Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > September > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBraves hope to be big shoppers this off-season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit Frank Wren for candor. Asked Monday where the Braves as constituted would fare in 2009, he said: “We’d have a team that would finish somewhere in the middle of the pack.”
For “the great, grand organization” — John Schuerholz’s timeless description — it was a major concession. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Braves are acknowledging that they require outside assistance. They no longer have enough good players under contract to consider themselves contenders.
“That’s where we are, talent-wise,” said Wren, who succeeded Schuerholz as general manager last October and who saw the first Braves team of his design finish with the franchise’s worst record since 1990. “Offensively, if we did nothing, we’d be OK. We need more power production.”
And starting pitchers, Wren allowed, are a more pressing need. He wants to find two of them, and the fan’s kneejerk response is to think, “No problem! We just buy CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets!” Without quite saying such a thing isn’t going to happen, Wren hinted it isn’t going to happen.
“Our first priority would be developing our own players,” Wren said. “Second would be to trade for them. Third would be the free-agent market.”
Speaking specifically of free-agent outfielders, Wren said: “It’s not real good. It’s not a real deep market.” Speaking of free-agent starting pitchers: “The marketplace in some respects is dwindling. It’s a very, very competitive market. We’d like to get a couple. That being said, the market keeps going down.”
Does Wren have a notion of how much money he’ll be able to spend? “I have a pretty good idea. Our payroll will be north of where it was this year.”
Far north? Due north? North to Alaska?
Said Wren, smiling: “It will be going up again.”
It won’t, alas, go up so much as to allow $20 million a year for Sabathia. The Braves haven’t trafficked in big-ticket free agents since signing Brian Jordan in 1998. They might make an overture to someone this winter, but it’s more likely they’ll have to find pitching via trade. That’s what happens when you stop growing your own.
Wren contends his minor-league system is deep in pitching, but it’s not deep in the sense that there’s a Glavine and a Smoltz and an Avery ready to break upward. It’s deep in terms of numbers, as opposed to top-shelf quality. The greatest value some of these minor-leaguers will have to the Braves is as bait.
But are you apt to find a No. 1 and a No. 2 starter for a package of Class AA arms? With everyone needing pitching, exactly what do the Braves have to offer that’s so compelling?
And now we come to the indication that the Braves are really and truly desperate: They’d like to re-sign Mike Hampton, and not as one of the two starters Wren wants to import. He’d be in addition to those.
“We need some older pitchers,” Wren said, meaning to augment youngsters Jair Jurrgens and Charlie Morton. But that, sad to say, is how the Braves got here in the first place. They banked on aging pitchers, and three of those just had arm surgery. And now the question: How do you fill out a defoliated rotation in one winter?
Grim answer: You probably don’t. Wren will surely try, and he’s chipper about his chances: “We have the financial resources and the prospects [to trade].” But reality figures to set in soon enough. No longer grand and no longer great, the fourth-place Braves stand to get worse before they get better.
Permalink | Comments (129) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
Comments
By T MAN
September 29, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Resigning Mike Hampton- you must be kidding me. Three quality starts in 3 years. Please spend your money on someone reliable.
By fish3rm8n
September 29, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
If you get anything better than a batboy for HAMPTON take it.
By fish3rm8n
September 29, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
If someone offers anything better than a batboy for Hampton. TAKE IT
By Carl Childers
September 29, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
He plays baseball. He ain’t no good at it!
By Jack G
September 29, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
First of all, retooling starts with the Manager and Coaches. They have already stated that Cox and all the Coaches will be back. New players old player it dosent make any difference. 2009 will just be a replay of 2008 with fewer injuries same outcome.
The big tipoff is Hampton—-he should be gone. Resigning Hampton is almost as stupid as returning Cox and Coaches
By Keith
September 29, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Bring back Hampton. He will win the Cy Young next year. You heard it here first.
By BUSHWACKER
September 29, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
You typical faiwrweather fans know nothing about baseball and less about the man.
Instead of assuming he stole money from the Braves, let look at the reality.
The man has been hurt and unable to pitch. Now that he his healthy you want to run him off so he does not steal more money from the Braves.
I think you idiots are dead wrong, most team swould have released him long ago.
But the fact the Braves did not I
By Duane
September 29, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Mike Hampton should be resigned to a contract with the league minimum salary and incentives that kick in after twenty starts. If he thinks he’s healthy, he’ll take it.
By DJD
September 29, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Re-sign Hampton. We don’t want him pitching against Atlanta next season, as he gets rounded back into the Hampton of the past, a 15+ game winner in 09
By JimK
September 29, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
At least we don’t have to read the lyrics of North to Alaska, or anything else.
By BUSHWACKER
September 29, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Hampton does not need the money, more important to him, is the opportunity to help the club who did not give up on him and give him a chance toearn some of the millions he’s made here.
He’s a good man and a good pitcher, we need him worse than he needs us.
