LHP either. Not sure it is worth it to sign Matty D back to platoon in LF when Prado plays third. In fairness, I have to say I always liked Diaz on our roster–it is a shame recurring knee and hand injuries cut down on his abilities.
Murph
December 4th, 2012
5:11 pm
An AZ source is the one that started the rumor of Upton to Philadelphia, trying to get the Braves to flinch and throw Simmons their way in an effort to not only land Upton but also to keep the Phillies from landing him.
I tell you what, Simmons must be feeling damn good about himself right now. The club loves him so much they won’t even think about trading him for one of the premiere young LF in the game today.
That’s devotion.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 4th, 2012
5:14 pm
That’s exactly what I was thinking Murph. F’n snakes.
Mike
December 4th, 2012
5:15 pm
I know, but if he doesnt pan out, we will be all here scream about why we let this opportunity by, Again.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 4th, 2012
5:16 pm
@ajcbraves: Could be. #Braves like him, #Royals want frontline pitching. RT @NickGeist: @mlbbowman @ajcbraves Any backing to the Alex Gordon rumors?
C’mon Wren work your magic and get this guy already. You have to give to get.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
That Denard Span for 1 prospect trade has really hurt the Indians and Rockies. Fowler isn’t as proven as Span but younger and Choo is a 1 year rental. You could say the trade value is pretty even across the board.
The hole in Uggla'a bat
December 4th, 2012
5:21 pm
Braves could save money, get Venters back on track, then trade him at the break and have funds to re sign whoever they get in return. Venters will be sought after if he gets back to 2011 form.
Kyle
December 4th, 2012
5:22 pm
Can’t go wrong with Haggard. And I’m glad Hanson is gone. I thought he was the weakest link to the rotation and Walden sounds good.
Efrim
December 4th, 2012
5:24 pm
I can’t imagine getting Gordon for “just prospects”.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:24 pm
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
#RedSox may not be done making moves yet. They have interest in Yunel Escobar, source says.
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
5:25 pm
Span and Fowler arent impact players.
Ray
December 4th, 2012
5:25 pm
I am glad Wren is not a GM that gives in and has a big history of over paying in trades or on FA’s. I would rather see no move as opposed to a bad move. We may see someone like Choo or Fowler moved after Christmas and maybe late in to Jan.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:26 pm
keithlaw @keithlaw
Pretty expensive for a fourth outfielder RT @cfrs15: @keithlaw @jonahkeri three years, $37.5MM for Shane Victorino?
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:27 pm
Joe Sheehan @joe_sheehan
So the new-style Red Sox are simply going to make somewhat less-expensive mistakes on even older players with limited upside? Woo?
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
5:28 pm
Richard……..”I think you’ll see Cody Ross in LF. Personally, I’m all up for packaging Teheran/Delgado with EOF and another solid prospect for Alex Gordon, but I doubt that’ll happen”.
Really?????……..
Alex Gordon wouldn’t be worth just either Delgado or Teheran much less both of them plus EOF. The man hit 14HR so he’s not a power hitter. Prado will hit that many. He only stole 10 bases and was caught 5 times. Prado can steal 10 bases. Gordon made $6 million last year and will get an arb raise. He’s not a better choice to me than leaving Prado in LF and letting Francisco play 3B.. Francisco will hit more than 14 Bombs if he plays every day and he won’t cost us $6 Million. I’m not saying I want to stop looking for a LF but we can’t be trading Teheran and Delgado anyway we’d have no 5th starter.
cornjolio
December 4th, 2012
5:28 pm
just think of the opportunities Frank Wren would have if it were not for Dan Uggla’s contract !
Efrim
December 4th, 2012
5:29 pm
So the new-style Red Sox are simply going to make somewhat less-expensive mistakes on even older players with limited upside? Woo?
And keep them draft picks in doing so…..
cornjolio
December 4th, 2012
5:30 pm
“I am glad Wren is not a GM that gives in and has a big history of over paying in trades or on FA’s.” – Ray
Dan Uggla.
Derek Lowe.
Kenchin Kawakami.
Nate McLouth
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:33 pm
BravesFaninNashville
You have to look at more than just HR…… Gordon is a stud. He’s had 142 Extra Base Hits over the past 2 seasons while hitting 298/372/478/850
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:34 pm
keithlaw @keithlaw
self-immolating RT @RedSkyInExile: @keithlaw Trying Mark Reynolds in the outfield would be a __________ idea
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
5:34 pm
Victorino off the table, going to Boston
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:35 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Free-agent LH reliever Sean Burnett now looking beyond #Nationals. Not looking for Affeldt money (3/18). Open to two-year deals.
nolie
December 4th, 2012
5:35 pm
there was nothing wrong with either the McLouth or Uggla deals. They were both considered steals throughout baseball. No reason in the world to think that either one would perform as poorly as they did. Shyt happens, and hindsight is worthless
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:35 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Free-agent OF Nate McLouth only looking for one-year deal. Wants to re-establish his value, then go back on market.
MikeInFl
December 4th, 2012
5:35 pm
With Chipper, Bourn & Ross gone, and with the addition of Upton, how is this team any better offensively?
