Bradley’s Buzz: FoxSports says Hudson to decline his option
Having been on the mend, is Tim Hudson now on the wing? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Here’s a a bit of a surprise: Citing “major-league sources,” Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reports Tim Hudson will decline his option to re-up with the Braves and will become a free agent instead. From Rosenthal’s story:
“The Braves are likely to exercise their option on Hudson, a decision that must be made within five days of the completion of the World Series. Hudson then would be required to decide within 10 days of the completion of the Series whether he wanted to return to the team on a one-year deal. He almost certainly would command a longer deal and a greater total guarantee on the open market.”
Update: Dave O’Brien spoke to Hudson this morning, and Hudson denied the report, saying he’d even accept a hometown discount to remain a Brave.
Until Rosenthal’s report, we’d all pretty much assumed Hudson, who returned only in September after Tommy John surgery, would be content to take the the one-year extension at $12 million or perhaps settle for even less. (According to O’Brien, the Hudsons have just built their dream house in Auburn, Ala.) Hudson was 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA in seven starts upon his return.
But it would seem difficult for the Braves, who already have five other starting pitchers under contract for next season (not to mention Kris Medlen), to commit to Hudson long-term. Hudson is 34, and the Braves just sunk big money into Derek Lowe, who’s 36, and Kenshin Kawakami, who’s 34. And the focus of this offseason figures to be on a big bat for the outfield, not starting pitching.
If Rosenthal’s report is accurate, that changes things. The Braves could be inclined to let Hudson leave and say, “We’ve got our five guys anyway.” And Rosenthal does say “a last-minute knockout offer from the Braves” could change Hudson’s mind. But it’s hard to see a knockout long-term offer on the table, at least for a 34-year-old who has won more than 14 games only once in a season since becoming a Brave in 2005.
As Hudson told O’Brien: “I’ve said all along that Atlanta was the place I want to be and that I’m willing to give them a hometown discount. I just hope when we start talking, my idea of a hometown discount and their idea of a hometown discount isn’t 5 or 8 million [dollars] apart. That’s the only thing that could put a wrench in the whole thing.”
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198 comments Add your comment
frosgrim
October 14th, 2009
8:27 am
That is sort of strange for Hudson and puts the Braves in somewhat of a bad position. One of the key strategies going into the offseason is that the Braves could trade a starter for a bat. Loosing Hudson could change this strategy, unless the Braves are confident that Medlin can take up the 5th spot in the rotation.
MattyB
October 14th, 2009
8:28 am
I’m a big fan of Huddy, but this is good news if it’s accurate.
S.C. Smith
October 14th, 2009
8:30 am
The only way to keep Hudson is to somehow get rid of Lowe and (or) K.K. And I don’t see how we can trade either of them without eating some salary. Gotta have hitters.
gordon gecko
October 14th, 2009
8:31 am
Greed is Good!
Cecil34
October 14th, 2009
8:34 am
It figures – none of these guys ever do what everyone thinks they are going to do.
$$$$ above anything, at all costs, no matter if the elbows have been repaired, shoulders repaired, 34 years old, dream house in Auburn, etc.
At the end of the day, it is all about the money.
And the vibe the Braves give off probably doesn’t give Hudson that warm and fuzzy either.
This really means that we must keep Vazquez at all costs. And Lowe is going to have to perform all year long next year.
EDGE
October 14th, 2009
8:34 am
Wouldn’t it be nice to have single owner, like Ted, that way in this situation we could afford to give him a good contract and get a power bat?! It irritates me that the Braves always seemed strapped for cash and there isn’t even a salary cap in baseball! I’m not saying we should spend like the Yankees or Sox, but at least spend enough to get what we need!
chad
October 14th, 2009
8:36 am
Glad to see him gone. He came here with all these high expectitations and he simply hasn’t delivered. Funny how good our starting pitching was this year and he wasn’t really part of it. That 12 million can be used to find a bat. Best news of the day. Pitching dilema is over on to the next problem.
Braves WIN, Braves, WIN, Braves...NEVERMIND
October 14th, 2009
8:39 am
Good, check his mark in interleague play, Hudson SUCKS vs the AL. Save that money and get a power hitter.
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
October 14th, 2009
8:40 am
I’m a Huddy fan (hey, he lives in my hometown) but I don’t think we’ll suffer too badly from this loss, starter-wise. I think it will hurt us from a financial standpoint, since we won’t have leverage to use for trades even though we’re freeing up some (not a lot) of money.
Donny Corleone
October 14th, 2009
8:40 am
Well said, Chadwick.
Maddog
October 14th, 2009
8:42 am
Maybe we could replace him with an effective starter like Mike Hampton.
Tech Tony
October 14th, 2009
8:42 am
If Hudson leaves then the Braves have 12 million or so to fill two needs: an outfield bat and a closer. At 6 mil, I can’t believe Soriano is coming back and I don’t see any real confidence in Gonzalez who also can leave at 3.45 million (or something close to that). This could end up, through free agency, being a two for one trade, and the Braves would be the ones getting the two.
Mark Bradley
October 14th, 2009
8:45 am
Maybe you folks saw this coming. I sure didn’t. I figured Hudson knew he wouldn’t do any better than $12 million next season and would jump at it. But ballplayers — pitchers especially — do love long-term deals.
DHD
October 14th, 2009
8:48 am
The headline guy, once again, has NO clue. Just because he opts for free agency doesn’t mean he’s leaving. We have a better shot at signing him than any other team. Please, get the headlines correct!!!!! How about “Hudson opts for free agency.”
NY Nick
October 14th, 2009
8:48 am
Hudson to the METS??? Quite Possible!!
Stan
October 14th, 2009
8:51 am
I have always been a huddy fan, thanks for the memories and you will be missed…..now lets make sure the $12 million is spent wisely
collegeballfan
October 14th, 2009
8:52 am
I am not sure I buy into this Rosenthal rumor.
Let’s wait & see.
Skeezix
October 14th, 2009
8:53 am
I hope he stays. Remember the baseball maxim-you can never have enough good pitching.
UGASlobberknocker
October 14th, 2009
8:54 am
Hudson has not been a 12 Mliion dollar pitcher in Atlanta, so I didnt think the Braves would exercise that option. I also thought Huddy might take a little less on a two or three yr deal..should have known berrer.Looks like all the talk about him loving to be in Atlanta and close to home was a bunch of BS. money rules with him like everyone else. Let him go and spend that money on some power.
todd
October 14th, 2009
8:54 am
Either Hudson or Lowe needs to go. And, since Lowe has never been hurt the logical choice is Hudson. Older pitchers like Hudson that get injured usually do not bounce back well over the long term. We could sign him to a deal and be paying him to sit next to Hampton at the buffet. I say take the money and sign a good free agent bat.
neo-Carlinist
October 14th, 2009
8:55 am
you had me until “dream house”. that’s like when Mike Hampton said he went to the Rockies because of the “schools” (as opposed the $120 million). as much as I am baffled by the economics of pro sports in general and MLB in particular, this is a nice example of the market in play. Hudson is doing what is best for Hudson (I guess $12 million won’t cover his “dream house” mortgage), and the Braves will do what is best for the Braves (see Smoltz, Glavine…). I’m not a “baseball guy” but it seems to me that this is a win/win. the $12 million will be better used elsewhere. Hey, here’s an idea. If the Braves have $12 million burning a hole in their fiscal pocket, why not give every fan (assuming they draw 2.4 million) a free beer ($5)?
O'Brien
October 14th, 2009
8:56 am
Mark,
In my opinion, the only way the Braves would pick up his option is if they were going to trade him or trade Derek Lowe.
If the Braves trade Derek Lowe, they would be able to offer Hudson a longer term deal for less money. And he has stated that he is willing to take a hometown discount.
McCann Fan
October 14th, 2009
8:56 am
Don’t necessarily want to see him go. Huddy likely has some very productive years left. That being said, I hope management and ownership strikes while the iron is hot and fills needs that could push this team over the edge.
The Braves need a power bat much more than they need a 6th starter, and unless we can keep Huddy while trading Kawakami I think we let him go.
Wren, please get us a 35 home run/100 rbi guy! Please! A .300 average and a decent glove wouldn’t hurt either. Not too much to ask.
