I’m thinking the Braves thought it better to pay B.J. Upton and keep their pitching prospects than trade one of them for Span. So with Upton the Braves are not just paying for him. They are paying to keep their young, cheap pitching.
Also, regarding trading for Span in addition to signing Upton, I don’t think Span’s bat profiles as a leftfield bat, at least not to the degree that it’s worth trading good, young pitching.
Great show guys. However comparing Upton to Andruw Jones isn’t fair to Andruw. Andruw was a once in a lifetime defensive talent who was worth 15 million with his glove alone. He was also better offensively than Upton.
Shaun – based on nothing, I do believe the Braves did or would have offered Teheran or Delgado for Span. Wren seems hell bent on having a prototypical lead off hitter and he really fits the bill.
Also, I don’t think the Braves care much about offensive profiles and positions. See Uggla. They were just happy to (theoretically) get the 25 HRs/year regardless of the position he plays.
Steve @4, maybe he’s looking for a prototypical leadoff guy. I kind of hope not. I’m hoping for a legit leftfield bat, given the makeup of the rest of the team.
I also hope they care about offensive profiles and positions. I think Uggla would go along with that because theoretically he should profile as a better than your standard secondbaseman offensively.
Hopefully the Braves wouldn’t go the other way, and get a leftielder that hits worse than a typical leftfielder, because they are thinking they have more than enough at other positions.
Want “the brother” in ATL, too? He is young and under control at a decent price for a while… Might even be nice for the brothers to “compete” and drive each other to improve?
What do you think it would take to get Justin?
What would you be willing to give?
I would trade Ahmed/Pastornicky & Teheran for Justin. I would consider Ahmed/Pastornicky, Teheran and Spruill.
I wouldn’t include Delgado or Medlin (an idea which I have seen) or Simmons, period.
I don’t think he’s going to be the type of player over the next four years that makes us regret not going after him harder, but I love that the Phillies struck out on him and didn’t get a free agent they were going after.
@9 – I think Hamilton signs first. With the Giants and Nats out of the Bourn market, I think the others are hoping they don’t have to pay that money/years Boras will demand.
Word is that the Braves aren’t interested in any of the remaining free agent outfielders. This makes me think that we are getting closer to a Prado/Constanza/Johnson platoon for left field, which is pretty much the worst case scenario.
Something tells me the Braves are thinking fairly big, as far as leftfield is concerned. Wren may be trying to send the signal that they aren’t desperate to fill the void to make a trade more favorable for the Braves.
RT @JeffPassan: Arizona discussing all sorts of three- and four-way deals to get shortstop. Upton for Cliff Lee (per @pedrogomezESPN) could just be a start.
Victorino’s contract is laughable. He has never made more than $10 million in a year, and now he gets a 3 year contract worth $13 million AAV? What the hell is Boston doing? Other than unnecessarily driving up the outfield market, of course.
I’ll admit the irony in my #19 post — some could argue that Braves are overpaying for Upton. But paying $75 mil for Upton over 5 years is, I think, a bit different than paying $39 million over 3 years for Victorino.
ESPN rumor that Braves could try for Jacoby Ellsbury. Boston wants pitching. He’s a Boras client and his deal is up at the end of this year or next, though.
At the risk of stating the obvious, I will be sooooooo disappointed if we don’t acquire a big impact player for left. And Curt, I agree that the numbers we’re seeing from Francisco will only serve to point the Braves toward the wrong decision.
steve ” I will be sooooooo disappointed if we don’t acquire a big impact player for left.”
me to, and i would be shocked if that happens. i will aso be shocked and disappointed if we dont have some young players locked up to long term deals by the end of this off season.
December 3rd, 2012 at 11:32 am
I’m thinking the Braves thought it better to pay B.J. Upton and keep their pitching prospects than trade one of them for Span. So with Upton the Braves are not just paying for him. They are paying to keep their young, cheap pitching.
December 3rd, 2012 at 11:43 am
Also, regarding trading for Span in addition to signing Upton, I don’t think Span’s bat profiles as a leftfield bat, at least not to the degree that it’s worth trading good, young pitching.
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Great show guys. However comparing Upton to Andruw Jones isn’t fair to Andruw. Andruw was a once in a lifetime defensive talent who was worth 15 million with his glove alone. He was also better offensively than Upton.
