UPDATE 12/28/09 - 8:36 AM PST
After unsuccessfully shopping Derek Lowe, the team finally unloaded one of its six starters last week, sending Javier Vazquez along with reliever Boone Logan to the Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera, reliever Michael Dunn, minor league pitcher Arodys Vizcaino, and cash. In Vazquez, the Braves lose a 15-game winner who was 2nd in the NL with 238 K's, 6th in ERA (2.87), and 5th in IP with 219.1. The 33 year-old will make 11.5M in 2010 and could be one of the top free agents on the market after the season when he's set to become a free agent.
As for what the Braves received, the 25 year-old Cabrera is now penciled in as the starting left fielder with Matt Diaz now the leading candidate to play the other corner spot. However, with top prospect Jason Heyward expected to make his major league debut sometime in 2010, if not on opening day, Cabrera and Diaz could be destined for a platoon. While the switch-hitting Cabrera's 2009 splits don't show much of a difference from either side of the plate (.763 OPS vs LHP; .747 vs RHP), Diaz is a much better hitter vs LHP's (1.103 OPS vs LHP; .749 OPS vs RHP).
The Braves also receive Dunn, a left-hander who was a starter in the minors in 2007-08 before a successful move to the 'pen last season (3.31 ERA, 73.1 IP, 58 H, 46 BB, 99 K). The 24 year-old, who throws in the mid-90's and recently struck out 20 batters in 10.1 IP in the Arizona Fall League, was projected to crack the Yankees 25-man roster after the earlier trade of lefty reliever Phil Coke. Now he could be the 3rd lefty out of the Braves' bullpen behind Billy Wagner and Eric O'Flaherty.
The key to the deal could be the 19 year-old Vizcaino, recently named the #3 prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America and the #2 prospect by Baseball Prospectus. After holding his own as a 17 year-old in the Rookie Level GCL in 2008, the right-hander dominated in 10 starts for short-season Staten Island in 2009, posting a 2.13 ERA with 52 K's in 42.1 IP. He'll likely start 2010 in Low Class A Rome where he'll team with the organization's other top pitching prospect, Julio Teheran.
UPDATE 12/24/09 - 11:51 AM PST
In a surprise move, the Braves filled their gigantic hole at 1B with former World Series MVP, Troy Glaus. The 33 year-old, who has played a total of six games at the position in his 12 big league seasons, hit .270 with 27 HR and 99 RBI's with the Cardinals in 2008 but missed most of last season recovering from shoulder surgery.
UPDATE 12/2/09 - 12:40 PM PST
One day after signing closer Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7M deal, the Braves have inked former All-Star Takashi Saito, who has a career 2.05 ERA and 83 saves in four seasons since arriving from Japan. Although he had some injury concerns going into 2009, the right-hander had a solid season (2.43 ERA, 55.2 IP, 50 H, 25 BB, 52 K, 2 Sv, 3 holds) with Boston pitching in a middle relief role for the first time. Saito, who will be 40 years-old on Opening Day 2010, held left-handed hitters to a .195 BA in '09 but right-handers did serious damage against him (.304/.402/.500). The deal is worth $3.2M with another $2.3M in incentives.
With Saito in the fold, Peter Moylan and Kris Medlen could challenge for the 8th inning setup man job but will likely settle into middle relief roles as long as Saito can stay healthy.
UPDATE 11/24/09 - 6:51 PM PST
LINEUP - The obvious hole is at 1B where Barbaro Canizares has zero chance to be the starter in 2010. With no one else ahead of him, he is the projected starter by default until the Braves make a move. Martin Prado (.307 BA, 11 HR, 38 2B), who played 28 games at 1B in '09, has been anointed the starter at 2B. Nate McLouth, Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, and Yunel Escobar are all returning starters while Matt Diaz and Ryan Church are penciled in at the corners, for now. The 31 year-old Diaz is coming off of a career season (.313 BA, 13 HR, 12 SB) and is deserving of a starting job. Church didn't embarrass himself after being acquired from the Mets in July but his .262 BA and 2 HR's aren't likely going to keep the Braves from looking for an upgrade. Whether that will be Jason Heyward, the #1 prospect in baseball, is yet to be seen. The 20 year-old had just 11 AB's in AAA and will likely benefit from at least a few more months in the minors. Therefore, look for the team to bring in a short-term solution who can help out Diaz and Church until Heyward is ready to take over.
ROTATION - The Braves might have the most starting pitching depth in the majors. Arguably, all five projected starters can be #1's. With gaping holes at 1B, OF, and in the bullpen, look for the team to try and trade either Javier Vazquez (15-10, 2.87 ERA) or Derek Lowe (15-10, 4.67 ERA). Twenty-three year-olds Jair Jurrjens (14-10, 2.60 ERA) and Tommy Hanson (11-4, 2.89 ERA) could be the best young duo in baseball and a healthy Tim Hudson looked strong in 7 late-season starts (2-1, 3.61 ERA). Kenshin Kawakami posted a 3.97 ERA in 25 starts but he's the odd man out unless one of the aforementioned starters is traded.
BULLPEN - The Braves could lose both Mike Gonzalez (2.42 ERA, 10 Sv, 17 holds) and Rafael Soriano (2.97 ERA, 27 Sv) to free agency. Gonzalez is the best available lefty and Soriano one of the top right-handers on the market so the Braves are likely going to have pay a hefty sum to bring one of them back. Peter Moylan (2.84 ERA, 25 holds in 87 relief appearances) is coming off of a good season but is unproven as a closer. Kris Medlen (3.47 ERA in 33 relief appearances) and lefty Eric O'Flaherty (3.04 ERA, 15 holds in 78 relief appearances) also figure to pitch in the late innings. A host of other pitchers, including Juan Abreu, Manny Acosta, Boone Logan, and Luis Valdez, all figure to be in the mix for a middle-relief job. Scott Proctor, signed to a minor league deal, probably won't be ready for the start of the season but should be ready sometime in May or June.
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