XXXVII
October 14th, 2009
8:58 am
I think the Braves should work deal to send Lowe and Jo Jo Reyes to Texas for Nelson Cruz and Neftali Feliz. Then try to sign Huddy out of free agency for like $10M/yr for 3 or 4 years. If Lowe’s traded and Huddy doesn’t sign you plug Medlen in as the 5th starter.
Van Lingo Mungo
October 14th, 2009
9:00 am
Jurrgens…star pitcher
Hanson….franchise player
Hudson….playoff BUM
Vazquez…ditto
Kamakaze…hasbeen
Lowe…somewhere between Vazquez and the Jap
Bama Aaron
October 14th, 2009
9:00 am
I’d rather find a way to keep Huddy and get rid of Lowe or Kawakami, but I certainly understand him wanting to leave and get the money.
doc
October 14th, 2009
9:00 am
there is a market for him to test, he has already gotten silent offers is my guess. long term security doesnt hurt nor will his leaving hurt the braves on their fixed budget, in fact this move helps them.
MAC
October 14th, 2009
9:01 am
He’ll get $30 million for three years from someone. Not saying he deserves it, but plenty of teams are desperate enough. Perhaps the Braves could work a sign and trade deal around his option.
Bob
October 14th, 2009
9:03 am
Could it just be a play by Hudson to force the Braves to offer him a multi year deal. More years at a lower average salary could be a win win for both sides. For all the people saying the Braves are cheap and do not spend enough, perhaps if more fans showed up to games this past year they would have more money this offseason to spend.
Matt
October 14th, 2009
9:04 am
The Braves 2 major mistakes last year that will cost us are D Lowe and Chipper Jones.
Wealth Envy
October 14th, 2009
9:06 am
So a multi-zillionare might have to spend less time at his dream home.
Well, cry me a e-coli infested Chattahoochee river.
Dave
October 14th, 2009
9:07 am
Let him go. No telling what sort of performance we’d get from him, or if he’ll even remain healthy. We still have starting pitching depth, and with Hudson gone, we’ve got plenty of money to spend on some offense.
Doctor Bird
October 14th, 2009
9:07 am
There’s only one reason to leave…. more guaranteed money. He knows his arm might not hold up (ala John Smoltz) and could be finished if he rests his laurels on a one or two year deal. He will be going for as many years as he can….period. Then he can make money while he sits at the buffet with Hampton (as todd so eloquently put it above) when his arm craps out.
Halberstram
October 14th, 2009
9:08 am
The only way this move would be bad is if the Braves would have been able to trade Vazquez for a proven power bat. Otherwise let Hudson leave. He’s underperformed every year since coming from the A’s. People forget that at one time he was a top 5 pitcher. He’s lost what he had and is now just a no. 2 or no. 3 starter, not worth big dollars.
gej
October 14th, 2009
9:08 am
XXXVII, that is the most ridiculous trade I’ve ever seen. You can’t be serious. Zero chance Texas would take that.
PMC
October 14th, 2009
9:09 am
Um… if the last 5 years shows anything it’s that they don’t really have thier 5 anyway. They would do well to offer him a new deal for several years at a reasonable price. A bit of a hometown discount but don’t lowball him. It might be that he wants to see what teams feel he’s worth before signing that kind of deal with Atlanta.
They need all the pitching they can get even if they do fix the lineup somewhat. Derrick Lowe is not close to the value of Huddy.
Derwood
October 14th, 2009
9:09 am
HUDSON WAS JUST ANOTHER HAMPTON, ONLY RIGHT HANDED.
Mark Bradley
October 14th, 2009
9:11 am
Kind of interesting: Even in an admitted bad year, Lowe won 15 games. Hudson has won 15 or more only once as a Brave.
Ostrich Racer
October 14th, 2009
9:12 am
I’m with collegeballfan — I don’t buy it. It doesn’t make sense for Hudson. If it happens, though, it makes Wren’s job easier this winter.
Brian
October 14th, 2009
9:14 am
I tell ya, these trade proposals y’all come up with kill me sometimes. Derek Lowe and JoJo Reyes for Nelson Cruz and Neftali Feliz???? That is the most unrealistic trade I have ever seen! While we’re at it let’s trade Greg Norton to the Cardinals for Albert Pujols…
I know most of you know this, but just a reminder: the only thing we will be able to get in a Derek Lowe trade is another aging player that isn’t all that good but is making a ton of money. Basically just like Lowe, except he’d be an outfielder probably. Forget anyone young, and forget anyone cheap. If the player we get ends up being good, it’s only because he has a big bounce-back year.
Random
October 14th, 2009
9:14 am
gordon gecko (October 14th, 2009
8:31 am): “Greed is Good!”
Yep — your beloved free market capitalism at work.
STRETCH
October 14th, 2009
9:15 am
neo-Carlinist – AWESOME! LOL!
Well he hasnt pitched a full spring or season plus the fact that the economy aint so good, He’s trying to get more than a one year deal and i dont blame him for that.
He knows that this is going to probably be one of the top 3 pitching staffs (one of the top 5-10 without him next year) along with a couple offensive upgrades added to a team that won 15 of 17 and had way too many streaks last season.
Like my man Neo-Carlinist said, that 12 mil is going to be spent. Either way, things will be looking good in 2010.
JJ, Vasquez, Hansen, Lowe & KK/Medlen = 1,000 or more innings still!
renegade
October 14th, 2009
9:16 am
Hudson never really panned out in Atlanta. Wasn’t cost effective not enough wins for the salary. Probally averaged out to 1 mil. per win over the course of his contract. Pitched (played) every 5 days, use his money to get someone who can contribute every day. Surely someone wants to come to Atlanta for 12 millon dollars.
Mikey
October 14th, 2009
9:18 am
Might be time for Chipper to hang it up too…
ChippersLoveChild
October 14th, 2009
9:19 am
This years class of pitchers in free agency is awful. This is a smart move for Tim, besides John Lackey he has to be the second best option out there. Far better than guys like Washburn or Wolf. Go get that money Huddy, this hurts the Braves more than it helps them, and you are crazy if you don’t think so.
David
October 14th, 2009
9:20 am
If the Braves are going to compete, they’ll have to start distributing their payroll more evenly. You can’t cap your payroll at 85-90 million and have 50 million or so tied up in four or five players, like they’ve done with the likes of C. Jones, A. Jones, Smoltz, Hudson, Hampton in the past five years of so. They have conflicting economic philosophies. To that end, Hudson leaving is a good thing. They need to embrace once again the philosophy of 20 years ago: build depth in the farm system and plug holes with mid-market free agents. Take a look at the farm system now. The top three or four prospects match up well with the top three or four in any other system, after that, the quality falls off dramatically and there is little depth. Outside of Hanson, Medlen and Heyward (later in the season) there wasn’t a whole lot of difference between the Braves and the much maligned Mets at the top two levels of the farm system. Lots of teams are competitive using the same philosophy that built the Braves in the late 80’s and 90’s. That’s another thing, back in ‘05 and ‘06, they fell in love with giving full-time jobs to home-grown talent. It was more of an idealogy than out of necessity, though it was somewhat necessitated by the payroll imbalance. It works great when it’s merited (McCann, Prado), but it yields disastrous results when it doesn’t (Francouer, Johnson, Schafer, Davies, Boyer). Start signing competent mid-market guys and let the farm products earn their way into the line-up… andstart developing more farm products. To that end, Roy Clark leaving might not be such a bad thing either. The farm system really has declined in the past four years.
Sugar Bear Blanks
October 14th, 2009
9:25 am
At 34 Hudson has 1-more big contract in mind. He’s not been the dominant starter the Braves had hoped for. Cut him loose.
Use the 12 million and get a much-needed slugger.
There are needs at first and the bullpen as well. No guarantee LaRoche is returning.
Tell It Like It Is
October 14th, 2009
9:25 am
If true, this is great news for the Braves.
Ray Pugh
October 14th, 2009
9:28 am
People it’s Rosenthal–he says stupid things every week. Multiple sources have reported that both sides want Hudson to return, and he will on a 3 year extension with the $12 mil option rolled into it.
Oh, and David, to say our farm system has declined is absurd–if not for the Tex trade, we’d have the most stocked system in the league, by far.
And that’s why they call me Ray Pugh…
smith
October 14th, 2009
9:28 am
Mark, you do realize discussing wins as an important stat for a pitcher is absurd.
