Winter Meetings Maneuvering

So long Dan Kolb, it’s been fun. Also, let’s thank the Brewers for the loaner, he didn’t really work out so you can have him back. In return why don’t you give us a mid-level reliever, we’re collecting those this winter. Let’s hope the Braves scouting department is right that these guys still have some potential.

On other fronts the Braves have parted ways with the ‘ageless one.’ Looks like he was asking for more money than the Braves thought he was worth. They were probably a bit wary of his decline in the final month of the season where he hit .171 and struck out in one third of his at-bats. What’s weird is that the Braves offered arbitration to Brian Jordan and Eddie Perez. Jordan doesn’t seem to be anything more than a fifth outfielder at this point and Perez is a backup to the backup catcher.

The big pursuit of a shortstop was apparently in a holding pattern as the teams haggle over just who to include. It may become more likely throughout the day that the Braves will pull the trigger with the Devil Rays for both Lugo and Baez now that Wickman and Hoffman are off the market. That also shrinks the list of potential closers that can be acquired via free agency to Todd Jones (which is who I thought we’d end up with all along). But if it is going to be Baez and/or Lugo, then Tampa has got to come way down on the asking price.