Hot Stove League - bravosfan's Blog

bravosfan's Blog

Hot Stove League

Posted on November 14, 2008 at 12:48 AM.

Welcome. I can assure you this will not be the fanciest or most active Arena, but I wanted to put up some kind of content rather than a blank page. Clearly, I'm new to this and as such, this will probably more resemble a stream of consciousness than anything thorough or coherent. Enjoy!

Okay, so my second favorite sport is just about to heat up. Why's it called the Hot Stove League, anyway? According to legend, in the days of yore, folks would sit around the stove to keep warm, presumably discussing the offseason acquisitions of their favorite team. Or I could've made that up, I don't know.

Nevertheless, that time is upon us. The on again-off again Jake Peavy to the Braves rumors have attracted most of my attention thus far. Yesterday, a report claimed all that remained was for Peavy to give the OK. Then today, denials and back-tracking. So, who knows? I suspect San Diego is attemptying to pry either Jair Jurrjens or phenom Tommy Hanson away from Atlanta. Not gonna happen, but I can't blame them for trying.

As it stands, the rumored deal would send SS Yunel Escobar, Single-A OF Gorkys Hernandez, and a couple pitchers (one of Jo-Jo Reyes or Charlie Morton from the Major League level, and a low-level minor leaguer).

I don't know if that'll be enough, but it seems to be the leading offer. Negotiations have been dragging on for a while now, I kind of wonder if San Diego delays much longer, whether they'll end up in the position Minnesota did last year when New York and Boston pulled what was believed to be the best offers, leaving the Twins to settle for the Mets relatively unimpressive deal.

Having said that, I believe San Diego is intent on trading Peavy (see GM Kevin Towers' "the train has left the station" quote), so it's just a waiting game. I think the Braves have the pieces, even if reconfigured, to make the deal happen without trading any of the "untouchables". Hopefully soon.

Moving on, the other Braves trade rumor going around was 2B Kelly Johnson to St. Louis for OF Ryan Ludwick. I'd like this deal, the Braves desperately need more power, particularly in the outfield. Ludwick is 30, and coming off his first big Major League season, could be a fluke but his minor league numbers back it up. Just needed to stay healthy and get a chance. Johnson's a good player, and a luxury to have his bat at second base, but more and more I get the feeling the Braves are not satisfied with him. And the Braves have an in-house replacement in Martin Prado, who's kind of a Placido Polanco type...

If not that, a guy I'd like to see the Braves pursue is Matt Murton of the A's. With the Holliday acquisition, he could be available. Another guy who just needs a chance, I feel.

As for Free Agents, for the first time since Ted Turner owned the team, there's actually some money to spend. Recently, rumor has circulated that if Escobar is dealt in the Peavy deal, the Braves would pursue Rafael Furcal. I suspect his asking price will still be a bit out of the Braves range, though.

Presumably they'd also have interest in another former Brave, Edgar Renteria, who's already resurrected his career once before in Atlanta and was very popular...

And the Braves are rumored to be interested in starters Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster, and A.J Burnett. All are probably going to get more money than they should, not very excited about any of them. But either would certainly be an improvement to the rotation, if the Peavy deal falls through.

And with that, I believe I have reached the conclusion. That felt like a lot. Hopefully somebody read this and found it at least interesting, if not particularly informative.

Transmission out.