Since 1995, Chipper Jones has been the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves team. Now that he is turning 40, what are the Braves going to do for a 3rd baseman in the future? I know that Joe Terdoslavich was switched to 1rst base, but he is a 3rd baseman. He is a doubles machine with 20+ home run potential and even though he performed well in the AFL, he's still at least a year away from being ready to play in the show. Edward Salcedo is still working out the kinks, but scouts continue to rave about his potential. He should develop into a solid 20/20 guy, but I don't see him in Atlanta until 2014. In the Braves organization, those two are really all we have in terms of potentially being solid everyday mlb 3rd baseman.
If the Braves front office was so inclined, they could pull of a trade to get someone to take Chipper's place after this season. David Wright is the first name that comes to mind, but we can wait till next year to worry about him. The player I would like to see in Atlanta is Blue Jays 3rd baseman Brett Lawrie. That cat can play some ball.
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0 recs | 57 comments
Prado will still be around in 2013 unless they just release him or trade him. With the financial situation, I wish they’d just extend him at a reasonable salary. After that, Terds, Salcedo and Drury can fight it out for the spot.
bighop - February 2, 2012
What I’m reading and hearing from Wren, McGuirk and Scheurholtz, we might not sign another big name FA for quite a while. We’ve got the pitching in the pipeline, and enough position prospects to feed an already young team. If we extend Bourn, what do we really need besides a LF? With Gartrell, Cunningham, Milligan, Harrilchak and Lipka progressing, surely one of them will work out. If not, I’m sure Wren can pull off a trade.
bighop - February 2, 2012
This is probably the route to go.
The idea of us paying for Wright or getting the Blue Jays to trade us Lawrie is just silly. Assuming things go reasonably well, yes, some money will be freed up from Chipper retiring, Lowe being off the books for good, etc., but that will be eaten up by our home grown players becoming more expensive.
On the other hand, I disagree with one thing: I doubt we extend Bourn.
cavebird - February 2, 2012
Yeah…The Jays rejected a trade of Michael Pineda for Lawrie… and the Yankees subsequently gave up Montero to get Pineda.
For us to get Lawrie (who’s under their control for …. I think 5 more years… would likely require a King’s ransom). Would love to have him, but the Jays are thinking quite highly of him, and for good reason.
OTOH, I do hope we at least try to get Bourn under contract for another 5 years or so.
carpengui - February 2, 2012
I’d imagine Bourn will end up going the FA route. I assume we’ll at least try to keep him though. I’m hoping he see’s the young base of players in Atlanta as a situation he’d like to be a part of for 4 or 5 years. Unfortunately, the Nats have been after a CF for a while and they can out bid us.
bighop - February 2, 2012
Odds of extending Bourn are very low
The Braves will certainly never pay Bourn the $15 million a season that Boras has already told him he can look forward to as a free agent. And Boras may be right. We’ll see. It’s not really useful to hold onto a fantasy that Bourn is going to re-sign. If he starts the season without an extension then he will leave for free agency for sure. You are quite right to doubt he will be extended. He’ll basically have to leave perhaps $5 million a year on the table to re-sign here. I honestly cannot see the Braves offering more than $10 million a season.
Zontar - February 2, 2012
I tend to agree....
And what operates in the Braves favor, at least for this season, is that Bourn needs to prove that his late season mini-slump is not indicative of his abilities. He’ll want to use his ‘walk’ year to bolster the case for being a $15 million dollar player. For at least 2012 the Braves will be the beneficiary of his motivation.
TomahawkGuy - February 2, 2012
I'd offer him $12 for 5
I agree with your assesment of his worth, He’s a speed guy getting a little long in the tooth but i sure would be nice to take a chance on him staying in shape and being one of the best lead off players and cf defense in baseball. It would be worth overypaying a little. Only 5 years though.
AtlantaMelo - February 3, 2012
Wright is a good player
but I don’t think he’ll ever get back to the 30/30 Gold (sic) Glover he was a few years ago. He may have one or two more 30+ HR seasons in him, but maybe not, and not likely much more than that. Whoever signs him will likely have to pay for the 07-09 Wright, as he looks like the signature name on next year’s free agent list, and a few of the big spenders could have a need for him (Mets obviously, Cubs, Angels and Dodgers could use a 3B, same with perhaps the Red Sox depending on what they do with Youklis, the Tigers depending on Miguel Cabrera, and the Marlins depending on Ramirez, among others). There’s gonna be a bidding war for him, and if you got the Wright from 3-5 years ago, he might well be worth the probable $150+m he’ll get paid. But he’s not likely to be that player anymore, and even if he is, we aren’t giving anyone that $150+m deal, and we aren’t beating those above teams in a bidding war.
