The Braves: Serious about saving $$$, less so about winning
Melky Cabrera: The latest in a series of cost-cutting imports. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The Braves just traded the man who might well have been their Opening Day starting pitcher for an outfielder who might not start on Opening Day. Think about that.
Think also about this: The Braves just traded a man who finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting because he was making too much money. And here’s how much Javier Vazquez is scheduled to make in 2010 — $11.5 million. That’s not even half what CC Sabathia, his new Yankee teammate, will earn. And that tells us all we need know about the Braves.
They keep making noises about contending for division titles, but it’s just noise. They can’t afford to do real business any longer. From the day the 2009 season ended they were looking to dump a starting pitcher, ostensibly to add a power hitter, but Melky Cabrera isn’t a power hitter. He was the eighth-best position player on the Yankees. He might not beat out Nate McLouth in center field here. He might wind up in a platoon. And he’s what the Braves got for the man who was their best pitcher last season.
“A perfect fit,” Frank Wren called Cabrera, speaking on a teleconference Tuesday, but the only thing perfect about this trade was how completely it detonates the Braves’ claim to being serious players. You don’t trade an ace unless you get a big bopper in return. The Braves got a guy who hit 13 home runs with 68 RBIs last season.
Yes, there’s more to the trade than Cabrera. Mike Dunn should help in the bullpen and Arodys Vizcaino is a young power arm, but the cold truth is that the Braves just played what they deemed their trump card — a surplus of starting pitching — without improving their run production one whit. And don’t fool yourselves: That $11.5 million they saved on Vazquez won’t allow them to splurge on Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. Those guys are out of price range, out of sight.
“We’re very fortunate to be able to make a deal like this,” Wren said. Then this: “We’ve been focused on [finding a run producer] all offseason, and we were waiting on the right match. And we’re still waiting.”
But Vazquez is gone. Can’t trade him twice. And the Braves can’t trade Derek Lowe because they’re down to five starters. So the best that can be reasonably hoped is that they find a Marlon Byrd or a Xavier Nady or — knowing as we do that the Braves love recycling old favorites — a Mark DeRosa or a Jermaine Dye. Except none of those players will make them better in the way that losing Vazquez makes them worse.
Loading ...As someone who has defended Wren in the past, I have to say I’m stumped. Obviously the Braves’ salary constraints are worse than we’d been led to believe if they had to make this sort of deal so soon — Santa Claus hasn’t yet come and Javier Vazquez has left the building — but even more puzzling is Wren’s contention that this enabled him “to improve our club.” Maybe it improves it in 2012, when Vizcaino is ready to join Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens. But the way the Braves operate those pitchers will have been sold off by then.
Nothing about this offseason suggests that the new Braves are any better than the ones who finished third in the NL East. Is Billy Wagner an upgrade over Rafael Soriano? No. (But he’s cheaper. And also older.) Is Takashi Saito better than Mike Gonzalez? No. (But he’s cheaper. And also older.) Is the new first baseman … oh, wait. They don’t yet have a new first baseman.
For all this motion — Wren is forever in a hurry — the Braves will enter January 2010 a lesser team than in September 2009. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work. But that is, sad to say, the way it works here, where $11.5 million for a big-time pitcher is considered too much, where the drive to win is trumped by the need to scrimp.
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748 comments Add your comment
Bob
December 22nd, 2009
9:37 pm
Can we trade Wren ? Please somebody take him, he is horrible. Trade away your best pitcher from last year and get back an average outfielder and prospects. Why trade away someone that has proven he is a winner to get someone that might be good ? I just don’t understand
Scott
December 22nd, 2009
9:37 pm
I don’t blame Wren, I blame ownership. This is how they operate. We all knew it would be like this, corporate ownership buying a pro team as a tax dodge. I like you column Bradley, your the best in Atlanta, but don’t blame Wren, he’s a GM of a middlin’ corporate-owned baseball team trying to keep stocks moving up. Please take this faceless Liberty Media conglomerate to the woodshed instead.
