Several things popping up on this Monday in the world of the Atlanta Braves
First... There are several people planning on attending Brian McCann's Celebrity Softball Game this Friday, November 13th at Georgia Tech. It's for a great cause, and we'll get a little bit of a Braves baseball fix here in the middle of the winter. For details and to purchase tickets go here. Respond in the comments if you plan on going. Oh, and I just read that the Varisty will be selling food and drink... as if we needed a reason to go, hello, Varsity and baseball (softball, really) in one stop. (Perhaps the Braves will take note and put a Varsity at Turner Field next year.)
Second... The Elias rankings came out today and there were no surprises for the Braves. We have four free agents eligible for draft pick compensation were they to be offered arbitration by the Braves but sign elsewhere. Relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez are type-A free agents (meaning we would get a first round and supplemental first round pick), and Adam LaRoche and Garret Anderson are type-B free agents (meaning we would get a supplemental first round pick).
Third... David O'Brien of the AJC is now on Twitter, and he has this nugget from the GM Meetings (which started today):
I'm hearing the Braves have discussed trying to sign Javier Vazquez to a contract extension. Not sure if that's gotten anywhere yet or will.
And only this morning Buster Olney was saying we would trade him. Gonna be one of those winters...
0 recs | 35 comments
Olney
becomes less credible by the sentence….
Andy Braves Fan - November 9, 2009
lol im tired of that dude.
rockybull - November 9, 2009
I think they can both be right...
we’ve probably looked into what a Vasquez extension would look like (basically what they’d be wanting in years and $), but won’t commit with the current other commitments in the starting rotation. Because of those commitments, we are also having to entertain possible trades depending on what’s available for Kawakami or Lowe.
Mr. Sanchez - November 9, 2009
Wont get nothin for Anderson cause we wont offer him arb…
rockybull - November 9, 2009
Fine by me
Because offering him arb would be one risk I would not want to take
SmithnCompany - November 9, 2009
I'LL be there on Friday.
It looks like it will be a nice day, high 65 and only a ten percent chance of rain! Go figure. So used to seeing rain. I have never been to Russ Chandler Field, so this is a perfect opportunity.
GwinnettBraves - November 9, 2009
I'll be there
Man, I wish I had access to my old job’s parking garage for this.
royhobbs - November 9, 2009
Could we offer Anderson the minimum, knowing he wouldn’t take it and get the picks?
blitzerlover - November 9, 2009
But he probably would take it, since he’s not really likely to draw interest. He had to wait until March last year, when he was coming off a much better season. If you handed him a chance at a guaranteed contract he’d jump on it.
cbwilk - November 9, 2009
I’d take GA on a league minimum contract as a bench player.
Scott Coleman - November 9, 2009
I would too. He would be worth it as a PH.
blitzerlover - November 9, 2009
assuming bobby would only use him in that role
Doghnut - November 9, 2009
Arbitration never yields a drop in salary as far as I know. I think it’s part of the MLB-union bargain.
sgrapevine - November 9, 2009
As said before
teams can only offer a 20% decrease in salary. If the case gets taken to the arbiter, the player almost always wins.
Andy Braves Fan - November 9, 2009
OK, I guess I completely misunderstood the process.
blitzerlover - November 9, 2009
Its a No Brainer!!
If we can get Javy to sign a Hudon-esque contract, we’d be morons not to do it. It would give us some real nice stability and flexability with our roster. I’m a big Javy fan and not afraid to admit it. He, Hanson,Hudson and JJ would make an unbeatable rotation for years to come.
FloridaBravesFan - November 9, 2009
I don't know
If Javy for settle for that kind of deal. Seems to me that he could fetch a deal similar to Lowe’s if he were a free agent right now (and easily mind you).
SmithnCompany - November 9, 2009
Not so sure.
The economy being in the tank means fewer teams are willing to enter the bidding. He still might draw a big offer, but he likes it here and has previously negotiated a limited no-trade clause for good reasons, so the field is further narrowed.
