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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Brava
December 7th, 2012
10:35 am
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Reed Johnson’s one-year deal is for $1.6M with $150K in incentives. Club option is for $1.6M with $150K buyout. Guarantee $1.75M, max $3.5M.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2012
10:35 am
I like Hunter Pence. Unorthodox as hell but hes got a strong arm and besides last year has been a good major league hitter.
Brava
December 7th, 2012
10:36 am
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Fredi Gonzalez pushed hard to bring Reed Johnson back to Atlanta. It’s a smart signing for Atlanta. Went .361/.391/.492 off bench last year.
RC
December 7th, 2012
10:36 am
Both Mac and Pence have been about the same player for their careers. Pence just plays a less demanding position so he starts about 25games more a season than Mac.
Pence also plays the positions where the “replacement” level is going to be MUCH better than it would be for a replacement catcher. If your choices are:
A. McCann and average LF
B. Pence and average catcher
Then option A is going to give you better numbers almost every time. If Pence was a catcher, it’d be fine to compare him to Mac. But if they are giving you roughly the same production, take the one who plays the premium position.
wheelz007
December 7th, 2012
10:37 am
ATL Insider:
You’re right. What needs to be understood is…. Wren has NOT made a bad trade, yet, this off season.
What he has done – solidify our bullpen, kept our young core together, added some bench players, and he signed a big name free agent.
He has also given himself some options with LF/3B. Options are good.
CrαZy
December 7th, 2012
10:37 am
Even that is terrible… nothing good on that station. 680 all the way.
I like it better than Buck and Kincade. It’s time for 680 to move on find another mid day crew.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
10:39 am
What is this, duelling obsessions? First round draft picks, Greinke, Francisco. Haven’t I seen this play before?
Francisco, EOF, and Minor….
The way I see it, Braves are going to need to fix 3 positions offensively next year assuming Prado and Mac aren’t extended. 3B, LF, C. We can probably only afford to fix 2 of them. The corner OF market has many good choices, 3B and C not so much. So, we’re likely going to have to overpay to keep Mac or Prado, and can only choose 1. I’d pick Prado. Prices on LF shouldn’t be too insane, there are a good number of guys to choose from. 14mil for Prado, 14mil for a longterm answer in LF. Bethancourt or some FA guy for catcher.
RC
December 7th, 2012
10:43 am
The way I see it, Braves are going to need to fix 3 positions offensively next year assuming Prado and Mac aren’t extended. 3B, LF, C.
While I don’t think Mac will be extended, I think it’s strongly likely that Prado will be extended. As for affording all three spots, Mac is making $12 million this year and Prado is likely to make around $8. If those players aren’t here, that many will still be available. Not to mention the $9 million that Hudson is currently making (I don’t think it’s likely he’s extended with the number of pitchers the Braves project to have).
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
10:44 am
I can understand that thinking RC, but Mac is also a player who is going to be wanted all across the league, especially the high payroll ones like the Yankees, Sox, and Rangers. With all those teams being AL ones, his price will likely be much higher than I’d be comfortable going. Also, I factor in the 3B decision, because likely, we can only keep 1 of Mac/Prado.
So, Mac, avg. 3B (Juan?), avg. LF
or avg. C, Prado, Pence
Gotta go with the 2nd option, imo.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 7th, 2012
10:46 am
DOB
If you’re still around. What do you think is the process now with Wren? I know in situations like this he has offers out there and it’s a waiting game but do you think he is making other calls trying to find a LF’er or he just sits back and waits for a GM to call and bite on his low ball offer? You think something gets done fairly quickly or closer to ST, if at all?
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
10:48 am
Both Mac and Pence have been about the same player for their careers.
Did you even read that before you hit submit?
Trader Jack
December 7th, 2012
10:48 am
The Braves received fair value with Upton. Glad Wren moved when on the deal when he did.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
10:49 am
What is this, duelling obsessions? First round draft picks, Greinke, Francisco. Haven’t I seen this play before?
Yes, yes, and yes. Again, again, and again.
RC
December 7th, 2012
10:50 am
So, Mac, avg. 3B (Juan?), avg. LF
or avg. C, Prado, Pence
Gotta go with the 2nd option, imo.
