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
TampaDawg86
October 15th, 2009
1:13 pm
Move on and get younger. Who knows if his arm is going to stay healthy and since he’s been here he hasn’t been the lights out pitcher he was for the A’s!
samuel
October 15th, 2009
1:14 pm
do it huddy is the man and showed he can come back from the toughest surgery a pitcher can go through. 9 mil a year for 3 years will give us good control over him and if his stuff goes to hell hes not that expensive so i wont hurt much
1eyedJack
October 15th, 2009
1:15 pm
Keep him. He will be stronger and better next year. 34 is not old in baseball any more. If you want to get rid of someone, might I suggest Lowe or Kawakami. And of course, Greg Norton.
Carroll Rogers Sux
October 15th, 2009
1:16 pm
bring hudson back if he goes for 10 a year. 10 a year for 3 plus some kind of stupid 4th year option. He’ll sign. It’s sad to say but that’s a bargain.
oh & well I’ll be damned
2nd
Carroll Rogers Sux
October 15th, 2009
1:17 pm
i guess it was 4th
wayn-o
October 15th, 2009
1:21 pm
Drop Lowe & KK. Keep Hudson & Vasquez!
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
3 year deal around the same as Kawakami, between 5-7 mil a year, if that doesnt work let him go, we have more pressing needs right now… 1st base, Outfield, Bullpen. i just dont see how resigning Hudson leaves us a good amoutn of room to resign Rochy and add a outfielder and figure the bullpen out. think about it this way , if Huddy does resign look for one of the startes to be dealt.
Vasquez or Kawakami possibly Lowe one of them would be dealt. If there is a pitcher this team needs to lock up for a few more years its Javy, give him a 2 yr extension at 12 mil a year, let Hudson walk, we still have a full rotation with Medlen and JoJo as fill in candidates if someone goes down. Kawakami dad a great job considering it was his 1st season in the majors and the first time he’s work in a five man rotation compared to the 6 man in japan. KK we should keep. Lowe will be hard to trade, maybe not even worth trading him considering we would have to eat alot of contract, but its Derek Lowe the guy can pitch his A$$ off and win games, he just had a off year, but still won games. Bottom Line This team needs another right handed hitter to bat cleanup behind Chipper.
checkthefacts
October 15th, 2009
1:26 pm
I think you gotta keep Huddy and you’ve got to find a way to move one of the other high priced starters, take that money and roll it over into two moderately priced hitters (LaRoche being the first and a respectable bat in left). I’m thinking (wishful thinking?) you can keep Hudson for 8-10Mil per, and i could be far off here, but with the fall in revenue being a good arguing point for the clubs and him coming off of rehab I could easily see this being in the Braves favor going in. The problem is moving one of the two higher priced starters off the roster. I think Lowe and Kawakami are your target guys to move, and out of the two i’d personally prefer to keep the Chunichi Dragon and move Lowe. I think KK only gets better, where Lowe is the drastically more expensive one, and also was only a luke warm pitcher for us. KK is two years younger as well, and he was pitching really well after the all star break.
fieldofdreams
October 15th, 2009
1:37 pm
Hudson’s just posturing, to try and improve his negotiating stance with Frank Wren. Make no mistake, professional athletes and the agents that represent them, play ball for the money. Remember John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Let’s use the money we save by passing on Hudson’s option to secure a right-handed power hitter for left field, or a reliable closer.
Andrew
October 15th, 2009
1:43 pm
i would only let hudson walk if we cant trade lowe or kawakami…if we cant there is not way you can bring back hudson..kawakami would be making 7 million from the pen..we need to get a slugger not doubt about it…also gonzo or soriono must come back..we need one of them..
Mark Biles
October 15th, 2009
1:46 pm
Keep Huddy. We’ve got a shot of having four 15-20 win starters next year with Hudson, Lowe, Vasquez, and Hanson if we get a big RH bat. I would trade KK for whatever we can get for him. It would at least dump some salary and we could may be get a good reliever or two for him . Make Medlen the 5th starter and go for a big RH bat with the salary savings.
mexican-brave
October 15th, 2009
1:51 pm
WHAT ABOUT JAIR JURRJENS mark biles?
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
1:55 pm
They should try and resign Gonzo to be the closer, 2 yr deal between 4-6 mil a year.
Let Huddy go use the money else where. Closer, LaRoche Unless another starter is traded for a Power Bat!
Most likely will be a trade of some sort to add a right handed power bat, considering we wont be seeing Bay or Holliday in a Atlanta Uni. By not resigning Huddy we wouldnt have a strong position for a trading piece. Wren gots a job ahead of him this offseason. We need a real cleanup hitter that bats Right and plays Left Field, McLouth in CF and Diaz in RF until Heyward is called up.
