Braves 08

Well Today the Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration and signed Mark Teixeira to a one year/12.5 million dollar deal, but the bigger question seems to be if super agent Scott Boras and new braves general manager Frank Wren can reach an extension before spring training begins.

Not Likely.

AJC reported earlier that Scott and Frank have had more conversations in the past week than Scott and JS have had in the last five years, so that is at least something to look at positively.

Tex will most likely try out the free agent market at the end of the 2008 season, and Boras will most likely try to squeeze every last dollar out of some franchise to sign this powerful first baseman. The Yankees will be looking for a new man at first after Giambi heads out after his final year in his contract, and the Orioles have money to spend on the hometown boy. There will be no shortage of interest for him as Mark appears to be one of the hottest players on next years free agent market so stay tuned.

As for the rest of the 2008 Braves It looks like the line-up will look like this.

SS Escobar
CF Kotsay
3B Jones
1B Teixeira
RF Francoeur
C McCann
LF Diaz
2B Johnson

Rotation:
SMOLTZ
HUDSON
GLAVINE
JAMES
JOJO/HAMPTON/BENNETT/JURRJENS



My Thoughts:
I would rather see KJ hitting second, he draws a lot of walks and can get on base with the best of them- with Kotsay coming back from the injury I see no reason to put pressure on him early, but he is a savvy vet so I guess Bobby knows best.

Diaz appears to be platooning again this season with stud outfielder Brandon Jones, I like Jones- but I feel like Diaz has earned the right to play every day.

McCann played through some injury last year so expect his durability and numbers to slightly increase, Jeff also lost some power numbers last year but his average increased a lot, lets hope he shows some maturity at the plate and finds that happy medium!

Look for Escobars numbers to dip a little, pitchers have seen this kid by now in the national league so don't think he is going to hit 326 playing full time this year, Yunel looks very promising and was a 296 career hitter in the minors.

-This team can score runs, the Andruw Jones "Im probably going to get out" hole is no longer there, and everyone wont have to cringe when Andruw walks up to the plate with the sacks full this season. The lineup is more balanced and solid from top to bottom, but everyone will still miss Druw for what he was and represented as an Atlanta Brave, good luck in LA Andruw.

The pitching rotation is real solid from the top 2, and an aging Glavine still looks more solid than most #3 pitchers in NL rotations, but the real questions come at 4 and 5; Will Hampton shake the injury's? Will Chuck James find some consistency? will Jurrjens prove to be a young star or a bust? and will JoJo Reyes finally show the stuff that scouts rave about?

This certainly could be a great season, this team could win the National League or it could finish 3rd in the NL East once again, only time will tell. One things for sure, I Can't WAIT for SPRING TRAINING! see you at Disney!