Atlanta Braves: Tim Hudson’s 2010 ‘hometown discount’ offer — worth it or not in the long run for team’s good?
Braves starter Tim Hudson says he’s willing to give the team a ‘hometown discount’ and that “I’ve said all along that Atlanta was the place I want to be” but the veteran righty also says “I just hope when we start talking, my idea of a hometown discount and their idea of a hometown discount isn’t 5 or 8 million [dollars] apart.”
YOU TELL US: If Hudson and the Braves can agree on a ‘hometown discount’ that’s suitable to both parties, would you be happy with the 34-year-old, who boasts a career 148-78 record, staying here? Or, while the hometown discount offer is nice, is it time for the Braves to move on and get younger?
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151 comments Add your comment
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
6:39 pm
Chipper will bounce back. Defintly if we get someone to protect him. And for all the Chipper bashers he was 3rd in the Majors in IBB’s he is still a feared hitter, McCann belongs in the 5 or 6 spot in lineup.
Boobie Cox
October 15th, 2009
6:40 pm
Thrashers play tomorrow night. Watch how fast they are. I wish I had a few fast players. Ooooops, I just pooped my pants, got to go change.
Frank Wren
October 15th, 2009
6:40 pm
And tell me again who would take Derek Lowe and his 3 years ($45 million) off my hands? And get what for him? You people make me laugh !
Joe
October 15th, 2009
6:41 pm
The Braves should sign Tim Hudson to a 3 year $21M deal.
BravesfaninWis
October 15th, 2009
6:43 pm
In a perfect world we could sign Huddy to a 3 year deal worth 7-8 mil a year, extend Javy Vazquez, and trade Lowe.. The first two are possible, but I doubt any team will be willing to take on Lowe’s remaining contract.. I wish that would happen, but doubt it..
If Hudson wants more then the 7-8 million a year, then let him walk and extend Vazquez with the money you would save on Hudson..
Best case scenario we have a rotation of
Vazquez
Jurrgens
Hanson
Hudson
Kawakami
Worse case scenario we have a rotation of
Jurrgens
Hanson
Hudson
Lowe
Kawakami
I would love to extend both Vazquez and Hudson and ship Lowe out.. Having Kawakami as a 5th starter would appeal to any team.. Lets see what happens..
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
6:44 pm
Lowe would have to be traded for a comparable outfielder. Older , bad contract, and playing at a lower level than before.
But also think about this way, Starting Pitching is weak in free agency, i’m sure there might be a few teams willing to take the contract to get Lowe just not sure if we would get a good return.
Frank Wren
October 15th, 2009
6:45 pm
Chipper Jones and his .263 average are feared?
Judging by his fielding opposing players are trying to hit the ball toward thirdbase.
And how many more years are we on the hook for this guy?
Frank Wren
October 15th, 2009
6:49 pm
If an average, oft-injured pitcher like AJ Burnett can get 80 million from the Yankees, why would Hudson settle for a 3-year deal for $21 million?
Get real, guys. Huddy is likely gone.
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
6:55 pm
Frank Wren
Dude, Chipper finally has a bad year, and he still had decent numbers just not what were used to.
He was 5th in majors in IBB only behind the likes of Pujols, AGon, Prince, Manny.
He played more than he has in the past 4 years or so. He played with alot of minor lingering injurys. 101 BB to only 89 SO
he is under contract for 3 more seasons at a low price of 13 mil a season
And for all the haters Chipper could have been on a different team if he wanted he signed long term here for way lower than he could have recieved long time ago.
I cant defend him about his Defense tho lol
Boobie Cox
October 15th, 2009
7:06 pm
hey all you haters, leave Chipster alone. He has done a lot of things for this team that other players would never do, like taking less money, restructuring his contract, bring Hooters girls to all weekend “golf” games. Why do you think he pulls his groin so often??
savannahdawg
October 15th, 2009
7:14 pm
We should keep him but knowing Wren that won’t happen.
Coach (2010- Mr. Overrated retires)
October 15th, 2009
7:18 pm
Grinch, thanks for the retarded ANALysis , I got a helluva laugh out of it. Good stuff man!
Leo Mazzone
October 15th, 2009
7:30 pm
Bring me back as pitching coach so I can get Derek Lowe back on track so he can be worth the rest of that $45M left on his contract.