Let's See
December 22nd, 2009
9:37 pm
The optimistic side of me wants to say that there is an additional move that will take place. Melky is a decent player; however not the “bat” that I imagined. I would say that many teams were balking at the trade Lowe considering the Braves attempt to have teams share the salary. I wonder with this trade if we could see a big bat first baseman “Gonz”. I remain positive until everything transpires; however not thrilled about trading Vazquez.
Mr. Wren to all you Whiners
December 22nd, 2009
9:39 pm
Remember, theres no crying in baseball! Wait & judge me on April 1, when I get done adding to the roster. I have a plan & 3 months to do it, so just keep all your pieholes shut & let me do my job, I dont come to Mickey Ds & tell you how long to cook the burgers you flip, do I? LaRoche will not be back, Lowe is staying put, Prado is our second sacker, & Nate & Melky will start in the outfield. Chipper will get hurt so Hello Infante, our starting rotation is set, & we will be adding a new left fielder & first baseman, so until Opening Day STFU!
Prez of Matt Diaz Fan Club
December 22nd, 2009
9:39 pm
A-freaking-men! A scorching indictment like this is exactly what’s needed. For too long, Wren has been allowed to mismanage our team’s efforts off the field, and it’s about time someone at the AJC called him out for it. However, as bad as Wren’s decision making has been thus far, it’s just a symptom of something much worse: our ownership. Liberty Media since taking over, has single-handedly deconstructed what used to be a competitive ball club, turning us into a club “Serious about saving $$$, less so about winning,” as Bradley puts it. Complicated doesn’t begin to describe the predicament we find ourselves. It’s too easy to only burn Wren for this. Case and point, Wagner and Saito weren’t brought here by Wren alone. Cox and Schuerholz, among others presumably signed off as well. Wren just seemed to be more responsible for it. But, Wren’s stench clearly permeates more so than Cox or Schuerholz around here. Maybe it’s his perceived arrogance or the disaster that was last season; either way HE NEEDS TO GO. However, I’d argue it doesn’t matter who replaces him; we’d still be non-competitive in the NL East. Until we get new and better ownership – an owner or owners who want to win and win now – we are back where we started. Wren or no Wren.
ryan
December 22nd, 2009
9:39 pm
I have had it with Frank Wren he should be fired but won’t be because of Liberty media. Unless the Braves are sold nothing will change just the facts.
coach k
December 22nd, 2009
9:39 pm
This team talks a good talk but this shows they have no interest in contending and now I am not sure they even freaking know what they are doing. This trade is the lamest and Philly gets better we get a ho hum player for a stud. Please fire Wren and Schuerholz. We got a nobody for frenchy and he is not with the team, I am not sold on Mclouth at all and now we GIVE AWAY our #1 pitcher, we could get jeramine dye for a good price, put in in left, traded mclouth and got mike cameron, in center and then worked something to get a bat at first like adrian gonzales. I am a fan but this management team has no idea how to get it right. I thought last yr we were one player away and now as as fan I am angry, thanks
Matt C.
December 22nd, 2009
9:42 pm
Mark, I hear they are looking at acquiring Julio Franco and Lonnie Smith. Any truth?
The Grinch
December 22nd, 2009
9:43 pm
Necromancer, a blind homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey. Thanks for the compliment.
Nick Esasky
December 22nd, 2009
9:44 pm
I’ll play first base for the league minimum. Let me know.
bravehawkfalcon
December 22nd, 2009
9:45 pm
When I first heard of this trade I was very upset too but I think this is the stepping stone for a big bat…hopefully AGON…maybe McLouth or Melky,Freddie Freeman and a couple of good pitching prospects for him.what you think Mark??
heartofdarkness
December 22nd, 2009
9:46 pm
No question, this trade is depressing,. . . unless you’re thinking about 2012.
myra
December 22nd, 2009
9:46 pm
why doesnt schuerholz just come out and tell the trurh if they cut payroll or what? Maybe it will help us understand w t he!! is up with this team.
If u sign Nady or Laroache and tell me the fans are gonna win the east …..well nobody is going to show up.
Can we petition Oprah or Bill Gates to buy back the franchise?