Lowe’s stuggles last year were due in large measure to the bad infield defense behind him– and some back luck and bad pitching in spots. If it were me, I’d work out a long term deal with Hudson and move Vazquez for a bat.
Kelly's Johnson
October 14th, 2009
9:29 am
Too much money tied up in the likes of Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton, Derek Lowe, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones have restricted the GM’s flexibility the past several years and kept the Braves out of the post-season.
DANG
October 14th, 2009
9:30 am
i dont belive ken at all. anyways i’d rather have hudson then lowe any day.
toddh
October 14th, 2009
9:31 am
I hate to hear this, and I never would have expected this. However, when a team’s boneheaded GM accumulates 6 quality starters, you have to imagine a guy like Hudson would rather jump off now rather than wait for Wren to bungle it all up. I’m even more afraid now that Wren as GM is the downfall of the Braves. Now even a guy like Huddy, who said all the right things like playing for a hometown discount, is making clear his distaste for Braves upper management. Hope that somehow we can re-sign Hudson, but I’m pretty sure he’s dead set on leaving.
John Smoltz
October 14th, 2009
9:32 am
Looks like the Braves may need a closer in 2010. Frank, still have my number?
cbgb
October 14th, 2009
9:32 am
I like Hudson but you can’t keep repairing arms (Smoltz). He needs to go and take his salary with him and we need to concentrate on young arms and pitching coaches. Bring Leo back? Somewhere? Does he have a job besides that phony radio gig?
Ozzy
October 14th, 2009
9:33 am
If hudson declines the option, then we just take the $12 million owed to him and use it on a big bat that we really need.
Voss
October 14th, 2009
9:33 am
Welcome to Atlanta Matt Holliday?
This was the only way the Braves could get into the Holliday game.
It’s not a great year for free agent bats, but there are a few out there.
Ted Striker
October 14th, 2009
9:33 am
Me, I’d take the $12 million now and buy Mark Bradley a really nice steak dinner, encouraging him to have an appetizer too.
If Hudson declines the option to find a longer term contract with more guaranteed money, it’s probably his safest move at age 34. By then, a pitcher never knows when something will creak, tweak, get weak, or even leak.
Huddy Muddy
October 14th, 2009
9:35 am
XXVII is right. I was saying this back in July. Lowe is a good guy and all, but he wasn’t as effective as the others. He has the highest salary. He should be easy enough to trade, every other team still hungers for starting pitching. Texas is an excellent target, and Cruz would help fill the power void.
Chief
October 14th, 2009
9:35 am
Ken Rosenthal is NOT a credible source. I actually could care less if Hudson returns or not, but I certainly do not believe much that comes from Resenthal.
Mark Bradley: Does Rosenthal have credibility with you?
BALLPLAYER1179
October 14th, 2009
9:36 am
The Braves won’t get anything for Lowe. The best thing they could do with him is move him back to the closer role, in which he was in when he was with the Red Sox.
Don Vito
October 14th, 2009
9:37 am
Good ridenance to bad rubbish, just like Mike Hampton last season. If he doesn’t want to be here then let him go! The Braves will suck anyways with Kinshinn Kowakami pitching anyways, that guy is the biggest waste of ERA–ever!
midnite
October 14th, 2009
9:38 am
Kawakami will make a little over $7.25M in 2010. 2009 was a huge adjustment year for him. He got terrible run support. Why would we have to eat some of his contract to trade him? That is cheap money for a decent, durable starter. Just look at the big time pitchers he went toe to toe with, and won.
Mark Bradley
October 14th, 2009
9:38 am
Yes. I find Ken Rosenthal credible. I wouldn’t have linked to his item otherwise.
Herschel Talker
October 14th, 2009
9:39 am
STL will be jettisoning Matt Holliday after his playoff gaffe. Now we can sign him. Beautiful. See ya, Huddy.
DandyD
October 14th, 2009
9:40 am
Let him go. You got Vazquez, JJ, Hanson, Lowe and KK. Plus Medlen. What’s not to love? But I am surprised along with MB. The guy is homegrown. He has tons of money. Roots and a new crib in AL and he’s still looking for more dough. The avarice found in American society knows no bounds.
David
October 14th, 2009
9:40 am
Ray, if dogs could fly…
Sure, if the Tex trade hadn’t happened the farm system would look better, but it did, and the last two drafts have been lackluster at best.
Rome didn’t place a single player among BA’s top twenty prospects in the Sally League. Myrtle Beach and Mississippi, outside of Heyward and Freeman? Nada, nobody in the top twenty. Sure, guys can slip through the cracks in these rankings (Prado, for example), but, in most cases, your future starter-caliber players show up in these rankings. The Prados of the world are more the exception.
Sonny Clusters
October 14th, 2009
9:40 am
We is going to lose next season now.
PMC
October 14th, 2009
9:42 am
If Roy Clark leaves any way we can get Freddi Gonzalez on the staff somewhere and steal the head scout from the Marlins?
Donley Canary
October 14th, 2009
9:42 am
Past failed trades have robbed the farm system of any depth. We have nothing from the Texiera trade left. Nothing. Look at Texas. We furnished them an All Star shortstop and a great young pitcher. Please build from within and develop the farm system. Spend wisely on mid level free agents and mortagage our future to win 5 meaningless games. We need a power bat for the outfield, resign LaRoche and hope the bullpen performs as well as this year. GO BRAVES!
Peter
October 14th, 2009
9:43 am
Well the bottom line is id Cox was gone this season, Huddy would be here next……He want so win, and that won’t happen under Cox !
Chief
October 14th, 2009
9:43 am
Thank you Mark. Fair enough. I just didn’t his errors in reporting during the off-season last year.
Rasheed Willis
October 14th, 2009
9:43 am
We need to trade for a quality black pitcher like Dave Stewart. Enough of these crackers!
Obama is my Black presidant!!
Gary
October 14th, 2009
9:44 am
Not buying Rosenthal and his “major league sources”. This is nothing more than stirring the pot. Hudson and the Braves brass have long said they would like him back and I have no doubt that happens.
Brian D Hypes
October 14th, 2009
9:46 am
Dude is on the DL, collecting his paycheck all year,now he wants to split.Thanks a lot Huddy.
Brian D Hypes
Kenneth Simpson
October 14th, 2009
9:48 am
The Braves may just be crazy enough to trade for Feliz since they have already given him away one time in the Tex rental. If he turns out to be the ace his is projected to be then the braves can give him away again. Stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joey
October 14th, 2009
9:48 am
Uh, David, didn’t I read this spring that a baseball publication (Baseball Today?) rated the Braves farm system the second best in the majors, behind the Yankees? Doesn’t sound like a decline to me…
Brian
October 14th, 2009
9:48 am
It’s all about the Roosevelts, Baby…
Shawon
October 14th, 2009
9:50 am
We have enough pitchers who can grind us through a long season with a decent record and ERA…the kind of money he wants is called “big-game pitcher money,” and clearly a big-game pitcher he is NOT!!
hoopdog
October 14th, 2009
9:51 am
let him go. he’s obviously been a major disappointment with the braves. and please…smoltz and glavine, keep your traps shut over this move.
bob
October 14th, 2009
9:51 am
Let Huddy walk and use the $12 million to sign the Big Bat we need. Add $3 or $4 million to that and we are players in the Bay/Holliday sweepstakes.
alan
October 14th, 2009
9:53 am
Looks like another BOYCOTT THE BRAVES SEASON again. It’s not about Hudson but they should trade Lowe or KK. Throw Johnson in too, it’s not fun to watch hime bobble balls and strike out. BC keeps making excuses for him, maybe Cox should have went after this season ended and taken Pendelton and probably McDowell with him. Soriano and Gonzalez could leave too, blowing the games they did.
long suffering
October 14th, 2009
9:54 am
I’m going to mis watching ol’ skid mark choke.
Ron Roberts
October 14th, 2009
9:57 am
I’m kind of sick of seeing the Braves foot the bill for these players’ rehabs and returns only to have them bolt for a supposed better paycheck. Some way to say “thanks for paying me and providing me all the resources needed to return” eh?
The sad thing is, all we ever hear from those in the know is “that’s the way it is in baseball now; it’s a business.” Doesn’t make it right. Unlike the NFL, when a player’s injured and under contract, the MLB teams can’t just drop a guy and his salary, but I think that ought to change if this continuing “trend” keeps up.
