The Atlanta Braves punctuated a week to remember by sending heralded super-prospect Tommy Hanson to the mound on Sunday, carrying with him the promise that a return to the top of the National League East could be just around the corner.

The dominoes began to fall with the release of 300-game winner Tom Glavine on Wednesday. A move that took both the Cooperstown-bound left-hander and most Braves faithful by surprise and cleared the way for Hanson's long-awaited promotion to the Majors.

Before that even had a chance to sink in, an announcement followed roughly an hour later that the Braves had packaged three prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for All-Star Nate McLouth. The acquisition of the Gold Glove center fielder McLouth gives Atlanta a proven commodity both in the outfield and in the lineup, following the demotion of rookie Jordan Schafer.

Just like that, one sure-fire Hall of Famer gone, one All-Star center fielder acquired, and one future ace in line for a promotion.

While Hanson's debut did not go according to plan on Sunday, the Braves were able to mount a late rally and take an exciting 8-7 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Chipper Jones, the final face left from the Braves' prominence in the 1990s, keyed the victory with four hits, including a pair of homers.

The line for Hanson began to stray from the script as the Milwaukee bats zeroed in during the middle innings. Ryan Bruan belted two homers of his own and drove in four of the seven runs scored against Hanson; hardly the debut most had envisioned for the young right-hander.

Granted, it is only one start in Hanson's career. Many more to follow.

Events continue to unfold in regards to Glavine, who felt his unceremonious dismissal warranted a more legitimate explanation. The latest wrinkle has the Glavine camp looking into the possibility of filing a grievance against the club.

The January signing of Glavine in followed an offseason full of moves meant to improve the Braves' starting rotation. Atlanta traded for Javier Vazquez and signed free agents Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami.

Negotiations about the possible return of John Smoltz hit a permanent roadblock in December, prompting the veteran hurler to seek an opportunity to pitch for the Boston Red Sox. Those events have lead to a rift between the two parties that may carry on long after Smoltz decides to retire.

Bringing back Glavine was a move steeped in nostalgia, giving him the opportunity to rewrite the end of his storied career. Arm troubles truncated his 2008 return after five years spent with the rival New York Mets. It seemed to line up perfectly, rewarding the veteran if he was able to stay healthy and make contributions.

Free agency has always been and will remain a double-edged sword.

Some Braves fans find a level of amusement in Glavine's dismissal, citing his choice to depart for New York after the 2002 season as turn-about being fair play. The bottom line, however, is that Glavine has long been one of the classiest acts in the game. The organization has created yet another public relations snafu.

Glavine, like Smoltz and former teammate Greg Maddux, will earn induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And all three will be enshrined on their plaques wearing Atlanta Braves hats, having formed perhaps the best trio of starting pitchers ever to spend a decade together.

Braves president John Schuerholz, the architect of Atlanta's unprecedented run of success as a general manager, offered an apology for the Braves' mishandling of Glavine's release. Financial escalators in his contract could have earned Glavine an additional $3.5 million based on time spent on the active roster. Atlanta firmly denies the move was made for financial reason, instead citing a number of other factors that led them to believe he would not be effective.

Hanson dominated the International League while pitching at Triple-A Gwinnett this season. His ERA of 1.49 ERA was accompanied by 90 strikeouts in 66.1 innings of work over 11 starts. Those numbers served as a clear statement of Hanson's readiness to ply his craft at the Major League level.

The Atlanta rotation stacks up as one of the best in all the National League with Hanson's arrival. Time will tell how the youngster transitions from carving up Minor League squads to doing battle with perennial All-Stars and big league talents.

With McLouth on board early, the Braves can continue their search for offensive help in the outfield. Speculation surrounds right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who has seem his offensive impact on the lineup wither over the past season-and-a-half.

The Braves control McClouth for up to four more seasons. This gives the team a hitter who can be placed anywhere in the order and a defender who has established himself as one of the league's best.

One thing is certain: no one will be able to say the Braves sat idle while their season passed them by.

Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren can cross through that final line on the winter shopping list. The Braves inked outfielder Garret Anderson to a one-year $2.5 million contract on Sunday, effectively filling the last of the glaring voids they entered the off-season needing to address.

