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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4,816 comments Add your comment
Murph
December 6th, 2012
3:32 pm
rich, I’m actually ok with plan C so long as the Braves let Gattis and Francisco battle it out in ST with the best man winning… If Constanza is in the plans, though, then not so much.
Tumbledown
December 6th, 2012
3:34 pm
CamNavy – Just sayin…I like the idea of Constanza in left…
Do you mean leftfield for the Braves or the left lane on the way out of Atlanta to the AAA affiliate in Gwinnett? I would favor the latter.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 6th, 2012
3:34 pm
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 6th, 2012
2:50 pm
Man, you really love BJ! He’s gonna disappoint ya man… wont be anything new to me though.
We shall see.
Doubt it. I’m more of a glass half full type of person though. I like to see the good in people rather than the bad. And I see a whole lotta good coming the Braves way. I guess we can have a friendly bet on it then. You in TOBF?
So with the Winter Meetings over and 1 big spot to fill let’s reassess our predictions based on what we’ve heard and how overpriced the market is considering trades.
Who does everyone predict the Braves will end up getting if they were forced to guess? It could be a LF or 3B?
While I would love Gordon, I just think the Braves would have to give up too much so my final answer is:
Dexter Fowler- I think the Rockies come calling after the dust settles and end up taking ONE of the Braves pitching prospects they desperately need. Their request for Minor and Teheran was laughable and were just trying to get the most out of Wren.
richbrave
December 6th, 2012
3:34 pm
..
ncscoots
December 6th, 2012
3:35 pm
I just had to add Jordan in there.
He has to actually accumulate service time to be arb eligible.
richbrave
December 6th, 2012
3:36 pm
“…..I just had to add Jordan in there. For TenneseePaul…..” Efrim
Heh! You just love to see him sweat don’t you Ef?
A.P.
December 6th, 2012
3:38 pm
As much as I would love an Upton or Gordon, it would be really fun to see if Gattis, Francisco or maybe Cunningham could have a good enough spring to deserve the spot. I still think we need a high OBP guy with a little bit of speed, so I’m hoping Wren can creatively get a deal done, but we could be in much worse shape. We have some money and nice prospects so we have options.
Murph
December 6th, 2012
3:41 pm
Who does everyone predict the Braves will end up getting if they were forced to guess? It could be a LF or 3B?
I think they will go with either Francisco or Gattis to start the season… if neither pan out and they are within striking distance, then I’d look for the Braves to be big players at the trade deadline.
That’s my guess. Could work out really well, could be a disaster… only time will tell.
My predicted lineup:
1. Simmons
2. Prado
3. Heyward
4. Upton
5. Freeman
6. Uggla
7. BMac
8. Francisco
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 6th, 2012
3:42 pm
Maybe Terdo can learn 3B
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
3:43 pm
I really love seeing these “Is the world coming to an end?” articles on weather.com. I mean, come on….
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
3:46 pm
I think they will go with either Francisco or Gattis to start the season…
Again, unless they slashed payroll by $10 million then I do not see this happening. Wren is going to say he is fine with “internal options” to the media, but there is no way that he won’t bring in an everyday LF, imo. Way too many other teams with needs. Things just need to settle down a bit – there will be plenty of trades over the next three weeks, I think.
If Wren doesn’t have his outfielder by 12/25, then you can start to worry.
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
3:47 pm
Murph
Your Plans A & B & C are all fine and well, so long as the Braves don’t entertain:
Plan 9 From Outer Space – where they bring back the like of Diaz and Overbay
CB
December 6th, 2012
3:48 pm
Maybe the weather and the Mayan calender come together.
nolie
December 6th, 2012
3:48 pm
Andrus – two years, is too much for Upton – three years? Hmm…Efrim
exactly my reaction
Murph
December 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Efrim, don’t take my prediction as worry. I said earlier that I think a platoon of Gattis and Francisco would produce 25+ HR between them. I don’t view it as throwing in the towel.
