I can see your argument BUT the Braves window is closing.

 

Just looking here - http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html

 

- it looks as if the Braves as we know it are over after this year. A LOT of contracts up in 2007.

 

It will be interesting to see what direction they head.

 

The Braves as we know them are still in transition. Players like Francouer and McCann are in many ways the faces of the future franchise. Names like Maddux, Glavine, etc. are long gone. When Smoltz, Jones, and Jones are gone, the Braves of old will be completely gone.

GT has a great argument.

 

So do some others.

 

Bottom line after this year I look for the Braves to have a payroll in the $70 million range, and that gets you, well the REDS.

 

Unless Liberty Media - and I know little about them - is willing to up the payroll to say $100 million Atlanta is going to be a copy of the Reds.

 

Atlanta WAS a baseball town, sadly it is not now - or at least a large market - why? I have my own theory on that.

I read he was going to look for around 12-15 million after 08...they lose Andruw Jones' contract after this season, so that's 13 million there, right?

Teixeira turned down 6 years at 18 million a few days ago. Plus Boras is his agent. If you think you are getting him at that price, good luck...

The Braves as we know them are still in transition. Players like Francouer and McCann are in many ways the faces of the future franchise. Names like Maddux, Glavine, etc. are long gone. When Smoltz, Jones, and Jones are gone, the Braves of old will be completely gone.

 

 

One will be gone next year, the other 2 the year after that.

 

The Braves are not a few faces, they are winners, a team that showed you can win consistently with a payroll in th 8 - 13 range of MLB.

 

The new owners are not willing to do that.

Teixeira turned down 6 years at 18 million a few days ago. Plus Boras is his agent. If you think you are getting him at that price, good luck...

 

 

Agreed, he is here for this year and to July 31st next.......

Gametime knows what he is talking about.

I can see your argument BUT the Braves window is closing.

 

Just looking here - http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html

 

- it looks as if the Braves as we know it are over after this year. A LOT of contracts up in 2007.

 

It will be interesting to see what direction they head.

 

A lot of those contracts that are expiring don't bother me that much. Several of them aren't actually expiring --- they're those players' initial pro contracts and will be renewed. I can live with Andruw Jones leaving after the season if that's his choice --- he's struggled at the plate and has lost a step or two in the outfield.

 

And for those of you who still think Reyes' defensive range is more important that Renteria's batting performance, read this blog entry:

 

http://www.orioleshangout.com/article.asp?ID=1103

 

And for the record, Renteria's 97.8% fielding percentage this season is practically the same as Reyes' 98.1% stat. They're neck-and-neck in terms of assist and error totals, and ESPN.com actually gives Renteria a higher range factor than it does Reyes (4.23 for Renteria, 3.91 for Reyes). At the plate, their batting stats are also incredibly similar, with Renteria having a small advantage in each category.

One will be gone next year, the other 2 the year after that.

 

The Braves are not a few faces, they are winners, a team that showed you can win consistently with a payroll in th 8 - 13 range of MLB.

 

The new owners are not willing to do that.

 

Schuerholz would not have made these moves if Liberty Media hadn't given him the go-ahead. Vastly different from Time Warner.

 

And GT, Teixeira turned down a Rangers contract offer. Did he turn down the money, or did he turn down the prospect of spending a long time as a Ranger?

Teixeira turned down 6 years at 18 million a few days ago. Plus Boras is his agent. If you think you are getting him at that price, good luck...

 

Just to clarify, since I gave you the information, he actually turned down 8 years / $140 million ($17.5 million per year) two weeks ago. So says the man who signed off on the deal: Owner Tom Hicks.

 

So no, he won't be looking for $12 - $15 million...it'll be $20 million or bust. Have fun...

 

As I said to GT on the phone yesterday, if I'm Teixeira I'm thinking "Boras, you BETTER be right about this." That is a lot of loot.

 

http://www.realgmbaseball.com/src_wiretap_archives/7022/20070731/teixeira_turned_down_$140_million_extension_offer/

And GT, Teixeira turned down a Rangers contract offer. Did he turn down the money, or did he turn down the prospect of spending a long time as a Ranger?

