Rogers cuts Boras and Glavine offer

Two really big stories here. The first is that Scott Boras already having an issue with the A-Rod proceedings, is now official cut off from Kenny Rogers, as Rogers has (and an arguably smart move) fired Boras.

According to MLB.com, Rogers after having an off year with a blood clot in his pitching shoulder was out til mid season and after that had more problems in his pitching elbow which landed him on the DL for most o f the rest of the season and officially with 3-4 in 11 starts in 2007. That is after coming off of a 17-10 season in 2006 with a 3-0, 0.00 ERA in the 2006 postseason. Rogers was given through Boras two offers from the Tigers one reportedly worth 11 million one year deal. Both were turned down by Boras. This was after in September saying Rogers was either going to retire or pitch only with Detroit. Many fans including myself thought that he was double crossing Detroit. With this new news today, it shows that Rogers was really not in the discussion and Boras was really handling all of Rogers offers and negotiations. Now that Rogers is representing himself A offer and contract signing from Detroit is almost an assured thing. Ill even give him that 10 million base salary with 1 million+ incentives just because he is a leader in the rotation and because Boras is gone LOL. Great job Kenny you know where your heart is IN DETROIT!!!

In other news according to MLB.com, the Braves GM Wren has been the first to offer a contract to Tom Glavine. The contract details were not given out but this has been talked about by Clifton who is Glavines agent. He said,

"We will have a counter proposal by Friday evening or Saturday morning."

This shows that Glavine is the #1 signing the Braves want for starting rotation and the same goes for Glavine as he wants to be a Brave when he retires. This is great for the Braves organization if we can pull this one off without using a lot of money. Glavine should get around 10 million plus incentives and a possible 2009 mutual option. This would help the Braves tremendously and I hope the Braves get Glavine. The veteran presence with Smoltz, and Glavine will help the #4 and 5 starters especially if it is Chuck James/Jo-Jo Reyes/Jair Jurrjens.
They will be helped out tremendously.

In another small trade MLBTR is reporting Oscar "The Vulture" Villarreal was traded to the Houston Astros for CF Josh Anderson. Anderson is not a 5 tool or even a 4 tool outfielder, he definitely looks to be a backup plan in case Wren can not sign or trade for a experienced CF. Anderson hit .358 in the final month of the 2007 season with the Astros but in AAA he hit .258 with 41 stolen bases. He looks like a speedster but his on base percentage of .325 in AAA. So he will need some major help if we can not find anyone else out there for CF. Oscar Villarreal good luck with your new team, wish you the best. You can find more analysis of this trade on BlabberinBraves.

Braves have cash & other rumors

UPDATE 11/17 1:02am: It has been reported by MLB.com, that Wren and Clifton met on Wednesday but with no offer being made to Glavine to return. Although there was no offer made both sides said they w ere very interested in each other and were going to talk in the next few days possibly about a contract. This is exciting, I'm pretty sure Glavine will be a Braves by next week. Wren sure has changed how some agents treat the Braves. I'm really starting to respect Wren as a GM. Keep the good news coming. Anything else will be up tomorrow.

Well my Tigers ranting for the day is pretty much settled down. But once again the Braves now are on the hunt. According to Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Braves are ready to spend money. Their number one target.

Mark Texeira- The Braves are hoping to get in place a major multi-year deal for Texeira before next seasons FA. Though the club hasn't commented on if they will seek a multi-year deal for Texiera the new money from LibertyMedia and Andruw Jones and Renteria contracts will be in the discussion. I warn you this is not a done deal this is possibilities. I think this is a great thing for the Braves. If Liberty spends a little more on the Braves and the Braves keep on earning a ton of gross from merchandising and ballpark tickets, the Braves should raise their pay role by $10 million for 2009 and have enough for a multi year $90-100 million dollar contract for Texeira. This is what I am hoping on. Texeira hit 15+ HRs for the braves while piling up 66 RBIs. If things go right Texeira could be with us for many years to come. (Here's hoping that he keeps Boras out of the discussion mainly because Tex loves it in Atl.)


In other news, according to MLBTR and Boston media, the braves may hav an eye in the hunt for Mike lowell. This is a nose scratcher. Lowell plays 3B, Chipper plays 3B. Where would be move them. Chipper will not be in LF, and Mike will not play SS. My thinking is that we will have if a deal is reached(rumored $50-60 million 4 years), the infield looks like this.


1B Texeira
2B Escobar/Johnson
SS Chipper
3B Lowell
C McCann
LF Diaz/B. Jones/Johnson
CF B. Jones/FA/Frenchy
RF Frenchy/Johnson/Harris

Now that is kinda wierd but to me thats the only way that this will work. Lowell is also an insurance against Chipper falling to the DL again. Lowell would be great for the team but just not sure where he could go.

And finally Glavine's agent spoke with Wren today and I believe they are close to a deal. Though neither came out afterward and spoke to reporters all things that were said is that things went well. The more I think of it, the more I believe Glavine will be the Braves opening day #3 starter. It will most likely be a one year deal worth $10-11 million with incentives and a mutual option for 2009. Is he worth it I don't know but the Braves need an established veteran on the rotation and Glavine seems like a perfect fit.