Detroit offers Damon two years, $14 million (UPDATED)
Scott Boras reaffirms he is king among agents.
You can curse Scott Boras all you want and blame him (and his ilk) for baseball salaries spiraling out of control. But we just found out again why he’s the best agent in baseball.
According to FoxSports.com, Boras has coaxed a two-year, $14 million offer out of the Detroit Tigers for free agent outfielder Johnny Damon. If the report is accurate, you can forget about the Braves landing Damon for left field and, more important, the leadoff spot in their batting order.
Johnny Damon hit .282 and a career-high 24 homers in 2009.
The Braves’ offer reportedly was for one year for somewhere between $4 million and $5 million, including deferred payments, according to our David O’Brien.
After not extending an offer the entire offseason, general manager Frank Wren clearly was eager for Damon to sign, even having Chipper Jones make a recruiting phone call to the player in hopes of luring him to Atlanta.
But it’s doubtful the Braves would add a second year to their offer, especially with Damon being 36 years old. Part of the Braves’ pitch was that their spring training home in Orlando is near Damon’s offseason home, but the Tigers also train in nearby Lakeland.
FoxSports reported that Tigers owner Mike Ilitch authorized the two-year, $14 million offer, doubling Detroit’s previous offer of one year for $7 million. Damon has spent his entire career in the American League (Kansas City, Oakland, Boston New York).
Bottom line: It was a nice effort, even if belated, by Wren to improve the lineup. But he can’t be faulted if the Braves don’t match Detroit’s offer.
UPDATE: There’s no comment yet from the Tigers on their reported offer to Damon. But here’s a link to an interesting story from a long-time pal of mine, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press. It seems when Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski was asked four weeks ago if he was interested in Damon, the answer was no. Things apparently changed only after owner Mike Ilitch got involved. That would jibe with the Fox report that Boras, “seemingly has succeeded in reaching out to Ilitch, who previously signed several of the agent’s other high-profile clients, including catcher Ivan Rodriguez, right fielder Magglio Ordonez and pitcher Kenny Rogers.”
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221 comments Add your comment
DoolyDawg
February 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
First
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
twice as much $ to live in detroit?
WestOfAthens
February 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
Doh, it’s all over now!
KnightInATL
February 11th, 2010
4:33 pm
LMAO!! 2 yrs and $14MM?!?! Dave Dombrowski still hasn’t learned. He continues to handcuff his franchise. That offer is laughable.
Clay
February 11th, 2010
4:34 pm
There goes Johnny.
Andrew
February 11th, 2010
4:34 pm
Wow, I guess that why Detriot has been a miserable franchise for the past few decades
Richham
February 11th, 2010
4:35 pm
Frank Wren was used as a pawn again in negotiations with another team, although I think the Braves simply made a token offer. No one expected him to end up here unless everyone simply told him to take a hike.
Braves Fan1
February 11th, 2010
4:35 pm
Didnt the Tigers dumb Granderson who made $5m a year to free up salary room?? now they try and bring a guy in who is older, slower, less of an arm for $2m more? no wonder why Detroit is the **it capital of America.
Nachos
February 11th, 2010
4:35 pm
Crumpytizers are yummy.
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
4:36 pm
i live north of most of you, i wouldn’t live in the ATL for twice as much money(I have lived in St. Louis, woudn’t live there again, either, & i’m sure IT’S a lot nicer than motown)
Brad
February 11th, 2010
4:37 pm
We really don’t need him, it would be nice but he is not a must have…and he is not worth 14 mill for two years ROFL Go Braves! Looking forward to great pitching next year.
BUY TICKETS PEOPLE
February 11th, 2010
4:38 pm
and watch the games on TV
drive revenues to our team or hush
goski99
February 11th, 2010
4:39 pm
you can say “Detriot has been a miserable franchise for the past few decades” all you want but the played in the WS in ‘06. When was the last time the Braves did?
extremus
February 11th, 2010
4:39 pm
Oh well, so much for that. As much as the Braves need a table-setter at the top of the order, I don’t believe Damon is close to being worth that kind of money. But who knows, if Schafer rebounds better than expected from his injuries and struggles last season, it would be one of those “best moves that never happened” for Atlanta. Here’s hoping.
NC Dawg
February 11th, 2010
4:40 pm
Heyward to play now for sure.
Einstein
February 11th, 2010
4:40 pm
Hooray for Detroit! Hooray for Scott Boarass, too. This just saved the Braves a few $$$ as well as providing the opportunity for some of our minor league talent. I believe the Braves will be better in ‘10, not because of retreads, but because of our younger talent…who will actually improve with experience.
jay
February 11th, 2010
4:41 pm
I know it was a gamble that Damon and Boras took, but $14 million from the Yanks was a better offer.
Well, at least the Braves tried. They wanted until it looked as thoug Damon was in their price range, and there was interest from both sides. It just wasn’t a fit.
In a few months, we’ll look back and say, “It was a good move not signing Damon.”, kinda like we did with Griffy Jr. last season.
dangerousdan87
February 11th, 2010
4:41 pm
The Detroit front office must get caught up in ebay bidding wars and overpay for Al Kaline memorbilia too.
Good deal for Damon. Stupid move for the Tigers.
Mr. Papagiorgio
February 11th, 2010
4:42 pm
Hey Juvenal…good, keep yourself up north…that’s the way we like it.
tide fan
February 11th, 2010
4:42 pm
I didn’t want to see a four hopper throw from left to second anyway. Give me Diaz/Cabrera, McClouth,
and Heyward. We’ll be fine. Detroit is an armpit and the Tigers stink. Damon would have been
ok for about 3 mil, and nothing more.
Duh
February 11th, 2010
4:43 pm
Had Wren just given Damon 2 years and 8-10 Million a month ago this wouldn’t even be an issue and Damon would be a Brave.
Bob Horner stayed hurt
February 11th, 2010
4:43 pm
I wish we could reincarnate Brett Butler…..he was an awesome lead-off guy…..oh well..$14 million for 2yrs….(but you have to live in Detriot….I guess it’s worth it..I’d do it in a heartbeat)
Bill
February 11th, 2010
4:43 pm
Why shouldn’t Diaz bat in the leadoff spot?! We don’t want a 20-25 HR guy (McLouth) essentially batting cleanup for the 7,8 and 9 spots in the lineup – do we?
MZ_03
February 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
Alright!! Go Tigs! hopefully this will help so we don’t collapse the last month of the season again.
Rob
February 11th, 2010
4:45 pm
@ Goski99
Braves were in it in 99, won it in 95. When was the last time the Tigers won it?
ryan
February 11th, 2010
4:46 pm
Thank you, Detroit!!!
Best news all winter.
ITP Brave
February 11th, 2010
4:46 pm
Thank you, Detroit.
Maybe now we can use that money for an actual hitter, like Dye.
Rob
February 11th, 2010
4:47 pm
Sorry, the Braves were in in it 91, 92 and 96 as well
Innocent Bystander
February 11th, 2010
4:47 pm
If 2/14 is what it would’ve taken to get him, then it’s better off we don’t spend that kind of $$$. Boras certainly does his job extremely well, and I am certainly glad the Braves don’t bother with his clients most of the time.
BossLady
February 11th, 2010
4:47 pm
WOW, That’s Boras for you. I wish he could have negotiated my contract this past October. I knew it all along, I knew it. I knew it.
PMC
February 11th, 2010
4:47 pm
Ok. Plan B…. no biggie. Damon would have been gravy. The meat and potatos are there, Damon would just provide a very nice professional hitter and they don’t have to many of those right now.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
4:48 pm
Best signing the Braves never made in the past year; on par with the non-signing of Rafael Furcal.