If Pence comes at a reasonable price, I agree completely. I actually read your post as “if Mac and Pence are the same price”. I think you are right that the big payroll AL teams will offer Mac a lot more than I’d be comfortable with the Braves spending. If we are going into free agency though, I feel like the Braves can likely do better than Pence. I guess it will all come down to price tags next offseason, unless the Braves acquire a guy this year who will be around for multiple years.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
10:51 am
They’ll have enough money for one of them, but with the rising arbitration salaries of other players on the team and potential needs in the future, I do not believe both Prado and McCann will be signed to long term deals.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
10:54 am
Did you even read that before you hit submit?
Yes.
Hunter Pence, 6 seasons, .285/.339/.475/.813, 117 OPS+, 18.1 WAR (0.8 in his worst season). 894 games, 3787 PAs. Averages 149 games a season
McCann, 8 seasons, .279/.351/.475/.826, 117 OPS+, 19.8 WAR (0.6 in his worst season). 1003 games, 3952 PAs. Averages 125 games a season.
Pretty close in my book.
P'cola Brave
December 7th, 2012
10:54 am
Add Blake Dewitt to the fold of players with a chance at a bench spot.
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
10:55 am
So, you wouldn’t have enough money for Prado and McCann, but you would have enough for Prado and Pence?
I took two calculus courses, linear algebra, and three engineering math courses in college, and even I can’t make that math work.
Lew
December 7th, 2012
10:55 am
CB – Oh, not to worry, there’s plenty of others as irritating and moreso – they just don’t opost 24-7 and three times as often as anyone else on the blog.
Hugo Z Hackenbush
December 7th, 2012
10:56 am
Blah blah blah. Go with the RJ/Oso platoon in left and call it a day. Save all the millions for a year or two down the road when Mr. Right comes along…
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
10:56 am
The Braves received fair value with Upton. Glad Wren moved when on the deal when he did.
Personally, I don’t see B.J. Upton as worth the investment if he fails to up his game. If Upton ups his play (offensively and defensively), moves closer to the potential he’s supposed to have, then that’s another story.
I grant that the market these days is so out of whack that guys whose production is less than stellar and who have “potential” can snag big bucks. So, Wren signing Upton probably wasn’t anywhere near outside what the market is nowadays.
It’s interesting that Philly, which could have thrown more bucks at Upton (I assume they didn’t), took a pass and backed out of the Upton sweepstakes.
Me, I’d rather have seen the Braves land Span. But it wasn’t meant to be.
ATL Insider
December 7th, 2012
10:58 am
The Braves will only be able to extend one of McCann and Prado. My vote is for Prado. McCann’s days behind the plate are numbered. He will need to go to the AL where he can DH soon.
May have to sign another backup catcher on a one-year deal to platoon with Laird until Betancourt is ready.
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:00 am
Rc – Acvtually, I see them offering Hudson a two year extension, but at about the same or less than the $9 mil he’s making this year. Maholm is gone, though and likely EOF is, too – unless they work a couple year deal with him and with another year under Avilan’s belt and some of the potential bullpen pitchers in the minors, I kind of doubt they will.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:00 am
So, you wouldn’t have enough money for Prado and McCann, but you would have enough for Prado and Pence?
Prado, McCann, and a LF. We’re gonna need to get one, and they aren’t cheap. It’s a LF, and either Prado or McCann.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:01 am
The Braves will only be able to extend one of McCann and Prado. My vote is for Prado. McCann’s days behind the plate are numbered. He will need to go to the AL where he can DH soon.
I think that would be a no-brainer for Wren, provided Prado is healthy and playing up to norms. McCann would be so much better of in the American League – and that’s not a “Let’s get rid of McCann” statement. Even if Mac rebounds, he’d be wise to migrate to the Land of the DH.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:02 am
unless we should sign both Prado and Mac and send Gattis or Schafer back out to LF in 2014… I think that LF should be the most important position to fill next offseason, assuming we don’t get a longterm guy this winter. The market for corner OF is pretty good.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:03 am
jcrasnick Jerry Crasnick
#Braves GM Frank Wren said the team has interest in some one-year outfield stopgaps. He calls them “Caliparis.”
