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
G. Steinbrenner
December 22nd, 2009
6:45 pm
I’ve got my eye on Heyward…if he’s worth a damn.
ArkyTech
December 22nd, 2009
6:46 pm
Church is a platoon player – that’s like saying Matt Diaz is better than Jeter because if you project his stats, blah blah blah. Melky can play every day, 150+ games a season. And if a guy isn’t available, you end up with guys like Gregor Blanco and Goreiki or whatever his name is in the lineup.
Tremaine
December 22nd, 2009
6:46 pm
Great column Mark. The only way this is a good trade is if the braves sign Holliday or Bay and I don’t see that happening because they are to cheap. They are going to go out and overspend for an average 1B so they can convince enough fans that they have a chance in order to sell tickets. I will not be paying my hard earned money to see Melky Cabera.
Robert
December 22nd, 2009
6:47 pm
People always say wait and see on these trades because of the prospects……so, this trade MIGHT be worth SOMETHING in 5 to 6 years when this A-baller is actually a commodity to the team.
Lets get real: Melky Cabrera’s mediocre. Platoons suck. We still have no starters in the OF save McLouth but already traded our best or 2nd best P. No 1B either, and I sure hope they don’t throw a bunch of money at Chipper’s space cadet huntin’ buddy Laroche. Looks like another crummy, mediocre Braves season watching the stinkin’ Phillies run away with the division again. Trade Chipper and get a real OF and a replacement 3B, someone who might not get hurt EVERY week!
BTW I saw a 12 yr old pitching and looked like he could throw really hard. A big lefty. Might want to send ole Frank Wren out there, he might want to trade Brian McCann to Berkmar Middle for him….this kid might make the majors in 2020!
Jdub
December 22nd, 2009
6:47 pm
“Javier would have been a potential 20 game winner for at least 3 to 4 more years”
-He’s a FREE AGENT!!! at the end of the year. He wouldn’t have come back. We couldn’t have afforded him. GET OVER IT! WE CAN’T AFFORD HIM! OK, let’s keep him for just this year, then let him walk for nothing.
“We keep an unhappy Derek Lowe”
-I’m sure he’ll get over it. He’s owed $45million over the next 3 years. Which is why he’s still wearing a Braves uniform. We could have traded him for Juan Rivera or someone of his likeness, and also shipped the Angels about $20million dollars. So we basically would have paid Juan Rivera $20mil + his original salary+ Derek Lowe. So we’d have Vazques (who’s going to want about the same, probably more, than Lowe makes now), Jurjjens & Hanson, who will both get significant raises through abritration over the next few years. So basically, after the 2010 season, we’d have Juan Rivera, NO Vasquez, NO Lowe, and out about $20mill dollars, maybe more cash than that.
“Vasquez, who stated he loved it here”
-He sure did. So did: Mark Teixeira, Mike Gonzalez, Ron Mahay, Will Ohman, Mr. Furcal, and a guy named LaRoche That’s just over the past couple of years. I’m sure at least ONE OF THESE GUYS will take a hometown discount and sign with the Braves instead of chasing big money….right? Right?
OF COURSE this trade isn’t a straight up victory for ATL. Wren is moving salary, and trying to look at the next couple of years as well. Would you all rather have Vazquez here next year, with, once again, no run support, and then have him walk away? Then we can do this again next offseason. Or, would you rather trade Lowe, give the team you trade him to a few million dollars, THEN have Vazquez walk away? Then we’d be out TWO starting pitchers PLUS a few million dollars.
OR, would you like to wait and maybe see what players we do have when the season actually starts, in, oh, 3 months from now. If he does nothing, and this is the same roster in March, then I’ll help you blast him away. I’ll be first in line. But, as of now, he’s gotten us Jurjjens for Renteria (anyone can debate that one all you want, I’ll listen, but that was highway robbery for ATL). We “gave away all our prospects” in the Teixeira deal. Because Andrus would be starting over Escobar, right? And Salty isn’t always hurt and was so much better than McCann, right? And we still managed to hang on to that Hanson kid, and Freeman, and Heyward. But our farm system is ‘depleted’, right? Wren’s working with what he’s given. He didn’t want to trade Vasquez. He had to. Nobody wanted Lowe and his salary. To be honest, we’re lucky we got anything for Vasquez. Would YOU trade away a starting outfielder, and two prospects for a guy that is only going to play for you for one year? I wouldn’t.
Ron Roberts is an IDIOT!
December 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
Pretty funny Baba! I guess you just proved my point. That dude needs his head examined.
Opinion
December 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
Remember when players used to take less to play for the Braves……….well thats gone
gp
December 22nd, 2009
6:48 pm
Just so we are clear, Melky Cabrera is garbage. Wren sucks out loud for bringing us this garbage.
Vol4ever
December 22nd, 2009
6:49 pm
Been a Braves fan since 1972. Why would you trade Vasquez for anybody right now? If this is the team we go into the season with I’m done…………….the Braves are done for sure!
