2008-12-17T13:56:43-05:00 Good luck trying to figure Furcal negotiations 2008-12-16T22:30:19-05:00 13 2008-12-16T22:30:19-05:00 1 2 10 2008-12-17T11:15:28-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/635/903/thumb/Lil__Glenn.bmp 4 AR The Ol Goaler Jonesboro 636543 I'm shocked to see how high the Braves are on Kelly Johnson... I'm not saying he's terrible, but if you have a Rafael Furcal in the fold and can swing a deal to get Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals (like they were earlier in the offseason) for him without giving up much more than him and maybe a lesser prospect, the Braves should've jumped on that. You upgrade at 2B regardless (whether Furcal or Escobar ends up playing there) and severely upgrade LF. Also, if they're really that high on him at 2B, send Escobar (who would seem to be expendable) to the Pads as part of the Peavy deal.Neither Escobar or Johnson are bad players, but there are significant upgrades to be had considering one of them is now expendable, and there are at least two trades (Peavy or Ludwick) that can be done with them, I just don't understand why they wouldn't do it. It seems essentially useless to keep all 3. 11 Since the Cards signed Khalil Greene, they won't be trading an outfielder for a shortstop... Ankiel/Ludwick/Schumaker MIGHT get traded for starting pitching, but the bus has already left on the &quot;Lud to the Braves&quot; deal... 3685132 2008-12-17T13:56:42-05:00 3 VA JL08 Manassas 636129 Since the Cards signed Khalil Greene, they won't be trading an outfielder for a shortstop... Ankiel/Ludwick/Schumaker MIGHT get traded for starting pitching, but the bus has already left on the "Lud to the Braves" deal... 13 But that's not what Kelly Johnson is... he's a 2B. The Cards just lost Felipe Lopez, so they're looking for a 2B. 3687934 2008-12-17T12:12:36-05:00 32 CA dhzlatar Indio 408460 12 Bad move on Furcal. He's the past and is juggling with his former team to receive a better from the Dodgers. But if the Braves got Furcal, he would be an upgrade for the leadoff hitter. What Atlanta really needs is to sign a truly LF power hitter like Hollyday (why we didn't pick him?), and for that I will trade Johnson or Francouer by the end of 2009. 3686288 2008-12-17T01:25:02-05:00 3 VA JL08 Manassas 636129 6 I'm shocked to see how high the Braves are on Kelly Johnson... I'm not saying he's terrible, but if you have a Rafael Furcal in the fold and can swing a deal to get Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals (like they were earlier in the offseason) for him without giving up much more than him and maybe a lesser prospect, the Braves should've jumped on that. You upgrade at 2B regardless (whether Furcal or Escobar ends up playing there) and severely upgrade LF. Also, if they're really that high on him at 2B, send Escobar (who would seem to be expendable) to the Pads as part of the Peavy deal. Neither Escobar or Johnson are bad players, but there are significant upgrades to be had considering one of them is now expendable, and there are at least two trades (Peavy or Ludwick) that can be done with them, I just don't understand why they wouldn't do it. It seems essentially useless to keep all 3. 3681417 2008-12-17T11:15:28-05:00 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/635/903/thumb/Lil__Glenn.bmp 4 AR The Ol Goaler Jonesboro 636543 I'm shocked to see how high the Braves are on Kelly Johnson... I'm not saying he's terrible, but if you have a Rafael Furcal in the fold and can swing a deal to get Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals (like they were earlier in the offseason) for him without giving up much more than him and maybe a lesser prospect, the Braves should've jumped on that. You upgrade at 2B regardless (whether Furcal or Escobar ends up playing there) and severely upgrade LF. Also, if they're really that high on him at 2B, send Escobar (who would seem to be expendable) to the Pads as part of the Peavy deal.Neither Escobar or Johnson are bad players, but there are significant upgrades to be had considering one of them is now expendable, and there are at least two trades (Peavy or Ludwick) that can be done with them, I just don't understand why they wouldn't do it. It seems essentially useless to keep all 3. 