Does Frank Wren now jump into the trade market?

[clvclv]

Heyward filing 5.5M, Braves at 5.2M. Surprised they couldn't bridge that difference.

There's your "on the block" guy. If they couldn't settle that, Wren & Company must feel pretty confident that they'll win and Heyward may quickly become the next Frenchy. An extreme comparison? Sure. The point is that he's the local kid that expects to get paid for that reason.

I defy the absolute BEST numbers-oriented of you to justify that Heyward deserves Freeman's salary...service-time differences included.

 

[Dalyn]

Do the Braves ever utilize outside consultants in arbitration hearings? I have someone in mind for a particular outfielder's case, and I believe he might have some damning testimony related to matters of the heart.

I think it would be best if the Braves kept the nature of Heyward and Freeman's relationship out of this.

 

[drewdat]

I was thinking more of the relationship between Heyward and baseball.

Or, I'm not even sure, lack thereof.

 

[AUTiger7222]

I agree with skid. No way I let em play out and get a pick. Our first round picks are sketchy a lot of times so i'd rather not roll the dice. It seems like they don't wanna be here long term so next offseason I'd trade Heyward and CK and offer Simmons, JUp, Minor, and Freeman their money.

Braves have done pretty well with high picks in the draft lately.

2007 - Jason Heyward - 1st Round - Nothing needs to be said here.
2007 - Freddie Freeman - 2nd Round - Again nothing needs to be said here.
2008 - Brett DeVall - 1st Round - Injuries crushed his career. Nobody saw that coming.
2008 - Zeke Spruill - 2nd Round - Was a key member of the Justin Upton trade.
2008 - Craig Kimbrel - 3rd Round - Only the best closer in baseball.
2008 - Paul Clemens - 7th Round - Key member of the Michael Bourn trade.
2008 - Brett Olberholtzer - 8th Round - Key member of the Michael Bourn trade.
2009 - Mike Minor - 1st Round - Quality member of the Braves starting rotation.
2009 - David Hale - 3rd Round - Was mighty impressive in his two September starts in 2013. Who knows how his career will go though?
2009 - Aaron Northcraft - 10th Round - Listed among the Braves top 10 prospects going into 2014.
2010 - Matt Lipka - 1st Round - Jury is out on him but early returns aren't positive. Looks like another busted pick.
2010 - Todd Cunningham - 2nd Round - Nothing special. Looks like he could hang around the majors as a 4th outfielder because of good defense and speed.
2010 - Andrelton Simmons - 3rd Round - The best defensive SS in the majors and still has a ton of potential with the bat.
2010 - Joey Terdoslavich - 6th Round - Could be a key member of the Braves bench in 2014. Probably doesn't have a long-term future in Atlanta because of being blocked by other guys and not being a great defender. Could be a good DH for an AL team.
2011 - Sean Gilmartin - 1st Round - Busted pick. But hey it happens every once in a while. The Braves aren't above that.
2011 - Nick Ahmed - 2nd Round - Key member of the Justin Upton trade.
2011 - J.R. Graham - 4th Round - Listed among the Braves top 10 prospects going into 2014.
2011 - Cody Martin - 7th Round - Listed among the Braves top 10 prospects going into 2014.
2011 - Tommy La Stella - 8th Round - Listed among the Braves top 10 prospects going into 2014.
2012 - Lucas Sims - 1st Round - Absolutely flying through the Braves system and has scouts drooling.
2012 - Alex Wood - 2nd Round - Already a key member of the Braves pitching staff going into 2014.
2013 - Jason Hursh - 1st Round - Very early returns on him are great. Could have been drafted as Kimbrel's eventual successor?
2013 - Kyle Wren - 8th Round - Frank took a lot of heat for drafting his son this high but so very early returns are great.

I would say the Braves have done very well with early picks the last few years.

But I discovered some interesting facts that I didn't know. Braves originally drafted Giants 1st baseman Brandon Belt as a LHP in 2007. The Braves originally drafted Craig Kimbrel in 2007 out of HS. The Braves originally drafted Nationals 2nd baseman Anthony Rendon in 2008.

Relative to Soriano or Papelbon sure. Relative to our budget and the gaping holes in our lineup I'm less sure, but I guess it would be ok in abstract. Given that it's the first year of arbitration, it seems pretty high.

Gaping holes in our lineup? The only two holes we have are CF and 2B and neither BJ and Uggla are going anywhere because of their contracts. Where are all these gaping holes you speak of?

 

[drewdat]

Gaping holes in our lineup? The only two holes we have are CF and 2B and neither BJ and Uggla are going anywhere because of their contracts. Where are all these gaping holes you speak of?

At 2B and CF. Using roughly 10% of our payroll (or more going forward) on a reliever doesn't seem like it will help the situation.