Well, if you assume that Heyward, Freeman and Simmons have all peaked at age 22, and that Uggla will again spend half a year slumping, and that McCann will not be a force when he returns, and that BJ’s OBP will stay below .300, then no, we won’t be improved offensively.
Ideally we’ll add one player for LF or 3b, but I think the offense will be plenty good enough.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:36 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Bauer not only young #Diamondbacks pitcher drawing interest. Teams also asking about Skaggs. Believed to be #Indians target for A. Cabrera.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
5:37 pm
McClouth may be worth a second look, he did pretty well in Baltimore last year
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
I’d offer Teheran, Wood, Spuill, and Ahmed for Alex Gordon.
tmoneylove
December 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
Anyone else have a strong dislike for Cody Ross because of his HR theatrics? The thought of him playing in ATL terrifies me! I can’t stand him! The Fredi connection to him makes me nervous…
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
MLB @MLB
BREAKING: @RedSox agree to terms with OF @ShaneVictorino on 3-year contract, pending physical.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
what are the stats on Cunningham?
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Alex Gordon wouldn’t be worth just either Delgado or Teheran much less both of them plus EOF. The man hit 14HR so he’s not a power hitter. Gordon made $6 million last year and will get an arb raise. He’s not a better choice to me than leaving Prado in LF and letting Francisco play 3B.. Francisco will hit more than 14 Bombs if he plays every day and he won’t cost us $6 Million.
There is a LOT wrong with this. First of all, Gordon has a set contract that runs through 2016. He SLG’d .502 in 2011 and .455 last year. Fransisco may not even provide us a .300OBP from a corner infield spot. Gordon had almost a 6WAR season last year. He’s absolutely worth giving up Teheran/Delgado+ for him.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Victorino and #RedSox: Three years, $39M.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Victorino and #RedSox: Three years, $39M.
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
VaBravesFan…. I agree you have to look at more than home runs but he also hits Left Handed and is about to be a Free Agent after one more year and he struck out 140 times last year. That’s a lot for not being a power hitter.
I’m not saying Gordon couldn’t add to the team but not at the cost of both Delgado/Teheran and EOF as was suggested earlier.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
I had Cody Ross ahead of Shane Victorino on my board. Mainly cause Victorino’s bat speed is shot. Not a fan of either for the Braves either. But now I see Cody Ross getting atleast 3 years 30 million, after the Victorino deal.
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
5:42 pm
McClouth may be worth a second look, he did pretty well in Baltimore last year
No thanks
old man
December 4th, 2012
5:43 pm
I’m in a distinct minority, but I have always thought the Cody Ross/Francisco platoon potential was pretty dang good. You’ve all seen the numbers I’ve thrown out.
If I’m Frank Wren, my willingness to deal is affected by my back up options. Gattis is one of those. Cody Ross is one too. It depends on what Frank thinks of those.
In a perfect world, you land an immediate impact player. The most plausible ones seem to be Gordon and Choo.
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
unbelievable…… good to know about the contract extension on Gordon. do you have details?
Just to be clear are you saying he’s worth either Delgado or Teheran or both?
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:44 pm
Jayson Stark @jaysonst
Shane Victorino’s deal with #RedSox means Cody Ross won’t be back in Boston and Nick Swisher no longer fits there either.
bring back blauser
December 4th, 2012
5:45 pm
how do you spell I C H I R O
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 4th, 2012
5:46 pm
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:38 pm
I’d offer Teheran, Wood, Spuill, and Ahmed for Alex Gordon.
This works for me. Send Wren a memo and get the waiting and games over with.
nolie
December 4th, 2012
5:46 pm
Swisher over Ross
old man
December 4th, 2012
5:46 pm
BravesFanInNashville
To me, Gordon is a better acquisition than Justin Upton. Straight up, I prefer Gordon.
nolie
December 4th, 2012
5:46 pm
how do you spell I C H I R O
T..O..A..S..T
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
5:47 pm
unbelievable…… good to know about the contract extension on Gordon. do you have details?
Per Cots ■12:$6M, 13:$9M, 14:$10M, 15:$12.5M, 16:$12.5M player option.
To clarify, I would offer either Delgado or Teheran + other prospects in a package for Gordon.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
Alex Gordon, 29 years old.
2013 9 million
2014 10 million
2015 12.5 million
2016 12.5 million Team Option with no Buyout
unbelievable
December 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
Swisher over Ross
Absolutely
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
old man……ok I understand your preference for Gordon over Upton. I really don’t want both Upton brothers either because it could bring drama.
How much would you trade to get Gordon?
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
Wow 13 mil a year for an aging player past his prime. Upton looks like a steal especially since he’s entering his prime. What do you say about that TOBF?
CB
December 4th, 2012
5:48 pm
nolie gets a vacation and he comes back a funnier guy. lol
Frank Wren
December 4th, 2012
5:49 pm
Cody Ross? Justin Upton?
I’m thinking Jordan Schafer …
Our hitting instructors are working with him. Bobby Cox tells me Jordan is tearing the cover off the ball in our simulated games; and looks like the guy who wreaked havoc on the Phillies in the Opening Series back in 2009.