Who is the wealthiest Atlantan? Tyler Perry?
bravehawkfalcon
December 22nd, 2009
9:47 pm
Wren: We’re Going To Add A Run Producer
By Mike Axisa [December 22, 2009 at 8:09pm CST]
Following today’s Javier Vazquez deal, Braves’ GM Frank Wren was a guest on 790 The Zone to talk about what lies ahead for his team. Click here to listen to the audio.
Wren discussed how he sees the deal helping his team, but adds that “There’s definitely some more things we’re doing.” When asked directly if he was looking to add a middle of the order bat, Wren replied “We think we’re in the mix for a guy just like that. We’re going to add a run producer that’s going to round out our offense.”
The Vazquez deal saves the team about $9MM next season, and they’re known to be seeking a righthander hitter. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday both appear to be too expensive, though names like Marlon Byrd and Adam LaRoche have been kicked around.
Craig
December 22nd, 2009
9:47 pm
Unreal. Someone needs to tell the Braves owners we want to trade them. They are a joke and the GM is also a joke. How sad for the Braves. They are back in the 70’s.
Necromancer
December 22nd, 2009
9:49 pm
As long as Liberty Media keeps the Braves, mediocrity will prevail.
They are some cheap @ss b@stards!
Sell the team to Arthur Blank!!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
December 22nd, 2009
9:51 pm
Maybe with the direction the team is going in, after Bobby Cox retires, they can bring Ted Turner back as Manager. His record was 0-1, so no way to go but up.
Necromancer
December 22nd, 2009
9:51 pm
Grinch
Meaning you’re blind to the facts (and the stats) that the Braves got rooked here.
The Homer part was because of the Braves being the home town team.
I know you were being sarcastic, but I wanted to spell it out.
KJ
December 22nd, 2009
9:53 pm
LOL, so you say the Braves are more concerned with money than winning? Welcome to 10 years ago, Mark.
WJ
December 22nd, 2009
9:53 pm
Last!
Born2Buzz
December 22nd, 2009
9:54 pm
The Braves have been only marginally better than the Pirates since last June. Oh wait, I’m wrong, since June 2007.
This confirmed it for me…baseball sux. The imbalance of payrolls makes MLB a joke, and their commissioner keeps delivering the stale punch line over and over.
Frank Wren and Liberty Media, say hello to 12K attendance next year, unless the Yankees are coming to town.
Kevin
December 22nd, 2009
9:55 pm
Javier Vazquez is not an ace. Never was. He just had a career year in 2009. He’ll be 34 years old this summer and his ERA will probably bounce back up over 4.00 where it belongs. He was an $11M middle of the lineup, innings eater.
This trade gives them a great pitching prospect, frees up some money (you’re right – it’s not enough), and gives them a reasonably talented but cheap outfielder if they don’t land a bigger name. Melky could also be insurance if they give Heyward his shot and it doesn’t work out.
joe casey
December 22nd, 2009
9:57 pm
Mark great article. Frank Wren is so far in over his head,what a stupid jerk. I can’t believe he made this trade. It does not matter who he is able to obtain in the future he will over pay badly.When ticket sales go to hell,don’t blame the fans, call Frank Wren. This reminds me of the Obama health care bill.
bob
December 22nd, 2009
9:57 pm
i thought the braves could have gotten much more for this trade. Complete rip, only the Yankees are benefiting in the trade.
We should have gotten: Joba Chamberlin, and Melky and sum prospects.
Complete rip (just my opinion)
Jimdawg
December 22nd, 2009
9:57 pm
I gave up my season tickets today. I’m sick and tired of all the “business decision” roster moves. The Braves management has more interest in keeping payroll down then producing a division champion. I hope the roster savings cover the further drop off of season ticket renewals.
Peter
December 22nd, 2009
9:59 pm
The braves won’t make any noise in their division until Bobby is gone……..allot of teams have won big with a small payroll.
But why get ripped off at the stadium, with mediocre talent to watch ?
WJ
December 22nd, 2009
9:59 pm
Wow! So many professional general managers putting in their two cents. Oh yeah, none of you are general managers are you? Why do you think you haven’t made the grade? Could it be you are only capable in your minds? Give some slack!