By guy
September 29, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Mike Hampton should pitch for the Braves in 2009 for nothing because he’s done nothing for three years. You can’t make these older players young again and also they stay injured a lot. That’s life and it happens to everyone!
By JKP
September 29, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Definitely sign Hampton, but for dirt cheap. For all the loyalty the Braves’ have shown him, he should sign for the league minimum plus incentives.
By Joe
September 29, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
First: Fire Bobby Cox
Second: Don’t re-sign Tom Glavine, John Smolz, & Mike Hampton. Release Jo-Jo Reyes and Charlie Morton.
Third: Try to get John Garland from Anaheim I think he is going to be a free agent. If you can somehow get another reliable starter.
Fourth: Try to get some new players in the fold and see what your luck would be for next year.
By Mark
September 29, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
You hate to give up on a season before it starts, but 2009 needs to be a rebuilding year. The Braves’ minor league talent is at the A and AA levels and you can get pretty excited at what 2010 could look like. To bridge the gap, sign Glavine and Smoltz because they deserve it and are great leaders. Let someone else take the risk on Hampton.
By Howard
September 29, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Take a look Braves fans, at the current and past editions of the Kansas City Royals, and you have the future state of your favorite Bobby Cox-led team. Schuerholz did the same thing out there and he’s done in Atlanta.
By alan from Atlanta GA.
September 29, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Are the braves proposing a bailout of hanpton? It’s almost as bad a congress, if we give him any money next year. He owes us money, for what I’ve paid for tickets. It’s bad enough they’ve already announced that mcdowell, pendelton, cox et al are returning. The braves must think we really are a bunch of shmucks. Are we also supposed to anticipate Smoltz and Glavine next year again? The braves need a top to bottom revamping, we can’t live on past glories which was only one world series win anyway. Are we going to be the shmucks they think we are? Probably. Boycott the braves in ‘09.
By kaye
September 29, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
bring back Hampton as a 4th or 5th starter….but dont over pay, i think he as shown he is back when giving the chance. put Josh Anderson in center and let him run wild out there….your infield is not consistent enough on the right side, the left side is hurt to much. The braves wont be able to get 2 top tier starters via trade or free agency. get one top starter, and another 2nd level starter to go with JJ, MH, TH. the lineup needs power….good luck…we will be in 4th place again next year….
By J
September 29, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
there bettter be some kind of crazy clause in Hamptons contract stating if he does not make at least 20 starts he doesn’t get paid in full. It’s time for Hampton to earn his paycheck.
By JEREMY SCHAAP, ESPN
September 29, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Wow, Mark.
This is just a fabulous piece of journalism. A hearty “Mazel Tov” from Bristol on actually writing something worth a read … oh wait, it’s calledREPORTING!!!
Watch my tv show, Outside the Lines sometime, and I’ll show you how it’s done!
Jeremy Schaap, ESPN.
By Coach (Skip will be missed)
September 29, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
If we look at the Braves payroll in regards to the teams who are currently in the playoff picture, it’s more than revealing.
The top three teams in payroll are:
The Yankees at 209 million, DID NOT THE PLAYOFFS.
The Detroit Tigers at 138 million, DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
The N.Y.Mets at 138 million, Choked again, NO PLAYOFFS.
The teams that DID MAKE INTO OCTOBER or are on the bubble.
Red Sox, 4th in payroll at 133 million.
White Sox, 5th in payroll at 121 million.
Angels, 6th in payroll at 119 million.
Cubs, 7th in payroll at 118 million.
Dodgers, 8th in payroll at 118 million.
Phillies, 13th in payroll at 98 million.
Brewers, 15th in payroll at 81 million.
Twins, 24th in payroll at 62 million.
Rays, 29th in payroll at 43 million.
Then when considering that the Atlanta Braves are 10th with a payroll of 102 million it becomes clearer that money and free agency alone cannot cure what ails this franchise.
Player development, drafting well, astute trades, investing in the minor league system, all of these facets are equally important to the health of any baseball franchise.
By OldTimer
September 29, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
It’s time for Bobby to go. He’s tired. His knees are killing him and he doesn’t need to be out there in the mid day sun. He’s given us a championship and is a true champion. However, he is no longer our future. He knows that and he is waiting for us to realize it. Here’s what you do. You let the man retire with grace and dignity. Who does he turn the reigns over to… none other than John Smoltz. That’ll put the Braves back in the race and the fans back in the stands.
By roja
September 29, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
When you have a BULLPEN that has lost over thirty games this season that the Braves were either leading or tied, it makes starting pitching, a center fielder, a back-up catcher or a change in management rather WORTHLESS changes.
Even if we had CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Rich Hardens, Tim Lincecum and a 26 year old John Smoltz in the starting rotation, if you take them out in the 7th and bring in Boyer, Bennett, Tavarez, Acosta, Dessens, or Nunez, they can blow a 4 or 5 run lead in a heartbeat because they CAN’T PITCH! They are throwers - not pitchers.
We need 6 relievers and a closer more than anything else!