If he’s good enough for Bobby Cox, he’s good enough for me !
BravesFanInNashville
December 4th, 2012
5:49 pm
Thanks VaBrave for the Gordon numbers…
Brava
December 4th, 2012
5:50 pm
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Total cost of Napoli, Victorino, Papi, Gomes and Ross: $120.2 million already spent by the Red Sox.
The A Bomb
December 4th, 2012
5:50 pm
Get Marlon Byrd cheap and see if you can catch lightning in a bottle. Better lightning than tamoxifen.
This is underwhelming at best. What happened to good baseball players?
nolie
December 4th, 2012
5:50 pm
I like that Span went so cheap, coupla medium prospects for Choo would suit me fine
Hillbilly
December 4th, 2012
5:50 pm
Victorino and #RedSox: Three years, $39M.
Thank you, Lord…and Ben Cherington.
MiaBchBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:51 pm
Victorino??? 3 years at $38 mil??? The BoSox management team are MENSA cases!!!
Lew
December 4th, 2012
5:51 pm
His options if he didn’t have to pay Uggla? Find a 2B who could replace Uggla’s 19-35 HR and still need to find a LFer.
Mike
December 4th, 2012
5:52 pm
13m for Victorino, that is way too much
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:52 pm
I’d call KC and give them options for a 4 man package.
Delgado or Teheran
Gilmartin or Wood
Spruill
Ahmed or Salcedo or Lipka
MiaBchBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:54 pm
To say nothing of the fact, nolie, that with a scenario where Upton & Ichiro would be in the same clubhouse & OF, you would create a strain of SUPER CANCER!
Hillbilly
December 4th, 2012
5:54 pm
I’d offer Teheran, Wood, Spuill, and Ahmed for Alex Gordon.
Have to wait a year after signing a draftee, I think, so Wood can’t be traded yet unless he’s a Player To Be Named Later.
Murph
December 4th, 2012
5:54 pm
I wonder how motivated the Cubs are to get rid of Alfonso Soriano?
old man
December 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
For Gordon:
Teheran (not Delgado) + one of Venters/Walden/Avilia + lower level prospect
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:55 pm
Hillbilly
Oh yeah forgot, good point.
MiaBchBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:56 pm
What is the team control sitch for Alex Gordon? Smells like another Teixeira Bomb, your trade proposal, VABF.
Mike
December 4th, 2012
5:58 pm
From our old buddy Walt Weiss, the Rockies isnt going to trade Dexter Fowler, so now the market is getting smaller and smaller
MFin04
December 4th, 2012
5:58 pm
Did the Braves think they were signing Justin Upton to the 5/$75 deal? Surely not BJ Upton.
And I’m not sure how he is a steal with his .250 average and sub .300 on base percentage and below average defense. Pagan is a steal. BJ Upton, not a steal at all. Closer to an overpay.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
5:59 pm
Murph
They want something valuable in return since there eating so much money. Soriano actually bounced back last season and produced a 921 OPS (499 SLG) but he is 36 years old.
Owed 36 million over the next 2 years. Cubs would likely pay at the least 26 million. They will pay more if the return is better tho.
Brava
December 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
Ben Ingram @IngramRadio
Wren -”Premature to talk w/ Heyward, Freeman, Prado, etc. about future plans for contract extensions. Perhaps after new year arrives.”
NORRIS CHUCK
December 4th, 2012
6:00 pm
THEY WILL START THE SEASON WITH A COMBINATION OF SCHAFER/REED/DIAZ PLATOONING.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
MiaBchBravesFan
Gordon is under contract for 3 more seasons and also has a option for a 4th season.
nolie
December 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
Gordon thru 2015 @ 31mil plus 2016 team option @ another 12.5
old man
December 4th, 2012
6:01 pm
Lot of confusion on Gordon. He is under team control for 4 years, but the average cost per year is not bargain basement, it averages around 10M a year over 3 years (9-10-12), plus a 12.5M 4th year.
So he is not a rental. He would be a 30M investment as at least a 3 year solution (you hope) for LF.
If you REALLY believe in Gattis, you would prefer Choo. He’s a one year rental, and cheaper. Much the same player as Gordon.
CB
December 4th, 2012
6:03 pm
Very reasonable contract on Gordon during peak years
BFChris28
December 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
Here’s my take …
Either get a 3 team deal with AZ/CLE to get Justin Upton to Atlanta and Cabrera to AZ or sign Cody Ross.
I think either of those are a possibility.
VaBravesFan
December 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
Actually with the way things have gone BJ Upton at 5 years 75 million is a good deal. Being the youngest CFer on the market who provides the Power/Speed combo.
Pagan landed 4 years 40 million
Victorino landed 3 years 39 million
Swisher is likely to get 4 years 55 million
Bourn is likely to get 6 years 102 million
Ross is likely to get 3 years 33 million
Brava
December 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
Ben Ingram @IngramRadio
#Braves really want Reed Johnson back. They feel like he’d be a big piece to use off the bench.