Disgusted
December 22nd, 2009
10:00 pm
Phillies have improved. The Braves continue to suck, seeking mediocre stopgap players and telling the fans that they are serious about being contenders.
With apologies to J Nickelson: Sell crazy somewhere else Wren-we’re all stocked up here
bob
December 22nd, 2009
10:00 pm
Just watch the Mets, and the Marlins go ahead in standings this year over the braves. Worst trade ever. Goooooo Braves! 4th place! Woohooo! Just watch em’ have a losing record next year thanx to this trade!
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
10:03 pm
Hm, take a look at this article.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/wren-were-going-to-add-a-run-producer-.html
Peter
December 22nd, 2009
10:03 pm
Hey Born2Buzz ..
Speaking of payroll…….the commissioner make 19 Million a year, and for what ?
Yes baseball is a joke period…….
There will never be a situation where all teams have a salary cap…….why ???????
Because the Yankees have said they will sue Baseball if they can’t have it their way !
Makes you proud to be a Yankee fan ???????
Keith
December 22nd, 2009
10:03 pm
We save 11.5 but have to pay Cabrera 3.0. Saved 3.0 by not signing KJ. So there it is. We have 11.5 for a hitter. Maybe Gonzalez from SD. Maybe we still deal Lowe. The fifth could be Medlin or in mid May or June, Minor. I will be disgusted if the Braves do not sign or trade for a grade A hitter.
Disgusted
December 22nd, 2009
10:04 pm
WJ:
No offense, but if Frank Wren can be a GM, my senile 13 year old dog could be one. Quantum Physics throws me a bit, but the GM gig seems pretty straightforward.
How long have you been Mr. Wren’s Man Friday?
bernie
December 22nd, 2009
10:06 pm
Way to go Mr. Wren. How long will it be before you realize you screwed up again with a move by getting rid of Vasquez with out a doubt the best pitcher on your staff last year. Put your self up for a trade and please get out of the Braves organization. We take any GM over you. Now we are stuck with Lowe. Go Wren. Another subpar year in 2010 coming up.
dannycardwell
December 22nd, 2009
10:07 pm
i wonder how much wren pays his relatives and friends to take up for him on these blogs. the braves are not the only ones cutting cost. i went from going to 30 + games 2 years ago when he sold us out getting rid of tex when there was still a chance of a decent year to 20 games last year to just a handful this coming year. for the 7 dollars a beer and 4 dollars for a bottle of water we save tv will do just fine.
Steve
December 22nd, 2009
10:14 pm
Everyone needs to just calm down. No, the Braves aren’t quite as good as September of 09, but WHO FRICKIN CARES. After they got LaRoche last year they had the second best record in baseball until the last few days when they folded after being eliminated.
Let’s focus on WHY we didn’t make the playoffs last year for a brief moment. It was due to offense, but quite frankly, it was due to offense in the FIRST-HALF of the season. Now, let’s compare starting 2009 to 2010 (as it currently stands).
3B and LF, probably down a little assuming Melky will play third and Chipper continues to decline. Of course, Chipper could always bounce back, and if he did this turns around to a huge plus.
C, CF, RF, SS – All these positions are improved. We don’t come into the season with a question mark in CF. McCann is still young and with his eye problem figured out should continue to improve. Escobar is turning into a terrific team player and is getting better on offense every year. MattyD in RF is BETTER than Francouer, PERIOD.
2B – HUGE improvement by having Prado here over Johnson, both at the plate and in the field.
What’s left, first base. Any player with a pulse would be better offensively than Kotchman. We likely will either play Crash Davis Jr or whatever his name is that led the minors in homers, Canizares, or whatever free agent we sign. ALL of these will be better than Kotchman.
So, as other teams in the East get older (Mets) and Phillies (no way Ibanez does that again), or weaker (the Marlins are going to move Uggla before spring) .. the Braves will actually take the field in BETTER shape than last season offensively. That is with just the current projection.