Not every position can be staffed by a potential all-star. Sometimes you gotta just throw a meat and potatoes guy out there and let him do his thing. So long as you aren’t expecting HoF results from either Gattis or Francisco I think they’d do a fine job. Or at least an adequate one.
Right now it doesn’t look like there is a player available, FA or via trade, that fits what the Braves have or need. That’s just the way it is. If Dee Gordon or Bonifacio are our options, we might be better off going with internal candidates and then shopping again in July.
The current crew, as they are now, should be more than capable of holding on and keeping the team in contention until the trade deadline. If not, I’m not so sure one player would make much difference anyways.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
3:54 pm
I’m all for positional value too. But I do not think two years of Elvis Andrus is too much for three years of Justin Upton. And I absolutely would not add a pitcher like Trevor Bauer if I were Arizona. No chance.
P'cola Brave
December 6th, 2012
3:57 pm
I think your platoon is more Reed Johnson and Francisco then Gattis. Don’t see the Braves promoting him just to hit LHP.
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
3:58 pm
I hope the rumors of acquiring Bonifacio is false.. talk about giving something up to bring in someone that isn’t any better than what you already have on farm. That would be just plain stupid.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
3:58 pm
Murph, I’d be really disappointed if the Braves were unable to acquire a legit LF with the resources that they have available right now. It’s still early in the offseason. Plenty of time for them to get a deal done.
Not every position can be staffed by a potential all-star.
Unfortunately, it always seems to be Left Field that this is said about. I’m not a believer that this starting pitching staff is as good as some others feel it is, so Wren had best add something better than Reed Johnson/Juan Francisco/Evan Gattis in LF if winning the division is a priority, imo. And hopefully the cash and prospects are there for Wren to find a match.
flange1
December 6th, 2012
3:59 pm
Maybe I am an idiot, but I am happy that FW did not overpay in either prospects or cash for just any left fielder.
I think the Braves could do a lot worse than using Johnson, Gattis and Francisco with Prado in some sort of 4 way platoon thing between LF and 3B.
Let FW take his time and get the right guy for LF. Not just any guy, the right guy…
A.P.
December 6th, 2012
4:00 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more Murph. No reason to vastly overpay for a guy like Fowler. My one concern is who in this lineup hits for avg? Adding Francisco, you now have 6 guys hitting around .250 with power. Outside of Prado and maybe Simmons were very dependent on the long ball. I would love a high avg. high OBP guy to set the table, but agree that we should let everything settle and go from there.
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
4:00 pm
The possibility that the Mets could sway some trade for Myers over and above what we could and should give them is crazy.
ncscoots
December 6th, 2012
4:03 pm
a platoon of Gattis and Francisco
Oso’s splits against righties in the minors isn’t exactly feeble, you know. OPS over .870, so I’m not all that sure that platooning him is that good a deal. If he’s in the plans (and I hope he isn’t, frankly), might as well let him rake both sides.
Murph
December 6th, 2012
4:06 pm
Adding Francisco, you now have 6 guys hitting around .250 with power.
That’s 5-6 hits a game right there… if even one of those is the coveted 3-run HR, we’re in business!
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:08 pm
I think the Braves could do a lot worse than using Johnson, Gattis and Francisco with Prado in some sort of 4 way platoon thing between LF and 3B.
I guess I’d just love to see what Wren and Terry have to say, in that scenario. Because that’s a payroll of around $83 million – $10 million less than last year.
Tough to say they will allocate those funds for long term extensions for Heyward, Freeman, etc. Not really how it works – not the NFL. Can’t put that money towards the draft or international signing period either with the capped spending rules now. So that would mean the Braves slashed $10 million off of their payroll, and I’d hope they’d answer questions about that then.
ncscoots
December 6th, 2012
4:10 pm
guys hitting around .250 with power
And nearly all of them with OBP around 100 points higher. Even if all these guys do is match their career OBP (bad years included, remember), there will be baserunners aplenty. And lots of them will be waiting at home plate to high-five somebody.
