Braves Announce Tim Hudson Extension

Lowe for Swisher?

Derek Lowe certainly doesn't have the health risks that Lackey does. For a team that already has an ace and a half like the Yanks a 'short' three year contract to a veteran who gives you 200 solid innings and 33-34 starts could very well be desireable.

If the Braves added a few very solid (not Heyward, Schafer, Teheran class) legit prospects I wonder if we could aquire Nick Swisher. He set to make 26M over the next 3 years (with the option picked up) so the difference is only 16M over three years.

I can't imagine that the Yankees would want to trade Swisher, they already need to find a new left fielder and DH.

If the Braves could get Brett Gardner and dump Lowe's contract, that alone would be a brilliant move by Wren.

The odds that the Braves can get a potentially impact bat in exchange for Lowe are extremely low, unless they're willing to take on a similarly poor contract.

If the Braves can dump Lowe's contract without eating much money, they should, but he's likely to bounce back at least somewhat next season, so they shouldn't go out of their way to deal him.

If dealing Lowe involves eating siginificant money, then they may be better off moving Vazquez for a solid return.

I still don't get what the rush was to re-sign Hudson when the Braves already had 5 starters under contract. I would have liked to see Wren take care of the other needs first. However if the end result is Lowe is traded and his spot in the rotation goes to Hudson, then I could live with that.

"The odds that the Braves can get a potentially impact bat in exchange for Lowe are extremely low, unless they're willing to take on a similarly poor contract."

Yeah, most Braves fans aren't delutional enough to think that Lowe can be flipped for an impact bat. However if we added enough propect value to nearly get Swisher by itself Lowe could be added to finish the deal.

"If dealing Lowe involves eating siginificant money, then they may be better off moving Vazquez for a solid return."

I feel like I've gone over this too many times. Vazquez won't fetch an impact bat because of his lack of matches. He is too expensive for a small-market or rebuilding team, he has failed often in large markets in the AL, and he cannot be traded at all to 1/3 of the MLB. Certainly he could be flipped for prospects somewhere like Milwaukee but trading away your staff ACE for specs doesn't help a team who wants to win now.

I would think that the Yankees would rather hang on to Gardner and give the Braves Melky, especially if they come with hat in hand looking for a salary dump.

Im really hoping for someone better than Swisher...Lowe may be over paid based on his 2009 season, but based on his past 3-4 years its not so bad. Would I have paid him $15 mil for so long? No, but his contract is far from unmovable. I believe there are 5-6 teams that would take him off our hands and give us a couple decent prospects and/or a good bullpen arm..I would be fine with us signing Laroche to a 2-3 year deal and using Freeman and a couple lower level guys to get a big time young OF bat. Wren was great last offseason and I expect the same this offseason. He will get the job done.

You're delusional if you think Lowe and his 45mil contract can get Swisher.

The Lowe for Swisher trade is a joke... right? Baseball is a business, not a charity. The Yankees aren't going to take on a bad contract AND trade a good starting RF.

If the Yankees want Lowe and agree to take on most/all of his contract, than the Braves are getting a low level prospect at most.

I don't see any of this happening, though. I believe Cashman when he says that he wants to get younger. If that's a main goal, it makes no sense to sign an aging pitcher that's under contract for 3 years. He's not a bad pitcher at all, but there are much younger options out there.

Lowe isn't terrible, and while I do think he'll bounce back, the point of trading him is to free up that $15 mil to spend elsewhere.

And this may be a little off topic, but on the LaRoche front, if Adam wants more than 2 years, let him walk & sign Overbay for a year. His contract's up at the end of 2010 anyway. Regardless, keep Freeman.

I still think Lowe for El Caballo could work good. The Astros need starting pitching (Wandy may be good but he can't carry the whole team) and Carlos Lee would look damn good in a Braves uni!!!

Why in the world would the Braves want Swisher. He is horrible. The guy was in a loaded lineup and got a little better numbers this past year. But look at his career stats. There is no way the Braves want Swisher. Now I could see them signing laroache or maybe going after Gonzalez from the Padres.

Swisher has a career avg of .245. He strikes out a lot and he has no speed at all.
Gonzalez has career avg of .281 and he has hit homes of 30, 36 and 40 in the last three years. He is under contract for a reasonable salary for 2 more years and could be picked up in a trade easily.

Weren't there some rumors about a possible Derek Lowe for Luke Scott trade? I don't know if that would be a good fit for the Orioles, considering Lowe's contract and his ERA last year, but I feel like it has been discussed.

