The Braves released Melky Cabrera, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Cabrera, who joined the Braves in last winter's Javier Vazquez trade, was a non-tender candidate after a disappointing season in Atlanta. The 26-year-old hit just .255/.317/.354 in 509 plate appearances this year, so the Braves decided not to tender him a contract worth anything close to his 2010 salary of $3.1MM.
Cabrera can play all three outfield positions and was useful at the plate for the 2009 World Champion Yankees, so he figures to draw interest as a fourth outfielder. Whichever club signs Cabrera will have him under team control through 2012.
The Braves expected more from Cabrera, but they did obtain Arodys Vizcaino in the Vazquez deal. The 19-year-old right-hander was pitching well in the minors before a torn elbow ligament forced him out of action for most of the second half.
good, should have released him about a year ago
Before he even played for the Braves eh?
yes..
I’d like to think that the Yankees wouldn’t complete the deal unless the braves took Melky off their hands… Vizciano was the prize. Dunn was a bonus. Melky was a throw in to carry bags.
They should have released him in spring training. What a waste… Garret Anderson 2.0
Nah, Anderson was clearly better.
Yankees could have non-tendered him a contract.
He’ll catch on somewhere….He’s only 26 so some team may think that he’ll show some upside if he gets comfortable…Good 4th outfielder
Melky was well liked in NY for his defensive versatility and his good at bats in the clutch. We all knew he was marginal as a third outfielder, but having him around was a great insurance policy. One that paid off nicely in 2009, when Brett Gardner was injured as much as healthy.
exactly, the Braves shouldnt have ever taken him. Since they did, they shouldve released him before he ever put on a Braves uni
Wow! The Melky hatred runs deep in the heart of the Braves fan. I understand he was disappointing, but was surprised to see McLouth and Ankiel played ahead of him in the playoffs.
Can you let the rest of us who don’t follow the Braves exactly what went wrong / how bad he was?
Sure.
Melky got fat and lazy. His “defensive versatility” that you described in another post was not seen at all, as he performed at sub-optimal levels at each OF spot. He was not clutch at all this season, and he played in way too many games. Like all of the other non-Heyward Braves outfielders, he’s a 4th OF at best, and he should be used as such. Unfortunately, the Braves were forced to throw him into so much action because of his “defensive versatility” and “ability” to switch-hit.
Well…that’s the first step to getting a quality, everyday outfielder that can provide consistent help with very few question marks attached.
that trade didn’t really work out for either sides
Uh we got a top prospect pitcher there, sport.
As of right now, it didn’t work, sport. Anything can happen to a prospect. Maybe in a couple years it’ll come around, but as of right now, it didn’t really do anything for either team.
Mike Dunn.
In a somewhat small sample size for the Braves Dunn has already posted a 1.89 ERA and a 12.75 K/9 in 25 games. He also throws on average 94-95 MPH from the left side with a really nice slider. His only wart is his control and given he hasn’t been pitching too long he still has a reasonable amount left he can develop.
Mike Dunn is awesome, better than Boone Logan, and he isn’t arbitration eligible unlike Logan.
You forgot to say ‘Sport’.
Well lets see. They don’t have Vaz anymore, we don’t have Melky anymore. We both have decent lefties. That leaves our 4-7th best prospect. I’d say we came out on top. But that’s just using simple logic, wouldn’t expect you to follow.
Don’t bait the guy. He probably thinks the Braves got Jose Vizcaino, not Arodys.
We still got a top prospect. Either way, you can’t call the trade a failure or a success for both sides before seeing what Vizcaino does, or if he gets flipped to add a bat to the Braves.
Like when you traded Hanley and he became a mega uber star shorstop and then you signed nick green two years later?
For serious. I cried all through the parade.
For serious you couldn’t make the playoffs. this year? or make it out of the first round last year?
I would advise you resign Mike Cameron because that was a great move.
The Red Sox played great this year, stop being a hater. They had injuries the entire year to key players and still made a great run.
Dude, didn’t your team, who have won exactly one World Series in the past five decades (None in the past decade and a half, I’ll add), just get unceremoniously dumped from the playoffs by the vegas odds worst team left in the playoffs? After a four year absence from said playoffs?
Glass houses and all that, man. You’re not exactly in a position to talk down to people about their rooting interest.
While he shouldn’t be talking smack either, you don’t really have a leg to stand on with the “being put out by the team that’s about to make it to the World Series” thing.
The ALCS is a best of seven series, last I checked.
That said, I mean no disrespect to the Giants, I’d love to see them in the World Series, my point was entirely that the Braves got bounced hard from the playoffs by a team that is, on paper, probably the weakest left in the playoffs after missing the playoffs four years running. Not a position one should be smack talking from.