Mike D-O-double G
December 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
I saw Frank Wren at Wal Mart last night wearing a pink Jeter jersey.
gp
December 22nd, 2009
6:50 pm
Jdub:
When he walks as a free agent we would’ve gotten comp draft picks which is better tham Melky Fing Cabrera or Len Barker, or whoever the hell these losers just traded for.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
6:51 pm
Arky- Brett freaking Gardner beat out Melky for the CF job this spring. melky only got the job back because Gardner got in a prolonged slump. He also lost the job in 2008 to Damon.
larryr
December 22nd, 2009
6:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Hey Bradely ever hear the expression, buy low sell high, that’s what Frank did! Let’s wait and see what the ultimate deal looks like.
Mike D-O-double G
December 22nd, 2009
6:52 pm
I saw Wren at Wal Mart last night wearing a pink Jeter jersey.
ArkyTech
December 22nd, 2009
6:52 pm
Baba, you conveniently left off a few stats in your 4 year comparison:
Church AB-1344/R-179/H-368/2B-102/3B-3/SB-17
Cabrera AB-1904/R-249/H-514/2B-90/3B-12/SB-44
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
6:53 pm
@ Jackets
Yea, but you know what’s funny. An article where it says Melky ain’t that much of a upgrade. I mean really? He has more potential than Garret. Plus Amazing defense. Younger. Plus OBP.
Ben
December 22nd, 2009
6:53 pm
I can’t even stand reading this article. The fact is that we don’t need vazquez. Our rotation will be almost as good as last year if not better. Hudson will be back to being a top notch starter, hanson and jurrjens will each have another year under their belt, kawakami will have adjusted to pitching in the majors, and lowe will have figured out his mechanics and win 17-18 games. Vazquez was completely expendable and we solidified our future rotation and added a hard throwing lefty reliever who can learn a lot from Wagner if he makes the roster. I don’t like cabrera at all but I like the prospects we got and the 9 million we freed up in payroll. In no way is this the ridiculous trade Mark Bradley is making this out to be. I don’t know where we are going to find that big bat but if Wren can find one that fits I wll consider it a successful offseason.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
6:54 pm
Like I’ve said many times, the ONLY reason Melky can play for the Yankees is because they don’t need his mediocre bat. The braves need a Bopper, not a decent bat, average fielding player.
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
6:54 pm
Oh yea, and I’m reading comments saying the 2010 Braves are done. LOL @ THAT. The offseason ain’t over fools! Melky can turn out to be a trade bait to even a bigger deal (I kinda see that happening.)
Tomy Fournier
December 22nd, 2009
6:54 pm
atlanta…what????
collegeballfan
December 22nd, 2009
6:55 pm
Ok so the Braves must operate with salary constraints imposed by the owner. So what else is new?
This trade was not made for Cabrera. This trade was made for Vizcaino.
Cabrera & Dunn with the $500K were just to tidy up the trade.
Fast forward to 2012. Starting rotation – Jerrgens, Hanson, Vizcaino,
Medlen.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
6:55 pm
He does not play “amazing defense”. Look up the numbers and stop regurgitating what you hear from others.
Ecoop
December 22nd, 2009
6:58 pm
Espn, which seems to know nothing about the team has suggested Uggla for first base and even worse Johnny Damon. Do you think there is any merit to either?
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
Google Melky UZR rating. He is rated 12-15th out of 26 CF with enough innings to qualify. He is “middle of the road”. Far from amazing.
Bill James
December 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
and of all teams the Yankees…if our goal is to win the World Series (fans and players goal only) why make it that much f’n harder.
Bill Stanfill
December 22nd, 2009
6:59 pm
Rationalize it however you want–what a #%&*ing disappointment this trade is. What a disappointment the Braves organization has become.
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
7:00 pm
@ BABA
Well he plays better defense than Loaf. Do you not agree?
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
7:01 pm
2010 ABSOLUTELY. But not better than Ryan Church
gp
December 22nd, 2009
7:03 pm
THE PHILLIES GOT ROY HALLADAY
WE TRADED OUR BEST PITCHER FOR MELKY CABRERA!!
THEY GO TO THE WORLD SERIES-WE TRY TO STAY ABOVE .500
HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU SAY “STUPID LOSERS”??
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
7:04 pm
gp- I can say it in Piglatin
Mel
December 22nd, 2009
7:04 pm
Jdub, I couldn’t agree with you more. Vasquez was not leaving the East Coast due to his contact, so no LA. Those players that we wanted to move (Lowe/Johnson), nobody wanted. I’m not overly excited about the trade, but know it had to be done. Last note, many among this blog have stated they wouldn’t again waste their time buying tickets to see the Braves next year, I want to commend you on dressing as empty seats this season…even when Javy was pitching.
Bob
December 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm
Had to trade someone. Although Vazquez wasn’t first choice, he was the only veteran starter with real value. Besides, he had a career year and is a free agent after 2010.
Face it, the Braves are not deep pockets anymore and must rely on their farm for their next big run.
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
7:05 pm
Yea, I agree. But Ryan Church didn’t help at all last year (especially in hitting. I didn’t see much from him). But it did led Diaz to have more plate appearances last year. Maybe we can see a Diaz/Cabrera platoon? Doubt it though.