 

[Gary82]

Gaping holes in our lineup? The only two holes we have are CF and 2B and neither BJ and Uggla are going anywhere because of their contracts. Where are all these gaping holes you speak of?

2 gaping holes out of a lineup that consists of nine hitters is pretty bad, especially when you consider that the pitcher bats in the NL. So make that 3 gaping holes in our starting lineup.

I do think La Stella will take over at 2nd at some point, and I hope and pray that BJ figures something out.

 

[Hudson2]

AUTiger I would rather trade Heyward next year and get a couple of really good players u know will be good compared to an unknown that may or may not pan out 3 years from then. We have a bad tendency to hold onto players to long as it is.

 

[cajunrevenge]

I say keep them and win now. I dont care about 5 years from now as I am on the verge of just giving up on the sport until they institute a salary cap. I am tired of watching a sport that is rigged heavily in favor of a few teams.

 

[AUTiger7222]

AUTiger I would rather trade Heyward next year and get a couple of really good players u know will be good compared to an unknown that may or may not pan out 3 years from then. We have a bad tendency to hold onto players to long as it is.

I wouldn't totally be against trading Heyward next offseason depending on what the return is.

 

[AUTiger7222]

At 2B and CF. Using roughly 10% of our payroll (or more going forward) on a reliever doesn't seem like it will help the situation.

2 gaping holes out of a lineup that consists of nine hitters is pretty bad, especially when you consider that the pitcher bats in the NL. So make that 3 gaping holes in our starting lineup.

I do think La Stella will take over at 2nd at some point, and I hope and pray that BJ figures something out.

Well there's no way to get rid of BJ. We just have to hope that 2013 was a major fluke and he'll at least get back to his 2012 level with the Rays.

But my point was no team has 8 or 9 all-star hitters. The rest of the Braves lineup can be good enough to make up for what BJ and Uggla don't bring to the table. Also it's impssible to see BJ and Uggla not being better in 2014. And you mentioned La Stella. He's the wild card at 2B.

 

[zitothebrave]

It is high, but I could see him winning that case.

I highly doubt he will. Highest arb award for a closer is Papelbon at 6.25. I don't think he has much of a case. Service time and age are the most important factors. IIRC Kimbrel is the youngest closer, and not many closers who got paid did so at a young age.

 

[thewupk]

There's your "on the block" guy. If they couldn't settle that, Wren & Company must feel pretty confident that they'll win and Heyward may quickly become the next Frenchy. An extreme comparison? Sure. The point is that he's the local kid that expects to get paid for that reason.

I defy the absolute BEST numbers-oriented of you to justify that Heyward deserves Freeman's salary...service-time differences included.

Freemans best year in WAR (2013) is basically what Heyward has averaged for 4 years per 162 games. And the service time difference is a pretty big component too.

 

[Hawk]

I personally believe taking these three to arbitration is the smart thing to do. It's a messy process, much more for the players than the team. If the team has no intention or ability to extend them, this is the circumstance we are looking at for the next several years ... Braves may be trying to set a precedent, because the trio have the potential to earn some big dollars via arby.

 

[Heyward]

Kimbrel i'd consider moving, he's going to be pricy next year.

Heyward as well, if he still wont sign an extension, what is the point to keeping him?

Freddie, not quite, i'd play that out.

Meds may be dealt with some pitchers coming up through the system.

Dont know about CJ.

 

[Heyward]

SMH

Whats so crazy about that?

 

[gtcway]

Kimbrel i'd consider moving, he's going to be pricy next year.

Heyward as well, if he still wont sign an extension, what is the point to keeping him?

If the Braves are obviously out of it a week before the trading deadline this season, I think they should try as hard as possible to trade Kimbrel. (only if they KNOW they won't even try to sign him long term)

With Heyward, who know what's been said behind closed doors, but if he or his agent has made it clear that he won't sign a long term contract with the Braves, they should see what they can get for him, if someone is willing to trade MLB ready talent or a top prospect +.

There's no need to dump either one.

 

[jsebe10]

Got to consider to unloading Heyward or Freeman relatively soon. Open your eyes folks , they don't want to be here.

 

[tvsportscaster]

Got to consider to unloading Heyward or Freeman relatively soon. Open your eyes folks , they don't want to be here.

That's a bunch of BS. Just because there is a difference opinion over their worth doesn't mean they don't want to be there. That being said the Braves going to arbitration with Heyward over 300K is also BS.

 

[thethe]

Its hard to root for a team when their ownership doesn't care much about them.

 

[PawPawMaxwell]

For those who dont want to move any of the big 3 arb players, is it a consideration that keeping all 3 might make moving JUp or Medlen a necessity a la the Maddux case? Those are the only 2 who would be viable in a salary dump.

Also, remember last week when JS was quoted as saying "Wren is not finished yet".