Show #88: Updating the Braves’ 2009 Off Season
The Roy Halladay trade. Soriano accepts arbitration. Gonzalez signs with the Orioles. And Lowe and LaRoche speak out.
152 Responses to “Show #88: Updating the Braves’ 2009 Off Season”
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Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 » Show All
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
To a certain degree, it’s impossible to say yet. I certainly wanted Lowe to go and not Vazquez. Can we assume this all means that Frank found no buyers for Lowe, probably. And, Melky is very nice player. Not a world changer, but a damn good player. And we save about 8MM in the trade. So, what does Wren do with this money about getting us a clean-up hitter? That’s the measuring stick of this trade. If this off-season becomes Melky and LaRoche, I will not be happy.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
And Bub – I totally agree. I do not foresee a bunch of success for Vazquez up in NY.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Maybe hate is too strong…very disappointed. I feel like we will be one piece short of really contending.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
The silver lining is that we have an outside shot at 3rd in the NL East.
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
the Yanks fans don’t seem to like the trade on MLB.com…that has to be good??
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Wrenta Clause…i knew we should have purchased. Bub, are ya proud?
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
especially the female Yanks fans seem to be against it…ok..one called Yankeegirl. others are split about 2 against 1 for. Melky seems to have good defense, spotty offense. NOT really what we need.
I agree w Steve’s take…trade seems adequate, while we were holding out for spectacular.
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Cabrera is a very overrated player. If he puts up numbers (offensively and defensively) better than GA’s, I’ll be a little shocked. The players I’m most excited about is Arodys and Dunn. Huge potential for Arodys and Dunn could one day be a very servicable set up man and spot closer. I like the fact that he could also be flipped for someone good like Billy Butler.
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
We got a decent cheap OF, a lefty RP, and the Yankees #1 pitching prospect.
I hate losing Javy but this deal is better than giving Lowe away paying part of his salary and only getting a couple c level prospects.
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
http://media.790thezone.com/Podcasts/1346/Frank_Wren_12-22-09.mp3
Braves are not done.
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Great link JJ. *deep sigh of relief*
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Article re: Padres offseason silence stated,
“Next season may not be as much about winning as it is about laying the foundation for something better than the last three or four year of Padres baseball…
Could Hoyer send third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff packing, figuring that Chase Headley can play that position? What about Adrian Gonzalez? He could bring the Padres a plethora of young talent…
Hmmm…which team now has a plethora of young talent to spare? I’m thinking…I’m thinking…
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
NO AGON!
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
AGON?
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Welcome Melky to the Bravos! I hope you have a career year!
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
As the day has gone, I’ve grown more and more critical of the trade. My thinking being that if we traded Lowe (our assumed Plan A) that would be salary dump and we pick up a great OF free agent player to hit in the 4 spot. A trade of Vazquez, after his career year, would most certainly yield the big bat and that would be that. But now the Vazquez trade seems like a bit of salary dump itself and none of the 1B FAs seem to fit the bill to be the big thumper. Again, I hope that Melky and LaRoche are not the end result here.
All of that said, here’s a more positive view from FanGraphs:
Vazquez is a quality pitcher and the Braves will miss him, no doubt, but they saved roughly $8 million in salary (once you account for Melky’s arbitration award), added a league average outfielder and one of the best young arms in baseball (Vizcaino). Perhaps it isn’t the price that top flight starters used to command, but when viewed in today’s market, this is a pretty decent deal for Atlanta. This is a significantly better return than what Philadelphia got for Cliff Lee, for instance.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:00 am
Looks like our new first baseman is………………………Troy Glaus. He of the 20 at bats last season. A man who has played 6 games in his career at first.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/34572635/ns/sports-player_news/
December 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Are we nervous with so little experience at 3rd? It seems like a good fit if he’s healthy. I hope he’s out there taking in some infield practice before spring training. I know it’s only a one year deal but he could play 3rd if Chip retires when Freeman comes up. I think I like it. Do I like it?
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I just read that Glaus probably can’t play 3rd at this point in his career.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
It seems a little dubious to me. they are clearly relying very heavily on freeman being ready to play for them in 2011.
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Glaus has a above average defense at 1B. At 2M, this is a great signing.
Steve –
The Vasquez trade was good for the Braves. Arodys is an awesome pitcher and prospect.
December 23rd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Steve, do you feel better about the trade now? It’s hard for me to be comfortable if you question the trade. You know…cause you’re brilliant and all.
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
At least all the suspense is over….uh, maybe the suspense was better? Cabrera and Glaus are a bit underwhelming, but maybe they’ll surprise us!
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Tcc, I live your ever positive outlook. Are you that way with life as well as baseball?
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Leah, Glass half full here, in all things
I share other’s concerns on here because I want the Bravisto Mens to win every game, forever. I get upset, to a degree, when they lose or make a seemingly boneheaded trade. But considering that over the last, almost 20 years you could tune in and have an above average chance of seeing/hearing the Braves win…I’m ok!
I’m a nurse and a fiddle/banjo player. Good, happy stuff.
I really appreciate that ABT and many posters here know a lot more about the ins and outs of baseball than I do(that’s why I’m here). Maybe they know more and so they feel it more when things aren’t what we want. They may express that in a negative way, but I’m sure it’s because they want what we all want. Go Braves!