There could be a real opportunity for the Bravos to lock him for on a 3 year extension, which if combined with a salary dump of Lowe would be a huge win, imo.
fandave - November 9, 2009
Wait, DOB’s Twitter picture is Hank Aaron?!? He’s not that ugly.
GoBravesNY - November 9, 2009
Hmm
I wonder if this means they have found a suitor for Lowe/Kawakami
drumzalicious - November 9, 2009
i would think they’d get rid of someone before committing another long term contract to another starter.
10-4 - November 10, 2009
Dropping Lowe would be a good move?
We won’t get much for him, maybe only 1-2 minor leagures in return. But last year could have been just a fluke for him and he rebounds this year in style. I remember Hudson not being very impressive his 1st year too.
Trek - November 9, 2009
If we could find someone to take on at least 80% of DLowe's contract
I’d be ecstatic. I probably wouldn’t even care if we didn’t get a solid prospect or two.
If we could shed all of it, we could probably sign Matt Holliday.
/mvhsbball dreams of a Holliday/Schafer/Heyward OF for years to come.
Scott Coleman - November 9, 2009
I would be ecstatic as well however I highly doubt we will get Holliday and honestly i wouldnt want him. I dont feel like we should tie so much money and time in him from whats being said he is looking for 6+years and 100+mil.
drumzalicious - November 10, 2009
yea but
we have at least 4 other starters that could put up his 2008 numbers and the 5th being KK could come pretty close IMO
drumzalicious - November 10, 2009
Trade Talks?
The hot stove is heating up, I heard a possible trade of Lowe for Carlos Lee and we may senda low level prospect as well. The free agent grading is bogus, anyone check out that Carl Crawford of the Rays got listed as a Type B and Chone Figgins as a Type A. Bet the Rays are glad they still had an option on him.
Bluechips85 - November 10, 2009
Where did you hear that rumor?
sounds bogus to me. Carlos Lee is making over $18 million till 2012… why would the Braves send an extra prospect?
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
Because Lee is a more valuable commodity?
Given Lee’s bankable batting and Lowe’s age and the fact that hitters in general command a higher salary, I would have no problem throwing in a Grade B prospect with Lowe to get Carlos Lee. No problem at all. In fact, if there is an offer on the table, can we please take it now? Please?
cavebird - November 10, 2009
Upon further reflection...
…Lee’s defense is bad, and he is aging, too, so a prospect probably shouldn’t be necessary. However, given that we would be getting exactly what we need for a total contractual addition of 3.5 Million (and the years are no longer than Lowe’s contract), I’d still overpay and throw in the B prospect.
cavebird - November 10, 2009
Lowe is just too much...
for too long in my mind. He’s a good bat, and would fit the bill there well, but he makes McLouth or Schafer (and probably Diaz as well) nothing but trade bait, and also would cost $50 million over the next 3 years. For a team pinching pennies that’s not ideal. Maybe they are figuring you can balance his price with the inexpensive, younger players like Freeman, Heyward, Schafer, Escobar, Jurrjens, and Hanson, but it’s still an awful lot to spend when you add him to Chipper and the veteran starters.
Mr. Sanchez - November 10, 2009
meant "Lee is just too much"...
not Lowe, reply fail.
Mr. Sanchez - November 10, 2009
For the record
that was my point. Lee is getting paid a lot (significantly more than Lowe), his returns are likely to continue to diminish, he can’t play defense…
Why would the Braves do this?
Andy Braves Fan - November 10, 2009
I’ll be there with a few folks. My father in law reminded us of the armed robberies at Tech, so everyone be careful and travel in groups if you can. Apparently, whoever’s doing it likes to pull up to you in their car and make it quick.
10-4 - November 10, 2009
ah crap.
Lizziebeth - November 10, 2009
Varsity?
“What’ll ya have? have?have?have?have?have?have?have?
10-4 - November 10, 2009
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