Rotoworld's 2008 Projected Roster

[JayDonnelly10]

Atlanta

2B Kelly Johnson (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=446)
SS Yunel Escobar (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4268)
3B Chipper Jones (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1903)
1B Mark Teixeira (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3329)
RF Jeff Francoeur (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=824)
C Brian McCann (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1383)
CF Mike Cameron (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2138)
LF Brandon Jones (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=4266)/Matt Diaz (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3723)

John Smoltz (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1510)
Tim Hudson (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2812)
Tom Glavine (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1488)
Chuck James (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=387)
Mike Hampton (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=1811)/Anthony Reyes (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=218)

Francisco Cordero (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=2866)
Rafael Soriano (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3207)
Mike Gonzalez (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&id=3746)

They really dont point out anything we dont already see coming...Andruw is gone, Renteria is Gone, Glavine is back, and they say we sign Cameron

They believe Renteria will be a Cardinal again....and Andruw Jones they think is a good fit to be a San Franscisco Giant next season

Some interesting stuff for the rest of the NL....here is the link for the rest of the NL teams
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=29153

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

I just posted this in the other offseason discussion thread, but here are my comments....I think AJ could very well end up in SF because he might be the one big name that takes there money...Also Renteria is worth more than that package, and we don't need Cordero...

[JayDonnelly10]

Sorry I just saw that you posted the link....

Yeah Cordero wont be a Brave next season....Cameron I could very well see in a Braves uniform

[lilsnatch07]

I still don't think I would mind another closer. I know it would be a waste of money but it would be great to have another big arm out there in the bullpen.

We could be lights out after 7. We'd have 7-8-9 locked down. Plus if there are injuries someone could just step in as the closer or whatever

[unspiritual]

We thought we'd have 7-8-9 locked down this year... but Gonzalez went down with injury and Wickman just plain sucked.

[BGarrett7]

... and Wickman just plain sucked.Only on the road. At Turner Field, Wickman was about as close to perfect as any closer could be.

[unspiritual]

True... but you don't have home and away closers... a great closer locks down games wherever they're playing...

Either way, I wouldn't mind having Cordero in the bullpen because a great arm is a great arm but I would rather have a great arm that goes seven innings than just one or two...

[Corvette]

with that roster, we still need a #3, and i don't see Cameron & Cordero coming in totaling $20 million.

[MPH]

We thought we'd have 7-8-9 locked down this year... but Gonzalez went down with injury and Wickman just plain sucked.
Yep, that's why it's good to have three closers. Remember after the Laroche/ Gonzo and HoRam/BMF trades there was some speculation that one of them would be "flipped" to another team? Because we already had Wick?

[MPH]

Only on the road. At Turner Field, Wickman was about as close to perfect as any closer could be.
A truly ... cough cough ... astounding split!

Wickman didn't "... just plain suck." He sucked in a unique and peculiar manner that defies rational analysis.

[kdp]

"We're going to make a very aggressive offer and proposal to Cordero somewhere along the line in hopes of bringing him back," GM Doug Melvin said. "We know how valuable a closer is in this game." $32 million over four years might have to be the starting point for the Cordero negotiations. If Mariano Rivera stays in New York, Cordero will be the top closer available in free agency.
The Braves sure as hell aren't going to go around shelling out anywhere near that much money for Cordero; and they shouldn't.

[milbraves]

Wickman didn't "... just plain suck." He sucked in a unique and peculiar manner that defies rational analysis.

This is my favorite thing that has ever been posted here. Ever.

[gobravez]

Why would we trade renteria for ANTHONY REYES?!?!? He's worse than cormier

[KB 34]

Why would anyone expect rotoworld to come up with a good and feasible plan for the Braves?

[gobravez]

A few things I just noticed on braves.com


They have replaced andruw and put Mark Teixeira at the top of the screen.

The other thing I noticed was that they have Yunel Escobar as the starting SS over Edgar in the depth charts.

[milbraves]

A few things I just noticed on braves.com


They have replaced andruw and put Mark Teixeira at the top of the screen.

The other thing I noticed was that they have Yunel Escobar as the starting SS over Edgar in the depth charts.

Good eye. I guess Renty's good as gone, but we'd better get alot more in trade for him than Anthony Reyes. He was bad this year. Epically bad. I know Bobby's a fan, but I don't see why...