B
October 15th, 2009
7:34 pm
You have to attempt to resign Huddy. He done good down the stretch and shoud be better next year. If you dont resign him you are stuck with Lowe in the rotation or trying to sign another starter since the Braves have publicly stated that they project Medlin as more of a reliever than starter. Signing Hudson gives the flexibility the Braves need to dangle a starter on a weak free agent market someone would even take Lowe’s contract.
Frank Wren
October 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
Chipper should be DHing – in Texas. If I unloaded him all the grandmas and bimbos would boycott Turner Field.
I’d love to trade Lowe, Kawakami or Vazquez to Milwaukee for Steve Braun.
I’d also like to get Medlin into the rotation; he’s stuck in the bullpen until room
is made. He had better stuff than Hanson at Gwinnett this season.
Rob
October 15th, 2009
8:01 pm
Just trade Lowe and we will be fine
BIOMASS
October 15th, 2009
9:25 pm
Anyone else read the NY criticism on the BUFFOON named Chip Caray? Would any Atlanta “writer” have the nads to say anything negative about little Chippy (being another idiot Caray and all)? Hell no! Nutless Central – the Atlanta press.
Charlie
October 15th, 2009
9:26 pm
Assuming they can find a way to unload Lowe without paying any of his salary, then keeping Hudson is a NO BRAINER. They should get similar performance for about $8 or $9 million a year verses the $14 million they are paying for Lowe. Gotta keep the others, unless some team just blows them away with a deal for JV.
BIOMASS
October 15th, 2009
9:38 pm
Link to one of the articles
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/caray_is_master_of_the_miscue_3ivfDRXM5ic24vYmdORkQK
He missed the one when little Chippy call Julio Franco a “future HOFer.”
You can’t make this stuff up, sweartogod.
BIOMASS
October 15th, 2009
10:00 pm
Here’s another
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html?_r=1
Chip Caray
October 15th, 2009
10:27 pm
I just like to hear myself talk.
MitchC
October 15th, 2009
11:05 pm
I would definitely re sign Hudson, especially if we can get him at a discount. The guy is only 34, and can give us a few good years. How can one argue with the decision to keep a guy with his career record, if we can get him, for say, 3 years, no more than 10 mil a year.
I think we should trade both Lowe and KK. If needed, put them in some kind of package for a big hitter, or first baseman, if we cant sign Laroche. Or, even if we can, trade one or both of them for a hitter. Lowe is going to be 37, and while he won 15 games, we have to remember he had a four and half ERA. If we keep Hudson, we then have a good rotation of.
Hudson
Vazquez,
JJ.
Hanson.
Whoever at number five.
I hope it doesnt turn out that we let Hudson go, and keep Lowe. That would be a mistake.
Teddy Jack Eddy
October 16th, 2009
1:00 am
Do any of you slack jawed, mouth breathing, inbreds know the difference in resign and re-sign ?
GT81
October 16th, 2009
5:19 am
Aw, that’s sweet. He’s willing to take a contract that’s only 1000 times a regular salary instead of 3000 times a regular salary. I’m getting all choked up.
RBrave
October 16th, 2009
6:01 am
Keep Hudson ! Can’t have enough pitching.The way the arms have gone down since McDowell became pitching coach he will be needed. Was it last year we were talking about how many pitchers we had and by May we were calling up arms like JO JO.We will need him. He doesn’t have a history of injury give this guy a chance first !
Robert
October 16th, 2009
7:24 am
Keep Tim. Let’s keep in mind if Lowe is traded Atlanta will more than likely be required to absorb some of his salary. Milwaukee may be willing and they may be willing to trade Hart after his down year. He would be a good fill in until the youngsters are ready for the show. I still think KK will need to be moved to gain cap space for LaRoche and pen help. SD had their eyes on a few of our young players last year. Maybe they would be willing to take a couple for Bell. Fill the closer slot for us and eliminate the need to resign either of our two closers. I’ll take the draft picks over resigning either of these two! Too many lefties available at a lesser price than Gonzo.
TIME TO WIN AGAIN
October 16th, 2009
7:58 am
Keep Hudson and trade Lowe and KK. We need proven starters and Hudson is just that. Many a pitcher has gone though Tommy John and they are fine. Why is Hudson different. I mean look at Smoltz right?
I think the strongest rotation is Hudson, Vazquez, JJ, Hanson and KK. Im really sorry but signing Lowe was a big mistake. There are plenty of teams out there starving for pitching. The braves will be able to unload Lowe on someone and bring hitting to the club. If not Lowe then KK but we need Hudson at the top of the rotation if we want to regain the National League East and hit the playoffs.
