Re: 2009 Atlanta Braves
As hard as I'm being on Wren - I still hate the trades - there's a really tough bridge that he's got to make. Get to 2011 where you hope Heyward and Freeman are making their way towards the middle of the lineup ... but without Bobby, and maybe without the All-Star version of Chipper Jones.
To me, the Braves are questionable in the corner outfield and at the end of the game, and their big run producer from the right side is coming off a major injury. The salary relief of Soriano and Vazquez isn't enough to go get Bay or Holliday, and both of those guys could have netted more in spring training or even at the trade deadline where injuries and pennant hopes change everything. But most importantly, you don't have any building blocks (aside maybe from Arodys Vizcaino) to show for the loss of a 219 inning gamer and a 27 save closer, both with ERAs under 3.00. Melky is no more of a starter than Matt Diaz, and Chavez is far from a setup guy. And you're still going to have to work around the contracts of Lowe and Kawakami next year, which of course isn't a reflection of this offseason, but still something to think about.
Anyway, 2 bad trades for my money, a good risk taken in Glaus, and hopefully another trade or two to provide some solidity to the outfield or bullpen.
Separately, who do you guys see stepping up in the bullpen this spring? I'm hoping Kimbrel and Valdez get a shot. Hearing good things about Gearrin and Hale too in terms of power arms down the road.
As hard as I'm being on Wren - I still hate the trades - there's a really tough bridge that he's got to make. Get to 2011 where you hope Heyward and Freeman are making their way towards the middle of the lineup ... but without Bobby, and maybe without the All-Star version of Chipper Jones.
To me, the Braves are questionable in the corner outfield and at the end of the game, and their big run producer from the right side is coming off a major injury. The salary relief of Soriano and Vazquez isn't enough to go get Bay or Holliday, and both of those guys could have netted more in spring training or even at the trade deadline where injuries and pennant hopes change everything. But most importantly, you don't have any building blocks (aside maybe from Arodys Vizcaino) to show for the loss of a 219 inning gamer and a 27 save closer, both with ERAs under 3.00. Melky is no more of a starter than Matt Diaz, and Chavez is far from a setup guy. And you're still going to have to work around the contracts of Lowe and Kawakami next year, which of course isn't a reflection of this offseason, but still something to think about.
Anyway, 2 bad trades for my money, a good risk taken in Glaus, and hopefully another trade or two to provide some solidity to the outfield or bullpen.
Separately, who do you guys see stepping up in the bullpen this spring? I'm hoping Kimbrel and Valdez get a shot. Hearing good things about Gearrin and Hale too in terms of power arms down the road.
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