Hey! The Atlanta Braves made a move! And not just one, but two moves. Frank Wren must have finally returned from Hawaii.
The first move of the day was the re-signing of veteran utility man Jack Wilson. He will receive a base salary of $1 million dollars, and it appears there are some unknown incentives included as well, most likely for games started or plate appearances recorded. He will serve as the immediate backup behind Tyler Pastornicky at shortstop and can also fill in at second base and third base in a pinch.
The bigger news came with Martin Prado. The Braves and Prado avoided arbitration and settled for a one-year, $4.75 million dollar deal. Prado has been rumored throughout the offseason to potentially be on the move, but it appears Atlanta is moving closer to keeping their left fielder and utility man for 2012. Personally, this salary figure was about a million bucks less than I figured he would sign for, which could be big for Frank Wren.
Yay for some moves today!
0 recs | 51 comments
Oh yay, now its time to go back to sleep like the front office again.
Cjones10 - January 13, 2012
Very interesting quote on Jack Wilson (D O'Brien)
Glad you’re back, Jack.
carpengui - January 13, 2012
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/01/13/braves-sign-if-wilson-to-1-year-deal/
carpengui - January 13, 2012
That’s why I loved the Wilson signing in the first place last season. Jack has always been an A+ clubhouse guy.
ATLandUNC - January 13, 2012
good to hear that
and make me feel better that the Braves didn’t just pony up an extra $0.2 mil to get Ronny Cedeno
LEastCoastBears - January 13, 2012
Agreed
He’s a pro. That’s sometimes an undervalued commodity.
Sam Jethroe - January 14, 2012
hmm
could be the 1mil saved by Prado signing for less than expected allowed us to get Wilson?
only reason I’m thinking that is because we’ve been portrayed to be dead broke this offseason
drumzalicious - January 13, 2012
I disagree on the Prado amount
If arb years go 40%/60%80%, and granted, that’s a bit iffy, But Prado made $3.1M in 2011, he should have projected to add about $1.5M for 2012, or $4.6M. He got $4.75M, seems right in line to me.
bighop - January 13, 2012
So I guess the 25 man is pretty much set...
C McCann
1B Freeman
2B Uggla
3B Chipper
SS Pastornicky
RF Heyward
CF Bourn
LF Prado
Bench
C Ross
1B/LF Hinske
IF Wilson
RF/LF Diaz
CF/UT Costanza/Sutton/other
Staff
Hudson Hanson Jurrjens Beachy Minor (with Delgado/Teheran battling for the 5th spot if JJ gets dealt)
Bullpen
Kimbrel Venters Medlen O’Flaherty Martinez pick 2 from Hoover/Gearrin/Varvaro/etc
Mr. Sanchez - January 13, 2012
that roster looks really good to me
Braves24 - January 13, 2012
still very LH heavy.
JoelGuzman'sScout - January 14, 2012
Hmmm...
McCann leading off? Pastornicky batting cleanup? That sounds crazy! ;)
AttyinDuluth - January 14, 2012
Has PeMo signed elsewhere, yet?
I’d like to see him back on the team if he has not.
JohnRocker4CyYoung - January 13, 2012
Won’t be signed until close to midseason, recovering from surgery.
Pavy848 - January 13, 2012
Still like to see Cody Ross fill that final roster spot.
waysouth - January 14, 2012 via mobile
no thanks
drumzalicious - January 14, 2012
any particular reason? He’s a perfect fit for our 4th outfielder.
YakuzaFro - January 14, 2012
I’m pretty sure he still wants to start.
Chipper Pwns - January 14, 2012
I’m sure he does, too. But that doesn’t explain a “no thanks” to having him as our fourth outfielder.
YakuzaFro - January 14, 2012
Someone will likely take him up as a starter, so there’s no reason for him to come to ATL as a backup. Our best scenario to get him would be to just spell Prado all over the field to make room for Ross, but that appears unlikely at this point.
Chipper Pwns - January 15, 2012
I don’t disagree. But saying “no thanks” would indicate drumzalicious would not even want him for a 4th outfielder. That’s why I asked for clarification.
YakuzaFro - January 15, 2012
AH, the move I waited all offseason for!
$1 million for Jack Wilson!
I can sleep easy for the first night in three months.
Bronn - January 13, 2012
Two excellent moves. I have been hoping we would bring Jack back for our bench IF spot vacated by Brooks.
I just hope Tyler P can provide some offense from the position…
I also like the dollar amount we worked out with Prado. That’s a good value for him.
justincredubil02 - January 13, 2012
OK
Are we done now . Still seems a little early to say we are done .
bravesdude - January 13, 2012
YES!
suicide bunting is a sin - January 13, 2012
DON'T TRADE PRADO!!!!!!!!
JKowalek - January 13, 2012
where have you seen the Prado news by the way
or are you the source?
JKowalek - January 13, 2012
DOB
missed that tweet
JKowalek - January 13, 2012
The fact that Wilson doesn't specialize at 3B
makes me want to have Prado even more Having said that, it also makes me want to get a better 4 th OF in place of Diaz for when Prado does need to fill in. Its great to have Prado be utility, but that causes you to need a better bench at the same time because he will be someone to fill in for him.
thejivingturkey - January 14, 2012
Goodbye playoffs!
Jack Wilson is back for the ride!
DopeFalcons - January 13, 2012 via mobile
funny
but its not like he has played for great teams with epic collapses his whole career (just last year lol). Pirates and Mariners. Can’t really call him a curse just for playing on horrible teams.
