Monday, December 04, 2006
winter meetings
Last Thursday I worked on a baseball post for about an hour, putting forth what I hoped John Schuerholz would do this off-season. I didn't post it because I wasn't quite done with it, and then Glavine's resigning with the Mets on Friday completely ruined the very foundation of my post. So yeah, screw you, too, buddy.
The winter meetings started this morning, and tons of sites are updating regularly throughout the day. There've been a few rumors concerning the Braves, but none of them are exciting. The Giles for Linebrink deal won't go away, of course, and if that ever happens we'd hopefully get more than just one fading reliever. Linebrink was excellent in '04 and '05, but he's reaching his mid-30's and had his worst season in years in '06. If that's the best Schuerholz can do I'd hang on to Giles and see what happens between spring training and the trade deadline.
Tim Hudson talks have seemingly gone south. I was strongly in favor of flipping Hudson for a solid reliever and a good prospect last week, and using the savings to resign Glavine; since that's not possible, I'd be less interested in dealing him. If the Braves could get a young player who could make an impact with the major league club next season, like say Adam Loewen or Chris Ray or Nick Markakis from Baltimore, then I'd be all for making the deal. But the main Hudson rumor today involves him going to Seattle for Richie Sexson, which makes very little sense for Atlanta. There seems to be a decent chance that Adam LaRoche will get dealt, which I'm fine with, but there's no reason that should lead to a Sexson acquisition. We don't need aging, oft-injured sluggers at both ends of the infield, and the money saved in such a deal would be insubstantial.
Speaking of Adam LaRoche, I think him replicating his second half performance from 2006 is about as likely as Chipper playing 162 games next year. Still, a 27-year-old first baseman coming off a 32-homer, .915 OPS season should fetch a nice return. Pittsburgh has supposedly inquired into LaRoche's availability, but balked at sending over their closer, Mike Gonzalez. I realize relief is at a premium right now, and that it happens to be the Braves' greatest need, but I'd hope Atlanta could pull more than just Gonzalez in exchange for LaRoche. Yeah, the closer had a nice season last year, but he missed all of September with shoulder problems, and doesn't have a substantial track record of success. Granted LaRoche doesn't either, but his gradual improvement the last three seasons, and the fact that he's entering his year-27 season, should make him, theoretically, a surer bet to maintain his production than Gonzalez. I say "theoretically" because, as noted above, I have little faith in the man.
Anyway, assume these rumors come true, and no other moves are made. That'd give them the following line-up:
C: Brian McCann
1B: Richie Sexson
2B: Willy Aybar / Martin Prado / Kelly Johnson
SS: Edgar Renteria
3B: Chipper Jones
LF: Ryan Langerhans / Mike Diaz / Kelly Johnson
CF: Andruw Jones
RF: Jeff Francoeur
I'd assume that Aybar would bat lead-off, if he gets the starting job. Johnson, with his high on-base percentage, could be a decent option. Follow that up with Renteria, Chipper, Andruw, Sexson, McCann, Francoeur, and Langerhans. I don't think this is really any weaker than their 2006 line-up.
Now, the rotation:
John Smoltz
Mike Hampton
Chuck James
Kyle Davies
Horacio Ramirez
They'll definitely upgrade here, somehow; this conjectured rotation is no better than last year's subpar group. There's no way they trade Hudson without getting another pitcher they can rely on more than Davies or Ramirez. They could also plug Lance Cormier or Oscar Villarreal in, if it comes to that.
And options for the bullpen:
Bob Wickman
Mike Gonzalez
Scott Linebrink
Chad Paronto
Macay McBride
Tyler Yates
Oscar Villarreal
Lance Cormier
Blaine Boyer
Tanyon Sturtze
Those last two are returning from injury, but could play a role at some point. This would be the one clear area in which the team would be improved. Gonzalez could ably fit in for Wickman if he gets hurt, and perhaps even make Wickman expendable in a July trade if the team's out of the race.
Anyway, let's hope this possible future never comes to pass.