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
11:03 am
Me, I’d rather have seen the Braves land Span. But it wasn’t meant to be.
Maybe it wasn’t meant to be because the FA market for RH OF sock was feeble and overpriced. I think most folks felt that they would have to trade for one guy and get a FA for the other. If trading for Span reduced the options for the other guy to unacceptable ones, what do you do? Especially considering that the RH power need was way more important than a leadoff need.
Wren got a guy who could fill two of his needs (CF, RH power) at no cost other than dollars, widened his options for a LF, and he can still make a significant trade while retaining some of his trade bank. That makes the Upton acquisition look pretty good to me, as long as Constanza doesn’t start in LF.
Mixxo
December 7th, 2012
11:05 am
Heap has turned into ‘Jason Bay.’
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:05 am
Of what use would a Reed Johnson/Evan Gattis platoon be? They are both RH hitters.
It would be Francisco and Prado platooning at third and Prado and Gattis platooning in LF with Reed Johsnon as the fourth outfielder.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:07 am
Rc – Acvtually, I see them offering Hudson a two year extension, but at about the same or less than the $9 mil he’s making this year. Maholm is gone, though and likely EOF is, too – unless they work a couple year deal with him and with another year under Avilan’s belt and some of the potential bullpen pitchers in the minors, I kind of doubt they will.
Not seeing Hudson re-upped after ‘13. The Braves have Gilmartin, Spruill, and Graham bubbling to the surface. Lest we forget Teheran or Delgado.
Of course, trades and performances could change the picture going into 2014, so, again, there’s a lot of time to wait and see.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:07 am
I’m totally okay witht he Upton deal and after seeing Shane Victorino getting three years, $39 million – I think it was a great move by Frank Wren. Even with the cost of the draft pick.
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
11:08 am
unless we should sign both Prado and Mac and send Gattis or Schafer back out to LF in 2014
If Gattis doesn’t completely blow up at AAA, he’ll be out there. That’s kinda the whole bleepin’ idea.
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:12 am
And since the Braves signed Johnson, if Gattis makes the team, then Schafer does not.
richbrave
December 7th, 2012
11:14 am
flange1:
High scorer with a double-double 10 points and 11 rebounds, but the team was trounced 76-51.
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:15 am
JeffR – You’re right – and all of the Braves’ pitchers with three or less years of MLB experience. Hudson WILL be offered an extension.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:15 am
If Gattis doesn’t completely blow up at AAA, he’ll be out there. That’s kinda the whole bleepin’ idea.
It does seem like that’s the way they are going. Hopefully he can get a full year there – I’d like to see him out there and left alone at Gwinnett.
Trader Jack
December 7th, 2012
11:16 am
TOBF
Just one question – Where the hell are you getting all this money?
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:17 am
Wren got a guy who could fill two of his needs (CF, RH power) at no cost other than dollars, widened his options for a LF, and he can still make a significant trade while retaining some of his trade bank. That makes the Upton acquisition look pretty good to me, as long as Constanza doesn’t start in LF.
I have every confidence that Wren will find a capable left-fielder before the spring. What type of hitter that left-fielder is is the question. I think when Wren made the statement for attribution about Constanza and Francisco, he was signaling other GMs that he wasn’t desperate to make a deal… a little game of poker by Frankie.
As to the Upton signing, yes, I see what you’re saying, scoots. Upton makes sense if Wren fills left with a hitter who makes more contact. Going into the winter, much of talk was that the Braves need more contact out of their offense and better RISP production. Does Upton help with the latter two items? He might.
TennesseePaul
December 7th, 2012
11:18 am
I promise it will start to hurt the organization despite what Braves officials are saying about the farm system. It already has.