The Braves would’ve been hamstrung with Damon. Frankly, I offer this declaration: if the Braves have no shot whatsoever in signing Jermaine Dye, then shut the door and go to Orlando with what you have.
With McLouth and Prado, the lead-off issue is not as critical as the (lack of) power issue. If Chipper and/or Troy Glaus are hurt or low on power, it will be the bad parts of 2009 all over again.
The Braves going into the season thinking that Chipper and Glaus are the ironclad answers to their power woes speaks to the same idiocy, Frank!, from last year when the Braves stood pat with Jeff Francoeur and an OF that had many more question marks than The Riddler’s costume.
If I were Frank Wren, I would be checking to see what the Cubs and Indians are offering Dye. If it is more than what the budget allows, move on; however, if he is willing to take what the Braves were going to settle on with Damon. . .
I will stake my life on the fact that Dye will provide the lineup with exactly what the Braves need THIS season to get over the hump. You will have a complete team with good power coverage in the lineup in case of injury – which most assuredly will happen.
Again, am I the only one who sees this??????????????????????
AlternateReality
February 11th, 2010
4:49 pm
You gotta hand it to the agents, and question the common sense of the owners, when one team offers more than twice as much as any other team is offering.
Blue
February 11th, 2010
4:50 pm
Andrew; really? For 20 years? Look at 2006…I would hardly call that miserable. They have also been very competitive since then. Certainly not miserable.
ryan
February 11th, 2010
4:51 pm
Write it down…
I’ll take a rookie Heyward over the veteran Damon, given the savings.
And I’ll take the bouncebacks that you’ll get from Chipper and McLouth to make up the difference in numbers.
Oh, and don’t be surprised if Kawakami has a better season than Vazquez.
Blue
February 11th, 2010
4:52 pm
Juvenal; last time I checked, $14 million is not twice as much as $4.5-$5 million…more like three times. And yes, although Atlanta is WAY more desirable place to live, are you going to tell me that you would not put up with Detroit for an extra 9-10 million????
Space Monkey
February 11th, 2010
4:52 pm
It would have been nice to have someone other than Chipper with some plate discipline.
Just Pat
February 11th, 2010
4:53 pm
I’m just glad that Damon will most likely sign with the Tigers and stop all the speculation. *yawn* Was really getting tired of hearing his name every other post.
retired on the lake
February 11th, 2010
4:56 pm
ryan
February 11th, 2010
4:51 pm
Write it down…
I’ll take a rookie Heyward over the veteran Damon, given the savings.
And I’ll take the bouncebacks that you’ll get from Chipper and McLouth to make up the difference in numbers.
Oh, and don’t be surprised if Kawakami has a better season than Vazquez.
I SECOND THAT EMOTION!
Paddy O
February 11th, 2010
4:56 pm
If he goes, he goes. The Braves offer was wise. I’ll be OK, but I would probably put Prado then Escobar at the top of the order, still need to relegate McLouth to 6 or 7. I would have enjoyed watching Johnny play, though.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
4:57 pm
PMC: The meat that is the pitching is there. The potatoes that are Chipper, Glaus, and McCann cannot mash with the big boys in Philly. Need another power bat that’s cheap.
Again, until he signs with another team, I will stump for Dye’s 27 taters from last year as a very solid solution to the otherwise iffy and potentially debilitating lack of power in this lineup. And yes, I am not going to rely on poor Heyward to carry the power load for this suspect middle of the lineup.
JRP
February 11th, 2010
4:58 pm
Who says he has to live there to play there? And for that kind of money, I’d live there..
Tailback U
February 11th, 2010
4:58 pm
Where are you Otis Nixon ?
We need another nose powdering , ground covering greyhound
like you in CF again.
By the way I hope you didn’t pick up any new bad habits in prison
or injure yourself in the softball leagues last year.
Blindog
February 11th, 2010
5:00 pm
What does Matt Diaz have to do to prove he can handle left-field,give him a chance and he will hit 15-20 homers,35 doubles and hit around .320,the guy can really hit…Diaz,McClouth and Heyward, now lets play ball!!!
AlternateReality
February 11th, 2010
5:00 pm
Miami Beach, check oot Tom Verducci’s Inside Baseball colummn in SI.com. It’s about why some of the older FAs aren’t getting signed and it comes down on Dye pretty hard.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:01 pm
Paddy O: Uh, McLouth is not going to be at the bottom of the lineup. He’s got his eyesight fixed, and his hamstring is on the mend. He and Prado represent the most speed the Braves have, with Cabrera a distant third. Prado and McLouth will be at the top two spots of the lineup – period. Diaz – when he plays – will be on the lower third.
Lefthanded67
February 11th, 2010
5:01 pm
Is it February 23 yet??? I am tired of the business side, lets play some baseball!!!
KnightInATL
February 11th, 2010
5:02 pm
This also opens the possibility that we can become a BUYER at the trade deadline if necessary.
Roundabout
February 11th, 2010
5:07 pm
Just like the guy from SI said…..The Braves are cheap….Here’s to all you Hope’ers….Hope the aging bullpen holds up…..hope Glaus can play first base…..Hope Hinske will be a good luck charm….Hope Hudson’s arm holds together…..Hope you finish better than Third Place…….
Brvaesfan101
February 11th, 2010
5:08 pm
Braves lose out on a player again what’s new.
Hey "Juvenal"
February 11th, 2010
5:08 pm
Are you a lead off hitter that scored 100 runs last season? If not then no one gives two sheets where you live and where you wouldn’t live…
TNT
February 11th, 2010
5:09 pm
Jermaine Dye…
nyyankeefanforever
February 11th, 2010
5:09 pm
Sorry Tiger fans, but ol’ JD’s done like dinner. Boras the Liar has snookered your owner again and as a hardcore Yankee fan who would like to to thank you all for the Granderson deal, consider yourself warned. He is an overrated paycheck player who throws like a girl. His wheels are gone; our centerfielder Gardner had to cover left center all season for him. He only had 12 steals all year. His 2-bag theft in the Series was a double error; a bad throw from the catcher and then the pitcher’s failure to cover third. In the field, his slowing wheels and noodle arm inflated many an opposing batters’ RISP average. Without the sweet right-field porch in the new Yankee Stadium and Arod and Tex protecting him in the batting order, Johnny Spoiled Rotten will not see another season in MLB after this one, let alone another post-season.
For even more Yankee fun, check out “Joe’s Job – The Ballad of Terry Francona” at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvVZQnELQ9s
It’s a must-see for Yankee and BoSucks fans alike! Go Yankees! 28 in 2010!!!
Not again
February 11th, 2010
5:11 pm
I would rather see Heyward in left and Schafer in center and McClouth in right with Diaz the floater. Im sorry but I think Schafer can play and hit now that his wrist is good and Heyward is going to be tough. So let the kids play and take us where we need to be. Those baby braves did it once and these two are good. Add Freddy Freeman at 1st and we look good for a long time. Get a third base hot prospect ready for when Chipper blows out a big toe nail.
bvillebaron
February 11th, 2010
5:13 pm
Here is my thoughts about the Tigers 2 year $14 million Damon offer: a sucker is born every day and Boras sure played you guys like one.
Bobby Cox
February 11th, 2010
5:16 pm
Oh, boy. Maybe Frank can bring back Greg Norton or Kelly Johnson. Kelly knows leftfield !
Jeff Schultz
February 11th, 2010
5:18 pm
Duh — probably right but you never about Boras. He might’ve dragged it on for a while.
Jim
February 11th, 2010
5:18 pm
Hey “Not again”, if we want to see a MINOR LEAGUE TEAM we can go to Triple A
Jeff Schultz
February 11th, 2010
5:20 pm
ITP Brave — I know a lot of fans have been pushing for Dye, but he hit only .250 last year. Not sure what he has left.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:21 pm
AR: “This is a bad time in baseball to be old, especially if your defensive skills are poor. Ask Jermaine Dye, who also still doesn’t have a job, despite hitting 27 home runs last season, and Brian Giles, who took a minor league contract with the Dodgers.
Jermaine Dye’s declining defense included a -24.5 Ultimate Zone Rating in 2009, which has scared off potential suitors.”
*Jermaine Dye: Age-36 2009: HR-27 RBI-81 OPS-.793
AR, the funny thing is that I think Dye has a better arm than Damon, and is a more serviceable LF’er than Damon. Now, if Verducci thinks that Dye is going to drop like a rock from 27 to oblivion in one mid-thirties year, then he knows something particular about Dye that you or I don’t know.
Now, since Verducci wrote an article about aging ballplayers that have not been offered contracts, the perspective gets skewed. Verducci even tried to draw a parallel with Luis Gonzalez; fact is, Dye JUST turned 36, and will be 36 for the entire 2010 season. Dye is not Raul Mondesi, he is not Garrett Anderson, he is not Dale Murphy in Colorado, he is not Ken Camaniti (rest his troubled soul).
From 2004, Dye has hit 23, 31, 44, 28, 34, 27 homers during those six seasons, while averaging 90 RBI’s during that same span. If the Braves can sign Dye for $4 million, I’ll take late game LF subs, 24 HR’s, 80 RBI’s – which are better numbers than any of the names I mentioned above COMBINED ever did with the Braves.
Fed Up With Wren (Again)
February 11th, 2010
5:21 pm
I’m not overly upset that Damon will not be a Brave, but it reinforces the fact that the Braves have not upgraded at any position except the lucky charm/first pinch hitter off the bench job. Not saying I was a big fan of signing Hinske, but he’s got to be better than Norton. No upgrades = no playoffs.
Joe
February 11th, 2010
5:22 pm
I like pancakes and jam.
GTI in Chicago
February 11th, 2010
5:23 pm
I kind of felt it was a bad sign of ultimate success when the Braves put out the first offer for a Boras client. Especially when it seemed they’d made an offer somewhere near the top of their limit on the outset. Boras normally uses that first offer as a pivot point to get other clubs into a bidding war, something the Braves never seemed all that interested to engage in.
Who know? Maybe I’ll still be surprised. Either way, I remain optimistic about ‘10.
Elliot Garcia
February 11th, 2010
5:25 pm
I will not buy Braves tickets because running out a bunch of 38+ year olds is not a championship team ….just a team of has beens…..
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:26 pm
Of course, Dale Murphy is excluded from the last statement in my last paragraph!
Jim
February 11th, 2010
5:28 pm
I sure hope Damon signs with Detroit. There is no reason at all to block Heyward and Schafer which you would be doing if you signed this guy to a two year contract. It makes more sense for Damon to be a DH anyway. I already saw a 37 year old guy play left last year.
Vito Corleone
February 11th, 2010
5:29 pm
you mean to tell me these guys only play for the money? I thought it was the love of the game? he would have been a great addition, and he’ll be a great addition to the Tigers. unfortunately, the market says he’s worth $14 million for two years, and he earned that offer (not that pimp Scott “Tataglia” Boras)
All I'm Saying Is...
February 11th, 2010
5:29 pm
I’ll wait until the deal is officially announced before I believe it but even if its true then so be it as Damon was not worth $7 million per guaranteed for two years. Just another example of owners doing stupid things and why people should never blame a player for being over-paid. I mean, geez, what are they supposed to do turn down a deal because an owner is stupid? Only someone as flaky as LaRoche does something like what he did where he turned down more money and a multi-year deal from San Francisco ($17 million for 2 years) to sign a one year deal (for $7 million) with the Diamondbacks.
I say bring back Jermaine Dye and go with Prado and Escobar at the top of the order.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
BravesFanLostInOhio
February 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
Elliot, I don’t think you’re looking at the whole roster.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
I remember in the early 90’s, 1B was the revolving position until the Crime Dog and the Big Cat showed up for their all-too-brief stints; it still the revolving door position.
Recently, with the likes of Mondesi, Anderson, et. al., screwing up the works, LF has become the NEW 1B.
If Wren The Idiot gave up Javier Vazquez for someone who may not even start regularly in the OF, let alone LF, then they need to fire his sorry pasty ass and string him up for stupidity.
Al Kaline
February 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
Boras played the Braves like Charlie Daniels fiddle
PN
February 11th, 2010
5:35 pm
Meh, would have been nice to have him, but he would not have hit better than .280 10hrs for the Braves. Though his OBP would have been nice atop the order, I don’t think the Braves lose much by not gaining Damon.
JabboRockefeller
February 11th, 2010
5:36 pm
Wonder if Glavine will use a manual or electric pencil-sharpener on JS’s pencils?
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:37 pm
My 2010 lineup, if I were calling the shots (w/o J. Dye, folks; I’m a realist)
CF – McLouth
2b – Prado
SS – Escobar
1B – Glaus
C – McCann
3B – Jones
LF – Cabrera*
RF – Diaz/Hinske platoon*
* – Heyward gets called up in June to take over a OF position for the next five years – hopefully longer.
chris
February 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
I think the braves should offer 2 years 10 million and make the same pitch close to his home in spring and during most of the season, have a much better chance to make the playoffs and if he accepts, we can always trade him at the end of the year
# 24
February 11th, 2010
5:38 pm
Until someone else buys the Braves and spends money, the glory years are gone…
Marsha
February 11th, 2010
5:39 pm
Why does Obama freak out over CEOs making this kind of money, but athletes and entertainers are okay? Someone please explain that to me.
Mark
February 11th, 2010
5:41 pm
According to the blurb below the pic of Johnny, He hit .282 and a career high 24 homers in 1989. In 1989 he was 16 years old. Why do we care what his stats were when he was 16 years old?
I’m guessing that’s a typo. Doesn’t anybody proof read anymore?????
nique
February 11th, 2010
5:45 pm
trade for juan pierre and count yourself lucky you didn’t sign damon.
nique
February 11th, 2010
5:46 pm
Marsha – probably because taxpayers have not bailed out any sports franchises or film/tv studios….yet.
dicGT
February 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
Great editing AJC! from the picture caption above.. Damon is a lot older than i thought!!!
Johnny Damon hit .282 and a career-high 24 homers in 1989.
MiaBchBravesFan
February 11th, 2010
5:47 pm
Marsha: Beacuse when you earn BONUSES in that amount, while you are working for, let’s say, a bank, and that bank tanks, then that is theft and malfeasance.
When you sign a weak-armed, slow, OF’er who hit a phoney 24 homers in 2009 for two years at $14 million, that just makes the GM and owner of that team stupid and moronic – but not thieves.
You have a mortgage at that bank? You’re paying for his stupidity.
You live in Detroit? You DO NOT have to buy a ticket.
Glad I could clear it up.
Big J Unit
February 11th, 2010
5:58 pm
I like frogs!
lanier
February 11th, 2010
5:58 pm
thats why the tigers are the tigers and the braves won 14 pennants in a row. swim back from Hawaii johnny quick before the Detroit gm sobers up
Jimdawg
February 11th, 2010
5:59 pm
This may be the dumbest blog I have ever read.
tlj
February 11th, 2010
6:00 pm
Based on information provider by MLTR it appears Detroit increased their offer to $ 4 mil 500 K ($ 500,000 higher than Atlanta), then increased it to $ 7 mil for one year and then increased it to 7 mil for 2 years. I’m sorry but I don’t understand Detroit’s negotations stragety. If Boras waits another day they may increase it again. They probably could have had him for 5 mil for one year.