1eyedJack
December 22nd, 2009
7:06 pm
He ain’t going to get as good of pitches to hit in the Bravos lineup as he did in the Yankees lineup.
George
December 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
JUST TORE UP MY SEASON TICKET APPLICATION, WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING BRAVES (ATLANTA) THIS YEAR…. GO GWINNETT BRAVES… SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT ANYWAY… LESS MONEY FOR US.. IF THEY WANT TO SAVE MONEY SO DO I….
Rufino Linares
December 22nd, 2009
7:07 pm
Not to fear though…
Apparently Melky has a reputation for “clutching up” in the postseason. In the postsaeson he has a batting average of………………….wait for it……………………..239
This year, he killed the Phillies batting .154 in 13 at bats.
What a steaming pile of crap this trade is.
Country Ham
December 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm
This is one reason I don’t like baseball. Until some sort of salary cap comes in, it will always be the Yankees using the rest of the Major Leagues(save Boston, the L.A.’s etc..) as their farm system. The luxury tax they just paid was about equal to the payroll of the Marlins. That’s ridiculous!!!!
gp
December 22nd, 2009
7:08 pm
Right on Babs
jeffrey d
December 22nd, 2009
7:09 pm
JUST TORE UP MY SEASON TICKET APPLICATION, WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING BRAVES (ATLANTA) THIS YEAR
It’s funny…the other day my friend was asking me what the definition of “knee-jerk” is.
gp
December 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
George,
Melky may wind up in Gwinnett this year. Not sure you can get away from this disaster so easily.
Don!
December 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
I don’t like dealing Vazquez, but I don’t blame Wren for this deal either. He’s shown a good eye in the past for picking up pitching prospects, remember the deal for Jarr Jurrjens for Renteria looked like this at the time too.
Basically, this was a near-done deal the day we decided to sign the contract extension for Hudson. That gave us the need/room to make this deal. Of course, the other side of the equation includes the deals we made last year for Kenshin and Lowe — both of which appear to be above market right now.
Anyway, as long as we’re taking the $8M in savings — $11.5M – $3M (for Melky) – $500k from the Yanks — to get that bat we need, I’m good with this deal. If the market acts the way it looks, then maybe we even get LaRoche back here on a one-year deal to plug the hole at first until Freeman’s ready, and give the offense the punch needed for an outfield with a lot of athletic ability, but not power.
Or maybe, we go get a one-year rental on a good outfielder with a signing or a deal, and let Freeman play first this year, and wait for Heyward next year. Either way, I don’t see this deal as complete until spring training starts and we see where the money went. If we could get a good bat cheap, like the Angels did with Abreu last year — then this was a good deal. On the other hand, if we do indeed go to Florida with this money still in our pocket … then Mark’s right and this deal exposes us for being more concerned about money than winning.
Later,
Don!
Erock
December 22nd, 2009
7:10 pm
This just in… Wren making another blockbuster move!! Braves just signed 1B Greg Norton to a 3 year $40 million deal! Wren calls it a perfect fit to humiliate Bobby Cox in his final year. HoHum….
gp
December 22nd, 2009
7:11 pm
jeffery d:
The definition of knee jerk is Frank Wren. See the Soriano and JV trades.
bigstack19
December 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm
Frank Wren just clinched the “Idiot Of The Year” award. It was close at the end, but Wren proved that even if you are a giant retard you can still be the GM of a once proud franchise that in two or three years will look like the Pirates due in large part to his stupidity. Wren should be dragged out in the middle of Peachtree Street and beaten until he agrees to quit and leave town. Oh yeah, Happy Chrismahannakwanza!
ArkyTech
December 22nd, 2009
7:12 pm
Who said Melky was “the bopper?” He’s a young, proven major league outfielder who bats right handed and will give us depth at a position where we most lack it. He’s a piece, just like he was for the Yanks. Plus we freed up $8-9M and got prospects we can keep or deal. I just don’t get the outrage.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
don! We had Yunel that enabled us to trade Renteria.
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
@Erock
Haha! Nice one.
Baba O'Riley
December 22nd, 2009
7:13 pm
Arky- You just said it. “He’s a piece”. I can finish the sentence for you.
Jeff Walker
December 22nd, 2009
7:14 pm
Its funny that braves fans are so blind to reality. Everyone is ripping Wren for this trade, which doesn’t appear to be great at the moment, but im sure it was as good as we could get given the no-trade that limited demand. Someone actually said that “EVERY” trade Wren has made has been horrible. WOW! Do you think that the Detroit fans would like to have Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez back for that 1-yr of an aging Renteria? Wren looked good there i’d say! Or how about turning Kotchman into Laroche last yr? Laroche played great. Oh and did you all forget that we gave up 3 lousy prospects and 1 solid prospect for Javier Vasquez in the first place. Wren got a GREAT season out of Vasquez then turned it into a solid OF and 2 good prospects, one maybe great prospect. But if you can’t give him credit for the Jurrjens trade, then your just bitter and foolish
2010Braves
December 22nd, 2009
7:14 pm
Arky, not only right-handed. But switch hitter.