CF McLouth
RF Diaz/Heyward
3B Chipper
LF New Guy
C McCann
SS Yunel
1B LaRoche
2B Prado
Diaz should prolly bat 8th when he plays and Prado batting 2nd, Heyward should bat 2nd in front of Chipper to see good pitches. Is McLouth our best option at Leadoff??
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
2:00 pm
Trading Jurrjens wouldnt be a bad idea (listen dont bash me yet)
Jurrjen’s value is so high he could land a RH power hitter and maybe a couple prospects.
Pitching will be low in free agency and teams would be lining up offers for Jair, we do have control of the young ace for like 3 more years but he is a BORIS Client and most likley will leave ATL.
Something like, Jurrjens for N.Cruz and Holland from the Rangers there are plenty of other teams that could make a trade work.
Sonny Clusters
October 15th, 2009
2:06 pm
What dummies, we was saying Hudson has got to go. We need more starters like Kawakami.
Hoosier Aaron
October 15th, 2009
2:16 pm
As long as the terms work within the budget – I think we’ve gotta keep Hudson. You can never have too much pitching.
I agree that KK is going to get better. I (personally) think the guy is a winner….the better his mound opponent the better he pitched.
Unless the offer is Pujols – JJ isn’t going anywhere….he’s an ACE!
hawesg
October 15th, 2009
2:20 pm
Hudson is worth at least $10M on the market based on what we saw down the stretch. He will have a whole winter to get his arm stronger and should be a Co-Co-Co Ace with Vazquez, Hanson and Jurrjens. Lowe is the guy you want to move, even if you have to eat some salary or get marginal prospects back to do it. Nothing against Lowe – who eats innings and gets wins – but Hudson is a better pitcher than Lowe right now and will be better than Lowe in three years when both or their presumed contracts will be up.
SnakeDawg
October 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
Bottom line……..Move Kawakami and/or Lowe any day of the week before Huddy and please extend Vasquez’s contract. VaBraveFan you’re nuts trading Jurrjens and Gonzo is not a post season pitcher.
Heard it all before
October 15th, 2009
2:25 pm
Let him walk with thanks and gratitude, and invest the money on acquiring batting power and speed on the free-agent market or as salary for a player on trade. Pitching was not what held this ballclub back this year; put this year’s starting rotation into play next year with improved offense, and you’re talking about a playoff team. No one else in the starting rotation you’d consider unloading has trade potential (either paid too much, not a 1-3 starter candidate, or you’d be crazy to let them go).
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
October 15th, 2009
2:26 pm
I agree somewhat w/ VA Braves fan. With Boras we lose him (JJ) and get only 2 draft picks. Now since we have lost Roy Clark….It might make sense. Atlanta is a mid market team and always will be. It would have to be a stellar offer and a hitter & top, top prospects…NOW on the flip side we could offer him a great offer after this year…depending on his record of course and lock him up….very interesting…OF course trading slow/lowe and KK would be super ideal. Lowe is going to be a hard trade because of his huge contract and we would have to eat some of it or give up a top prospect…we will see…
ChrisfromSacramento,CA
October 15th, 2009
2:29 pm
I dont care if they sign Huddy. JUST GET A POWER HITTER! PLEASE!!
Joe
October 15th, 2009
2:37 pm
Keep Tim Hudson But try to trade Kenshin Kawakami. I don’t think they are going to be able to trade Derek Lowe cause of his contract no team in their right mind would take on that contract.
The Braves Starting Rotation should look like this.
Javier Vasquez
Jair Jurrjens
Tommy Hanson
Tim Hudson
Derek Lowe
BIOMASS
October 15th, 2009
2:38 pm
If it’s between Hudson and Javier Vasquez, keep Vasquez. If they can trade Lowe, trade him and keep Hudson and Vasquez. They have to keep Vasquez.
matt
October 15th, 2009
2:44 pm
WOuld love to have Huddy. Problem is any money spent on him, whether its a discount or not is money that could be spent to bolster the lineup. If they can get rid of Lowe and/or Kawakami then obviously that would free up a lot. Not sure how feasable that is.
PMC
October 15th, 2009
2:49 pm
Are you kidding? Of course keep him. The guy is an Ace. No single bat they could pickup in free agency is of his value. They need him AND they need a leadoff batter with speed and they need a clean up hitter… that is if they hope to compete next year. If not. Just keep plodding along with nothing and enjoy seeing empty seats.
ProScout
October 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Vabravesfan- why not keep JJ 2 more years and then do something along the lines of what was done with Texiera? A team making a playoff push would welcome a trade for him, most likely. With any run support JJ would have a Cy Young award and at least one 20 win season, maybe 18. You can’t start dumping your best players because you doubt you’ll be able to resign them in 3-4 years. Using that mentality you would always be planning for the future. Sooner or later the future has to be now.