I think they say as much, and hold a different view, because really, they think soft tossing college lefties are good picks. And if that is the idea of good ( basically “premium amateur player” ) the slot and frequency of draft picks aren’t going to matter much.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:20 am
27.5mil is coming off the books next year from Hudson, Mac, Maholm. Another 8 if we count Prado. 35.5mil total, something like that. TV money probably gets us to near 40mil to spend
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:20 am
27.5mil is coming off the books next year from Hudson, Mac, Maholm. Another 8 if we count Prado. 35.5mil total, something like that. TV money probably gets us to near 40mil to spend
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:20 am
Ya know what’s interesting – this young Braves team is still that, very young, however those players are now creeping closer to arbitration salaries and closer to free agency. Should be interesting to see how Wren works the roster now with a less than great farm system(mostly from a position player standpoint) and sky high free agent prices.
richbrave
December 7th, 2012
11:22 am
So-o-o….our eventful trip to NASHVILLE included two signings {PAGNOZZI – JOHNSON] and a disclosure of one [JANISH], plus a FREDDI extension, and a revamped scouting department.
Still one player short in LF under plan ‘B’ and a couple bench slots.
I’m hoping FRANCISCO and GATTIS not BIFF get them, and play along with PRADO and JOHNSON giving PRADO some breathing room when JOHNSON and FRANCISCO start.
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
11:22 am
much of talk was that the Braves need more contact out of their offense
Who said that, LOL?
TennesseePaul
December 7th, 2012
11:23 am
Constanza and Francisco, he was signaling other GMs that he wasn’t desperate to make a deal
I’m fairly certain every other GM was just fine with that statement. “You mean, we get to keep our player and our opposition will be weak?“
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:24 am
Lew, Tim Hudson will turn 39 halfway through the 2014 season. I’m not sure what Hudson does in ‘13 (I hope he’s as effective as ever and injury-free).
I’m not sure what the market will be like for affordable veteran pitchers after 2013; that is, if the Braves see a need for an older veteran arm on the staff.
Again, budget comes into play. The Braves are producing quality pitching prospects for more than trade fodder. In today’s terms, by 2014, Minor, Beachy, and Medlen are “veteran” pitchers. I can see Hudson’s slot filled by a Braves’ prospect then.
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
11:25 am
I’m fairly certain every other GM was just fine with that statement.
They were a little upset that they spit their coffee, laughing, though.
Arkansas Transplant
December 7th, 2012
11:26 am
Just sign Greinke.
Trade for Myers
Trade Maholm for payroll space.
There’s no reason I couldn’t find a spot for Greinke on the payroll. I would much rather send Greinke out every 5th day over Maholm.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:26 am
much of talk was that the Braves need more contact out of their offense
Who said that, LOL?
I believe it was bandied about in the press and on ye olde blog.
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:26 am
Efrim makes a good point there – The Braves are exceptionally young and arb raises loom on the horizon. Makes it all the more necessary that the LF fix comes from within and that pretty much means eithr Gattis or maybe Cunningham – unless there’s someone else on the next two year’s horizon I haven’t heard about.
Arkansas Transplant
December 7th, 2012
11:28 am
Shoot, with the money being spent on low level scrubs this year.. it would make it a bargain for a team to trade for Uggla, yet another way to clear payroll if need be.
Trader Jack
December 7th, 2012
11:28 am
TOBF
Who’s to say they don’t resign both Hudson and Maholm, if they both have good years. Even if they can extend Prado, which I doubt, it will cost a small fortune.
Regarding TV money, Liberty just might pocket all of it – none of us know
Also, keep in mind what ARB raises will look like
Lew
December 7th, 2012
11:29 am
JeffR – Huddy is a low strss pitcher who still logs lots of innings and with Simmons at short logged some very impressive innings. Not like he’s a power pitcher who will lose half his velocity. They will need a veteran presence on the staff – otherwise, you’re vet is Mike Minor.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:29 am
There’s no reason I couldn’t find a spot for Greinke on the payroll. I would much rather send Greinke out every 5th day over Maholm.
But Greinke has….. issues.
4.48 ERA for Maholm thru age 28… down to 4.26 now. No reason to believe that Greinke won’t get better either.
Venice Jim
December 7th, 2012
11:29 am
The Angels consider Greinke too expensive, and settled for Hanson and Blanton with a payroll 50% higher than ours…
TennesseePaul
December 7th, 2012
11:30 am
It does seem like that’s the way they are going. Hopefully he can get a full year there – I’d like to see him out there and left alone at Gwinnett.
Now you’re making him old by the time he gets up.