DAP
December 6th, 2012
4:10 pm
abeeewright Yay to Frank Wren for getting Reed Johnson back in the fold … for two years (if the club wants him).
the deal was just for one year…im not seeing anything about an option on the reports. did i miss something?
DAP
December 6th, 2012
4:12 pm
efrim In 2014, the Braves will have a scheduled 11 players eligible for arbitration:
3rd year – Janish
2nd year – Heyward, Medlen, Venters, Martinez
1st year – Freeman, Beachy, Kimbrel, Walden, Francisco, Schafer
i know i should be patient, but im very anxious about getting some of these guys into longterm extensions. im worried it wont get done.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:12 pm
Atlanta Braves @Braves
The Braves have agreed to terms with OF Reed Johnson on a one-year contract for the 2013 season with a club option for 2014.
DAP, Braves twitter feed.
raleighbravefan
December 6th, 2012
4:12 pm
Efrim – OR…they could use the extra money to give them some room to work before the trade deadline.
Murph
December 6th, 2012
4:14 pm
Efrim, Wren could simply say that he’s saving the money for payroll flexibility, allowing the team to make moves at the trading deadline.
Then, when the deadline comes and goes without any significant upgrades, Wren could say they are paying for BMac’s new contract with the money saved.
Then, when BMac goes to the Yankees, Wren could say he was saving the money to replace BMac.
Then, when Bethancourt is starting, Wren could say that he was going to use the money to….
Well, you get the point. Before you know it, nobody will even remember that the team’s payroll for 2013 was under $85mil.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:14 pm
im worried it wont get done.
No worse news could come to this team than Heyward rejecting an extension. Then you hope for a big 2013, try to sign him again – if he says no – put him out there 2 years away from free agency and see what happens.
raleighbravefan
December 6th, 2012
4:16 pm
I’m not “all in” on Gattis or Francisco…but I think both deserve an honest look. How great would it be for this team, if they both perform like they have this Winter at the ML level.
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
4:18 pm
Murph, more than likely once the trade deadline passed and no big move was made.. Wren would probably come back with something like..”we really like the way our club is constructed and we didn’t want to mess with the chemistry in the clubhouse.”
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:18 pm
Well, you get the point. Before you know it, nobody will even remember that the team’s payroll for 2013 was under $85mil.
I know that year we signed Glaus, Saito and a couple others there was a lot of questions with the incentives of some players and options, etc.
I don’t see those questions this year. If Wren really says he’s saving $10 million for the trade deadline, then we better acquire a player making some serious cash given that it will be mid-season anyway, right? So what are the chances they acquire a player making like $18 million a year and pay all of the salary?
I know some think the Braves have always been stingy, but this would be different, imo.
DAP
December 6th, 2012
4:19 pm
The Braves have agreed to terms with OF Reed Johnson on a one-year contract for the 2013 season with a club option for 2014.
thanks, efrim.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 6th, 2012
4:21 pm
Braves signed Blake DeWitt.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:22 pm
Mike Newman(Fangraphs, Scouting the Sally) – Best LH Starters of 2012:
7. Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves
Alex Wood isn’t entirely dissimilar to Reed in that he’s a lefty with a 91-93 MPH fastball and deception. Prospect followers might think I’m crazy for liking him more than Gilmartin, but the ceiling is higher for me if things break right. In addition to his velocity, Wood also throws a changeup and curveball which can be solid offerings that play up to due the “funk” in his delivery. With J.R. Graham and now Alex Wood, the Braves organization has added two top arms outside of the first round which whould make an impact at the Major League level.
8. Sean Gilmartin, Atlanta Braves
2011 first round pick Sean Gilmartin keeps moving right along through the Braves system, finishing the season in Triple-A. On the verge of breaking through in Atlanta, the left-hander has been pushed quickly achieving a decent amount of success along the way. With an upper-80′s fastball, above average curveball and potentially plus changeup, Gilmartin has the ability to stick at the back end of a Major League rotation for a number of years. However, it most likely is not as an impact guy.
