Braves May Be Interested In Kotsay, Patterson

The only way Kotsay makes sense is if the Braves grab him in a package deal with Blanton, which might even lessen the prospect haul back to the A's if the Braves pick up 5 or 6 mil of Kotsay's salary. Otherwise, sign Patterson. I like Cameron for this year, but Schafer will be ready next year and they really don't want to block him with a Cameron multi-year deal.

What would the Braves give up for DeJesus? Keep in mind that the Royals are looking for a young catcher, corner bat, or starting pitcher.

Would the Braves be willing to part with Brandon Jones if they got DeJesus, with Schaffer coming up in the next year or year and a half? Is that too much?

I would give up Brandon Jones for DeJesus in a heartbeat, but I don't know if Dayton Moore or Frank Wren do that...

Please not Kotsay or Patterson and their barely-.300 OBPs! Cameron might be okay except that he'd miss the first 25 games, which presents an awkward situation if/when one of our younger guys actually gets off to a good start and the Braves have to play Cameron to justify paying him.

Stick with what we have, let the young guys battle it out during spring training, and I bet we'll find a gem. At least if we can have a plus defender who won't GiDP every at-bat from the cleanup hole I'll be happy.

Timmy, what is the calculation that was used to figure out Anderson's major league equivalancy that you posted in the Braves' needs/luxuries piece? Is it just a percentage drop from certain minor league numbers? It's just that, as I mentioned above, I can't see Anderson being worse than the .258/.298 career numbers that Patterson carries...I would never want Anderson to lead off, but a .270/.325 guy with speed out of the 8 hole wouldn't be so bad, would it? I can't see that being worse than Cameron hitting 7th starting in May and getting maybe 20HR/75RBI while hitting .250 and striking out a ton...

We have a need for a CF, but I would by no means call it urgent. If you can get creative and figure out a package, I say go for it. I'm perfectly content with whoever plays CF batting 8th. The only positive out of obtaining a CF would be one who is a great leadoff hitter.

What about a package for DeJesus built around Jones and Pena? What would it take to get it done?

I really have no idea, but I figure the Braves' fans have at least thought about what it would take to get DeJesus. Oh, and don't say Chuck James because that got shot down in July.

Thoughts?

Why exactly is Baltimore such a shitty place to live? And don't say murder rates cause professional athletes aren't going to be living on the west side of Baltimore City.

half of the athletes in baltimore dont even live in the city. actually almost all of them dont.

look, adding salary of dejesus if we want to sign tex or francoeur longterm does not make sense. Obviously some people think that dejesus is great. Keith law said he was whatever. Keith Law says a lot of things that I think are questionable.
Dejesus would be an improvement over what we have now, since we have nothing. But hes just another player taking the place of someone else, or at least, taking away their chance.

People love the city they live in. It's pride, its history, it's memories; that being said there are more desirable places to live than Baltimore. Even ATL aint the best. But I bet that Corey thinks ATL is better, and that would be the only reason we are even having this debate over Bmore.

I just dont see any reason to bring on the high salary of a player that we might not even need. Especially if we are trading away B.Jones and his nothing salary to get a RENTAL. Lets let spring training determine if we need any more auditions.

Currently as I see it we have a lot of options at CF.
gregor blanco
josh anderson
jordan schaffer
possible omar infante
possible brent lillibridge
hell, even throw in b. jones in the mix if you want.

Jordan Schaffer is what the whole organization is banking on. He is the future. UNless we trade away a nobody, there is no rerason to have to trade with a team to get the services of a player for 1 year or EVEN LESS. not to mention additional salary. Sadly, thats why corey patterson is even attractive at this moment, and only if his salary is 3 mm or less, i'm assuming.

"I can't see that being worse than Cameron hitting 7th starting in May and getting maybe 20HR/75RBI while hitting .250 and striking out a ton..."

It would be.

And if the Braves start Anderson in CF, it will be worse.

The reason we won't bring in Lofton is due to the past. We had him before and from some accounts, he was a detriment to the clubhouse. Usually the Braves are big on character and Lofton is a me kinda guy. ATL already has MEangelo Hall. It almost doesnt matter who we bring in as long as their defense is up to par and they don't cost much.

