Needs and Luxuries: Atlanta Braves
Let’s take a look at the Braves’ needs and luxuries (many requests for this one). Click here and scroll down to read other entries in the series.
C – Brian McCann
1B – Mark Teixeira
2B – Kelly Johnson
SS – Yunel Escobar
3B – Chipper Jones
LF – Matt Diaz/Brandon Jones
CF – Josh Anderson/Jordan Schafer
RF – Jeff Francoeur
SP – John Smoltz
SP – Tim Hudson
SP – Tom Glavine
SP – Chuck James
SP – Jair Jurrjens/Jo-Jo Reyes/Mike Hampton/Jeff Bennett
Setup – Peter Moylan
Closer – Rafael Soriano
Needs:
I think we have to view center field as a need for the Braves. The 2007 Major League Equivalency for Josh Anderson: .223/.257/.277. When a guy can barely crack a .700 OPS in the minors he’s obviously not big league material. Schafer hasn’t played above High A ball yet. Even with strong defense he seems a reach right now.
Mike Cameron seems like a great fit for these Braves, even if they have to give him a two-year deal.
Assuming Frank Wren’s bullpen remains respectable I don’t see any other needs for this team. They’re in very good shape.
Luxuries:
The Braves have a strong offense and a respectable-looking rotation. They seem to have a decent fifth-starter competition going. However I would not go as far as to call pitching a luxury (James should not be dealt). After giving up a lot of prospects to get Teixeira, I also probably would not look to trade for a veteran starter or center fielder and further damage the farm system.
To sum it up, just sign Cameron and go for it.
Odds and Ends: A-Rod, Morrow, Cabrera
The daily, and sometimes twice daily, odds n’ ends roundup…
- A site called You Been Blinded got its hands on the huge A-Rod binder Scott Boras handed out in 2000.
- The Mariners are highly unlikely to trade young hurler Brandon Morrow or start him in Triple A.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski stated his desire to sign Miguel Cabrera long-term. The lack of an extension window was a big reason why the Angels dropped out on Cabrera.
- Talking Chop breaks down the Braves’ payroll and finds they have about $83MM committed.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Prior, Bedard, Haren
The rumor mill is picking up today, thanks in no short part to Ken Rosenthal. Check out his latest column.
- Rosenthal believes the Padres are Mark Prior‘s first choice, but as usual they won’t pay as much as other teams. Both Texas clubs are in the lead for Prior currently. Rosenthal also names the Cards, Mets, and Yankees are suitors, as we knew. The Pirates, by the way, have not inquired.
- Talks for Erik Bedard have slowed down, because the Orioles aren’t impressed with the offers. The Mariners, Reds, and Mets are the top contenders. Rosenthal indicates that the Reds may be overvaluing Homer Bailey, compared to the perception of other clubs.
- Interesting late-game suitors for Dan Haren: the Rockies and Braves. You wonder, then, whether they’ll also inquire on Bedard.
- Rosenthal notes that the Chris Burke acquisition could be a sign that the D’Backs won’t re-sign Orlando Hudson. Burke will have to show something first though.
- The Orioles don’t seem likely to flip Luke Scott; they like his style. The guy could hit 30 bombs this year, in the opinion of Ron Shandler and Co.
- The Twins are up to 39 on their 40 man roster, so they’ll have to be creative to take back four players in a Johan Santana deal. It could mean including a player with Johan.
About Nine Teams Watch Benson
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 11:07am: The Braves were in attendance, according to a source of mine.
UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 8:42am: The Giants were in attendance, so we know eight of the nine teams that watched Benson. Is it normal for each team to send three scouts, by the way? It’s been said that 25 of them watched.
UPDATE, 12-18-07 at 1:39pm: The Yankees, Mets, Astros, and Phillies definitely attended. I also received an email about a radio report indicating the Cards were there. That’s seven of the nine.
FROM 12-18-07 at 10:40am:
According to Todd Zolecki, about nine teams watched free agent Kris Benson throw 60 pitches yesterday. The Phillies and Nationals were definitely present.
Feel free to guess at the other seven teams. The Astros were probably there, and some of the Yankees, Cardinals, Royals, Marlins, Rockies, and Dodgers were probably on hand as well.
Benson had surgery in March to repair a partially torn rotator cuff. Before that he’d usually been good for 180 nearly league average innings.