Gary O.
December 6th, 2012
4:24 pm
I hope the Braves are able to make a move for their impact bat before the season starts, instead of at the trade deadline, because who knows how many games behind we will be by that time? And given this 1 game playoff for WC teams, it is imperative that we try and win the division.
Efrim,
Would you be willing to overpay for Josh Willingham?
Murph
December 6th, 2012
4:25 pm
Blake DeWitt? Isn’t he primarily a 2B?
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
4:27 pm
willing to overpay for Josh Willingham?
absolutely not.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:27 pm
I don’t think it’s crazy to rank Alex Wood ahead of Gilmartin. Everything I’ve read about him since being drafted has been more positive than it was prior to the draft. Raised his stock, for sure. Hope he has a strong Spring Training and they start him at Double-A Mississippi.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 6th, 2012
4:27 pm
Yeah 2B and 3B. Minor league contract.
cricket
December 6th, 2012
4:28 pm
Young to phillies for 3B?
DAP
December 6th, 2012
4:28 pm
AP My one concern is who in this lineup hits for avg?
not a guarantee, but prado, mccann, heyward, and freeman all have the skill set to hit for average. actually, so does simmons.
flange1
December 6th, 2012
4:28 pm
Efrim,
I understand you want the Braves to not reduce payroll, but do you want them to throw away 10 million (actually 13) on a guy like Victarino?
That seems like a bigger waste of assets than in not spending the money at all.
It would not bother me to see the Braves upgrade the rotation with that extra $$$$ though
The A Bomb
December 6th, 2012
4:30 pm
I love how some of you keep “predicting” lineups when our fearless commander makes a new one every night.
That’s all the guy does. What a waste of time.
raleighbravefan
December 6th, 2012
4:32 pm
Hey, I’m all for spending the money, if a viable option is available. However, spending the money, just to say you spent it, or grousing about not spending the money (aka wasting the money) on someone who doesn’t really improve the team…well, I’m not in favor of either of those choices.
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:32 pm
Would you be willing to overpay for Josh Willingham?
Not anymore now that we signed B.J. and gave up a first for him. I wouldn’t trade Delgado or Teheran for any one year rental either(Choo, Ellsbury). Would certainly do it for a player like Alex Gordon, though. But I really doubt he is truly available. The guy with multiple years of control I could see being moved is Fowler. Not sure what to think of him overall. Probably wouldn’t acquire him to play LF either if it meant giving up one of Teheran or Delgado.
Just really hoping some pieces move and free agents sign on certain teams which will then make a player like Choo a bit more available and hopefully, Cleveland lowers their demands.
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
4:33 pm
No surprise that they may not be able to do extensions, because of the crazy money thrown around thru Arb
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
4:34 pm
No surprise that they may not be able to do extensions, because of the crazy money thrown around thru FA
Lew
December 6th, 2012
4:34 pm
Murph – Why would Gattis and Francisco fight it out? They’d both be used in a platoon with Prado between LF and 3B. Since they don’t play the same position, there would be no need for competition. If there was competition, it would be between Gattis and Constanza. The White Bear could just bludgeon him.
Should it go that way and Gattis and/or Juan hit for power like we figure they can, the potentital to totally bludgeon NL pitchers this year will be immense. It could be as any as six players of the starting eight capable of 25 or more HR with Simmons and Prado chipping in another 25.
There could be much fireworks along with the strikeouts this year at The Ted.
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
4:35 pm
Forget the first one – Thru FA
Efrim
December 6th, 2012
4:35 pm
That seems like a bigger waste of assets than in not spending the money at all.