With the former Angel now in the Braves outfield, Wren bounced back from being slighted in pursuit of Ken Griffey Jr. Anderson, 36, clocks in nearly three full years younger than Griffey, and without the burden of off-season knee surgery to boot.

Anderson does not bring 611 career home runs and the marketability that Griffey will lend the Mariners in his reunion tour, but he does bring a proven veteran bat that will add depth to the Atlanta batting order.

While no one will confuse Anderson with the first ballot hall of Famer the Braves were unable come to terms with last week, his career average of .296 is eight points north of Griffey's. Anderson's 84 RBI also bested Griffey's total of 71 from a year ago.

Signing Anderson allows Atlanta to follow the same model they were said to be planning had they signed Griffey, utilizing a platoon that would allow Matt Diaz to get the majority of the at-bats against lefties. However, the younger Anderson may see more time than Griffey was slated to receive had he signed with the Braves.

Though the majority of both men's power production came against right handers last season, Anderson hit .290 in his 141 at-bats versus lefties. Griffey hit just .202 in 163 AB's against southpaws in 2008. Anderson could steal some of the at-bats from Diaz, given the likelyhood that he will be taking his swings in the middle of the Braves order.

This move was symbolic of Atlanta's off-season theme, with Wren working to eventually turn a perceived negative into positives as it comes to player personnel moves. Missing the mark on Jake Peavy and A.J. Burnett turned into the acquisitions of Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez.

Atlanta's new look rotation was the major undertaking this winter. Bringing in a veteran like Anderson will help the Braves bridge the gap until top prospects like Jordan Schafer, Jason Heyward and Gorkys Hernandez are ready to assume full-time duties in the Atlanta outfield.

While Schafer may be given the chance to assume the starting job in center field this spring, the veteran Anderson will be charged with helping the Braves outfield regain some of its clout. Last season, the Braves outfielders combined to hit a major league low 29 homers.

The Braves are also hoping that a resurgent Jeff Francoeur will rebound from his dreadful 2008. After driving in more than 100 runs and averaging 24 homers over his first two full seasons, Francoeur hit only .239 with just 11 homers and 71 RBI in 155 games.

A new and improved batting stance, modeled after former teammate Mark Teixeira's right-handed approach, along with less emphasis on weight training and size have Francouer convinced that 2008 was just a bad dream. His production from the right side of the dish will be vital to an otherwise lefty-heavy Atlanta lineup.

The Atlanta Braves could be preparing a late charge at free agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., according to a report by ESPN's Jerry Crasnick on Sunday.

Braves GM Frank Wren is still seeking to fill the void in Atlanta the outfield with a veteran bat that could bolster the line-up. Sources told Crasnick that the Braves have stepped things up and began discussing money with Griffey's agent, Brian Goldberg.

Much of the speculation over the weekend was that Griffey was seeking a reunion with the Seattle Mariners, for whom he played the first 11 years of his career.

Griffey, 39, is coming off a 2008 season in which he was hampered by a left knee injury. Doctors had to drain the knee on three occasions; he underwent arthroscopic surgery in October in order to be ready for spring training.

In the final season of a nine-year $116.5 million deal signed prior to 2000, Griffey's production declined from a 2007 campaign which saw him hit .277 with 30 homers and 93 RBI. Cincinnati dealt Griffey to the White Sox in a July trade deadline deal.

In 102 games with the Reds prior to the trade, Griffey hit .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBI. For the White Sox, Griffey hit .260 in 41 contests, but with just three homers and 18 RBI. Chicago declined the $16.5 million option, making Griffey a free-agent.

Atlanta has Matt Diaz returning from a knee surgery that took much of the 2008 season away from him. Diaz has served Atlanta primarily as a platoon left fielder since being acquired in a trade from the Kansas City Royals in 2006.

The presence of Diaz, who combined to hit .333 in 655 at-bats during 2006 and 2007, would allow manager Bobby Cox to give Griffey regular rest.

Diaz hit just .244 in 43 games last season. He suffered a torn PCL ligament in his left knee while attempting to make a diving catch against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 27. He returned to the lineup in Atlanta's final game of the season and went 0-for-3.

With Spring Training upon us, the Atlanta Braves find themselves still searching the market for an everyday outfielder. Putting aside the usual suspects, a crowded outfield in Minnesota could make former first rounder Delmon Young available for the right price.

