#25

End of season roster breakdown

Luis Avilan- in a division with Davis, Duda, Harper, LaRoche, Utley, and Howard, a guy who can get lefties out is a huge asset. Question is if he can get righties out and become a versatile threat like E’OF and Venters, or if he’ll stay a LOOGY. Either way, yet another great cheap bullpen option

Jeff Baker- Wait, he was on this team?

Miguel Batista- See: Baker, Jeff.

Brandon Beachy- He’ll be a great second half pickup. While duplicating his 2012 numbers is unlikely, a Medlen-Beachy-Hudson-Minor top 4 sounds lovely.

J.C. Boscan. Generic 4A catcher. Will likely be back. IF he isn’t there are plenty who can fill the role.

Michael Bourn- He’d be nice to have back, but really don’t see a scenario where him coming back makes sense financially. Really think someone will go crazy on him.

Jose Constanza- He’s a solid 5th outfielde/ pinch running option. He’s a terrible starting outfielder. As long as Fredi understands the difference, he’s nice to have around.

Erik Cordier- Crazy to think we got him for Tony Pena in 2006 and he’s still hanging around. Guessing he’ll be gone to make room for acquisitions.

Randall Delgado- He’s a very valuable asset, but how he’ll be used is in question. My guess is he or Teheran goes in a trade.

Matt Diaz. Diaz will be faced with the option of getting a minor league contract somewhere and fighting for a roster spot or retiring. Not sure which he’d want.

Chad Durbin- After a disastrous start he proved serviceable. Don’t think the Braves will try to catch lightning in a bottle twice, though.

Juan Francisco- The point of having him on this team was to use him when Chipper was off and potentially take over at third. If Prado or someone else is going to play 150+ games at third, he’s stuck in Brooks Conrad- can’t play defense, can’t really hit- purgatory. He’s either the starting third baseman as part of a platoon, or playing somewhere else.

Freddie Freeman- See my previous blog post.

Cory Gearrin- After ignoring him for the first half of the season, the Braves gave him a shot and he did well, so much he beat Moylan and Crishtian for a playoff spot. I still don’t want him facing a lefty with the game on the line, but he and Avilan could be a valuable righty-lefty tag team.

Tommy Hanson- Significant drop in velocity, change in mechanics, and shoulder problems are the three biggest red flags for pitchers and Tommy’s had all of them. I guess he’ll stay because his first time arbitration costs won’t be prohibitive, but his leash couldn’t be shorter. If I had to guess, I’d say he spends much of 2013 in Gwinnett.

Jason Heyward- He’s a beast.

Eric Hinske- See: Diaz, Matt.

Tim Hudson- Don’t see any way his option is not picked up. Excellent middle of the rotation innings eater.

Paul Janish- If Prado is serviceable at short, not really sure a no hit all defense at one position guy is worth a roster spot.

Reed Johnson- Could easily return in a similar role. Or he could leave. Such is the life of a bench player.

Chipper Jones- *tear*

Jair Jurrjens- Only question is if the Braves will wait and non-tender him or just release him to clear room. Somebody will give him a million bucks to see if they can fix him, but it won’t be us.

Craig Kimbrel- I’d say there’s no way he can match this year’s success, but I said that last year. Shelf life for closers is incredibly small… enjoy every second of it.

Paul Maholm- His option is likely to be picked up as 6.5 million for 180+ decent innings is a bargain.

Cristhian Martinez- He’s a tricky case. Was surprised he was left off wild card roster. Assume the Braves think his first year arbitration is a deal.

Brian McCann- Can he get healthy and regain form? That’s the 11,500,000.00 dollar question.

Kris Medlen- He’s going to come back down to earth at some point and take some lumps. That said, he’s as promising as they come.

Mike Minor- the doom and gloomers that demanded his head don’t look so good now. Excellent mid-rotation value.

Peter Moylan- Not sure the Braves will give him another go round. Love the man and wish him the best.

Eric O’Flaherty- This is almost certainly his last season in Atlanta as he’ll be in line for big bucks (Sean Marshall’s 3 year, 16 mill would be a good opening bid) and we don’t spend on middle relievers. One of Frank Wren’s great coups getting him for literally nothing

Lyle Overbay- See: Batista, Miguel.

Tyler Pastornciky- Think he has huge value as a super utility player. Think Brent Lillibridge for the White Sox (back when he was decent)

Martin Prado- Where will he play? Will he get a contract extension? After the McCann situation these are the two biggest questions facing us.

David Ross- Best backup catcher in baseball will likely be back. Who he is paired with and how much playing time he gets is the question.

Ben Sheets- It was a fun ride while it lasted. 8 solid starts for a million bucks is still a good deal.

Andrelton Simmons- Sit back and enjoy.

Julio Teheran- The one thing Julio needs in my mind is a team to give him 15-20 big league starts to prove himself. The Braves can’t do that as the rotation is full and as this season proved, every game in the standings matters. Getting traded to a second division club would probably be in his best interest, but I’m not sure if Atlanta wants to sell low.

Dan Uggla- Three options- trade him for someone else’s garbage contract, eat a huge chunk (a la Derek Lowe), or pray he turns it around. We’ll likely have option three.

Anthony Varvaro. Generic 4A reliever. He’s in roster spot limbo.

Jonny Venters- The second half was promising. Even if he doesn’t relive his all-star dominance, he has value.