I’d have personally preferred having Tim Hudson in the rotation next year, and frankly, I think a $12 million price-tag is MORE than enough, for a guy who missed most of the last two seasons while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Of course, the agent gets his say. His agent would NEVER justify to a common man such as myself where he gets off thinking he should get more – period.
Jeremy
October 14th, 2009
9:58 am
We have to keep Derek Lowe. . . . You have to realize that this was possible his worst ERA year in a long time. He is a reliable, durable, innings eater who is now our #3 starter. I will take a #3 starter who is guaranteed 200 innings and 15 wins with an ERA around 3.75 any day of the week. As a matter of fact, find me a better #3 guy in the NL. . . . . and that is if he is our #3. Vazquez emerged as a monster this year. Lowe could be our 4 which is awesome. Hanson, Jurrjens, Vazey, Lowe, and KK is a rotation that could win the division. (Remember, KK should have had 15 victories. . the guy should sue for lack of run support).
GO GET A BAT AND A REAL LEADOFF MAN!!!! FIGGINS COME ON DOWN!!!!
Brad
October 14th, 2009
9:58 am
We have 5 starters without Huddie…Lowe, Kawakami, Vasquez, Hanson, and Jergens…maybe as good as a starting 5 as you could have…we need offense!!! I love Huddie and all that he stands for, but his departure solves a problem.
Met Hater
October 14th, 2009
9:59 am
New York is a cesspool of rude, foul-smelling, subhuman degenerates with no manners, and the fans of that team are even worse.
If Hudson goes to that [ EXPLETIVE DELETED ], and his wife is okay with it, those two deserve what they get.
(Jeff Francoeur could not be reached for comment.)
jack
October 14th, 2009
10:01 am
I’m really surprised. I can’t imagine Huddy getting $12M as a free agent with anyone else as well as a long term contract coming off of elbow surgery. If this happens there is $12M to spend on a power bat the Braves need badly. The only down side to this is it means they can’t use a starter as trade bait for that power bat.
Chef montuer
October 14th, 2009
10:01 am
Braves should try and sign Smoltz and Glavine and put em in the bullpen.
I should be a GM
Chef montuer
October 14th, 2009
10:01 am
GEAUX SAINTS
Brian
October 14th, 2009
10:04 am
Same site that reported Rafael Furcal coming back to the Braves right?
Spud Webb
October 14th, 2009
10:06 am
Thanks Tim, I love this crap. So the braves still pay him while he’s hurt (see Smoltz) and his thanks is going to be to turn down 12 million for next season???? That’s nice kick in the &ss…
BYE BYE TIM. Good luck.
Uncle Rico
October 14th, 2009
10:07 am
let him go…he’s better than most think, but he ain’t worth $12 million+ at his age & w/that arm.
Give Medlen a shot at the rotation, let Soriano go & spend Huddy’s salary on a bat and/or closer.
Or…and this is a big or – sign Smoltzie to a 1 yr, incentive-laden deal & make him the closer.
then spend the entire $12 mil on some right-handed pop.
Is Jason Bay on Wren’s radar??
Larry
October 14th, 2009
10:09 am
This is actually terrible news. A healthy Hudson is worth 2 Lowes and 4 Kawakamis. Thats right. 2 white guys and 4 chinamen. throw in a frenchman for good measure. thats 7 guys. 7 GUYS.
DLG
October 14th, 2009
10:12 am
Let him move on, not worth the salary he will want. Another spoiled MLB player while Americans suffer for employment.
Poorbrave
October 14th, 2009
10:14 am
Time will tell….. money talks… Hudson walks…….But Hudson said he would give Braves a cut (lower $$$) to stay!
What differance does it make we still have Cox to tend with?
JD
October 14th, 2009
10:14 am
I am amazed at how many players spend an inordinate amount of time on the DL, and then jump ship when that have a chance to show some loyalty to the team. Its all abount the money (greed) than anyhthing else. But I guess $12,000,000 is just chump change to athletes.
realist
October 14th, 2009
10:14 am
Good riddance. He was never the pitcher for the Braves that he was for the Athletics. Only once did he win over 14 games. And now he is 34 and coming off of major reconstructive elbow surgery. I will take Vasquez over hudson any day. The way I see it we aslrready have a starting 5 and now we can use the money we would have spent on Hudson to acquire a really good big bat.
Ross
October 14th, 2009
10:15 am
Good frickin’ riddance! And now LaRoche and Jones, and that bad stretch of steroid users and payroll abusers is a dim memory.
RHR
October 14th, 2009
10:16 am
Will be tough to see Huddy in a Mets uniform but they’ll likely offer him the most. I imagine the mets will be taking in some of that outfield in citi making it a little less pitcher friendly before next season..
Vermont39
October 14th, 2009
10:17 am
Get a bat!!!
We have arms!!!
12 million is a good start!!!
F-105 Thunderchief
October 14th, 2009
10:18 am
Well, you know what? It’s awfully danged hard to turn your back on more money, even if you’ve got millions. Apparently. I wouldn’t know from experience.
Jim
October 14th, 2009
10:18 am
He probably wants to win a championship.
He realizes that the budgeted salary conscious Braves most likely won’t be a legitimate threat to win it all anytime soon.
Its all crap
October 14th, 2009
10:19 am
This is total bull. Tim Hudson is so much better then Lowe and KK. So they let Tim walk and stick with KK and Lowe. I can also see them trading Vazquez for a hitter. That means our starting rotation will be
Lowe, KK, Jurrjens, Hanson and Medlin. Not good at all in the 1 and 2 stop. Of course with that rotation it will be
Hanson, JJ, Medlin then Lowe and KK. Its a shame the braves cant keep the good players. They are always dealing what we need for another piece of what we need. The trades never seem to work out. Watch the Mets or Phillies sign Hudson and he will rock our clock in the NL East. This is really a dumb thing to do for the Braves. They need to resign our ACE and thats final. If they dont, there will be a lot of Braves fans unhappy with upper management. We have the pitching, we need to keep it and spend just a little bit of money on a hitter. Wow, spend some money Liberty. It wont kill you you know.
smitty
October 14th, 2009
10:20 am
This actually makes things easier for the front office. Save the 12 million and buy a big bat…or 2.
rhynster
October 14th, 2009
10:21 am
Redonkulous.
He’ll wind up in Philly or with the Mets.
You can see it coming a mile away.
BillyJoeToliver
October 14th, 2009
10:22 am
I don’t know why we would trade Lowe when he had the worst year of his career. First, his value is as low as possible, second there is a good chance he will have a better year next year. Plus, he’s not injury prone.
JD
October 14th, 2009
10:23 am
I feel like the Braves are turning into the Indians from the movie “Major League”. Before you know it we will have players on our roster that are dead. I am very angry with the way the Braves have handled every situation since Ted left. Maybe they should go bankrupt to make for an easier sale.
Chris Dunn
October 14th, 2009
10:24 am
Let’s see, Tim wins a Roberto Clemente Award last month and now he cuts out on that same community for more money after the Braves spend a fotune to rehab Tim. I’m sure this is not going to help spur attendance at the Hudson Foundation Benefit next month.
Sad, so sad………..
Bob Cady
October 14th, 2009
10:24 am
Lowe should be in the equation. He had some great run support, but except for a few games, he was not the dominant pitcher we expected. He looked ordinary in his last several starts. Hudson looked great, had one bad outing , would have a better record with slightly more run support, lost a heartbreaker in the late innings, and showed he was back on his game. The Braves have a tough decison and keeping Lowe is not necessarily a slam dunk.
Mort
October 14th, 2009
10:27 am
Lowe has an off year and still wins 15. Hmmmm.
eric the elder
October 14th, 2009
10:30 am
The answer to any question about America is, “Follow the money trail.”
JW
October 14th, 2009
10:34 am
Let him go. Very risky to invest heavily in a pitcher with a damaged arm. Use the $12M to buy a power hitter.
nativeAtlantaInDC
October 14th, 2009
10:36 am
let him go…he’s only won 15 games one time…Lowe is the better option. The braves need a slugger to plug in between chipper and mccann.
we need a hitter like ryan howard. that guy is a game changer….we have the flexability now to get that slugger…..let huddy go to the mets…they have more issues than just pitching…
Billy
October 14th, 2009
10:36 am
Yea, these jerk offs take millions while they rehab… BYE!!!
