The Atlanta Braves should sign Billy Wagner to be their closer... this is pretty much a no-brainer, especially after I learned that his agent is named Bean Stringfellow. I repeat, his agent is named Bean Stringfellow... and he used to pitch in the Braves organization:
First off, I love the stache. Classic late-70s, early 80s middle-American tweener stache. I think I had a couple of cousins who sported such a thing. I just can't get over that name, Bean Stringfellow. It literally turned my mood around today.
Thank you Bean Stringfellow.
You do realize that every time anyone mentions Billy Wagner from now on, they must refer to him as "Billy Wagner, whose agent is Bean Stringfellow," or somehow work in that name. Every. Time.
I can't believe that Rowland's Office hasn't highlighted this guy yet... major fail.
Bean Stringfellow got as high as triple-A.
0 recs | 33 comments
This would be a nice pickup...
The Braves should be all over Wagner’s agent … Bean Stringfellow. Is it just me or does Bean look like he stared in some B-rated ninja movies?
taney71 - November 10, 2009
That ninja comment made me LOL!
gondeee - November 10, 2009
Nobody wants a roundhouse kick to the face when you're wearing these bad boys.
The Keith Lockhart Era - November 10, 2009
Wagner is classified as a Type A free agent. Kind of risky to give up the draft pick for such an injury concern
bravesguy311 - November 10, 2009
*game show loser music* (WHOMP WHOMP WHOOOOOMP)
buzzkill post
hoboken_wood - November 10, 2009
This
royhobbs - November 10, 2009
But he is correct
Wagner will, in all likelyhood, be offered arb by the Bosox. That would kill his value for me…
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
And if you counter that with say...
5 picks gained from LaRoche, Soriano and Gonzalez, or even if one of Gonzo or Soriano isn’t offered arb, and you just get 3 picks, yet you only lose one for Wagner? Those guys make it a lot easier to swallow signing a type A this off season.
Mr. Sanchez - November 10, 2009
very good point, just have to see who we offer arb to
bravesguy311 - November 10, 2009
IMHO, Wagner is more likely to stay healthy than Soriano. Rafael has an extensive injury history and given his problems the past two years, it likely isn’t over. We have two type A free agents in Soriano and Gonzalez and we also have LaRoche as a type B. The situation surrounding Soriano and Gonzo is uncertain but LaRoche is sure to net us a supplemental round pick. Gonzo is probably more likely to get a long term deal than is Soriano, which if we do indeed offer arbitration would net us the signing teams 1st or 2nd round pick and a supplemental pick. If the organization is going to continue to “go cheap” in the draft, we can find comparable talent in the supplemental round anyway.
jeg - November 10, 2009
You have to assume that
these guys are going to be offered Arb. Of course, thatt would be the smart decision in my opinion…
You also have to assume that most or none of those guys go to a team in the bottom of the league with a protected pick. That is no guarantee either.
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
reply fail
dammit….
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
forget Wagner....
just sign Bean!
Bean Stringfellow. Yep. Want.
sddbaker - November 10, 2009
I can get behind that
I’d say Bean Stringfellow still has some gas.
Fischerking - November 11, 2009
If we sign Wagner we'll know more by then anyway, so it is wait and see
We aren’t about to sign Wagner before the arbitration offer or acceptance deadlines, so we’ll know the following things prior to deciding whether to sign him:
1. Whether the Red Sox offer Wagner arbitration (they could, but they might not, it might be part of the deal they made to get him to accept the trade to Boston like not exercising the option was)
2. Whether we offer arbitration to Gonzo and/or Soriano and whether either of them accepts. If we offer to both and they both accept, obviously we aren’t signing Wagner. If Gonzo is back in the fold, we probably aren’t signing Wagner either (that would be two left handed closers). It would also let us know what kind of compensation picks we might get.