I think a Bourn extension depends on a) how well he plays this year, and b) how well Myke Jones or another CF prospect develops.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Cunningham?
bighop - February 2, 2012
I wouldn’t want Wright at ALL. I’m of the opinion that he’s going to make entirely too much money for his production. His K rate has increased every year that he’s been in the bigs and he’s not getting any faster or better defensively. His first year of the new deal, he’ll be 30. I don’t think there’s any way he’ll revert back to the player he was… To me, it seems like a case of injuries really hampering an (at one time) excellent player.
Fatvirus - February 2, 2012
Oh, and my idea would be to extend Martin for 4-5 years and see in 2-3 years which of the kids that can play 3rd has earned a spot. Hopefully Salcedo’s a beast and we can toss Martin back over to 2nd or Left.
Fatvirus - February 2, 2012
Question....
Why wasn’t Myke Jones a NRI to Spring Training ?
bravesfaninchitown - February 2, 2012
I can't beleive I agree with Mcguirk (spelling)
He declared that teams paying these high free agent contracts will regret it before it’s over. You make a great case for Wright. Just recently I found myself dreaming “what if” we could get Wright. We need a new star over there. Truth is M is right. The smart thing is to review fully everything within the organization and if you can’t fill from within you can trade our grade A beef for someone elses grade a beef by position need. It makes a lot more sense in the long run. Of course if we had TV money to blow, it might change things a bit but we don’t and it won’t.
AtlantaMelo - February 3, 2012
yea
that Lawrie idea isn’t going to happen
Braves24 - February 2, 2012
And do we even need a LF?
If Chipper retires, I’d assume we can simply move Prado to 3B and Terdoslavich can take over LF (cause I don’t think he cuts it at 3rd and moves to the OF).
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Salcedo too.
bighop - February 2, 2012
I can't imagine he'd be ready after next year
maybe two years, maybe, but probably not even then.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
Just saying Salcedo might end up in the outfield too.
bighop - February 2, 2012
True
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
2013 plan? PANIC?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GumpBrave - February 3, 2012
Chipper will probably play in 2013 anyway.
Lennox - February 2, 2012
Yep,
That’s what he’s saying.
HEYJUDE - February 2, 2012
We'll see what he's saying come later in the year
after a couple inevitable injuries.
Mr. Sanchez - February 2, 2012
My assumptions are Bourn will not be re-signed, Chipper will retire, Prado will play 3B, and JJ (after rebuilding his value by being a healhy and solid #2 SP in the first half of the upcoming season) will be dealt for an OF.
fandave - February 2, 2012
plan
assuming Prado hits closer to his norms than last year, you put him at 3rd in his last arb eligible year. from there you see where terdo and salcedo are. with any luck one of them emerges as the future there.
Rodrda01 - February 2, 2012
more likely than anything else.. I highly doubt Wright will be an option, or that the Bluejays would even think twice about offering Lawrie… its just not happening
jdelsandro - February 2, 2012
LaLaLaLaLaLa (fingers in ears)
Not listening…. don’t even want to think about that just yet.
;-)
NCChopper - February 2, 2012
Yes, Brett Lawrie would look good in a Braves uniform.
So would Bryce Harper and Matt Moore and Mike Trout Manny Machado. Those guys can all play some ball too.
Make it so, Wren.
scottyboy10 - February 2, 2012
Trout AND Manny Machado
__scottyboy10 - February 2, 2012
Prospect
Id try our best minor league prospect in the infield and then try moving prado to third and either going out to get an outfielder or bringing up a minor league outfielder
bobbycox6 - February 2, 2012
You mean that old “Native American?” Shouldn’t he be retired by now?
GumpBrave - February 3, 2012
I looked it up. and not only is he not retired but he is playing 3rd base. this is meta-stupid.
Fire Fredi(actually that’s serious)butt what is Liberty Media doing about this? thats what I want to no. what kind of franchise lets some old man named Larry play thirst when you have a Prada to hang your bag on.WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFf
GumpBrave - February 3, 2012
#yahoo message-boarded
Santaklose11 - February 6, 2012
My preference:
if Pastornicky’s bat is decent, and Simmons is ready in 2013:
Prado to 3B (and give a 4-yr deal)
Uggla to LF. I think he’d do it for the team.
Pastornicky to 2B
Simmons to SS with a re-sign of Jack Wilson for insurance.
If Pastornicky or Simmons don’t pan out you keep Uggla at 2B and sign a LFer in FA as a stopgap until Terdo or Salcedo is ready to play LF.
CF is dependent on whether Bourn re-signs, if he doesn’t, we’re going to have to trade pitching for a CF. I’d offer Hanson+ Vizcaino+ Hoover for Trout. Try to give them an offer they can’t refuse and we can afford for the piece we absolutely need.
The problem is you lose that deal, you get fired as a GM, it’s risky, but I think a risk would be needed.
With Prado getting a long-term deal, you might just have to do that.
Broccoman - February 3, 2012
/drools at the thought of getting Trout. A 19 year old who just OPS’d .960 in AAA and has 4/5 tools? Yes, please.