Obviously, I am no GM and my bias is going to play a part in my reasoning. I would prefer the Braves spend no money if we can avoid it just as much for the future of the organization as opposed to now.

I mean dejesus, for james didnt work and they purportedly offered that. The idea of giving up more talent than that for ANY temporary centerfielder seems unwise and a poor investment.

I think the main reason to bring in somebody is for their veterane presence and experience to mentor the youngsters as much as anything else.

My attention has always been on bringing in Dejesus, as we could use him this year and beyond, once schafer is ready. However, we obviously do not have the urgency to give the royals the return they want for dejesus.

With that being said, I think the braves should go after a CF via free agency. And the two candidates are Mike Cameron and Corey Patterson. I like patterson simply because he is younger, could provide more range and cosistient defense, will hit for a similar average to cameron, and also will likely strikeout less as well as provide another dimension to the braves offesne in terms of a consistient base stealer. I also think it would be easier to sign patterson to a one year deal than it would cameron. We simply do not need to commit more than one year to a CF unless he is a piece whom we could see on the team as a valuable piece beyond in 08, and with Diaz, Jones, and Schafer in the wings, I just do not think the braves will give up enough to get a person for one year via trade, and with some money still avaliable, should have the sense to get a nice optionm for one year without having to surrender prospects. I still would attempt to see if lillibridge could get dejesus though.

" like patterson simply because he is younger, could provide more range and cosistient defense, will hit for a similar average to cameron, and also will likely strikeout less as well as provide another dimension to the braves offesne in terms of a consistient base stealer"

If only his career on base percentage wasn't 298. As a Cubs fan, I sort of hold a neverending grudge against Patterson. After what he did in 2003 at age 24 (post .840 OPS), he got pretty much every Cub fans hopes up. A former top prospect, finally fufilling his potential as a speed-power combo guy that could play gold glove defense. Then everything fell apart and he posted a .602 OPS in 2005. He's actually turned out to be a half-decent player, thanks to good defense, but I have little faith in Patterson.

And here's to hoping it wont happen again with Pie..

Doctor J:

That is my exact reason for seeing if we could get dejesus for lillibridge. And Adding Dejesus's salary is not a problem at all, as Boswa dis a good job of pointing out. We could bring dejesus in for this year, and if he does well, trade him off and feel a need for next season, or hold on to him if we feel schafer needs more seasoning. I still think that patterson at 4 or 5 million would be a potential bargain, but if we could bring in a repectable CF whom we could move in the future to make a spot for schafer, then I would not have a problem with that at all

Patterson makes a ton of sense. The only commitment is cash this year. And probably not much of it (although I would think $5m would be the starting point).

If he doesn't work out then you can try internal options. However, I do think he brings a solid glove to CF. Sure his 300obp is terrible. But that is offset some by the fact that he is burner. The Bravos could use a little speed in their lineup.

Dear lord, NO NO NO. DeJesus NO. Patterson, NO. Kotsay, NO. Cameron, NO. Why? Because the Braves only need a STOPGAP. DeJesus would be a long term solution, but they (and we the fans might I add) don't want anyone blocking Jordan Schaffer. The guy has huge potential. That means the Braves COULD go for a guy like Kotsay or Cameron, or I guess Paterson, but only for one year. That said, I don't see ANY of these scenarios happening. Why? Because 5-6 mil. is a steep price for a fringe level stopgap. We already have one named Josh Anderson, and he is Hella cheap. Kotsay could happen if the A's are willing to eat some salary. That said, Kotsay would also only come if he comes in a deal with Blanton. As it may well be that the Mets get Johan Santana (see most recent and frustrating post, damn muts), I can see the Braves making such a move.

1quik6:"Did someone really say the Braves are big on character?....maybe compared to the Atlanta football team."

Are you serious right now!!! Bobby Cox runs one of the best clubhouses in all of baseball. Players love him and they always get along. Plus, look at the Mitchell Report... the Braves clubhouse is and always will be clean and respectable. If you think that a crazy redneck (Rocker) and an overweight Andruw Jones puts a cloud over the reputation of Bobby Cox and the Braves clubhouse as a whole, than you are an IDIOT!

Bobby is my boy and I'll defend him 'til the day that I die. He is one of the most respectable men in baseball today! And the Braves' clubhouse has portrayed nothing but character in the past two decades under Bobby's reign.