 

Scott Boras will not let his clients sign extensions under contract. Period. If you are thinking that he'll take less than $17.5 million to play somewhere else (IMHO) you are fooling yourself. Texas has great weather (if you like heat ) and is a hitter-friendly ballpark. The owner loves you and wants you to be the face of the team for the next decade. What a horrible situation.

A lot of those contracts that are expiring don't bother me that much. Several of them aren't actually expiring --- they're those players' initial pro contracts and will be renewed. I can live with Andruw Jones leaving after the season if that's his choice --- he's struggled at the plate and has lost a step or two in the outfield.

 

And for those of you who still think Reyes' defensive range is more important that Renteria's batting performance, read this blog entry:

 

http://www.orioleshangout.com/article.asp?ID=1103

 

And for the record, Renteria's 97.8% fielding percentage this season is practically the same as Reyes' 98.1% stat. They're neck-and-neck in terms of assist and error totals, and ESPN.com actually gives Renteria a higher range factor than it does Reyes (4.23 for Renteria, 3.91 for Reyes). At the plate, their batting stats are also incredibly similar, with Renteria having a small advantage in each category.

 

Ok. You can have Renteria first too. I'm not sold he's the best SS in baseball. Again, if I were picking for now I would take him 4th in his division. If you're looking into the future it's not even close.

 

There was an argument made earlier as to how "clutch" he was...How did that work out in Boston?

Do you suppose there is any significance to the fact that Teixeira can be a free agent after 2008 (he would like to return to his home area and play for Baltimore) and Schuerholz's contract expires after the 2008 season?

 

I certainly do.

Just to clarify, since I gave you the information, he actually turned down 8 years / $140 million ($17.5 million per year) two weeks ago. So says the man who signed off on the deal: Owner Tom Hicks.

 

So no, he won't be looking for $12 - $15 million...it'll be $20 million or bust. Have fun...

 

As I said to GT on the phone yesterday, if I'm Teixeira I'm thinking "Boras, you BETTER be right about this." That is a lot of loot.

 

http://www.realgmbaseball.com/src_wiretap_archives/7022/20070731/teixeira_turned_down_$140_million_extension_offer/

 

 

Speaking of that extension, Texeira turned it down because of the state of the Rangers, Why take that and play for the horrible Rangers when you can get the same thing and play for a lot better team?

My take on the Teixeira trade ...

 

Overall, a solid deal for the Braves. Thormann was never a good option at first base ... don't understand why the Braves thought he would produce there.

 

Saltalamacchia is a good-looking young player, but there are questions whether he would hit enough to be an elite first baseman. There is no question that he can hit enough to be a top-flight catcher in time, but the Braves have made the decision that McCann is the better long-term player ... and entirely defensible position.

 

On the prospects ... first of all, the Braves have a pretty good track record of coming out ahead on trades involving prospects. How many guys have the Braves given up while still in the minors that turned out to be stars? Jason Schmidt ... maybe Wainwright, but the jury is still out on that.

 

Just because some scout (or the Braves organization) hyperboles Andrus into the "next Derek Jeter" doesn't make it so. Andrus is 19 and not hitting in Class A ball. At 19, Jeter was less than three years away from being a good everyday shortstop in the major leagues ... Andrus sure seems a heck of a lot farther away from that, if he ever gets there at all.

 

I'm not as big a fan of Teixeira as some other analysts are, but let's face it ... the Braves just made a huge upgrade at their weakest position. In turn, they gave up guys that might be good players down the road. Given the Braves' needs at the moment, it looks like a good move.

Ladies and gentleman, here is Exhibit A of finding a stat somewhere on the page to try and convince people that what you see everyday isn't correct. There isn't a GM on the planet that would take Edgar over Jose Reyes. Not one. And if you found one that would make that deal, he'll be fired the next day.

 

I love your loyalty but it is blinding the obvious in this case. Renteria of 5 years ago still wouldn't be as good as Reyes today, forgetting the fact that Reyes' next 10 years look nothing like Renteria's next 10 years.

And the choir shouted "Amen" ...