By Brett
September 29, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Yes, Resign Hampton but only for a bargain basement price. He owes us anyways.
By Threadkiller
September 29, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this
I’m going to catch hell for this!! Chippers value will never be higher than it is right now. Strictly from a business point of view I would shop Chipper & Lilli to the Tigers for Mags & Renteria. Maybe a low level pitcher as well. Renteria to 3rd base. Chipper would be able to DH for the Tigers as well prolonging his career. We then make a serious run at Derek Lowe. We should also be looking at what the Marlins are willing to give up as well.
By Jason H.
September 29, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Bushwacker - FYI, the Braves didn’t release Hampton because he had a guaranteed contract. So if he’s released, then he still gets paid. However, insurance paid for some of his salary so it lessened the sting a little bit.
I’m okay with them resigning Hampton. It should be a low salary with incentives for starts and innings pitched. We need one frontline (number 1) starting pitcher, and that’ll probably have to come through free agency. C.C. Sabathia will probably end up with the Yankees, but it would be great for the Braves to make a run at him. Jon Gardland will be a free agent and he’s only 29 years old. Derek Lowe is getting older (35), but he’ll be a free agent too. Randy Wolf is another possibility.
Also, the Braves need a power outfielder. On the FA market, you’ve got Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn. Neither one of those are perfect fits and both strike out a TON. That said, both also hit more homers than all the Braves’ outfielder combined.
Mr Wren - You’ve got a lot of work to do!!
By Greg
September 29, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
He should be traded for a 5lb bag of flour.
By Taylor Isenberg
September 29, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Eight of nine quality starts to end this season? I’d say Hampton has his game back. Realistically, the Braves cannot offer him a Major League contract, neither can any team for that matter. I do say the Braves offer him a Minor League contract. If he makes it out of Spring Training healthy, maybe offer him a one-year deal with incentives. I was very impressed with how Hampton performed, and I think he has the potential to be a stellar starter next season.
By Mike in Montgomery
September 29, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this
The braves need to look at next year as a gap year. They do not have to totally give next year away, but they need to look to getting the younger talent ready for 2010.
If the braves can get a Garland or #1/2 starter by all means get one, but if not, they need to look at what they can do.
If Glavine and/or Smoltz are healthy, bring them back on a ONE YEAR deal. Offer Hampton a One year League Minimum salary, with a ton of incentives, and a team option for 1-3 years at a larger salary if he meets those incentives.
Continue to develop Jurrjens and Morton, and possibly Parr (I have given up on Reyes). Start grooming for a 2010 rotation of Hudson, Jurrjens, possibly Hampton if healthy, Morton, and look to pick up a quality pitcher to round it out.
We already know next year will probably be painful, so give the old guys (Glavine/Smoltz) one last shot at something special if they are healthy, with the understanding that 2009 is thier last season as a Brave, and that the team is building for 2010.
If a big bat is available, great, if not, go it spring with Anderson in CF and playing Leadoff, Scheaffer in LF, Frenchy in RF. The infield is set with Kotchman, McCann, Chipper, Escobar and Infante. Dangle Johnson along with the prospects to try and get that big bat or quality starter.
By Ward
September 29, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Hampton will be fine in ‘09!!!! He will be a workhorse, pitch many innings, be a “pitcher”, and do a Brave job for his loyal Brave team. Reward his comeback and recognize that lefties w/ his type grit and experience are hard to find.
By hop
September 29, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
the braves have dropped from a contenter to a pretenter.
the farm is not producing and will not for a while.
the braves have no power,injury prone players, starting pitching that is at it’s worse in 10-15 years.
this team will battle washinton for last place next year.
By Brave fan forever
September 29, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Let’s not do something stupid. Smoltz should be back next year as a fireball relief pitcher. Glavin should be retained as a long relief pitcher. Huddie will be back next summer. JJ will be healthy for the year. The Braves should try and get one of the malcontents from Washington, Florida and KC.
Their biggest problem is POWER. Notice how Chipper’s production fell off after they dumped Tex?
They need a true leadoff hitter. How many bases did they steal this year. Send Frenchy to Winter ball to learn the strike zone.
They have the people in the minors who could be ready in a year or so, but a year or so is not next year. Bring up the phenom who got into trouble this year and play him in center. Play Josh Anderson in left.
By T
September 29, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
I agree there is a lot of work to do. Couple things i would definitely do: 1. Whether we keep Bobby Cox or not, I would run a tougher spring training. The country club atmosphere has proved to increase injuries over the last few years. 2. So long Tom Glavine. He showed no loyalty when he left the Braves, it’s time for the club to return the favor. Even when he was healthy, he wasn’t fooling anybody. The apologists will talk about his injuries… nonsense. He is done. I would much rather see a Morton or another young guy on the mound put up the same numbers with a future. 3. Add a bat with power! This team is desperate for power help. 4. Demand Francouer loose weight. He was to heavy to hit or play good defense in ‘08. 5. Add two better the avg starters . nuff said. Do these things and the ‘09 will be competitive.
By JoeJoe
September 29, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
If the Braves spend money again on Hampton, I assure you they don’t need to send the renewal form for my season tickets. He should have gotten out of the way years ago and let the team get some quality pictures and the season would have not been lost.
By Curtis
September 29, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
The fact remains, the 2008 season tanked primarily because of Jeff Francoeur. He had some of the best hitters in the game ahead of him in the lineup, and there were always runners on base. He didn’t drive them in. He struck out. He hit into double plays. And except for one glorious minor league weekend, Cox kept him in the lineup. Francoeur alone cost the Braves at least 20 games.
Sure the pitching wasn’t that great, but how much better could they have been if they had a lead to work with once in a while?
By Borat Obama
September 29, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
How ‘bout the Braves sign ME for 3 million. I can have just as big an impact on the team as Hampton has these past 3 years.
By Coach (Skip will be missed)
September 29, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
This is for those who actually think that free agency will fix what ails the Braves.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again.By Ralph
September 29, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
maybe going to the noth pole and sign santa claus,to play first base.
By Ralph
September 29, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
maybe going to the noth pole and sign santa claus,to play first base.
By Navigator
September 29, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Give him another ride, he hasn’t taken enough from the organization. It’s the difference between a good organization that looks for mature pitchers with a history of playing, rather than a bad one that goes after pitchers with a history of injury. It’s up to Wren to show which he is.
By JD
September 29, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Boy, you guys are really rough on a guy who, for the most part, could have mailed it in after the second series of injuries. But, he came back to pitch for the team that showed a little loyalty and faith in him when they could have dumped him at any time during the period he was rehabbing his arm and other various ailments.
It’s really easy to sit back and say cut Hampton because he’s been hurt for three years, but put yourself in his shoes. If you had the series of bad occurrences that has happened to this guy, and you did everything possible to stay injury free and still have things happen to you that were beyond your control, and to come back and pitch respectably for a team that really was done after the All-Star break says volumes about the man’s work ethic.
Who says that if the Braves decide to re-sign Hampton that it’s gonna be for the money that he got in his previous deal? By all means, take the chance on the guy. He’s already shown you through the last month and a half of the season that he can be relied on to give you a quality start and at least go deep in the innings to where the bullpen isn’t all that stretched at the end of a game. JoJo Reyes? Sure he’s a young pitcher, but he just loses it after a couple of innings. In his last few starts, he hasn’t gone past the third or fourth inning. Hampton? He’s gone at least 6 innings or more in his starts. And this is the guy you all want to get rid of because he’s had two arm surgeries and a series of freak injuries.
You so-called baseball fans amaze me…..
By virgilshouse
September 29, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
bring up larry mcwilliams he is a fine looking young lefty at richmond.also buzz capra he could win an era title someday, along with craig mcmurtry and phil neikro this could be a fine rotation
By Branch Rickey
September 29, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
HAMPTON? GLAVINE? SMOLTZ? YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ! TIE UP TENS OF MILLIONS IN THESE HASBEENS !
THE FARM SYSTEM SUCKS. ITS BEEN LOOTED TO ACQUIRE THE LIKES OF DREW & TEIXEIRA< WHO ARE GONE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ONCE BALLYHOOED SCOUTING SYSTEM?
WHAT QUALITY FREE AGENT WOULD WANT TO PLAY IN ATLANTA, THAT HASN’T GRACED THE POST-SEASON IN THREE YEARS ?
SCHUERHOLZ KNEW EXACTLY WHEN TO HANG IT UP. LET THE NEW GUY GET THE BLAME !
By P. Rose
September 29, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Hey, Frank Wren: why don’t you SHUT UP? Didn’t Schuerholz teach you anything? Stop showing your hand, moron! You’re dealing from a position of weakness when you declare these stupid proclamations, such as, “We’d have a team that would finish somewhere in the middle of the pack,” or, “We need more power production.” When you’re playing cards, you don’t tell your opponents what cards you need. You did the same thing in early August, when you announced that if the team struggled over the weekend you were going to trade Teixiera. And look what happened: the team didn’t just struggle, they imploded! Keep your opinions to yourself and keep your mouth shut! John, please, have a talk with your boy. He’s killing us.
By Tomas
September 29, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
The free agent market isn’t deep??? Come on compare to last year, with Glavine, Silva, and Schilling as the top starting pitchers. This year CC, Sheets, Burnett, Dempster, Lowe, Garland, Hampton, Lohse, and Oliver Perez. This year is paradise. I think resigning Hampton will be an inteligent move depending on how much money he is asking, if he agrees to a 4 million dollar deal with incentives, thats perfect. CC, and Sheets are out of the question I would guess, so Burnett, Hampton, Lowe, Dempster, and Oliver Perez should be the guys Wren should be interested in(I hope), and signs 3 of them. Lets be realistic, if they do trade for a pitcher who would it be? Justin Duchscherer(who is injured and has had health issues)? Maybe Matt Cain, he is the only one that makes sense. The power hitter should come via trade, with Aubrey Huff, Magglio, and Holliday as the candidates.