Fatvirus - February 3, 2012
It would start with Hanson and Vizcaino though. I don’t think it would take Hanson+Teheran
I think Hanson+ Vizcaino or Delgado+ Spruill+ one of the top hitting prospects might do it.
He won’t come cheap.
Broccoman - February 3, 2012
Trout!
Id love to be able to pry him from the Angels but I find it unlikely.. Although we do seem to have alot of depth at SS and former SS in our system and I believe thats the Angels weakest position.. So i guess its possible if we include Hanson, Vizcaino and maybe Simmons and one other player… Wow Trout in our outfield would be AWESOME
jdelsandro - February 3, 2012
Trading Simmons puts a gaping hole at SS unless Pastornicky excels and is a ROTY- candidate, which is unlikely.
And then you’ve got a hole in LF or 3B to fill as well.
It probably isn’t a good fit- but given the budget situation, the CF hole will have to be filled through trading, and I’d be willing to use Hanson as a trade chip, since he isn’t re-signable (JJ I think might be)
Broccoman - February 4, 2012
The gaping whole at SS isnt a gaping whole really, we have Lipka, and Mykal Jones as well who both played SS.. Prado sticks around and takes over at 3b after Chipper retires and we have Trout in CF, then all we need to do is trade for a LF. We also have Terdy to be an eventual LF/3b in 2015 as well.
jdelsandro - February 5, 2012
Uggla isn’t changing positions unless the NL adds the DH, I think we all just need to accept that now rather than deal with years of scenarios where people want to move him to LF.
Lennox - February 3, 2012
Why wouldn’t he? He seems like a true team-first guy. Unless you really want Pastornicky at 3B and Prado in LF if Simmons pans out.
Broccoman - February 4, 2012
Because if he was going to change positions we wouldn’t have moved the much better defender, Prado, from 2B to LF in the first place.
Lennox - February 5, 2012
Pastornicky changes the equation- his bat won’t play at 3B or LF maybe, but does at 2B.
Uggla’s bat can play in LF still, at least until that last year of his deal.
I’d actually consider trading Uggla if he has a good year and Pastornicky pans out in 2012 in a salary dump, and using that money on Bourn. sell high.
This is despite me liking Uggla as a player and his effort last year.
Broccoman - February 5, 2012
Everyone knew what Uggla’s defense was like at what is considered an important defensive position. If he’s not willing/the team doesn’t think he can handle LF, for the sake of All-Star 2B Prado staying put, then they’re not going to move him for TP either.
Also don’t think dealing him is likely, he’s the big RH power bat that Wren spent years looking for.
Lennox - February 5, 2012
? for the better educated
how would Uggla fare at 3B? Does he have the arm for it? The quick reactions and ability to charge?
Could that be the plan for an inevitable Chipper retirement-Pastornicky to 2B, Simmons to SS, and Uggla to 3B?
Mr. Sanchez - February 6, 2012
I'm not as educated as others on here , but
Although he might have enough arm , he may not have enough control of his throws to translate over to third . I think his range would be fine there , but his ability to be able to block a ball might not be good enough to play there .
bravesdude - February 6, 2012
have heard people propose that, and if he has enough arm, this would be a great option, particularly a couple years down the road if simmons proves hes a big leaguer, because we could move pastornicky to second
Rodrda01 - February 7, 2012
That’s an option if he can control his arm, and Prado isn’t around.
Freeman will still be at 1B, and he’s a walking bailout machine for bad throws.
Broccoman - February 14, 2012
Please ...
Post scenarios that have some basis in reality !!
bravesfaninchitown - February 3, 2012
i think
the hope of the Braves is that Salcedo will make a giant leap forward this year. Even if he’s not ready for 2013 they are probably thinking
2012
SS Pastornicky
3B Chip
2013
SS Simmons
3B Pastornicky
2014
SS Simmons
3B Salcedo
drumzalicious - February 4, 2012
PFFT
Chipper won’t be gone. He’ll find a way to play even after both his legs have fallen off.
TonyAlmeyda - February 6, 2012
and OPS .900 doing so
Santaklose11 - February 6, 2012
With one arm holding a crutch and the other swinging the bat .
bravesdude - February 6, 2012
Who's going to pick up the torch?
Besides losing his obvious skills upon his retirement, I feel this will also be an important piece missing from the roster. That franchise heart & soul guy. I think the crusty vet who’s been there & done that is important to have on the roster to kind of give the young guys some direction. I guess this responsibility will fall on Mac. Hopefully, upon Chip’s retirement he won’t be out of a Braves uni too long & will be hired on in some type of coaching role.
adc62 - February 6, 2012
McCann will take over the mantle, then it will be passed to Freeman and/or Heyward
Broccoman - February 14, 2012
For me....
Losing Chipper to retirement is on a par with Spahn ( to the Mets) and Aaron ( to the Brewers). I know it’s coming and don’t even want to think about it, or his replacement.
mikie baseball - February 11, 2012
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