In the wake of a disappointing 2008 season, in which his power output dropped to just 10 homers and 69 RBI, Young finds himself in a potential battle for playing time.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has already expressed that Carlos Gomez, Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer all deserve regular playings time. Throw Jason Kubel into the equation at designated hitter and the picture gets even more crowded.

A five-tool phenom who was heralded as the finest power hitter ever drafted by the Rays in their short history, Young hit .288 with 93 RBI in 2007 before being dealt to Minnesota.

Young has good speed on the base paths, but his instincts in the outfield leave something to be the desired. His above average throwing arm projected him to be a regular right fielder in Tampa Bay.

The emergence of Span, who projects as Minnesota's right fielder and lead-off hitter coupled with the return of Cuddyer from injury seems to fill in the blanks on the corner outfield spots around Gomez. Kubel came into his own with 20 homers and 78 RBI in 463 at-bats last season, complicating any plan to utilize Young as a regular DH.

At the plate, Young is an aggressive hitter who does not draw many walks and has power to the gaps. Young does not draw many walks, but saw improvement from his rookie season while brining his strikeout total down. Despite his power potential, the 20+ homer numbers from his early stops in the minors have yet to materialize in the majors.

That could all change with a break-out season in 2009.

The Braves have outfield prospects waiting in the wings, though only Jordan Schafer seems close to joining the big club in 2009. Jason Heyward and Gorkys Hernandez both project an arrival time of 2010 at the earliest. Young would fit nicely in an outfield that only looks to get more talented as the years go on.

This winter's free agent pool included Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, Ken Griffey Jr., Garret Anderson and Jim Edmonds. With both Abreu and Dunn finding work this week, Burrell having already signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and Griffey perhaps closing in on a return to Seattle, the market leaves much to be desired.

Clearly Atlanta will not be among the "several" teams that Scott Boras is lining up for the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes. Wren and company also opted to pass on any reunion with former Atlanta center fielder and full-time reclamation project, Andruw Jones.

Reports have linked Atlanta to New York Yankees outfielders Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. Both men will come at varying cost, in terms of contract and prospect talent heading to the Bronx in exchange.

Nady, 30, is owed $6.55 million and stands to be a free agent at season's end. Being a Boras client points makes Nady a shot term fix for Atlanta, before testing free agency next winter. Splitting time last season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees, Nady turned in a career-best season by hitting ,305 with 25 homers and 97 RBI in 148 games.

Swisher, 28, is two years younger and under contract for the next three seasons. Yankees GM Brian Cashman would prefer to trade Nady and has balked at any request to eat a portion of the $22.05 million that Swisher is owed over the next three seasons.

After enjoying three productive years in Oakland, Swisher's average bottomed out at .219 with the White Sox last season. Swisher's best campaign with the A's came in  2006, when he hit .254 with 35 homers, 95 RBI and 106 runs scored.

Though he did connect for 24 homers and his 82 walks brought his OBP up to .332, Swisher hit just .191 with only 28 RBI in the second half. Slumping to just .164 for the month of September forced Swisher into a platoon with DeWayne Wise.

Should the Twins look to deal Young, Atlanta has the prospect depth to put together a nice return. The Braves would acquire a young player who could benefit from a change of leagues and, despite being eligible for arbitration in the coming three seasons, probably be a cheaper alternative than Swisher.

There has been no rumor or report that links the Braves and Twins in any trade talks, but the pieces could be made to fit. The biggest road block to this trade scenario will not be the players involved, it will be Young's agent, Arn Tellum.

After being burned in negotiations with Rafael Furcal, the Braves have vowed never to do business with Tellum, fellow agent Paul Kinzer and the Wasserman Media Group. There is no better time than to put that pledge to the test with a deal to acquire Young.

Till next time,

G-Mc

There was a time when the Atlanta Braves were perennial Division Champs. For 14-consecutive seasons, Atlanta marched in to October largely on the strength of their outstanding starting rotation.

Now, some three seasons removed from their last postseason appearances, the Braves are going back to their roots in order to gain entry to October. The "Arms Race" series rolls on with an in depth look at the Atlanta pitching staff.