We do have to be careful, however—-just because Soriano, for example, declines arbitration does not mean we get full Type A compensation—-he could easily sign with a team that also signs a Type A free agent higher on the list, lowering our compensation.
cavebird - November 10, 2009
another problem
is if we offer arb and one of them (or both) sign with a team with a protected pick…
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
Lastly
I don’t see Wagner hitting free agency. The more I look at it, if Wagner is offered arbitration, he will probably take it. He made $10.5 million last season, so at a minimum he is looking at $8.4 million in arb, though probably more. I don’t see him saying no to that since he probably won’t see much more in free agency, and if he does he is out of the Braves price range anyway.
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
doesnt that mean he wont be offered Arb… no way even theRed Sox drop 8.4 M on a guy to set up
Swo12bv - November 10, 2009
Wagner won't accept arbitration
He has made it clear he wants to close because he wants to pump his career save numbers. If he wanted the money he would not have insisted that the Red Sox decline his option. He will not accept arbitration and the cash is not the biggest thing for him. However, the Nats and Orioles are both close to his Virginia home and need a closer, either could offer him more money than we would. And the other could go after Soriano, and both have protected (well protected, lol) picks.
cavebird - November 10, 2009
SIGN STRING BEAN FELLOW!!
Bmacbandwagon - November 10, 2009
Agreed Bmacbandwagon LOL
Sign him b/c that is more than likely the type of “no-name closer” we will go out and get from a second rate team. Gonzo arb would be nice but who knows ? LaRoche is more than likely going to be elswhere next year so what to do with power bat situation ?
Trade Lowe or Vasquez w’ alot of others to the Brewers and get Prince Fielder. We can control him for two more seasons of arb eligibilty and simply let him go for Freeman after that or sign him long term. Another opition could be trying to get Ryan Braun but that would take Lowe and Vasquez plus more.
Just sign string bean fellow and be done with it, LOL.
Holty_Panthers_Fan - November 10, 2009
the name alone
should have propelled Bean into the majors.
adc62 - November 10, 2009
"Type A Free Agent"
That reason alone is why I think the Braves should steer clear of him because it would SHOCK me if the Red Sox for some weird reason do not offer him arbitration.
However, my opinion would differ if Wren feels comfortable in offering both Soriano and Gonzo arbitration knowing both will decline.
SmithnCompany - November 10, 2009
Very interesting because I have been advocating this since the season ended. Wags proved he can still fireball it pitching at the end for the Red Sox and really wants to close. He’s also a Southern kid so I think we should make every effort to sign him because he is better than either Soriano (who will be gone anyway) or Gonzo. I am not that worried about the pick(s) we give up because we need to seize the opporunity especially considering Chipper’s age.
The Rap - November 10, 2009
Billy Wagner was a Braves fan growing up.
cbwilk - November 10, 2009
weren't they all?
sddbaker - November 11, 2009
Yeah, pretty much.
cbwilk - November 11, 2009
Sorry...
His name sounds like he should look like this:
FineHamAbounds - November 10, 2009
hahah
thats great
’ello govna. Bean Longfellow atcha service
bravesguy311 - November 11, 2009
it wouldnt take lowe and javy
I think you need to stay off the drugs if you think it would take them both to get ryan braun . There are other outfielders i’d rather have then him .
~~banditwolf~~ - November 11, 2009
I doubt Braun or Fielder are available at all
It is not a question of whether Lowe and Javy would get one of them, they wouldn’t. Those two (Braun and Fielder) are great, young, and relatively cheap. If we want one of the them the package would have to include Heyward, which ain’t gonna happen. So, no , I think those two are a bridge too far for even trade possibilities.
cavebird - November 11, 2009
Good Point!
I agree! Wagner has above average stuff even at his age. Braves fans could really get behind him. Wouldn’t mind having him even if we could keep one of the other closes we have who are on our roster.
Gjmoody - November 11, 2009 via mobile
< Gonzalez
If Bean Stringfellow can accept a deal for less than Mike Gonzalez money then his client may be of interest.
Drom John - November 11, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.