Odds and Ends: Braves, Cruz, Breslow

Some nuggets from today...

• The Braves look to be the market for a bat off the bench and according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution it's not likely to be a minor name. O'Brien asked Wren if the Braves "had money to add a player of significant salary to their payroll," throwing out an accompanying figure of $3-4MM, to which Wren said yes "without hesitation." Let's use this to set the stage for what should be an interesting late spring Reed Johnson sweepstakes.
• Evan Grant of the The Dallas Morning News believes that Jason Botts 2 for 5 performance on Saturday versus the Mariners has locked up a roster spot for the young DH/1B. Speculation is that Kevin Mench, who can be optioned, would be sent to the minors and that Nelson Cruz could be designated for assignment.
• MLB.com speculates the ugly spring put up by Aaron Fultz may have played a part in the team's decision to claim Craig Breslow off  waivers from the Red Sox. Fultz has put up an 11.88 ERA in just over eight innings and last week he gave up four runs on five hits during a performance against Double-A Akron in an intrasquad game last week.

Aaron Shinsano writes for East Windup Chronicle.

Comments

[BobbyCocks]

Think Bonds would sign a 1 yr $4mill deal?

[fgsfsfbbbrd]

i would highly doubt it, though it would be fitting to see him end his career with the same team as the former home run king. and good luck to Craig, he's a good pitcher, and at only 27 he'll continue to improve, i just wished that the redsox held him in their already awesome bullpen. why dont the rangers pull a platoon effect for the DH/1B. mench is a beast versus lefties, and Botts only has 78 games total.

[Joe]

Reed Johnson is the perfect fit for the Cubs. He is a right-handed hitter who can back up center field. He hit .236 last year, but hit .325 against lefties. He would be able to spot Pie against togh righties. Maybe even platoon with Pie. All you have to give Johnson is money, where for Byrd you had to give up Murton+ a young pitcher and money. Pinella himself even admitted it. It says at the very bottom of this link http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080323-cubs-pitchers,0,3949678.story

[bravesbeast]

Well, my opinion is kind of torn as to how the braves should use this available money. For one thing, I am becoming more and more skeptical as to just how much depth in starting pitching the braves have.

Hampton's concerns are obvious, but James is a pitch away from a torn rotator cuff, and glavine and smoltz are in their 40's, with smoltz showing signs already. Add the inexperience and unpredicabilty of Jair Jurrjens and Jeff Bennent, and the fact that JoJo Reyes moves further and further from the realm of value with each start, and I would say that the braves should take their money and sign another option as a starter. I think signing a starter would seem to be the only option, as the amount of serviceable pitching available through trade are is barren, as it would cost too much money or commitment (Matt Morris, Vicente Padilla), or too much in terms of prospects (Blanton or Harden.) However, the remain options on the free agent market all have risks of their own, so the braves probably want to make as safe an investment as possible. I would opt for a young arm without a job, like Perkins from Minny, Sonnastine or Howell if they were availabe from Tampa, or Sowers/ Laffy from Cleveland, and i would love a Cliff Lee Addition.

However, with that being said, the braves could use some more power from a right handed bat off the bench. I would love to trade for a sevicable young cheap option who has some upside, such as a matt murton, ben francisco, or a juan rivera. I would be willing to give up a young arm for rivera, maybe not so much for the other two, but those are just options. I could see us going after reed johnson as a right handed option who can play anywhere in the outfield, even though i think there are better options out there with more offensive potential. Thanmes could be thrown into the mix, and a ryan rayburn addition could be an under the radar move that seems hopeful as well. Reggie Willits could be a great option, but unlikely for us to want to pay the price to get him when we already have similar skill sets in blanco and anderson, although both bring less certainty to the table. My guess is that an obvious choice would be Rivera, and we could have the lower level depth in terms of arms to get him. Murton and Thames would be more realistic options, as they seem to have more power potential than Diaz. Reed Johnson would be next on the list if none of those routes seems reasonable, and then Willits would be lovely as well. It seems the braves want to make one more move to add depth, I just hope we move for someone who has the youth and upside to help us this year and beyond.