The winners and losers are as follows:
Winners – Obviously Damon and Boras: Other winners – Atlanta, Chicage White Sox, Tampa and any other team that did not sign Damon.
Loser – Detroit
unknown hinson
February 11th, 2010
6:00 pm
@ juvenal-
How’s your winter going so far? I’m going to the beach this weekend, since it’s only a 4.5 hour drive. You can keep your region.
Ben
February 11th, 2010
6:02 pm
I would almost bet this is a war we will be glad we didn’t win. Let’s see what Damon does for the Tigers before we cry. This gives some of the young guys a better shot at making the team.
Ted Striker
February 11th, 2010
6:10 pm
That’s a nice suit Scott Boras is wearing in his photo. But if he gets ketchup on the sleeve over lunch, it’s going to Goodwill, not the dry cleaners.
Conyers Braves Fan
February 11th, 2010
6:11 pm
Good. Let the Tigers have him.Nothing else to say about this non event.
Art Vandalay
February 11th, 2010
6:12 pm
The guy who said he won’t buy tickets because the team runs out 38+ year old players, good! we don’t want you there, your obvious lack of Baseball IQ is what embarrasses this city’s baseball fans. The Braves are one of the YOUNGER teams in MLB. Escobar, Prado, Mclouth, Heyward, McCann, Hanson…thats just the core players that are under 30, then you have guys like Infante and Medlen who are also under 30, look at the Yankees now that’s an old timers team.
Mixxo
February 11th, 2010
6:15 pm
McLouth is a joke at the top of the order.
No Damon?….:(
*looks forward to 2011*
Art Vandalay
February 11th, 2010
6:16 pm
also I forgot Melky, who is also well under 30
gayle
February 11th, 2010
6:17 pm
Seems like a call from Chipper can be the kiss of death if you’re trying to land some free agents? And how about that manager? Isn’t the privilege of playing for the “best manager in baseball” enough reason to come to Atlanta? Isn’t that what all you Cox lovers on here constantly harp about – the best manager in baseball? The free agents knocking on the door here are only looking to get leverage elsewhere.
The 11th hour move to go after Damon exposes two things – his public declarations notwithstanding, Wren knows how weak this lineup is – especially at the top – and the Braves have not been very successful going to Daddy (Liberty Media) for a bigger allowance. $5 million for a year with some deferred? That is even worse than what they offered Garret Anderson last year.
Suck it up, play the kids, take your lumps and continue building. Four years and counting out of the postseason – it can’t go on forever.
GaDawgsInDC
February 11th, 2010
6:18 pm
The braves WILL NOT win more than 86 games this year. The team is worse than it was last year..goodness….
shane
February 11th, 2010
6:28 pm
Thank God
shane
February 11th, 2010
6:31 pm
We didnt need anymore pop gun arm 47 year old outfielders who cant run anymore and cant hit a HR out of Yankee Stadium.
Ghost of Moose Granger
February 11th, 2010
6:34 pm
Don’t take this as a concession of the 2010 season, but this makes the outlook for the 2011 team a bit brighter.
fordcobra
February 11th, 2010
6:38 pm
I sure hope the Braves don’t pin their hopes on Heyward he is UNPROVEN, potential is one thing but…..
anyway don’t look for the Braves front office to look for anyone else unless they can get someone for a ml or 2 at the most.
John OTC
February 11th, 2010
6:41 pm
Looks like we got Furcaled all over again. I bet we’ll be just as glad we didn’t sign our target the second time.
rooty
February 11th, 2010
6:43 pm
GO Johnny GO!
I wish you were a Yankee, but want the best for you! Thanks for the title in NY in ‘09!
I know I shouldn't
February 11th, 2010
6:44 pm
It’s because CEOs make that regardless of performance
ugaaccountant
February 11th, 2010
6:50 pm
MiaBchBravesFan – Way to drink the obama kool aid. The definition of a bonus in the corporate setting is absolutely not what Obama and friends try to portray it as.
shane
February 11th, 2010
6:56 pm
Way to drink the obama kool aid
Tastes better than Bush Aid you guys were drinking. Man did that guy almost ruin this country or what. Pretty big hole to climb out of hopefully Obama is up to it. 1 year is not enough time to undo 8 years of incompetence.
KnightInATL
February 11th, 2010
7:03 pm
The bottom line is that the government hasn’t had to “BAIL OUT” a baseball team. Until the government starts paying ballplayer salaries, its none of Obama’s business what ballplayers make.
If the market will bear it, there is no reason why ballplayers shouldn’t get paid what they’re making. And in the NFL and MLB….the market certainly bears it.
ernisTbass
February 11th, 2010
7:07 pm
Reminds me more of Boras and Andruw Jones than Furcal, Damon will be more like any pitcher that had a good year anywhere else then went to Colorado and showed how much he missed his old ballpark. Damon will play somewhere else next year at Detroit’s expense. Boras did his job, he is good at it.
BIOMASS
February 11th, 2010
7:15 pm
What about the “I have the play for the greatest manager of all time, Bobby Cox?”
Not the Damon said that, but that’s what every signee is obliged to say.
One more stinking year of this idiot. Another wasted year.
Bob in SF
February 11th, 2010
7:16 pm
Thank goodness Dave Dumbreski has stepped in and save Frank Wrong from signing another washed up American Leaguer out machine.
BBrown
February 11th, 2010
7:18 pm
Remember the one intangible here in the favor of the Braves – We are talking about Detroit. Not Chicago, not LA, not Philly, but Detroit. Then again for additional $7 million, I could live in Detroit during the season and elsewhere in the offseason.
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
7:21 pm
so how come dooleydawgs post appeared after above mine-good thing i don’t care, but to those it does, don’t forget the vagaries of computers-don’t care where anyone else lives(wish more of you DID NOT want to live where i do!), just sayin’ tha dif tween 4.5 really meaningless IF you know how to spend money(see:”cheetah” woods”), know a lot of folks from midwest, dad was from MW,when i lived there knew NOBODY that moved there,at some point not waking up in a blue state rust-belt in 20′ of snow, well, living here should be especially important to folks who can live anywhere they want(like me-save lives for a living, not hitting hardballs, not as many $ but it’s ok…)
jim
February 11th, 2010
7:21 pm
Just looked at the Detroit sports blogs. The majority seem to think Atlanta got the best of this deal. 36 yrs. old and weak arm folks. We do not need this guy. Let the Tigers pay out the wazoo for Damon.
Braves Gone
February 11th, 2010
7:34 pm
$7 mil per year for an over the hill J. Damon?????? Are you serious? They must be smoking some good stuff up there—he’s not worth $4 mil per year.
jc_dawgs
February 11th, 2010
7:37 pm
Assuming Heyward wins the start at right field……our worst bat would be Diaz/Cabrera in left.
Combine that with a very good starting 5 and this Braves team looks pretty good. And without Damon….the defense will be better….that I can guarantee you.
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
7:42 pm
just to match the vernacular-less bats against the Cardinals, GO REDBIRDS!
Robby
February 11th, 2010
7:43 pm
Hey Schultz, how come we aren’t hearing how embarrassing this is for the Braves and how they just got someone else a raise like the UGA Def Cord. search? The Braves got played, just like they did when they signed Lowe to a ridiculous contract that was over $15 million more then anyone in baseball was offering.