He could very well turn out to be nothing more than a bad pinch hitter for his MLB career. But if the team views him as a “prospect” I would think they would like him to move faster than slower given his age. A whole year at AAA means no advancement to the majors until he’s 28. If he turns out to the be Heman we all joke he is, he’ll have one less “prime” year to produce for the Braves.
That also might be why the team is leaning towards one or two year players. If Gattis goes to AAA and mashes, he gets called up and mashes, they can trade the 0.5 to 1.5 years at the deadline.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:30 am
Shoot, with the money being spent on low level scrubs this year.. it would make it a bargain for a team to trade for Uggla, yet another way to clear payroll if need be.
You’re not wrong. But I think Braves’ management isn’t over its infatuation with Snuggles yet.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:30 am
Yea, I know about the arb raises, which is why I think we can only really afford to sign 2 of Prado, McCann, a good LF. Those 2 guys get to about 28-30mil max. Gotta save the rest for ARB and such
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:30 am
I think they say as much, and hold a different view, because really, they think soft tossing college lefties are good picks. And if that is the idea of good ( basically “premium amateur player” ) the slot and frequency of draft picks aren’t going to matter much.
If that’s their overall strategy, then yes, draft picks aren’t going to matter much anyway. But that is a strategy that will make the organization weaker by the year, imo. And the crazies on here are right – we’re doomed.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:32 am
But Greinke has….. issues.
Yes, he does. One being that the Braves aren’t pursuing him.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:33 am
That also might be why the team is leaning towards one or two year players. If Gattis goes to AAA and mashes, he gets called up and mashes, they can trade the 0.5 to 1.5 years at the deadline.
Good point. And they probably viewed Ben Revere correctly too – use him in LF for part of 2013 and then he becomes a 4th outfielder or trade bait.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:35 am
The Angels consider Greinke too expensive, and settled for Hanson and Blanton with a payroll 50% higher than ours…
There was some chatter that Greinke’s agent was asking for much more from the Angels due to California’s growing confiscatory taxing. Greinke’s price tag for Texas may be lower due to the fact that the state doesn’t have an income tax (Texans gets it right, bless their cowboy souls!).
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:35 am
Efrim makes a good point there – The Braves are exceptionally young and arb raises loom on the horizon. Makes it all the more necessary that the LF fix comes from within and that pretty much means eithr Gattis or maybe Cunningham – unless there’s someone else on the next two year’s horizon I haven’t heard about.
No one other than Gattis on the horizon for 2013 or 2014, imo. But they have money for 2013 and I think a one year stop gap like Shin-Soo Choo is a perfect fit.
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 7th, 2012
11:36 am
I keep seeing Fowler’s name poping up on DOB twitter. I have a feeling this might be the guy Wren gets based on what he’s said they are looking for? If this is the case what do the Braves give up to make it a fair trade for both teams? Obviouslt it’s not Minor AND Teheran…I still can’t believe they asked for that.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:39 am
and settled for Hanson and Blanton with a payroll 50% higher than ours…
Yeah, because of CAs insane taxes. Supposedly Greinke was asking for about 30mil more from the California teams… settled for Hanson and Blanton, lost Santana and Haren. They may end up worse than this year. Though, maybe fixing their BP will help a bit.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:42 am
JeffR – Huddy is a low strss pitcher who still logs lots of innings and with Simmons at short logged some very impressive innings. Not like he’s a power pitcher who will lose half his velocity. They will need a veteran presence on the staff – otherwise, you’re vet is Mike Minor.
Crazy as it sounds, Lew, the Braves might see Minor as the vet arm then.
In the game today, where kids up from AA and AAA are expected to perform like vets from the get-go, why wouldn’t Wren, et al, consider Beachy, Medlen, and Minor “veteran” arms?
Frankie
December 7th, 2012
11:45 am
Anybody surprised FW didn’t target Keppinger to play 3B? Keep Prado in LF and play small ball this year? With Upton, Uggla and Freeman hacking away, thought Keppinger would be a fine addition if he stayed healthy.