Last Thursday I worked on a baseball post for about an hour, putting forth what I hoped John Schuerholz would do this off-season. I didn't post it because I wasn't quite done with it, and then Glavine's resigning with the Mets on Friday completely ruined the very foundation of my post. So yeah, screw you, too, buddy.
The winter meetings started this morning, and tons of sites are updating regularly throughout the day. There've been a few rumors concerning the Braves, but none of them are exciting. The Giles for Linebrink deal won't go away, of course, and if that ever happens we'd hopefully get more than just one fading reliever. Linebrink was excellent in '04 and '05, but he's reaching his mid-30's and had his worst season in years in '06. If that's the best Schuerholz can do I'd hang on to Giles and see what happens between spring training and the trade deadline.
Tim Hudson talks have seemingly gone south. I was strongly in favor of flipping Hudson for a solid reliever and a good prospect last week, and using the savings to resign Glavine; since that's not possible, I'd be less interested in dealing him. If the Braves could get a young player who could make an impact with the major league club next season, like say Adam Loewen or Chris Ray or Nick Markakis from Baltimore, then I'd be all for making the deal. But the main Hudson rumor today involves him going to Seattle for Richie Sexson, which makes very little sense for Atlanta. There seems to be a decent chance that Adam LaRoche will get dealt, which I'm fine with, but there's no reason that should lead to a Sexson acquisition. We don't need aging, oft-injured sluggers at both ends of the infield, and the money saved in such a deal would be insubstantial.
Speaking of Adam LaRoche, I think him replicating his second half performance from 2006 is about as likely as Chipper playing 162 games next year. Still, a 27-year-old first baseman coming off a 32-homer, .915 OPS season should fetch a nice return. Pittsburgh has supposedly inquired into LaRoche's availability, but balked at sending over their closer, Mike Gonzalez. I realize relief is at a premium right now, and that it happens to be the Braves' greatest need, but I'd hope Atlanta could pull more than just Gonzalez in exchange for LaRoche. Yeah, the closer had a nice season last year, but he missed all of September with shoulder problems, and doesn't have a substantial track record of success. Granted LaRoche doesn't either, but his gradual improvement the last three seasons, and the fact that he's entering his year-27 season, should make him, theoretically, a surer bet to maintain his production than Gonzalez. I say "theoretically" because, as noted above, I have little faith in the man.
Anyway, assume these rumors come true, and no other moves are made. That'd give them the following line-up:
C: Brian McCann
1B: Richie Sexson
2B: Willy Aybar / Martin Prado / Kelly Johnson
SS: Edgar Renteria
3B: Chipper Jones
LF: Ryan Langerhans / Mike Diaz / Kelly Johnson
CF: Andruw Jones
RF: Jeff Francoeur
I'd assume that Aybar would bat lead-off, if he gets the starting job. Johnson, with his high on-base percentage, could be a decent option. Follow that up with Renteria, Chipper, Andruw, Sexson, McCann, Francoeur, and Langerhans. I don't think this is really any weaker than their 2006 line-up.
Now, the rotation:
John Smoltz
Mike Hampton
Chuck James
Kyle Davies
Horacio Ramirez
They'll definitely upgrade here, somehow; this conjectured rotation is no better than last year's subpar group. There's no way they trade Hudson without getting another pitcher they can rely on more than Davies or Ramirez. They could also plug Lance Cormier or Oscar Villarreal in, if it comes to that.
And options for the bullpen:
Bob Wickman
Mike Gonzalez
Scott Linebrink
Chad Paronto
Macay McBride
Tyler Yates
Oscar Villarreal
Lance Cormier
Blaine Boyer
Tanyon Sturtze
Those last two are returning from injury, but could play a role at some point. This would be the one clear area in which the team would be improved. Gonzalez could ably fit in for Wickman if he gets hurt, and perhaps even make Wickman expendable in a July trade if the team's out of the race.
Anyway, let's hope this possible future never comes to pass.
