Braves need this free agent splurge on Upton to pay off
Frank Wren hopes and believes B.J. Upton will live up to his $75.25 million contract. (AP photo)
This probably isn’t fair to B.J. Upton, an immensely talented player with power, speed and the motivation that generally accompanies an athlete looking for a fresh start with a new team. It might not even be fair to Frank Wren, who was staring at significant holes in his lineup this winter and had relatively few options in how to fill them.
But that’s a lot of money.
It’s a lot of money for a young player who may have wowed the baseball world in 2008, but, statistically at least, really hasn’t blown anybody away since. It’s a lot of money for a franchise that just cleared a ton of payroll space and can’t afford to take a wrong turn and clog the financial ledger with a big mistake again. It’s a lot of money for a general manager who too often has taken that wrong turn and smacked into a wall.
Derek Lowe. Kenshin Kawakami. Dan Uggla. We’re not talking the Apple-Home Depot-Coca Cola trifecta of ground-floor investments.
The Braves just committed $75.25 million over the next five years to B.J. Upton, thereby making their new center fielder the highest paid player in franchise history. By 2017, and more likely sooner, we’ll know if the organization hitched their wagon to the right limo.
Wren is aware of the risks. He has endured past ones. He deserves credit for not becoming gun-shy with visions of an 8-22 Kawakami dancing in, and stomping on, his head. He also surely realizes that how Upton pans out will go a long way toward determining the Braves’ success and, therefore, defining Wren’s tenure.
“Any time you’re making a big investment you take a deep breath and think, ‘How does this affect our club going forward?’” Wren said Thursday. “We just felt he was such a valuable asset in the way he plays the game, and after meeting him [and realizing] the type of person he is and the type of teammate he’ll be, we wanted to go after him.”
It was news conference day. Everybody is happy on news conference day.
Upton hits for power. Upton plays defense. Upton steals bases. He can’t hit leadoff like Michael Bourn, but he hits right-handed. That should help a lineup loaded with lefties (Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Brian McCann).
Manager Fredi Gonzalez cracked that on defense, with the speedy Upton and Heyward, “We might not even need a left fielder.”
Smiles and laughter all around.
But Upton brings some baggage – at least, perceived baggage. In 2008, he twice was called out and subsequently benched by manager Joe Maddon for not hustling on ground balls. In 2010, he and Tampa Bay teammate Evan Longoria argued and had to be separated following an inning against Arizona when Longoria perceived that Upton lazily pursued a drive to the gap, allowing a double to turn into a triple.
Wren checked out all of the issues. He came away convinced the criticisms were either unfounded, overstated or the result of a young player still learning his way.
Upton didn’t hide from the topic.
“I’ve been tagged,” he said in a soft tone. “Why sugarcoat it? I can’t worry about it. The guys who were in the clubhouse with me know me.”
Braves special assistant Jim Fregosi lives in Tampa, Fla., and, according to Wren has seen Upton play “30 times a year. … He was there the night the ball was hit into the gap and said it was an isolated situation.”
Wren likened Upton to another former Braves center fielder, Andruw Jones. “He plays the position so gracefully that there are times it looks like he’s not hustling and he is. And there were times when he was younger, and I don’t think even he understood what was being said until they brought it to his attention.”
In the Rays’ postseason of 2008, Upton looked like baseball’s next superstar. He had seven homers, 16 RBIs and six stolen bases in 16 games. He hit .321 in the American League Championship Series against Boston. But he’s a .255 career hitter, and while his power numbers have ascended, with a career-high 28 homers last season, his batting average (.246), on-base percentage (.298) and strikeout total (169, one more than Uggla) don’t scream $75.25 million player.
Upton benefited from a thin free-agent market. But if he becomes the player some envisioned four years ago, the salary won’t be so out of whack, and one thing Wren and the Braves need now is a free-agent success story.