Alex H - January 13, 2012
I don't know about everyone else
But I am PUMPED about this team. Same team that was on pace for 95+ wins through 80% of the season, except we got rid of Lowe, and you can only expect (hope) that Heyward and Prado will both be better. Sure there can be some injuries and slumps from anyone, but all in all, this is the same team as last year, only I think a little better. The wildcard (no pun intended, going for the division) here is hoping Hanson can stay healthy all year.
Alex H - January 13, 2012
You mean
Hanson, Hudson, Jurjjens, Chipper, McCann, Heyward, and Prado can stay healthy all year as well as Venters and Kimbrel.
rubbles88 - January 14, 2012
RELIEF
The moment I heard they retained JW for the year I was relieved…terrific positive influence and phenomenal defender. Wish’d we’d a made the play-offs last year so he could’ve experienced that, but now, maybe this year. This should sure-up the infield if there is an injury to Chipper. Even greater news about Prado, I think he was being undersold on open market. If he makes it through this year he’ll likely be around next to play third.
George Allen - January 13, 2012
So Yankees just did their Yankee thing and made some big moves
I think Kuroda was a waste for them but hey I’m not rich
drumzalicious - January 13, 2012
Just one less quality starting pitcher that won't be in D.C. or Miami....
…..that’s all I get out of this news.
Undocorkscrew - January 13, 2012
Kuroda is as good if not better than Hughes, Nova, Garcia, etc. He would be a solid number 3 in that rotation.
Just because KK didn’t work for the Braves, doesn’t mean that all Japanese pitchers are busts. Kuroda has had a great road ERA in his career.
LEastCoastBears - January 13, 2012
I think if they were going to go sign someone it should have been Edwin Jackson. Young, durable, and entering his prime
drumzalicious - January 14, 2012
Surprised the Yankees got him
since he had been so insistent on a west coast gig.
carpengui - January 14, 2012
I’m envious. I don’t even want Montero, just any big time news.
Chipper Pwns - January 14, 2012
OT: hmmm.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/photo-logan-morrison-bryan-petersen-share-tub-drink-043548597.html
walknbalk - January 14, 2012
The Wilson is a good move to me because
He is unquestionably a backup and we picked him up for 1 mil.
If Pastornicky busts, and we need a new starter, Wilson would remain the backup.
If we had spent 3 mil on a borderline vet/starter, we would be stuck with them w/o money to get a real starter in the event that Pnicky busts. This fits the scenarios well:
Pastornicky is good, he plays most every day, and we have a cheap backup with good defense and who is a good influence. His weak bat doesn’t hurt us this way.
If he is not good, we didn’t waste money on a borderline backup, we can make a trade and get a real SS if we must, and JW stays the backup.
willlinn - January 14, 2012
My guess is that Wren was pretty sure...
…from the beginning he would go with Pastornicky and keep Prado. Exploring options is just a show of professional consideration and open mindedness. If he just made that choice from the beginning, we would all question whether there was a better SS option or a better LF option, but in exploring the possibilities before making no moves this OS, we are all on his page. We all know, shit, these are our best options, no doubt.
willlinn - January 14, 2012
I don't think the arb deal with Prado has any bearing on whether he's traded.
It makes him a better “keep” commodity, because they aren’t paying as much for his performance, but also a better “trade” commodity, because his surplus value to the trade partner is greater. I still expect the Braves to continue fielding offers/drumming up interest in Prado, and would be fine with seeing him depart in the right deal.
SS451 - January 14, 2012
You know, this is totally unfounded. But I get this thought that Prado is excited by the chance to prove his true value in 2012 before he wants to go for a long term contract. The idea of challenging a competitor like Prado like that is bound to be mutually beneficial. And he won’t stop playing afterwards like Reyes will.
GumpBrave - January 14, 2012
Def like that thought
willlinn - January 14, 2012
The 2012 Braves Look Just Like the 2011 Braves
If my memory is correct, our off-season goal was a right handed, power hitting outfielder and a one-year major league ready short stop to bridge to Pastornicky. It doesn’t seem like the Braves front office achieved any of these goals. The 2012 Braves look just like the 2011 Braves who folded in September. Yes, we have plenty of talent. Hopefully some key players will rebound from last year, but the competition in the NL East has gotten tougher. Braves need some financial flexibility to compete with the big guys. I’m not feeling very optimistic about this season, but let the games begin. Prove me wrong, Braves. Go Braves!
Beavercreekbravesfan - January 16, 2012
I agree with you
I think we are putting quite a few of our eggs into the “hope Heyward and Prado have the breakout year they were supposed to have in 2011” basket. If they falter, our lineup is mediocre at best at the plate.
Cammando2317 - January 16, 2012
If they falter, the Braves are in the same spot they were in last season, minus the Uggla slump, Scott Proctor, and Derek Lowe…not too bad a spot to be in.
-C
cthabeerman - January 16, 2012
I see your point and you make a good one.
But are the 2012 Nats the 2011 Nats? Are the 2012 Marlins the 2011 Marlins? Did the 2011 Phillies lighten the weight of their punch?
I respect your point but I think we’ve stayed the same and our divisional competition has only gotten better… much better. That my cause for concern.
Cammando2317 - January 16, 2012
Staying the same is the right move when your team is as young as the Braves are.
The Marlins paid top dollar for an aging closer that’s showed steady deterioration in his peripherals, a starter that’s not far behind in years but has maintained good performance, and another player that is amazing when healthy but also a perpetual injury risk.
The Nats added a decent pitcher with some warts and then gave him a long-term extension.
The Phillies overpaid huge on a closer that has had issues as recently as 2010, added a DH and a sub-par utility man. Otherwise, they just re-signed their guy, who is also getting long-in-tooth. They basically got a year older, which is not a positive when nearly your entire team is on the wrong side of 30.
-C
cthabeerman - January 17, 2012
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