Bottom line is that the Braves will be run in the ground just like the Orioles were when Wren was in charge there. The Braves lack any explosiveness on Offense! The Pitching Rotation is just one arm going down away from really being in trouble and if Wagner doesn’t pan out, then what? Wager threw back to back days only ONCE last year? What does that tell you.
Braves will again be a .500 team and finish at best 3rd in the Division.
Joe Fan
February 11th, 2010
7:51 pm
Thank you Detroit…Once again Wren is saved from himself.
heywood jablomey
February 11th, 2010
7:51 pm
more b/c i like u, less b/c i have the time…
here’s another freebie, sir.
buenos noches…
SHANE is an idiot
February 11th, 2010
7:52 pm
find another blog u freak
BIOMASS
February 11th, 2010
8:03 pm
This team looks like crap, waddautalkin about?
Another absolutely punchless lineup. Glaus at 1B? Hoping for a Chipper rebound? The OF??? Forchrissakes, hoping for rookie miracle?
Hudson is coming off surgery. He looked less than stellar BEFORE surgery. Jair is solid. Hanson, probably. The Japanese guys? Lowe????
Yeah, someone guaranteed the Braves won’t win 86 wins. Wow, go out on a limb there, Mr. Risky. This team is just a product. A product to pull in as many suckers as it can to make enough to pay executives. NOT TO WIN ANYTHING.
1eyedJack
February 11th, 2010
8:10 pm
Deja Vu all over again.
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
8:11 pm
can Tebow play baseball?
bob
February 11th, 2010
8:19 pm
He can buy the Silverdome for $50k to use for BP on a snowy day.
Pucks n Snot
February 11th, 2010
8:22 pm
Hilarious. Yesterday all you read in here is how excited everyone is that the Braves might get Damon. Then they lose out and all of a sudden Damon’s washed up and Detroit sucks for signing him. News flash, Atlanta: YOU SUCK. All those great teams in the 90’s and you win ONE World Series……which really doesn’t count because it was after a strike shortened season in 1995. Other than that what does Atlanta have for sports? The Thrashers? A HA HA HA HAAAA!
BTW, to the moron who said the Braves won 14 pennants in a row: You are a typical Atlanta sports fan…..in that you know NOTHING about sports and yet you talk anyway just to hear yourself. NEVER POST AGAIN!
Tell it like it is.
February 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
The Braves may not look like a discount team but our GM gives us away.
boots
February 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
What is Otis Nixon up to these days, Jeff?
Javy Lopez/Vasquez
February 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
Damons fielding would have been on par with Garrets, he needed to stay in the AL so he can DH, if he wants to be close to home why not sign with Tampa, theyre a good team with playoff possibilities, & he can stay home? We need more of a big bopper than Damon anywho!
juvenal
February 11th, 2010
8:33 pm
at least baseball is as boring as golf..
Roundabout
February 11th, 2010
8:34 pm
Empty seats…..Third Place finish (at best)…….Mr Wrong Way Wren ran the team in the ground same kinda of GM as Naradelli was for Home Depot…..that is your 2010 Atlanta Braves!!! Glad I live up close to Rome…..maybe I can go see Vizcaino the only bright spot in that disasterous trade for Vasquez…..Melky???? What a joke!
heywood jablomey
February 11th, 2010
8:56 pm
slow-pickins…
Jesse Stone
February 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
People Wren should thank: Rafael Furcal, Jake Peavy, Ken Griffey, Jr, Dave DUMBrowski. DUMBrowski gives us Jurrjens, then he “steals” Damon away. Too bad DUMBroski doesn’t work for the Pistons, he could “steal” Paul Hewitt as well.
Steve
February 11th, 2010
9:03 pm
Thank goodness. Now this nonsense about Johnny frickin Damon being the Braves savior will be over and done with.
The writers here on AJC have gone nuts for this guy for no reason at all. WHO COULDN’T BAT LEADOFF SUCCESSFULLY in that Yankees lineup and in that park?? Hmmm? His OBP was less than Diaz and roughly the same as this Nate McLouth guy here in Atlanta that the same sports writers are dissing. You know, the guy who actually can play some defense (though maybe not as good as his gold glove would suggest).
Now we can open up the OF competition again. Mind you, I have no problem going into the season with Diaz, Melky, Nate, and a couple of kids patrolling the OF. No problems at all. It’s better than throwing away money at an overpriced vet. Damon for $4 million and one year .. sure. Damon for 2 years and $14 million … bwa ha ha ha. Have fun with that one Detroit.
steve
February 11th, 2010
9:08 pm
what he said.
FUZZUP
February 11th, 2010
9:12 pm
133st
Mekons
February 11th, 2010
9:18 pm
Wren did due diligence and made an offer, but he was not going to overpay for a lousy defensive player. Detroit and Chicago can use him as a DH, LF and backup 1B and get him 500 ABs. He’s far more valuable to them than to us. This lets both Heyward and Schafer to make the team at some point this year. I would have liked Damen at a decent price, but $14 million for two years is not even close.
The Tiggers panicked. They lost their CF and their new one is probably going to bat 8th or 9th. They needed a lead-off hitter way more than we did. So they overpaid. He’s still costing half of Granderson. He does the same thing or better as Curtis at the plate, and Jackson can do the defensive part almost as well. And Detroit ends up with several prospects for free.
We were just kicking the tires. We had no intention of going after Damen hardcore. We were just putting a bid in and hoping no one else was interested. That was never going to happen. I doubt the White Sox are going to be real players. Their OF defense is terrible and they do not need an even worse option.
I’d guess that Detroit is a lock if the report is true.
Braves
February 11th, 2010
9:30 pm
Jeff
The Thrashers offered 100 mil to a neg 84 winger ( i know a big goal scorer but there isn’t a DH rule in hockey) while the braves offered 4 mil to a 2 time world champion who made a significant contribution and is arguably one of the games most prolific lead off hitters. Moreso, when it is all said and done JD will be paid well beyond the Braves offer. So, with that being said, you call the Thrashers organization inept and cheap but applaud the Braves for “at least trying”. Please explain.
Chris
February 11th, 2010
9:38 pm
Once again, the greatest evil in baseball – Scott Boras strikes. He adds no value, does no community service and has made the game unaffordable to the average family. While it’s a shame the Braves lost the chance to improve but it’s good that Braves did not get into a bidding war with the devil.
Yes, Scott Boras is king among the agents, he is also the bottom of the garbage pail respect with to the stewardship he owes the game.
jake
February 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
Great news. The Braves don’t need another one-year rental, even if there’s no player exchange involved. It’s time for the young guys to “Cowboy up” if you’ll pardon a slightly passe American League phrase….
And by the way, whatever happened to Garrett Anderson?
Jeff Schultz
February 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
Boots — I think he’s up to hitching a ride on the Braves’ caravan.
Jeff Schultz
February 11th, 2010
9:52 pm
Braves — You just possibly possibly the lamest comparsion possible: Ilya Kovalchuk/player in prime/1 of top 10 players in his sport vs. Johnny Damon/36/at tail end of his career. How can I possibly debate you?
Navigator
February 11th, 2010
10:09 pm
Thank him for his time and tell him good buy. He might have two years or he may not have one, but the Braves have a bad record giving big money to has beens.
Poorbrave
February 11th, 2010
10:16 pm
Shane keep your political agendas of this blog. This is a baseball blog.
Sometimes the best deal is no deal..Play ball Braves.
Mad Hungarian
February 11th, 2010
10:23 pm
Is Gary Matthews, SR available ?
Boog
February 11th, 2010
10:35 pm
Damage Control
Reid Adair
February 11th, 2010
11:22 pm
What a surprise. I can’t wait to hear Frank Wren try to tell everyone that the Braves’ offer to Johnny Damon was very similar to what the Tigers offered.
