Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves needed a right-handed power bat and a first baseman. In one signing today, they accomplished both.

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the Braves have signed Troy Glaus to a one-year contract.

Terms of this deal have not been disclosed yet, but it seems to be a very incentive-laden deal.

I really like this move by the Braves.

When a friend told me this morning that Melky Cabrera had been traded, I was shocked.

It wasn't even a rumor. It just happened. Abruptly.

Despite Melky's inconsistency at the plate, he was a fan favorite in New York.
Teammates and fans enjoyed his jovial demeanor on a team generally regarded as rigid. It has always seemed like Melky plays for his love for baseball rather than for the money he earns.

Whether he was chasing down a deep fly ball, making his signature wide turn around first, or delivering in the clutch, Melky was a joy to watch every night.

For most Braves fans, this was not the deal that they were looking for. With a surplus at the pitching postition, Atlanta was poised to deal one of either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.

With Derek Lowe's recent comments about being on the trading block, it left most Braves fans, including myself, with the thought he was surely the one to be traded. However, with three years and 45 million dollars due to Lowe, the Braves found that option rather difficult.

I, along with roughly 75 percent of the Braves fan base, was quite taken aback when I fired up the old Blackberry this morning and realized that Atlanta was in serious discussions with the Yankees about Javier Vazquez.

Perplexed may be the best word for how I felt when the deal was finalized.

The Braves traded their best starter from 2008 for outfielder Melky Cabrera (a career .270 hitter), a left-handed rookie pitcher in Mike Dunn, and a prospect. Hardly seems like the Braves got the better of the deal.

As a long time Braves fan, I am always fascinated about how well Braves management handles their players and make great signings and turn players career's around.

However, since Mr. Frank Wren took over as the Braves GM, he has been one of the most active executives—and has received an earful of complaints from his players and the Braves' fans.

A few months ago it was announced that the 2010 season will be the last one for Bobby Cox. Sure to go down as one of the best managers in baseball history, Cox led the Atlanta Braves to 14 consecutive division titles from 1992-2005.

While Cox has certainly been a tremendous manager, he's had plenty of help from a quality general manager and various coaches over the years. Here's a look at 10 potential candidates to replace Cox in the 2011 season.

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Atlanta Braves' general manager Frank Wren has laid a big egg thus far in his handling of his team's bullpen situation this offseason.

Concerned that Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez would be too expensive for the cost-conscious Braves to retain, Wren wasted no time in signing Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito to fill their roles.

The tally: $10.2 million, 78+ years of age, two saves, and one Tommy John surgery.

A couple of days ago when the news broke of an imminent Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee-prospects swap within hours of the Red Sox acquiring John Lackey, a lot of Braves fans (including myself) peeked our heads up thinking that these moves signaled Derek Lowe's albatross of a contract finding its way out of time.

And, for me, it still does.

Seeing as how he's the only reliable 200 inning guy left out there, it's safe to assume that pitching hungry teams are eyeing him a bit more than guys like Joel Pineiro that have only seen limited stints of success at the big league level.

As Matt Holliday and Jason Bay dominate the headlines on the free agent front, one name that we have not heard much from is Troy Glaus. Until now, that is:

There were two major moves this week in baseball.

John Lackey, the best pitcher on the free market, signed with the Boston Red Sox.

Roy Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, Cliff Lee was sent to the Mariners, and the Blue Jays received prospects.

There are a couple of ways this plays into the Braves' hand.

First of all, the Los Angeles Angels have lost their ace. 

Second, the Seattle Mariners acquire their new ace to serve at the top of their rotation along with Cy Young Award Candidate Felix Hernandez.