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Shaun – based on nothing, I do believe the Braves did or would have offered Teheran or Delgado for Span. Wren seems hell bent on having a prototypical lead off hitter and he really fits the bill.
Also, I don’t think the Braves care much about offensive profiles and positions. See Uggla. They were just happy to (theoretically) get the 25 HRs/year regardless of the position he plays.
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Just saw on MLB Traderumors that Victorino is believed to be seeking a three-year deal worth about $10MM annually. No thanks at that price.
December 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Steve @4, maybe he’s looking for a prototypical leadoff guy. I kind of hope not. I’m hoping for a legit leftfield bat, given the makeup of the rest of the team.
I also hope they care about offensive profiles and positions. I think Uggla would go along with that because theoretically he should profile as a better than your standard secondbaseman offensively.
Hopefully the Braves wouldn’t go the other way, and get a leftielder that hits worse than a typical leftfielder, because they are thinking they have more than enough at other positions.
December 3rd, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Want “the brother” in ATL, too? He is young and under control at a decent price for a while… Might even be nice for the brothers to “compete” and drive each other to improve?
What do you think it would take to get Justin?
What would you be willing to give?
I would trade Ahmed/Pastornicky & Teheran for Justin. I would consider Ahmed/Pastornicky, Teheran and Spruill.
I wouldn’t include Delgado or Medlin (an idea which I have seen) or Simmons, period.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Pagan returns to Giants, 4 years $40 million.
I don’t think he’s going to be the type of player over the next four years that makes us regret not going after him harder, but I love that the Phillies struck out on him and didn’t get a free agent they were going after.
December 3rd, 2012 at 5:43 pm
So with Pagan back to the Gints, who signs first:
Bourn or Hamilton?
December 3rd, 2012 at 11:43 pm
@9 – I think Hamilton signs first. With the Giants and Nats out of the Bourn market, I think the others are hoping they don’t have to pay that money/years Boras will demand.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Word is that the Braves aren’t interested in any of the remaining free agent outfielders. This makes me think that we are getting closer to a Prado/Constanza/Johnson platoon for left field, which is pretty much the worst case scenario.
December 4th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Something tells me the Braves are thinking fairly big, as far as leftfield is concerned. Wren may be trying to send the signal that they aren’t desperate to fill the void to make a trade more favorable for the Braves.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Nats sign Dan Haren. Better than Greinke
December 4th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
RT @pedrogomezESPN: Phillies/Diamondbacks are discussing Justin Upton for Cliff Lee. Money coming to AZ also be involved.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
RT @JeffPassan: Arizona discussing all sorts of three- and four-way deals to get shortstop. Upton for Cliff Lee (per @pedrogomezESPN) could just be a start.
December 4th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Cliff lee to Tx for Andrus
December 4th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
That should include a ?
December 4th, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Rumors are Andrus to Arizona, Lee to Texas, Upton to Philly.
Philly might be too loyal to Rollins to replace him with Andrus, which is good for us Braves fans.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Victorino’s contract is laughable. He has never made more than $10 million in a year, and now he gets a 3 year contract worth $13 million AAV? What the hell is Boston doing? Other than unnecessarily driving up the outfield market, of course.
December 4th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I’ll admit the irony in my #19 post — some could argue that Braves are overpaying for Upton. But paying $75 mil for Upton over 5 years is, I think, a bit different than paying $39 million over 3 years for Victorino.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
ESPN rumor that Braves could try for Jacoby Ellsbury. Boston wants pitching. He’s a Boras client and his deal is up at the end of this year or next, though.
December 5th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I’m not trading pitching for Ellsbury when hell be one and gone. He’s injury prone too. Nope.
December 6th, 2012 at 8:31 am
i think people better get used to the idea of a big revolving scene at third and in left. especially with the winter francisco is having
December 6th, 2012 at 10:13 am
At the risk of stating the obvious, I will be sooooooo disappointed if we don’t acquire a big impact player for left. And Curt, I agree that the numbers we’re seeing from Francisco will only serve to point the Braves toward the wrong decision.
December 6th, 2012 at 11:53 am
steve ” I will be sooooooo disappointed if we don’t acquire a big impact player for left.”
me to, and i would be shocked if that happens. i will aso be shocked and disappointed if we dont have some young players locked up to long term deals by the end of this off season.