Looking back at the 2008 season, the Braves can readily identify that injuries in the pitching department cost them any chance of returning to the postseason. The losses to key personnel were not exclusive to the rotation either, as Atlanta's bullpen suffered the same kind of misfortune to key arms.

General Manager Frank Wren was a man on a mission this winter, charged with rebuilding a beaten and battered rotation for 2009 and beyond. Wren stated his goal was to add at least two front-of-the-rotation starters at season's end.

The initial targets to anchor the rotation included San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy and free-agent A.J. Burnett. However, after weeks of negotiations, any trade agreement with the Padres reached an impasse. Opting to stay in the American League, Burnett signed a five-year pact with the New York Yankees.

While the early travails of the GM were met with disappointment, Wren made the first move when he hooked up for a trade with the Chicago White Sox that netted veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez just prior to the winter meetings.

Vazquez, 32, had long been coveted by Braves manager Bobby Cox. While his stuff has not always translated into the results many have thought were to come after his breakthrough season of 2001, Vazquez has averaged 13 wins and 216 innings over the past nine seasons.

The new year got off on a bad note when Braves icon John Smoltz left the only Major League club he had known for 21-season to sign with the Boston Red Sox.

Smoltz had hoped to return to Atlanta, but was unimpressed with Atlanta's largely incentive-based offer. The Braves cited health concerns that tempered their willingness to make a large guarantee for Smoltz, who was recovering from reconstructive shoulder surgery.

Ultimately, Boston came up with an offer with a larger base salary, more attainable incentives and that targets a June 1 return date for Smoltz. Just like that, Smoltz and the Braves turned a page that many thought would happen only in his retirement.

While fans and scribes alike scrambled to make sense of Smoltz's decision, Wren proved unabated by the inability to lure Burnett to Atlanta and went back to the free-agent well with two bold moves in a span of 72-hours.

The first move was signing Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami to a three year $23 million deal. Kawakami, 33, spent an 11-year career with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League and compiled 112-72 record with a 3.22 ERA in 1642.1 innings.

Just two days later, the Braves landed one of the top starting pitchers available when they signed Derek Lowe to a four-year $60 million contract. Lowe, 35, will anchor the new-look Braves rotation after going 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 34 starts last season.

Lowe spent the first eight seasons of his career in the AL, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. Since 2002, the sinker-balling righty has averaged 15 wins and 208 innings per season. In a 12-year career, Lowe is 126-107 with a 3.75 ERA and 85 saves.

The acqusition of Lowe, Vazquez and Kawakami fortifies the rotation in front of stand-out young hurler, Jair Jurrjens. In his first full season, Jurrjens, 23, turned in 13 wins and a 3.68 ERA in 31 starts to come in third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

One of the more interesting position battles for Atlanta this spring will be for the fifth starter's spot. Some of the pieces left over from 2008's "all-hands-on-deck experiment" will be vying for the opportunity to fill out that final spot.

Among these pitchers will be right-handers Jorge Campillo and Charlie Morton, as well as lefty Jo-Jo Reyes. Campillo, 30, enjoyed modest success after joining the Atlanta rotation, going 8-7 with a 4.34 ERA in his 25 starts. His relief work, 1.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 15 appearances, bodes well if Atlanta chooses to utilize Campillo out of the pen.

Morton, 25, and Reyes did not fair as well on the whole, though both showed flashes of what put them among the top organizational pitching prospects. Morton, was just 4-8 with a 6.18 ERA in 14 starts after a June call-up.

Possessing a four-seam fastball that tops out around 95 mph that is complemented by a two-seamer, solid curve and change-up, Morton has all the tools to develop into a valued starter. Command problems hampered Morton's development earlier in his minor league career and seemed to relapse during his stint with Atlanta.

Reyes, 24, seemed to be hitting his stride after eight brilliant innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on June 13. However, from that point on Reyes dropped his final seven decisions to finish just 3-11 with a 5.81 ERA in 23 appearances. Both Reyes and Morton could be used as trade bait to net the Braves an outfielder as well.

The list does not stop there. Top prospect Tommy Hanson, a 22-year old hard throwing who lit up the Airzona Fall League will likely be given the opportunity to audition as well. Hanson was 11-5 with a 2.41 ERA and 163 strikeouts in 25 starts between two stops. Atlanta could also choose to let Hanson begin the season in Triple-A Gwinnett.

