Billy Wagner signs with Braves (1 year, $7 million)

[Shilzzz]

Can we please drum up some fake internet hype in hopes it catches Hendry's attention?

 

BP Article

 

1. Billy Wagner: Even at 37 years old and coming off Tommy John surgery, and pitching primarily in a lower-leverage role (0.98 LEV) in the AL East, Billy Wags blew hitters away during his late-season return. He struck out 26 in 152/3 innings, and while his eight walks rate as a concern, his command was impressive for a guy who returned to the majors a few weeks shy of one year removed from surgery. Wagner's average fastball velocity (94.2 mph) was just a hair removed from his pre-surgical seasons (94.5), and batters were utterly baffled, hitting just .154/.279/.269 against him. The audition was enough to show that Wagner's certainly capable of returning to closing, and his upside relative to the rest of this free agent class is undeniable. The major questions come down to money and his Type A status. The Red Sox already turned down an $8 million option on his services; if they offer arbitration and he declines it, he'll cost a draft pick in addition to the big dollars—closer money—he's likely to seek. Via that route, he may make more sense for a team protected from losing its first-round choice by placing in the top 15, a rule of thumb that applies to most of the Type A's here.

[The Logan]

Too late...

 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Braves have inked reliever Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7 million contract.

The Braves are faced with losing both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano to free agency this winter, but the signing of Wagner should ease some of the pain. The 38-year-old southpaw managed a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 26/8 K/BB ratio and limited opponents to a .174 batting average in 15 appearances this season. As of now, it appears he'll serve as Atlanta's closer in 2010

 

That's a steal, IMO. I think he's still got some left in the tank.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't know if 7 million and their first rounder is a steal per se, but I think Wagner will be a good reliever for them. It's disappointing that he might set the market for the rest of the good Type A relievers though, I was/am hoping that their value would be suppressed a bit.

[The Logan]

I don't know if 7 million and their first rounder is a steal per se, but I think Wagner will be a good reliever for them. It's disappointing that he might set the market for the rest of the good Type A relievers though, I was/am hoping that their value would be suppressed a bit.

 

Forgot about the type A status, good point.

[reggiemiller rules]

Losing the draft pick is probably not that big a deal, because Soriano and Gonzalez are both type A's as well. So they should get some picks back from them.

[Shilzzz]

hmm, one year of billy wagner at 7 mil or two years of grabow for 7.5... hmmm. this one is tough

[Post Count Padder]

Too late...

 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Braves have inked reliever Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7 million contract.

The Braves are faced with losing both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano to free agency this winter, but the signing of Wagner should ease some of the pain. The 38-year-old southpaw managed a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 26/8 K/BB ratio and limited opponents to a .174 batting average in 15 appearances this season. As of now, it appears he'll serve as Atlanta's closer in 2010

 

That's a steal, IMO. I think he's still got some left in the tank.

I wouldn't call it a steal, but he'll be good barring any injury.

[Cubswin11]

Too late...

 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Braves have inked reliever Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7 million contract.

The Braves are faced with losing both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano to free agency this winter, but the signing of Wagner should ease some of the pain. The 38-year-old southpaw managed a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 26/8 K/BB ratio and limited opponents to a .174 batting average in 15 appearances this season. As of now, it appears he'll serve as Atlanta's closer in 2010

 

That's a steal, IMO. I think he's still got some left in the tank.

A "steal" would be a deal under $3 mil. IMO. This is a pretty average to an actually bad move to me given the monetary commitment to a guy who has been marred with injuries the last few years. Also when you consider the Braves don't generally spend a ton of money this is a good chunk of money to commit to a closer with all of Wagner's question marks at this point in his career.

[Shilzzz]

Yeah, Wagner is as good of a bet as anyone on the market in my opinion. What he did at the end of the year in Boston was filthy.

[UMFan83]

Are they not going to be resigning Soriano or Gonzalez?

[The Logan]

Too late...

 

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Braves have inked reliever Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7 million contract.

The Braves are faced with losing both Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano to free agency this winter, but the signing of Wagner should ease some of the pain. The 38-year-old southpaw managed a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 26/8 K/BB ratio and limited opponents to a .174 batting average in 15 appearances this season. As of now, it appears he'll serve as Atlanta's closer in 2010

 

That's a steal, IMO. I think he's still got some left in the tank.

A "steal" would be a deal under $3 mil. IMO. This is a pretty average to an actually bad move to me given the monetary commitment to a guy who has been marred with injuries the last few years. Also when you consider the Braves don't generally spend a ton of money this is a good chunk of money to commit to a closer with all of Wagner's question marks at this point in his career.

 

If by "marred with injuries the last few years" you mean he had TJS like a year and a half ago and came back a dominated for a month or so in both and AL and NL in a short time just like he did before he had TJS when he was perfectly healthy, then yeah.