[McCarroll21]

One thing I want to point out regarding Reyes is that you can't take any quotes from Bobby as the full truth. He's a former GM himself, you know? He knows GM speak.

[JayDonnelly10]

I understand that Andurw is gone so they updated the site and removed him adding Tex to the site which is really cool....

The thing that confuses me is why Escobar is ahead of Renteria on the depth charts all of a sudden......I know he probably wont be back but do they more than we do?

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

No they don't know anything...they just have it that way, because they know Renteria is probally gone if ATL gets the value that they are seeking for him...

[McCarroll21]

I wouldn't read anything into the depth charts. Willy Aybar was listed on the 3B depth chart all year.

[JayDonnelly10]

This is a few days old but just read it on mlbtraderumors.com


Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution likes the Nate Robertson to Atlanta idea, tossing Joe Blanton and Shaun Marcum into the mix as other options.

[gobravez]

And I like the idea of getting Jake Peavy...so what?

Most of those guys know just about as much as I do.

[at65]

This is a few days old but just read it on mlbtraderumors.com

I would take Joe Blanton every day of the week over Nate Robertson. I would be really pissed off if all we got for Renteria was Robertson... that would have to be some sort of a package deal.

[McCarroll21]

I would take Joe Blanton every day of the week over Nate Robertson. I would be really pissed off if all we got for Renteria was Robertson... that would have to be some sort of a package deal.
And it's going to be Dan Haren, instead. :D

[JCStone7]

And it's going to be Dan Haren, instead. :D

w00t!!! click the sig I dare ya

[Nasadega]

Haren gives too much homeruns to be our ace :)

[Scalpel19]

Dan Haren would be the perfect pickup for us as a #3. He would be a number 3 that could easily be a number 1. Besides, his next three years are bargain deals. Lastly, his stuff would be lights out in the NL now that he has experience in the majors unlike he did in STL

[McCarroll21]

Any Cardinal fan will tell you they absolutely cringed when they saw that his name was included in the deal to get Mulder. Beane tore Jocketty a new one on that exchange. Luckily, the same off-season Beane's success was off-set by JS giving Beane a return favor in the Hudson deal.

[JCStone7]

Haren gives too much homeruns to be our ace :)

Now maybe, but not later

[jschafer5]

While Dan Haren or Joe Blanton may be out of reach, Noah Lowry seems a more realistic target. The point is to find a decent young controllable arm.

-mlbtraderumors

[McCarroll21]

With the thought of the A's wanting to work out a long-term deal with Huston Street (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/01/SP7BSHAPK.DTL), people who buy into the moneyball theory know that that could be a way to make him more attractive on the trade market. Cheaper, bought out through arbitration years, but dealt before having to worry about him hitting free agency.

With that in mind, I present this hypothetical:
A's sign Street long-term deal (through arbitration years and a year or two of FA).
Dan Haren and Huston Street for Chuck James, Yunel Escobar, Willie Harris and someone like Acosta or Devine (basically a higher level relief pitcher that they will have for 6 years).Supposedly the A's really wanted Harris when they traded for Langerhans, but the Braves wanted to rid themselves of the man with no options remaining. That's why he was flipped so quickly. The A's didn't want him in the first place.

That would probably have to have people added to our side of the deal (we're not giving enough), but I just wanted you to see the idea that was floating around in my head.

If Street is signed to a similar deal as Haren was, this would be a cheap and effective way of bolstering all parts of the staff and not being forced to slide Soriano, Moylan, et al back an inning in the bullpen.

[tigerfan]

Dan Haren and Huston Street for Chuck James, Yunel Escobar, Willie Harris and someone like Acosta or Devine (basically a higher level relief pitcher that they will have for 6 years).
Is it likely that neither yunel or renteria are braves next year leaving it to lillibridge?

[McCarroll21]

Is it likely that neither yunel or renteria are braves next year leaving it to lillibridge?
The Braves will likely trade one or the other, not both. I think they'd rather move Edgar but if you have a chance to get a potential ace for Yunel, you have to take it, especially knowing that you have Lillibridge waiting in the wings.

[JCStone7]

Is it likely that neither yunel or renteria are braves next year leaving it to lillibridge?

Although I wouldn't rule it out, I think they're more inclined to trade Edgar and use his 6 mill he's owed on one last hurrah with Glav

[McCarroll21]

Money won't be an issue with Glavine.