By cooper
September 29, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Wren’s epitaph if he thinks the order for pitching will be to develop, trade and then FA.
There is no one not named Hanson that will be worth diddly come 2009 and even he is a summer call up.
JOJO is crap Morton is not cut out to be a TOR guy - no guts and not physically tough Campillo 15min are up
Medlen et al? Really who does Wren expect to magically improve over the winter?
The reality for this team is FA, Trades and a surprise in the minors.
Most of the arms in the system are too young and too far away to help Wren keep his job.
If he goes the bargain basement route and wheels out losers like Garland and Byrd as the FIX this team will come in 4th place again and Wren will be fired.
He better get a clue Malone over at Liberty is not a hands off firing manager. Wren blows it in 09 with a 110mm or so payroll he will not be asked to come back in 2010.
JJ is the only dude who should be in the 09 rotation which means FA and several trades.
By David
September 29, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
ADMIT IT! WE’RE BACK TO LOOSERVILLE THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS. HANK AARON FARM SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED AND WE ONLY HAVE SO SO PLAYERS AT THE MAJORS AND IN OUR SYSTEM WE HAVE NO FUTURE STARS. WHY DO YOU THINK SCHUERHOLTZ LEFT? COX IS ON IS WAY OUT SO NO BIG MONEY PLAYERS MEANS BRAVES DON’T WIN ANYTIME SOON…
By varoadrunner
September 29, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
A healthy Hampton is a lot better than a rookie that acts like a deer in the headlights. If he gives a good “loyalty” discount, take it. He’s looked good and will only improve as he gets more and more of the rust off of his delivery.
By JD
September 29, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
Personally, I would rather have a man that has withstood the measure of adversity that Mike Hampton has. Why? Because when it comes down to it, if he’s gonna go down he’s gonna go down fighting. I’d rather stand side by side with a guy that won’t QUIT than to stand in the trenches with someone that won’t even hold his own in a reasonable fight.
Give me that guy any time…..
By Nelson
September 29, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
I agree with Coach and Roja. Bullpen is the No.1 Priority, then If we can get a good pair of outfielders, 1 or 2 starters and another manager probably will be in the run again!!!.
By johnr
September 29, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
Bring back LEO
By Salazzo
September 29, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
Biff Pocaroba & Ralph Garr look good in softball. Bobby likes old, washed-up players.
By Tomas
September 29, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Leo Mazzone may be heading to Detroit next season, according to mlbtraderumors.com.
By Nelson
September 29, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
For the future as a Braves Fan I would like to see in the field an aggressive and enthusiastic Team tat plays FUNDAMENTAL BASEBALL, with a balance in fielding, starting pitching, relievers and clutch hitting with another manager committed to achieve this performance and focused to win in the post season that make the money I spend in MLB Extra-innings, electricity and my time all worth to watch the Braves on TV. How many pieces we need to accomplish this?, is up to Wren and the cash he has to bring all pieces together.
By VERITAS
September 29, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
THERE WILL BE A TEAM (EVEN DUMBER THAN THE BRAVES) WHO WILL GIVE MIKE HAMPTON THE KIND OF MONEY MIKE HAMPTON IS ACCUSTOMED TO !
YOU DOLTS WHO THINK MIKE HAMPTON OWES THE BRAVES A FAVOR MUST BE SMOKIN SOME SERIOUS WEED !
HE WILL GET AT LEAST 2 YEARS FOR 7-10 MILLION A SEASON. MARK IT DOWN !
By BravesFan79
September 29, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
Will everyone stop with the comparing Smoltz to Hampton and Glavine!! Smoltz is one of the best big game pitchers of all time (something Hampton will never be) and is still a good starter (something Glavine is no longer).
Smoltz was our ACE last season….but you fools act like hes worse than joe blow off the street.
So im guessing yall lump Smoltz together with the other pitchers you dont want back because of injuries?? So does that mean you think we should release Husdon also??
Straight foolishness.
By Mark Bradley
September 29, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Actually, Frank Wren said today he believes the bullpen will be a strength, what with Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano apt to be back.
By Greg
September 29, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
What the Braves need? Put Josh Anderson in centerfield. Trade Franceour - the guy killed them this year. Sign another power hitting outfielder - then sign 2 starting pitchers. Of course, firing Bobby Cox would top my list. He and Franceour alone cost the Braves the playoffs this year.
By sharp
September 29, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
If they can Get Hampton back with an incentive based contract it would be great.
By Steve
September 29, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with a few other on here in that Hampton might be the ‘best’ affordable option on the market.
Yes, he has battled injuries and barely played, but that could be said for a host of other pitchers as well. He appeared to be back late this year, and he still has better stuff than most lefty starters on the market, certainly better stuff than anyone the Braves can afford to make a run at.