Frankie
December 7th, 2012
11:45 am
Anybody surprised FW didn’t target Keppinger to play 3B? Keep Prado in LF and play small ball this year? With Upton, Uggla and Freeman hacking away, thought Keppinger would be a fine addition if he stayed healthy.
ncscoots
December 7th, 2012
11:46 am
why wouldn’t Wren, et al, consider Beachy, Medlen, and Minor “veteran” arms?
Heck, they probably will, for that matter, LOL. That doesn’t mean they actually know where the road-trip strip clubs are, though.
Venice Jim
December 7th, 2012
11:48 am
Yeah, because of CAs insane taxes.
Somehow, I suspect I know more about taxes here than you do – but inadequate knowledge is never a barrier to your constant posts…
ChattTownBrian
December 7th, 2012
11:48 am
Wren the cheapskate. Braves will not finish above .500 with such incompetence from their GM.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:49 am
Heck, they probably will, for that matter, LOL. That doesn’t mean they actually know where the road-trip strip clubs are, though.
Well, now, that’s where a consulting contract comes in for Chipper – did I say that!
unbelievable
December 7th, 2012
11:50 am
Fowler’s name poping up on DOB twitter. I have a feeling this might be the guy Wren gets based on what he’s said they are looking for?
I REALLY hope your gut feelings are wrong. This lineup needs a big bat in the middle of it, not a slap hitter at the top. His career .248/.331/.367/.698 career line away from Coors field is atrocious. Fowler is overrated defensively and he doesnt steal bases. There’s not much there to like.
JasonInFL
December 7th, 2012
11:51 am
Delgado and Gilmartin for Fowler?
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
11:51 am
Hudson will turn 38 years old next year, turns 39 in 2014. All depends on his performance for 2013 and the performance of Medlen/Beachy/Minor plus the progress of the prospects/young pitchers – Delgado, Teheran, Gilmartin, Spruill, Graham, Wood, etc. and if they are even here or not due to trades/injuries. Too early to tell on a potential extension for Hudson, imo.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:52 am
Wren the cheapskate. Braves will not finish above .500 with such incompetence from their GM.
Negativity even before the first spring training calisthenics? Say it ain’t so.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
11:52 am
Delgado and Gilmartin for Fowler?
Take out Delgado, I’d call it fair then.
unbelievable
December 7th, 2012
11:54 am
Take out Delgado, I’d call it fair then.
No, Fowler doesnt improve this team other than taking up a roster spot.
CB
December 7th, 2012
11:56 am
Andy Dirks.
bravesfaninnc
December 7th, 2012
11:57 am
“No, Fowler doesnt improve this team other than taking up a roster spot.”
Do you seriously think that he wouldn’t be an upgrade over Constanza and Schafer?
kenhotlanta
December 7th, 2012
11:57 am
Lew: TOBF should change his blog moniker to “Grasshopper”.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
11:59 am
Yeah, because of CAs insane taxes.
Somehow, I suspect I know more about taxes here than you do – but inadequate knowledge is never a barrier to your constant posts…
Venice Jim, you, sir, are indeed on the ground there. But having lived in your fair state, and still having friends in San Diego and up in Orange County, the reports I receive is that California is overtaxed, over-regulated, and a good many producers are indeed moving to the Lone Star State to escape smothering tax burdens and more and more red tape.
Not veering into politics here, believe me. I’m not a California resident anymore, so what happens there isn’t my concern. Just saying that Greinke’s agent was looking for a bigger payday from the Angels because the tax bite for higher earners is more substantial there than in other states.
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
Take out Delgado, I’d call it fair then.
Three years of Dexter Fowler is going to cost more than Sean Gilmartin.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
No, Fowler doesnt improve this team other than taking up a roster spot.
Take out the aberration of his 2010 season on the road, he’s a .700 +hitter on the road, about the same as Bourn’s career OPS. I wouldn’t mind him, but not at the expensive of a top-tier prospect (former prospect in Delgado’s case)
BravePack(FreeFan)
December 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
I wasn’t saying I wanted him, I just said I keep seeing his name coming up. My actual gut feeling is the Braves may not get anyone and go with what they have already.
unbelievable
December 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
Do you seriously think that he wouldn’t be an upgrade over Constanza and Schafer?
Of course he would be. So would Gattis and/or Fransisco. He’s not enough of a difference maker that will help this team win the division though.
