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!