Hampton might come cheap for one. Second, he might give the Braves a discount because they have stuck by him during down years. Third, what else can the Braves afford?
Here are the free agent starting pitchers, broken down by category.
Too expensive for the Braves: Sabathia, Lackey, Penny, Sheets, Harden,
Possibly in Braves price range and relatively healthy: Garland, Loaiza, Lowe, Moyer, Oliver Perez.
In Braves price range, but ALL injury risks, and more costly than Hampton: Burnett, Byrd, Dempster, Pedro, Mussina, Wolf, Trachsel, Randy Johnson. All these would be considered injury risks.
Definitely in the Braves price range, but too inconsistent to be worth pursuing unless utterly desperate: Benson, El Duque, Looper, Mulder, Pettitte, Trachsel, Tomko.
Big time injury risks that should come cheap and have better upside than many of the above: Prior, Pavano, Hampton
For me, I would rather throw a $4 offer to one of those three and hope for the best than $10-$12 million at one of those in group two.
Add to this the comment in the original article abotu the Braves having minor league pitching depth is laughable. Nobody wants ANY of the Braves prospects that are less than 3 years away. ZILCH. The minor league system is horrible everywhere but middle infield. Even OF is not nearly as rich as it was once thought to be. We have nothing but crap at the corners in the minors, and our catching situation has gone from almost the best in the majors to pathetic in two shorts years (McCann coming up and Salty being traded).
Face it Braves fans, we sacrificed too much in recent years to pick up ‘journeymen’ pitchers and killed our team for it. If not for the Renteria trade, this organization would be in even worse shape. We got ZILCH for Tex (Kotchman is below average at first despite the hype). We held on to Hudson too long. We held on to James too long (everyone knows he sucks now). Our only tradable commodities are McCann and Jurrgens and possibly one of our young OF’s, and everyone else is just a major leage backup candidate that won’t get us anything in return.
Scheurholz didn’t leave the office, he FLED. He left this team completely barren of talent. he is a very smart man in that he knew he had run the Braves into the ground.
Oh, and Bobby cannot be blamed for this year. No team in basebaal loses three of its top four starters (Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine) as well as it’s potential fifth starter (Hampton) and finishes anywhere near 500 in the NL East.
By BravesFan79
September 29, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
If the Braves give Hampton or Glavine over 2 million next season im going to be sick to my stomach. Even worse will be if we cant resign Ohman because we threw money at Hampton.
2 get to the playoffs next year the Braves should…. resign Ohman, work a trade for Roy Halladay, and sign CC to a 20 million contract if thats what it takes.
And for the free agent outfielder i like Jermaine Dye. Hes a former Brave…and VERY clutch.
By Steven
September 29, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
I’m all for signing Hampton for the low low.
By Kay
September 29, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
Resigning Hampton is not a bad thing. Hes still young and knows how to pitch. He had a hard time making it back because his body was out of shape. You can bet it wont be at spring training. Then you have another cy young capable pitcher at the bottom of your rotation. Did any of you really think that Hampton would just come back and pitch lights out after being gone 3 years. Come on now! I would rather have Hampton back with a lower contract and incentives then Glavine thats for sure. Glavine is washed up and surgery or no surgery he showed it the last two years being a Met.
By fieldofdreams
September 29, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Don’t touch either Hampton or Glavine; they’re both overpaid, underperforming mercenaries using baseball as a pretext for their greedy ambitions. Can you imagine what’ll happen the next time Hampton suffers an injury? Do you really want to pay him to rehab, again? And Glavine? What a joke. He publicly stated that he was actually pulling for the Mets, at season’s end! Are you kidding me! Send him packing back to New York! He’s no more a Brave now than any of the other pitchers who came and went over the years.
By Wet Noodle
September 29, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Get rid of Pendleton first. Many of the Braves bats have gone through slumps lasting months (Andruw, Francouer, Johnson, etc.). The team answer seems to be just let them play through it. T.P. apparently has no advice to offer. Get rid of him.
By ron
September 29, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
will any insurance company insure his contract from injuries.hampton is a poster child for cashing checks for non performance.
By Bob
September 29, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
Resign Hamptom…? Did I read this right? Are you out of your #?#! mind? Get rid of him and take TP and Jeff as well. We need pitching and defense. If you cannot get two top pitchers this offseason, why not get Sabathia and build around him?
By country boy
September 29, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
This Wren guy sounds like a babbling idiot. Sounds CLUELESS.
First read OldTimers previous post. Bobby was great but overmatched in this retooling effort. “Offensively, if we did nothing we would be OK” and “we need older pitchers” … Damn Wren what were you doing this year when the Braves played their games.
By Royceb
September 29, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
If Hampton had any morals at all he would offer to play at the league minimum for the Braves for atleast next year to apologize for the past three.
Why not sign Sabathia? Seem to me if you take what we paid Glavine and Hampton last year we could more than afford it. He has shown he can pitch in the NL!
Not to mention if Smoltz does not make it back there is another $10 Million freed up.