BRAVES
February 11th, 2010
11:35 pm
Jeff
Your response does not capture the issue.
The thrashers offer Kovy 10 mil for 10 years which puts him well into his mid 30s at the end of the contract and of course he asking for 11.3 at the age of 38. Now the Braves are offering a lame 4 mill for a guy who is still producing which is a reality while Lovy is still a hope. But somehow, again you cheer the Braves for trying….yet you do not give the Thrashers credit for trying to sign a guy who has not fully proven himself as an NHL winner (1-3 so far with NJ I might add). The real reality is that he should have never been offered 100 mil by the organization. Again, please explain….
Kyle
February 11th, 2010
11:53 pm
Having Chipper to make these calls to try and land free agents seems to be along the same lines as when Obama goes to throw his support behind someone a day or two before a vote. Loving America and hating Democrats as I do I hope they keep sending Obama out but the Braves might want to find someone else to make the calls and see if they can get this team above average.
Pago Pago Trojan
February 11th, 2010
11:55 pm
$14 million….this is a slap in the face. But, the stupid fan$ will pay and pay for this. Pretty funny…
Herschel Talker
February 12th, 2010
12:28 am
Schultzie – you the man!
I’m all for Damon joining the Bravos, but I am with you on this one. If some fool of a GM wants to overpay, then so be it. No sense chasing this one.
Mike McDonald
February 12th, 2010
12:50 am
Boras has snookered them all with help from the savvy Brian Cashman. Johnny Damon will be in pin stripes in 2010 at $10 million+ for two plus years. The NY Yankees play hardball. The bush leaguers like Atlanta and Detroit help set the salary floor and the Bronx Bombers swoop in with a mezzanine price clincher that teaches everyone involved a lesson. What in the world could the departing Chipper Jones have said that was credible to Damon? “I’m making $15 million, y’all come for four mill for a year and you’ll have a short commute home during spring training?”
As George Carlin was wont yo say: “It’s bull sh*t and it’s not good for you”.
MCook
February 12th, 2010
1:26 am
No suprise… no big deal….whats new??
At this point, who gives a crap.
willie g at yur service
February 12th, 2010
1:41 am
the braves just need TEX BACK, AT FIRST, AND DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SIGN SMOLTZ TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT PUT HIM IN THE BULLPEN HE WILL BE THE INSURANCE FOR WAGNER AND SAITO, THEY WILL GET HURT SEE WHERE YOU ARE AT THE ALL STAR BREAK AND HOPE CHIPPER ONLY MISSES A WEEK THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF A MONTH OR 2. ICANT WAIT TILL APRIL UNTIL THEN I WILL START WORKING ON MY BRACKETS.
willie g at yur service
February 12th, 2010
1:46 am
oh i forgot UNTIL THE BRAVES GET AN OWNER THAT CARES YOU ARE NOT WINNING ANYTHING . GET RID OF THE COLORADO CHUMPS , TED TURNER LEAVE YOUR MONTANA RANCH SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR BUFFALOS AND BRING YOUR BILLIONS BACK TO ATLANTA SO WE CAN WIN ANOTHER WORLD SERIES BEFORE I TURN 100.
willie g at yur service
February 12th, 2010
1:52 am
oh yea there is a radio host that works for the braves organization that lives in the middle ga area get rid of the chump he is a jinx to this team he is egotistical and thinks he is greater than chocolate icecream he is a joke to the profession.
bird
February 12th, 2010
2:27 am
ESPN is reporting that the Tigers offer is just for one year?
Johnny Demon
February 12th, 2010
4:31 am
When one makes $14 million one doesn’t live in Detroit.
You don’t see Matt Ryan or Brian McCann renting a place in L5P.
Mitchell
February 12th, 2010
4:42 am
He’s not worth nearly that much money. It’s not going to happen, who are we kidding?
It would be nice to have him but we don’t need him for two years at that price.
MitchC
February 12th, 2010
4:56 am
I know that Garrett Anderson was hurt at times last year, but when he did play, he was okay.
I’d take a chance and try to sign Dye. Yes, he’s not young, but how can you overlook 27 homers and 81 RBI’s in our power light lineup? Even if he gave us.. 20, and 70, it might be worth it.
We would probably be okay with what we have right now. We could also see where we are in July, and just try to trade for an outfielder then.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 12th, 2010
7:01 am
JS- i thought the Braves refused to do business with Boras? no sense on braves trying to out-bid the tigers for a 36 yr old. Go with heyward and screw Boras- fans can blame him for ruining baseball and costing us an arm/leg just to go to a game.
George
February 12th, 2010
7:16 am
Hey all us Atlanta fans, LET’S GO BUY OUR SEASON TICKETS….. Until we stop buying the tickets, nothing constructive will happen to this team.. Corporate sponsership, Lexus, Suntrust, Coke, Chick-fil-A, Home Depot,AT&T, They are the culprits who buy the seats by the section, pay for the bulk of the advertising etc.. Braves front office doesn’t care about the product on the field they have their money in hand before the season starts..
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
February 12th, 2010
7:54 am
who is in Right anyway? There is only one RF excluding Heyward, Cabrera
papadawg
February 12th, 2010
8:05 am
Please Damon PLEASE sign with Detroit
Rod
February 12th, 2010
8:06 am
shane – Damon can’t hit a homerun? What? He had 24 homers. None of the other outfielders for the Yankees hit 30 homers either. Get a clue.
How many Braves outfielders hit 24 homers last year? Huh?
jsatt32
February 12th, 2010
8:09 am
The Tigers offer him 2 yrs at 14 mil and we offer 1 yr at 4.5 mil? Hmmm, I wonder which deal Boras will take? God, the Braves will never be good until Libery Media SELLS the team! Bottom Line like it or not….World Championship teams don’t have sarary limits!
But as far as Damon is concerned, Detriot can have him for that. Thank you very much!
jfreak13713
February 12th, 2010
8:17 am
Tommy Hanson was unproven until he proved it! Heyward has a chance to produce as much as Damon would. Remember Damon put up average numbers in a hitters park! .288avg 24hr while good for a leadoff hitter was not great and he wouldn’t put up those numbers at the Ted. Damon might be worth 4 million for one year but no way 14 million for 2 years.
Braves are ok and if they can stay close maybe Wren pulls off a trade to fill a hole or two. Believe it or not I think this team will be good. They will pitch well and if Chipper and Glaus can put up some power numbers they will hit as well.
Jesse Stone
February 12th, 2010
8:18 am
Rod, how many Braves outfielders got to play half their games at Yankee Stadium (Williamsport)?
F-105 Thunderchief
February 12th, 2010
8:19 am
What did I tell you two days ago? Unfortunately it was a pipe dream. We could really stand a good leadoff hitter.
F-105 Thunderchief
February 12th, 2010
8:21 am
Trade Milky for whatever you can get and sign Dye for one year.
Dayman
February 12th, 2010
8:22 am
Thats what I’m seeing, bird. A one year deal.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
February 12th, 2010
8:23 am
Will Prado lead off? Or Cabrera?
Jesse Stone
February 12th, 2010
8:37 am
17 of Johnny’s 24 homers came in Williamsport. 15 of Jermaine Dye’s 27 homers were at home.
DMR
February 12th, 2010
8:46 am
Give Damon and his agent credit. They know how to play. Give the Braves credit for making a good and reasonable offer. If I am J.D., I go home, talk to my family, look at my overall financial picture, and check out state tax rates. If I am financially sound and money isn’t the beat all end all reason for taking a deal, the I choose Atlanta. Detroit and the Michigan economy may be the bleakest in the Nation. Lifestyle usually counts for something. However, if MONEY is the number one driving force, take the offer with Detroit and see if crashing with M. Stafford is an option.
