FanPost

Where We Stand: Roster, Payroll, Etc.

Now that we're in full offseason mode here (I hate not watching our Braves play October baseball) I figured I'd post a little conversation starter.  Most of us are well aware of the key aspects of our team for now (we have $40M+ to spend and we need two frontline staters and a slugging outfielder) but I thought I'd flesh it out a bit more.  With that in mind, here's a little spreadsheet I've been working on:

Player Name Pos. 2009 Salary 
Line-up
Gregor Blanco CF 400,000
Yunel Escobar SS 450,000
Chipper Jones 3B 11,000,000
Brian McCann C 3,500,000
Kelly Johnson 2B Arbitration
Casey Kotchman 1B Arbitration
Brandon Jones LF 400,000
Jeff Francouer RF Arbitration
Bench
Clint Sammons C 400,000
Martin Prado IF 400,000
Matt Diaz IF/OF Arbitration
Josh Anderson OF 400,000
Omar Infante UTIL Arbitration
Rotation
Jair Jurrjens SP 400,000
Jorge Campillo SP 400,000
Jo-Jo Reyes SP 400,000
Charlie Morton SP 400,000
James Parr SP 400,000
Bullpen
Mike Gonzalez RP Arbitration
Rafael Soriano RP 6,100,000
Phil Stockman RP 400,000
Blaine Boyer RP 400,000
Manny Acosta RP 400,000
Buddy Carlyle RP 400,000
Jeff Bennett RP 400,000
Injured
Tim Hudson SP 13,000,000
Peter Moylan RP 450,000
Guaranteed ALL 33,600,000
Pending Options ALL 0
Arbitration ALL ??????????
Renewed ALL 6,900,000
Total ALL 40,500,000

 I apologize for some formating irregularites, but I believe it is understandable still.  And now, a few thoughts about the above.  That's about the line-up we'll be sporting, with the notable change of a new power-hitting OF replacing B. Jones and moving into the 5-hole.  Matt Diaz will almost certainly be non-tendered, so he will likely have to be replaced on the bench. Two new frontline starters will make it so the final three youngsters listed in the rotation above will have to battle for the #5 spot.  The bullpen needs a lefty and either Bennett or Carlyle will likely be pushed out there.  If arbitration costs us a combined $10M (I think that's fair) we'll still have significantly over $40M to spend for new acquisitions.  With that said, now on to my hopes for the offseason.

We cannot afford to splurge on C.C. Sabathia and expect to fill our two other voids with top-notch talent.  I think the way to go is signing someone like Derek Lowe and either Adam Dunn or Pat Burrell.  As for the other starter, I have to believe we'll look for one in a trade.  I'd be fine giving up something considerable (Hanson, Schafer/Hernandez, Freeman/Flowers, Lillibridge and/or Brandon Jones) for a guy like Jake Peavy or Matt Cain; remember, those guys aren't getting dealt unless their respective teams are blown away by the offer and my proposal is equivalent to what the A's got for Haren, which is a fair measuring stick .  I think we may be in the market for someone else under the radar, so we shouldn't freak out if you're not into moving that much of our farm. 

Well, I really just want to get some more conversation on the offseason going and I think I've put enough out there for now.  I look forward to the comments and, as always, go Braves!

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Battery Power.