A majority of the raise for Smoltz is to be paid with the money the Braves got thanks to Hampton's latest injury. The insurance money given to the Braves is going toward Smoltz's pay raise.

I can't say that for 100% certainty, but I read that somewhere, I think in a DOB blog.

[JCStone7]

To many blogs to keep up with, that's where I thought I read about Renteria and his 6 million supposedly going to Glav. I can't keep with them all

[Hobbes]

Money won't be an issue with Glavine.

A majority of the raise for Smoltz is to be paid with the money the Braves got thanks to Hampton's latest injury. The insurance money given to the Braves is going toward Smoltz's pay raise.

I can't say that for 100% certainty, but I read that somewhere, I think in a DOB blog.
I don't think that could be accurate. Hampton's insurance money is for this season, and corporations generally don't just use money saved in one fiscal year in the next fiscal year's operating budget. It would be a very unusual move for Liberty to use Hampton's 2007 insurance money to pay for Smoltz's 2008 raise.

[McCarroll21]

I don't think that could be accurate. Hampton's insurance money is for this season, and corporations generally don't just use money saved in one fiscal year in the next fiscal year's operating budget. It would be a very unusual move for Liberty to use Hampton's 2007 insurance money to pay for Smoltz's 2008 raise.
In DOB's blog he says something interesting...Part of the expected Hampton insurance payment .... is probably going to pay the signing bonus to Smoltz this year; part of Smoltz’s $14 mill salary in 2008 is coming in the form of a signing bonus this year.So it may not be much payroll relief, but Smoltz isn't going to cost us the full $14M next season.I don't have a link to the actual story, but that's what I posted in the forums in the thread about Smoltz's extension.

[Hobbes]

Okay, that makes more sense. If it is in fact correct that part of next year's salary to Smoltz is in the form of a signing bonus this year, then Hampton's money can pay it. But generally they can't use that money to pay any of next year's salary.

[josephw000]

But whos even seen Lilllibridge? And were plugging him in there by losing Edar and trading Yunel....why not trade Lillibridge? Yunel has more heart than any young player Ive seen, hes passionate and plays some great ball and has a pretty good baseball mindset....but if Lillibridge has shown us something id atleast to partially agree cuz Harren is a good pitcher and Street....well Damn....lol, but what do we do with Street, Soriano, Gonzo and Dotel? I mean besides dominate the 7-8-9 innings of every game for the next 2 years or so? Thats a hell of a trade you got proposed there, Im just a very big Esco fan after seeing him this year...

[BGarrett7]

But whos even seen Lilllibridge? And were plugging him in there by losing Edar and trading Yunel....why not trade Lillibridge?Because he's more versatile than Esco. He's a year younger, he's got more pop, more speed, and he can also play in the outfield.

Yunel has more heart than any young player Ive seen, hes passionate and plays some great ball and has a pretty good baseball mindset....Heart and passion don't win ballgames. This is the big leagues, everyone should have heart and passion.

but if Lillibridge has shown us something id atleast to partially agree cuz Harren is a good pitcher and Street....If anything, Esco would have better trade value with a team like Oakland because he has proven at the ML level that he has the attributes it takes to fit in on a Beane club.

well Damn....lol, but what do we do with Street, Soriano, Gonzo and Dotel? I mean besides dominate the 7-8-9 innings of every game for the next 2 years or so? Thats a hell of a trade you got proposed there, Im just a very big Esco fan after seeing him this year...Well, Dotel is most likely gone. He's going to be a free agent and unless the Braves can guarantee him the closer position or he is willing to take a setup role for less money, he's not going to be back in Atlanta. Gonzo will also be gone until at least the All-Star break with his injury. The truly best we can hope for him is to have him back in the bullpen by the stretch run.

And for all we know, Esco could end up being nothing more than a Wilson Betemit or Mark DeRosa. Not that there is anything wrong with either, but in their time here they served as nothing more than short-term solutions to long-term problems.

[TheMatrix31]

If the Braves ended up with Dan Haren, I would jump for freakin' joy.

[HaRdCoReBrAvEsFaN]

Yeah...but only for the right price...

[JCStone7]

If we ended up with Dan Haren for Chuck, Yunel, and another prospect I would say that's a good price

[Hobbes]

If we ended up with Dan Haren for Chuck, Yunel, and another prospect I would say that's a good price
But nobody is giving us an ace for Chuck, Yunel and another prospect.

