Thoughts on Braves pitching makeover?

[Tito Cheeseburger Jr]

Signed Billy Wagner to close @ $7 million for 1 year. High risk/high reward.

Signed Takashi Saito as setup man and insurance for when Wagner goes on DL (probably late May/early June.)

Traded Soriano to Rays for somebody named Jesse Chavez who supposedly throws hard after Soriano unexpectedly accepted arbitration.

Gonzalez declined arbitration and hired Boras. He's gone to highest bidder, probably Red Sox as set up for Papelbon.

Still looking to trade Derek Lowe, which will require paying some of his salary.
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[8dog]

if Wagner doesn't work out, the Braves are right back where they usually are--with no closer.

Desperately need another bat.

 

[mstatefan88]

Well the Saito/Wagner combination will be much cheaper than the Gonzo/Soriano combination would have been if they both accepted arbitration, especially since Boras is Gonzo's new agent. I think we will have a solid bullpen next year, but I think it may not be worth anything if we can't get another bat. Prado, Escobar, and McCann are solid, but after that, I worry about everyone. A lot of streaky hitters, and a guy like Chipper that is prone to injuries and long cold streaks. We really need to attempt to dump Lowe's salary so we can resign Laroche. Then we gotta hope Heyward can provide some pop in the outfield because I doubt we get a legit 1B and a legit OF.

 

[8dog]

d

 

[Tito Cheeseburger Jr]

Looking at Chipper's UZR/150, they should seriously think about moving him to 1B.

 

[dickiedawg]

But Wren has hung his 1b hat on Freeman being ready in '11. He wants a 1-year guy there, and won't do that to Chipper. Although he has shown very little interest in keeping franchise legends around beyond their prime.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

There's talk about trying to sign La Roche and worrying about Freeman later. I think that would be a good move if we could pull it off. The guy crushes in the 2nd half.

As far as the pitching, I'm not a huge fan of the remodel. Saito is pushing 85 and Wagner's arm could fall off at any time. I think saying we'd only use Soriano in the 6th or 7th and then trading him was stupid. The guy flat dominated last season. I'd much rather have him in the 8th and as a righty matchup in the 9th or as closer when Wagner inevitably goes on the DL. i mean, who closes now when Wagner goes down? Saito? Medlen? Moylan? Of the 3, I'd like to see Medlen get the shot, but I wouldn't as comfortable with it as I would with Soriano. Another consideration is the way Bobby tends to ride about 4 guys in the pen, an extra, proven arm out there would be a really good thing. I mean, we had 4 guys in the top 10 in appearances last year. That's really bad.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Had to let Church go when Soriano accepted arbitration. Not that Church played that well for them, but he was a big leaguer on the 40 man roster.

 

[8dog]

I know the Braves can't get a huge name, but there are a million guys out there better than Church.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I can get you Milton Bradley for next to nothing.

 

[Todd4State]

You get a guy who many say is one of the top closers in baseball history in Billy Wagner. Even if he gets hurt, he is a veteran and he can be a mentor to some of the young Braves pitchers like Medlan. If he's healthy, I think he's an upgrade over what the Braves had. And at least they signed Saito as an insurance plan.

If they both go down, the Braves are probably screwed anyway.

I think Heyward is going to be a rookie of the year candidate for the Braves next year, and to me is probably the favorite to win it in the NL. Freeman probably could use a year in AAA, but if he does well there, you might see him at midseason if the Braves don't find someone like LaRoche or if whoever they put there struggles.

I have to wonder if the Braves will look at Smoltz as a possibiity for the bullpen now that the Cardinals have signed Brad Penny and the likelihood that they are going to go with Jamie Garcia as the fifth starter going into spring training.

 

[o_oxfordstudy]

I wouldn't count us out on getting a big name bat just yet, is it likely no but I really think wren is going to try and make a splash. I'd love to have laroche back for one year but highly unlikely he's looking for multi year contract. I don't think you would bring up freeman and heyward in the same year its really hard to count on young guys especially two in the same lineup (I know frenchy and mccann did it), in a year your making a big playoff push. As far as closer role goes I think as long as wag is healty he will be fine and if not I think medlen will be a good replacement. As long as you got moylan/ saito pitching the 7/8 I think we will be in good shape. Should be fun for the next 3 months to see how thing play out