No, I was more hoping that they can use some prospects to fill LF. I don;t like any of the free agent outfielders available. I want them to trade for a player making some money – Choo, Ellsbury, Fowler, etc. – those types. $4-$8 million range. At least we’re closer to $90 million then and we have a good LF.
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:37 pm
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: #Mariners have discussed three-year deals with Hamilton in range of $20M to $25M per season.
cricket
December 6th, 2012
4:38 pm
nobody wants kelly johnson for LF?
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:39 pm
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
Kevin correia is mulling multiple multi-year offers, including one from japan
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
4:41 pm
8. Sean Gilmartin, Atlanta Braves
2011 first round pick Sean Gilmartin keeps moving right along through the Braves system, finishing the season in Triple-A. On the verge of breaking through in Atlanta, the left-hander has been pushed quickly achieving a decent amount of success along the way. With an upper-80′s fastball, above average curveball and potentially plus changeup, Gilmartin has the ability to stick at the back end of a Major League rotation for a number of years. However, it most likely is not as an impact guy.
I’m not sure about him. I saw him pitch against the Knights in Charlotte this summer and it was almost like he was getting outs by lulling the hitters to sleep. But he looked like he moved the ball around and changed speeds. Nobody probably thought Tom Glavine would win 300 games with his repertoire either. It’s so hard to project pitchers with his kind of stuff.
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
4:49 pm
As far as using the money wisely and filling the needs of the club today and going forward… I wouldn’t mind seeing Medlen to KC in a Myers and Lamb return.
We could then fill the spot in the rotation with FA signing of McCarthy or even Anibal Sanchez. There’s even Derek Lowe and Oswalt available.. j/k on the last 2.
Murph
December 6th, 2012
4:49 pm
If Hamilton will sign a 3 year deal then the Braves should get in on the action. They’ve got plenty of money coming off the books next year… I dare say that Hamilton would lessen the blow of losing BMac.
Go big or go home.
Arkansas Transplant
December 6th, 2012
4:51 pm
Then you even have the option of signing another big arm for the pen.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
4:52 pm
I’m not “all in” on Gattis or Francisco…but I think both deserve an honest look. How great would it be for this team, if they both perform like they have this Winter at the ML level.
The emergence of a guy like Gattis would be the biggest thing to happen to the organization in a long time. A legitimate right-handed power bat that can hit between Heyward and Freeman. Then Wren can quit wasting payroll and prospects on guys like Uggla and potentially Willingham and actually go focus resources on finding ballplayers and not some needle in a haystack to fit some narrow criteria.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
4:53 pm
I wouldn’t mind seeing Medlen to KC in a Myers and Lamb return.
I’m sharpening my bull horns…
VaBravesFan
December 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
Shin Soo Choo is easily the best 1 year rental target out there. I’d love to have him for 2013 and then do a qualifying offer next offseason and get a draft pick. The guy could bat leadoff and OBP 380, with 20 HR, 40 Doubles, and 20 Steals.
JoeFan
December 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
If Gattis and/ or Francisco comes through, it doesn’t really matter that Wren has excess cash to spend. Plenty of teams bust the budget and have nothing to show for it. Rather Wren have the cash and player surplus to make a trade when and if it becomes really necessary.
JoeFan
December 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
If Gattis and/ or Francisco comes through, it doesn’t really matter that Wren has excess cash to spend. Plenty of teams bust the budget and have nothing to show for it. Rather Wren have the cash and player surplus to make a trade when and if it becomes really necessary.
cricket
December 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
Go big or go home
i’m on board. just win the whole darn thing and leave other teams’ fans to figure out how their teams were actually better.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
I’m coming for your Arkansas…
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
MLBN reporting Michael Young is rejecting trade to Phillies.
