Cable Guy Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 By Tim Dierkes [October 30, 2009 at 11:35am CST]Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Braves. Their likely commitments for 2010:C - Brian McCann - $5.5MMC - Dave Ross - $1.6MM1B -2B - Martin Prado - $415KSS - Yunel Escobar - $425K3B - Chipper Jones - $13MMIF - Kelly Johnson - $2.825MM+IF - Diory Hernandez - $400KIF/OF - Omar Infante - $2.225MMLF - Matt Diaz - $1.2375MM+CF - Nate McLouth - $4.5MMRF - Ryan Church - $2.8MM+OF - Jordan Schafer - $400KSP - Javier Vazquez - $11.5MMSP - Jair Jurrjens - $450KSP - Tommy Hanson - $400KSP - Tim Hudson - $9MM (est.)SP - Derek Lowe - $15MMRP - Peter Moylan - $410K+RP - Kenshin Kawakami - $6.667MMRP - Kris Medlen - $400KRP - Eric O'Flaherty - $400KRP - Boone Logan - $428K+RP - Manny Acosta - $413KRP - James Parr - $400KThe Braves have about $81MM committed before arbitration raises to Johnson, Diaz, Church, Moylan, and Logan. Johnson and Logan are potential trade/non-tender candidates. Regardless, the Braves should fall under $90MM (and that includes an estimated $9MM for Hudson). According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the Braves began 2009 with a $96.7MM payroll. Ultimately I can see Braves GM Frank Wren having close to $15MM to spend without raising payroll.First base and left field are two positions Wren must address this winter. The Braves intend to add a right-handed power bat; we ran through options here. At the time, I didn't realize Jason Bay and Matt Holliday might be considerations. The plan for first base might be to re-sign Adam LaRoche, though there are respectable free agent alternatives.Wren will probably sign a reliever, as closers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez are up for free agency. Both project as Type A free agents; will the Braves offer arbitration? If either player accepts, the Braves can offer any salary they want and have that figure pitted against the submission from the player's agent. Still, Soriano earning $6.1MM this year against $3.45MM for Gonzalez might lead to an arbitration offer only for the latter. The argument against Moylan closing is that lefties handle him well. Pairing him with O'Flaherty in the ninth has potential if the Braves want to save money in the bullpen. And don't forget that Medlen had 53 strikeouts in 49.3 relief innings this year.So the Braves have needs at first base, left field, and possibly the bullpen. Considering the inflated price of free agent power hitters, how can Wren fill all these holes on a $12-15MM budget? The Braves' pitching surplus could be the answer. Kawakami's contract isn't unreasonable. Lowe's is, given his declining peripherals. Lowe is still useful, though, so the Braves could still trade him and shed 2010 payroll even if they can't find a taker for all $15MM. My suggestion: retain the starting pitching depth. In all likelihood Kawakami will still be needed for 20+ starts next year. The Braves could instead bump payroll to $100MM, dump Johnson and Logan, go cheap on the bullpen, perhaps backload Hudson's deal, and spend $9-10MM each for the first base and left field spots. Perhaps Johnson could even be used to acquire a decent late-inning reliever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 KK should be a closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_ATL Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 KK should be a closer.Hope that was a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K26dp Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 My suggestion: retain the starting pitching depth. In all likelihood Kawakami will still be needed for 20+ starts next year. The Braves could instead bump payroll to $100MM, dump Johnson and Logan, go cheap on the bullpen, perhaps backload Hudson's deal, and spend $9-10MM each for the first base and left field spots. Perhaps Johnson could even be used to acquire a decent late-inning reliever.This is exactly my feeling. There is no such thing as too much pitching. If we still have a "surplus" is July, then we have great bargaining chips at the deadline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keller24VT Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 This is exactly my feeling. There is no such thing as too much pitching. If we still have a "surplus" is July, then we have great bargaining chips at the deadline.The Red Sox last year are great example that a team can never how "too much" starting pitching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Hope that was a joke.Why would you think that would be a joke? KK isn't bad at all and we need a Closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Why would you think that would be a joke? KK isn't bad at all and we need a Closer.Well for a couple of reasons. The 1st being KK doesn't have very good control. The 2nd being he doesn't get many strikeouts. Think Bob Wickman from 2007. How'd that work out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keller24VT Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 (edited) Well for a couple of reasons. The 1st being KK doesn't have very good control. The 2nd being he doesn't get many strikeouts. Think Bob Wickman from 2007. How'd that work out?I try to erase Bob Wickman from my memory. That guy must have had a hatred for Hudson that year. He blew almost every game Hudson pitched. Wickman was awful as a closer and he got upset whenever Cox used him in a non-save situation. I absolutely despise him. Edited November 4, 2009 by keller24VT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I try to erase Bob Wickman from my memory. That guy must have had a hatred for Hudson that year. He blew almost every game Hudson pitched. Wickman was awful as a closer and he got upset whenever Cox used him in a non-save situation. I absolutely despise him.Right. The 2 Hudson games he blew that stand out the most was the one against the Marlins when Huddy had about 12 strikeouts then there was the game in Minnesota when he had Santana beat and Wickman lost it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 After one season in the majors, give him slack.... He always pitched well enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_ATL Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 After one season in the majors, give him slack.... He always pitched well enough.We can only go by what he does here. Pitching here is nowhere near the same as in Japan. The reason's why KK would not be a goot option for closer were already stated. You want a guy who can strike out people, not walk them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransack Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 The Red Sox last year are great example that a team can never how "too much" starting pitching.They can also afford to have 6-10 million dollars players sitting on the bench... we can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodoleboy58 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 does anyone remember when Chipper Jones walked up to the pitching mound to use the mud scraper and scared the beejeesus out of Wickman haha now that was funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K26dp Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 They can also afford to have 6-10 million dollars players sitting on the bench... we can't.They pitched their pricy pitchers, then replaced the non-effective ones (Penny, Smoltz) with younger options that didn't add significatly to the payroll. They never had anyone "on the bench", as far as pitching goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugadawg Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 well it would not be very economical but Lowe has closer experience. He could move to the closer role and allow the other 5 to handle most of the innings. We are stuck with his salary no matter so we might as well use him as it serves us best. JAT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodoleboy58 Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 well it would not be very economical but Lowe has closer experience. He could move to the closer role and allow the other 5 to handle most of the innings. We are stuck with his salary no matter so we might as well use him as it serves us best. JATI wouldnt be adverse to making him the closer if need be... he's getting paid but he seems like you might be better in 1 inning than in 5 innings twice a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 We can only go by what he does here. Pitching here is nowhere near the same as in Japan. The reason's why KK would not be a goot option for closer were already stated. You want a guy who can strike out people, not walk them.Yep all I was saying.does anyone remember when Chipper Jones walked up to the pitching mound to use the mud scraper and scared the beejeesus out of Wickman haha now that was funnyYep. Wickman turned white as a ghost.They pitched their pricy pitchers, then replaced the non-effective ones (Penny, Smoltz) with younger options that didn't add significatly to the payroll. They never had anyone "on the bench", as far as pitching goes.But Smoltz didn't pitched till the end of June. That is what he meant when he said we can't afford to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etherdome Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Trade Lowe for next to nothing. Get his contract off our backs. With the extra money, go after a bat. I have read that many expensive bats are expected to be released from their teams. To me, this makes the most sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Trade Lowe for next to nothing. Get his contract off our backs. With the extra money, go after a bat. I have read that many expensive bats are expected to be released from their teams. To me, this makes the most sense.I read last week that the Yankees may be willing to take Lowe off our hands. If that's true Wren needs to do it in a heart beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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