UA Alum92
February 12th, 2010
8:46 am
I honestly don’t think the Braves ownership cares about competing at the highest levels and/or doesn’t have the money to do so. I’m turning in my tomahawk.
Being loyal to the Braves is like being loyal to Delta. Both Atlanta institutions, same colors, etc. But they’re also both way too old, overpriced, and sooner or later, they’re going to screw you.
Don
February 12th, 2010
8:56 am
The Braves do not need to “ADD” a player nearly as much as they need to “SUBTRACT” Bobby Cox.
Don
February 12th, 2010
9:02 am
Offering Damon 14 mil for two years is nothing compared to the Dodger GM giving Andruw Jones 18 million for two years a few years ago – when any knowledgable baseball fan who had watched him for any length of time knew he wasn’t worth 2 million for 18 years at that point.
jim
February 12th, 2010
9:02 am
The blogs in Detroit are tilted in favor of not hiring Damon. The Braves got this one right. Too much money for an older player with a limited arm. Time to move on and let some of the younger players get a shot. Damon does better in Detroit anyway – he knows American League pitching.
Bobby Cox
February 12th, 2010
9:09 am
Gee, Skip. Frank is talking to Arizona about Kelly Johnson. Kelly knows something about leftfield, I tell ya !
Braves #5
February 12th, 2010
9:17 am
Damon will sign with Braves at low cost ! Why would you play in Det? ASK
Matthew Stafford!!!!
Bill in VA
February 12th, 2010
9:27 am
Stop this noise about signing another retread like Dye, please!!
Chop Chop
February 12th, 2010
9:29 am
Good deal for the Tigers. Damon can still hit. The Braves can’t offer him the right amount of money or any DH time.
Toots
February 12th, 2010
9:31 am
I thought at the time of the Braves offer that Boras would use it to try to leverage another, better (aka longer) deal elsewhere. I think I win the Kewpie doll.
Mike
February 12th, 2010
9:36 am
Foolish move by the Tigers. They don’t need Damon at all given the makeup of their team. Too much money for a team that isn’t going anywhere in the near future and if it blocks the development of Austin Jackson at all, this move will look that much worse.
Great effort by the Braves and I would love to have Damon for 2010. But anything beyond that is just not in the Braves’ best interest. Kudos to Wren for the effort and more kudos for not overpaying – in years or money.
Bill in VA
February 12th, 2010
9:36 am
You do win, Toots. DHing is the place for damon.
Kyle
February 12th, 2010
9:42 am
Apparently Schultz prematurely blew his load:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4905884
I strongly urge Schultz not to rely on any fox news affiliate for his info
BSIATL
February 12th, 2010
9:44 am
The responses on this blog are very frustrating for a lifelong baseball fan and student of the game. I’m guessing that most of the commenters on here do not know that HRs and RBIs are two of the worst stats that you can use to judge a players offensive performance, since most like to reference those stats when looking at a player. Everyone asking for Jermaine Dye is just asking for trouble. If you have 5 minutes check out http://www.fangraphs.com for some insight into metrics on how to look at players past and predicted future performances. You can search for Jermaine Dye and look at his detailed offensive and defensive stats. Bottom line…I’d rather have someone that has 1 RBI in 4 games than someone who has 4 RBIs in one game (Jermaine Dye). Jermaine Dye is projecting to be a +.5 WAR player this season and both Diaz and Cabrera are rated at +1.4 and +2.3 respectively. So you would take at bats away from Diaz and Cabrera for a +.5 WAR with positional and stadium adjustments and a UZR/150 rating of -26.3? Seriously? If you are you just cost your favorite team approx. 5 wins! Or are you saying you would sign him for RF and block Heyward for another season? We are fine with the lineup we have now. You HAVE to look past things like HRs and RBIs for position players and Ws & Ls and ERA for pitchers. We as a team have a WAR rating that puts us in the 88-92 win range. With a payroll of $90+ mil that is pretty darn good. This isn’t fantasy baseball! The goal isn’t to lead the league in runs scored…the goal is to win more games than the others and from the looks of it we will improve slightly from last year and be in a year long competition for the division or the wild card. That’s good stuff! Kudos to Wren for making the most of the budget and keeping us in the hunt.
Greg
February 12th, 2010
9:49 am
Nice game that baseball has become. $14 million for a .280 declining 36-year-old. And pitchers with ERA’s of 3.85 and 10-10 records get even more. What has the world come to?
Jeff Schultz
February 12th, 2010
9:55 am
Braves — The Thrashers did not offer him $10 million for 10 years. Get your facts straight. … Further, because he’s in his prime now, he has leverage. He makes any team better. Not the case with Damon. He makes the Braves better but not every team better. And really, while we can debate what Kovy is “worth” the fact is worth is only what you ultimately can get. We’ll find that out this summer.
Don
February 12th, 2010
9:56 am
BSIATL, your points are well taken – except you forget one thing relating to the Braves – Bobby Cox is our Manager – And he does not understand/ violates the most simple and basic fundamentals and procedures to get maximum run production.
Jeff Schultz
February 12th, 2010
9:57 am
Bird– reports are that there are one- and two-year offers by Detroit.
Jeff Schultz
February 12th, 2010
10:00 am
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater — Schuerholz butted heads with Boras, but not Wren (at least not to the same degree). Schuerholz last year said the team wouldn’t do business with agent Arn Tellem again (the Wasserman Group) after the Rafael Furcal thing happened. But I doubt the Braves would really stick to that if there was a player they really wanted.
Don
February 12th, 2010
10:02 am
You are not going to get anything close to good run production when your Manager does not teach, emphasize, demand that your hitters be selective/ work the count/ make the opposing pitcher throw some pitches — Which enables your hitters to see what the pitcher has, adjust to the pitcher, get better pitches to hit, make the pitcher make mistakes, wear the pitcher down both within innings and for the game, get into the other teams weak middle relief etc. This is the major reason that Bobby Cox’s management (and lack thereof) of the offense is and has always been absurd and results in inconistant run production.
BSIATL
February 12th, 2010
10:04 am
It would violate the terms of the CBA if they blacklisted an agent.
Melky's the Man
February 12th, 2010
10:06 am
With Melky, the Braves will dominate their division, beat the Phillies and win the pennant! Melky’s a superstar in the making!!!
BSIATL
February 12th, 2010
10:08 am
Don – all very true but you can hardly pin that one on Cox. The player still has to go out and do the things the player has to do and you can only “manage” them so much. I think Albert Pujols would hit just fine here in ATL with Bobby Cox as his manager. Good patient hitters with good OPS and good BABiP will succeed regardless of managers and hitting coaches.
the real Andy
February 12th, 2010
10:15 am
Say there was an outfielder on the market with a career .310 batting average, who was given his first chance to play every day in the second half last year. Say that outfielder responded with a .333 avg, an OBP north of .400, a slugging of .522, to go with 10 HR and 41 RBIs for the half. All while providing serviceable defense.
Wouldn’t we be trying to sign that guy and start him?
That’s Matt Diaz, folks. We’ve got him. Why are we looking to get someone else in there? I watched almost every game last year, and he was impressive. Was anybody else watching?
Melky in LF, Diaz in RF till we call up Heyward in June. Then move Diaz to left. He’s a born hitter, and I think he’s proven himself worthy of a real shot.
PMC
February 12th, 2010
10:19 am
It does make the Tigers seem fairly foolish to give up Granderson essentially for whatever is left of Johnny Damon for 14 Million…. that’s kind of like the stuff they are doing across town in Detroit. Phillip Buchannan….sure!!!