If they actually spend the money they are below last year (~19 million) they could actually sign a Holliday or Bay and put Canizares or Crash at first. That’s obviously a HUGE stretch. The more likely scenario is trying to get a combo of middle tier players (Dye, Nady, DeRosa, Byrd) who are all overrated, or maybe just LaRoche. Any of those players makes us even better offensively than the beginning of last year, and it it’s LaRoche then we are as good offensively as we were during the second half.
I am telling you, if would have started last year with our current lineup, even assuming Crash Davis is the 1B .. we would have made the playoffs. EASILY.
On top of that, Hudson resigned for LESS money, and if you look at the last 5 years, he is BETTER than Vazquez in everything but K’s and IP. Even if he only pitches average, the difference between his work and Vazquez’s last year will likely be offset by Lowe, who will likely pitch much better this year. Then you have the fact that we won’t waste almost three months of starts of craptastic fifth starters like we did before giving Hanson the rock last year. Kawakami should slide from 4 to 5 this year, and that is a huge improvement over JoJo and everyone else that got a start other than Medlen in that 5 hole in the first half of last year.
I am telling you people, we are ALREADY better off than we were at the start of last season … and we are really $19 million dollars cheaper which I believe at least some of that is still waiting to be spent. If LaRoche will take $10 and DeRosa $6 million, then the Braves are loaded and with better depth than last year even.
Just CALM DOWN and realize the Braves will spend some of this money, and in 2013 they might have two of the best young pitchers in baseball hitting the field as well.
Warner Robins concerns
December 22nd, 2009
10:15 pm
Speclative, but there just has to be more to this. All we discuss is “the bat”. If the trade included Miggy, I would smile, but Melky is the wrong Cabrera.
gcs
December 22nd, 2009
10:15 pm
Is there any way we can trade Frank Wren for a 13-68 outfielder?
.
rukiddingme?
December 22nd, 2009
10:16 pm
Absolute joke. Frank Wren has no business being the GM. If the Braves are trying to save money, there were 10 other trades out there much better than this. Just can’t believe this one. Vasquez becomes a key part of another great Yankee team and we get a platoon or bench guy……terrible move and one that will haunt the Braves for sure.
Skeezix
December 22nd, 2009
10:16 pm
Mark: Keep telling it like it is! In fact, how about an article calling for new ownership and cleaning house in the general office? The city of Atlanta deserves better. It is a big market, but controlled by “small market” owners. Also, this is clearly not as good a team as we ended last season with. The pitching is weaker and nothing has been done to beef up that pathetic offense. The Braves are reverting to the mediocrity of the 80’s. It wasn’t fun then and it ain’t fun now.
Glenn
December 22nd, 2009
10:18 pm
Have not been to a game since game one 1995! Missed nothing!
Fred
December 22nd, 2009
10:20 pm
You exposed the charade, Mark. Now watch your back. Secondly, you are right: Melky IS NOT better than Nate McClouth. But it seems our role as a crypto-farm team is now out in the open.
Let’s just face it: what our organization does is give our farm arms big-league exposure until they are sold, traded, or released. The facade is always the moderate-ticket free agent pitchers that come here. Makes everybody THINK we’re a big league organization intent on winning. The Braves are really a farm team at-large for MLB.
Aging retreads and farm hands. Sounds like a AAA team to me.
Dallas
December 22nd, 2009
10:20 pm
I fear I will remember this as the day I stopped loving baseball
I is the key word, because it’s been about the money for a long time. I was just the fan of a team who had it to spend. I was always disgusted by the Yankees buying world series titles, but it was at least tolerable when we had the means to compete. Only reason the Braves sign hometown talent is for the hometown discounts.
This really is a sad day :/ I feel like my dog died.
Jdub
December 22nd, 2009
10:22 pm
“You have to think we could have at least gotten Swisher in this deal”
-That would work for a terrible defensive first baseman/outfielder that is always hurt. First base problem solved, right? I’d rather have Cabrera, because he can play all 3 OF positions and is much faster, and has much more promise than Swisher. Also, he’s MUCH LESS expensive.
