Braves Monday Odds and Ends

by gondeee on Nov 9, 2009 4:37 PM EST Comment 35 comments

Several things popping up on this Monday in the world of the Atlanta Braves

First... There are several people planning on attending Brian McCann's Celebrity Softball Game this Friday, November 13th at Georgia Tech. It's for a great cause, and we'll get a little bit of a Braves baseball fix here in the middle of the winter. For details and to purchase tickets go here. Respond in the comments if you plan on going. Oh, and I just read that the Varisty will be selling food and drink... as if we needed a reason to go, hello, Varsity and baseball (softball, really) in one stop. (Perhaps the Braves will take note and put a Varsity at Turner Field next year.)

Second... The Elias rankings came out today and there were no surprises for the Braves. We have four free agents eligible for draft pick compensation were they to be offered arbitration by the Braves but sign elsewhere. Relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez are type-A free agents (meaning we would get a first round and supplemental first round pick), and Adam LaRoche and Garret Anderson are type-B free agents (meaning we would get a supplemental first round pick).

Third... David O'Brien of the AJC is now on Twitter, and he has this nugget from the GM Meetings (which started today):

I'm hearing the Braves have discussed trying to sign Javier Vazquez to a contract extension. Not sure if that's gotten anywhere yet or will.

And only this morning Buster Olney was saying we would trade him. Gonna be one of those winters...

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Olney

becomes less credible by the sentence….

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 9, 2009 5:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol im tired of that dude.

braves#1

by rockybull on Nov 9, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they can both be right...

we’ve probably looked into what a Vasquez extension would look like (basically what they’d be wanting in years and $), but won’t commit with the current other commitments in the starting rotation. Because of those commitments, we are also having to entertain possible trades depending on what’s available for Kawakami or Lowe.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 9, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wont get nothin for Anderson cause we wont offer him arb…

braves#1

by rockybull on Nov 9, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fine by me

Because offering him arb would be one risk I would not want to take

by SmithnCompany on Nov 9, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'LL be there on Friday.

It looks like it will be a nice day, high 65 and only a ten percent chance of rain! Go figure. So used to seeing rain. I have never been to Russ Chandler Field, so this is a perfect opportunity.

"Braves fans in the hizzy" -Boog
"Is that like the crib?" - Joe

by GwinnettBraves on Nov 9, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll be there

Man, I wish I had access to my old job’s parking garage for this.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Nov 9, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Could we offer Anderson the minimum, knowing he wouldn’t take it and get the picks?

by blitzerlover on Nov 9, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

But he probably would take it, since he’s not really likely to draw interest. He had to wait until March last year, when he was coming off a much better season. If you handed him a chance at a guaranteed contract he’d jump on it.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 9, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d take GA on a league minimum contract as a bench player.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by mvhsbball on Nov 9, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would too. He would be worth it as a PH.

by blitzerlover on Nov 9, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

assuming bobby would only use him in that role

"If I have asthma, they won't let me scuba. And if I can’t scuba, then what’s this all been about?? What am I working toward??"

by Doghnut on Nov 9, 2009 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arbitration never yields a drop in salary as far as I know. I think it’s part of the MLB-union bargain.

by sgrapevine on Nov 9, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As said before

teams can only offer a 20% decrease in salary. If the case gets taken to the arbiter, the player almost always wins.

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 9, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, I guess I completely misunderstood the process.

by blitzerlover on Nov 9, 2009 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its a No Brainer!!

If we can get Javy to sign a Hudon-esque contract, we’d be morons not to do it. It would give us some real nice stability and flexability with our roster. I’m a big Javy fan and not afraid to admit it. He, Hanson,Hudson and JJ would make an unbeatable rotation for years to come.

by FloridaBravesFan on Nov 9, 2009 6:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

If Javy for settle for that kind of deal. Seems to me that he could fetch a deal similar to Lowe’s if he were a free agent right now (and easily mind you).

by SmithnCompany on Nov 9, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not so sure.