Supes
October 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
Same thing is/was discussed on the DOB blog. Just thought you’d like to know.
No need to repeat myself here…but good discussion on this topic took place on the DOB blog yesterday.
pinkygonzales
October 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
I disagree with VA Brave. It’s not just that Jurrjens is under team control. It is also that he is remarkably cheap, and we are going to need cheap starters for the foreseeable future if we are going to spend whatever money we have on offense. If we need to trade him, at least wait until he is arbitration eligible. He and Javy were our best pitchers this year. And he makes less than $500,000. You don’t trade that guy. We cannot afford to spend money on a bat and trade J.J. We have to get rid of some salary if we are going to gain a bat. That means Lowe, Vazquez or Kawakami (preferably Lowe). It’s our only option.
Matt
October 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
Is Holliday up for FA? How long did the Cards get him for? He would like nice in the heart of the lineup with Chipper/McCann/Holliday
bravesfan
October 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
I know its not the popular idea, but Chipper should retire. He has a yearly breakdown and can’t carry the team anymore. He is expensive. The Braves need to decide if their in a rebuild or win now mode. If win now, sign Hudson, if not pass and trade Lowe(bad signing) also. I know this is not the popular route, but I would go younger and build from the farm and smart trades.
ProScout
October 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
Pinky- you’re smarter than most on here.
Matt
October 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
Yeah Chipper is kinda old and feeble to be collecting that kind of money and hitting 3rd. 5th maybe, but not 3rd. I’m thinking they signed him to make up for the PR nightmare that happened due to the Smoltz debacle.
F-105 Thunderchief
October 15th, 2009
3:06 pm
Dumb question. He’s 70 games over .500. He’s got several productive years left. He’s a good leader and capable pitcher. If you both side can be happy on money, why wouldn’t you sign him? Is “getting younger” for its own sake a sound strategy for building a winning team? Again, stupid question.
J-man
October 15th, 2009
3:11 pm
Does nobody here understand how pathetic it is that we are actually having this conversation? Back when Ted Turner actually owned the team, the answer to this would have been a resounding “Yes” to bringing back Hudson and they would have found some way to use KK and Lowe or trade them. Now it’s a bunch of whining about how “If we sign Hudson, we’ll have to trade Vazquez or KK or Lowe to save money”. This is a big part of the reason as to why there have been zero World Series championships since Ted Turner was the true owner and why the team hasn’t been back to the World Series in 10 years.
Doug B
October 15th, 2009
3:12 pm
question is: What is a hometown discount?
F-105 Thunderchief
October 15th, 2009
3:13 pm
Trading Jurrjens would be like trading a young Smoltz. You’d have to get one heck of a lot do make that move. I mean more than we gave Texas for Texeira.
Braves McWhatnot
October 15th, 2009
3:13 pm
I’d like to keep Hudson and trade Lowe for a power hitting, right handed outfielder if at possible. And throw Manny Acosta in with Lowe to “sweeten” the deal for the outfielder.
Albert the Alligator
October 15th, 2009
3:14 pm
They need to go to my Pay by Performance Theory. Here it is: The player gets a base salary topping of at a million dollars for the top players. Then you put in performance incentives by each player and their position. A starting pitcher for example would have wins, innings pitched, and appearences in games to name a few. These incentives would be very generous. This way if a pitcher goes down in the first month of the season the team doesn’t get stuck paying a huge sum for the player sitting on the bench. He gets his base salary which will be plenty to live on. Besides the average American family has a yearly income of 45,000 so the hurt pitcher getting paid a million dollars or four hundred thousand dollars is more than enough to live on. This system would help the fans too. The concession prices would go down as well as ticket prices.
gt
October 15th, 2009
3:14 pm
HE IS WAY BETTER THAN OTHERS ON THIS STAFF, INCLUDING LOWE AND VASQUEZ, AND ALL THE RELIEVERS COMBINED AND TRIPLED.
F-105 Thunderchief
October 15th, 2009
3:16 pm
A hometown discount means the player likes where he is and will take less money to stay. In Hudson’s case, he grew up not too far away, too.
How long before Liberty Media can sell the team and collect all the tax breaks it bought the team for in the first place?
bravesfan
October 15th, 2009
3:16 pm
The main problem with signing and resigning these 30 something year old players over and over is that we are just a middle of the pack team and if we did make the playoffs, it would be 3 and out. Bite the bullet and puts some younger players with McCann and Prado and go from there.
LogicMan
October 15th, 2009
3:17 pm
You must not bring Hudson back. You have to also try and trade Lowe. That gives us 4 good starters: J.J., Vaz, Hanson, K.K. ( not a bad rotation ) You then must resign Roachy. Infield = Roachy, Prado, Escobar, Chipper ( not a bad infield ) Outfield = Nate, Jason, Matty and whoever we get in trade/free agent market. Bullpen needs updating as Soriano and Gonzo leave. Maybe an addition here by trade. K.J., Norton must leave. **unpopular but trade “Chipper” while we can get multiple prospects now and not wait a couple of years when he will be useless.
Space Monkey
October 15th, 2009
3:21 pm
Not if it costs us Vazquez.
Tami
October 15th, 2009
3:22 pm
One word: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NY BRAVES FAN
October 15th, 2009
3:29 pm
Yes, we should sign Hudson for the following reasons
1) You can never have enough starting pitching
2) Everyone is always looking for pitching, so having this surplus will help the Braves either this year or the next. They will have the ability to potentially trade a pitcher to either help the team now or get younger.
andy
October 15th, 2009
3:35 pm
sign him to a one year with an option for a second. Put in some performance incentives. we need a solid foundation on staff.
Big Al
October 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
If Hudson could be signed for $8 million or so, then I would sign him and trade Vasquez for a big bat and maybe some bullpen help. I would then move KK to the bullpen. If Gonzo and Soriano both leave, then Moylan could be the closer and KK could be the 7th or 8th inning guy.
Possible rotation:
Jurrgens
Hanson
Lowe
Hudson
Campillo ???
Possible Bullpen:
Moylan (closer if Gonzo and Soriano both leave)
KK
O’Flaherty
Medlan
Acosta ????
Parr ????
Carlyle ???
Logan ???
Yep, bullpen is going to need some work.
ron
October 15th, 2009
3:39 pm
he’s headed to boston without a doubt.
Braves73
October 15th, 2009
3:44 pm
The decision to keep Hudson will be a difficult one because of uncertainty, money, and other glaring needs. Also, the Braves (if they choose not to offer) would weaken their position of strength (pitching). I believe that Huddy would be a better fit long term than say Lowe, but the Braves are stuck with Lowe’s contract. Kawakami is intriguing, he certainly got better as the year progressed and it’s not easy going from the Japan to the majors (especially the strike zone and learning hitters). It will probably come down to numbers, can they fit Hudson’s salary with their projected payroll.
If it were up to me, I would test the market with Tim’s agent, see if you can get “a hometown discount” and re sign him to a three to four year deal (on the cheap). This would prove to be a huge asset for the Braves, who in turn could keep or package him in a deal for a much needed bat.
kev
October 15th, 2009
3:49 pm
Keep hudson, Keep LaRoach, Let go off Norton, Trade Lowe, Pick up Smoltz as setup to Who ever.
Get a Vet power hitter then we will be in the mix.
JEZ
October 15th, 2009
3:51 pm
Big al- no way put Campillo as a possible starter..that dude is old, out of shape, and nothing but a liability..they need to let his behind go! I def. think KK will have a great year next year, especially if we add a powerbat and get this offense going. He was solid against the aces of the league, and that’s very hard to do!
coachx
October 15th, 2009
3:52 pm
I wish all the peopl who say dump Lowe would use some common sense.
No one wants a guy who is 37, who is coming off a 4.5 ERA, and has 3 years left on his contract at $17 mill per year. We are stuck with Lowe whether you accept that or not.
I would not be upset if we kept Hudson at $9 mill over 3 years.
I would not be upset if we used that money to help bring in a big right handed bat either.
coachx
October 15th, 2009
3:55 pm
Hudson wants to stay in Atlanta.
He will resign for a home town discount IF WE THROW IN A NO TRADE CLAUSE. He is no dummy. Hudson knows the second he signs a “bargain” contract that his trade value sky rockets due to the value of a bargain contract, for a proven starting pitcher, in the economic climate.
Mid GA Retiree
October 15th, 2009
3:59 pm
I hope they handle Hudson with more respect than they did Tom Glavine.
Pay for Play Doesn't Work
October 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
Albert, in theory pay to play makes sense. Anyone who has worked sales (commission-only) can appreciate the concept. The problem is, in pro sports, let’s say a team is out of the running, or just has a cheap owner? They’ll sit a guy who is getting ready to reap a “performance bonus” for 9 more innings pitched, or 10 more at-bats. Did you see the dope on Brady Quinn (Browns/NFL)? If he sits the rest of the season he loses something like $11 million in incentive compensation, so if there is no real difference between him and Andersen, why wouldn’t the Browns keep him out? This works for management, and as a fan, if your team is not a contender, it may not be an issue, but players and agents will never sign off on this. It’s a good idea, but that monkey is out of the cage.
"Chef" Tim Dix
October 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
Liberty Media should front the Braves the contract money to make this happen to set up a trade deadline opportunity for a bat.
The free agent market is weak, so by being patient they’ll be able to get the “Fred McGriff” bat they covet.
Trade Vasquez, oh no.
Sign Roachy, hell yes.
Andrew
October 15th, 2009
4:03 pm
Keep Hudson, An place him somewhere in the low rotation to just see how he does, I wouldnt sign him to more than 2 years though. Maybe even a 1 year. I agree trade lowe or KK. An please get rid of Greg Norton OMG! Here what I think the lineup needs to be for the braves
SS Escabar Pitching: Vasquez
RF Diaz JJ
2B Prado Hanson
CF McLouth Hudson
3B C. Jones
LF Adam Dunn (Trade a pitcher to get him)
C McCann
1B LaRoche
Asheville Dawg
October 15th, 2009
4:06 pm
Keep Hudson. Mark my words, one of the starters will get hurt, and that would leave Medlin. Get rid of Lowe, if any one has to go.
jacket3
October 15th, 2009
4:13 pm
I really like the guy and what his foundation stands for. That being said – as good as he was in Oakland – he was not the same with the Braves. The Braves gave up an awful lot to get him and the results were mediocre at best. Maybe the National League is not for Tim. Maybe he’s better off in Boston, or Detroit or Minnesota.
Sorry Tim that’s the reality – since we live in Disneyland who knows what the Braves Brain trust will do anyway.
smart_fan
October 15th, 2009
4:17 pm
Bring back Huddy and trade Derek Lowe. Huddy’s 3 years younger with a better ERA and will be 6 million a year cheaper. Although Lowe got 17 wins this year and Huddy’s never topped 14 as a Braves. Maybe Lowe just knows how to win games. I’d still rather Huddy and 6 million extra to spend.
rufues
October 15th, 2009
4:21 pm
The Brave don’t need to dish out 15 million for a player that will most likely be on the disable list for most of the year. Braves can get a first basement and another quality pitcher. So let him go and take Lowe with him to another team. As stingy as the Braves are with their money they have made some stupid expensive deals, that have backfire in their face and have become a disappointment to the fans.
Ted
October 15th, 2009
4:25 pm
The people who talk about trading Lowe forget that a lot of teams are not going to be able to afford him. Texas doesn’t have any room to absorb his salary even if we help out; Tampa Bay is still a small market team. The best thing is try to trade him to a big market team for a prospect just to get rid his salary. The White Sox would have been a possiblity until they took on Rios and Peavy mid-season. Those are the teams that we would be able to trade Lowe to. Then that would give us move to make other moves. The best thing would be for McLouth to get healthy for CF and find a LF because I can live with Diaz in RF for a few months while we wait til June for Heyward. Schaeffer should be able to help around June as well, he just needs to get his confidence and timing back. We do need to start finding a replacement that will be ready in a couple years at 3B because as of right now we have no one in our system who could step in and play the position well. Good luck Frank Wren, this is an important offseason.
LogicMan
October 15th, 2009
4:25 pm
Yes, Lowe can be traded and we are not stuck with him. We may have to eat some of his overpaid salary or through in a prospect. To free up the funds we need we cannot sign Hudson and keep Roachy. We must keep Roachy. I think it is time for a youth movement. Let me get on my Cox soap box just a minute. I know we finished 3rd and several games out but if we don’t stay with Schaffer so long and make a trade sooner and we are not in love with Norton we may have been in the playoffs. It is easy to be a player’s manager. Just keep playing them when they should be benched. Be realistic how may World Series with the team we had those 14 years would another manger won? Cox is the worst big game manger I have ever seen.
Eddie Haskell
October 15th, 2009
4:27 pm
I believe Huddy will command money in the neighborhood of Lowe’s contract. You’re all dreaming if you think Huddy, who has a better ERA and is younger than Lowe, is going to sign for 9-10 mil per year.
jed
October 15th, 2009
4:27 pm
would you sacrifice several million dollars in one of your prime earning periods just so you could play in atlanta? seems i’ve heard this song before….
bob
October 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
I believe that the ‘home town discount’ is just a negotiation ploy. Once the Braves offer a three year deal for 27 mil, his agent will say such was the hometown discount. A big city town will then offer 33 mil for a three year deal and TH will say that he tried to stay in town but the spread was too big.
If I were in wren’s shoes I would ask TH what he wants for a three year deal. If it is near the 27 mark, sign him. I would not put out an offer which his agent can shop around.
Braves signed DL and KK and gave CJ a three year deal in order to avoid negative press following the smoltz situation and head off the negatives on the glavine deal.
Bottom Line: Now is the time to build for 2010 and beyond. Speed at the top. One power bat. And, keep the rotation healthy and not overworked in pitch count and innings.
Obama
October 15th, 2009
4:34 pm
I think the Government should control all sports and my pay Czar would handle the salaries. I think all teams should have the same amount of $ to spend. It is not fair that some teams earn more than others. The percentage of black owners versus black players is out of balance. I would take some of the teams away from the white owners and give them to blacks with stimulus $. Only fair since blacks had to have there own league when things were segregated.
Tea
October 15th, 2009
4:36 pm
Keep him. He’s solid, he’s priced attractively and as much as I hate to admit it, the Braves are probably a better team by trading Vasquez for a bat than letting Hudson get away and spending $9M or $10M on one.
bvillebaron
October 15th, 2009
4:37 pm
Get younger with what? With the promotion of Hanson, it appears that the Braves have no stud young pitcher on the immediate horizon. Given their budgetary constraints, it seems likely that the Braves will try to trade one of their starters to free up some salary to acquire position player(s). The logical candidate, given age, length of contract,the amount he is being paid and performance in 2009 is Derek Lowe. He is probably not tradeable for all of those same reasons. Given the relative reasonableness of Kawakami’s contract, the two other candidates are Hudson and Vazquez. If those are the two final choices, it seems to this 40 years plus die hard Braves’ fan that keeping Hudson and trading Vazquex is a NO BRAINER for several reasons:
(1) Despite the fact that Vazquez had a great year this year, Hudson has historically been a better pitcher (e.g. Hudson is 149-78 and has a 3.48 career ERA while Vazquez is 142-139 with a 4.20 career ERA);
(2) Vazquez is owed either $11 or 11.5 million next year which is the last year on his contract;
(3) Coming off last season, Vazquez probably will have more trade value this offseason than any other time in his career;
(4) Hudson pitched very well thsi season coming off Tommy John surgery;
(5) Hudson is owed $12 million next year but has a $1 million buyout;
(6) Hudson has already announced that he would accept a discount to stay in Atlanta and sign a longer contract (which probably means he could be signed for 3 years at between $9 to $11 million annually);
(7) If the Braves don’t re-sign Hudson and he becomes a free agent and signs elsewhere, the Braves get NO COMPENSATION for losing him since he was hurt for most of the past year and a half and thus is not likely to be considered a class A or even B free agent; and
(8) Last, but most importantly, how many other major league clubs would be licking their chops at the thought of being able to sign a pitcher like Hudson under the terms set forth in #7.
From my perspective, this is not rocket science folks and the obvious decision is that re-signing Hudson is a MUST MOVE.
marko
October 15th, 2009
4:39 pm
Sign Hudson and move towards a 6 man rotation. With that, the pitchers would go deeper in the game. You’d expect 7-9 innings/125+ pitches each outing. This would save the bullpen significantly.
There is no way someone is going to trade for Lowe or KK unless the Braves end up paying a significant portion of the salery in return, which is not going to happen.
However, they may have a shot at trading either one before the trade deadline in the stretch run to a desperate team providing Lowe and KK are having good seasons.
Ted
October 15th, 2009
4:41 pm
For those who are complaining about Chipper’s extension. In 2008 he carried our team, won a batting title and was the player that we have loved for years. He played a lot more this year and his stats were down, compared to his stats in previous years they were terrible but he also did not have the same protection as he did in previous years. Until the trade deadline in 2008 he had Tex hitting behind him with McCann after that. This year it was McCann and that’s it. He also never had a chance to take a day off when he wasn’t hurt. When we bring in a LF with some pop and then when Heyward comes up, I can almost guarantee that Chip will be much better because there won’t be so much pressure on him.
TIME TO WIN AGAIN
October 15th, 2009
4:42 pm
Yes resign Huddy. Give him a 3 year contract. In the offseason try to trade either KK or Lowe. Huddy is better then the both of them. Huddy is our ACE. He came here at a discount and hes been good, the hitting has been terrible.
The way I figure we are around 16 million below the phillies in payroll and that 16 million is the difference between us and the world series. The braves need to bump up payroll. That 16 million will produce a hitter, resign LaRoche and sign Hudson. Remember that we will lose Andersons 2.5 million and Soriano and his arm and 6.6 million. Now lets complete the team and sign a hitter for the outfield, LaRoche at 1st and resign Huddy. Let Soriano walk, try to resign Gonzalez and bring in Heyward. Schaffer also needs another change. The kid was hurt and they waited way to long to see what was wrong with him. I hope hes not ruined now.
Up the bucks and sign the Huddy.
Hudson, Vazquez, JJ, Hanson, Medlin. What a rotation huh.
Dump KK and Lowe and dump Pendleton for a bag of balls cause he sure cant teach anyone to hit them.
