Atlanta Braves Rumors

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Wood, Sheets, Bradley, Wagner

On this date two years ago, Mike Lowell re-signed with the Red Sox for three-years, $37.5MM. In this first two years of the deal, Lowell has taken in $25.5MM, and according to his WAR has been worth $19.9MM. In '10, Lowell will be 36 as he enters the final year of his deal. Today is the first day of free agency, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... Howard Megdal and Chris Pummer of The Perpetual Post debate the Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe signings of a year ago. The Ghost of Moonlight Graham looks...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Derek Lowe's Value

Braves righty Derek Lowe makes for an interesting discussion topic. Lowe is owed $45MM over the next three years, and is widely known to be on the trading block. The Braves seem unwilling to eat significant salary. There are arguments on both sides of the fence as to Lowe's value. On one side we've got Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports saying the Braves are finding Lowe difficult to trade. The financial commitment is significant, and I must note that Lowe's strikeout, walk, and groundball rates moved in the wrong direction this year. I think the free agent market offers plenty...   Continue Reading

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Braves Looking For Lowe Suitors

6:36pm: MLB.com's Mark Bowman responds to Rosenthal's report, writing that even though they view the Brewers as a potential trade partner, the Braves aren't interested in Hart. If Atlanta were to work out a deal with the Brewers or Angels, Bowman thinks they might be more likely to trade for prospects than a major-league outfielder. 5:58pm: The Atlanta Braves are shopping Derek Lowe, but not having much success so far, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal suggests that Lowe's contract situation (he'll make $15MM in each of the next three years) and his 2009 struggles (4.67 ERA in...   Continue Reading

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Stark On Bradley, Uggla, Yankees, Braves, Pedro

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark responds to some of Scott Boras' recent comments before providing some rumors in his latest Rumblings and Grumblings column: The Rays, Rangers and Jays appear to be the three likeliest landing spots for Milton Bradley. The Cubs say they don't want to eat much of the $21MM remaining on Bradley's contract, so a bad contract swap still seems possible. Stark hears that the Marlins were in serious trade talks with the Giants and Rangers about Dan Uggla. There's no indication that the Yankees are in on Jason Bay or Matt Holliday at this point. The Yanks figure...   Continue Reading

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Braves Rumors: Heyward, Wagner, LaRoche

We've been hearing for a while that the Braves may trade from starting pitching depth to free up money, but what other moves might we see? MLB.com's Mark Bowman has some answers: Braves GM Frank Wren says there are "a lot of trade conversations going on" around the league. The Braves don't seem concerned about finding another outfielder, because they will consider letting top prospect Jason Heyward start the season in the majors. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Braves sign an affordable outfielder, in case they decide to keep Heyward in the minors for a couple months....   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: DeRosa, Smoltz, Indians

Some news and notes from around the majors.... It was previously reported that eight teams were interested in veteran utilityman Mark DeRosa. According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, you can add the Mets, Braves and Twins to the list, as well as DeRosa's most recent team, the Cardinals. With so many interested parties, DeRosa's agent Keith Grunewald believes his client should have no problem getting his desired multi-year contract. In that same article, Hernandez notes that the Dodgers talked to Grunewald about both DeRosa and another of the agent's clients, pitcher John Smoltz. The Dodgers were previously cited...   Continue Reading

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Mike Gonzalez Now Represented By Scott Boras

Two sources have confirmed that free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez is now represented by Scott Boras, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Gonzalez had previously been represented by Dan Lozano of The Beverly Hills Sports Council. Bowman says that the switch shouldn't have much of an effect on whether the Braves try to retain the southpaw. The 31-year-old Gonzalez is now over two years removed from Tommy John surgery, and posted a 2.42 ERA in 80 relief appearances this season.   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Phillies, Hendrickson, Sheets, Brewers, Hinske

A few links to start the day... Andy Martino of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the Phillies will prioritze defensive versatility over power when filling Matt Stairs' roster spot, though Stairs, Miguel Cairo, and Paul Bako are welcome to come to Spring Training on minor league deals. Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com has an update on the Orioles' negotations with Mark Hendrickson. Last month we learned that Hendrickson hoped to re-sign quickly. ESPN's Keith Law wrote about players coming off injury, and notes that Ben Sheets is worth gambling on, considering his upside. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com...   Continue Reading

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Eight Teams Express Interest In Billy Wagner

Eight clubs have expressed interest in free agent closer Billy Wagner, according to his agent Bean Stringfellow (Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reporting). Stringfellow generously named five of the suitors: the Red Sox, Braves, Nationals, Astros, and Orioles. The agent says Wagner's Type A status hasn't scared teams off, and that of these five only the Red Sox spoke about a non-closing role. Stringfellow expects multiyear offers, though Wagner turns 39 in July. The FOX authors speculate on possibilities for the remaining three teams by mentioning the Tigers, Cubs, Mariners, Rangers, White Sox, Rays and Marlins....   Continue Reading

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Nationals Drawing Interest In Willingham

Washington is drawing strong trade interest in left fielder Josh Willingham, but may not be willing to part with him, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Willingham turned in a slash line of .260/.367/.496 with 24 HRs in 502 plate appearances in 2009. The post identifies the Braves as a team that likes the 30-year-old, but says that they have concerns about his back and are less than enamored with his defensive play. Willingham, they suggest, might be a better fit in the American League where he can be a DH. Earlier this month, Tim...   Continue Reading

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