Off-season Transactions

[Fragmentsofme]

What we've gotten so far:

Russ Ortiz (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5954) - Option picked up for $5.7 million

Gary Matthews Jr. (http://baseball-reference.com/m/matthga02.shtml) - Claimed off of waivers

Jaret Wright (http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/atl/team/atl_player_bio.jsp?frame=mlb&playerid=124605) - Re-signed, 1 year, $850,000

John Thomson (http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/stats/mlb_individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=123307) - Signed, 2 years, $7 million

J.D. Drew (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6117) - Traded from Cardinals

Eli Marrero (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5897) - Traded from Cardinals

Eddie Perez (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5496) - Signed for 2 years

Antonio Alfonseca (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5835) - 1 year, $1.35 million

Armando Almanza (http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/stats/mlb_individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=150355) - 1 year

Julio Franco (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=3001) - 1 year, $750,000

Mark DeRosa (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6094) - 1 year, $725,000

[titanbaseball04]

I hope Eddie Perez is the backup catcher.

And Alfonseca had problems last year. Hopefully he can fix those before the season starts.

[Rage]

I think John Thompson will be the surprise this year. The guy's got the stuff to win 15+ games.

[titanbaseball04]

J.D. Drew was a good pick up although I think there are better RFs out there.

I hope they bring Johnny Estrada up to be the starting catcher. He was impressive last year.

Also they need to bring the guy from Parkview High School up. I forget his name. Kinda sad since I played against him my freshman year.

[titanbaseball04]

Originally posted by titanbaseball04
Also they need to bring the guy from Parkview High School up. I forget his name. Kinda sad since I played against him my freshman year.

I remember now. His name is Jeff Francouer. He's on the Rome Braves. Single A I know, but that kid was amazing.

[Fragmentsofme]

Originally posted by titanbaseball04
J.D. Drew was a good pick up although I think there are better RFs out there.

I hope they bring Johnny Estrada up to be the starting catcher. He was impressive last year.

Also they need to bring the guy from Parkview High School up. I forget his name. Kinda sad since I played against him my freshman year.

I don't know so much about J.D. Drew. Too much injury, too little playing time. Hopefully Bobby will kick his butt and keep him healthy. I don't take kindly to whiners, and that seems to be the problem with Drew.

Estrada will be the starter. He's been ready for two years now, and he will finally get the time this year. I'm excited about him, though I am very saddened to see Javy go. He has been my favorite player since he came up.

And I doubt we'll see Francouer, or at least not until they expand the roster at the end of the year. Phenom or not, it's just not like the Braves to bring someone straight up from Single A. Now that my sis has moved to Rome, hopefully I'll be able to come up and see some games.

[titanbaseball04]

I watched Francouer play in High School against me. I was awed by his ability. I haven't seen him play since he graduated but I'll bet he's even better now.

And I believe he will be in either Danville or Greenville at the beginning of the 2004 season. I forget which one I read.

I'll look it up and post it on here.

[BroknArrw]

I watched Antonio as a fan of the Marlins a few years ago, he is a very jolly guy. I think whats kool is the 6 fingers and toes he has on each hand and foot.

He never was great, but effective-- so don't expect too much.

[Fragmentsofme]

I have faith in Leo, but man, he's really asking a lot this year.

[Fantasy Dugout]

...And I believe he will be in either Danville or Greenville at the beginning of the 2004 season. I forget which one I read....

I believe Francouer will take the next logical step in the Braves system and start 2004 at High A Myrtle Beach. He could possible jump to Greenville but I think they'll test him there first. Danville is a Rookie league team so he certainly won't be going there.

[Yellow Dog]

Francouer was in Danville in 2002 and had a good year in rookie ball. I look for him to start the season at Myrtle Beach but move up quickly through the farm system. I saw him play a few times at Rome last year on the CSS Monday night games. He seemed to be having a little trouble with his swing and was struggling a little bit at the plate. But this guy is a great athlete and I have all the confidence in the world that he will be a big time player. Hopefully he will be ready for the majors just about the time the Braves can no longer afford to keep Andruw Jones.

But I had mixed feelings about him signing with the Braves. He was a Parade All American at Parkview and rated as one of the top DBs in the nation his senior year. He signed with Clemson and would have probably seen significant playing time as a freshman. But when the Braves drafted him in the first round in 2002 he signed with them instead. But for a Clemson/Braves fan like me, it was a win-win situation.

I hope to see him in Greenville before this season is half over. Then I'll get to see him play on a regular basis and can give a full scouting report.

[Fantasy Dugout]

As a Georgia Tech alumni and supporter I must say I was happy to see him choose the Braves over Clemson.
:cool:

I did watch him play for Parkview a few times and he is a phenomenal athlete.

[jwrenn]

Big money over college is always a better decision. One can always spend big money later to go back to college. :D

[titanbaseball04]

Originally posted by Fantasy Dugout
As a Georgia Tech alumni and supporter I must say I was happy to see him choose the Braves over Clemson.
:cool:

I did watch him play for Parkview a few times and he is a phenomenal athlete.

Yea, can you imagine what it was like playing on the opposing team?

I know. Everytime he came to bat, especially since I am a pitcher, it was a scare. This kid was an incredible hitter in high school. He could hit for power. He was also good at situational hitting.

[nochahoma]

Did Francour get invited to Spring Training. I'll be there Fri and I'll look for him. I have not heard of him.

I'm looking forward to seeing John Thomson, I agree with one of the earlier post, he will be a pleasant surprise for the Braves.

JD Drew has the skills but he has yet to play a full major league season. Maybe if he rubs the RF grass he can catch a little leftover Brian Jordan toughness.

[Yellow Dog]

I don't know for sure, nochahoma, if he'll be at spring training with the Braves or not, but I'm ASSUMING he will. The reason I say that is because he is the top prospect in their organization and you would think they'd want him there. Plus the fact he was in camp last year, played quite a few exibition games with the Braves and probably made the best defensive play of the spring.

So he should be there and if so, he will be hard to miss. He's a big, tall rangy kid that reminds a lot people of Dale Murphy in size and statue. He is probably the Braves centerfielder of the future.

And next Friday, also look for Andy Marte who is also a top prospect and being projected as our third baseman of the future. He should be there as well although I'm looking for him to be at Greenville this year. And if you see these guys, be sure to let us know how they look, as well as the rest of the team in general.

[jwrenn]

Are we the Expos of the future now? Now that we can't pay our players to stay and have to trade away pitchers to our division mates? Hey we look to be! Because we've got all these great prospects that will replace our current guys in a few years when their deals get too big...

:(

[Thedatch]

Don't worry. Unlke SOME teams (located in the North East side of the country, who share a closeness to the name of the worse Chicago team). At least Atlanta has been the the postseason the last what? 10 years? Sure it is understandable to be upset having been there so ofton and not won, but have some compasion for the teams that struggle even getting into the playoffs. Not to worry, you will win one soon enough, and if you don't...join the club. New members always welcome. It's kinda lonely right now.

[wicked1]

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