Thad... what in the wide world of sports makes you think that Gonzalez "could be picked up in a trade easily"? We are not giving up the farm for him. Swisher makes since, because we don't need an every day player. Even though The Yankees are going young, Lowe is a proven and durable veteran. He's also a ground ball pitcher. I don't think it'd be an even swap, but I can see it happening.

"Why in the world would the Braves want Swisher. He is horrible. The guy was in a loaded lineup and got a little better numbers this past year. But look at his career stats. There is no way the Braves want Swisher. Now I could see them signing laroache or maybe going after Gonzalez from the Padres.

Posted by: thad | November 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM"

How about because he has great plate discipline and good power?

He isn't a star, but at this point in his career it is likely Lowe isn't either. Swisher is a great role player.

i dont know if the yanks would even want lowe...

but Rono, i would kill to have brandon phillips.

Lowe's good. I don't think GMs think Lowe will repeat his bad season. With that given, I know they do not want to give 15 MM for an aging pitcher.
The upsides of Lowe are: 1. A ground ball pitcher.
2. A veteran pitcher.
3. A durable pitcher.
4. A winning pitcher.
He wont get hurt as much as Lackey and would seem to provide the same kind of wins. Lowe has had a few bad games, but will almost always get to the 7th or 8th inning. He would be a nice fit for the Yankees, as long as the Braves throw in a prospect and pay part of his salary.

Holy Cow I see you're point, but without much research I think DLee and Derek Lowe match up on the money, and I know the Cubs are wanting to play Fox at first. Also I know the Cubs are not wanting to give the raise to Fotenot so just a thought that they could use Kelly Johnson. Past big Z the Cubs pitching staff was not very good last year... Maybe they could use Lowe.

Second note LOL @ Land-man are you crazy Prado better than Brandon Phillips not a chance, pitchers fear B-Phillips. Pitchers pitch around guys like Chipper and Bmac to get to Prado.

Rono, DLee would be traded for Javier if anything. They match up good there and they both will become FA's next year. Cubs don't want to use Fox, they want to trade him, because he is out of options. Cubs have been looking for a 2B player, but they would want Kelly unless Kelly proves himself.

"4. A winning pitcher.
He wont get hurt as much as Lackey and would seem to provide the same kind of wins. Lowe has had a few bad games, but will almost always get to the 7th or 8th inning."

I'll give you the durable part, since he is ery rarely hurt, but his record over the past 6 years is 83-70, an average of ~ 14-12, not overly impressive since he's been on fairly good teams for the most part.

And his IP/GS was only 5.73, hardly the stuff of someone that usually gets into the 7th/8th inning. In 34 starts last year, he had 11 7th inning innings and only 2.1 8th inning innings. For comparison purposes, Dice K, whose inability to go deep into games is legendary, had 5.78 IPs/GS, 10 IPs in the 7th, and 3 in the 8th in his last full season.

"lowe going to the yanks seems like it would make sense, and not just from the braves point of view. the yanks could use him as a steady back of the rotation guy that'll eat innings and keep the ball on the ground in that new park of theirs."

If you had a choice of Lackey for $15M at the back end of your rotation, or Lowe for $15M, which would you choose?

Lowe has the 7th highest average salary in CONTRACT. No team is trading for Lowe unless it it a dollar for dollar exchange in contracts.

Derek Lee for Lowe?? Really?? You actually spent the time to write that?? Lowe and $11mil to the Cubs for Bradley and Fontenot.

Lowe is in the Pineiro, Garland, Marquis group. (no offense to those 3 pitchers. )

Read Onley's column. ( Not that he knows all ) Teams A dollars last offseason. Yanks will re-sign their own for one year.

Next offseason Lee, Halladay, Mauer, Beckett are scheduled to be FAs. that is where the Yankees shop. Not in the Lowe for $15 mil a yeaar aisle...

It seems that Lowe will have two teams that would be primed to get a top end of the rotation starter. Yankees or the Angles, depending who loses out on signing Lackey the other would be very interesting in trading for lowe. Angels could have a Sandoval and Arredondo to offer and Yanks could offer Melky/Gardner/Swisher. This will depend on how much Cash the braves send in return to get any player of significant. Once Lackey is signed the Lowe talk will intensify and be interesting on how FW will try to get top value with a FA market very thin for top of the rotation type SP available. Lowe should bounce back but going to the AL may actually hurt some value but we will have to wait and see....

How ironic would it be if Lowe were traded for GMJ. Didn't we release GMJ in spring training a few years ago? I know I sound like a broken record, but let me say it again.
Formula for success: Trade Lowe and his big ass contract.
Sign Billy Wagner
Get a RH power bat

Second note LOL @ Land-man are you crazy Prado better than Brandon Phillips not a chance, pitchers fear B-Phillips. Pitchers pitch around guys like Chipper and Bmac to get to Prado.