Righty James Parr got a brief look last season and will also be in camp to compete for a spot on the big league squad. Parr, who turns 27 later this month, posted two good starts before being shelled in his final three. He figures to be a long shot to grab the vacant rotation spot.

Tom Glavine could emerge as a candidate to fill the fifth starter's slot as well. That is, if the Braves and the 42-year old Glavine can agree on terms. Glavine's homecoming was marred by injury and ended when the 300-game winner had surgery on both his elbow and shoulder after going just 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 starts.

With a clean bill of health issued by his doctors, the Braves have made Glavine an offer that is believed to be worth $1-2 million and contain little or no incentives. The search for a left fielder will not allow the Braves to stray from their initial offer, so the ball is essentially in Glavine's court.

The Braves also have Tim Hudson, who could make a comeback from ligament replacement surgery in August or September. Hudson, 33, was having a stellar 2008 season, 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 23 appearances, before the elbow injury.

The dominoes in the bullpen started falling in the spring, when projected closer Rafael Soriano reported to camp with discomfort in his pitching elbow. Soriano had just three saves in 14 appearances and spent much of the year on the DL before elbow surgery ended his season in August.

Set-up man Peter Moylan came into his own in 2007, sporting a 1.80 ERA in 80 appearances and holding righties to a .184 average. His encore campaign was over by mid-April, when he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. The loss of Moylan was a void Atlanta struggled to fill for the rest of  the season.

Mike Gonzalez returned in June to assume the closer's duties, picking up 14 saves in 16 opportunities. Now fully healed from his Tommy John surgery in 2007, Gonzalez has pronounced himself ready to show the Braves the same pitcher they sought when they acquired him from Pittsburgh in December of 2006.

The rest of the cast includes right-handers Blaine Boyer, Jeff Bennett and Manny Acosta. Each saw more than their fair share action due to the rash of injuries.

Boyer spent his winter working out with Smoltz, in hopes of building both the mental and physical stamina to become a more complete pitcher.

Last season, Boyer seemed to tire from his frequent appearances. After posting a 3.93 ERA in 51 first half appearances, Boyer was shelled for an 11.17 ERA in 25 outings after the All-Star Break and was all but shut down in September.

Acosta, 27, had a brief opportunity as Atlanta's closer before a wild streak in June and a freak hamstring injury suffered running the bases took put him out of action.

Atlanta will likely utilize Bennett as a long reliever, along with one of the starters who fails to earn a rotation spot. Bennett, 28, made a career-high 72 appearances and seemed to find a groove over the season's final month. Buddy Carlyle could also get a look in the long relief role.

Wren added lefty Boone Logan in the Vazquez deal, and claiming lefty Eric O'Flaherty from the Seattle Mariners. The duo will compete with Jeff Ridgway, among others, to earn a spot as lefty specialist or in middle relief. Logan has seen the most time in the majors of the three, totalling 144 appearances over the past three seasons while with the White Sox.

The Braves are still optimistic that they will be able to bring back lefty Will Ohman, who enjoyed a career season in his first year with Atlanta. Ohman, 31, made 83 appearances in 2008 and held opposing lefties to just a .200 average. Wren extended an offer to Ohman more than two months ago, but the two sides do not appear any closer to a deal in the first week of February.

Frank Wren had a productive winter rebuilding the Atlanta Braves starting rotation, but a GM's work is never done. Perhaps the last item on the checklist will be finding a productive outfield bat at a relative bargain price in a market that still has several intriguing names.

There was a major spoiler alert yesterday, just in case you were thinking that the Andruw Jones reunion was merely a formality. Jones and the Braves have vastly different opinions as to the agreeable terms. Despite the $5 million already coming to Jones as severance with the Dodgers, agent Scott Boras has shot down any notion that his client would accept a minor league deal simply to return to Atlanta.

Estimates have put the remaining money the Braves have to spend somewhere between $6 million and $9 million. Putting aside the reunion factor, there are some other options who would come more ready to produce than seeking a career renaissance. Chief among these candidates is former Yankee Bobby Abreu, easily the most attractive of the remaining free agent outfielders.

Abreu turns 35-years old in March, and has been holding out hope that a multi-year contract would materialize with a club looking for a corner outfielder. The most tangible rumor had the Cubs linked to Abreu, but that door closed when Chicago signed the younger Milton Bradley to a three-year $30 million deal earlier this month.

There is no doubt that the Braves have the pieces that could be dealt to bring in other Yankee outfielders, like Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady. A short-term deal with Abreu, who would be slotted to make the move from right to left in the outfield, could allow Atlanta to bridge the gap while top prospects Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer continue to mature in 2009.

The Braves have a line-up that already features several left-handed hitters, as well as switch-hitter Chipper Jones, who gets most of his at-bats from the left side over the course of the season. Brian McCann, Kelly Johnson and Casey Kotchman comprise the lefty swingers, leaving Jeff Francoeur and Yunel Escobar as the only right-handed hitters among the known regulars.

Abreu brings a career .300 average and has a streak of six consecutive seasons of 100+ RBI. While his ability to draw walks has declined over the past three years, from 124 in 2006 to 73 last season, Abreu helped his cause by batting .315 with six homers and 30 RBI in 184 at-bats against left-handers last season. That production could warrant Atlanta to forego limiting their search to strictly right-handed bats.

Adam Dunn and his prolific power numbers are certainly intriguing, but the likely price tag would take Atlanta off the list of possible suitors. The Washington Nationals seem to be the club most keyed in on Dunn, having lost a bid for Mark Teixeira in December. Dunn has slugged more than 40 homers for five consecutive seasons, but would represent a bigger defensive liability than the already limited Abreu for Atlanta.

Though Bradley garnered a multi-year deal with the Cubs and 36-year old Raul Ibanez inked a three-year $31.5 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal suggests Abreu's price tag could be closer to the two-year and $16 million that Tampa Bay gave Pat Burrell.

Wren will have some choices, but in the end it could come down to just how much the Braves are willing to give in any potential trade for Swisher or Nady. There is always a distinct possibility that an unforeseen option will present itself as well, but signing the veteran Abreu could compliment the Atlanta line-up in exactly the manner they are searching for.


Till next time,

G-Mc

 

The past two seasons have seen the rise of a new powerhouse in the National League East, as the Philadelphia Phillies ascended to the top of the baseball world with a Fall Classic victory over the Tampa Bay Rays last season. Philadelphia's prolific offense often takes the headlines, but the men on the mound will be the key contributors to any World Series repeat.

The foundation of the Philadelphia staff is budding ace Cole Hamels. Signing Hamels to a three-year $20-million contract this offseason underlines the fact that the club is well aware he has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the National League, a claim further cemented by his World Series MVP performance. It also saves them from having to suffer through the arbitration years.

Hamels, 25, stayed healthy last season and went 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 227.1 innings before blistering through Philadelphia's October opponents. His playoff numbers were even more impressive, 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 30 punch-outs in five starts.

Brett Myers came up big in October for the Phillies, giving the club hope that his transition back from the bullpen may have finally come full circle. At 28-years old, the former first rounder will need to improve his work on the road primarily to give himself a chance to win 15 or more games in 2009.

In 14 home starts, Myers was 7-5 with a 3.01 ERA, but his numbers away fell to just 3-8 with a 6.21 in 16 starts. He has surrendered his fair share of the long ball last season as well, giving up 29 in 190 innings of work. Myers was at his best in the second half and that momentum carried through the postseason, where he was 2-1 in three starts.

The ageless wonder Jamie Moyer, 46, went 16-7 and shaved more nearly a run and a half off his ERA from 2007, down to 3.71 for the year. Moyer's good work earned the soft-tossing lefty a brand new two-year contract worth $13 million this winter.

Moyer is entering his 23rd season, having piled up 246 wins in a career that essentially didn't get off the ground until the age of 30. His ability to change speeds and give Philadelphia nearly 200 innings will be just as vital this time around.

Like Myers, Joe Blanton, 28, is another former first rounder who will be seeking to revert to his 2006 form. Blanton supplies innings, averaging 206 innings over the past four seasons, and has shown he could win games during his Oakland days. Run support shouldn't be a problem with the Phillies.

Chan Ho Park resurrected his sagging career when he returned to the Dodgers last season, where his career began with such promise. In 54 appearances, Park went 4-4 with a pair of saves and a 3.40 ERA. While he did make five starts for Los Angeles, general manager Ruben Amaro did not immediately say how the Phillies plan to use the 35-year old Park.