Reid Adair
October 14th, 2009
10:37 am
I think Tim Hudson saw the proverbial writing on the wall. I thought from the beginning that Frank Wren would be getting rid of Javier Vazquez and Hudson in the off-season. Hudson decided to decline the Braves before the Braves could decline him.
Don
October 14th, 2009
10:38 am
Remember that the only possible way for the Braves to win with Cox managing is to have Pitching so far far superior to all the other teams that it overcomes his management procedures and lack thereof and makes it almost impossible to lose during the long 162 game regular season.
Jim
October 14th, 2009
10:39 am
It’s called “pulling a Mike Hampton”. Get injured, and get the Braves to pay while you rehab, then split.
Don
October 14th, 2009
10:40 am
Is it true that all the Braves games will again be on TBS TV for the 2010 season – This is possible because with Cox back as manager, the games can be classifed as a comedy show.
Don
October 14th, 2009
10:45 am
Forget all the other possible signings and trades, we absolutely must resign Norton — So that our “TRIO OF INCOMPETENCY” will be complets — Cox as the most incompetent Manager, Pendleton as the most incompetent Hitting Coach, and Norton as the most incompetent Pinch Hitter.
Space Monkey
October 14th, 2009
10:45 am
This is great news. Now we get to keep Javy. We couldn’t trade Lowe or KK, so if we kept Hudson, Javy was gone. This is wonderful news. Javy is the key to a great 2010. Pair him with Hanson, JJ, and some hitting and this is a very dangerous team. Take the $12 million and buy a bat. Hope Lowe snaps back. Get a closer. Please, please add some speed. Then this team is a contender.
gene garbage
October 14th, 2009
10:47 am
has anyone noticed a really big similarity with just about all of the teams that made the playoffs? they have a REALLY GOOD hitting first baseman with POWER!!!! i would think that 12 mill would go along way towards someone who could fill that spot.. and no, i don’t think LaRoche is the answer..
EveryDawgHasHisDay
October 14th, 2009
10:47 am
HERE IS AN IDEA. WHY DONT WE TRADE OR TRY TO SIGN JUAN PIERRE(WHO DOESNT EVEN GET TO PLAY FOR THE DODGERS). THIS SOLVES OUR LEADOFF PROBLEM ALSO GIVES US A THREAT ON THE BASEPADS. HE COVERS ALOT OF GROUND IN THE OUTFIELD ONLY DOWNFALL BEING HIS THROWING ARM. WE CAN SIGN THIS GUY FOR A LITTLE OF NOTHING. BUT WHAT DO I KNOW OUR ORGANIZATION IS RUN BY PEOPLE WHO TRADE NO NAMES CALEED ADAM WAINWRIGHT FOR J.D DREW WHO BY THE WAY SAT IN THE TRAINERS OFFICE AND ROTTED IN HIS TENURE AS A BRAVE.
gene garbage
October 14th, 2009
10:49 am
although i would take him if we could get Holliday or Bay..
Manny
October 14th, 2009
10:50 am
I thought that the Braves would have either gotten rid of Hudson or Vazquez. Even though I personally would have liked to have seen Kawakami leave, he just have too much upside. So my money was either Hudson or Vazquez.
I also think that politically, Vazquez would have remained because other players went on record talking about how they want Vazquez on the team and his intangibles. And in this situation, a vote for one player was a vote against another.
So here’s what would have happened: I thought that the Braves would have picked up his option and look for a trade for an infield bat. (Chipper is getting a little past his due date, and I would be looking for a replacement.) Hudson’s agent saw that coming and decided that they want to take control of their destiny, so they declined the option so they can pick and choose where they want to go.
Now where do you think he will go? St. Louis or Boston, IMO. Both needed good starting pitching and the lack of it hurt them. And both are good baseball towns. I think he thinks he can land with a contender and avoid the fire sales and craziness that will happen with bad teams like the Marlins (not bad teams… bad organizations and bad markets.)
midnite
October 14th, 2009
10:51 am
Frank Wren is not going to trade a young stud pitcher like Jurrjens. It is idiotic to even entertain that thought. Why would you trade a solid, young, cheap pitcher?
BamaBrave
October 14th, 2009
10:54 am
This DOES make things easier… I was never that impressed with him anyway, not for the money spent. His best years were wasted in Oakland. I remember being shocked at how much he sweated that first year back in the South. Nice guy, quality individual, I’m sure, but not critical to playoff aspirations.
Go get Jason Bay, FW…
2the9s
October 14th, 2009
10:55 am
Hey Mark – yes, Lowe won 15 games in ‘09, but with the run support he had (tongue-in-cheek) I could have won 10 myself and I am 54 years old
PMC
October 14th, 2009
10:57 am
Personally I hope he uses the new contract to get either a better tattoo or tattoo removal of that booger on his arm.
Let's Go
October 14th, 2009
10:58 am
This is standard procedure folks. First off Hudson would be crazy not to at least look into free agency and second the Braves may offer a 3 year deal at 12 mil a year. Move Lowe to the Bullpen as a 8th inning set up man. If he balks then trade him.
Kevrock/Smarty Jones
October 14th, 2009
11:00 am
Offer the option he declines then he signs with someone else we get draft picks. He really wasn’t that good anyways with us. If you look at his stats he was not the pitcher we were hoping for from Oakland. 34 with a TJ surgery. Let him go….Good Luck…Watch him not even get
10 million….
chas
October 14th, 2009
11:04 am
I think Hudson is a quality pitcher, but you have to look at the numbers: Kawakami’s ERA last year was 3.68 and Tim Hudson’s combined ERA in Atlanta is 3.77. How much more is .09 ERA worth to you on an annual basis? They are the same age and Kawakami is cheaper and hopefully will improve as he gets accustomed to this culture. I am not sure why everyone has trouble with Kawakami. If he had won 15 games with the same ERA would you look at him differently? Did y’all not read or understand the premise of the book Moneyball? Hudson was terrific when he was healthy in Oakland and briefly in Atlanta, but we need stability. Hudson is a big name and probably will get a big salary, but he is probably overvalued. Now we wouldn’t have to worry about trading anyone. I am concerned about Lowe, but he did stay healthy last year in terms of starts. Whether or not father time is wearing him down is another issue. The big bat was what we were missing of course. Chipper is winding down and we need the power. As much as I hate to say it, we should have gotten Adam Dunn even though he is strikeout machine. His OPS is great though.
stamper
October 14th, 2009
11:04 am
This still doesn’t free up enough money to sign either Holliday or Bay. Both of those guys will command at least $15 mil a year this offseason… Furthermore, our pockets aren’t all that deep anyway, especially if the Braves have any intention of re-signing LaRoche, and they’d be idiots not to.
We just don’t have enough money to compete in the Free Agent market. I see our ‘power righty bat’ being acquired through a trade. Maybe a deal with Texas?
All I'm Saying Is...
October 14th, 2009
11:06 am
This is likely Hudson’s last chance in his career at getting a big money deal of any consequence.
There are plenty of teams out there desperate for pitching who will consider him fit enough to be a part of their plans.
He can say that he pitched in the AL and NL and pitched well in both over his career.
At a minimum, given the paucity of starting pitching, he’s worth the risk of 3 years at 10 million per.
Coming off of a major injury, Hudson would either be a fool or someone really willing to roll the dice to take a one year deal with the Braves. Because he would be betting that he’d had a solid to spectacular year in 2010 and that someone would be willing to give a 35 year old starter a multi-year contract. Thanks to Kevin Brown, I don’t think any team is that desperate/stupid anymore but you never know…
Either way, though I’d like to see him retained in some fashion because you can never have enough pitching, Braves will be fine without him.
LET’S GO BRAVES!
Brad
October 14th, 2009
11:07 am
Dream home in Auburn? Thats a contradiction in terms isn’t it?
Pascual Perez
October 14th, 2009
11:09 am
It’s no big secret that Hudson is not coming back, the surprise is that he is opting out as opposed to us having to buy him out. With him opting out, we just saved a $1 million buy out of his contract for next season. There is no way we were going to pay him $12 million next year coming off arm surgery and looking less than impressive at the end of the season after he returned. Remember that this guy made $15.5 million in 09. That’s a lot of money we just saved to get into the Matt Holliday sweepstakes. We’re saving another $13 million from not signing Johnson, Gonzalez, Norton, Anderson, and Church.
Now all we need to do is resign Laroche and Soriano, and offer Holliday $14 million per year for 4 to 5 years. I think that might be out of St. Louis’s price range. We don’t need to worry about the Yankees (outfield set), Red Sox (need to resign Bay), or Dodgers (outfield set). Any other big market teams (Chicago, Angels) will most likely be interested in obtaining pitching. Personally, I like our chances with Holliday given the $28 million in salary we’re dropping from last season. St. Louis may be the only realistic team that we need to out bid.
Let's Go
October 14th, 2009
11:13 am
Don’t assume this is going to happen, Ken Rosenthal’s rumors usually turn out to be wrong more times then not. The potential starting pitcher free agents isn’t as strong as last year but it doesn’t suck either with a lot of guys who fall under the same category as Tim Hudson. Not all but a few of the names:
Josh Beckett * BOS
Erik Bedard SEA
Justin Duchscherer OAK
Adam Eaton COL
Jon Garland * LAD
Rich Harden CHC
John Lackey LAA
Cliff Lee * PHI
Jason Marquis COL
Kevin Millwood * TEX
Brett Myers PHI
Carl Pavano MIN
Brad Penny SF
Joel Pineiro STL
Tim Wakefield * BOS
Jarrod Washburn DET
Brandon Webb * ARZ
Todd Wellemeyer STL
*2010 team or player option
LivinInAL
October 14th, 2009
11:14 am
Baseball business is becoming more like politics than ever. Players and management try to say all the right fan pleasing things in interviews, while creating their private plan behind closed doors.The report tend to put a different spin on Wren’s upcoming planning meeting.
itpdude
October 14th, 2009
11:17 am
Why would we want Hudson back? What has he done for the Braves? He’s a gimp arm who is not going to help the Braves next year or in the next 5 years. He’s a gimp at the end of his career. He’s not a Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver or even a Glavine. As far as pitching goes, he’s not aging well. Let him go.
Jbird
October 14th, 2009
11:18 am
Any divorce attorney would tell you to put emotions aside and treat this like a business transaction. Hudson’s a good guy and better than average pitcher but primarily has a service to sell.
Tim
October 14th, 2009
11:19 am
Larry, you are an idiot.
Ripped Again
October 14th, 2009
11:25 am
We done found out that Lowe can’t pitch in the GA heat so i say trade him and keep Huddy …
Skeezix
October 14th, 2009
11:27 am
Vasquez, J.J., Tommy Gun over Huddy and then Huddy over Lowe and KK.
Remow
October 14th, 2009
11:27 am
Bradley, your 9:11 comment really put a fine focus on the situation. While Hudson has always been solid he never really pitched like the ace he was supposed to be.
hero at the hudson
October 14th, 2009
11:28 am
Another warm, fuzzy player gone but not missed. Lowe will step it up in 2010. Kawa-whatever will give us some needed wins. JJ and JV and TH cement the rotation. Med same old self. No problemmo. People, give Cox a break, please. Just lookin’ for a RF power-hitter and perhaps 1st B power-hitter. If money does grease the wheels of baseball, no reason to blame Wren. I see a division win in 2010 and pehaps a WS. We’re behind you, Braves. All the way in 2010.
P Rose
October 14th, 2009
11:29 am
I read the news today oh, boy
About Tim Huddy’s plan to make a change
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
This helps their pitching staff
He blew his arm out in a game
Just like Mike Hampton whom they had to pay
Mark Bradley’s bloggers mocked and jeered
They’d seen this crap before
Loyalty is nothing major leaguers know of anymore
I saw Sports Center then oh, boy
The Yanks and Dodgers may have won the war
But real sports fans will turn away
Cause it’s that time of year
Football season’s here
Joe Fan
October 14th, 2009
11:31 am
Hudson is a good pitcher not a great one. The Braves have Medlin should a starter falter. Take the extra money and go get the bat or bats needed.
kaygeeone
October 14th, 2009
11:31 am
No No No! Keep Hudson, send Kawakami to the bullpen for long relief and set-up man. Send Medlen and Shafer along with Laroche anywhere that will take them for either Money or a Big Bat…like Chipper use to be.
Beatle hero
October 14th, 2009
11:32 am
Pete R @ 11:29…….great….liked it better than any of Weird Al’s crap….keep it comin’…..
MitchC
October 14th, 2009
11:33 am
Mark, this move doesn’t completely surprise me. The Braves do have one too many starting pitchers. Better Hudson than Javy Vazquez. That being said, I’m torn.
I would rather have traded Lowe, and kept Hudson. Hudson is younger, and Lowe had a high ERA in 2009. That having been said, even if Hudson does leave, we still have a good rotation with Lowe, Jair, Javier, Hanson, and KK.
We’re probably better off using the money we would have paid Hudson for a good hitter.
Not a terrible loss. If everyone is healthy, the Braves will be fine in 2010 even without Hudson.
Mike
October 14th, 2009
11:36 am
Hudson is building his dream house. It’s 25,000+ square feet in Auburn. Still not complete, but getting there. I drive by it every day on my way to and from work.
CraZyTRaDeMaN
October 14th, 2009
11:38 am
kaygeeone……..
How can we trade Adam he is not under contract?
Windale
October 14th, 2009
11:38 am
Mark- My main concern with this is that Vasquez has never been consistent for 2 consecutive years. This could really be a set back for the pitching staff.
Don
October 14th, 2009
11:40 am
The AJC needs to conduct a weekly contest during the 2010 season – Seeing what fan can name the worst Bobby Cox blunder for the week – or it could be on a daily basis.
Tell it like it is
October 14th, 2009
11:41 am
I say let him go he does’t care about the braves all he cares about is the money and we have a whole team of those kind.
O.J.
October 14th, 2009
11:41 am
Maybe the Braves already told him that they were going to decline his option and that if he wanted to stay with us for a lower per year extension then they could talk, or if he wanted to try his hand at the free agent market, be their guest. And then maybe Huddy’s agent just put the spin out there that Hudson was the one in control and he declined the option.
Art Vandalay
October 14th, 2009
11:56 am
not a huge deal, i like Hudson, and obviously think he is better than KK and Lowe but they are under contract and Hudson is not. Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson are the future and if Medlen pitches next year like he did out of the bullpen in the second half can you imagine the next 5-10 years having JJ, Tommy, and Medlen to head that rotation? Mix the with Vazquez next year and that makes Derek Lowe your 5th starter and KK showed he is useful out of the ‘pen.
This frees up all of the Braves finances for a bat, every piece of the rotation is under contract and you put KK in the middle of the pen with Moylan and re-sign Gonzalez because he will be less than Soriano you spend minimal money on pitchng this year. That MIGHT give the Braves the money to work out a two year deal with LaRoche and sign an outfielder not a great class but someone like Jermaine Dye, Bobby Abreu, or Xavier Nady would be all you need if Heyward is as advertised. This looks good to me:
1.Nate McLouth -CF
2.Martin Prado -2B
3.Chipper Jones- 3B
4.Brian McCann-C
5.Adam LaRoche-1B
6.Yunel Escobar-SS
7.Jermaine Dye/Bobby Abreu/Xavier Nady-LF
8.Jason Heyward-RF
Thats as solid a lineup as even the Phillies then you potentially have Kelly Johnson, Matt Diaz and Omar Infante coming off your bench thats the best lineup in the NL.
DANG
October 14th, 2009
11:56 am
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com = CRAP! DOB GOT IT STRAIGHTEN OUT! TAKE THIS ARTICLE DOWN NOW. THANK YOU
Wayne
October 14th, 2009
12:00 pm
Let us clear the air. Hudson and Cox are not friends. In fact Hudson does not like Cox or his constant show of favortism. And given to the fact that Cox has no idea of how to manage pitchers-especially relievers-this is an easy move for Tim. Go where you will be appreciated by your manager. Cox the “Good Old Boy”, I love you veterns is just another ugly smear on a good organization. He has stayed well beyond his time. Social Security starts at a certain age for a good reason. Brain Dead Bobby will screw it up again.
Ramblin Wrecker
October 14th, 2009
12:00 pm
What I find interesting is that Tim Hudson would skip out on the final season of Bobby Cox’s career. Like you said, why would he pass up a guaranteed $12 million next year for the unknown amount he’d get in free agency for 2010. Why not take the $12 million to stay in your comfort zone, play one more year for Bobby Cox and improve your free agency bonafides with a successful 2010 season?
Oh well, I guess that puts the Javier Vasquez trade discussion to bed. They’ll go into the season with their starting 5 in tact (with Kris Medlen waiting in the wings for injury or total failure by one of the big 5) and will have the $12 million that they paid to Hudson to spend on that big right handed power bat they desperately need and to cover a raise to Mike Gonzalez to keep him around.
Matt
October 14th, 2009
12:03 pm
So much for all of the talk he has done on sports/talk radio around here about willing to give the hometown discount, that is IF this is true. Buy him out at the cheaper rate and use the money for a bat. Bring KK back to the rotation and we’re good.
PMC
October 14th, 2009
12:04 pm
He’s probably going to sign a longer term deal with less than 12M on it this year. He obvioulsy wants to stay here and they obviously need a chunk of that change to make the necessary additions.
Braves Fan
October 14th, 2009
12:05 pm
C’YA
Ray Pugh
October 14th, 2009
12:06 pm
In response to this article, DOB paraphrased that Huddy said, and I quote, “He said he was surprised to see the story and how it portrayed him, said it was a misunderstanding” and that “he hopes to work out an extension.” So before all you braindead reactionary nimrods go off and call Huddy greedy and a traitor, get your facts straight. If you don’t know, say so and go back to watching Days of Our Lives or whatever you’re doing during this time of day.
Oh, and Bradley, please do a little more background research before you start chipring and whip your little monkeys into a frenzy…
MAC
October 14th, 2009
12:16 pm
Jeremy is right. Lowe is a durable sure thing, Hudson is a wild card. Lowe was tied for fourth in NL wins last year, and is consistent with another near 200 inning year. Granted it wasn’t his best year but it’s a no brainer to choose Lowe over Hudson.
Braves will need $15 mil a year to have a shot at Holliday, but there are other hitting options out there.
Ray Pugh
October 14th, 2009
12:22 pm
We’re not gonna sign Holliday retards: if that were Frank Wren’s philosophy, don’t you think we would have made a meaningful push at Texiera? There are plenty of bats out there to be had (Uggla, Nelson Cruz, Xavier Nady, Pat the Bat Burrell) who, paired w/ LaRoche, could equal or exceed the production of Holliday or Bay for much less commitment in terms of both contractual amount and duration.
RobertNAtl
October 14th, 2009
12:23 pm
I would just as soon Hudson leave and use his money as a down payment on Carl Crawford. We need some speed on this team.
rufues
October 14th, 2009
12:24 pm
Atlanta why do you put all your money on three or fours guys, who will likely be out a large part of the season. Let Hudson go somewhere else he won’t be miss, Let Chipper go somewhere else, and throw in Lowe as part of the deal. Do not keep LaRoche, he’s only good for part of the year. Get a steady First baseman. Think about it does it rally matter with Bobby Cox coming back, along with the worse hitting coach in the Majors Terry Pendleton.
Skeezix
October 14th, 2009
12:32 pm
Mark: Have you talked to Hudson, Wren, or Cox about this? Sounds like speculation–a Fox specialty. I’m not putting much stock in this Rosenthal report.
Kris in NC
October 14th, 2009
12:36 pm
It seems Huddy has disputed Ken Rosenthal’s story. It seems Kenny Boy used some “unnamed” major league baseball source instead of going direct to the person who was the object of the story namely Tim Hudson.
Huddy has made it clear over and over that he would be willing to take a “hometown” discount to stay with the Braves and he would decline his option, which was a mutual option in order to do a longer deal.
Rosenthal needs to do a little more homework and check his sources alittle more closely before running with his story. Let’s hope Rosenthal prints a retraction to what he previously wrote.
DANG
October 14th, 2009
12:38 pm
MARK LIKES TO COPY AND PASTE
Mark
October 14th, 2009
12:39 pm
I would love to see Hudson come back but if not, I wish him well. I find it hard to understand the personal attacks. Hudson a traitor? I thought he got hurt playing for his team and they continued to pay him during his rehab. Isn’t that the way its supposed to work? It isn’t like he blew out his elbow riding a dirt bike. Hudson had his surgery, did his rehab, and came back late in the year and showed he was healthy.
During the baseball post season, there are these nice breaks between the different series that need to be filled by speculation. You can bet that if the previous series had extended to five games each, this rumor would have waited for next week’s or the following week’s news cycle. The point is don’t put much stock into these rumors.
Remember that at this time last year we were talking about an ‘09 rotation of Glaving, Smoltz, JJ, maybe Hanson, and we hoped for a fifth or an early return by Hudson. Later we also thought we had Ken Griffey in left, and we were prepared for a comeback by Francouer. Infante was going to provide us with awesome depth. All this tells me to wait for the actual signings (not the rumored signings like Furcal and Griffey).
It’s also important to plan for injuries, meaning a team can’t have too much depth. Six starters is not an issue as much as only four. Heaven forbid that something happens to one of our starters, but injuries do happen. I liked having two qualified closers, and Medlen as a swing man.
All of that said, where is the depth in the hitting area? We need some power in the outfield, and at first. We also need to find someone to play third for about 60 games a year. I believe Wren sees the holes, and I wish him well. I am looking forward to next season.
Mark Bradley
October 14th, 2009
12:39 pm
The above post now reflects Tim Hudson’s comments to Dave O’Brien, in which Hudson denies Rosenthal’s report and contends he’ll take a hometown discount to remain a Brave.
Mark
October 14th, 2009
12:45 pm
So, if the Braves offer and Hudson declines (becoming a free agent), and the Braves then sign Hudson to a muitiyear deal, does that mean that Rosenthal is correct and Hudson did opt for free agency?
Mark Bradley
October 14th, 2009
12:48 pm
If you read Rosenthal’s report, you’ll note that he doesn’t say Hudson will never pitch for the Braves again. He says Hudson is planning to become a free agent. That might sound like splitting hairs, but it really isn’t.
preston
October 14th, 2009
1:07 pm
Latest AJC headline regarding Hudson….Hudson: I want to stay in ATL 12:15 p.m.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
Joe Schmoe
October 14th, 2009
1:13 pm
The problem I have with signing Huddy is what do we do with the one extra pitcher in the rotation? Who is the odd man out? Is it Lowe or Kawikami? Who would want to take their contracts?
preston
October 14th, 2009
1:18 pm
Ok dont get me wrong Tin Hudson is a decent pitcher, but he has been with the braves since 2005, with his best season coming in 2007 where he went 16-10 and pitching only one complete game. He hasn’t even come close to establishing himself as a dominate pitcher with the braves and I think his salary is outweighing his impact and performance with the team, and he should be the odd man out. I like the direction that the braves are heading in with their current pitching staff, whom performed as good as any pitchers in the N.L going down the stretch……a couple of breaks here and there and they could have possible made it into the playoffs……all they need at this point is a big bat in the lineup and a few good role players comming off of the bench, and they will be fine.
fieldofdreams
October 14th, 2009
1:36 pm
Hudson and his greedy agent should feel free to leave. All things considered, he’s been a diappointment, and our $12 million would be better spent on as big a right-handed bat as we can find. We now have one of the best rotations in baseball, without him. Like the Smoltz and Glavine camps. Hudson and his agent are playing the public relations sound byte game with us, in the attempt to hold Frank Wren hostage during negotiations. “But we were willing to settle for a ‘hometown discount’!” Hopefully Hudson heads Hudson River-ward, where the Mets will no doubt wave more money at him, and we get the pleasure of rocking his only slightly rehabilitated right arm into the Long Island stratosphere.
Dave
October 14th, 2009
3:57 pm
The Braves have some very definite THINGS TO DO on their list in the coming off-season, and they will be done in this order.
End of World Series. Do the Braves exercise the $12M option on Tim Hudson? I would say no!
This is a calculated risk, but the Braves have sufficient depth in their starting rotation to deal from a position of strength here. Once the option is NOT exercised, they then make Hudson an offer of say $27M over three years, with maybe a fourth option year for $10M. If they eventually sign Hudson, great! If not (possibly because the Mets or Cubs or Yankees or Angels or Red Sox overspend with a 5-year, $60M offer), then so be it. One to the next THING TO DO!
