Braves Rumors: Mike Gonzalez, Ohman, Teixeira

It was rumored for a while that the Braves might keep Ohman to sign him this off-season. He's apparently spoken highly of his current employers and would be amenable to sticking around for a few years.

"Gonzalez will not be traded before the deadline or during this off-season unless Texas offers us Josh Hamilton." - Braves official

If I were the Braves' front office I'd certainly listen to any offers I got for Ohman. The Braves already have 2 solid lefties (Gonzalez and Ring) in their bullpen and Ohman could draw a lot more than he's worth to the team. Ohman will not sign with the Braves this off-season. He's looking for a 3-6 million dollar/year deal. He's at best a set-up man and the Braves don't even pay their CLOSERS that much.

The Mike Gonzalez trade rumors are pretty bizarre. I think it would take a massively overpriced offer for the Braves to even consider trading him.

Ohman and Tex, though, should probably be on their way out the door soon.

Why is Baltimore's first round pick protected? What is the rule on this?

"He's looking for a 3-6 million dollar/year deal. He's at best a set-up man and the Braves don't even pay their CLOSERS that much."

Actually, the Braves are paying Soriano 2.4M (With a 500k signing bonus) this year and 6.1M next year. While I agree that they probably wouldn't pay Ohman that (though maybe), I just thought I'd clarify.

MikeTony, the compensation draft picks are only given if the signing team is in the top half of the league. IE the teams with the 15 worst records don't have to give draft picks for free agent signings.

Is Ring a super-2? Because the only reason to keep Ring over Ohman is cash. Ohman's peripherals crush Ring's (2.68 ERA vs. 4.58, 1.14 WHIP vs. 1.47).
Of course, Ohman's pitched twice as many innings as Ring, but that's because he's been nearly twice as good. It'll be sad to see him go.

Is this the same Ring that the White SOx took over Blanton in Moneyball????

MikeToney- What LetsGoOs said. Guessin' you're rooting against the O's signing Tex now, huh?

Actually, so am I.

As a rabid O's fan, I have bounced back and forth between the 'sign him' and 'forget him' camps, but at this point, it simply makes more sense to let another club- say the Yanks (pick almost certain to be unprotected) cave in to Boras' outrageous demands. Look at his numbers... Honestly, they aren't THAT good. For what he's asking, you'd think dude was ARod or Pujols. For what it would cost for Baltimore to sign the hometown boy- which other FA's would likely chalk up to homesickness (instead of perceiving it as 'the O's are ready to compete; maybe we should think about signing there!')- we could make a run at two or three players of equal or greater value...or funnel that money into the infrastructure of the organization in order to build a pipeline of homegrown talent that regularly supplies the big league team with top notch talent.

Doesn't that sound preferable to a bloated payroll that has the sum effect of bringing in...ONE player?! Even if it is a nice kid from Severna Park. Does to me. After showing fans the light at the end of the tunnel for the first time in a decade, it would be pretty cruel to turn them around and send them back where they started.

As a die-hard O's fan myself I am not for signing Tex. I think the fact that we are multiple major peices away from contending is the main factor with my opinion. Also I think that signing Tex would morgage our ability to sign our future (Jones and Markakis among others). I know Angleos has the money (everyone who lives in Baltimore or elsewhere does) he just dosen't want to spend it. Something gives me the idea that if he signs Tex he won't give the money to these two players. But despite my plaes not to sign Tex I know they will make a high bid. Please let the Yankees or Mets overpay for his services not the Orioles.

And another thing if we were one or two peices away from contending and 1st was a major hole I would be all for signing Tex. I jus don't think that its worth it know. Let your prospects develop. Believe it or not Snyder seems to finally be getting on track. And no he is not Tex but he hits for a good average and should be given a chance when ready. And if we follow the Snyder timeframe Rowell should start hitting next year. Also we have plenty of pitching that Mcphail has stockpiled and if 4 or 5 of those develop alongside Guthrie there is a solid five man rotation. Then when we have a solid foundation and we are a contender add that extra peices of the puzzle (like a tex) to finish it up.

I've seen a ton of ridiculous Teixeira trade scenarios, including multiple pieces of McGee/Davis/Jennings/Jaso/et al from Tampa Bay, along with Loney plus from LAD and Kotchman plus from LAA. If these aren't greater than two draft picks, there really is a band of idiots in the Braves' front office.

That said, anyone expecting a big return for Teixeira is in for a big disappointment, so all of these potential trade scenarios are wasted 0s and 1s...especially from a team like Tampa Bay.

unbiased, I have heard many of these rumors, and most of them seem like lesser bloggers trying to get attention. I doubt any of these packages was actually offered or the Braves would have taken them.

I do believe that the Angels are trying to use Wood and Quinlan to get a trade done, and that the Angels front office is smoking crack because neither of them are valuable prospects. I hear they are trying to use the same package to fleece Holliday off of the Rockies.

Tex is overated. He is a good hitter and all, but he is a 1B. Lets be real, 1B are supposed to hit for you. His defense is good, but again, its first base. And to top it all, he is not even a top 5 first baseman in baseball, I could probably make an arguement that he is just barely top 10. When pretty much every team has options at 1B, whether they be young up and comers, older guys on the way out, or sluggers in their prime, it just goes to show that you can find a productive 1B fairly easily without spending 20 million plus annually for one. Unless his name is Albert, I don't pay any 1B more then 15 mil a year.

ballerwhiteboy: Yes it's the same Roger Ring.

"I could probably make an arguement that he is just barely top 10."

As of right now, Teix is #6 in OPS for 1B and he's one of the better defensive 1B in the league in a neutral to pitcher friendly park. One of the 1B ahead of him is Giambi, who benefits from a short porch in right, is old, and is a defensive cripple. So you should probably say Teix is the #6 1B, and maybe top 5.

I agree that he is overrated in the sense that 20M and 5+ years is WAY too much for him, but he is, by far, the best 1B available next year That's why people are willing to overpay. And if it was really that easy to find a 1B then you wouldn't see so many teams wanting to sign him next year.

"IE the teams with the 15 worst records don't have to give draft picks for free agent signings."

Actually, they do. They give up a second rounder as opposed to a first.

"along with Loney plus from LAD"

The Dodgers aren't going to trade Loney. Loney is one of their 4 absolutely untouchable players AND trading him for Tex would seriously blow out McCourt's desire to maintain salary neutrality, unless the Braves take Jones back.

I'm still hoping they can work out a deal with the red sox. How about some young pitching? Who if anyone could offer us some pitching ready to start next year?

"He's looking for a 3-6 million dollar/year deal. He's at best a set-up man"

Gonzo sux, he only saved 21 of 21 for the Bucs last year and has outclassed Soriano (6 mil next year) for the Braves. And he is well on becoming to becoming an elite closer IMO... He may already be there.

Oh.. please trade him for a BS 4th outfielder from Texas. They've raped ATL enough for one lifetime.