By Jeff Schultz
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108 comments Add your comment
scottcase
November 29th, 2012
4:49 pm
First?
scottcase
November 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Anyway welcome to Upton! Glad to have him. I hope he learns quick that we do things the right way here, which shouldn’t be a big change from Tampa, they look like a good group down there to me as well. Looking forward to watchin #2 help us win some games. GO BRAVOS!!!
jonathan
November 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
did anybody else catch this:
“Manager Fredi Freeman cracked that defensively, with the speedy Upton and Heyward, “We might not even need a left fielder.” “
extremus
November 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
I agree with the article’s assessment for the same reasons; I really hope that Upton finds a fresh start in Atlanta and becomes a big run producer from the right side of the plate. But that average and strikeout total scare me when I think about them being added to an offense that just lost Chipper and has had a reputation for lengthy anemic stretches to begin with. I hope…really hope…that Wren isn’t done making deals, but one that I believe he should try to make would cost the Braves at least a couple of pitching prospects but land a very promising outfielder that would be locked down for several years: Kansas City’s top prospect Will Myers, whom the Royals seem to have indicated they might part with for top-tier pitching. Such a deal would not only make sense given that the Braves have more arms than currently will fit into their MLB roster; it would be a minimally expensive deal from a cash perspective. And it could give the Braves baseball’s best trio of outfielders hands down if things pan out.
Dave from Buford
November 29th, 2012
5:08 pm
On balance, I have to say I think it was worth a shot … he’s entering his prime years, unlike some of the other options, and he has serious tools. The only issue now, of course, is that Wren still needs a left fielder, regardless of what Fredi says…………….
Humbug
November 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
According to this article we need to find a first baseman since Fredi Freeman is now the manager.
Really?
November 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
Does anyone else see a repeat of the uggla debacle? I hope I’m wrong but it sure looks that way.
BillEGoat
November 29th, 2012
5:16 pm
Braves fans have to HOPE that these guys really CAN judge talent and attitude and makeup of players. They did NOT do so with Uggla and Kawakami, and although Lowe had some OK seasons, he ended up being a huge drag on the payroll. I HOPE Wren was not desperate for a CF’er, like he was desperate for a starting pitcher when he gave Lowe too much money for too many years. Upton almost certainly HAS the talent, but the mental makeup is what worries me somewhat. With Uggla, the mental makeup is fine–the talent apparently is NOT. I hope the opposite is not true with Upton.
Peter
November 29th, 2012
5:17 pm
Yup a very Big Risk. especially since his strikeout production seems to be the only area he has excelled.
What makes anyone think this guy can hit national league pitching, when it seems better than American league pitching ?
Also this guys average against POWER Pitchers is something like .185 I read on ESPN today.
If the guy comes in and produces like Uggla….. the Braves are going to be mediocre for a long time……not that they are really reliant to start with.
Tumbledown
November 29th, 2012
5:17 pm
Freeman is the manager, huh. All warm-up drills will now include frequent hugs.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 29th, 2012
5:18 pm
Many say Freeman would be an upgrade at manager….
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 29th, 2012
5:20 pm
I plan to be open minded about this signing right up to his play making it rain beer bottles…
bvilebaron
November 29th, 2012
5:22 pm
Driving to work every morning is a risk, Jeff. As one of my late friends used to say “no guts, no glory”.
I feel that too many bloggers are focusing too much on what B.J. Upton doesn’t or hasn’t done and ignoring the many things that he already has done and has the potential to do. Upton is a legitimate 5 tool player. He can field, throw (he has a far better arm and many more assists than Bourn and many other centerfieldes), run (at least 30 bases per season), hit for power and the ability to hit for average. Admittedly, he has been weak in the last category the past several year, but has hit for average in the past, especially when he was asked to hit leadoff. His playoff numbers are also pretty good as well and several who follow the Rays state he plays best down the stretch and when the games count the most.
Go get ‘em Bossman Junior!
Tumbledown
November 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
Ok, I see Fredi Gonzalez is back in charge! Sorry Fredi haters.
journalist jimmy smith
November 29th, 2012
5:33 pm
Enter your comments here
Don Sutton
November 29th, 2012
5:33 pm
Meanwhile, Nats get the real prize…Span. Cheaper, younger and a true lead off hitter. What would we have had to give up for him?
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
November 29th, 2012
5:40 pm
15 million a year for 5 years, that’s a lot of money to pay a slightly above average player in my humble opinion?
journalist jimmy smith
November 29th, 2012
5:41 pm
did anybody check upton’s toes? the season can turn on a toe. if upton has healthy major league toes perhaps this will be a very good move. as far as this journalist can tell, if fredi gonzales wants to go without a player it should be second baseman dan uggla and not a left fielder. of course, there were times last year with Hinske out there that the team was left fielder-less – and some would say there were games without a competent manager.
Ken Stallings
November 29th, 2012
5:42 pm
For this deal to work out, Upton would need a career year. It is possible, but that’s not the kind of reality you want to pay $15 million a year for five years to search for!
journalist jimmy smith
November 29th, 2012
5:46 pm
u-words. upton. uggla. frank wren is tying his fortune to u-players. jimmy smith says this may work and it may not.
Ross
November 29th, 2012
5:50 pm
Why did Wren sign Struggla when we had an All-star 2B? Other than the guy in Miami worst GM in the game.
NickGranite
November 29th, 2012
5:53 pm
I can only presume the GM and scouts know things we don’t know because on paper, this is a ridiculous investment. I think we have found with Uggla that 25 homers is sparse indeed when sandwiched between .300 OBPs and 160 ks. This is like winning an office on “Hope” and then…well..the rest is disaster.
abby normal
November 29th, 2012
5:54 pm
I say lets give Upton (and Wren) the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we hit the jackpot, maybe we crap out. We had to take the shot.
Ralph
November 29th, 2012
5:56 pm
$40million on 3 players in the heart of our line-up and it’s quite likely none of them will hit .240.
steve brown
November 29th, 2012
5:56 pm
This says it all-they let Ross (team leader, clutch catcher, proven commodity,etc.) go for what amounts to peanuts but drop a ton on Upton – the management of this team is bush league.
Jordan Schafer
November 29th, 2012
6:00 pm
“In the Rays’ postseason of 2008, Upton looked like baseball’s next superstar. He had seven homers, 16 RBIs and six stolen bases in 16 games. He hit .321 in the American League Championship Series against Boston.”
He was on the juice !
Bills fan
November 29th, 2012
6:00 pm
Just the way it is now…too many players swinging for the fences and average and OBP suffer as a result. Braves do well when they play to manufacture runs and the occasional home run, not vice versa.
Can Fredi G. convince this guy to follow that sort of philosophy or will he rely on the long ball as a manager. As much as Bobby Cox was often criticized for managing that way it seems a majority of players upgraded their game when playing for him.
Do Braves have a true leader in the clubhouse to be a second manager to some of these guys? McCann? … too nice. Freeman? … a hugger, not a fighter. Heyward? … still too young and without the long track record of success. Hudson? … not willing to play the heavy. Will someone fill this role? Chipper’s lead-by-example style is going to be sorely missed…a huge intangible for this club
Some great comments here.
GaryinBham
November 29th, 2012
6:00 pm
Span the real prize? I thought Bourn was the real prize for the Nats! I’m just fine with our new 28 year old. If we’re going to bring up terrible deals, let’s talk Texiera. We could have paid 120 million for the Bossman and still come out ahead of that stinkbomb. I know, it was a trade. But all we’ve lost so far is money, and it does my heart good to see the Braves SPEND a little. Count me on the positive side. I think the kid will prove out.
Clark Howard
November 29th, 2012
6:02 pm
$41 million tied up in 2013 for just 3 players : McCann, Uggla & Upton, that combined hit .235
That’s approximately 45% of the entire Braves’ payroll.
Pathetic !
Father of 5
November 29th, 2012
6:03 pm
Crazy move. He was the 4th best outfielder on his last team (Zobrist, Jennings, Joyce, and Fuld all contributed more) and now he’s the highest paid Brave ever? The Rays couldn’t find a place to bat him, and the Braves make him the franchise player? The Braves are the bizarro-Moneyball: find all the guys with the most strikeouts who don’t score any runs. Sure, that will work. At least Uggla walks.
And we couldn’t find an extra $1 million a year for a catcher with a great clubhouse presence and knowledge of our pitching staff, but we can throw away $75M for an average defender who will turn into a hole in the lineup? Good thing he’s right-handed.
Bills fan
November 29th, 2012
6:04 pm
Oh yeah, and thanks, Jeff, for another well-written article. Never can get too much of your stuff.
cornjolio
November 29th, 2012
6:06 pm
Mark Teixeira for Casey Kotchman
Rafael Soriano for Jesse Chavez
Omar Infante for Dan Uggla
Derek Lowe.
Nate McLouth.
Kinshin Kawakami.
Now we have BJ Upton making big bucks and hoping he can hit better than the .246 he hit in 2012 with a pathetic .298 OBP
If Atlanta had a critical sports media and Braves’ fans were more demanding, Frank Wren would have been shown the door years ago.
Ralph
November 29th, 2012
6:09 pm
Wren likened Upton to another former Braves center fielder, Andruw Jones—–
Upton wouldn’t make a pimple on AJ’s ass.
Chipper Jones
November 29th, 2012
6:09 pm
never drove in more than 82 runs
never hit more than 28 homers
hit .246 last season; highest average in 4 seasons
And he’ll make more money than I ever received. I should have tested the free agent market instead of play for these cheapskates !
amicusterrae
November 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
It’s just crazy that above average players can cost so much but that is the market and inflation. it’s going to keep going up with the mad TV money coming in baseball (albeit not the Braves), so we better get used to it.