Here, take my two Toyota Corollas for your BMW 535.

[McCarroll21]

But nobody is giving us an ace for Chuck, Yunel and another prospect.And we can't get Tim Hudson for Dan Meyer, Charles Thomas and Juan Cruz, either?

Also, joseph, I don't think both Edgar and Yunel will be gone. I think they'd rather trade Edgar, but if Yunel can get us someone like Haren, you have to keep Edgar and trade Yunel instead. You don't pass on potential aces, especially given our track record of being able to churn out position players but not pitchers.

[Hobbes]

And we can't get Tim Hudson for Dan Meyer, Charles Thomas and Juan Cruz, either?
Tim Hudson's situation was different than Haren's. He was entering his contract year and was already expensive, whereas Haren is still cheap. Plus, it is almost universally agreed that Beane got the short end of the stick in that deal, a mistake he isn't likely to make again.

Given the current value of pitching, where even mediocre guys are in high demand, Haren is worth more than James and Escobar.

[kdp]

With that in mind, I present this hypothetical:
A's sign Street long-term deal (through arbitration years and a year or two of FA).
Dan Haren and Huston Street for Chuck James, Yunel Escobar, Willie Harris and someone like Acosta or Devine (basically a higher level relief pitcher that they will have for 6 years).
Sorry McCarroll, you're usually pretty good but Beane isn't giving up Houston and Street for that little pupu platter. i don't know if the braves have a package that could wrestle those two away from him.

[Nasadega]

Sorry McCarroll, you're usually pretty good but Beane isn't giving up Houston and Street for that little pupu platter. i don't know if the braves have a package that could wrestle those two away from him.
Agreed, if this happens I'll burn my Huston Street jersey.
When you got Haren and Street and want good hitters, I think your aim is higher than Escobar and co.

[Tex4Prez]

i would be to happy to even think if we got Haren. don't think its possible though. The A's are going to want to much for him just like the Tex deal. Don't get me wrong i was the first person to jump up and down whe we got Tex but we gave up a lot of young talent to get him. Now we have to hope that we can re-sign him. Anyways back on subject we're going to probably have to clear out our Farm syestem again to get Haren. Just got a feelling that its not going to happen unless we give up a lot.

[McCarroll21]

Sorry McCarroll, you're usually pretty good but Beane isn't giving up Houston and Street for that little pupu platter. i don't know if the braves have a package that could wrestle those two away from him.
I said we'd have to add in more. One of the ways Beane works though is to establish a closer, trade him at his peak, and then repeat the process.

Remember when they had Isringhausen? Dotel? I mean, it's how he does things. If he could get those main pieces back, he'd likely do it as long as the prospects that go along with it are something he may be able to build upon.

I don't really see Haren and Street coming, I was just brainstorming and trying to think of how we may match up.

I don't normally try to propose trades like that because I know it's hard to say what can actually happen, but sometimes I like to think out loud and see if I can strike gold. :D

[JCStone7]

I think we have a legitimate shot at Haren given Beane's propencity to trade to get younger. It may or may not be Haren we get from Oakland but it's a thought.

[timbok]

well...I haven't made a post in a long while..but this thread has me fried up!

Mike Cameron and Bartolo Colon are on my wishlist for the Braves free agent signings this off-season.

I'm also hoping that the Braves trade for Scott Kazmir.

And Renteria remains a Brave.

As for Andy : He will most likely end up with Boston,with the 310 foot left field wall,and how high he gets his hits up,he will destroy the Green Monster,I can't count how many high soreing 310 hits he did this year in turner field..

[SCchief]

I'd rather have Hunter than Cameron, got a prediction for 2008: Hampton tweaks his elbow again while stretching, result, gone for the year

[Tex4Prez]

I'd rather have Hunter than Cameron, got a prediction for 2008: Hampton tweaks his elbow again while stretching, result, gone for the year

yeah that sounds just about right to me:D

[Preacher]

Because he's more versatile than Esco. He's a year younger, he's got more pop, more speed, and he can also play in the outfield.

Heart and passion don't win ballgames. This is the big leagues, everyone should have heart and passion.


Lillibridge hasn't proven that he can hit major league pitching yet; and just because everyone should have heart doesn't mean they do. I also disagree that heart and passion don't contribute to winning ballgames; certainly you also need talent, but I don't think you can discount the intangibles.