F-105 Thunderchief
October 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
Midget Medlin is never going to make it.
superadam
October 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
Definitely Keep Hudson, he is a capable pitcher that WANTS to be here. Does Javy Vasquez have ties to Atlanta, no, he has not been here long, he had a career year. As someone so elquoently put it earlier, the professional athletes play the game for the dollars. Javy can be traded somewhere they will pay him big dollars for a long term deal. YOu have the opportunity to keep a big game pitcher that wants to be here on a team friendly contract, keep him. Vasquez pitches one more year then bounces and we get nothing. Trade Vasquez while the trading is good.
No One wanted to see Rent gone but would you trade JJ to get him back now? No so lets see what kinda awesome bat Wren can get for Vasquez
Jim
October 15th, 2009
4:45 pm
Don’t re-sign Hudson.
Trade Vasquez for everyday position player.
Don’t re-sign LaRoach.
Don’t just spend money because it can be spent. LaRoach and Hudson are not great options.
O.K.
October 15th, 2009
4:48 pm
Trade Javy. Why not Chipper while we can get some great young players and build for the future. Let’s raid some farm system like Texas raided ours.
jerry
October 15th, 2009
4:49 pm
Having 5 quality starters is a good recipe for winning your division. It is not a good recipe for the post season as 2 of them will be wasted. Keep Vas,JJ,and Hanson. They can win the division and are the most dominant playoff types. Trade KK for a good lefty reliefer. Get a bopper. Trade Gonzo and Mclouth for the best leadoff hitter and outfielder they can get. Dump/trade Lowe and Hudson. Strengthen the bench.
O.K.
October 15th, 2009
4:50 pm
That’s good Jerry! Who you gonna get?
"Doc"
October 15th, 2009
4:57 pm
Is this all you folks have to do? You better be worried about where our country is headed. We want have sports teams in the future. We will all be government controlled and pennyless. I’m a doctor.
jerry
October 15th, 2009
4:58 pm
I have no idea. I don’t keep up with baseball like I used to. I am a converted Thrasher’s fan. Hockey is just a great game to me.
O.K.
October 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
I love the Thrashers!
joe
October 15th, 2009
5:09 pm
No–shed him
siskel_god
October 15th, 2009
5:17 pm
I’m sick and tired of everytime we sign a good player they have to take a hometown discount. It makes me sick just hearing that phrase now. Bring back Ted Turner so we can compensate our guys the going rate. I don’t like having to hope that JJ, Hanson, Escobar, and eventually Heyward will take less money to stay with us. Pay these guys what the market dictates. Last year made me sick, “Sabathia aside, these are the guys the Braves are going to target” or “Tex aside”. This year were already hearing “Holliday and Bay aside, these are the guys”. Stop being so cheap and go after the best guys, it’s so frustrating to never go after the top flight talent unless they take a hometown discount.
Escobar Rocks
October 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
O.K., Chipper cannot be traded because he has a no trade clause in his contract. Also, the Braves would likely get very, very little in return for him even if they could trade him.
As for Hudson, yes they should keep him as long as they can sign him for about 8 – 9 mil a year for 2 – 3 years.
Jeff R
October 15th, 2009
5:24 pm
Sign Hudson to a hometown discounted contract. See if the Bravos can wrangle a power bat for Lowe, or for Kawakami and, perhaps, another player.
O.K.
October 15th, 2009
5:25 pm
I agree with siskel_god. These guys need to be paid what they are worth. I am tired of them having to settle for less $ just to play here. It is totally unfair.
O.K.
October 15th, 2009
5:26 pm
I did not know Chipper had a no trade clause. You are right he is worthless now. I hope he retires with Cox after 2010.
Gil In Mechanicsville
October 15th, 2009
5:29 pm
Signing Huddy to anything less that $10 million a year would just be a bargain to good to pass up. If the Braves don’t lock him up, I can guarantee there are other teams that will pay him much more than that.
Now, How bout them Flying Squirrels?
Coach (2010- Mr. Overrated retires)
October 15th, 2009
5:31 pm
Are you F-N kidding me?????
The sheer ignorance of the question just boggles the mind. Tim Hudson is an ACE, period. Winning starts with top shelf pitching which is exactly what Huddy is.
Career record: 148-78 with an ERA of 3.49 (.655 winning percentage), Hudson’s got a brand new elbow and improved mechanics on the mound.
Tim Hudson wants to stay in a Braves uniform, the Braves want him to stay in a Braves uniform. Huddy will give them the home team discount and they will take it.
END OF STORY.