Philadelphia also has both Kyle Kendrick and prospect J.A. Happ to compete for spots at the back of the rotation this spring. After starting the season 8-3 in his first 19 starts, Kendrick's frequent shellings resulted in a 7.59 ERA in 12 appearances after the break and forced the Phillies to leave him off the playoff roster.

Happ got the nod to take over Kendrick's spot in the rotation and quickly went about solidifying a claim for future starter consideration. He finished last season with a 1-0 record and 3.69 ERA in 31.2 innings, notching 26 strikeouts, with a 2.28 ERA in his four starting assignments.

Highly regarded right-hander Carlos Carrasco was rated the second best prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America and should be ready to battle for the fifth starter role. Carrasco, 21, was signed as an undrafted free-agent from the Dominican Republic in 2003 at the age of 17. Last season, Carrasco went 9-9 with 155 strikeouts in 25 starts between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley.

Adam Eaton has completely pitched his way out of the Phillies plans and will likely find himself released if no trade can be brokered. This will put an end to a rather painful three-year $24.5-million contract that was signed prior to the 2007 season, when he turned in a 10-10 record and a 6.29 ERA in 30 starts.

In the bullpen, Brad Lidge leads what is a pretty sound Philadelphia relief corps. Last season was simply unbelievable for Lidge, as he converted all 41 regular season save opportunities before going perfect in seven more postseason chances.

At 32, Lidge is still in the prime years of his career and will continue to anchor the Phillies pen after signing a three-year $37.5-million extension last season.

Big righty reliever Ryan Madson turned in a 3.09 ERA in 76 appearances and staked his claim as one of the best eighth inning men in the National League. After an attempt to use him as a starting pitcher, the Phillies were rewarded for putting Madson back in the pen over the past two seasons.

Madson was at his best in September and October, turning in a 0.64 ERA in 13 games down the stretch, while going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 11 postseason appearances. His good work earned him a three-year, $12-million extension this winter, allowing the Phillies to avoid arbitration and buy out Madson's first two free agent years.

J.C. Romero was slated to serve as the primary left-handed reliever, but was suspended for the first 50 games of 2009 after a positive test for an over-the-counter drug. Last season, Romero paced the Phillies with 81 appearances and posted a 2.75 ERA while holding left-handed hitters to a minuscule .102 average.

Romero's absence will leave the Phillies scrambling for a replacement to fill the void, but veteran lefty Scott Eyre should be able to help out. Eyre, 36, was acquired in an August trade with the Chicago Cubs and went 3-0 in 19 games 1.88 ERA with Phillies last season and signed a one-year $2-million deal last November to return to the defending world champions.

Clay Condrey, who was 3-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 56 appearances, and Chad Durbin, who was 5-4 in 71 games with a 2.87 ERA, will also hold down spots in the Phillies bullpen. The Phillies could choose to utilize any of the hurlers who do not grab the final spots in the rotation, with Park being the leading candidate to bolster the pen further.

Till next time,

G-Mc

 

The moving and the shaking has not missed the National League East this hot stove season, with more than a few new faces joining East squads that are setting their sights on a trip to October. Atlanta brings a new look rotation into 2009, but their divisional rivals have made some big improvements as well. This installment of the "NL East Arms Race" delves into the pitching staff of the New York Mets.

Over the past three years, the Mets have been built to win, holding onto first place for large chunks of time before falling at the hands of the Phillies in the end. A near World Series trip in 2006 still fresh on their minds, the Mets have taken strides each off-season to bolster their squad. That trend continued this winter with a bullpen makeover.

When the Mets lost ninth inning man Billy Wagner to elbow surgery last season, they suffered through numerous late inning collapses and finished the year with 29 blown saves as a team. New closer Francisco Rodriguez comes off a record setting 62 saves last season for the Angels. Signing Rodriguez to a three-year deal was just step one of general manager Omar Minaya's plan to solidify the achilles heel of the 2008 Mets.

K-Rod will have help from another American League late inning star, J.J. Putz, who was acquired in a December trade with the Seattle Mariners. Putz will serve as the primary set-up man for manager Jerry Manuel. Lefty Pedro Feliciano and righty Duaner Sanchez will return to their roles in the pen this season and will be joined by right-hander Sean Green, who was also acquired in the Putz deal.

The Mets rotation will be the next place Minaya looks to fortify as Spring Training approaches. Johan Santana was spectacular in the second half of last season, but even his stellar work was not enough to lift the Mets above and beyond the September slide. The bullpen cost Santana a chance to win 20 games and likely take home his first Cy Young Award in the National League.

Minaya has already signed veteran right-hander Tim Redding to bolster the back of the rotation. Redding, who will be 31 when the seasons starts, revived his career while pitching for the Washington Nationals over the past two seasons. He tied a previous career-best with 10 wins and notched a career-high 182 innings in 33 starts in 2008. Still, Redding projects to be no more than a fourth or fifth starter in the Mets plans.

The Mets have turned their focus to bringing back lefty Oliver Perez, having lost out in the  Derek Lowe sweepstakes. Perez, 27, was brought over in a 2006 trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and promptly re-established himself with a 15-win season in 2007. His electric stuff is often overshadowed by his lack of command and penchant for bases on balls.

Perez, 10-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 34 starts a year ago, lead the National League with 105 walks last season and set career-highs with 11 hit batsmen and nine wild pitches. New York extended a three-year $30 million offer to Perez and agent Scott Boras, but those terms are far short of the reported five-year $80 million deal that Boras is believed to be seeking for Perez's services.

That figure is mind boggling for a pitcher who won less games in 2008 than Ubaldo Jimenez, Kyle Kendrick, Brian Moehler and Jason Marquis. Pitchers who matched Perez's win total from a year ago include Redding, Jorge De la Rosa, Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan and Barry Zito. None of those names can exactly be looked upon as impact players, but Scott Boras has a way with words and dollar signs. Just ask Zito.

Mike Pelfrey is a young talent on the rise, but more on the level of a Jair Jurrjens of Atlanta. Neither pitcher has the experience that makes them a bona fide number two starter in their teams' rotation. Going 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA and logging 200.2 innings in his first full season with New York, Pelfrey proved to be a key component when injuries sapped the rotation of Pedro Martinez and John Maine.

Speaking of Maine, his health will be absolutely vital the Mets hopes this season. In just 25 starts a year ago, Maine was 10-8 with 122 strikeouts in 140 innings before a strained rotator cuff put him on the shelf late in the year. Surgery to remove a bone spur in his throwing shoulder should have him back at 100 percent and ready to go this spring.

Prospect Jon Niese, 22, could also figure into New York's rotation with a strong spring, perhaps grabbing the fifth starter's spot. Niese has won 11 games in back-to-back seasons and is coming off a very solid campaign that earned him a September call-up. Last season, Niese was 11-8 with a 3.13 ERA in 29 starts, striking out 144 batters in 164 innings between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A New Orleans.

If the Mets are unable to come to terms with Perez in a time frame that suits them, they could benefit from the standstill between the Yankees and Andy Pettitte and lure him away from the Bronx. The 36-year old Pettitte went 14-14 for the Yankees last season while logging 204 innings. A shorter term pact with Pettitte would not only save the Mets money, but also bring in a pitcher who carries 14 victories in 35 career post-season starts.


Till next time,

G-Mc

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves and free agent right-hander Derek Lowe have agreed to a four-year deal worth $60 million on Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Lowe, 35, is coming off a season in which he went 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 34 starts. The deal gives Atlanta a much sought after ace pitcher to anchor a new look rotation which includes Javier Vazquez, recently signed Kenshin Kawakami and rookie stand-out Jair Jurrjens.

Just last Thursday, the Braves were believed to have suffered through a disastrous offseason in which they were unable to come to terms with free agents A.J. Burnett and Rafael Furcal, unable to complete a trade for Jake Peavy, and watched 21-year veteran John Smoltz depart in favor of joining the Boston Red Sox.

Atlanta will hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to formally introduce Kawakami and will formally announce the Lowe signing after the righty completes a routine physical on Wednesday.

Lowe, who has averaged 15 wins and 208 innings per season since 2002, brings durability and poise to an Atlanta rotation which was marred by injury in 2008. In a 12-year career, Lowe is 126-107 with a 3.75 ERA and 85 saves.