“Give me a shot at it, I’ll at least get us to the playoffs”
-Spoken like a true FANTASY SPORTS/XBOX fanatic who thinks about talent, but forgets about money and team chemistry. This is real life, you can’t hit the reset button if you don’t like what you see. If my boss told me I had X amount of dollars to spend, that’s how much I would spend. I wouldn’t spend $50mill. more than he said, just because I have a good feeling about my decisions. Somebody tried that already…I think his name was Minaya (Mets)…maybe it was Williams (White Sox). Those two franchises are in MUCH BETTER shape than the Braves, right? They now have two outfielders that we couldn’t give away, along with a bunch of old vets that nobody wants because they forgot how to play defense and haven’t attempted to run, sprint, or do anything other than walk fast for 3 years. But hey, they spent a crapload of money…so I guess they are considered successful.
“Very few of you are being realistic, and almost all of you sound like you need Prozac”
-That’s the most sane thing I’ve read so far.
“new worst trade in Atlanta sports history”
-This one is too easy. You’re kidding right? I think we may be jumping the gun a little bit on this one, just my opinion. Alot of you are equating Vasquez to someone of the stature of Maddux or Smoltzy. The guy has been traded 5 TIMES IN 7 years. Okay, so say the Braves were wrong to do so. That still makes 4 TIMES IN 7 years. Are the other 4 teams all wrong? I guess so. Vasquez having a career year after having been in the AL and facing a bunch of REALLY GOOD TEAMS like the Mets, Nats, and Marlins that haven’t seen him pitch in a few years probably didn’t inflate his numbers just a little. His career era that’s more than a run higher (and that’s being generous) than his era of this year can be thrown out the window.
“Why doesn’t Frank Wren tell us the real reason for these moves”
-Um….because he’d probably like to keep his bosses from getting upset with him and firing him. Or maybe he should tell us, the fans, who can help him structure the team, and support him when the mean ol’ bosses are threatening him with a spending limit.
“We can’t get a BIG slugger via trade”
-I disagree 100% on this one. You can get ANYTHING via trade. The Braves can’t get a big slugger via the free agent market, but you can get one through trade.
“Has it occured to any of you that the reason we need to cut payroll is so we can lock up guys like JJJ, Hanson, and Hewyard before they get too expensive”
-I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that probably hasn’t occurred to 75-80% of these people. That’s being generous.
“If he DOES NOT land a Bay or Holliday or similar slugger then this deal is certainly a short-term disaster”
-Seriously? I mean, really? The Yankees and Red Sox both said that those guys are asking too much. The Mets even admitted to offering Bay too much. So, Wren should just go and give one of these guys $60-70million? Um, who, exactly is going to pay for this? ATL’s payroll is around $100million. These guys were not ever out of the question, because they weren’t even in considration. NO WAY they can afford that. If you think trading Vasquez (coming off a career year, at 33 years old, with one year left on a contract of $12million) can somehow make room for Bay or Holliday, you are truly clueless. THIS IS NOT A VIDEO GAME OR FANTASY SPORTS! Let’s get Bay, Holliday, trade Diaz for Pujols, Lowe for Halladay, and Prado for Ryan Howard. That may work on your playstation, but not in reality….which I’m beginning to think is a LONG way away for some of you.
“last year is the only year he was below a 3 ERA and he is a .500 career pitcher”
-Numbers don’t lie. But he’s going to turn it around at age 33. That’s what I’m reading.
“The bottom line Arky, you idiot, is that you had a guy in the fold who could produce the same amount of offense and maybe better defense and he didn’t cost you your best pitcher!?”
-This was a really smart, well-educated Braves fan who was saying that Church would be better than Cabrera. Only problem is, Church isn’t on the team anymore. So, I suppose if the Braves wanted to pay $2-3million more than they’re going to pay Cabrera to a guy that is always hurt and provided SUCH A HUGE BOOST last year when he was traded for Frenchy they could do that; and still be in the same predicament they are now, but with less financial flexibility, a pitcher that’s going to leave after 2010 anyway, and have Church play outfield instead of Cabrera. But I’d rather have Melky b/c he is fast, and can, you know, catch the ball.