PMC
February 12th, 2010
10:22 am
Yeah I wouldn’t mind if they started talking with Jermaine Dye either. Would be nice to have his services for a year.
BSIATL
February 12th, 2010
10:31 am
Diaz’s splits are way too dramatic for him to ever be more than a platoon or part time player on a major league club. I like him and at his price he is a very nice piece to have on the team but for those wanting to hand him the full time job you’re not looking at the full picture. Last year he absolutely shreded lefties to the tune of a .412 batting avg., .464 OBP and a 1.103 OPS. Against righties he is a rather so-so guy batting .255, and a .349 OBP with an OPS of .766 (which is not good). He had 90 SOs against only 35 BBs. He swings and misses too many balls out of the strike zone and does not fair well against anything but fastballs. With a larger sample size he will be figured out by pitchers and turn out to be the same as a Garrett Anderson type player (which is to say not awful but not great either). A Matt Diaz and Melky Cabrera platoon would be a good thing though as Melky hits the righties quite well and is an upgrade in the field over Diaz.
Braves fan
February 12th, 2010
10:33 am
Who cares about Johnny Damon? Is Damon the difference between winning the division or not? I don’t think so. Besides, that money for Damon could have gone to Javy Vasques instead.The Braves are not going to the World Series this year. Let the kids play and get better. No need to buy another broken down player.
BSIATL
February 12th, 2010
10:37 am
With Damon’s natural regression due to age and stadium splits his projected WAR is +3.4 for this season down from +4.2 last season. So yes…he could very well make the difference between getting into the playoffs or not this year.
Cmon Frank
February 12th, 2010
10:38 am
Our lineup is a pathetic joke right now. Why is it year after year we don’t add the 1 or 2 sticks we REALLY need to compete in the NL East?
Ozzie
February 12th, 2010
10:44 am
Jeff the reports you are quoting are fabricated and or here-say. Olney posted this AM that he heard someone was asked to leak a 2yr deal to get the Braves et al off the pot.
The 7mm numbers are bs and given that Damon is still unemployed I think many journalists are realizing they got snookered last night.
He may go to DET but that is far from certain. This was a dead cat bounce attempt by Boras to create a bidding war where there was none.
Marty
February 12th, 2010
10:49 am
I’ve seen several comments about the Braves being cheap; not spending money…isn’t their payroll over $90M??? They’re definitely in the top 3rd of payrolls. If the Braves are not winning it has nothing to do with not spending so let that go. Now, if you think they are spending their money in the wrong place and on the wrong players make that comment…and make it sensible.
JeanE
February 12th, 2010
11:02 am
Never would I be so happy to be jilted as now! We don’t need Damon, why would he want to come over to the NL at this stage of his career, it makes no sense. Go be Detroit’s DH. We will find our leadoff hitter somewhere within the lineup that we have now & I’m confident we’ll be great. Go Braves!!
dpelfrey
February 12th, 2010
11:07 am
How do you figure we got “Furcaled” again? Damon never responded to the Braves offer. I don’t see any similarity other than they were both free agents. Two completely different situations.
JeanE
February 12th, 2010
11:10 am
We don’t need another old player who’s on the tail end of their career: we have Glaus, let’s stick with importing 1 of those. Diaz can play left and his all pitching, when Heyward comes up, Diaz can float between the corner spots. McClouth will have a rebound year with his improved eyesight as will Mac. I feel really good about this team!
papadawg
February 12th, 2010
11:17 am
I’m amazed at fans who don’t understand a player starts downhill when he hits 30. Sorry folks it’s pro basball not church softball. We saw what teams do who sign over the hill players back before 1991.
BartBuzz
February 12th, 2010
11:29 am
Thank goodness Scott BoarAss kept Frank Wren from making another mistake. Let’s give the up-and-coming Braves a chance to play. Without a power hitter and unless Chipper rebounds big time, the Braves won’t make the playoffs this year anyway. But they have some young players who can take Atlanta back to the ’90s.
Clay
February 12th, 2010
11:33 am
Is Cox gonna “respect” Chipper by leaving him at the 3-spot in the lineup, even if he stinks like last year? Just trying to get my mind right early …
Tell It Like It Is
February 12th, 2010
11:36 am
The Braves are lucky that Detroit is dumber than they are. Why keep chasing over priced veterans with diminished skills just to maintain the status quo? Damon has less of an arm and defensive skills than Anderson and his bat is not as good either. Play Cabrera every day and bring Heyward and Freeman along slowly. Even Schafer is better than Damon so why even put him in the equation. I just do not understand Wren’s philosophy except for maintaining the pay roll at less than $100 million. Baseball is about business in Atlanta and not winning a World Series. Maybe that’s a good business model as you become accustomed to not expecting too much. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
Wolf
February 12th, 2010
11:43 am
Why waste money on Damon? He is a liability in the field, can’t throw worth a dime, can’t go back on balls. His “power” came from playing in Yankee Stadium. I’d prefer to see Matt Diaz in LF, or a platoon there. NO way Damon is worth that much money for two years.
Treeman
February 12th, 2010
11:57 am
Does the picture in this article of Boras resemble Roger Clemens?
the real Andy
February 12th, 2010
12:02 pm
BSIATL, if you’re still around, i’d be interested to see what Diaz’s second half numbers against righties were, once he started getting regular at bats against them. i don’t know that they’re any better, but i’m just curious. anybody got that info?
Me Two
February 12th, 2010
12:11 pm
It seems there’s always somebody willing to “overpay,” putting the more prudent GM twixt the proverbial rock and a hard place…
Orlando Man
February 12th, 2010
12:16 pm
Jeff,
Are you sure it’s 2 years and 14 million? All I see everywhere else is one year and 7 million.
Ozzie
February 12th, 2010
1:34 pm
Yesterdays Twitter induce Damon drama was fabricated. There doesn’t seem to be a more than a 1yr deal and the money being attributed especially by DET has been surgically extracted from various back sides.
DET may have made an offer (no one knows how much) and JS has confirmed Wren is in negiotiations for Damon but no word on money.
Beyond those two facts the rest is hot stove craziness.
It certainly is too soon to say the Tigers offered 2/14mm and put the Braves away.
My advice take what Fox and SI/Heyman say with less than a grain of salt. One does almost no fact checking and the other is practically on Boras’s payroll.
common sense
February 12th, 2010
1:36 pm
Damon has already made millions in the game.He is at the age were he just wants to play for a contender from year to year.He wanted to go back to the Yankees but they were’nt biting the price tag.So if he does go to the Tigers they will not have a realistic shot at making it to the postseason and it will be all bout the money,i was wrong.The Braves have a shot just on pitching alone.Its a reasonable offer and would’nt up it any.Braves offer an above 50% chance to making into postseason the Tigers offer less than 50%.Way your options Johnny, personally i would love the better chance to play in October
LostCause
February 12th, 2010
2:08 pm
To re-iterate several comments so far … Thank You Detroit!
Report: Detroit offers Damon two years, $14 million | Jeff Schultz | Drakz Free Online Service
February 12th, 2010
6:22 pm
[...] link: Report: Detroit offers Damon two years, $14 million | Jeff Schultz Share and [...]
oldgeek
February 12th, 2010
9:57 pm
Fools. There must be something in the water in Detroit that makes business people stupid.
Joe
February 13th, 2010
11:19 pm
Braves should sign Hank Blalock and put him in the outfield.
TS
February 14th, 2010
3:45 am
this first BS is ridicules. I bet these fools work at a fast food restaurant and think they r cool and funny running a joke thats was old a year ago.. and no it doesnt bother me, its just pathetic. BTW extra pickles please!! haha