 

Billy Wagner is a good reliever, and if he's still as good as he was at the end of this year, which is as good as he was before he got injured, $7 mil is kind of a good deal especially since, as reggiemillerrules stated, they will likely get picks back if someone signs Soriano and/or Gonzalez. It's a good move, and a heck of a bargain for someone of Wagner's talent. The going rate for closers of his caliber is far higher than what the Braves signed him for. In the closer market they got a bargain if he produces like he's shown he's still capable of doing. Is he worth $7 mil? No, no reliever is worth $7 mil a year (IMO), but reality of it all is common sense and logic just doesn't happen in baseball, and what the Braves are paying is a pretty good deal when compared to other high paid closers are making

[mhuber92211]

I will go on record and say this a very bad deal. 7 Million for a guy who will give you 70 IP or so? Seems illogical. Also, to bet 7 mil on a player who played well in the last month of a season in a brand new league against inferior (call ups and out of it teams) does not equate to domination. Not a good allocation of funds

[Shilzzz]

yeah if you call the yankees everyday lineup inferior, i suppose. he was pitching in the al east, not the al central. I get that he's old and is coming off injury, but he was doing everything he has ever done and there is no reason to think he won't continue to build off what was started last year. again, wagner is as sure of a bet as relief pitchers go, ZiPS and other projections believe this also. not only that, but now he is going to be pitching in the nl west, in parks like turner and the marlins stadium. If anyone is willing to put their money up, i would wager 50 bucks that his ERA is under 3.30 and he throws at least 55 innings next season.

[The Logan]

yeah if you call the yankees everyday lineup inferior, i suppose. he was pitching in the al east, not the al central. I get that he's old and is coming off injury, but he was doing everything he has ever done and there is no reason to think he won't continue to build off what was started last year. again, wagner is as sure of a bet as relief pitchers go, ZiPS and other projections believe this also. not only that, but now he is going to be pitching in the nl west, in parks like turner and the marlins stadium. If anyone is willing to put their money up, i would wager 50 bucks that his ERA is under 3.30 and he throws at least 55 innings next season.

 

Exactly. See, you and I are on the same page here. Like I said $7 mil is too much for any closer. Payiong anyone that much money for 60-80 innings is absurd, but the closerr has this mystique to it that make ball clubs overpay for them. $7 mil is a steal in that regard. Had Wagner been healthy all this year and hit the free market with typial career numbers, he'd be making $12 mil a year easy in a multi year deal. The Braves have a vesting option that sit at $6.5 mil if he finishes 50 games. If that happens and he's healthy and good, absolute steal.

[utkcub]

Thats a great move by the Braves, I really wish we could have got this done. I would hope Hendry at least talked to the Braves about this. Marmol is not the answer at closer until he gets his walks down.

[CubbieBum]

After the Gregg experience I would have thought people on this board would have realized how important the closer position is. If he screws up you lose. Not many can deal with that pressure and Wagner is one of the best. It's a good deal but not great. There is risk.

 

And I can't help but laugh out loud at people who think no RP should get paid $7 million. Good luck winning with a crap bullpen.

[utkcub]

Pitching wins baseball games, plain and simple.

[SweetZombieJesus]

After the Gregg experience I would have thought people on this board would have realized how important the closer position is. If he screws up you lose. Not many can deal with that pressure and Wagner is one of the best. It's a good deal but not great. There is risk.

 

And I can't help but laugh out loud at people who think no RP should get paid $7 million. Good luck winning with a crap bullpen.

 

The cubs don't have a closer? :lol:

[grassbass]

After the Gregg experience I would have thought people on this board would have realized how important the closer position is. If he screws up you lose. Not many can deal with that pressure and Wagner is one of the best. It's a good deal but not great. There is risk.

 

And I can't help but laugh out loud at people who think no RP should get paid $7 million. Good luck winning with a crap bullpen.

 

It's possible to have a good closer for much less than $7 million. Teams can and do successfully develop closers in-house. It's like people think that only relievers with Major League experience can handle the pressure of the ninth inning, when that's certainly not the case.

[17 Seconds]

i heard that marmol went to closing school this offseason and he got an A+ and the teacher said he did a great job and he's officially a closer now so cross closer off the wishlist

[Tyrant]

Pitching wins baseball games, plain and simple.

 

Pitching plus offense and defense and baserunning.

[DuCross Brothers]

If he stays healthy then this is a very good deal for the Braves, if he doesn't it's a horrible but the Braves are looking at this as one of those signings labeled as high risk high reward. The Braves last year were missing that key guy in the back end of that bullpen and now they have him if he's healthy.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Braves last year were missing that key guy in the back end of that bullpen

 

They had 2.

[Little Slide Rooter]

They also signed Takashi Saito for a 1 year 3 mil deal, so I guess Gonzalez and Soriano will be leaving.

[grassbass]

The Braves last year were missing that key guy in the back end of that bullpen

 

That's horribly inaccurate.

 

2009 Soriano: 2.97 ERA, 1.057 WHIP, 6.3 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 3.2 BB/9, 12.1 K/9, 75.2 IP

Wagner's AVG ('06-'09): 2.35 ERA, 1.057 WHIP, 6.8 H/9, 0.8 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 11.2 K/9

 

And when Soriano wasn't closing out games, they had Gonzalez, who was no slouch.

 

What the Braves were missing in 2009 was anything resembling decent offensive production from their outfield.