By Flustered Fan
September 29, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
We need new owners who know baseball. The crew we have now don’t know anything about running an organization and look at what it got us…
By kirknga
September 29, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
And starting pitchers, Wren allowed, are a more pressing need. He wants to find two of them, and the fan’s kneejerk response is to think, “No problem! We just buy CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets!”
Mark,Since when did it become “knee jerk” to sign a free agent?Wanting to sign a warrior like Sabathia is knee-jerk?
The Braves need talent. To rule out one way of acquiring that talent is foolish.
Just say that the Braves don’t want to pay the going rate for free agents, don’t try and turn it around so it is somehow the people buying tickets(close to 2.5 million this year) who have an issue spending money.
It sure would have been nice if Wren would have been asked, if and when he thought the Braves would contend.
By will
September 29, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
Why resign the bum? He has done nothing but cost Atlanta a lot of money. SEND HIM PACKING NOW!!!!!
By reddawg
September 29, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Get rid of Pendleton and watch how many batters will be able to hit again.
Pendleton took the top prospect in baseball and made a loser out of him (Andruw Jones) He took an excellent outfielder that offered at too many pitches (Franceour) and made him look like a Little Leaguer. If he is so bad; how did Chipper win the batting crown, you ask?
Simple ………. Chipper tells him to take a hike and goes to his father for advice.
By T'VILLE DAWG
September 29, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
Reality says the cycle is about to repeat itself, the team went through several bad seasons to bank high draft players like Chipper and Glavine.The Cubs have done that exact thing in getting where they are. The same cycle plays out whether in baseball or football, it’s called parity unless you buy everything you need like Curious George in New Yauk, or the way Bastin has done in the last 5 years.
By Bob
September 29, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
I hope Wren knows what he’s doing, because it doesn’t sound to me like he has a great plan.
By Cooper
September 29, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Unless he was being coy to avoid showing his hand re: the off season Wren sounded naive and sad.
He did nothing in Baltimore but get fired after one year or so as the GM and it sounds like he is not looking to break that record by much.
Liberty and McGuirk have sworn up and down that there is no payroll cap and that the ATL org has full control of the team.
So why on earth would Wren close a door on anyone at this point?
Is he worried about his bonus? Any GM in his right mind would at least make offers to guys like CC, AJ, et al if his owners are saying spend what you need to in order to win.
Can we please hear from Malone b/c Atl is full of smooth talking bs artists.
Wren could be the worst or best thing to happen to this team. We will find out in 3 mos.
By Matt the Brave
September 29, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
I agree with Bob…that idea of developing from within would work great, but we just don’t really have the arms that we need yet. They’re about two or three seasons off. I would love to see the Braves get a couple of guys through free agency (as the FIRST priority) that would hold that gap until two years from now. Trading would be a bad situation because you’re throwing away the future for right now. In free agency you give up draft picks and you give up money, but no prospects.
By Najeh Davenpoop
September 29, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
If I were Frank Wren, I wouldn’t spend money on anyone over the age of 30, with the possible exception of re-signing Chipper. The last thing a rebuilding team needs is to be overpaying some veteran based on past performance. And that is how the Braves should approach this situation, as a rebuilding team.
By matlanta
September 29, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
do not invest a ridiculous amount of money in sabathia, he is due to have health problems down the road so it’d be a mistake to try to build around him. re-sign hampton at no more than $3.5 million and add some incentives in there (100, 150, 200 innings for example). hampton, if healthy and i really believe it’s a more realistic “if” after watching him this year when he was actually available, would definitely contribute as a #4 pitcher after jurrjens.
By Robbie T
September 29, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Mike Hampton was simply the Braves best pitcher after he came back.In August and September he pitched as good as Jurrjens did earlier in the year.Aside from some early inning trouble in a couple of starts he was solid.Sure he left a pitch up a few times but,the man had not pitched in three years.It takes time to work the kinks out. In 12 or 13 starts Mike has proved that he is still a Major League pitcher.If nothing else he has proved that he is not a quitter.A lesser man may have given up after the injury’s and the setbacks he endured.If i’m one of his teammates i want him on my team because of his dedication and desire.Mike will be better in 09.The Braves will try and should resign him.Good lefthanded starting pitchers are not plentiful.I agree that the team needs at least 2 starters other than Hampton.And at least 2 power hitting outfielders.And i don’t think Frenchy should be one of them.The bullpen needs to be fine tuned also.No Boyer,Acosta,Tavares,out there next year.And Everyone who is still tooting Smoltz’s horn had better wake up.John Smoltz may or may not pitch again but,face it he has been hurt so many times now and he is also 42 years old.Its time for he and Glavine to face the music.That would let the team focus on more productive alternatives for the pitching staff.The Braves need to make plenty of player personel changes this offseason and loyalty to these injured 40+ year old players needs to take a backseat if the goal is to improve the team.Sure they are icons who gave their all to the team.However that was years ago when they were hosses.They are at the age now when recovery from major injuries and regaining pitching skill is very unlikely.Its time to move on.