I personally prefer watching high contact, on base players than free swingers with streaky power, but the advanced metrics say the values can be equivalent.
Bottom line is $15 mill / yr for 3 WARs is market, especially at center field.
I just don’t like the idea of 600 + strikeouts from 4 of our best hitters (Upton, Uggla, Freeman, and Heyward).
Stinger2
November 29th, 2012
6:16 pm
We have the Wren and Fredi bashers out in force tonight even before B. J. can get into a full uniform. Cant`t you at least wait until the Winter Meetings next month.
Quite likely there will be more action by Wren and the Braves. Maybe something even the worst detractors will like.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Ralph: U Win! AJ’s a HOFer!
Dum-Bass
November 29th, 2012
6:23 pm
For those in the dark like I was, his name is actually Melvin Emanuel, and the BJ comes from being called “BOSSMAN JR.”, after his dad. His dad was known as ‘THE BOSSMAN”. There, that’s my contribution for the enlightenment of others!
Stinger2
November 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
@6:18: Whoever you are: It is worse than bad to see a racist comment like you just posted. I hope Jeff sees it soon and takes it off.
Nelson
November 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
In the Rays’ postseason of 2008, Upton looked like baseball’s next superstar. He had seven homers, 16 RBIs and six stolen bases in 16 games. He hit .321 in the American League Championship Series against Boston.
That’s Exactly what we need guys, somebody who gets Hot in the Postseason, something that our retired superstar never did!!!!!!!
extremus
November 29th, 2012
6:53 pm
Um, where’s my earlier post, Mr. Schultz? Did the spam filter get me again?
phoenix
November 29th, 2012
7:05 pm
With a lineup that includes Upton, Uggla, McCann, Freeman, Heyward and a pitcher, there will be some 18 strikeout games in 2013. Count on it. Big swingers, not much contact.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2012
7:08 pm
Bills fan — Thanks.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2012
7:09 pm
Mr. Magoo — Seriously? Looking to get banned?
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2012
7:11 pm
Stinger2 — Got it, thanks.
DP
November 29th, 2012
7:15 pm
Another insane free agent signing by Wren. Upton had a sorry .752 OPS last season, even with a big finish over the last couple of months, and hasn’t had a batting average over .250 since 2008. Could somebody list other players thought to have a lot of potential who suddenly broke out as superstars after hitting less than .250 for 4 consecutive seasons? I can’t think of one. I think it was Bill Parcells who said “you are what your record says you are.” I’m shocked that the Uggla disaster hasn’t taught Wren to stay away from whiff machines.
rich
November 29th, 2012
7:17 pm
Meanwhile the Nats get a true leadoff hitter and center fielder in Denard Span for a minor leaguer and a much cheaper investment than Upton….
AlanFalcon
November 29th, 2012
7:23 pm
We get Upton and spend $75 million and the Nationals get Span for a class A minor league pitcher, his annual is $4.75 mil —Can you see the difference, way to go Frank.
Darkcow
November 29th, 2012
7:24 pm
Wren can go watch the highlight for himself. BJ was dogging it. No doubt about it.
Max Sizemore
November 29th, 2012
7:29 pm
Living in Florida I saw at least 100 Rays games this past season and, sorry to say, there is no way BJ is worth that kind of money. He is actually a plus centerfielder with a very good arm (which nobody seems to mention) — 10 assists last season — but offensively he is streaky, seems to guess a lot (a LOT of called third strikes), and is not a good situational hitter. The only positive thing I can think of is that since the AL is the superior league, maybe he’ll find the pitching in the NL a little easier to solve.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2012
7:34 pm
Extremus — I don’t see anything in spam. You have a comment posted at 5 p.m.
martyjames
November 29th, 2012
7:35 pm
I think this is way to much money ,an nothing against BJ Upton, because of all the young talent u have now that will be coming up for contracts soon. plus catcher brain Mccann .
Peter
November 29th, 2012
7:38 pm
The only positive thing I can think of is that since the AL is the superior league, maybe he’ll find the pitching in the NL a little easier to solve.
I would say the national League pitching is tougher………
After the Nationals signing.. Wren tipped his hand, how did the nationals get away with a trade involving one A ball pitcher, and we couldn’t make it happen with our depth at pitching ?
WREN IS A JOKE !
Tommy Boggs
November 29th, 2012
7:52 pm
Span was the leadoff man we needed to replace Bourn and Play CF. Leave Prado in LF, sign either Youkolis or Keppinger to Platoon with Francisco at 3rd. Take the balance of cash and spend it like a mid-market team should; strong bench and reward the players that have produced for you.
This .250 hitter will take away the money that Prado deserves.
Wren better pull a big rabbit out of his Ars to salvage this winter.
Arno
November 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
I was dreaming Wren was deeking the Phils about an Upton deal, and instead, going after Span. Then I woke up. Ah, well.
Longtimefan
November 29th, 2012
8:30 pm
We shall see. Sometimes you have to roll the dice. Can’t argue he has the potential and the 5 years of his contract should be his peak years. Every FA center fielder had question marks. At least FW is being aggressive and trying to make something happen. Many of these some bloggers were calling for FW to trade/cut/demote Heyward last winter. I’ll trust a MLB GMs assessment of a players potential over even the most ardent fan. No doubt he has done his homework. And for those saying this doesn’t leave money to lock up our young talent-get real, you don’t think FW has a flow chart of each player’s arbitration years and who and when he plans to offer long term deals? That’s his job folks. I know I am in the minority on this blog but I trust in his judgement and his plan. As I have said before, no GM bats1.000
beone
November 29th, 2012
8:52 pm
So what did Mr. Magoo say / do? What gets you banned?
Loki
November 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
A Dan Uggla that plays defense. Hopefully Greg Walker can do something to get his strike outs down.
Felix
November 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
“Derek Lowe. Kenshin Kawakami. Dan Uggla. We’re not talking the Apple-Home Depot-Coca Cola trifecta of ground-floor investments.” ………..I fear that, in a year or two, Jeff will be adding Upton to his list of bad deals.
b
November 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
And we couldn’t afford David Ross for two years? Ross was worth his salary just to be Medlen’s personal catcher.
CJ
November 29th, 2012
9:28 pm
And to be added, may we not forget the Mike Hampton saga.
Jo Bling
November 29th, 2012
9:31 pm
No, we could not afford to pay a backup catcher $3.1 million. Ross was good, but that’s ridiculous.
TomB
November 29th, 2012
9:44 pm
Wren’s track record is not very good on the free agent front which leads me to believe we just signed another Uggla…time will tell.
It will be interesating to see if adding a right handed bat makes that much of a difference. Remember Chipper was a switch so it will be interesting to see the results.
This is just a crazy era we’re living through in baseball…salaries this high for above average ballplayers…. Meanwhile Washington just signed Span. Philadelphia,you’re up
Jimiz
November 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
The Phills made wren overpay on Upton. Wren figured the phillies would make a offer for around 15 a year. Thats why they had him come here to visit and talk they were hoping he would pick us instead. Now i see that the Phills only offered him 10 a year which makes me think they didn’t want him really at all. They just was giving the appearence that they was so the Braves would rush into a deal and over pay. This makes it easy to acquire Bourn for what will be a bargain since the Braves and the Nats are out. I bet Bourn gets 5 years at 65mil. And we look like the kid that got his candy took by a bully.
Peter R.
November 29th, 2012
9:54 pm
I think he COULD improve. This reminds of the Fuggly trade and subsequent signing sadly. The Braves need another piece to fill LF then the magic might happen. Definitely reminds of putting everything on black in Las Vegas. Eh, I think it’s reasonable to presume that he could bounce back next year. Definitely needed to balance out the lineup. Maybe not having Longoria in the lineup for so long really hurt is numbers. The Rays have never had much protection for him in there. Some their batters are complete jokes. Gotta take risks to win big.
Delbert D.
November 29th, 2012
10:00 pm
Doesn’t seem like a good move. That is star money for an average player.
Steve
November 29th, 2012
10:45 pm
I agree on the risk part, it is definitely there. Still, the signing is not as bad as the alternative, which might have been trading one or two quality SP prospects to the Twins for the extremely overrated Denard Span.
Speaking of Span, I see the Nats just got him. Gald for that as now the Braves won’t do something silly trying to get him. The Nats trading for Span tells me that they also believe Bourn’s asking price is too high.
Dawgdad (The Original)
November 29th, 2012
10:46 pm
We could have had a better player, a leadoff man, a spark plug, Denard Span, for a freaking minor leaguer, but we decided to spend $75 million on another castoff who strikes out more frequently than Dan Uggla? Someone is going to wrap this deal around Wren’s neck in about 3 years.
Thomas Brown
November 29th, 2012
10:57 pm
Most money paid by the Atlanta Braves for a Free Agent Signing, exceeding that paid to Derek Lowe who got a 4 years $ 60 million contract to pitch here the 2008-2009 season. We traded him 2011 for left hander Chris Jones and paid off $ 10 million dollars 2012 to Cleveland to unload him last year. For his career, he has a 4.00 ERA. In his 3 years here, he was 1 game over .500 with an ERA of 4.57. $ 60 million for that. And, he has not had a winning season since Atlanta unloaded him, admitting they were wrong on Derek Lowe.
$ 75 million for .255 career batting average skinny center fielder who averages 18 home runs a season but does steal more bases than the Atlanta Braves tally and also has a .990 fielding average.
Jo Bling
November 29th, 2012
11:05 pm
$6.2 million for two years for a backup catcher is way too much. Ross was great and gave us everything we asked for and more, but he is on the decline and matching that kind of money for a backup catcher would have been ridiculous.
STEELY DAN MAN
November 30th, 2012
3:19 am
I agree w/ LONGTIMEFAN …… FW studied under SCHUERHOLZ …. And has proven to be a professional as far as I’m concern. FW knows what he’s doing ….. There are so many variables involved in what he does ….. by the time he does make these decisions …. FW & his staff will have done all due diligence, cross every T …. dot every I ….. looked under every rock …. so that we can be sure that whatever decision he makes for the Braves ….he done everything to keep feeding his fam LOL …….
STEELY DAN MAN
November 30th, 2012
3:22 am
OH ….. and give the Braves the best chance at being successful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STEELY DAN MAN
November 30th, 2012
3:23 am
In other words ….. I trust FW’s judgment
man and dog
November 30th, 2012
5:56 am
@DP way back at 7:15pm – “Whiff Machine” – I love that!!! I remember a time in many Septembers when many Braves fans called out Henry for not ‘hustling’ when he was one of the few busting his butt day in and day out. On the outside, this looks to be a bad move to some. I think it could be a great thing. We have the International League batting champ (Costannza) and one of our old favs (Shaffer) that could play left field AND lead off. Keep our pitching staff and lets go with this. Of course, we still have Fredie and Uggla to deal with.
man and dog
November 30th, 2012
6:02 am
I remember another, no, two other skinny outfielders that went on to greatness. Make that three….Aaron, Bonds, Griffey.
man and dog
November 30th, 2012
6:08 am
One thing I am not happy about is not re-signing Ross. That was D-U-M-B dumb.
man and dog
November 30th, 2012
6:14 am
Then again, 6 mill might have been too much to give an old catcher when you have some pretty decent prospects in the minors (WHICH YOU DON’T USE OR FORGET ABOUT) that could be brought up and used.
man and dog
November 30th, 2012
6:15 am
And I’m not just talking about catchers………..
Iluvnutella
November 30th, 2012
7:27 am
Frank Wren, Dan Radokovich, Thomas Dimitroff……textbook examples of the Peter Principle.
Pippa's Meaty Backside
November 30th, 2012
7:45 am
How many strikeouts above WAR has he accrued? I know the WHIPs,WAPs,and SBOs are solid. Some cutting and pasting of many years of salary and staitistical information might be in order.
Mr Pitts
November 30th, 2012
7:47 am
“Then again, 6 mill might have been too much to give an old catcher when you have some pretty decent prospects in the minors (WHICH YOU DON’T USE OR FORGET ABOUT) that could be brought up and used.”
Man and dog, I think you nailed it.
Arthur
November 30th, 2012
8:01 am
Lets wait and see. Maybe this will be a good move. Mr. Upton will not be out there alone. Heyward,Freeman, Prado, Simmons,McCann, and yes Uggla.
Bob the Blogger
November 30th, 2012
8:04 am
We missed out on Span, and for the price of a single A pitcher, nonetheless. If we could have traded a minor league pitcher or two for Span, we would have had one heck of an outfield and offense.
Larry
November 30th, 2012
8:20 am
A Career .255 average, free swinging, guess hitter that is at the top of the league in strikeouts.
Yes, the is the Braves way, the Bobby Cox way, the Fredi Gonzalez way and the Frank Wren way to guarantee yet another season and era of the streaky, hot and cold baseball, that has always been their Achilles heel in the playoffs. Remember, of the Braves 16 seasons under Cox (15) and now Gonzalez (1) in the postseason, we have watched the other team celebrate on the pitcher’s mound 15 of those 16 opportunities. This is much more than abysmal; this is utterly unfathomably horrid postseason management.
And this is why after 20 seasons as a season ticket holder I cancelled three seasons ago as this is simply the most boring baseball in the world to watch….zero regrets, haven’t been to a games since, and haven’t missed it a second!
Go Falcons and Go Dawgs tomorrow!
Thomas Brown
November 30th, 2012
8:22 am
Go Dawgs
jfreak13713
November 30th, 2012
8:39 am
Not a good deal for the Brave but a GREAT deal for a slightly above average offensive player. Sorry, but this is not a game changer for the braves. Now we have another player who will hit .250 or lower and strikeout twice a game and never hit with runners in scoring position! That now will be $125 million dollars tied up between two guys who are good but not great. However, we do still have the FALCONS!
John Leonard
November 30th, 2012
8:57 am
Bad signing,top three Braves in salary hit 246,230,and 222 last year.We could have had Span for a minor league pitcher.I would take Span over Upton.It seems Wren makes huge mistakes when going after free agents.
Cecil34
November 30th, 2012
8:59 am
Wren’s tally sheet of success in these matters is suspect at this point in his regime.
There is so much money being tied up in any one player these days that it is frightening to think about if they fail. Then they just drag everything down with them.
With these type of contracts that are routine in MLB now – it just kills any incentive of these players to bust their butts.
That is why you see so many players signed to these kind of contracts fall into mediocrity and under-perform.
A definate catch-22.
Carroll
November 30th, 2012
9:38 am
I am physically sick over this move. The one guy who said we shouldve traded for span and signed youkilis…those are the kind of moves that make a mid-market team a success (see, cardinals, giants, oakland etc)….NOT this kind of absurdity. I have been saying it all winter…I live in Tampa and watch the Rays regularly, and have so often lemented seeing Upton come up to bat in a crucial situation. He is a black hole of energy and emotion–a true rally killer. And just think…if a player loafs BEFORE they hit the contract jackpot, how do you think he will conduct himself now that he is locked up through the end of his productive years? Frank Wren, I literally hate you for ruining my braves by refusing to adopt the moneyball method. Unless you are the Yankees, then OBP is king in this day and age of baseball and should dictate your every move from an offensive perspective…everything else is streaky and unreliable. Moreover, this moneyball-driven style of baseball means getting more for your limited supply of money out of hungry, enthusiastic players out to prove themselves by playing SMART, sound baseball–this is exiciting for fans to watch. Instead, we get to see more overpriced primadonnas loafing around, flailing away helplessly with runners on base…and you wonder why there isn’t more excitement and energy among the braves fan base? #Disgusted
Swede
November 30th, 2012
10:03 am
If the Braves where to trade Jair Jurrjens for Mike Trout, Zack Greinke and cash considerations, I am positive the majority of commenters here would be disgusted and physically sick about the move.
What is wrong with you people?
After reading these comments I feel an ocean of negativity surrounding me. Is it true that the Atlanta fanbase is the worst in both leagues?
We have a young, talented roster with a very bright future, and a GM that has proved himself by putting this group of players together in spite of a more than tight budget.
The future is bright!
Get som perspective – try to get a smile on yours faces once in a while.
Here is more balanced take on the signing:
http://capitolavenueclub.com/?p=8007
Please people, try to show just a little bit of optimism this off-season…
doug
November 30th, 2012
10:15 am
another bust in the making. and probably injuries. the curse of the braves.
Let's Go
November 30th, 2012
10:26 am
I’m not thrilled by the move but considering what was available this year I think it’s the best move the Braves could make and I’m glad they pulled it off. The problem when there are not many options available in free agency is that teams that have players they want to trade can demand small fortunes for their guys and I think that was the problem the Braves were running up against. The Rockies wanted too much for Fowler, the DBacks wanted way too much for Justin Upton and the Twins got a gem of a prospect for Span which makes you think the only way the Braves were going to get him is if they had included Bethancourt in a deal.
Moving to the NL where the pitching is better and playing half his games in a real size ballpark instead of a dome you got to know Upton’s home run numbers will decrease to around 20 a year. Hopefully the Braves hitting guys can get him to try and hit more balls into the gaps instead of swinging for the fences and coming up short.
I know 75 mil is a lot of money but the Braves had to get someone and sometimes it’s better to pay too much then to give up too much. The Braves still need someone for LF or 3B so a trade is not out of the question next week at the winter meetings and they still have all their young pitching as bait.
Don
November 30th, 2012
10:28 am
The Braves spend 75 million and get a player who hits below .250, also has a terrible, terrible On Base Average below .300, and an unbelievable Strike Out total that approaches 200.
BUT even these terrible stats are concentrated against the WEAKER Pitching in the league
Against the 1/3 Best Pitchers, he hit ONLY .168 with NO HOME RUNS.
UNBELIEVABLE ACQUISITION.
Don
November 30th, 2012
10:42 am
UNBELIEVABLE, ABSURD, DISGUSTING.
Do you not understand?
Against the better pitchers – the best 1/3 of the Pitchers, he HIT ONLY .168 with NO HOME RUNS.
Ralph
November 30th, 2012
10:52 am
Max Sizemore
The only positive thing I can think of is that since the AL is the superior league, maybe he’ll find the pitching in the NL a little easier to solve.
—————————————————————————————————-
Who won the All Star game, who won the World Series this year?
Michael
November 30th, 2012
11:08 am
The money he makes is irrelevant, but yaayyy, the Braves intentionally hire another anemic bat. Woohoo!
RaleighDawg
November 30th, 2012
11:46 am
David Wright apparently just re-signed with the Mets for $17.25M/year on an eight year contract…I sure wish the Bravers would have pursued and signed Wright instead of Upton given the contracts are in the same neighborhood. Guess we’ll keep our fingers crossed that BJ’s .246 average doesn’t go further south as seemingly every other player from another team does with the Braves.
Too expensive a BJ
November 30th, 2012
11:48 am
Way to go Frank!! You lock McCann in a homer move that will tie up millions and will see McCann trend downward thru injury and age….Had no bead on Span, who our rival Nats locked up and is a way better player than Upton (and for less $) ..saddled with Struggla’s contract … but this may be your grand opus or “dopus” as it were. The Atlanta Braves, where <250 hitters come to thrive!! Give me a break. I cannot wait until Liberty unloads Braves and whoever buys them has "Fire Frank Wren" as the first item on his checklist. Fredo will be 2nd on the list. I heard this was going to happen and then yesterday when it was confirmed had to go to the medicine cabinet. Yeah, we like a guy who will hit some dingers now and again…forget about the percentages and OBP, etc.
Dave
November 30th, 2012
11:49 am
Not too worried…you get a kid who can flat out play centerfield. You get a kid who steals bases. You get a kid who’s power is increasing. I can deal with the batting average and strikeouts. However take the age 28 and understand that for the next 3 to 4 years he is likely to get better not worse I don’t see how the Braves fans don’t see this as a win.
Tell It Like It Is
November 30th, 2012
12:14 pm
The Braves are getting an excellent player who has at least been in the playoffs beyond the first round. That is an improvement already.
Dr. Phil
November 30th, 2012
12:25 pm
Even a blind squirrel finds an occasional nut. We are still waiting.
Hoosier Aaron
November 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
There is no way we should’ve declined Mac’s option for 2013. However, I do agree that DRoss was worth every penny the Sox paid him..too bad we didn’t do it first.
If for some reason Mac doesn’t get back to his old self, we could potentially have about $27M rolling off next year in three players.
Honestly, I’d eat about 50% of Uggla’s salary just to get rid of him…that would free up well over $30M.
We wanted a right-handed hitting outfielder with power and we got him.
I wish we could trade three minor leaguers we don’t want for Mike Trout but for some reason FW can’t pull that out of his hat.
Here it is....
November 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
Not they guy we needed…already have a guy that hits 250 and strikes out alot…?? Why? This guy will not be the leader to replace Chipper.
NORRIS CHUCK
November 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
BRAVES JUST TRADED TOMMY HANSEN!
Old Dog
November 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
I cannot believe this insanity. . .$75M for this guy. He plays when he wants to and loafs when he feels like it. At best he is a 6th place hitter. Wren (and the braves) believe he will be great just because they hope he’ll be great. Don’t they read the stats? Have they not seen the replays of his attitude on the field? Ridiculous!!!
Matt K.
November 30th, 2012
10:55 pm
He reminds me of Adrian Beltre. When he was with the Dodgers, everybody always knocked him for getting struck out too much and hitting for low average. But look what happened to him now? He plays like an all-star and has lived up to his huge contracts. I hope same thing happens with BJ Upton!
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
December 1st, 2012
7:25 am
Jeff Schultz you are the most negative writer at the AJC. You are never positive about anything. Have Faith sometimes.
todd
December 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
for left field Braves should go with El Oso Blanco Evan Gattis….