Crasnick On Abreu, Eckstein, Bloomquist, Lowry

It would be typical cheap loser Rangers to look at Lowry. On the other hand there's no reason they couldn't get a deal for Sanchez done. (well, despite the mornonic GM).

**MAYBE Max Ramirez or Salty though..

The AL East has 2 of the toughest LHP in baseball. Braves need a right handed power hitter otherwise it would be a good fit. FW if we want to compete we need at least a #1 if not ace. The closest guys on the FA market are Lowe and Perez. Perez is a walk waiting to happen when he is not focused, but ive seen him look like a guy capable of a #1 at. He is only 26 so we should at least be checking on him.

Well, Davis is represented by Scott Boras himself so he won't be a Ranger too long anyway.

I personally hope the Royals can find the money to sign Eckstein as a second baseman. Great work ethic, good OBP and lead-off candidate, and is good defensively, just doesn't have the arm to play short.

"Sanchez & Ishikawa?"

Ha. I pretty much proposed this same deal like four comments above.

If the Giants could land Davis, then I actually think this team could contend next season, and in the future it could get scary.

You'd be talking about a rotation including Lincecum, Cain, Alderson, Bumgarner and Zito, with a lineup that includes Davis, Sandoval, Posey, Gillespie, Lewis, Villalona (one of Davis, Sandoval and Villalona would end up in left field), Rowand, Noonan and Burriss.

"And why shouldnt Vazquez count? Wren should certainly do more with the money they have but why does adding a good pitcher not count as making a move?

Posted by: bravesfan22193 | January 06, 2009 at 04:01 PM"

Vazquez has a history of inability to pitch big games. If Frank Wren thinks he is going to be the guy who will turn this pitching staff around, they are terribly mistaken.

The lack of interest in Abreu continues to amaze me. So do the Mets. If ever there were an offseason for them to break the bank, this is it, but I guess they're going to have Wright and Reyes to re-sign pretty soon. Still, starters and corner outfielders abound...

Aren't Wright/Reyes already locked up long term? As is Beltran and Santana correct? I mean most of their core is locked up, it's just surrounding them with the right players and actually getting the job done the Mets need to do. The NL East is always fun to watch and next season certainly could keep that tradition going.

The cards aren't going to move ludwick anymore. if they move an outfielder its going to be ankiel.
Bamabosox fan Ive got an even better 4 step plan
1) Sign Derek Lowe 4 years 52-56 million
2) Sign John Smoltz 1 year 5 million plus incentives
3) Sign Bobby Abreu 2 years 15-20 million
4) Sign Kawakami/Andy Pettite

jfish- Wright is signed through 2012 with an obvious club option for 2013, and Reyes is signed through 2010 with an even more obvious club option for 2011. So I take it back, they have time. They should be getting some combination of Lowe, Manny, and Abreu, but oh well. More power to the Marlins.

1) Sign Derek Lowe 4 years 52-56 million
2) Sign John Smoltz 1 year 5 million plus incentives
3) Sign Bobby Abreu 2 years 15-20 million
4) Sign Kawakami/Andy Pettite

Posted by: bravesfan22193

Nice think...how bout maybe a five step plan with signin Garret Anderson/Luis Gonzalez as a fourth OFer

Oh, and I forgot to mention Anderson and Gonzalez. The last thing we need is more old, injury risk (ala Andy Pettite). Neither of these bats would be a useful as Diaz, Blanco, or Josh Anderson.

Bravesfan10 --

As a fellow Braves fan, I am appalled at all your options except #2.

Derek Lowe is a good SP, but not an ace (he only looks like one while playing in the NL West) and is not worth that kind of contract.

Bobby Abreu is not the kind of player that the Braves need. He's left handed and we already have a lefty dominated lineup. Plus, he doesn't have any heart and thinks he's better than everyone else. He would not fit in with the Braves mentality.

Not sure on Kawakami (don't know a lot about him), but signing Andy Pettite is just an awful idea. He's greedy (turning down a $10 MM deal from the Yankees), old (we already have enough old SP who are injury risks), and overrated.

Just my thoughts, but I think the Braves need to look elsewhere to improve this club.

Posted by: Clint C | January 06, 2009 at 08:18 PM

First off he simply agreed with me so your going after my remarks. Look at the peripherals for Lowe before you judge him by his basic stats. Yeah the NL West isnt great offensively but that doesnt make Lowe a bad pitcher. What better option is there?
Bobby Abreu is left handed but puts up consistent numbers, will come at a discounted rate, and what right handed hitter do you suggest we get?
Andy Pettite is where you're the farthest off. greedy? because he turned down a less than stellar offer. just take a look at his stats beyond era and win % and you would change your tune. And I havent checked the dictionary definition for old lately but when did injury risk and old become the same thing? Look he's old for a ballplayer but he stays in good shape and nothing suggests that he'll get injured soon. Pettite has quickly gone from overrated to underrated also

I don't think Lowe is a bad pitcher, in fact is is good to very good, depending on where he plays. I just don't think he's an ace (nor do I think there are any SP out there who qualify). I think the Braves would be overpaying if they outbid the Mets for Lowe. Of course, I'm happy they didn't Burnette, too. The Braves have plenty of young, talented pitching which should carry them for a while (maybe not in 09, but after).

Rather than Abreu, I think Nady would be a good option. If the Braves do get a LH outfielder, I'd prefer Dunn. He's about the same quality fielder as Abreu, but walks and has more power.

Pettite is greedy to turn down such a lucrative offer from a team which he supposedly wants to play for. He is old, there's no questioning that, and with older pitchers you never know when they're going to completely fall off the table. I also don't think Pettite would be happy in Atlanta and that would surely cause his performance to suffer.

Depending on young pitchers to pan out is a risky move, if you have money and a hole you should fill it. Lowe and Pettite in no way block our pitching prospects, you put the young guys around the proven ones thus keeping the pressure off the rookies. I still dont see how its greedy to turn down a 6 million paycut when he put up solid numbers? 1 year 10 million is certainly not lucrative to a guy like pettite. If he gets paid, he'll be fine or he'll he'll go elsewhere if he doesn't want to play in atlanta. Just saying hes a pitcher we should look into. Nady over Abreu? Pass. Nady is signed for only one year, we would have to give up useful pieces in a trade, and the monetary difference will be minor. Finally its Burnett not Burnette