The economy being in the tank means fewer teams are willing to enter the bidding. He still might draw a big offer, but he likes it here and has previously negotiated a limited no-trade clause for good reasons, so the field is further narrowed.

There could be a real opportunity for the Bravos to lock him for on a 3 year extension, which if combined with a salary dump of Lowe would be a huge win, imo.

by fandave on Nov 9, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, DOB’s Twitter picture is Hank Aaron?!? He’s not that ugly.

(Yunel is still the Queen of Hearts)

by GoBravesNY on Nov 9, 2009 7:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

I wonder if this means they have found a suitor for Lowe/Kawakami

by drumzalicious on Nov 9, 2009 11:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i would think they’d get rid of someone before committing another long term contract to another starter.

"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson

by 10-4 on Nov 10, 2009 8:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dropping Lowe would be a good move?

We won’t get much for him, maybe only 1-2 minor leagures in return. But last year could have been just a fluke for him and he rebounds this year in style. I remember Hudson not being very impressive his 1st year too.

by Trek on Nov 9, 2009 11:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If we could find someone to take on at least 80% of DLowe's contract

I’d be ecstatic. I probably wouldn’t even care if we didn’t get a solid prospect or two.

If we could shed all of it, we could probably sign Matt Holliday.

/mvhsbball dreams of a Holliday/Schafer/Heyward OF for years to come.

"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"

by mvhsbball on Nov 9, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would be ecstatic as well however I highly doubt we will get Holliday and honestly i wouldnt want him. I dont feel like we should tie so much money and time in him from whats being said he is looking for 6+years and 100+mil.

by drumzalicious on Nov 10, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea but

we have at least 4 other starters that could put up his 2008 numbers and the 5th being KK could come pretty close IMO

by drumzalicious on Nov 10, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Trade Talks?

The hot stove is heating up, I heard a possible trade of Lowe for Carlos Lee and we may senda low level prospect as well. The free agent grading is bogus, anyone check out that Carl Crawford of the Rays got listed as a Type B and Chone Figgins as a Type A. Bet the Rays are glad they still had an option on him.

by Bluechips85 on Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Where did you hear that rumor?

sounds bogus to me. Carlos Lee is making over $18 million till 2012… why would the Braves send an extra prospect?

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 10, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because Lee is a more valuable commodity?

Given Lee’s bankable batting and Lowe’s age and the fact that hitters in general command a higher salary, I would have no problem throwing in a Grade B prospect with Lowe to get Carlos Lee. No problem at all. In fact, if there is an offer on the table, can we please take it now? Please?

by cavebird on Nov 10, 2009 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Upon further reflection...

…Lee’s defense is bad, and he is aging, too, so a prospect probably shouldn’t be necessary. However, given that we would be getting exactly what we need for a total contractual addition of 3.5 Million (and the years are no longer than Lowe’s contract), I’d still overpay and throw in the B prospect.

by cavebird on Nov 10, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lowe is just too much...

for too long in my mind. He’s a good bat, and would fit the bill there well, but he makes McLouth or Schafer (and probably Diaz as well) nothing but trade bait, and also would cost $50 million over the next 3 years. For a team pinching pennies that’s not ideal. Maybe they are figuring you can balance his price with the inexpensive, younger players like Freeman, Heyward, Schafer, Escobar, Jurrjens, and Hanson, but it’s still an awful lot to spend when you add him to Chipper and the veteran starters.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 10, 2009 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

meant "Lee is just too much"...

not Lowe, reply fail.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 10, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For the record

that was my point. Lee is getting paid a lot (significantly more than Lowe), his returns are likely to continue to diminish, he can’t play defense…

Why would the Braves do this?

by Andy Braves Fan on Nov 10, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll be there with a few folks. My father in law reminded us of the armed robberies at Tech, so everyone be careful and travel in groups if you can. Apparently, whoever’s doing it likes to pull up to you in their car and make it quick.

"Matt Diaz is a baseball player."-Joe Simpson

by 10-4 on Nov 10, 2009 8:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs