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Inbox: Deep-six depth in rotation?
Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers fans' questions
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
11/17/09 4:11 PM EST
Do you think keeping six starting pitchers is a good idea? The Braves can leave the rotation like it was in September and have Kenshin Kawakami as their closer.-- Dennis B., Hendersonville, N.C.
Just one year removed from a summer when it seemed like their original starting rotation compiled more MRIs than starts, there's reason to wonder if the Braves are wise to remove themselves from the luxury they gained while stockpiling dependable starters during last year's offseason.
But if the Braves are going to take that next step to avoid a repeat of this past season, when they found their strong rotation too often neglected by an inconsistent offense, then they have to attempt to take the gamble of moving either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe with the hope that the return will provide them the opportunity to improve their offense and reconstruct their bullpen.
If the Braves are unable to move Lowe and end up trading Vazquez, there will be reason to wonder if they have weakened their rotation. But at the same time, with a quintet of Lowe, Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson and Kawakami, they still would seemingly possess the National League's deepest rotation.
If they were to keep each of these six starters, they'd do so at a cost of slightly more than $43 million. My projected cost of the position players and relievers already under club control sits around $34 million. This would leave general manager Frank Wren with less than $20 million to secure two relievers (including a closer), a first baseman, at least one outfielder and two bench players.
This is why Wren has drawn the conclusion that in order to maximize the strength of his 25-man roster, he needs to explore the best way to erase the cost of either Lowe ($45 million over the next three seasons) or Vazquez ($11.5 million).
By moving one of these durable right-handers, the Braves would seemingly be showing a lot of confidence in Kris Medlen's ability to serve as the primary insurance plan if one of their starters were to be injured. With this in mind, you have to wonder if that means he'll begin the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and create the need for Wren to find yet another reliever to fill his bullpen mix.
We can't discount the importance of strengthening the bullpen this winter. Like last year's offense lessened the strength of the rotation, a leaky relief corps could do the same during the 2010 season.
Which of the Minor Leaguers have the best chance of being on next year's Opening Day roster?
-- Greg H., Atlanta, Ga.
There is certainly a chance that outfielder Jason Heyward and relievers Craig Kimbrel and Luiz Valdez could aid the payroll by earning spots on the 25-man roster out of Spring Training. Still, the Braves need to provide some insurance by spending the money necessary to sign proven players to fill these roles.
While I get the sense that the Braves would like Heyward to start the season in their outfield, I wouldn't be surprised to see them sign at least one affordable veteran outfielder.
Kimbrel's bid to begin the 2010 season in the Atlanta bullpen has been marred by the control problems he's experienced in the Arizona Fall League. But Valdez has certainly enhanced his bid while recording 20 strikeouts and issuing just one walk in his first 18 innings in the Dominican Winter League.
How about picking up Jermaine Dye to fill the gap in right field for next season until we're sure Heyward is ready?
-- Bhavik P., Douglasville, Ga.
Before I answer this question, I have to ask how many of you have vivid memories of Dye hitting a homer in his first career plate appearance with the Braves on May 17, 1996? OK, Mr. Heyward, you are excused from this question. We realize you were just six years old at the time and probably just a shade below six feet tall.
Even if Heyward were to prove Major League-ready in Spring Training, there may still be a need for a guy like Dye, whose late-season struggles this season may have simply been a product of the fact that the White Sox fell out of contention and he knew that his option wasn't going to be exercised.
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After July, Dye hit .184 with four homers (two in one game) and 18 RBIs. During the season's first four months, the veteran outfielder, who will turn 36 in January, hit .281 with 23 homers and 63 RBIs.
In other words, there's at least some indication that Dye could be the right-handed power hitter that the Braves would like to place in the middle of their lineup. While I expect Atlanta to show interest in him, I would also expect the club to take some time to see how affordable he might prove to be.
This approach was successful for the Angels, who signed Bobby Abreu to a one-year, $5 million deal in February and then saw him put up a ninth consecutive 100-RBI season this year.
In 2010, the WGST AM 640 contract with the Braves is set to expire. After next season, will the Braves games on radio stay on WGST AM 640 and WKLS FM 96.1 or move to another radio station?
-- Kenny K., Elyria, Ohio
Actually, the Braves association with WGST expired at the conclusion of this past season. Next year, you'll be able to hear the games on 680 The Fan and Rock 100.5.
In other broadcasting-related news, there hasn't been any indication about who will replace Jon "Boog" Sciambi for the games televised by Fox Sports Net South and SportSouth.
I had the chance to catch up with Boog during the World Series, and he seems to be happy with his new gig with ESPN.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