TIME TO WIN AGAIN
October 16th, 2009
8:02 am
RBrave – McDowell had nothing to do with the aging pitchers of Smoltz, Hampton and Glavine going down. Thats what you get when your GM signs all old pitchers to go with a total injury of Hampton. Hudson was a fluke and it could have been on any team. You cant blame McDowell. Fact is that McDowell has done a wonderful job with the younger pitchers. You want Leo back? He just wanted to trade them away because he didnt want to coach them. Wainwright for one and look at him. Jason Marquis was another one. Wheres he at? McDowell was not our problem, aging pitching was our problem.
Luv 2 Hate Me
October 16th, 2009
8:53 am
OK folks let’s talk baseball. The braves will not trade KK because there’s too much baseball politics involved. Braves are trying to establish their international swag outside of the Spanish community. To trade a player you just signed would only destroy future acquisitions with Japan. If they had to make a trade it would be Lowe. They would also have to eat a portion of that contract as well to get a solid outfield batter. Tim is effective when he’s got run support. Sometimes he can be questioned or challanged in the 5-6 ining. He appears to be at his weakeast in those innings. But he’s good for at least 17 wins in 2010 if we can get a solid hitter for Lowe.
Don
October 16th, 2009
8:58 am
Remember that the only chance the Braves have is is that have a Pitching Staff so far, far, far superior of the other teams that it overcomes Bobby Cox’s management procedures and lack thereof and enabels them to win over the long 162 game regular season schedule in spite of him. This has always been the case with Cox. It is the way the Braves won the 14 Divisions. (Although, Cox is probably even worse now than he was then). Having Pitching that great again is highly unlikely. Of course as far as post season is concerned, forget it – he won one WS in 14 opportunities – and that required Glavine pitching a shutout. With Cox coming back, one good thing is that Braves fans can relax and not worry about the off season – acquistions, signings, trades – who we keep – who we let go etc. With Cox back, all of that is irrevelent/ meaningless — It will make no difference.
Don
October 16th, 2009
9:04 am
Tell your kids that it is possile for them to become anything that they want.
After all, Bobby Cox is being allowed to manage a major league baseball team.
bvillebaron
October 16th, 2009
9:46 am
Biomass, Space Monkey and the other Vazquez rather than Hudson fans:
Keep Vazquez over Hudson based on what? Last season, which is the best one he has had in several years if not his whole career. It’s just a foregone conclusion that he will pitch like that again next year, huh? (which incidentally is the last year of his contract). Compare career numbers between the two and there is no comparison–Hudson has clearly been the better pitcher. Vazquez pitched great this year and if there was enough money for everyone, he should stay. But if the Braves have to part with one and Hudson really will give a hometown discount, there should be no question but that Hudson stays and Vazquez goes. This should not even be a hard decision.
wolf
October 16th, 2009
10:04 am
Keep Hudson if possible but try to get rid of Derek Lowe. It doesn’t matter what the Braves receive in return, if anything, just get Lowe out of Atlanta. The club cannot afford to spend one-sixth of its payroll on this guy, when the league hit .300 against him, and he tossed in-game batting practice too many times. It was always a bad deal to give this fellow $15 million a year for four seasons. The Red Sox went home early, and Lowe is popular up there–see if the Red Sox will take on his contract in return for a bag of balls.
PapaDawg
October 16th, 2009
10:15 am
Just in case all you people who were jumping on Wren for his dumb moves forgot, he cut ties with Glavine and Smoltz and went to younger pitchers and we know how that played out. I trust whatever the Braves decide to do. We closed the gap this year with moves made and if we add a couple of pieces we can compete with the Phillies.
Don
October 16th, 2009
10:46 am
It would free up a huge amount of salary money (for priority use) if Chipper would agree for his contract to be reduced to the going rate for a part time, poor defensive 3rd baseman, who also apparently is no longer a very good hitter.
Bring Me the Head of Deforest Kelley
October 16th, 2009
11:16 am
The current offseason pitching dilemma is vaguely reminiscent of the time they offered to exercise a one year option at the end of Greg Maddux’s contract – not expecting him to accept. When he did, the Braves were forced to trade a better pitcher at the time, Kevin Millwood.
