From: Elliott
Happy trails to Bobby Cox and welcome to new manager Fredi Gonzalez. Great hire by the Braves. Pitching coach, Roger McDowell, and bench coach, Eddie Perez, will most likely be retained. Also look for base coaches Brian Snitker and Glenn Hubbard to have a strong chance of staying. A new hitting coach is an almost certainty. The big questions are what will the team do with personnel and contracts. The opening day payroll for 2009 was 83,890,334. This was down for 2008's number of 96,726,166.
Starting Pitching: The rotation appears to be set. Derek Lowe is in year 3 of a 4 year $60 million deal and lived up to expectations last season. Tim Hudson rebounded with a bang and has 2 years left at 9 million a year with a club option for 2013. Jair Jurrjens' contract is up. He has played under three one year deals over the last few seasons at .38, .45, and .48 million dollars. I'd expect agent, Scott Boras, to push for a longer deal and the Braves should jump at the chance as Jurrjens is a quality starter. Ditto for Tommy Hanson who played at $.435 million this year. Now the team may be able to renew these one year deals for a few more years as they are rookie contracts. Mike Minor will likely be the fifth and only left handed starter. This is a quality rotation. Kenshin Kawakami is owed $6.67 million and a decision will have to be made. He would likely choose to go back to Japan, rather than take a demotion to the bullpen.
Bullpen: Billy Wagner retiring frees up $7 million which will not have to be used on a replacement as the likely closer will be stud rookie righty, Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel will have a much cheaper rookie deal. 2009 rookies Jonny Venters and Mike Dunn will form a potent lefty duo for a very cheap price. Venters was lights out this year and Dunn throws 95. Looking good so far. Hard throwing right hander, Kyle Farnsworth, has a $5.25 million club option for 2011. I would pass here, because that is a lot to give a 35 year old, but the argument could be made that he is worth it. Takashi Saito's contract is up and do not expect the Braves to resign the 41 year old righty, freeing up another $3.2 million. Peter Moylan made $1.15 million last season and was worth every penny. A new contract for the side arming right hander is a priority. Scott Proctor-who knows? Eric O'Flaherty is another cheap, effective lefty at $.44 million for 2010. Is three lefties too many? A additional right handed arm or two will most likely be signed this off-season. The saved dollars here can be used in the outfield.
Catcher: Need anything be said? Brian McCann is the team's best player and is under contract for $6.5 million in 2011, $8.5 in 2012, and there is a club option for $12 for 2013. David Ross is a more than serviceable back up and is under contract for the next two seasons at $1.625 million a year.
Infield: Infield defense has got to improve. 35 year old Derrek Lee was in the final year of a $13 million per year deal and is not expected to be retained as stud 21 year old prospect, Freddie Freeman, is expected to man the first bag next year. Troy Glaus is not likely to return next season, freeing up $1.75 million. 26 year old Martin Prado is coming off of a huge year in 2010 in which he made $.44 million and signing him to long term deal should be one of the first moves they make. Omar Infante has a $2.5 million club option for 2011, and it is a no brainer to keep him. Infante is a strong second basemen, but a weak 3rd bagger. He could easily play SS if the Braves choose not to retain 33 year old Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez has a club option at $2.5 million for 2011. Chipper is owed $13 million per season over the next two years and may be back early on. A new shortstop and/or utility player may be in order here. Brooks Conrad's ($.44 million 2010) defense is too much of a liability and SS Diory Hernandez has not shown the bat to merit playing time. With a good fall, SS Brandon Hicks could hit his way into the lineup, but it is not likely.
Outfield: Can you say new players? Jason Heyward should move into the 3 hole and be one of the cheapest hitters at this slot in the order. Center and left field have to see more production for the team to move forward. Center needs to be maned by a leadoff hitter who can steal some bases. Bobby just did not like to run, but Fredi Gonzalez has never been too shy to give the green light. Left field needs to provide some much needed home runs. Nate McClouth has been a huge bust and is owed $6.5 million next year with a club option for 2012, up from $4.5 this year. Ouch! He will either be an expensive backup, sent to the minors, or play for another team with the Braves eating the meat of his contract. Melky Cabrera had a one year deal for $3.1 million in 2010. 50/50 as to whether is is resigned. Cabrera is a serviceable player, but does not provide enough SBs or HRs at either position to start. Rick Ankiel has a $6 million club option for 2011.Let's see her, ummm no! He would be a quality backup at $1.5 million, maybe. Fan favorite, Matt Diaz, will be 33 next season. He hit .250 with 7 HR in 224 at bats in 2010. Diaz simply does not have enough power to man left field everyday. He earned $2.55 million in a one year deal last season, and may be resigned as a backup. Eric Hinske earned $1 million as a pinch hitter and utility man in 2010, and he was worth it. Yes, he will be 34, but Hinske is a great pinch hitter and can play first if needed. He should be resigned quickly. Jordon Shafer would be the ideal leadoff man and center fielder, but he hit only .201 with 9 SBs last season at Gwinnett. Some new blood is sorely need in the outfield and let's hope the Braves are aggressive here.
