Ben Sheets, who last pitched for the 2010 Athletics, will start for the Braves this Sunday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The right-hander started two games at Double-A and posted a 5.06 ERA with a 10K/1BB ratio after signing with Atlanta. Here are today's NL East links…
- Braves center fielder Michael Bourn believes the Nationals were interested in him last summer, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports. The Nationals, who continue to seek a long-term answer in center field, are expected to pursue Bourn when he hits free agency this coming offseason. Bourn told Kilgore he’ll take his time deciding on where to sign his next contract. “Right now, I’m focused on this season right now,” he said. “I think I’m on a good team right now in the Atlanta Braves.”
- Chris Schwinden cleared waivers after being claimed four times in the span of five weeks, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). The right-hander’s playing in the Mets’ minor league system, but he’s no longer on their 40-man roster.
What was Bourn rumored to be asking for a few months ago? Was it something in the 5/$85 million range?
i think he’s seeking 50/5 this offseason. Or at least that’s what I have heard.
good thing the Braves are locked into the worst TV deal in history and their owners only care about making money. I think 5/50 is a steal, but the Braves probably won’t get approval for that 🙁
We have close $40 million available this offseason and though I don’t think we can get him for 5/$50M, we could work that. That’s 1/4th of what we have available, though that should change after arbitration for some players.
I’m a Braves fan and I’d love to see Bourn back, if he keeps hitting like this teams are going to out-bid the Braves. I don’t see any chance of him returning to Atlanta.
Max I’d give him if I’m ATL 5 x 65
Harper Bourn Werth is a pretty good OF.
Bourn
Desmond
Zimmerman
Harper
Werth
Morse
Espinosa/Lambardozzi
Ramos
is an awesome line-up. This could be really bad for the rest of the NL East (coupled with their pitching).
Thats exactly what everyone was saying about the phillies. Cant be beat, well they are getting beat. Wow look at their lineup, and wow look at their pitching. Wow now they are looking at last place.
Pretty sure no one was saying “wow, look at that line up! Mayberry, Wiggington, Luna, Fontenot, and Galvis! How is anyone going to pitch to them?” lol
when is Weth expected to return this year?
Bourn going to the Nats instead of Braves is why you keep him at all costs, just to keep him from them.
If the braves can’t offer him 15-20 million I don’t blame them, just sign Victorino, or Upton, or make a trade, there are options
God no victorino, he is on his downhill slide. plenty of young OFers out there without looking at victorino.
My idea was offer Bourn, if you sign Grienke offer him, but salary dump Uggla (Pastornicky should be at least 1 WAR at 2B next year, or you can sign an OF on the cheap and move Prado there, and Prado at 2B as a total package would be superior to Uggla) and sign a defensive liability who can mash in LF, with Bourn and Heyward both having ++ range the Braves could get away with it.
I’m sure some team would want Uggla’s bat, my guess is the Mariners- so the Braves wouldn’t need to take on Salary to dump Uggla, and might get a decent prospect on top of it. Uggla’s salary is reasonable.
And who plays 3B in this odd scenario?
They can offer him that. If needbe, salary dump Uggla- the Mariners would love to have Uggla, I’m sure. Maybe Blue Jays, Baltimore as well.
He can DH some days as well over in the AL. Bourn and (if Grineke happens) Grienke would mean more to the Braves than Uggla, who is a very good player, but there is a good replacement and adequate replacement for Uggla on the roster already (referring to Prado or Pastornicky)
I’m happy for Sheets. He did well for us Brewer fans.
And he put together one of the best modern pitching seasons in 04 for a worthless team–and never whined about it once. Respek.
As a Braves fan I’d love to resign Bourn, but I think he’ll be out of the Braves price range.
We’ll see, they have a lot of open money coming in 2013.
bourn is gone, jason will eventually take over CF, with swisher being obtained in the off season. Durango,constanza,parraz,pie will all get a good look in ST. 3rd base will be francisco’s if he performs thru ST of next year, that will allow prado to play 2nd and uggla to be traded, bench needs complete overhaul.
Who wins the World Series this year?
wont be us braves, our bench is the weakest in the NL, our starting pitching is just a little above average, and our starting line up has a hole in it.
What’s with all the Uggla hate?
dont hate uggla, but we have a natural 2nd baseman hitting 320 and being used in LF. Move prado to normal position and sign a big bat in LF. Just makes good BB sense. Uggla gives us 1/2 season production, he is a rally killer, and average defense. We need to use the money available more wisely.
5.00+ ERA and 2 starts, and we’re bringing him up? WHY??!??!?!?!
Well let’s see that about a full earned run better than Minor who’s been pitching all season. Other sites are speculating that Minor is heading down not Delgado. Even if that’s not the case he provides insurance if Huddy needs extra time off because of his ankle.
Sheets only gave up 2 runs in last start, his SS committed a double play error on his throw to first allowing the third run. 10 strikeouts in 11 innings, his FB was sitting at 89-93, walked only 1. why wouldnt you start him?
I’ll be shocked if Sheets starts on Sunday. If he does, hopefully he’ll shock us all in a good way. I just can’t believe a guy that has only pitched in two games at any level since a serious injury in 2010 is ready to face big league hitters.
I think the two top targets should be Bourn and Victorino.
bourn is gone from the braves, victornio is on his downhill slide. Plenty of young OFers out there. We really wont know until after ST 2013.
Bourn is signed for almost 7 mil. Encarnacion just signed a 3 year deal for 27 to stay with Toronto … i believe that is a fair deal for bourn. I’d go 4/36 for bourn.
however, if the nationals give chase they will push the deal to overspend.