Posted by: Rono840 | November 12, 2009 at 11:27 AM

You can keep Phillips and his lifetime OPS of .742, and we'll keep Prado with his lifetime OPS of .810, thanks. Prado is a better hitter every day of the week.

Brandon Phillips is allergic to getting on base and his home and road splits are terrible..if he pitched in a non hitters park he wouldn't even be talked about at all

Brandon Phillips is allergic to getting on base and his home and road splits are terrible..if he pitched in a non hitters park he wouldn't even be talked about at all

Posted by: ConverseChris | November 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM"

Hey! You sound like me! Phillips is vastly overrated.

Wow Braves fans. And everyone says Yankee fans are delusional. Lowe is worth nothing. Not even close to getting you Swisher. Yeah, let's bring an elderly pitcher who is owed a ton of money and couldn't get it done in the only division in the NL where there is anything resembling an offense and, not only that, let's give up our starting right fielder who is on a good contract, has great OBP, and power. Braves fans, please wake up for a moment and realize that any sportswriter who wants people to click on his link will say the Yankees might get involved on a certain player. There is no substance to it in fantasy or reality.

Wow Braves fans. And everyone says Yankee fans are delusional. Lowe is worth nothing. Not even close to getting you Swisher. Yeah, let's bring an elderly pitcher who is owed a ton of money and couldn't get it done in the only division in the NL where there is anything resembling an offense and, not only that, let's give up our starting right fielder who is on a good contract, has great OBP, and power. Braves fans, please wake up for a moment and realize that any sportswriter who wants people to click on his link will say the Yankees might get involved on a certain player. There is no substance to it in fantasy or reality.

Posted by: TonyYanksFan | November 12, 2009 at 02:34 PM

Well I am a Braves fan, and I for one agree with you..with lowe's ridiculous contract now and swishers great year we would be lucky to get anything with lowe..it will pretty much be a salary dump and I am all for that I just want to address the RH power bat. Personally I want Josh Willingham or Carlos Lee but that may be just me

Phillips is not overrated. Prado couldn't hit 20 homeruns in batting practice let alone 162 game season.
Prado was a bench player for a reason. Don't get me wrong he had a solid year last year, and I rooted for him, but he is not an everyday MLB player. Plus with Phillips, its just like ever other athlete you lose your desire when you play for a losing team every year.

Maybe I was reaching a bit on the Lowe comment to the Cubs, but there will be a deal done involving Lowe. IMO Javy will stay put, and maybe even sign an extension.

I am just trying to think half way realistically the Braves are not getting Holiday or Bay.

The Braves need hitters. Still kills me to this day, we picked Garret Anderson over Adam Dunn, and Bobby Abreau.

One guy with 30 or 40 homerun power the braves are very close to the Phillies level.

Note to Braves fans: You don't get prospects back in a salary dump.

I repeat, you DON'T get prospects back in a salary dump.

Posted by: TwinRoyals | November 12, 2009 at 02:53 PM

I know that, only the ones that propose absurd trades and overrate our prospects do that. The real ones get overlooked for the blind homer ones :(

two comments from the same poster in the same thread...

"Next step would be either get Garret Anderson back or try and gamble on Nady"

"Still kills me to this day, we picked Garret Anderson over Adam Dunn, and Bobby Abreau."

so what are your thoughts on Anderson?

I don't see the Yanks trading Swisher for Lowe. I don't even expect them to go after him @ all.

GA played better than Frenchy last year

Phillips vs Prado doesn't matter. It won't happen but saying Phillips can't hit away from Cincy is stupid, same amount of HR's home/away and way more RBI on road. Prado outslugged and had better OPS than Phillips last year. Phillips is a more dynamic player because of his speed and defense but Prado hits well enough and is not making much money.

Here is one Yankee fans might like. I'll look at it completely from their angle.

Trade:

Derek Lowe, Nate McLouth, and legit pitching prospect (outside of Teheran or Delgado) ie Rohrbough or Spruil.

for

Nick Swisher

This would be be an opportunity for the Yanks to get a innings eater MOR starter, a gigantic upgrade to LF defense with LH pop that should play well in Yankee stadium, and a high upside SP prospect.

Aquiring McLouth would allow the Yanks to be flexible in signing either Matsui or Damon as a DH while making a the no-brainer signing (IHMO) of Cameron.

1. Jeter SS
2. McLouth/Damon LF/DH
3. A-Rod 3B
4. Teixeira 1B
5. McLouth/Matsui LF/DH
6. Posada C
7. Cameron CF
8. Cano 2B
9. Cabrera/Gardner RF

That outfield defense would be 100x better and that lineup still has major thunder.