Odds and Ends: Johan, Hudson, A-Rod, Dallas
Collection o’ links…
- LENIII has a Johan Santana update…nothing groundbreaking going on, pretty much looks like the Yanks and Red Sox are still both involved.
- The Brewers were apparently pretty deep in discussions for Miguel Tejada during the Winter Meetings.
- After a year out of baseball Javy Lopez is back with the Braves on a minor-league deal. Remember when he slugged .687 with 43 home runs in 457 ABs? Good times.
- Nick Piecoro has some chatter about Orlando Hudson, who hits free agency after the ’08 season. The most interesting part is that Hudson refers to Bob Melvin as "Bo-Mel." It’s the same story with Hudson – he’d like an extension, the D’Backs are noncommittal. You never know – I certainly didn’t expect them to re-up Eric Byrnes. But as of right now it seems like Hudson will walk.
- Alex Rodriguez is not on speaking terms with Scott Boras…let’s all hope they reconcile, they were a great couple.
- Barry Jackson says the Marlins have their eye on Dallas McPherson. The Giants are known to be interested as well.
- Mike Sweeney‘s agent has been in touch with the Royals as well as two other clubs. I think he might have to accept a bench role this year.
Braves Eyeing Brian Fuentes
According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are interested in Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes. However, they don’t want to take on his entire salary.
Fuentes earned $3.5MM in 2007, and will get a raise in his last year before free agency. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him up around $5MM for 2008. That’s the price of a good setup man these days.
Mike Gonzalez was supposed to be the Braves’ late-inning southpaw reliever, but he’ll probably be out until June due to Tommy John surgery. It seems the Rockies’ asking price is steep for a year of Fuentes – they wanted Aaron Heilman and then some from the Mets, and Jed Lowrie from the Red Sox.
Arbitration Decisions
Free agents’ decisions on whether to accept their teams’ offers of arbitration are rolling in.
- Eric Gagne told the Red Sox that he won’t their offer of arbitration. The Boras camp had sent signals otherwise, but it was an idle threat. He wants that multiyear deal or at least a chance to close. The Red Sox get a delicious sandwich pick for their dalliance with Gagne. Could’ve been more, if Gagne was lights out for them and snagged Type A status.
- Mark Loretta accepted; Trever Miller declined. Loretta should make $3MM+ to take on a utility role. The Astros could always still trade him to a team looking for second base help. As for Miller, he could still return. The Astros will get a sandwich pick if he leaves.
- Ron Mahay declined the Braves’ offer. No surprise since he’s looking for three years. You have to consider their sandwich pick as an added benefit of the Teixeira trade.
- Aaron Rowand is expected to decline, which is a formality since he’s going to get at least three years. As a Type A, the Phils probably hope he ends up with the Yankees somehow.
Coco Crisp’s Agent Speaks
Coco Crisp‘s agent, Steve Comte, supplied all sorts of quotes to the Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford. Covelli’s not a fourth outfielder, he’s better than Jacoby Ellsbury, he’s a proven commodity, stuff like that. It was interesting to read, and you can see where Crisp and Comte are coming from. But it doesn’t really change anything, because if the Red Sox don’t trade Crisp and he wants his $4.75MM next year, he’s going to have to live with a reduced role.
Bradford mentions that the White Sox, A’s, Rangers, and Braves have inquired on Crisp. The Padres, Twins, and Orioles have also been connected to him.
Willits Not On Braves’ Radar
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:50pm: O’Brien corrects himself – Willits is not on the Braves’ radar. Nor is Josh Hamilton, in case you were wondering. They’ve got some mild interest in Chris Duffy.
FROM 12-4-07 at 8:26pm:
According to David O’Brien of the AJC, the Braves have talked to the Angels about outfielder Reggie Willits. The Braves could plug Willits into their center field spot for a few years. But what could they offer the Angels?
Pirates Shopping Nate McLouth?
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:31pm: Neal Huntington says he’s not shopping McLouth, but that doesn’t mean he won’t listen.
FROM 12-4-07 at 1:58pm:
Apparently Neal Huntington thinks Nate McLouth is not the answer in center field, because he’s been aggressively shopping the 26 year-old. Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs, Padres, Phillies, and Braves are interested.
Looking at my Nate McLouth archive, the Giants and Marlins have also been connected to him. McLouth has a .249/.322/.429 line in 708 big league ABs, which isn’t too bad for a center fielder. Plus he did hit .284/.391/.538 over the season’s final two months.