Bounced hard? Did you see the same series I saw? Because I saw four one run games, two of which were decided by terrible umpiring calls, the posey stolen base and Infante allegedly getting pulled off the bag in game four.
The weakest team to make the playoffs WAS the Braves and they lost one run games to the Giants who appear on the verge of going to the World Series. Just look at their starting lineup.
There was actually an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution where their writer suggested that the team would not have been able to field that lineup in a spring training road game because of the rule stating you have to have four starters attend. So, I’m not buying that the Giants were the weakest team in the playoffs.
Note I said “weakest left.” Of the four remaining teams, the Giants are probably the weakest.
Your point seems to be that the Braves were “bounced hard” by a team that shouldn’t have beat them. Maybe I don’t understand the point of your comment. Am I missing something?
For serious. I cried all through the parade.
I think both sides won that trade…if they didnt make the trade then they wouldnt have made the playoffs in 07. Lowell had 120 rbis and Beckett was great. Not sure why youre bashing this trade so much.
Getting Dunn and Vizcaino hasn’t done anything for the Braves? The Braves saved millions of dollars, added a useful arm to their bullpen for 2010 who contributed to a playoff appearance, and added a Top 75 MLB prospect. I’d say it did something for them.
Vizcaino was a top 75 prospect last off season and before another arm injury. His ranking will drop.
Vizcaino was a top 75 prospect last off season and before another arm injury. His ranking will drop.
Getting Dunn and Vizcaino hasn’t done anything for the Braves? The Braves saved millions of dollars, added a useful arm to their bullpen for 2010 who contributed to a playoff appearance, and added a Top 75 MLB prospect. I’d say it did something for them.
The Braves traded one year of a fairly expensive starting pitcher for two quality young arms. The Braves dumped payroll and picked up prospects.
While I agree for 2010 the trade was a loss for both side, looking at the deal long term the Braves have much more potential to come out on the positive side. Vizcaino is a legit ace prospect and would be the #1 pitching prospect in most systems but gets overshadowed by Teheran and even Minor and Delgado.
Cabrera was never the centerpiece of the trade. The trade was meant to be a salary dump so we could sign Glaus and Hinske etc and to get the most overall talent we could. Wren really wanted Vizcaino and Dunn is a nice piece and Cabrera was just an auxiliary throw in to be a fourth outfielder.
That is, until Bobby Cox got him.
We also traded Boone Logan to New York in that deal, and he had his best year in the majors.
And he still has a 5.10 career ERA and 1.61 WHIP…that doesn’t make him a good pitcher.
The point is that part of the trade worked out for the Yankees. His career numbers are not in question here.
Right but at the time of the deal he had a career ERA approaching 6. Not to mention, the Braves had one of the best bullpens in baseball this year. Don’t see how he could have helped, and he is likely to fall off in a big way after this year.From a 2010 MLB perspective, Yankees win the deal as Melky plays a very suboptimal OF, and Logan and Dunn each have solid years. Longterm, this deal appears to weigh heavily in favor of the Braves. If nothing else, we got a lot of $ freed up to sign Glaus (MVP of May and early June) and Hinske.
We also traded Boone Logan to New York in that deal, and he had his best year in the majors.
It wasn’t so bad for us. From May 1 to July 31, Vazquez was 8-4 with a 3.66 ERA and Boone Logan was good for us. We limped into the playoffs, and if we had replacement level pitching in those three months where Javy was good, we would not have made it at all.Now if Vizcaino or Dunn turns into a really good pitcher, we’ll rue the day we made the move, since Javy was NEVER considered part of the Yanks long-term picture.
There is a God.
Thank God, he was horrible.
No more Milky Milky Cocoa puffs…woohoo.
Can play all 3 outfield positions? Maybe in a rec softball league.
Saying Melky can play all three outfield positions is like saying Adam Dunn can play shortstop. Sure, technically you can place him there in the lineup, but the question is do you really want to?
then wouldn’t that mean he can play all FOUR outfield spots 🙂
I am very surprised that teams don’t release guys they plan to non-tender more often. Each year, when clearing the 60-day disabled list after the World Series or making room for an early free agent signing, teams lose players they might want to keep around, either on waivers when trying to outright a player out of options or as a free agent when a veteran declines a minor league assignment, yet end up with roster slots in December when they non-tender someone. I understand that teams want to get some value for these possible non-tenders by trading them, but there are always one or two guys like Melky who will never be traded because the world knows they will be non-tendered in December. So, for these untradeables, why not release them early and clear the roster spot before December?
this is great news. Next up Nate McClouth?