Arkansas Transplant
December 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
Greinke has stated that he’s greatest desire would be to sign with Atlanta. Why not offer at least a competive offer? He could easily move Maholm if you were to sign Greinke. At least then our rotation over the next few years would be solid 1 through 4 and possibly 5 if Teheran lives up to his potential. I just wonder if we did sign Greinke if KC would do something like Delgado, Maholm and possibly Ahmed for Myers?
Lew
December 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
ken – By any other name the obsession and overabundance of posts remains the same.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
12:04 pm
I’m sure it will take more than Gilmartin alone, Ef, but shouldnt be much more than that, I’d think. Gilmartin as the centerpiece, and Cunningham/Lipka, Jaime/Moore as well.
CB
December 7th, 2012
12:06 pm
More blog pages= slower blog. I really don’t care if we have a new blog every day but is it possible to reset the blog every day? This place is too good to not have an answer for this problem.
Arkansas Transplant
December 7th, 2012
12:07 pm
At least Chipper isn’t doing bad on the dating scene since his retirement.
George_George
December 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
REED JOHNSON a good signing, now if we can find a good LFder to platoon with him . FRANK WREN did well on this signing, not so well with UGGLA and UPTON. Of course FRANK had no way of knowing that DAN would degenerate as soon as he got to ATL into the shadow of the ballplayer he used to be. I still wonder what happened to him, he seems to give good effort all the time.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
AT gets it.
bravesfaninnc
December 7th, 2012
12:11 pm
“He’s not enough of a difference maker that will help this team win the division though.”
Isn’t he a plus defender? And if I remember right, his career OBP is in the neighborhood of .365.
I think he’d make more of a difference than you’re giving him credit for. I’m not saying give up the farm for him, but if the price was right, it would be a good move.
Jeff R
December 7th, 2012
12:11 pm
Greinke has stated that he’s greatest desire would be to sign with Atlanta. Why not offer at least a competive offer?
I think you overestimate Wren’s ability to clear the sort of budget that would be necessary to pay Greinke. That’s first. Second, there is no indication whatsoever that Wren believes that Braves’ starting pitching is so deficient that it requires his signing a pitcher of Greinke’s caliber to an enormous contract.
Greinke might like the idea of playing in Atlanta, but he likes the idea of playing for big bucks more so. Greinke’s not going to give the Braves a “hometown” discount to come to Atlanta, either. If that were possible – and the discount would have to be substantial – Greinke and the Braves would have been in talks long ago.
Besides, Georgia has an income tax, albeit modest when compared to California. But Texas taxes income nada.
TheOnlyBravesFan
December 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
One person who knows him well (but hasn’t discussed free agency with him) predicted Thursday that if it’s between the Rangers and Dodgers, he’ll pick the Rangers. That same person said Greinke would really prefer the Braves, but they have nowhere near enough money to enter this bidding.
The expectation is that wherever he signs, Greinke has a real chance to beat CC Sabathia’s record for the biggest contract ever given to a pitcher ($161 million). And in doing so, he’ll no doubt raise the price for Justin Verlander (who the Tigers want to extend this winter), Clayton Kershaw and eventually David Price.
But Greinke’s history reminds you that money isn’t everything. When he was being traded by the Royals two winters ago, Greinke turned down a chance to go to the Nationals and sign a big-dollar extension, because he had studied the team and believed that the Brewers had a better immediate chance to win (and he was right).
Greinke might be the big-league player who is most aware of rosters and minor-league prospects. While the Dodgers have a good team and the money to make it better, the Rangers have more talent, in the big leagues and in the minors.- Knobler
Efrim
December 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal lists Mike Leake and Drew Stubbs as two “obvious candidates” to be traded in a potential move for Dexter Fowler.
Leake and Stubbs for Fowler makes some sense. Be a good get for the Reds.
unbelievable
December 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Take out the aberration of his 2010 season on the road, he’s a .700 +hitter on the road, about the same as Bourn’s career OPS
Ok, but a .700OPS in LF doesnt cut it. Reed Johnson is capable of providing us with that level of production.
monty
December 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
I see more kids in Chipper’s future.