The Atlanta Braves were understandably stunned when relief pitcher Rafael Soriano (left)
accepted arbitration even though they had signed possible Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner. The subsequent acquisition of Takashi Saito, another closer, made it doubly confounding.
Haven't heard from Raffy's agent why they would settle on a one-year deal than a multi-year offer that seemed likely on the free agent market minus Wagner and Saito. Soriano must have liked the restaurants on Buford Highway.
Otherwise, makes no sense.
Credit the Braves for scrambling to unload Soriano on the Rays in return for yet another bullpen denizen Jesse Chavez. Given his 4.01 ERA last season, Chavez doesn't expect to be trotting onto the field much next season, other than in 9-2 games. He did pitch for the Pirates, which is a built-in downer, so the greener grass of Atlanta might uplift him. But Chavez earns relatively little, so this was an a digestible salary dump.
With Wagner and Saito, kids day in the clubhouse suddenly got more crowded. The two have a combined seven children. Their ages are a combined 79. They may get rolled in from the 'pen on a wheelchair, but both can still hum it.
The next order of Braves business is trading starter Derek Lowe -- no takers yet -- and acquire a can't-miss hitter. Both could happen in the same transaction.
They call this time of year the Hot Stove League. In Atlanta, it's roaring full-blast.
Leave a comment