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
4:55 pm
I’ve stated a few times that big money is going to continue to change the landscape of MLB. Just give some thought to this:
1. The current CBA expires on 12/1/2016
2. In 2002, there were four clubs that were members of the $100+ mi, payroll club
3. In 2012, that number increased to 13 clubs, and projected to 14 possibly 15 in 2013.
4. By 2016, 6 more clubs will be getting new regional TV deals
Add it up and it really bodes poorly for a handful of clubs
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
#redsox are very unlikely on hamilton. #mariners, however, are said “real” players for JH
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:57 pm
Jason Martinez @mlbdepthcharts
RT @BNightengale The #Cubs re-signed third baseman Ian Stewart to a one-year, $2 million contract with $500,000 worth of incentives
Brava
December 6th, 2012
4:58 pm
MLBN not sure if Young rejection report is valid.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
4:58 pm
Nevermind Arkansas, I’m not feeling up to defending Medlen today. Trade him if you want. Yep, trade Medlen and the 150 games wins he’s destined to collect over the next decade. Go ahead and do it. At least we’ll have the 2012 minor league offensive player of the year on the roster and a pitcher named after tasty meal.
C-Chat
December 6th, 2012
5:03 pm
If Bourn doesn’t find the market to his liking (and he certainly is running out of teams), is it possible the Braves opt to go “all in” for 2013 and throw $15-20 million at him on a one-year contract? That way, we get a leadoff guy, and he gets paid this year and then gets to test market again in 2014.
old man
December 6th, 2012
5:03 pm
In the Braves file Chapter 11, maybe they can get the TV deal re-negotiated, to current market levels.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
5:04 pm
Add it up and it really bodes poorly for a handful of clubs
Yep, and one of those clubs will be the Braves, locked in a bad tv deal. Too bad the salary structure in baseball will be determined by those types of deals. All the more reason for some variation of a salary cap.
The owners controlled baseball 30 years ago. Now the agents and networks control it.
old man
December 6th, 2012
5:04 pm
The idea would be to sign a bunch of free agents you can’t afford. Then, when you can’t pay all the bills, file bankruptcy. Get the TV deal struck down, re-negotiated, then you have the money to pay your new free agents.
Who’s in?
Mako
December 6th, 2012
5:07 pm
People throw around the term “kool-aid drinker” a lot and most time, it doesn’t even have any meaning to it.
But to truly believe that the Braves will be okay with Francisco or Gattis/Constanza in the starting lineup everyday is legitimate “kool-aid drinking.” The Braves are going no where if they go in to next season with that.
Trader Jack
December 6th, 2012
5:07 pm
old man
Liberty won’t do that as they have no reason to, also the Braves have admitted that the contract is iron clad
Murph
December 6th, 2012
5:09 pm
Give Hamilton $17mil this season, $20mil next season, and $23mil the season after that. Add a team option for a 4th year, do not include a no trade clause, and go into next season with the most dominant offense the NL has ever seen!
brian
December 6th, 2012
5:09 pm
On ESPn rumor mill it mentions that Bourn may go for a 1 year deal and then re-enter free agency next year. Any chance the Braves offer Bourn a 1 year $15 million contract.
We could then trade either Delgado or Teheran to a pitching starved team so one does not do another year at AAA and get a AA prospect. I would love to send one of them to the Marlins for Christian Yelich with the plan of Yelich taking over in LF next year
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
5:10 pm
Next year, after McCann has gone elsewhere and assuming Gattis establishes himself in left and Bethancourt takes over as catcher, we could end up with Heyward and Freeman being on the only lefties in the lineup. Funny how things turn. Then we’ll be scrambling around looking for the “perfect” left-handed bat to balance the lineup.
VaBravesFan
December 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
Not that many options left for Bourn. Many of the teams that really wanted a CFer have already got one. Most of the options remaining arn’t likely to go crazy, could see a upset Boras and Bourn by the time this ends.
Lemke's Knuckler
December 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
Any chance the Braves offer Bourn a 1 year $15 million contract.
Doubt it. They already lost their first-round draft pick and I doubt they would give up the supplemental pick they’ll get when Bourn signs elsewhere. Otherwise, their first pick would end up being in the 80’s or something like that, depending on how many supplemental picks end up happening.
