I read this in the ESPN message board, it seems the Braves are cutting payroll. Could mean goodbye to Lopez, Sheff, and Maddux. Dont believe it til it happens, but you got to wonder how a team with the success the Braves had last year, especially offensively, goes forward? They had the stats last year, but just not the heart. Could be interesting, and of course, the Phillies are the favorites once again to win the division. I just hope Millwood leaves...hahahaha...

 

Link for Braves:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

The gm jon shruhotlz has said that they need to cut pay roll. Why do you think they traded away Millwood and didnt resign Glavine last season because they couldnt afford them anymore. Since the Braves are owned by AOL/ Time Warner they have a strict budget to follow unlike other years when Ted Turner was the sole owner and could spend as much as he wanted to.

 

I dont see Sheffield back because of everything going on between him and the front office. Also I doubt they will try to resign Javy Lopez because there big on catcher Johnny Estrada (I think thats his name, either way its the guy they got in the millwood trade).

 

Maddux might be back but depending how much he asks for.

Isnt Estradda 28?

It's either Sheffield or Chipper Jones gone according to many in fans in Bravo Land.

 

Maddux, Lopez, and Sheffield are likely gone. The Braves dynasty is starting to fall, you know it's bad when Hampton will be your #1 starter.

It's a well known fact the Braves are cutting payroll.

 

Their offense is what carried them to the playoffs this year, and they're losing their two biggest bats.

 

Can you say, Marlins in '04?

If you must know why is everybody on the cutting payroll side, it is the Marlins fault Read the post "Stark: Lessons Learned" posted by Ramp earlier.

The Braves are cutting payroll because they lost money.

The Braves are cutting payroll because they lost money.

Exactly! They all are learning the hard way. Why tie up all your money in a couple of players when you can be smart and build a whole team the way the Marlins did?

Can you say, Marlins in '04?

 

 

I want to see how many players the Marlins retain before I start saying that. :mischief2 But if keep a good number of them, who is left in the NL East?

 

 

Montreal? :lol

Phillies? :mischief2

Mets? :lol

Braves? :unsure :

Don't count the mets out,their gonna make some moves this off-season,and their gonna compete next season,so you can't laugh at them "yet".

Don't count the mets out,their gonna make some moves this off-season,and their gonna compete next season,so you can't laugh at them "yet".

 

 

 

Well hopefully these moves turn out better than the last few offseason moves they have made. :mischief2

LOL,remember cliff floyd,he said"i don't wanna be one the marlins i rather be on any other team except the marlins",and look what happened to the marlins,and look at the mets.hahahaha to you floyd.

LOL,remember cliff floyd,he said"i don't wanna be one the marlins i rather be on any other team except the marlins",and look what happened to the marlins,and look at the mets.hahahaha to you floyd.

Floyd never said that.

 

In fact, he was willing to take a discount to stay.

^^^^^

 

 

:lol Yeah I remember that. He said that this ownership was never going to do anything and that he would rather place someplace else than to ever play for the Marlins again.

 

 

 

:fyou How does it feel now, Cliff?? :mischief2

No,he did say that,don't you remember,i've never forgotten that.

Wait, he did say that over the last off-season, but he was originally willing to take a hometown discount to stay here in July, 2002.

Cliff held this team back with his bad attitude and health. What goes around, comes around.

LOL,remember cliff floyd,he said"i don't wanna be one the marlins i rather be on any other team except the marlins",and look what happened to the marlins,and look at the mets.hahahaha to you floyd.

Floyd never said that.

 

In fact, he was willing to take a discount to stay. I'm glad Cliff was gone as much as the supposed 'fan base' screamed.

 

His attitude was not right for this team. He was always making comments about the FO, etc. (i.e. when we trade Alfonseca/Clement to the Cubs). Sometimes, is best to keep you mouth shut, especialy if you haven't done anything big for the team.

Maddux is going to San Diego...a homecoming of sorts for him.

 

 

The reason Millwood was traded was because of Maddux taking that massive arbitration contract.

 

I actually wouldnt be totally shocked if Millwood makes his way back to Atlanta.

 

Estrada will replace Javy.

 

Sheffield will be gone as well, but we all knew that.

 

The Braves will still be a good team....

 

 

Mike Hampton did a damn good job in the second half...check the numbers people.

 

 

He will soon return to his previous status in this game.

 

Not entirely shocking with Mazzone as his pitching coach.

Braves: GM John Schuerholz told his coaches during a meeting last week that the Braves would be cutting close to $30 million from a payroll that inched just above $100 million last year. This feeds the popular assumption that catcher Javy Lopez, Sheffield and pitcher Greg Maddux will be playing outside of Atlanta next year. Waving goodbye to the aforementioned trio and infielder Vinny Castilla will save the Braves close to $40 million. ... Adding to the financial quandary is the bump in salaries due to many of the veteran stars. While Chipper Jones will realize a $2 million raise, John Smoltz, Russ Ortiz, Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones will all see close to $1 million in pay increases. ... The possibility of trading Chipper Jones has been a hot topic in Atlanta, but Jones is 10-and-5 guy, meaning he can veto any deal, and his contract will pay him $14 million this year, $15 million in 2005 and $17 million in 2006.

 

Latest Hot Stove Report from MLB.com

Wild Card, you must have selective memory. Floyd was only willing to take the hometown discount after his trade. Also, he could have come back here if he really wanted to, but he was way too angry to do so. He made a mistake, and I am glad that he did. He would have sucked up too much money and we wouldnt have gotten Pudge. Good riddance.

 

Speaking of the Mets, I expect them to follow our lead. In fact, I expect pretty much every team out there to follow our lead. But I wouldnt be surprised if we saw Piazza dealt to an AL team - where he can catch AND play DH.

 

As for the Braves, you all are seriously mistaken. They will lose Maddux (he is pretty much done anyway), Sheff, and Lopez. But they will keep Jones, and Jones. They also will have Hampton, Ortiz and I too would be surprised at all if Millwood comes back to Atlanta. I would like to see Millwood leave the Phils - and go to another division, but it seems his 2 choices are Atlanta and Philly. Braves will be contending, no doubt.