I’m just trying to point out (and obviously failing) that trading Vasquez isn’t going to make or break this team. Keep him and let him walk, or trade him and get something more valuable than two draft picks. If you keep him, you have anwyhere from $8-10mil to get a first baseman and another outfielder (even if they re-signed Church). Or if they trade him, they get around $15-17mill to sign a free agent or make a trade to get someone that isn’t names Byrd, Nady, or Dye. They may still get one of those guys, but it won’t be for $15million. If they do, they still have flexibility to trade. Money is the key. It gives you options. The Yankees have it. That’s why they don’t care to give a MLB player and two prospects for one year of Vasquez. The Braves don’t have it, that’s why they took an MLB player and two prospects in exchange for one more year of Vasquez. I TOTALLY AGREE that this trade is not even close to straight-up talent. But the Braves basically traded themselves some options, with a few millions dollars, and got that 3rd outfielder they were looking for who can actually catch the ball and bat against, YOU GUESSED IT, righties AND lefties. Oh yeah, and they GAINED Financial flexibility while still having 5 quality starting pitchers. They have FIVE quality starting pitchers. Most teams have 2, 3 at the most.
And just as a footnote, Vasquez was NOT the ace of the staff. Jurjjens is the ‘ace’ of the staff. Not bad considering that staff also contains MLB’s top pitching prospect as of the start of last year and an All-star that had an off year and still managed to win 15 games. Not to mention KK, who is probably the best #4-5 starter in the league. You people need to chill out.
Jeff
December 22nd, 2009
10:23 pm
Congradulations to me who all last year said Frank Wren was the most idiotic GM to ever be hired and walllaaaaa He just proved me 100% right..Way to Ownership to allow this moron to wreck this team Just like he wrecked the Baltimore Orioles. Wow He signs a hazard in Saito and Wagner and Lets go Rafael Soriano,and Gonzalez. and he gets Jesse Chavez from the pirates basically .He releases Kelly Johnson ryan church and greg norton ok fine but TODAY just made me go WHATT.. We trade the best pitcher we had last year and kept a Pitcher who should of never been Signed in the First place.. Derek Lowe is older than Vasquez and we send him to the Stupid Yankees and we get Melky Cabrera ? ARE YOU SERIOUS?…..WOW way to waive the Last place and SUCKY flag Mr GM.. This man needs to be fired now.. seriously this team is junk now since he got his hands on this team he has destroyed it.. forget winning now isnt happening.. we rather save money and be like the nationals,pirates, orioles, marlins and the padres.. WOW what a sad day in the Braves History.. Smoltz and Glavine should be glad they werent a part of this team because Frank Wren is a Joke…
chris
December 22nd, 2009
10:30 pm
Chipper…it may be time to retire as this isn’t looking like a great sendoff for Bobby. can someone who gives a crap about winning baseball games buy the team?
Fred
December 22nd, 2009
10:34 pm
Matt Diaz in RF??? In the NL? Are you serious?? Matt’s a stick, but he absolutely cannot field without a Mike Cameron-like coverage guy in center. Period. Neither McClouth nor Melky have the kind of speed that’ll make up for Diaz’s lack of speed and fielding skills. He’s in the wrong league. If he were in the AL, he’d be a monstrous DH hands down.
mudcat
December 22nd, 2009
10:38 pm
Next season the Braves will have several arbitration people getting big pay raises (McCann, Yunel, Prado, etc) and knowing this and their limited budget will get a 2nd tier player on the cheap, just like they did this year. That big-bopper talk from people is not legit. It’s going to be a Byrd, Nady or some such and that’s it. If we go anywhere next year as far as the playoffs are concerned, it will be done basically with the players we have now and on the players coming up from the minors. That’s our reality fans. Remember, we don’t have any big contracts coming off the books this upcoming season unless Chipper retires early. Things are going to get tighter, not better, unless we start trading some of our pitching prospects, which nobody wants to do.
gerald perry's yoga routine
December 22nd, 2009
10:40 pm
This reminds me why I started yoga in the first place. I was angry. Angry and fat. Now, I am peaceful. And fat. And these Braves remind me of the 1986 squad.
790 the fan
December 22nd, 2009
10:44 pm
Heard Frank Wren on the fan saying this is not the only move and they are in the mix for a 30hr 100 rbi guy but he did say we think