By Jeff R
September 29, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
Plain dumb. Wren yet again willing to trade off prospects or dip into the free agent market for a 36-year-old Lowe (or so go the rumors). This club used to be about long range solutions, not one-year fixes. Better stock up on good young prospects over the winter than try to jerry-rig this club for a run that isn’t likely to occur.
By kirknga
September 29, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Cooper, so true. I’ve wanted to bring that up about payroll and pursuing free agents, but I’ve decided to accept the low expectations, perhaps you should too.
I read Wren’s comments and don’t expect much. People tell me I’m wrong, but I think there is a way that people who expect to win talk, and there is a way that people who don’t talk. The two ways aren’t the same.
Wren sounds like a caretaker to me. I really hope I’m wrong.
By richbrave
September 29, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
I took MIKE HAMPTON’s words to mean he was going to pay ATLANTA next year not the other way ‘round.
By Mark Bradley
September 29, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Wren is acting like a caretaker. He thought he’d prepared this team to win, but a million things went wrong. I think he’ll try to prepare next year’s team to win, but my belief is there’s too much to fix in one winter.
By TMoney
September 29, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
If the Braves are looking at signing Hampton again, can I get a tryout? I can sit on the bench and fake an injury with the best of ‘em.
By Fred
September 29, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
Quit raggin’ on Hampton. Now he’s actually starting to look good everyone wants to throw him overboard. He’d be a cheap, incentive-ladened contract. Do the same for Smoltz and Glavine. If they get injured, you don’t lose much, just rid of them then. Better than paying big bucks to old man Lowe for the same potential results.
And of course, in the meantime, trade or sign young arms also. Wren obviously knows what he’s doing, look at what we got for Renteria. JJ wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Do the same thing again.
By dannycardwell
September 29, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
i for one will never buy a lot of tickets in advance again. i bought 4 tickets for 26 games the first of the season for my kids and grandkids. the braves won a total of 5 games out of the 26 many because wren sold us out when he traded tex. im sure next year many like me will repay this by staying home. the bottom line is if he thought the fans should keep coming to games the rest of the year he should have had the class to keep the best team he could get on the field. i figure ill save 150 a game by staying home plus 40 dollars in gas. good riddence
By mrincredible
September 29, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
Those of you that want to fire Bobby Cox - you ain’t Americans, are you? He’s like Joe Paterno - he’s earned the right to set his own time of departure.
Now, if you want some starting pitching, look no further than the Tampa Bay Rays. They have five good starters that each won at least ten games this year, with at least five more in AA and AAA that remain in the minors because there’s no room for them at the Trop. I’ll bet there’s room for them at the Ted!
By Growler
September 29, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
Wow all the talk about re-signing Hampton farther up in this thread is SO besides the point!! (for what it’s worth, if they could sign Hampton to an incestives-laden, low-base salary contract they certainly should. Wonder how much of a hometown discount he’d take).
Mark B. cyrstalized the biggest problem in the Braves’ strategy: they relied on old arms that broke down. NO ONE thought Francoeur would tank like that, but you can’t blame the Braves management for that. As for middle relief — yes they were downright awful at times—- but part of the reason was that the bullpen was worn out by July! (if you look at the stats in today’s USA Today of the final league leaders, with the exception of Chipper appearing in batting average, on-base % and slugging, the ONLY other Brave to appear on that list was Will Ohman, in number of games by a pitcher!). They HAVE to get 2 solid starters before anything else, even an outfielder. It doesn’t sound like the money’s there, and it doesn’t sound like the arms down in the minors are there.
Oh, as for Cox… well yeah all the players want to play for him and that is his big plus. But if the reality is: he’s only gonna be a lame-duck manager in 2009, then he should do what’s right and resign now. It would be cool to see him go into the HoF with Glavine and Smoltz.
By Tomas
September 29, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Kirkinga, I agree with you on some of your thoughts. But I really think Wren is being realistic. If they traded Texeira, because he wanted a deal worth more than 20 million per season, Sabathia will definitely be out of reach. The Yankees have 90 million coming off there imense payroll, and they need pitching. Use logic, who do you think will outbid the Yankees for CC.
If what you mean is Wren may be contradicting himself by saying they have a “next wave” of prospects which they won’t trade(according to him), and then saying they prefer to fill the starting pitching need by trade, because the FA market is thin, I may agree with you, because how would anyone expect to get an ace like Peavy, Cain, Meche, or Greinke without giving a top prospect like Heyward, Schafer, Hanson, etc.
The FA market is not thin…. Last year it was thin. He needs 3 pitchers even if he doesn’t resign Hampton, and the 3 of them should be good, and reliable, but he says he needs only two. That’s a mistake, if he really wants to have depth and be able to have a world series caliber team. The power outfielder should come via trade, that would be the best thing to do. Wigginton, Huff, Holliday, and Magglio would look very good in a team like the Braves. If they trade for Magglio, I can’t see them not t