Braves sign Garret Anderson

[Post Count Padder]

3:11pm: In the comments section of his blog, Dave O'Brien confirms that the Braves have signed Anderson. Says O'Brien:

 

"It’s a done deal, Anderson’s going to be here as early as tomorrow. He’s en route today, I’m told. Whether that means he’ll be introduced tomorrow, not certain. But likely.

 

Important thing is: He’s signed. And this isn’t a friend telling us."

[cubswin2009]

Damn you beat me ](*,) ](*,)

[dew1679666265]

His .433 SLG was the highest of any Brave outfielder last year. He wasn't that good last year, but if nothing else he'll give them a bit of power in the outfield.

[Cubswin11]

Better signing than Griffey for the Braves IMO. I think he will be, or at least is more likely to be, more productive than Griffey this year.

[dew1679666265]

Better signing than Griffey for the Braves IMO. I think he will be, or at least is more likely to be, more productive than Griffey this year.

 

Griffey's been better offensively the past few years. I don't know how Anderson is defensively, though - and that would probably be the difference between the two.

[imb]

nothing like having 3 MIF bats in the outfield

 

god the braves suck

[Little Slide Rooter]

With a 2.5mil 1 year deal, Id say they got a pretty good bargain, especially considering the Phillies signed Ibanez, whose an essentially identical player to a 3 year deal.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With a 2.5mil 1 year deal, Id say they got a pretty good bargain, especially considering the Phillies signed Ibanez, whose an essentially identical player to a 3 year deal.

 

OPS+ last 3 years:

 

Ibanez: 124, 121, 125

Anderson: 97, 114, 94

 

They are not the same player by a long shot.

[mcgoobs]

With a 2.5mil 1 year deal, Id say they got a pretty good bargain, especially considering the Phillies signed Ibanez, whose an essentially identical player to a 3 year deal.

 

OPS+ last 3 years:

 

Ibanez: 124, 121, 125

Anderson: 97, 114, 94

 

They are not the same player by a long shot.

 

Does Anderson makes some of that back with his defense? He's no stud but I thought I remember reading that Ibanez was a butcher in LF.

[17 Seconds]

Anderson is really bad defensively too I think

[dew1679666265]

Anderson is really bad defensively too I think

 

I think he was pretty good in his prime, but his defense has deteriorated with age, I believe.

[Rusch33]

Garrett Anderson over Jim Edmonds?

 

Are you kidding me?

[dew1679666265]

Garrett Anderson over Jim Edmonds?

 

Are you kidding me?

 

Is Edmonds available or has he retired? If he's open to going there, I believe I would take a shot at him over Anderson.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With a 2.5mil 1 year deal, Id say they got a pretty good bargain, especially considering the Phillies signed Ibanez, whose an essentially identical player to a 3 year deal.

 

OPS+ last 3 years:

 

Ibanez: 124, 121, 125

Anderson: 97, 114, 94

 

They are not the same player by a long shot.

 

Does Anderson makes some of that back with his defense? He's no stud but I thought I remember reading that Ibanez was a butcher in LF.

 

Anderson may be slightly better in the OF, but both of these guys best position is DH.

[Cubswin11]

Garrett Anderson over Jim Edmonds?

 

Are you kidding me?

 

Is Edmonds available or has he retired? If he's open to going there, I believe I would take a shot at him over Anderson.

Has Edmonds officially retired? Or is he waiting to see if someone will offer him something?

[Schwarber Fan]

Edmonds wants to play in 09.

 

And isn't O'Brien a broadcaster for the Red Sox now? - what is he doing discussing Braves matters?

[dew1679666265]

Edmonds wants to play in 09.

 

And isn't O'Brien a broadcaster for the Red Sox now? - what is he doing discussing Braves matters?

 

Is it one of those where he wants to start or he'll retire, or will he take a bench role? He'd likely have gotten quite a few ABs with the Braves, though.

[Schwarber Fan]

Edmonds wants to play in 09.

 

And isn't O'Brien a broadcaster for the Red Sox now? - what is he doing discussing Braves matters?

 

Is it one of those where he wants to start or he'll retire, or will he take a bench role? He'd likely have gotten quite a few ABs with the Braves, though.

 

Not sure... I'm sure someone will pick him up eventually, I wouldn't mind if it was the Cubs again. I am extremely surprised the Braves didn't sign him because he could start and he tore them up pretty good last year IIRC. We all remember the throwback game, and I think he homered in one of the double header games in Atlanta too.

[dew1679666265]

Edmonds wants to play in 09.

 

And isn't O'Brien a broadcaster for the Red Sox now? - what is he doing discussing Braves matters?

 

Is it one of those where he wants to start or he'll retire, or will he take a bench role? He'd likely have gotten quite a few ABs with the Braves, though.

