From the Braves press release:
The Atlanta Braves announced today that they will decline to offer salary arbitration to their five free agents before tonight's midnight deadline. The five players include outfielder Rick Ankiel, right-handed pitcher Kyle Farnsworth, infielder Troy Glaus, infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske and first baseman Derrek Lee.
No real surprises here. Apparently we can still negotiate with these free agents if we wish, as the Braves have a contract offer on the table to Hinske. I'm pretty sure we determined in the comments that the deadline for arbitration eligible players who were not free agents is in early December, just before the Winter Meetings.
0 recs | 35 comments
We didnt offer Hinske arbitration, but we still offered him a contract. There’s still a chance we sign him.
Scott Coleman - November 23, 2010 via mobile
I thought
Today’s deadline was just for players who are free-agent eligible. I thought guys like Moylan and Diaz who are still under team control had a deadline later in December
HansonManCrush - November 23, 2010
Pretty sure this is the case as well
nixa37 - November 23, 2010
i think so too
As much as I hate to say it, I really don’t see them re-signing Diaz
HansonManCrush - November 23, 2010
I don’t know how else to say this, the franchise is not going to turn any corners by keeping around one-dimensional players like Matty Diaz when there are a sufficient number of prospects to trade for a solid 7th or 8th position player. Matty’s a great pinch hitter against lefties…that’s it.
TBuzz - November 23, 2010 via mobile
I understand
I’m just such a big fan is all… I know the team has better options at this point… I’ll cheer for him wherever he goes, unless it’s Philly
HansonManCrush - November 23, 2010
even if he goes to Philly, I’ll root for him anyway. Like he can hit a double to the gap, but Heyward throws out the runner at the plate anyway.
blwfish - November 23, 2010
Our rotation is righty heavy, he won’t be doing much hitting against us in that scenario.
king of games - November 23, 2010
Not only is Diaz the man... but
Diaz splits against pitchers he has faced before are just as dramatic as his splits against lefties, and that includes against several top flight rhpitchers. Matt Diaz is simply a natural hitter, and when he is on a tear, he excells at hitting righties..
This is bullshit about matt diaz being a one dimentional player.
willlinn - November 23, 2010
I disagree...
Wow, talk about a man crush!
Here’s the problem though. When you add up the times Diaz was on a tear and the times he wasn’t, what you end up with is .250/.302/.438 and a K rate at 20%
For someone who’s not a speed threat, plays mediocre defense, and has a .200 higher OPS versus lefties than righties…I will say it once again. ONE-DIMENSIONAL. I’m all for keeping him on as a bench player, but Joe Mather gives you roughly the same production for WAY less money.
TBuzz - November 24, 2010
Diaz is OK in LF, that’s about it, not great, not horrible. He’s pure unadulterated hell vs lefties. Mather has no production that I can find. If it came down to those two, I’d send Diaz to the plate every time. In the field, Mather is probably the better choice, he’s way more versatile. I want Diaz on the team unless a better option than Mather is available.
bighop - November 24, 2010
this
Braves24 - November 24, 2010
Mather had a decent stint in 2009 with the Cards.
So let me get this straight. You’ll take Diaz at $2.5M to only hit lefties with no realistic shot to start at LF (even if Prado needs to play 3B)…or Mather at $400K who can fill in at 4 positions? If Mather can get to .300 OBP like Diaz did it’s a better deal…
TBuzz - November 24, 2010 via mobile
Yes I would
Because I don’t take much stock in Diaz 2010 numbers after nearly having to have his thumb amputated. Without looking, I’d say Diaz career BA is as high as Mather’s OB%. And Diaz can hit RHP, certainly not as well as vs LHP, but well enough.
bighop - November 24, 2010
MattE Diaz Is NOT For SALE!!!!!
Matt Diaz is by far my favorite baseball player, period. I love the way he plays the game, hustles, hits ugly pitches, steals bases, and never complains about anything!!! i love his stance!!!!!!! SOUTHERN COMFORT ALL THE WAY!!!! MattE epitomizes the word "overachiever". I say we make Diaz a lifetime Brave. He is the ultimate hitting machine!! Should he have been giving more chance to play this year after he came back from surgery instead of :MilkDud: he would have showed all yall non believers…… If they dont sign MattE they wont get my money this year cause i wont go unless Matt is there………And he is such a wonderful spokesman for the team…
That’s my 2cents… Karen from South Carolina
harleyhalo - November 28, 2010
Kinda extreme to say you wont support the team if a bench player leaves...