Well Nate McLouth has guaranteed money in 2011 so he cannot be non-tendered. His performance after his DL/minor league demotion was very encouraging. I expect him to be much better in his walk year next year.
Also remember that Chipper got a hold of McLouth to help him get better, and TP is no longer the hitting coach, which means McLouth will do better.
I’m not too familiar with the Braves needs in the outfield. Lefty or righty power bat? Speedy leadoff type?
Either righty or lefty. Someone who can play left field everyday and perform well with a strong possibility of a 20/80 season at the very least.
would the braves have interest in Juan Rivera? Just a couple seasons removed from a 25 homer 88 RBI season. i’ll give him to you for some baseballs and seeds
there were some connections with him and the Braves last year in a possible trade for javier vasquez or derek lowe
i mean his contract isnt too bad. i mean 5 mil for 20 homers and 80 rbi’s is pretty decent. i think the angels just want to rid themselves of an outfielder.
would the braves have interest in Juan Rivera? Just a couple seasons removed from a 25 homer 88 RBI season. i’ll give him to you for some baseballs and seeds
Righty power bat, and a leadoff man. Of course, we’ll only get one and have McLouth too.
I would say the NEED is a righty but it would be ok to end up with a left handed bat as long as its not another ” .190/.298/.322 left handed bat”
Melky was never more than a very good 4th OF or CF place holder (for Austin Jackson or Brett Gardner) but I was shocked and how much he regressed when he went to the Atl. I saw a few games and he looked a little out of shape, was swinging wildly outside the strike zone and made a couple of bad plays in the field (and didn’t seem to hustle). The lack of hustle and poor defense were surprising because he was better than that in NY.
I didn’t realize that Vizcaino was hurt again. That’s his 2nd arm related injury in the last 3 years I think. Hopefully, he can find a way to stay healthy.
We all know how bad Vazquez 2.0 turned out.
This may come down to the story of two lefty power relievers. I liked Dunn w/ the Yanks but he was way too wild. His low ERA doesn’t quite tell the story though. 8 BB/9, 88 batters faced in only 19 IP and a whip of 1.68 is crazy high. Boone Logan may not have the same gas as Dunn but he can still bring it at 94 mph and seems to have decent control.
The deal with Melky is that in the NY line-up, he was a contributing piece in a strong line-up. He was never a focal point, played decent defense, threw out several runners and quickly got a rep for that. He had a number of touted walk-offs, but he was never more than a 4th OF. Playing in Atlanta everyday and in a less potent offense, he’s been exposed. And yes, he looked somewhat chunky this year.
in Melky’s defense, I noticed him running hard on ground outs, at least late in the season. And I do remember one game maybe back in June or July in which he made a diving grab on a sinking liner to shallow CF (Melky was in CF) It was for out 3 with the tying run on base I believe. Other than that, one walk off single i think…? hmmm? probably a good guy but see you later Melkster-best of luck
you think the dodgers might sign this guy?
They keep signing our old outfielders, so yeah.
and when Melky comes back to the ATL I am booing him so hard. He screwed us over on that hit in the playoffs.
if you’re a dodgers fan, you better hope not.
They signed Garret Anderson, if they didn’t learn before, they just might.
With this release, and Diaz most likely going to be non-tendered, the Braves should have about $15-$20 million to spend this offseason. If you include Saito and his arbitration, if they don’t non-tender him, which will be about $4.5-$5 million. If they choose to let Saito go, they should have enough for a veteran RP and OF.
They ar eletting Saito go which means more money will be freed up to go get a speedy center fielder who can platoon with McLouth(perferably right handed) and a right handed power bat…I can still see us going after Werth but it may end up being too much and as far as the reliever i say we sign Jesse Crain.We could probably get the speedy center fielder in a trade for kawakami and then sign Brad penny as the #5 starter
McLouth will be the starting CF on Opening Day, unless he’s hurt or traded. Diaz will be non-tendered, and most likely signed for a cheaper price, which will give all the OFers days off, along with Hinske if he re-signs. The power bat will play LF, and most likely hit behind or in front of McCann. Crain is one of those pitchers you bring in for one out and that’s all. He’s only completed 1/4 of his outings in his career. Braves would have to eat about 1/3-1/2 of Kawakami’s salary even to get anything even back. Wren has made it clear that Braves will NOT sign a SP. They have Hudson, Lowe, Hanson, Jurrjens, and Minor. Saito has been released.
When has he made it clear that they will not sign a SP? and diaz cant play center so who gets the day off then which is why we need a backup for McLouth and who is your option for the veteran bullpen arm?
