September 19, 200818 yr What do you do if your the Braves this coming off-season? Braves payroll info here - http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/atlanta-braves_15.html
September 19, 200818 yr Makes you wonder how that's even possible, that they could have that much money invested in a bad team.
September 19, 200818 yr Position-wise, the Braves are in decent shape at a few spots. McCann, Johnson and Escobar are fine. I know they got Kotchman in a trade, but I would look at moving Chipper to first, primarily because I think it gives him a better chance to stay healthy. Everything I've read is that Lillibridge is a better defensive shortstop than Escobar, but he hasn't shown that his bat is ready yet. Escobar could easily move to third if he is, and the Braves would have some flexibility to find someone at either spot on the left side of the infield. The outfield is a mess. Blanco looks OK in center field and he has a chance to develop into a nice guy at the top of the order. Brandon Jones looks like he's not quite ready, and Francoeur's horrible control of the strike zone badly undermines his talent. At this point, he's little more than a cannon arm. Pitching staff ... gee, this will get awfully expensive. Hampton gets a $6M buyout and you don't exercise Smoltz's option, figuring he will sign an incentive-laden deal if he returns. The bullpen is where he should be ... it gives him the best chance to stay healthy. Hudson will be $13M essentially down the drain next year ... just bad luck there. Jurrjens is fine in the rotation. Campillo will get a shot, but no one knows if there is any upside there. Reyes and Morton are extra guys at best on a healthy staff. The Braves have to quit counting on the old guys to lead the rotation. If Glavine is back, he's a fifth starter at best. Frankly, I wouldn't pay him to be that. Soriano makes $6M next year ... who knows if he'll be worth it? And I assume Gonzalez will go to arbitration. What do the Braves do? Move Kotchman for something, preferably a young starting pitcher, and look for outfield help at the corners. And pray that some starting pitching falls from the sky.
September 19, 200818 yr One other thought ... would Escobar be an attractive option for the Reds, who might be willing to move a starting pitcher for a young shortstop? If the Braves agreed to take Gonzalez and his salary (assuming he can play) for one year, could they get Harang, Volquez or Cueto? I don't know that Escobar has that much value on the market, but he's a 25-year-old shortstop (soon to be 26) coming off a pretty decent year with the bat.
September 19, 200818 yr Author Position-wise, the Braves are in decent shape at a few spots. McCann, Johnson and Escobar are fine. I know they got Kotchman in a trade, but I would look at moving Chipper to first, primarily because I think it gives him a better chance to stay healthy. Everything I've read is that Lillibridge is a better defensive shortstop than Escobar, but he hasn't shown that his bat is ready yet. Escobar could easily move to third if he is, and the Braves would have some flexibility to find someone at either spot on the left side of the infield. The outfield is a mess. Blanco looks OK in center field and he has a chance to develop into a nice guy at the top of the order. Brandon Jones looks like he's not quite ready, and Francoeur's horrible control of the strike zone badly undermines his talent. At this point, he's little more than a cannon arm. Pitching staff ... gee, this will get awfully expensive. Hampton gets a $6M buyout and you don't exercise Smoltz's option, figuring he will sign an incentive-laden deal if he returns. The bullpen is where he should be ... it gives him the best chance to stay healthy. Hudson will be $13M essentially down the drain next year ... just bad luck there. Jurrjens is fine in the rotation. Campillo will get a shot, but no one knows if there is any upside there. Reyes and Morton are extra guys at best on a healthy staff. The Braves have to quit counting on the old guys to lead the rotation. If Glavine is back, he's a fifth starter at best. Frankly, I wouldn't pay him to be that. Soriano makes $6M next year ... who knows if he'll be worth it? And I assume Gonzalez will go to arbitration. What do the Braves do? Move Kotchman for something, preferably a young starting pitcher, and look for outfield help at the corners. And pray that some starting pitching falls from the sky. Any free agents worth going after now, or you wait for next year?
September 19, 200818 yr Any free agents worth going after now, or you wait for next year?I haven't looked at the free agent list, but I can see the Braves making a splash or two if ownership wants to pony up some money. I don't think the Braves should go all out until they have the core talent to become a legitimate contender, and I'm not sure they're to that point. Their biggest needs are starting pitching and the outfield ... there may be a bargain or two there, but even the bargains can be rather pricy.
September 19, 200818 yr Alright here we go. Braves have a lot of options this winter. Smoltz and Glavine are free agents, but it seems that will would likely sign low incentive based contracts if the Braves want them. Position wise, it's believed that Kelly Johnson will be moved this winter and possibly Lillibridge could be the new 2nd baseman. Outfield: Braves need to decide on whether or not to keep Francouer, after having a great season last year he has failed miserably this year so who knows. Braves are looking to add a big bat in LF (Burrell, Dunn, Ibanez, are all FA's to be next year) Since Hudson is out till at least August next year Braves need a frontline starter, Sheets was going to be an option but the recent shoulder trouble probably pushes the Braves to be skeptics. That still leaves Sabathia, Garland, Burnett, as the main guys the Braves will pursue. Braves have let it be known that they are going to be heavily aggressive this winter and plan on adding 2 really good starters (via FA's or trade) and a big bat for LF in hopes of improving the lineup and rotation. Also, I could see them bringing back Mike Hampton on a incentive based contract, and by the way he's pitched this year at least he could be an innings eater. Braves have a lot of voids to fill this year but expect them to make a splash at the winter meetings!
September 20, 200818 yr Mike Hampton ... innings eater? :lol: Laugh all you want but since he's been back over the last month and a half he has provided great pitching and he will get a contract somewhere for next year and if he can stay healthy then look for about 12-15 wins.
September 20, 200818 yr Laugh all you want but since he's been back over the last month and a half he has provided great pitching and he will get a contract somewhere for next year and if he can stay healthy then look for about 12-15 wins.In the last five weeks, Hampton is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA and given up more than a hit per inning. That's OK, not great. That just means he's been OK for five weeks. Given Hampton's history, if you're counting on him as an "innings eater," you're likely to be disappointed. Is he worth a cheap, incentives-laden contract? Perhaps, but as minimal a risk as possible.
September 21, 200818 yr STARTING PITCHING! Jurrjens has been awesome this season, but he will never be better than a 3 man in the rotation. The Braves desperately need an ace and another quality starting pitcher so that Hudson can be the 2 man in the rotation when he comes back and Jurrjens can fall to that 4 spot which he is best suited for. Hampton will never be able to last half a season, let alone an entire season. Glavine is done. Smoltz is done ( as bad as I hate to say it). You get soem quality starting pitching and that bullpen will be fine, they got beat up this year because they got worked to death! You have some good bats with C. Jones, McCann, Escobar... Johnson, Kotchman, and a healthy Matt Diaz also provide stability on offense. The next issue, of course, is in the outfield. Francour is too inconsistent to rely on, but his stock is so low right now you won't get a good enough return if you trade him. I am biased towards Josh Anderson because he went to EKU and is a personal friend of one of my co-workers, but he is not a true everyday CF, he is more of a utility player and better utilized in a bench role. Norton is simply still playing because he can play so many positions and the Braves' have no other option, Blanco has proven to be an assett worth keping around. The Braves need power desperately, maybe a mercenary player like Pat Burrell?
September 21, 200818 yr Author C - McCann 1B - C. Jones/ 2B - Johnson 3B - C. Jones/ SS - Escobar LF CF - B. Jones RF - Francoeur SP - SP - Hudson SP - SP - SP - Glavine CL - Smoltz Go after Vlad, Blalock, C.C., Sheets, and Lacky.
September 21, 200818 yr Give up and lobby to move the team somewhere where the fans actually care about something other than college football.
September 21, 200818 yr Give up and lobby to move the team somewhere where the fans actually care about something other than college football. ... and exactly how many regions will this work? The Northeast? Where the Yankees, mets, and Red Sox already are? The Midwest where the Cubs and Cardinals are? The West Coast where the Dodgers are? Outside of maybe 5 or 6 markets you see the same sad story. Is Ohio State to blame for the attendance at Reds' games?
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