I would hate to see the Braves be forced to trade Vasquez because they’ve been boxed in by their acquisitions of Lowe and Kawakami. For the most part, I give Wren fairly high marks. But after getting rejected in deal after deal last year, it seems his emotions got the better of him and he vowed to sign Lowe at any cost.
BIOMASS
October 16th, 2009
11:19 am
bvillebaron, I go by what I saw this year, yes. Vazquez was in every single game he started. Everyone. It was a beautiful thing to see. Will it happen next year? No one can say for sure.
Hudson had a bad 2006, and now he’s coming off surgery. He’s also a year older than Vazquez. All things considered, I give Javier the edge.
ALfor ATL
October 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
Braves Fan in WI – we must be separated at birth. I’m also in WI and agree with everything you said. The ideal rotation would be Vazquez, Jurgens, Hanson, Hudson, Kawakami.
Problem is, our chances of unloading Lowe are slim to none. Since he’s a lock in the rotation, it really comes down to Kawakami or Hudson, and I take Kawakami if those are my choices. KK has more value for this team as a starter than he does on the open market. He won’t command the kind of hitter we need on his own, and I think he’ll get better next year after being somewhat inconsistent this time around. A rotation of Vazquez, Jurgens, Hanson, Lowe and Kawakami is pretty sweet.
Then we can use the Huddy money and whatever surplus we have to go after a top free agent hitter and extend Vazquez.
Mark Biles
October 16th, 2009
1:10 pm
You can tell it’s the offseason. I forgot about our perhaps our best pitcher in my orginal comments–Jair Jurrjens. I apologize–especially to Jair. I hope we have him for at least 15 more seasons!
Go Braves!
Marc in FL
October 16th, 2009
2:11 pm
The only reason to keep him would be if we trade pitching for a bat, otherwise he’s not needed. Like the guy and all, but I think he’ll walk and we’ll get a bat through other means.
bvillebaron
October 16th, 2009
2:54 pm
Biomass:
Your argument for giving Vazquez the edge is that Hudson had a bad year in 2006? That’s fine and he did (ERA 4.86). However, you conveniently overlooked the following:
(1) The only other time Hudson’s ERA was over 4.00 was his second season, 1999 (4.14);
(2) His ERA in 2007 was 3.33 and it was 3.17 in 2008 before TJ surgery;
(3) Hudson pitched well (3.61) this year in 7 starts without the benefit of spring training;
(4)
bvillebaron
October 16th, 2009
3:06 pm
Biomass:
Your argument for giving Vazquez the edge is that Hudson had a bad year in 2006? That’s fine and he did (ERA of 4.86). However, you conveniently overlooked the following:
(1) The ONLY other time Hudson’s ERA was over 4 was his second season, 1999 (4.14);
(2) His ERA was 3.33 in 2007 and 3.17 in 2008 before TJ surgery;
(3) Huddy pitched very well in 2009 (ERA of 3.61) despite having only 7 starts and without the benefit of spring training;
(4) Hudson’s CAREER ERA is 3.48 whereas Vazquez is 4.20;
(5) Vazquez’s ERA in 2006 was 4.84 while pitching with the Yankees;
(6) Before this year, Vazquez’s ERA was over 4 from 2004 through 2008, with the exception of 2007 when it was 3.74;
(7) I don’t ever recall any manager pulling Hudson from the rotation during a pennant run because he lost confidence in his ability and then trading him in the offseason for the same reason which is what the Chisox did with Vazquez this past offseason;
(8) Vazquez only is signed for 1 more year; and
(9) The Braves would get no compensation if they don’t re-sign Hudson.
Trust me, I would prefer that the Braves keep both Hudson and Vazquez, if possible. However, if the money situation and the tradeability of other candidates makes it such that the choice is whether to keep Hudson or Vazquez, I think fans need to look at the broader picture and not just what Vazquez did this past season. If you do, keeping Hudson should be an absolute no brainer.
David
October 16th, 2009
3:30 pm
I don’t mind the Braves keeping a few veteran pitchers. Even if they don’t provide Cy Young worthy seasons, they still serve a valuable role of mentoring the younger guys. Jurrjens said himself he added a weapon (high fastball) because of working with Vazquez. But I wouldn’t keep Lowe, Vazquez, Hudson and Kawakami. That’s too much money tied up in excess starting pitching that needs to be used elsewhere. I would still love to see Medlen get a shot at the 5th spot in the rotation, but that won’t happen with all the other pitchers they have.