When has he made it clear that they will not sign a SP? and diaz cant play center so who gets the day off then which is why we need a backup for McLouth and who is your option for the veteran bullpen arm?
Saito was released with Melky, as was stipulated in his contract. Not to get released with Melky, but to get released.
This was meant to be a reply to BravesRed.
I did not read that until I just researched it. I would love to have Saito back, but only for cheaper than his $3.1 million deal.
Give me someone that can pitch on back-to-back days.
Matt Guerrier? Most likely not going to be offered arbitration.
There’s several options, and a few that I feel are better than Guerrier. We may not end up signing a veteran RP and let Moylan be that mentor in the bullpen. It wouldn’t surprise me to see us go with a bullpen filled with kids like Beachy and Gearrin.
I don’t care what they do. They can suck horribly, but as long as they get rid of Diory Hernandez.
I don’t care what they do. They can suck horribly, but as long as they get rid of Diory Hernandez.
There’s several options, and a few that I feel are better than Guerrier. We may not end up signing a veteran RP and let Moylan be that mentor in the bullpen. It wouldn’t surprise me to see us go with a bullpen filled with kids like Beachy and Gearrin.
Matt Guerrier? Most likely not going to be offered arbitration.
Didn’t the braves save around 7 mil with the Vazquez/Cabrera trade? Given the tight budget ATL deals with, I would say that’s a win for them.
If you add the 500,000 to the 11.5 million, which is 12 million, subtract 3.1, and you get about 8.9 million.
would love the birdnals to sign him
FINALLY! This move should have been made in July to make room for Cody Ross. Silly we never made a strong push for Ross but that besides the point. At least we got the spoiled milk out of the fridge. Adios!
p.s. the one thing I hated about Melky was his NYY attitude. He came in and never hustled never appeared to chase after line drives…. Glad to see him go
I wouldn’t call it a NYY attitude. When Melky was in NY last season he played hard after dogging it in 2008 and being sent to AAA. I think he had to be watched by Girardi and the vets on the team from losing his focus. The Yankees as a team play hard every night and guys like Melky who take some plays off are dealt with internally or they are sent away. Melky’s attitude was always his attitude and not something that the Yankees endorse.
Ummmm……Melky was never accused of dogging it and the reason why he was sent to AAA was because he lost the job to Brett Gardner in AAA. However, he got off to a good start in AAA and was brought back up and won the job back and had a strong 1st half in 2009 including some walk off hits.
His rep for hustling in NY was the reason I was shocked when I saw him sort of lathargic in games playing for Atlanta.
I wouldn’t call it a NYY attitude. When Melky was in NY last season he played hard after dogging it in 2008 and being sent to AAA. I think he had to be watched by Girardi and the vets on the team from losing his focus. The Yankees as a team play hard every night and guys like Melky who take some plays off are dealt with internally or they are sent away. Melky’s attitude was always his attitude and not something that the Yankees endorse.
FINALLY! This move should have been made in July to make room for Cody Ross. Silly we never made a strong push for Ross but that besides the point. At least we got the spoiled milk out of the fridge. Adios!
p.s. the one thing I hated about Melky was his NYY attitude. He came in and never hustled never appeared to chase after line drives…. Glad to see him go
I also want to add this a strong move and sends a bold statement on Wrens part. Whether or not he comes back and puts up similar numbers like he did in NY, he deserves to be cut. He came in didn’t do his job and never played with heart.
As for anyalzing the trade, I think many fans were confused and shocked as to why we pulled the trigger on the deal. Obviously, Wren and Co. saw something with Javy so they wanted to deal him. He was at a peak of his career but had a really bad salary. $14+ mill and Free agent the following year.
I also want to add this a strong move and sends a bold statement on Wrens part. Whether or not he comes back and puts up similar numbers like he did in NY, he deserves to be cut. He came in didn’t do his job and never played with heart.
As for anyalzing the trade, I think many fans were confused and shocked as to why we pulled the trigger on the deal. Obviously, Wren and Co. saw something with Javy so they wanted to deal him. He was at a peak of his career but had a really bad salary. $14+ mill and Free agent the following year.
maybe the Mets can sign him as the forth outfielder
Now that Omar is gone, don’t bet on it.
Now that Omar is gone, don’t bet on it.
maybe the Mets can sign him as the forth outfielder
Braves released J.C. Boscan also.
That’s sad…
Braves released J.C. Boscan also.
Just speculating here, but we may see a much more aggressive front office this year. With Bobby’s retirement, Wren has a lot more flexibility to rebuild the roster. I’m sure Cox had a huge level of influence on the composition of the 25-man. Despite his many strengths, if one element of the game had to be sacrificed, Bobby went for defense over offense. And in recent years, the defense hasn’t been that hot, either.