 

Not sure... I'm sure someone will pick him up eventually, I wouldn't mind if it was the Cubs again. I am extremely surprised the Braves didn't sign him because he could start and he tore them up pretty good last year IIRC. We all remember the throwback game, and I think he homered in one of the double header games in Atlanta too.

 

We almost certainly don't have the room, but if he could come anywhere near last year's power he'd be a huge upgrade on our bench. He is a year older, though.

[TruffleShuffle]

nothing like having 3 MIF bats in the outfield

 

god the braves suck

 

actually they should be pretty good this year, but their offense has some pretty big holes. they should've signed adam dunn.

[rawaction]

What are the Braves doing? Trading prospects. Not giving kids a chance (Schaffer, B. Jones, etc.). Signing players over 35. This is the exact opposite of everything that made the Braves what they were in the 90s.

[dew1679666265]

What are the Braves doing? Trading prospects. Not giving kids a chance (Schaffer, B. Jones, etc.). Signing players over 35. This is the exact opposite of everything that made the Braves what they were in the 90s.

 

I don't know if the Braves are that far off from their roots. Since they didn't resign him, I'm a bit bewildered by the Texeira trade, but other than that they're playing Matt Diaz, Jeff Francoeur, Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Jair Jurrjens (though they traded for him), Jo-Jo Reyes, Jorge Campillo, Charlie Morton, Chuck James, etc.

 

Schafer is only 21, playing in AA and putting up an .849 OPS and a .254 EqA. I'd be afraid to bring him up for fear of rushing him.

 

Brandon Jones has been playing some in the majors, but wasn't very good last year. I could understand wanting him to play more as he's 24 now, but he hasn't shown a lot of power and that's what their outfield is lacking.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah i'm not sure how good brandon jones will be.

 

plus back in the '90s they did have some veteran presence - sid bream, terry pendleton (everyone hated that signing), fred mcgriff, several bullpen guys, hell dwight smith wriggled onto that roster for a couple of seasons - plus they signed maddux :x . there's nothing wrong with going the route of free agency to fill in the holes. their problem is that they haven't developed good outfielders, not because they're blocking or dealing away good prospects.

 

now if they trade jason heyward for moises alou or something, i'll change my tune.

[dew1679666265]

yeah i'm not sure how good brandon jones will be.

 

plus back in the '90s they did have some veteran presence - sid bream, terry pendleton (everyone hated that signing), fred mcgriff, several bullpen guys, hell dwight smith wriggled onto that roster for a couple of seasons - plus they signed maddux :x . there's nothing wrong with going the route of free agency to fill in the holes. their problem is that they haven't developed good outfielders, not because they're blocking or dealing away good prospects.

 

now if they trade jason heyward for moises alou or something, i'll change my tune.

 

Yeah, the most perplexing trade they've made has been a horde of youth for a season of Teixeira. And most of their FA signings have been bench guys (Greg Norton) or guys who aren't blocking prospects at the moment (Mark Kotsay, Garrett Anderson).

 

It may be time to bring Jones up, but that's debatable. I don't see why Shafer should be up now.

[rawaction]

What are the Braves doing? Trading prospects. Not giving kids a chance (Schaffer, B. Jones, etc.). Signing players over 35. This is the exact opposite of everything that made the Braves what they were in the 90s.

 

I don't know if the Braves are that far off from their roots. Since they didn't resign him, I'm a bit bewildered by the Texeira trade, but other than that they're playing Matt Diaz, Jeff Francoeur, Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Gregor Blanco, Martin Prado, Jair Jurrjens (though they traded for him), Jo-Jo Reyes, Jorge Campillo, Charlie Morton, Chuck James, etc.

 

Schafer is only 21, playing in AA and putting up an .849 OPS and a .254 EqA. I'd be afraid to bring him up for fear of rushing him.

 

Brandon Jones has been playing some in the majors, but wasn't very good last year. I could understand wanting him to play more as he's 24 now, but he hasn't shown a lot of power and that's what their outfield is lacking.

 

Francouer and Johnson have experience, so they aren't being thrown into the fire. But of those other names, Blanco and Prado are on the bench. The Braves MO would have been to trade Johnson and let Prado play. Three of Reyes, Campillo, Morton, or James will be in the bullpen or AAA if you assume Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Glavine are 1-4. Then you have the Japanese guy who could start pushing all 4 out.

 

Though Schaffer is young, the Braves have gone with a younger players with less experience in the past. Granted guys like Andruw and Chipper were absolute can't misses, but AJ had 50 ABs over A ball and was 19 in a pennant race when called up.

 

The Braves traded value for Vasquez. They were rumored to trade tons of young talent for Peavy, a good idea, but not their MO. They were even rumored to be close to giving up Escobar for Jermaine Dye. They would have had enough veteran leadership with a team with Chipper, Hudson, either Lowe or Vasquez, and Norton. Their best chance of competing with the Mets and Phils was hoping some of the young guys blow up ala Tampa. They took away the chance for a lot of those guys.