Try to sign Adam LaRoche to a two or three year deal for what is the market value for LaRoche (probably $8M per year). The Braves NEED LaRoche’s bat and steady defense at first while Freddie Freeman develops in the minors. Freeman should NOT be rushed, and should be the first baseman of the future starting in 2012.
Once these two items are completed, the rest of the following can be done in whatever order it comes.
Need to sign Soriano or Gonzalez OR BOTH, if it can be done at a reasonable price. Hard to say what kind of offers these two will get from the other teams, but the Braves need ONE of them to be the closer next year, with Moylan as the fallback closer should the market rate for either player become TOO high.
Need to fill in the power gap in the corner outfield positions. Bobby Abreu would be a GREAT fit, but he may have found a home with the Angels, especially if he comes through during the playoffs and World Series. Germaine Dye is also a possibility, but there are a NUMBER of possibilities in the free agent market.
The Braves are NOT going to get Matt Holliday because they cannot compete with the offers that will be forthcoming from the Mets and Red Sox.
If they sign Hudson, then can package Kelly Johnson with either Kawikami or Lowe or (even Vazquez or Hudson, if necessary) to get that power outfield bat via trade if free agency does not produce what they need.
If Jason Heyward shows he is ready for a shot at right field by a great performance in the Arizona Fall League, then let him try to win a spot on the team in spring training. If he struggles, the Braves can get a serviceable outfielder at the end of spring training either off waivers or as a last-second free agent (which is what Abreu was this past spring).
I believe that BOTH Chipper Jones and Brian McCann played WAY too much this past season, especially down the stretch. With Prado and Infante (and possibly Kelly Johnson) available to back up the infield (and Kelly Johnson and Infante can both play some outfield), the Braves have sufficient depth at every position to give the veterans some needed rest during the season.
This is especially true at catcher, where David Ross is an EXCELLENT defensive catcher who can also hit better than most front-line catchers.
With the current starting rotation and most of the bullpens returning, the Braves could have five starters each with 15+ wins in the rotation in 2010. All they need is to get some thunder back into the starting eight position players to make it happen.
Just my humble opinion….
David
October 14th, 2009
4:29 pm
Rosenthal’s a “I said it first” type of reporter. He hears a rumor on a breeze and goes public with it in the small chance that it’s true and he’s the first to report it. That’s how he plays the game folks. Take it with a grain of salt. I’m sure he has good contacts in the business, but I’d trust your local guys like OBrien and to a lesser extent Bowman for credible information regarding our Bravos.
David
October 14th, 2009
4:41 pm
Folks, something else to consider, being stocked in one area means other areas will be neglected. This year was proof of that. I’ve said it on here before, but a successful team only needs 4 decent starters (1 to 2 aces, and 1 to 2 mid-rotation guys) to be competitive, not 5. Plug youngsters (Medlen) or inning eaters (is Albie Lopez still available) in the 5th spot and focus finances elsewhere. The Braves have too much money tied up in their rotation. This is hopeful thinking, but unloading Lowe’s contract would be HUGE. He won’t be as bad as he was at the end of this season, but he will never be worth $15mil.
If they don’t unload one or two of the large contracts in the rotation, even if they find a big bat to put in the middle of the order, there won’t be any money left for the bullpen. Tough choices this offseason.
Frank Wren
October 14th, 2009
6:06 pm
With 3 years left on a 15 million per year contract, who in their right mind would take Lowe’s contract off our hands?
Brown Foreigner
October 14th, 2009
6:41 pm
I am goin to put it simply for all you debaters….. Trade D Lowe and K Johnson for Big Papi….i know…..your shocked from your own stupidity!!!
Jim
October 14th, 2009
6:42 pm
The Braves have too many holes to fill and not enough money to spend to seriously compete next year.
Here is what will help build the team long term thinking 2-3 seasons down the road.
*Trade Vasquez
*Let Hudson leave
*Let Gonzo leave
*Let Soriano leave
*Let LaRoach leave
*Get a top closer
*Spend on a high quality OF
*Make Diaz the everyday LF
*Sign a lower grade free agent 1B to a 1-2 year contract to buy time and fool the general public into thinking that we are gearing up for next year when in fact we are gearing up for 2011-2012.
*Save money so it can be spent on better options
*Sign Kelly Johnson to be the next Greg Norton.
Brown Foreigner
October 14th, 2009
7:44 pm
jim
the whole reason to play baseball is to win not to wait for the next 3 years
v8dreaming
October 14th, 2009
7:52 pm
they need to resign laroche. he can put up the 30hr/100rbi season they need. i don’t know why, but he seems to play better for them than for any other team.
bobby needs to quit screwing with the line-up every other day.
i hope they keep hudson and unload lowe. lowe sucks.
Jim
October 14th, 2009
9:53 pm
The reason of playing is to win, but…
Would you rather enjoy say a 3-5 year run of NLCS and World Series appearances or would you like your season to end a week later (after round 1 of playoffs) year after year?
MK
October 14th, 2009
10:39 pm
Your View
Braves biggest need for 2010 is …
First baseman
Outfielder
Bullpen help
Big hitter
New Manager XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bobby Cox
October 14th, 2009
11:31 pm
In addition to putting Kelly Johnson back on second and having Martin Prado in right, I’m thinking of having Greg Norton as roving minor league hitting instructor. Tommy Glavine looked good in our simulated games. We can trade this upstart Hanson and replace him with Glavine.
scottbravesfan
October 15th, 2009
1:32 am
The Braves should keep Lowe and Hudson. They could probably get a team to bite on Kawakami because his ERA was not that bad. Lowe is a good pitcher and has always been money in the playoffs he just had a bad second half his first season in Atlanta. And Atlanta can afford both Liberty needs to open up the pocket book. 98 million dollar payroll for the third most popular team in major league baseball only behind the Yankees and Red Sox who play in the 8th largest market with a huge regional fan base. Spend some money make this team a legit contender again and the team will draw 3 million fans easy. People get tired of this half assing it that the Braves do. They fixed the rotation last year too bad the lineup had HUGE holes in it. And they still don’t have a legit closer no matter how good people think Soriano is.
tbhawksfan
October 15th, 2009
9:06 am
Agree with scott.
KK could briong aninteresting trade as teams realize they don’t have the starters they need (about 75% of the league). He’s pretty good and not very expensive.
Sign LaRoche and Hudson at a home discount.
Heyward will be ready by June when they want to call him up. Schaefer will make another run at the roster when he’s healthy.
Trade KK and change for a need (3B, OF).
Keep Gonzalez, he’s cheaper than Soriano.
Few good moves from a better season. 2011 looks to be the Braves time though.
I’d love to move Chipper for some youth with potential.
DawgDad
October 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
“The Braves 2 major mistakes last year that will cost us are D Lowe and Chipper Jones.” – Agreed, this is the reason the Braves will NOT win next year, and probably not the next, either.
I like Hudson; he can go deeper in a game than most starters. But he’s minimum 3-years $30 million, and that’s redundant with Lowe and too expensive (or risky) to keep both. Let him walk; sign Holliday to play left, park Heyward in right, with Diaz and Church backing them up (those guys eliminate Norton, thankfully, and Infante-as-outfield-imposter is no longer a necessity).
Chipper at this point is $15 million or so right off the top of your payroll for no measurable return, thus your effective payroll is really $70-75 million tops. Lowe is a huge risk along the same lines as Chipper. Kelly Johnson or Infante should net a decent bullpen arm. LaRoche is needed, but is he affordable? I see another 81-88 win season ahead unless we do sign Holliday and Heyward becomes a rookie-of-the-year candidate.
Brown Foreigner
October 15th, 2009
5:31 pm
Jim
i would take my chances and win…..u a dumbass!!!
Nancy
October 15th, 2009
5:42 pm
Who cares if the grotesquely overpaid Hudson stays. Good riddance I say.
Rick
October 16th, 2009
2:05 am
Sign Huddy you bunch of investor profit driven cheapo a$$es!!!
He is a steady winner… Steady is hard to find.
HAL
October 18th, 2009
11:59 pm
an overaged over paid player ohh wait we goyt the posterchild for that starment lkast winter ppl callexd him loaf lol
Its all crap
October 30th, 2009
8:36 am
Seems to me that all of your want a local owner but the real problem is there are no fans in the seats to support the team. You want top of the line players on the field, take you butts to a game and support what it is your asking for. Season tickets every year and I can still move my seat way way down in the stands. Its just sick the local fan support here.