Roger
October 15th, 2009
5:35 pm
Hudson is a must sign to me. Huddy is not only a natural for the starting rotation, he is a wonderful person. He and his wife do so much for the community. He is a guy the Braves need to sign. If anyone should go I think it should either be Lowe or Kawakami. Those two were just too streaky during the ‘09 season. Huddy can also hit the long ball.
Boobie Cox
October 15th, 2009
5:38 pm
I do not care if I had Albert Pujols and Manny Rivera, I’d still screw it up. You koolaide drinkers are stupid if you think I got one more good year of managing left in me. I’ve been washed up for years. Boobie Bowden and myself wear depends, we poop in our pants.
Guthro
October 15th, 2009
5:47 pm
Huddie is 56-39 with an ERA of about 3.8 as a Brave. That makes him the 4th starter, better than Lowe and Kawakami.
Sign & keep Huddie. Wait for Lowe or Kawakami to have a good month, trade whoever first does for a power bat.
Kelly's Johnson
October 15th, 2009
5:53 pm
If Hudson & LaRoche are retained, whats left to get the BIG BAT desperately needed? On the hook for the remaining 3 years (45 million) of Lowe’s contract, who would take him off our hands? This team has no speed. No power. No fundamentals. A moron for manager and an overpaid, self-centered thirdbaseman, not to mention posibly losing Soriano & Gonzalez.
Hudson is no Ace
October 15th, 2009
5:56 pm
Hudson was signed to replace Maddux and become ACE of the staff. He has not been what was expected of him. He’s AVERAGE at best. Cut him loose and use that money for a much-needed slugger.
Einstein
October 15th, 2009
5:57 pm
I must be a genius because I have Hudson’s situation all figured out. Since Acosta, Norton, Sorryano, and KJ won’t be on the team next year, add up all their salaries and that’s your offer to Hudson. A one year with an option, since he’s 34, coming off major surgery, and he hasn’t been the pitcher the Braves expected. If accepted, great…if not, use that money to get a power hitter which is what we really need. Genius.
Frank Wren
October 15th, 2009
6:02 pm
Hometown Discount? I remember hearing those same words used when J.D. Drew and Mark Texeira were here.
At his age Huddy knows he might get one more big contract. Why would he stay with the Braves for chump change when the Mets, Phillies, etc. will be throwing serious dollars his way?
I’ve got more serious issues to tackle like getting a slugger, re-signing LaRoche and retaining Gonzo & Soriano. The budget is tight.
The Grinch
October 15th, 2009
6:19 pm
Hudson’s only won more than 14 games for us once. His ERA with the Braves is 3.79. You people who keep reaching back into his Oakland days need to realize this: with the group we have, Hudson’s no more than the #4 starter at best, and that’s assuming that Lowe won’t work hard to fix his mechanics and KK won’t continue to get better. Hell, I’d flip a coin over Hudson vs. KK, and he’s already under contract. We don’t need starting pitching; we need a bat. Our rotation ain’t broke; don’t fix it. The easiest and most obvious thing to do is let him walk and apply the payroll where it’s needed.
Do y’all really think that some team that has more money and actually NEEDS him won’t blow away any offer we make? Get real; he’s a former ace that’s become a #3/4 starter coming off major surgery. If we had unlimited funds? Sure. Otherwise? There’s really no need to even have this discussion.
WAY too many of you have been playing fantasy baseball and lost your real life business sense. Thankfully, Wren is no fool. He’ll do exactly what he did with Smoltz; offer him what we can afford based on our needs, and if he doesn’t like it don’t let the door hit him in the hiney on the way out. That’s how we wound up with such a good rotation LAST year; Wren spent money where it was needed and not where the sentimentalists cried out to fling it.
Hokieman
October 15th, 2009
6:32 pm
You have to keep JJ, Hanson and Vazquez. Those are givens. Then you have the rest to think about and between Lowe, Kawakami and Huddy, Huddy is the best amongst them. Deal Lowe or Kawakami for an outfielder with power. Also, consider signing Smoltzie as the closer and PLEASE part ways with Gonzales.
VaBraveFan
October 15th, 2009
6:35 pm
Thanks bashers,
I dont think they should trade JJ , i’m just mentioning how much we could get in return for him.
With the surplus of pitching one will have to go if Huddy is resigned, we need a bat and its gonna be threw a trade not free agency.
Wren is gonna look for someone , 26-29 years old, under contract for atleast 2-3 more seasons at a reasonble price that bats righty and plays OF, a team looking for pitching that has plenty of offense are the teams to look at.
John Smoltz
October 15th, 2009
6:37 pm
Frank Wren, give me a call. Looks like you’ll need some bullpen help in 2010. I’ll give you a hometown discount. Give Tommy Glavine a call while your at it. Tommy & I can anchor the bullpen and give Bobby Cox a great sendoff into retirement.