Then you have two aces at the top, two veteran anchors in the middle and some young guns fighting for the last spot and providing needed depth.

Sabathia
Burnett
Petitte
Lowe
Joba/Hughes

(For those wondering, Nady would take over in LF or 1B depending on who else is brought in and Schafer/Heyward/Diaz would play CF/CF-RF/RF)

Yucavich,

Lowe didn't want to come back to LA, if he did I don't see why they wouldn't of signed him.

Or at least all of the $ it would have taken to resign Lowe

If the Braves trade him, he has no choice. He doesn't have a no trade clause. It doesn't really matter if he wants to go to LA or not.

I checked GA's stats....terrible. Francoeur had a higher OBP if you can believe that. Frenchy's numbers were better across the board, plays better defense and of course the big arm. Too bad it didn't work out for Frenchy, still a fan but I know why they traded him. He played alot better once he went to NY.

Lowe for pierre campaign...ew braves need power not another slap hitter

Yankees fans: Lackey will also cost your first round draft pick in addition to the money...if that means anything to you guys.

If the Braves really want to shed Lowe's contract, they might consider dealing with the DBacks for Eric Byrnes.

Byrnes is (for the most part) awful, but you're stuck with him for only one year. And he might actually be able to put together a couple of decent months before Heyward is promoted.

Besides, if the DBacks are thinking about pursuing Marquis, then Lowe isn't such a terrible alternative.

@ Jay

No it's really not. Swisher has 30+ HR power, takes a ton of walks and is versitile on defense. He had actually better power numbers away from homer happy Yankee stadium. That trade also clears ~14M off the books and so would allow additional moves like LaRoche and some big bulpen additions or added with some exta payroll space from KJ, GA, etc getting dropped, a major run at Holliday/Bay.

The only way we turn Lowe into Swisher would be to send some serious talent along. Since both Schafer and Heyward(short term) can man CF McLouth is expendable and our MLB and MiLB pitching talent is so deep we can afford to move a major SP prospect or two.

to yucavich's credit, we really didnt have a problem scoring runs in the second half...second in the nl, actually. and we'd be in a much better spot if we had mclouth in a spot where he could drive in runs. i'm not sure the pierre idea specifically has any legs, though.

one thing i will say, regardless of pierre, is that if we had a legit leadoff guy, we could put chipper at #2, then platooned diaz and mclouth in the #3 spot, i think we'd have a really consistent, really dangerous lineup. at this point in his career chipper is more of a table-setter and can't match the slg that the diaz/mclouth platoon at the #3 spot would produce. just look at their respective splits.

anyone that watched the team in the second half knows what they're capable of, and i firmly believe adding a true leadoff guy and a re-organization of the current lineup (that includes laroche) would be a lot more potent than people realize.

Lets not compare Pierre's career OBP of .348 to Frenchy's at .301 Pierre would be fine if the Braves had a true clean-up man like Pujos or Tex playing 1B...but they don't. So, the best option is LaRoche back at 1B and a RH hitter with some pop in LF (Dye, Nady, DeRosa are the best free agent options ouside of the Big 2).

If the Dodgers didn't/couldn't sign Lowe because of Maany why would they be able to take on his contracr now?? they still have Manny.

What teams, beside the Braves and Mets, had interest in Lowe last off season??? Those are the only 2 I remeber.

Lackey for a 1st rd pick is a steal. Its pick #30. No real loss to the Yankees. They'll pick someone in the 5th rd that dropped due to salary deamands and pay him 1st rd money...

I don't know, I'm half/half on Lackey. Good pitcher, doesn't resemble a #1 to me, but wouldn't be with CC here in NY. I just don't think he's worth what he'll want, and I want them to go after Hernandez or Halladay next off-season.

Thats ridiculious. The Braves got McLouth on the cheap. I think he is only due around 4 million this year. Why does everyone think Swisher is the answer? He is a solid guy who can hit some HR's but lets not go crazy. McLouth is cheaper, younger, faster. Swisher has a more pop, McLouth is a better defender. You want to leave CF to Matt Diaz or two rookies?? R U serious. Heyward is a corner OF won't be up until June.

I agree with above poster...why would Braves throw in a prospect? That trade is not even plausible.

Posted by: cheez13 | November 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Lowe's IS A BAD CONTRACT. It's the 7th largest per season average for a pitcher. To think you could get a player like Swisher back for him is a fairy tale.

The Yanks would be interested in a Lowe and $24 mil for Brian Bruney type trade...