Update on the Braves Pitching Search

by gondeee on Jan 5, 2009 4:23 PM EST in Free Agents Comment 26 comments

Atlanta Braves beat writer David O'Brien has some "insider" updates on the Braves' various searches to augment their rotation. Regarding recent reports that are linking us with Derek Lowe, John Garland, and Andy Pettite, D-Fab has this to say:

Any proven, healthy pitcher who’s available, particularly free agents who wouldn’t require a long-term contract or players available for trade at a reasonable salary, are drawing interest from the Braves. And that includes Pettitte and Garland, along with the more expensive (and better) Lowe.

The thing to really pull out of this is his mention of players that "wouldn't require a long-term contract." This is something that I believe will keep us away from Derek Lowe.

We may not get anything more than guesses from beat writers about what our plans are for the rest of the off-season. D-Fab also passes along this note about information coming out of the Braves' front office:

Braves have decided that it’s in their best interest to keep this stuff close to the vest, unlike earlier this offseason.

Not an unsurprising reaction to the turbulent events of this off-season. Here's our first Tom Glavine update in quite awhile:

Glavine’s making steady progress, might try to throw off mound next week, but not certain. He’s throwing at 120 feet now without any difficulty.

I still believe that we'll sign him to a contract, but he won't make it out of spring training. That's fine. We can have a nice retirement ceremony before some game in April and call it Tom Glavine day.

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Smoltz

Anyone heard anything lately? I’m getting more worried the longer he goes unsigned, and as more pitchers come off the market. We’ll look pretty pathetic with Campillo as a #3 starter.

by TradeAndruw on Jan 5, 2009 4:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

45 mil to spend and FW doesn’t pull the trigger for too much $$ this and to long of term that…Blah.Blah.Blah…Man we could have rotation full of #2-4 pitchers.
Garland (No Thanks) Pettitte I wouldn’t mind 2/20 and he is the Lefty we need. Glavine I just don’t know about but Invite him to ST to see if he is able to pitch first. More I Imagine a Rotation of Vasquez,JJ,Pettitte,Smoltz/Campillo,Glavine/Morton/Hanson/JoJo I believe we could be a solid 3rd behind the Mets and Phillies! This off season has gone from optimistic to terrible….I hope we ultimately Sign Lowe and cough up the extra 2mil, Sign Smoltz, Sign Pettite, Sign Abreu/Trade for Swisher/Nady. But I can always dream but hopefully FW can make some smart moves SOON or we will be left outside on the CURB with left overs in FA market

by Bravofan on Jan 5, 2009 5:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks God...

That Frank Wren is our GM and you are not. Outside of passing on Burrell at the price range he fell into, I can’t think of a single thing that I would have done much differently than FW. I don’t want to overpay both the Padres AND Peavy to get our ace, I didn’t want to give Burnett five years OR $16.5/season, I didn’t love the Furcal deal and we were clearly used in those negotiations, we were never going to come close to Sabathia’s pricetag and with good reason… I could go on and on, really. I’m happy with those non-moves, I truly am. I’d farther standpat and wait for The Next Wave than gamble on competing now by jeopardizing our future with bad trades and worse contracts. Prices are coming down and there will be bargains to be had. We can still salvage the offseason (Sheets, Lowe, Dunn and others are still available) so there’s no reason to keep bitching like this.

Here we go again: http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/

by ejruiz on Jan 5, 2009 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

btw pettite is either going NY or nowhere.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 5, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by Charmin519 on Jan 5, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would hope so

He has nothing left. Let him lose his job to Sidney Ponson in May with the Yankees.

by nick9314 on Jan 5, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ya Pettite was horrible last year

FIP = 3.71
k/BB- 2.87 ( not great but decent enough
K/9 =almost 7

his WHIP was a little high at 1.4 but it was manageable

"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 Jan 5, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

pettite is in the same class as jamie moyer: may still be effective, but could explode at any possible moment

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 5, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

true but the statement was he will lose his job to sidney ponson, and thats not really true of any pitcher.

I agree he could fall completely apart at anytime, but theres lots of guys like that and he is still ptiching well so ill get behind him (not as a brave because he will cost too much, and isnt worth it but w/e)

"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 Jan 5, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andy v Jamie

Pettitte: Age 36, posted FIPs of 4.13, 3.87, and 3.71 from 2006-08, with a K/9 around 6.5. Consistently keeps his GB/FB ratios over 1.45. Has a reputation as one of baseball’s best postseason pitchers.

Moyer: Age 46, posted FIPs of 4.95, 4.93, and 4.32 from 2006-08, with a K/9 around 5. Consistently keeps his GB/FB ratios at or under 1. Has a reputation of smelling like Ben Gay and old jock straps.

But I can see how you might get the two confused.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 6, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no bias whatsoever there.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 6, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The numbers don't lie.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 6, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think he was disputing the numbers what he said was Pettite is old and has a heightened injury risk. His use of PEDs increases that chance exponentially, he never argued that Pettite didnt pitch well the past couple years merely made the comparison that Moyer and Pettite are old and can break down at any point, which is a true statement

"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 Jan 7, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Any pitcher can break down at any point, so if that’s the argument, that’s not super helpful.

But that’s not what he said. He said Moyer and Pettitte were “in the same class.” But you know what? They’re not. They’re not in age, they’re not in performance, and they’re not in risk going forward.

Pettitte’s K rates and GB tendencies make him a good bet to continue at his current performance level for the next 2 years, perhaps 3. The same cannot be said for Moyer.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 7, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Marlins Rotation is better than any projected rotation we could put together and could be better top to bottom than the Mets and Phillies. We are the 4th best team in this division who doesn’t have a defined strength, we are decidedly average in most all facets of the game. If we cant acquire impact young talent, we are better off standing pat and continuing to develop our young players. Spending $40M to win 81 games is a waste of time. Invest in young players who will have a much larger impact down the road

by jeg on Jan 6, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The longer we wait...

the more I agree with waiting for the young guns. I feel bad for Chipper, as he might end his career before we get good again, but who knows. At this point, spending money on guys that are not long term solutions doesn’t make any sense.

by MurphyHOF on Jan 5, 2009 6:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Garland is truly bad...

he doesn’t deserve much more than a 500k deal.

I’m still a fan of getting Lowe – his track record for durability and effectiveness is far and away the best of those left available.

by BraveBronco0121 on Jan 5, 2009 8:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i just noticed jon garland’s name was mentioned.

DOB must read this blog and wanted to fuck with me. frank wren is a competent man, he couldn’t seriously be thinking about jon garland. haha, very funny dave.

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 5, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i was waiting for you to say something about your favorite pitcher

by Brandonba on Jan 5, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think FW is going to sign Garland

just to see what you’ll do. Was it a Garland signing you said would make you drive a nail through your dick?

-1000 for being a dick.

by Rhyno18 on Jan 5, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or something along those lines.

god, if we sign him…you may hear stories of me from spring training uh…causing mischief

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 6, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You lose all credibility by saying Frank Wren is a competent man.

by jjcollins on Jan 6, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh great wise one, what has he done thats so horrible?

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 6, 2009 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow...

name one thing that Frank Wren has messed up. His only problem was that he trusted people too much. Blaming FW for what has happened to Atl this season is like blaming 9-11 on Pres Bush.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 7, 2009 1:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs