Fragmentsofme
12-22-2003, 01:59 PM
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/atl/news/atl_news.jsp?ymd=20031219&content_id=621170&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
ATLANTA -- The Braves bolstered their bullpen by coming to terms on a one-year deal with veteran right-handed reliever Antonio Alfonseca on Friday.
Alfonseca will give the Braves a much-needed veteran presence in their bullpen. He will join Will Cunnane, Jaret Wright and Kevin Gryboski as closer John Smoltz's primary setup men.
Operating under a tight budget throughout this offseason, the Braves had lost out in their pursuit of other veteran relievers like Tim Worrell and Arthur Rhodes. Thus, this week, they turned up the heat in their pursuit of Alfonseca, who went 3-1 with a career-worst 5.83 ERA for the Cubs this past season.
His disappointing season dramatically dropped his price tag. The 31-year-old reliever, who made $4 million last year, will make $1.5 million and have the chance to earn another $1 million through incentives.
"We feel this is a worthwhile risk to take on a guy who we believe is ready to get back on track," said Braves assistant general manager Frank Wren, who signed Alfonseca to his first professional contract in 1989.
At the time, Wren was the Expos' director of Latin American scouting and Alfonseca was a 6-foot-3-inch, 140-pound kid trying to get out of the Dominican Republic.
Wren still remembers the day he pulled into the Expos' academy in the Dominican and saw Alfonseca waiting for his chance to throw. A few hours after impressing with a fastball around 88-89 mph, the young right-hander was signed and on his way to a professional baseball career.
"Antonio was always one of those guys I looked forward to seeing," Wren said. "He has such an effervescent personality."
Obviously Alfonseca enjoyed his experiences with Wren as well. The veteran reliever said one of the key reasons he chose the Braves over the Rockies and Mets was that Wren had called earlier this week and proved to be a good recruiter.
"I just told him my view of how we believed this would be a good situation for him and that we'd really like to see him in Atlanta," Wren said.
After allowing opponents to hit .290 against him last season, Alfonseca has a lot to prove and would have had trouble doing so in the offensively-friendly confines of Coors Field. Thus he turned down the Rockies' more financially lucrative offer.
Some of Alfonseca's struggles last year could be attributed to a strained hamstring that he sustained while fielding a ball on wet turf on March 18. He missed about six weeks and wasn't able to return until early May.
By the time he returned, Alfonseca's targeted closer's role had been given to Joe Borowski. Alfonseca pitched effectively in May and June. But once July rolled around, the veteran reliever began struggling and never was able to get himself right. He posted a 9.64 ERA during the season's final four months.
"Our scouts like what they saw out of him last year," Wren said. "His arm is fine. It's still live. He's still throwing 94-95 and we believe he's ready to get back to form this year."
While Smoltz contends his elbow will be ready for the start of Spring Training, Alfonseca has plenty of closer's experience to be able to fill that role if needed. During the 2000 season with the Marlins, he posted a Major League-best 45 saves and was named the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.
During Spring Training in 2002, Alfonseca had a confrontation with then-Marlins manager Jeff Torborg's son, who had ended his professional wrestling career to become the Marlins' strength and conditioning coach. A short time later, the veteran right-hander and Matt Clement were shipped to the Cubs in a deal that brought a relatively unknown, Dontrelle Willis, into Florida's organization.
The Braves bullpen is still lacking a proven, veteran left-handed reliever. The club may open a spot on its 40-man roster, which is now full, by releasing a mid-level prospect. Clubs have until midnight ET Saturday to determine if they are going to tender contracts to players that don't have guaranteed deals.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/images/2002/07/21/LXb7CotN.jpg
ATLANTA -- The Braves bolstered their bullpen by coming to terms on a one-year deal with veteran right-handed reliever Antonio Alfonseca on Friday.
Alfonseca will give the Braves a much-needed veteran presence in their bullpen. He will join Will Cunnane, Jaret Wright and Kevin Gryboski as closer John Smoltz's primary setup men.
Operating under a tight budget throughout this offseason, the Braves had lost out in their pursuit of other veteran relievers like Tim Worrell and Arthur Rhodes. Thus, this week, they turned up the heat in their pursuit of Alfonseca, who went 3-1 with a career-worst 5.83 ERA for the Cubs this past season.
His disappointing season dramatically dropped his price tag. The 31-year-old reliever, who made $4 million last year, will make $1.5 million and have the chance to earn another $1 million through incentives.
"We feel this is a worthwhile risk to take on a guy who we believe is ready to get back on track," said Braves assistant general manager Frank Wren, who signed Alfonseca to his first professional contract in 1989.
At the time, Wren was the Expos' director of Latin American scouting and Alfonseca was a 6-foot-3-inch, 140-pound kid trying to get out of the Dominican Republic.
Wren still remembers the day he pulled into the Expos' academy in the Dominican and saw Alfonseca waiting for his chance to throw. A few hours after impressing with a fastball around 88-89 mph, the young right-hander was signed and on his way to a professional baseball career.
"Antonio was always one of those guys I looked forward to seeing," Wren said. "He has such an effervescent personality."
Obviously Alfonseca enjoyed his experiences with Wren as well. The veteran reliever said one of the key reasons he chose the Braves over the Rockies and Mets was that Wren had called earlier this week and proved to be a good recruiter.
"I just told him my view of how we believed this would be a good situation for him and that we'd really like to see him in Atlanta," Wren said.
After allowing opponents to hit .290 against him last season, Alfonseca has a lot to prove and would have had trouble doing so in the offensively-friendly confines of Coors Field. Thus he turned down the Rockies' more financially lucrative offer.
Some of Alfonseca's struggles last year could be attributed to a strained hamstring that he sustained while fielding a ball on wet turf on March 18. He missed about six weeks and wasn't able to return until early May.
By the time he returned, Alfonseca's targeted closer's role had been given to Joe Borowski. Alfonseca pitched effectively in May and June. But once July rolled around, the veteran reliever began struggling and never was able to get himself right. He posted a 9.64 ERA during the season's final four months.
"Our scouts like what they saw out of him last year," Wren said. "His arm is fine. It's still live. He's still throwing 94-95 and we believe he's ready to get back to form this year."
While Smoltz contends his elbow will be ready for the start of Spring Training, Alfonseca has plenty of closer's experience to be able to fill that role if needed. During the 2000 season with the Marlins, he posted a Major League-best 45 saves and was named the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.
During Spring Training in 2002, Alfonseca had a confrontation with then-Marlins manager Jeff Torborg's son, who had ended his professional wrestling career to become the Marlins' strength and conditioning coach. A short time later, the veteran right-hander and Matt Clement were shipped to the Cubs in a deal that brought a relatively unknown, Dontrelle Willis, into Florida's organization.
The Braves bullpen is still lacking a proven, veteran left-handed reliever. The club may open a spot on its 40-man roster, which is now full, by releasing a mid-level prospect. Clubs have until midnight ET Saturday to determine if they are going to tender contracts to players that don't have guaranteed deals.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/images/2002/07/21/LXb7CotN.jpg