Doghnut - November 28, 2010
Frank Wren
will gladly trade your season ticket defection for the extra $2M of roster space he can save by replacing a one-dimensional player like Matt Diaz who put up a pretty mediocre showing during an arbitration-eligible season…for someone who can hit higher than .250 and steal a few bases
TBuzz - November 28, 2010 via mobile
To Frank
Frank Wren shouldn’t have spent all that money on " McOUT" and Matte can surely out do that little worthless piece of squirt
harleyhalo - November 29, 2010
Actually, he didn't.
The Pirates signed that deal, not the Braves.
MichaelProcton - November 29, 2010
Matt simply wasn’t that good. He had a great little run off the bench, but that’s about it. Sorry, but it’s true.
justincredubil02 - November 29, 2010
Rough 12 months for the man...
from should be our everyday leadoff hitter to “a great little run off the bench, but that’s about it”.
Mr. Sanchez - November 29, 2010
Off the top of my head I thought it was Dec 2 for the nontender deadline.
bbxxj - November 23, 2010 via mobile
Hinske better re-sign or I won’t be happy. :(
TonyAlmeyda - November 23, 2010
Hinske can still start at 1B
Hinske would still have a pretty realistic shot at the starting 1B job next year if Freddie Freeman isn’t ready right?
TBuzz - November 23, 2010 via mobile
I'm sure Freeman is ready
But Hinske fits this team’s needs so well, a LH bench bat with pop who can play multiple positions and has good team chemistry… Just give the dude a two year deal and call it a day, he loves the team anyway
HansonManCrush - November 23, 2010
This.
Though it may be more of “we can play him at multiple positions” than “he can play multiple positions.” Either way. If he takes two years and under $4 million, do it.
The Keith Lockhart Era - November 23, 2010
I obviously don’t speak for FW, but that amount would well worth keeping his playoff streak alive!
TBuzz - November 23, 2010 via mobile
Hinske has an offer on the table from the Brewers too, he’s from Wisconsin, if Wren wants him, ne better make him happy.
bighop - November 23, 2010
I updated the story to reflect the other arb deadline. I was rushed earlier, but now that I think about it, that’s right. And I believe we can still negotiate with these players, though I’m not certain. Can someone clarify.
gondeee - November 23, 2010
Definitely can still negotiate...
Although exclusive negotiations are well past.
But yeah, can definitely still negotiate, or else the Yankees just lost negotiating rights with Jeter and Rivera…
-C
cthabeerman - November 23, 2010
If we don’t resign Hinske I’ll cry.
MBL1 - November 23, 2010 via mobile
His new BFF
David Ross needs to get on the phone and make a sales pitch to bring him back to ATL
HansonManCrush - November 23, 2010
“David, they are paying you and signed you to a multi-year deal. I need to get paid too!”
justincredubil02 - November 24, 2010
“
DavidRossy . . .”fandave - November 24, 2010
Hinske needs to return
Brewers have offered him a contract too, but with Uggla in the fold and the great pitching we have why in the world would he want to go and play for the terrible Brew Crew; I mean they have zero pitching and they are worried about signing Hinske ? Brewers organization needs to wake and develop or sign pitching before they worry about their bench. HINSKE PLEASE RETURN PLEASE !!!
On the others in the above posting no big surprises, Farnsworth (would have been nice to retain but not with his $5 mil + opt, Ankiel, Lee no thank you. Glaus needs to go to the AL and become a DH his body just cannot allow him any longer to play in the field which is a shame he was really well on his way to a great comeback season until his knee(s) gave out on him along with other various ailments due to years of strain. Still Glaus, Lee, Ankiel, Farnsworth, and of course Hinske should be cheered for all they did for helping the 2010 ATL Braves Ball Club; Good show boys good show. However the only guy on this current list I want back badly is Hinske can we trade KK already and have someone eat $3mil of his contract which frees up that cash to give Eric a two year deal. Hey Mr. Wren sign Hinske 2yr, either C. Guzman or A. Everett (SS) to one year deal, and lastly a bullpen arm and we are done with signings for the 2011 club. OF course signing #26 Uggla long term needs to get done as well Asap.
Holty_Panthers_Fan - November 23, 2010
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