11 Since the Cards signed Khalil Greene, they won't be trading an outfielder for a shortstop... Ankiel/Ludwick/Schumaker MIGHT get traded for starting pitching, but the bus has already left on the &quot;Lud to the Braves&quot; deal... 3685132 2008-12-17T11:07:43-05:00 4 MO jahunter Lees Summit 636494 10 How bout Grienke and Guillen to Braves for Escobar, Francuer and two of top 10 prospects with one being a SP and other being OF. 3684954 2008-12-17T09:49:01-05:00 1121 CA Yankee27 Castaic 188694 9 Furcal: I could not be more happy to delcare that I am siging with the Atlanta Braves Braves: Great! You will play 2B while Escobar plays SS and we will move Kelly Furcal: Ahhh... one second, I need to make a call. Hello, Mr. Colletti... so I heard you are looking for a SS? 3683271 2008-12-17T01:46:51-05:00 1 GA FutureBravesGM18 Woodstock 636130 7 2009 Lineup 2B - Furcal SS - Escobar 3B - Jones C - McCann RF - Francoeur LF - Johnson/Diaz 1B - Kotchman CF - Blanco P - Jurrjens 3681357 2008-12-17T08:05:43-05:00 2 MD dalger21 Reisterstown 623854 2009 Lineup2B - FurcalSS - Escobar3B - JonesC - McCannRF - FrancoeurLF - Johnson/Diaz1B - KotchmanCF - BlancoP - Jurrjens 8 Johnson would likely hit second and Yunel down near the bottom of the order. Or put Chipper at cleanup and Johnson in the three hole. 3682065 2008-12-17T01:46:51-05:00 1 GA FutureBravesGM18 Woodstock 636130 7 2009 Lineup 2B - Furcal SS - Escobar 3B - Jones C - McCann RF - Francoeur LF - Johnson/Diaz 1B - Kotchman CF - Blanco P - Jurrjens 3681357 2008-12-17T01:25:02-05:00 3 VA JL08 Manassas 636129 6 I'm shocked to see how high the Braves are on Kelly Johnson... I'm not saying he's terrible, but if you have a Rafael Furcal in the fold and can swing a deal to get Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals (like they were earlier in the offseason) for him without giving up much more than him and maybe a lesser prospect, the Braves should've jumped on that. You upgrade at 2B regardless (whether Furcal or Escobar ends up playing there) and severely upgrade LF. Also, if they're really that high on him at 2B, send Escobar (who would seem to be expendable) to the Pads as part of the Peavy deal. Neither Escobar or Johnson are bad players, but there are significant upgrades to be had considering one of them is now expendable, and there are at least two trades (Peavy or Ludwick) that can be done with them, I just don't understand why they wouldn't do it. It seems essentially useless to keep all 3. 3681417 2008-12-17T01:05:28-05:00 29 Mo benstl Saint Peters 137593 5 atlanta is still discussing ankiel and kelly johnson or mike gonzales in a trade scenario last time we heard around here im not big on the idea for st louis 3681424 2008-12-17T00:53:02-05:00 2 GA justme91975 Gainesville 4996 4 Batting order: 1. R. Furcal, 2B 2. K. Johnson, LF 3. C. Jones, 3B 4. B. McCann, C 5. J. Francouer, RF 6. Y. Escobar, SS 7. C. Kotchman, 1B 8. J. Anderson/Jordan Shaffer, CF 9. Pitcher Looks good to me... 3681329 13 <p><strong>Rafael</strong> <strong>Furcal</strong>'s negotiations are one for the books.</p> <p>The Braves think they have a deal in principle for the free-agent shortstop. "A gentleman's agreement,'' is what one Braves person said. It's believed to be for $30 million over three years.</p> <p>However, Furcal was said to be still talking to the Dodgers Tuesday evening, hours after the Braves suggested a deal was done with them. The Dodgers are believed to be interested in re-signing Furcal to a two-year deal with an option.</p> <p>So to recap, Furcal rejected a four-year deal for about $40 million with the A's to talk to the Braves about a three year deal for $30 million with a vesting option (and according to the Braves, agree to that deal). And after allegedly wrapping things up with the Braves, he's believed to be talking to the Dodgers, mostly likely about a two-year deal with an option.</p> <p>If he takes a two-year deal with the Dodgers, he will be the first player ever to reject a four-year deal to take a three-year deal for a similar annual salary only to reject that for a two-year deal for a similar salary. If this keeps up, the next stop would be a one-year deal.</p> <p>This has been a tough one to call from the start. But the best guess now is that he sticks with the Braves. He has a home in Atlanta, and after all these negotiations, probably could use a rest.</p> 33082 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/100/64/thumb/Heyman_Jon.png 0 NY Jon Heyman New York 10084