David
October 16th, 2009
3:36 pm
I would…
1) Sign Hudson long-term
2) Keep Vazquez one more year, resign him if the situation arises, otherwise let him go via free agency after 2010. If they suck it up next year, he would be awesome mid-season trade bait.
3) Trade Lowe for a bullpen depth (don’t think they will be able to do this though)
4) Let Kawakami take the #5 spot in the rotation, if he pitches well, great. If not, give Medlen a shot and move Kawakami to long relief.
None of this will matter if they don’t add more offense and a few stable bullpen arms.
BIOMASS
October 16th, 2009
6:02 pm
bvillebaron, a few points.
How can you not want someone that had Vazquez’s season? He put up those numbers pitching for an inept, anemic offense. Hardly a chance of post season the whole year (except for the early Sept streak). He is a strikeout machine. He is on the top of his game. He is peaking.
Hudson looks frail to me. I think his light frame is catching up to him. I’ve seen him literally melt on some of those scorching mid-summer days. Now, with the surgery, I’m a bit uneasy with his long term value to the team.
I certainly wouldn’t mind Hudson staying, as long as they keep Vazquez. It will be interesting to see what happens with the starting pitching. Something has to give.
Keith B
October 17th, 2009
12:19 am
I’m sitting here looking at some of the posts in disbelief ! Obviously, some posters were looking at a different baseball club than I was.
If you take away the non-producers on the team, you will LITERALLY save about half of the team’s payroll.
Let’s start with Derrick Lowe. Wins don’t mean jack. Wins mean your team got more runs on that particular day. The fact is, his ERA was by far the worst of any of the Braves starting pitchers. Trade him, cut him, do whatever you have to do, but let that monkey go. He AIN’T going to help you win a pennant. ERA near 4.6 for $15 million a year.
Next, we part ways with Choker Jones and his $10 million salary. He hit roughly .230 the last 2/3 of the year, yet Bobby Cox would have rather slapped his own mother than to move him from the Number 3 spot. I thought the object of baseball was to give your hottest hitters the most chances to bat in a game. Apparently, Bobby believes otherwise.
Let Soriano and his $6 million contract walk.
The Braves need to shop for a big bat and let Kawakami and his $8.34 contact go elsewhere.
Bobby’s talking about Kelly Johnson at 2nd base next year, after his .220 season and his $2.8 million? Bobby, lay off the weed, Dawg! The fans want to win whether you do or not. If you no longer can analyze performance and salaries, you need to take YOUR wrinkled rear end on out of town, also.
Throw in Church (who did very little at $2.8 mil, was it?), Norton of course, and Carlyle. What you have left will be the nucleus that put 86 wins on the board this year that you can build on next year.
And Bobby, quit picking your nose during the games and quit smoking the weed. Play to win this year and don’t wait until two months left to go in the season before you quit managing like its still Spring Training.
Andrew
October 17th, 2009
10:09 am
Anyone remember Jermaine Dye, Or Kevin Millwood, What about Wilson Betimite. All good players, Wilson was great in the lineup an could have taken over 3B in a heartbeat. The braves GM’s do not hold onto their good players, An then we blame the players an boo them for not staying in atlanta. But weve already seen how the braves treat their players, I mean come on. Anyone remember Chris Hammond? He came out of their bullpen an was the best pitcher in the NL in that year with the braves, after that year he was gone! Even Denny Neagle! We all can name names, Smoltz, Glavine, Justice, Grissom, Who knows how many rings we would have if we have kept all these guys. The braves fans cannot honestly say that the braves have made 1 single trade that has worked out for them at all! It doesnt matter how good the player was, If it didnt work out in the end then it doesnt matter anyway! Im so glad that Bobby Cox is gone after this year, Joe Torre’s contract is over next year also maybe he will join the club!
heartofdarkness
October 17th, 2009
10:59 am
Huddy, what ever some one pays you for next year, you will be worth it and more. You were a good teammate, a good guy, a hard worker and fun to watch. Good luck, however it plays out.
Andrew
October 17th, 2009
11:05 am
I say trade KK an Kelly Johnson, an cash to the Nats for Adam Dunn.
Andrew
October 17th, 2009
11:15 am
Lineup for 2010
SS Escabar
2B Prado
CF Mclouth
3B C. Jones
C McCann
LF Adam Dunn
RF Diaz
1B Laroche
Pitching:
Vasquez
JJ
Hanson
Hudson
Maybe Billingsey from LA send Lowe back to LA.