McCarroll21
12-07-2006, 04:57 AM
Braves Acquire Soriano from Mariners
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Trying to keep up with what John Schuerholz will do is like trying to hit the lottery. As we were listening to all of the rumors that have come out of the Winter Meetings in Orlando, everything being talked about was about the Braves sending Tim Hudson, Marcus Giles, and Adam LaRoche to other cities. One of the rumors we heard, did in fact have us dealing with the Mariners, and actually included Rafael Soriano coming this way at one point.
In the midst of all of the LaRoche to the Angels or Pirates talks, there was also mention of LaRoche heading to Seattle. In this deal, LaRoche and Hudson were supposed to be sent to Seattle, who would in turn send Richie Sexson to the Giants, while the Braves got Soriano from the Mariners and Armando Benitez from the Giants. Thankfully, that trade did not go through. Getting Benitez would almost offset the joy created by acquiring Soriano, especially if it were to cost us a reliable starting pitcher and a powerful bat.
Instead, Braves' General Manager John Schuerholz swung a deal that left a lot of people scratching their heads. The Braves traded left-handed starter Horacio Ramirez to the Mariners in exchange for, what we expect to be, the Braves set-up man in 2007, Rafael Soriano. This deal was first reported Wednesday around 4:30 PM, but took forever to unfold. Because of the time it was initially reported on the internet and the great amount of time between then and the next time it was reported, many questions began to surface about the legitimacy of the deal. Like you often hear about trade rumors, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." It turns out that this particular trade was both too good of a deal for the Braves, and true.
Once the paperwork is completed, the Braves are set to acquire a 26 year old reliever -- turns 27 on the 19th of this month -- who is probably the Braves best reliever, Wickman included. At this point, Soriano is most definitely being viewed as Wickman's chief set-up man and the "closer of the future." Since being converted to a reliever full-time in the 2003 season, Soriano has compiled a 4-5 record in 106 games. During that time, he is sporting a 2.26 ERA, along with a 1.02 WHIP over the course of 123.2 innings. He has struck out 145 batters in those appearances, which equates to 10.55 K/9.
The Braves are set to send Horacio Ramirez to Seattle to complete this trade. Trading Horacio more or less locks Kyle Davies into the number 5 spot of the rotation, behind John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton and Chuck James, at this point of the off-season. Ramirez was expected to compete with Davies for the aforementioned rotation spot in Spring Training, something that does not make a lot of sense considering he would be earning nearly $3 million after his arbitration hearing this winter.
To say the Atlanta bullpen was bad last season would be a vast understatement. This trade sheds a greater light on the bullpen entering the 2007 season. Bob Wickman was signed to a one-year deal to be the closer of this team, something they did not have in place entering the 2006 season. Acquiring Soriano gives the Braves a valuable set-up man in front of Wickman. Getting this arm means that Macay McBride will be used mostly versus left handed batters, something in which he excelled in a year ago, instead of being forced into sharing a set-up role with right hander Tyler Yates. The Braves still have time to acquire another bullpen arm, but as of now one would have to think right handers Chad Paronto, Oscar Villarreal, and Yates have solidified spots in the bullpen with their performances last season. The last few spots in the bullpen could belong to Blaine Boyer and Joey Devine, two of the young Atlanta Brave relievers. Boyer missed the playoffs in 2005 and all of the 2006 season with a shoulder injury, and Devine has encountered a host of problems since making his initial appearance in the Atlanta bullpen after being drafted in 2005. If these two prove to be healthy, the spots are most likely theirs, however, Manny Acosta, Lance Cormier, Peter Moylan, Phil Stockman, or newly signed Tanyon Sturtze could be options to open the year in the Atlanta bullpen if Boyer or Devine don't check out.
Financial details of the trade would only be guesses at this point as, both, Soriano and Ramirez are arbitration eligible this off-season.
By: Josh McCarroll (http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/member.php?u=1) | Braves-Nation.com
Trying to keep up with what John Schuerholz will do is like trying to hit the lottery. As we were listening to all of the rumors that have come out of the Winter Meetings in Orlando, everything being talked about was about the Braves sending Tim Hudson, Marcus Giles, and Adam LaRoche to other cities. One of the rumors we heard, did in fact have us dealing with the Mariners, and actually included Rafael Soriano coming this way at one point.
In the midst of all of the LaRoche to the Angels or Pirates talks, there was also mention of LaRoche heading to Seattle. In this deal, LaRoche and Hudson were supposed to be sent to Seattle, who would in turn send Richie Sexson to the Giants, while the Braves got Soriano from the Mariners and Armando Benitez from the Giants. Thankfully, that trade did not go through. Getting Benitez would almost offset the joy created by acquiring Soriano, especially if it were to cost us a reliable starting pitcher and a powerful bat.
Instead, Braves' General Manager John Schuerholz swung a deal that left a lot of people scratching their heads. The Braves traded left-handed starter Horacio Ramirez to the Mariners in exchange for, what we expect to be, the Braves set-up man in 2007, Rafael Soriano. This deal was first reported Wednesday around 4:30 PM, but took forever to unfold. Because of the time it was initially reported on the internet and the great amount of time between then and the next time it was reported, many questions began to surface about the legitimacy of the deal. Like you often hear about trade rumors, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." It turns out that this particular trade was both too good of a deal for the Braves, and true.
Once the paperwork is completed, the Braves are set to acquire a 26 year old reliever -- turns 27 on the 19th of this month -- who is probably the Braves best reliever, Wickman included. At this point, Soriano is most definitely being viewed as Wickman's chief set-up man and the "closer of the future." Since being converted to a reliever full-time in the 2003 season, Soriano has compiled a 4-5 record in 106 games. During that time, he is sporting a 2.26 ERA, along with a 1.02 WHIP over the course of 123.2 innings. He has struck out 145 batters in those appearances, which equates to 10.55 K/9.
The Braves are set to send Horacio Ramirez to Seattle to complete this trade. Trading Horacio more or less locks Kyle Davies into the number 5 spot of the rotation, behind John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton and Chuck James, at this point of the off-season. Ramirez was expected to compete with Davies for the aforementioned rotation spot in Spring Training, something that does not make a lot of sense considering he would be earning nearly $3 million after his arbitration hearing this winter.
To say the Atlanta bullpen was bad last season would be a vast understatement. This trade sheds a greater light on the bullpen entering the 2007 season. Bob Wickman was signed to a one-year deal to be the closer of this team, something they did not have in place entering the 2006 season. Acquiring Soriano gives the Braves a valuable set-up man in front of Wickman. Getting this arm means that Macay McBride will be used mostly versus left handed batters, something in which he excelled in a year ago, instead of being forced into sharing a set-up role with right hander Tyler Yates. The Braves still have time to acquire another bullpen arm, but as of now one would have to think right handers Chad Paronto, Oscar Villarreal, and Yates have solidified spots in the bullpen with their performances last season. The last few spots in the bullpen could belong to Blaine Boyer and Joey Devine, two of the young Atlanta Brave relievers. Boyer missed the playoffs in 2005 and all of the 2006 season with a shoulder injury, and Devine has encountered a host of problems since making his initial appearance in the Atlanta bullpen after being drafted in 2005. If these two prove to be healthy, the spots are most likely theirs, however, Manny Acosta, Lance Cormier, Peter Moylan, Phil Stockman, or newly signed Tanyon Sturtze could be options to open the year in the Atlanta bullpen if Boyer or Devine don't check out.
Financial details of the trade would only be guesses at this point as, both, Soriano and Ramirez are arbitration eligible this off-season.