A.J. Burnett close to deal with Braves (plus other notes)

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 5:20 PM CST Comment 33 comments

Per ESPN and Gammons

Free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett's agents will be in Las Vegas this afternoon, and they think talks are progressing with the Braves.

• Arizona wants to sign veteran infielder Mark Loretta.

• The Rangers will still talk about catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, even with Gerald Laird having been dealt to Detroit.

• Milton Bradley has met with the Rays.

There are talks that right when the first big name free agent pitcher signs, it will set the market for other pitchers. With Burnett, who is considered to be in the top tier, about to sign, we might be seeing the big contacts for pitchers signed here in the next couple of days

The Braves have offered Burnett a four-year, $60 million deal with a buyout and a fifth-year option. It's believed that Atlanta's overall package, including the option, is worth $75 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=winter_meetings_2008

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Forgot this

Indications are that the free-agent right-hander Burnett is moving closer to a deal with the Braves.

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=winter_meetings_2008

In Smoak We Trust

by Smoak Some on Dec 8, 2008 5:22 PM CST reply actions

i don't want to sound nitpicky

but you can actually edit your post if you wish. the button is just below where the post appears on your screen.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

something tells me that the Rangers are done trading catchers

unless they are blown away by an offer (which probably isn’t going to be the case given the current market).

I think we’ll see Teagarden/Salty to start the season at the ML level with Max going to AAA. Hopefully, Salty can get and stay hot during the 1st half so he can be traded at the deadline for a nice haul. He should be able to get some DH ABs in addition to 30% or so of the catcher AB’s, right?

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Dec 8, 2008 5:26 PM CST reply actions

if salty has a good 1st half

why would you trade him?

by kumizi on Dec 8, 2008 5:38 PM CST up reply actions

Because many believe (myself included) that Teagarden is the better prospect.

That said, Salty’s value would be at a peak with the Rangers, and would bring in a bigger haul than at any other time since he’s been here. Makes sense to me.

"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin

by utlonghorn24 on Dec 8, 2008 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

Salty

If he has a good first half then you roll with him and either make TT your backup or trade him. Sorry but if Salty plays decent defense and shows the offense he is touted to have then he is the keeper no questions asked.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 8, 2008 5:50 PM CST up reply actions

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXWLfIgc0nA

by mchang4 on Dec 8, 2008 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

because trading high is always the way to go?

why would you trade him if he has a poor 1st half?

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Dec 8, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

I think the question is...

Why would you trade him period?

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Dec 8, 2008 7:03 PM CST up reply actions

Sometimes keeping the high hand is the way to go.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.

by thedirkatron on Dec 8, 2008 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

By this rationale

wouldn’t you want to trade Teagarden right now? Don’t think his value could get any higher

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 8, 2008 7:52 PM CST up reply actions

I've never really thought of Salty as a true catcher, I guess

Similar to Max, I think both of them will get by at catcher, but if we can inflate their value by letting them DH semi-regularly while giving them token appearances at catcher, I’m all for pawning them off on another team at a premium.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Dec 8, 2008 8:12 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think Salty has anymore or less question marks than TT

and he is 1.5 years younger. I’d be happy if either of them blossom, but if Salty breaks out with the bat, and plays an acceptable defense, I don’t see why you don’t give him the starter job.

Gerald Laird: One Man, 5 Scoops.

by Maximilian on Dec 8, 2008 8:55 PM CST up reply actions

+1

"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL

by lonestarJon on Dec 8, 2008 10:45 PM CST up reply actions

depends

if it’s showing polish behind the plate, throwing out a few more runners and a steady bat, I wouldn’t. but if it’s purely offensive, and TT is healthy, I certainly would if the right name(s) were being dangled

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

in more pertinent news

the rangers apparently spoke with ben sheets today (not allowing myself to get my hopes up there…yeah right, they’re up)

and they have reported been linked to Cory Sullivan, who may be non-tendered this week. he is actually the walking, talking definition of “meh”. but he can play CF, so perhaps the team is thinking about trading Byrd, using an OF of Cruz, Hamilton, and Murphy, and having Sullivan around as a 4th OF. i would be more excited about the also soon to be non-tendered CF Jason Repko.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 6:42 PM CST reply actions

for what it's worth

Repko destroys lefties and would be a better fit for our team, and the Rangers have been tied to him in the past.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 6:44 PM CST up reply actions

actually

this snippet from the well known blog Jorge says no indicates Sullivan might be worth a shot.

here.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 6:49 PM CST up reply actions

Me too

I like Repko as a role player. Wonder why the Dodgers are/would be non tendering him though? Can’t imagine it’s very much.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 8, 2008 6:50 PM CST up reply actions

it isn't for sure

but he was listed as a potential NT guy on MLBTR. the dodgers have just never really given him a chance in their OF. I guess it could depend on what happens with Kemp, Pierre, and Jones. If they don’t deal any of those guys, Repko seems like a likely candidate.

by clark on Dec 8, 2008 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

Sheets

I just have a feeling someone is going to get a relative FA bargain with him.

Don't believe the hype about sloppy seconds. They ain't bad.

by tricer on Dec 8, 2008 7:03 PM CST up reply actions

Sheets

I’m becoming realistic about our chances at signing him but I’m a big fan. There’s no doubt he’s money when he’s healthy, but you should just assume you’re going to eat one of those seasons. Between his back/shoulder/etc. he’s due for more injuries.

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Dec 8, 2008 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

I'd rather eat one season out of three

and enjoy the other two, than hang my hat on Kevin Millwood as our best free agent pitching signee of the past decade

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 11:32 PM CST up reply actions

from Perrotto

Add Ben Sheets to the list of free agents who have shown up at the Bellagio to meet with various clubs. The Rangers are interested and the Astros would like to sign him if they can clear Tejada’s salary.

Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012

by Longhorn on Dec 8, 2008 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

If the Rangers sign Sheets, what are the odds of trading Padilla/Millwood?

by hiafex on Dec 8, 2008 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

high

i would think

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 8, 2008 8:28 PM CST up reply actions

i wonder which they would like to do first

trade millwood/padilla or sign sheets?

i’m thinking the only time that leverage helps/hurts you is in the trade so you’d want to try to trade millwood/padilla first and not wait until after the signing where it becomes obvious that one of your reasons for trading millwood/padilla is salary dump

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Dec 8, 2008 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

the positive in that situation is

if we end up trading one and then not signing Sheets, we clear up room for younger arms and perhaps get something valuable in return

"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"

by Walter Sobchak on Dec 8, 2008 11:34 PM CST up reply actions

I think you would have to sigh Sheets first

Trading Millwood/Padilla is ideal, but there probably won’t be a market for them until after the big names like Sheets, Sabathia and Burnett sign with a team

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 9, 2008 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

"sign"

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Dec 9, 2008 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

Double edged sword...

Hicks probably won’t give JD the go ahead to pay a guy like Sheets ’til he unloads one of Millwood/Padilla though.

With the economic status of the Rangers right now I just can’t see them landing a guy like Sheets, I really hope I’m wrong though. I’d love to see him in Arlington.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Dec 9, 2008 12:24 PM CST up reply actions