Brava
December 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
Alex Speier @alexspeier
There has been interest in Ellsbury, but to date, it’s been with prospect return. that won’t do it for Sox.
Brava
December 6th, 2012
5:14 pm
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS
A’s have discussed 1-yr deal w/ player option for 2nd year w/stephen drew, as
Brava
December 6th, 2012
5:16 pm
Bruce Miles @BruceMiles2112
Ian Stewart will be back at 3B for #Cubs after being non-tendered. One year for $2 million plus incentives. Not much else out there at 3B
VaBravesFan
December 6th, 2012
5:18 pm
Andy (Hawaii)
We all know about Andrelton Simmons’ glove, but what is the outlook for his bat? He had some nice numbers last year, but that was a pretty SSS. What is realistic to expect moving forward?
Klaw (1:42 PM)
It’s all batting average/BABIP. If he hits an empty .300 most years, which seems like a reasonable/optimistic forecast, he’s an All-Star.
Lew
December 6th, 2012
5:31 pm
Simmons won’t walk all that often, but he won’t strike out much, either. Dude makes good contact.
Disgusted
December 6th, 2012
5:34 pm
I guess we are going witha scrub platoon for LF — cannot believe that the Phillies stole Revere.
Shows that our prospects do not have alot of trade value — so we are sort of stuck. We as a fan base overated what our prospects could bring. It is what it is.
Brava
December 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
Steve Berthiaume @BertDbacks
#Dbacks have agreed to terms with catcher Wil Nieves on 1-year contract.
Disgusted
December 6th, 2012
5:38 pm
Wren is not making a trade — he tried but he does not have enough to offer.
Nobody wants to give up an everyday player for our alleged prospect pitchers.
We have no everyday players on the horizon. So, what FW will do is fill in the bench with the rest of the money to spend and get a cheap so so FA type to compete for LF.
The Braves have got to restock this system. We have nothing down there. Our prospects stink.
Disgusted
December 6th, 2012
5:43 pm
Reed Johnson is your LF for now. He is better than some of what is out there.
Wren always leaves himself some flexibility to make moves during the season and at the deadline so what we see now is not necessarily what we are going to get.
Lew
December 6th, 2012
5:45 pm
There’s really only one spot left open on the bench and Mejia could fill it. Not seeing Wren needing to spend much of anything more on the bench.
The Braves have interest in their players – the ask for the players they wanted are absurd. Teheran/Delgad and MInor for Dexter Fowler? Why would Wren even coinsider that? And as for Span, I would think that by now people would realize that there really wasn’t much interest there on the Braves’ part.
chipl1960
December 6th, 2012
5:45 pm
disgusted the phils overpaid. look up Reveres stats and tell me if you would have given up a major league 4-5 starter and a highly ranked pitching prospect for him. The braves prospects are not overrated Frank wants a big piece and Revere is definitely not a big piece. You’ll see. Why I am trying to convince you anyway. Its like talking to……oh nevermind.
Lew
December 6th, 2012
5:47 pm
And apparently we could have turned Simmons over for Olt, who everyone is gagga over and likely could have been the major piece to bring in J. Upton. Not sure why we’d want to trade Simmons, though – and it also appears Wren couldn’t see it either.
Big difference in not having players that interest others and not wanting to give up the farm for less than exceptional talent.
MFin04
December 6th, 2012
5:47 pm
Michael Bourn on a 1-year deal, heck yeh. I’d even give him a 5 year deal. Guy was worth over $20 million last year.
The A Bomb
December 6th, 2012
5:48 pm
Wren is going through GM menopause and we all get to witness it as it sucks the life out of the franchise.
Murph
December 6th, 2012
5:49 pm
Michael Bourn on a 1-year deal, heck yeh. I’d even give him a 5 year deal. Guy was worth over $20 million last year.
$19mil for his 1st half, $1mil for his second half….