The Only Corner Outfield Option

by rocket8188 on Nov 22, 2008 10:21 AM EST Comment 29 comments

When you look at the reality of how the free agency market is going to play out the only logical option for corner outfield is Adam Dunn. To find a compatable corner outfielder in this market that matches all of Atlanta's criteria is actually impossible. The decent (and cheap) ones are hardly the power bats that Atlanta needs and you are going to overspend (in terms of production/price) for any of the okay power bats Burrell, Ibanez, or Griffey, so why not go all out and chase after Dunn?

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I agree that Dunn is the best FA outfield option, but I personally would prefer Ludwick if a trade is feasible.

by coldriver10 on Nov 22, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know I said in the past that Ludwick is a one year wonder but I rather take my chances on him then have someone who strikes out over 100 a bats a year in our cleanup spot.

by AlRoBraves95 on Nov 22, 2008 11:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, let’s just ignore the almost guaranteed 40+ taters and near-.400 OBP. Strikeouts can be forgiven when the player produces in other categories, and Dunn certainly does that.

Not to mention the fact that many GM’s think like you, so he probably won’t be as expensive as he should be.

by drdonkeypunch on Nov 22, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

Ryan Howard strikes out a lot and he was up for the MVP.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One that he absolutely didn't deserve

by BraveBronco0121 on Nov 22, 2008 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not the point.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotcha. Sorry for the misunderstanding

I think the Ryan Howard love comes more from his massive RBI totals – something that Dunn hasn’t ever had.

by BraveBronco0121 on Nov 22, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn is probably the best option,

but I think Wren needs to be realistic about what kind of contract to give him – Dunn is 28, athletically limited, a liability in the field, and has those “old player skills” that tend to go south fast around 30. Personally, I’ll be very surprised if he’s still productive past age 30.

donkeypunch makes a good point – Dunn doesn’t have a shiny reputation amongst a lot of “baseball men,” so he’s likely going to get a lesser deal than a comparable player. If we can get him for 3 years/35 million, I think it would be a good deal.

by BraveBronco0121 on Nov 22, 2008 11:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If we could get him for that amount, it’d be a steal. Unfortunately, I think he’s going to get closer to 15 mill per year.

by coldriver10 on Nov 22, 2008 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The way I see it.

This offseason you have the means to sign two free agents and make one trade. So if you trade for Peavy, you have to sign Dunn, but if you sign someone like AJ Burnett, you probably need to trade for Ludwick. Either will end up being kay in my book.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 11:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

okay

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's intruguing...

… he’s good for 40/100-110 RBI a year. He strikes out a ton, but he also walks a ton. It would be interesting to see what pitchers would do with him batting behind Chipper.

- Oh, Bobby. -

by sdp on Nov 22, 2008 12:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A 3-4-5 of

Chipper, Dunn, McCann would present the #6 hitter with a ton of RBI chances. Frenchy would be a lock for his 100 RBI’s…and his 50 GIDP’s.

by buzzdeadwax on Nov 22, 2008 12:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think i might be able to live with that… maybe

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Nov 22, 2008 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know I would.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

andy wasn’t any worse than that in the last few years. but I think the most intriguing part of this is the price tag. If wren can get him for 11 per or even 12.5 He’ll absolutely be worth it.

by rocket8188 on Nov 22, 2008 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

who is andy?

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Nov 22, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dunn

I have been talking about signing Dunn since I joined this site. I think it will take a little more money to get him signed but not a ton more I say something like a 3/42 deal would probably get it done. Dunn does strike out alot but you get 40hr and a presence in the lineup that we haven’t had other than tex for a long time maybe Sheff for those 2 years.

by mauck98 on Nov 22, 2008 3:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m kinda down on Tex because of how poor he was offensively at the beginning of this year. If Dunn is consistent all year long he would be much more valuable.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunn is not the “only option” for the outfield. He’s a lock to bash 40 homers and walk 100 times, but with a lead glove and all the strikeouts, he’s just not a “Braves type of player,” if you take my meaning. But he’s not the only option.

I still think you could acquire Nick Swisher and sign Juan Rivera, and the outlay there is probably about $11 million and a couple of prospects. Combine the virtues of Swisher, Rivera, Schafer, Francoeur and Blanco, and I think you’ve got yourself a pretty damn good collection of outfield talent. And that group of five combined costs less than Dunn will.

by tgthree on Nov 22, 2008 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Problem

Here is the problem you have no power threat other than Chipper You may not even have a 30 hr guy in the lineup and that will make scoring runs extremely hard. Just look at our offense after we traded Tex. We have no speed and no HR power swisher has hit 35 hr as a career high but the 3/4 years he has been more of a 22-25 hr guy. We would have 5 20/25 hr guys in the lineup but nobody who is a consistent power threat other than chipper. Our lineup as you construct it would scare no pitcher and we would have to do the little things well. And the Braves do not do the little things well have haven’t for 10+ years we can’t bunt, move a runner over, and our situational hitting has be atrocious.

by mauck98 on Nov 22, 2008 5:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and Chipper isnt really that consistent of a HR guy he has hit 40 before but right now he is more of a low 30s at best HR guy

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Nov 22, 2008 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Solution

Scoring runs with Swisher and Rivera in the corners will not be “extremely hard.” Swisher and Rivera both bring .800 career OPS’s to the table, and that has a heck of a lot of value. You’re mistaking teams that don’t have power for small-ball teams. We don’t have to be a bunting, hit-and-running team. We’ll win by getting on base. Between McCann, Chipper, Swisher, Kotchman, Johnson and Escobar, there’s six guys who should post OBPs over .360. Rivera’s no stretch to join that club. With that many guys on base, it’s not going to take homers OR bunts, just hits. Throw in that there are easily seven guys with 20-homer potential, and you’ve still got a lineup that will hit plenty of homers, even if they aren’t concentrated around a small number of players.

Personally, I would much rather have the security of depth with Swisher and Rivera than the power of a Dye or Ordonez who forces you to count on both Schafer and Francoeur.

by tgthree on Nov 23, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Big money, Short term

I think the Braves should offer Dunn big money over 2 years. Maybe something like 2 years for 31-32 million. That way we aren’t mortgaging the future and we would be able to trade him with no problem in a year if a couple of prospects break out and earn a job in the bigs. What do you guys think?

by KC Ryan on Nov 22, 2008 5:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well...

That sounds like a safe plan, but I bet we have a hard time only signing him for 2 years, especially with the other clubs in his market.

by someguy917 on Nov 22, 2008 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andy is andruw jones 1 part center fielder 1 part rally killer

realistically you go 4 at 12 per. 13.5 max. Because you are a boarderline contender anyway if you can’t get quaility deals done this offseason (Perez at 4/44 or Dunn at 3/40) then why even spend the money.

by rocket8188 on Nov 23, 2008 1:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

3 parts cheeseburger

by someguy917 on Nov 23, 2008 1:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oliver perez is not a quality deal. at all.

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Nov 23, 2008 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perez

He’s not a deal for what Boras is going to ask for. I heard Gammons on Espn state theat Boras thinks he’s the modern day Koufax.

If no one signs him and the market starts to fizzle then he could be a good pickup. He’s young and a needed lefty in the rotation. Your right that he’s not a deal at his CURRENT price.

by Charmin519 on Nov 24, 2008 1:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs