Braves 2012-13 offseason thread

[skar]

So Maholm, Hudson and McCann resigned for next season, should the team not also be making moves to take Bourn out of the free agency market? or are they?

Any news on any other trade rumours the Braves are interested in?

[SamtheBravesFan]

I would hope they don't. They need an unconvential leadoff hitter more than anything else.

They could be looking for a new backup catcher: the Yankees for some reason have an interest in David Ross.

[Blue387]

I have a crazy idea: move Dan Uggla from being a defensive liability at second base to first base.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I have a crazy idea: move Dan Uggla from being a defensive liability at second base to first base.

That's too crazy: what does that do with Freddie Freeman? Neither him or Uggla can carry left field.

[skar]

I would hope they don't. They need an unconvential leadoff hitter more than anything else.

I like Bourns speed, would hope he could learn from Furcals tendancy to swing for the fence and concentrate on getting on base as much as possible. He seems better to me in that respect than Furcal as a leadoff hitter, and with him and Heyward in the order is always giving the chance of RBI opertunities, what is needed imo is a more reliable hitter in the middle order to increase the RISP%. Then maybe the braves can get back towards the pitching based setup that was their forte in the 90's?

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

*thread stickied*

Braves agreed to a 2 year deal with catcher Gerald Laird. He doesn't have the bat that David Ross had, but he'll be serviceable in McCann's absence.

[skar]

Ty ABF, good to see you still around, also reportedly Braves are interested in B.J. Upton as a potential replacement for Bourn. This should be an interesting off-season.

Still leaves a need for a decent lead off hitter though? Any thoughts.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I don't think they'll have a choice but to put Martin Prado in the leadoff spot.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

Ty ABF, good to see you still around, also reportedly Braves are interested in B.J. Upton as a potential replacement for Bourn. This should be an interesting off-season.

Still leaves a need for a decent lead off hitter though? Any thoughts.

I don't post as much as I used to, but I'm still around.

I don't think they'll have a choice but to put Martin Prado in the leadoff spot.

I'd rather have a "traditional" leadoff hitter, but Prado is a good option.

Ichiro is available!

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'd rather have a "traditional" leadoff hitter, but Prado is a good option.

Ichiro is available!

I'm just not sure a traditional leadoff hitter is what the Braves need. For all his baserunning skills, Bourn barely led the Braves in runs scored, 96 to 93, and Jason Heyward scored himself 27 times. Do we really want to overpay for that skill when it might not be all that essential to the run scoring process?

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

Mark Bowman talked about leadoff hitter options today. Names listed included Victorino, Angel Pagan, and Denard Span or Dexter Fowler (via trade)

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_atl&c_id=atl

[Los Bravos]

Braves sign B.J. Upton.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I don't think I can defend this signing to anybody.

[Los Bravos]

C'mon, Sam... relax.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

Whether we agree or disagree on the signing is for later debate, but the silver lining is we spent money and were proactive on getting a big name. There are some negatives in Upton's game, but I'm glad we have another formidable bat in the lineup.

[skar]

I like the B.J. Upton signing, replaces Bourn for a similar requested contract, probably cheaper than Bourn and with less risk probably. Would still sit more easy with a proven lead off man after the meetings.

[Blue387]

In other news, Braves likely to non-tender Jair Jurrjens.

I predict he'll be pitching for the Kansas City Royals.

[Blue387]

Braves trade Tommy Hanson to the Angels for Jordan Walden.

As a Mets fan, I actually liked Tommy Hanson.

[SamtheBravesFan]

That's a real shame that Hanson had fallen so far that all he could net was Walden.

[Ben Grimm]

Braves trade Tommy Hanson to the Angels for Jordan Walden.

As a Mets fan, I actually liked Tommy Hanson.

Being a Phils fan, I agree. I liked him alot and thought he'd be the RH version of what we here have in Cole Hamels.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Being a Phils fan, I agree. I liked him alot and thought he'd be the RH version of what we here have in Cole Hamels.

Shoulder injuries derailed all that. Maybe playing closer to home will help him.

[skar]

That's a real shame that Hanson had fallen so far that all he could net was Walden.

Think this trade was more about ditching salary than like for like. Theres certainly pitching potential knocking on the door of ML starting level, rumours of the Upton brothers being united in Atlanta??

[SamtheBravesFan]

Think this trade was more about ditching salary than like for like. Theres certainly pitching potential knocking on the door of ML starting level, rumours of the Upton brothers being united in Atlanta??

I'm aware, and it would cost an arm, a leg, internal organs, an eyeball and a set of clothes to get Justin to Atlanta.

[Atlanta Braves Freak]

I'm aware, and it would cost an arm, a leg, internal organs, an eyeball and a set of clothes to get Justin to Atlanta.

DOB mentioned Ludwick, Ross, Victorino as other OF options. Getting J. Upton will cost a lot, but is it worth it?

[SamtheBravesFan]

DOB mentioned Ludwick, Ross, Victorino as other OF options. Getting J. Upton will cost a lot, but is it worth it?

Let's just say I can give up the arm and a leg, but I'd like to keep my organs, eyeball and clothes.