Of course, Wren could have that freedom and fill the roster with a bunch of bums …
GOOD Point.
Just speculating here, but we may see a much more aggressive front office this year. With Bobby’s retirement, Wren has a lot more flexibility to rebuild the roster. I’m sure Cox had a huge level of influence on the composition of the 25-man. Despite his many strengths, if one element of the game had to be sacrificed, Bobby went for defense over offense. And in recent years, the defense hasn’t been that hot, either.
Of course, Wren could have that freedom and fill the roster with a bunch of bums …
I hope we go for Ross now.
Ross is staying with the giants.
The Giants have control over Ross and will tender him a contract. He’s going nowhere.
The Giants have control over Ross and will tender him a contract. He’s going nowhere.
Ross is staying with the giants.
I hope we go for Ross now.
Melky was and is a strange player. He let a little success go to his head (and his mid section) in NY and coasted an entire season until the Yankees took his major league job away and sent him back down to AAA as a punishment.
During last season he played hard, but that could be attributed to having to answer to seasoned vets like Jeter, Damon, Arod, etc. who weren’t going to let him slop around the OF like he did in 2008.
I think going to ATL and getting big money (3 million) was a bad thing for this guy. The money gave him a sense of accomplishment and the lack of accountability to a veteran core he respected was no longer there. Chipper Jones isn’t exactly going to keep Melky honest.
I’m fairly certain the 3 million he made this past season will be the most he’ll make per year in his career.
The Yankees will not touch him with a 10 foot pole as he was seen as a distraction for Cano who they are relying on as a cornerstone player for years to come.
Melky will kick around the league a little but I won’t be shocked to see him jumping from team to team until he settles into a AAA career for the rest of his existence.
He can be a nice 4th OF when in shape, but for a young guy he shows no aptitude and no ability to learn and grow as a player. He’s making the same mistakes with the bat he was making when he first came up. His extracurricular activities are also not attractive and need to be curtailed if he’s ever going to prove to anyone he is taking this game seriously.
Wow…what extra-curricular activities are you speaking of? As a Yanks fan I don’t recall him ever being disciplined because of an attitude problem. I remember him losing his job to Gardner in spring training, sucking it up and winning the job back. I also remeber him being demoted for two weeks for being in a 3 for 25 slump w/ ZERO extra base hits in early August. As for being a bad influence on Cano I call bull crap on that too. Cano is a mlb player who is responsible for himself. Since when is little brother (Melky @ 23) causing big brother (Cano @ 26) to act up? Also Cabera was also there when Cano had his finest year up to that point in 2009. Does he get credit for influencing Cano then as well? The only reason why Cabrera was traded was because he was getting too expensive for what they were getting in return. Not because he was a bad attitude. Stop revising history.
I think Melky would be a good fit with the Newark Bears!
I can see the Pirates making a play for the Melk man. Huntington loves his fourth OF types. Can’t be any worse than Lastings Milledge, right?
Actually, wrong…and I fear for those of you who have not had your dose of curdled melk yet.
Wait, I thought he was supposed to be an important piece in a trade for Matt Kemp?
I feel bad for Melky. I really do. He was absolutely clutch in 2009, and of course the seasoned veterans and Joe Girardi were obviously not gonna let him slop around in any part of what his game was. I can see him being bounced around, but nothing really more than depth as a minor league contract. However, I advise Brian Cashman strongly to stay away from him. His antics will definetly distract Robinson, who is gonna be the cornerstone player for many years to come, and already was in 2009. What makes me feel even more bad is that I get this feeling that when he finds out he gets released, he’s probably gonna bother Robby + the Yankees, in hope of probably returning.
Don’t feel too bad. He got a ring and he’ll be cheered at every old timer’s game at the stadium for the rest of his life. That’s pretty cool if you ask me.
That bum was our last out this year. He was outta here from the get go.
I remember watching the last at bat hoping Melky could conjure up some of that “walk off magic” of 2009. And I also remember watching Tyra Banks recommending this thing called “Spanks” that sort of sucks in a woman’s stomach and thought “Melky could really use a pair right now. Maybe he should switch to soy”. And then he made some weak out and that was that.
Ummmm…what? What the whoosafudge does Tyra Banks have to do with Melky?
Both got a little junk in the trunk?
And neither is currently employed by an MLB franchise?
Both got a little junk in the trunk?
He now has KCPittsburgh written all over his face.
This site went to hell in a hand basket
ross will get some money poor melky i met him at macy’s and got a picture with him
he’s a nice guy