Show #87: The Braves Retool the Bullpen with Wagner and Saito
Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito join the Braves’ bullpen. Revisiting 1st base. And clearing up that Bob Rathbun hire.
447 Responses to “Show #87: The Braves Retool the Bullpen with Wagner and Saito”
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December 7th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
yes?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Lowe+Soriano+KJ for…wait for it…Adrian Gonzalez! Badabing!
December 7th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
A nice something from the Man of Bow.
http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/wren_not_worried_about_soriano.html
December 7th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Yeah, Leah, the Padres are all about the salary increase.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Bub, your turning into Curt. Can’t a girl dream? Isn’t there any combo that doesn’t include Heyward that will allow me to dream of AG at 1st?
December 7th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
There probably isn’t a scenario that doesn’t involve them wanting at least Freeman and I would say 4 or 5 other major prospects. You might be looking at the second coming of the Tex trade and I would hate to have to look back on one of those deals again. He would be a huge help, but he alone is not winning us a WS, and that is the only scenario where you should make that deal.
I don’t know if SD might be apt to lessen their wish list, after the Peavy thing exploded on them, and given that the owner might lose half the team in a divorce, but with that, I think they want 5 of our top-10 prospects. With the frugality of the Braves, and with the strength of their farm system right now, I don’t see how they do it. If they could package something like Schafer, Medlen, and a couple of pitching prospects, maybe you do it.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
What he said.
Oh, and I didn’t even know Gonzalez was in his last year of contract when I said “Heyward+,” I thought he had two left, so please, never even base the slightest bit of your baseball education on anything I say. I just… say stuff. You know this, don’t you? If I’m ever right it’s an accident. Also, I change my opinion about every nine seconds.
For example, Uggla as the 2B of a team hoping to win by way of run prevention? What was I thinking?
December 7th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Gonzalez has 2 years left on his deal worth about $10 mill total. Making all the more attractive.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Oh. Then, yeah, it would be Tex 2.0
We’d get to watch Freeman, Teheran, Kimbrel, & company blossom for the Padres in 2012 while that same year Adrian tears it up for the Yanksox, and we scrape the barrel for a 1B we can afford.
Though, I disagree that Gonzalez wouldn’t put us over the top. I mean, no player guarantees a WS, but in Atlanta’s market, the team that we’d have after acquiring A. Gonzo at the same time that we have this pitching & surrounding batters would be as close as it ever gets.
How many teams have this many solid-to-high-level performers at low cost, for a two-year window:
Escobar
McCann
Jurrjens
Hanson
A. Gonzo (hypothetically)
McLouth
Moylan
Prado
Heyward
That’s enough low-cost talent to power a championship for any 100 mill team, if there’s ever going to be enough.
But I still wouldn’t trade the farm for Gonzo.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Uh, scratch Teheran blossoming in MLB in 2012. I shouldn’t type things.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Any predictions on Soriano? An hour and a half to go. I’m gonna run out and get some beer. I love the internet.
I think he’ll decline, and I think Wren is brilliant for putting that big ol’ smile on his “I’m sure he’ll want to be traded cuz there’s no way in hell I’m letting him pitch the 8th or 9th,” which is smiley-frank for “Listen, Scowl-wowl, you need to beat feet. You’ve been replaced for cheaper and less ouchy.”
December 7th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I thought I would understand this off season better due to hanging with all you smarty pants. However, I’m as confused as ever. I hate to be the village idiot but can someone explain when a player becomes a free agent? When is a player offered arbitration? When does a player choose to be traded? Sorry for all the simplicity. If it’s too juvenile for this crowd tell me to go buy “baseball 101 for dummies”.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Well, Leah, I waited to let them answer cuz they’ll get it right and I’ll screw it up. But they’ve gone to bed or have lives or something.
So, here:
1. A player files for free agency when his contract is up. I think.
2. Accepting or declining arbitration is a separate act altogether. But I think you have to accept or decline arby before filing for free agency. I think.
3. A player can’t choose to be traded, but he can always ask to be traded. In the case of Soriano, he would “choose” to be traded because we already know that if he asks to be, the Braves will certainly comply.
4. A player can, however, choose NOT to be traded under a few circumstances.
A. If he has a no-trade clause in his contract.
B. If a player has 10 years of MLB service with at least 5 years with his current team, he can also refuse a trade.
C. If a player accepts arbitration, he can refuse to be traded before June 1st.
I think. Any of that could be totally wrong.
So, with Soriano,
A. He is not yet a free agent.
B. He has been offered arbitration, which he has until midnight to accept or decline.
C. If he declines, he will then file for free agency.
D. If he accepts, he has a non-guaranteed* contract with the Braves. He can’t be traded without his consent before June. But it’s understood that he’ll want to be traded, and the Braves will want him gone.
Again, any or all of that could be miles off. Steve will clear it up for you in the morning.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
* I have no idea about the ins and outs of the non-guaranteedness of arbitration contracts. But there’s a way to cut the player and grant them free agency some how or other.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
DOB just tweeted that Soriano is reportedly really going to accept arbitration.
Yikes.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
lol, now Bowman’s just tweeted that he’s heard Boras tell someone he’s gonna decline it.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
So, I’m sharing this moment all alone? And I even got Corona.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
16 more minutes.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Yikes indeed. Does that mean if he wants to stay with the Braves he can? But why would he knowing he won’t close. Thanks for the info…it is very helpful. Are you saying I have no life since I’m up at 11:46 waiting to be certain Soriano accepts this bogus arby deal?
December 7th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
See Bub…isn’t this fun. You, me, your beer…
December 7th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
12 minutes
no tweets.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
You’re married. You have a no-life liscense. So, it’s cool.
Why would he, knowing he won’t close? Well, he’ll still close. For another team. If he really accepts, the assumption is that he doesn’t think he can do better in the FA market, money-wise than the Braves arby settlement. And he can still close with whatever team he gets traded to.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
*License.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
DOB tweets again, affirming that the buzz is Soriano will accept arby. Gonzo will not.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
ok so he would accept the arby deal to lock down his salary knowing he will be traded for another team? Why are we freakishly up so late to see if he accepts or not? It doesn’t seem to make a difference?