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Garret Anderson Signed
Written by Jonathan on February 22, 2009 – 4:37 pmAfter a few weeks of us speculating as to how good of a fit Garret Anderson would be for the Braves, it looks like the deal has been made. The Braves have reportedly finalized a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the free agent and expect for the announcement to be made tomorrow. Anderson is en route to Florida to join the squad at Wide World of Sports for Spring Training.
Anderson will likely take on the clean-up role for the Braves, a position in the lineup that he’s quite familiar with. He had a .293 average last season with 15 homers and 84 RBI; 14 of his 15 home runs came against right-handed pitching. This may lend itself to the platoon in left field with Matt Diaz that Braves fans have become familiar with over the past couple of seasons. Anderson has spent all 15 seasons of his career with the Angels.
He could provided some much needed pop to the Braves’ lineup with runners in scoring position, a spot that has struggled in the past. Last season, he batted .338 with runners in scoring position and .356 in those situations with two outs. These are the type of moments that make a difference in the one-run losses that Braves fans became brutally familiar with throughout 2008.
I’m still not 100% sure on this decision as just a couple days ago, the front office indicated that they would let the young talent give the outfield a shot, but the deal has been done and we’re ready to add some much needed power to the outfield. Is it the right decision for the Braves at this point? Let us know what you think.
Tags: Braves Sign Garret Anderson, Garret Anderson
Posted in Roster Moves | 20 Comments »
By Kent Covington on Feb 22, 2009 | Reply
If you take what Anderson did against righties last year, and add that to what Diaz has done VS. lefties over the past two seasons (since he was out much of last year)… and average that production out over 570 at-bats, you will have the following:
.313, 21 homers, 85 RBI
I can live with that kind of production from left-field.
And unlike Griffey, when Anderson does face a lefty from time to time, he's not an automatic out. While he doesn't hit for any kind of power off lefties (all but 1 of his 15 homers came off righties), he did hit left-handed pitching at a .290 clip last year.
Nice pick-up. Very nice. Especially for the money.
By Kent Covington on Feb 22, 2009 | Reply
In my personal opinion, the Braves have now pulled even with the Mets and Phillies, PROVIDED Francoeur rebounds.
If Frenchy returns to '07 form, the you have 3 big run producers (Chipper, McCann, Francoeur), and 4 positions from which you can expect: .280-310, 13-20 HR, 75-90 RBI.
That's a lineup full of quality hitters. And no, there's no 30-40 HR guy here, but 7 of our 8 starters will finish with double-digit homers. So there is power there. It's just spread throughout the lineup. This is the kind of team where it could be a different hero every night.
Oh, and if the Schafer wins the CF job, we might not have even a SINGLE guy in our lineup (counting Anderson/Diaz as one) without double-digit homerun power.
Think about it folks… if the CF bats leadoff (which is most likely), you've got KJ and Kotchman batting 7/8. When the bottom of your lineup looks like that, you do NOT have a weak lineup.
By Dan from MD on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
I was trying to get some work done tonight, but I foolishly clicked on AJC and saw the Anderson news. McCann and Cox seemed happy, but I remain skeptical of Anderson and disappointed with the front office.
On Anderson, the only value I see is his clean-up experience and his solid club-house reputation. It's always a risk to assume an aging player can recapture that form though.
I will say one positive for the front office, at least they didn't trade anymore kids away. They may have blocked someone from making the roster (and possibly expose talent to the waiver wire), but they didn't trade someone away. Personally, I was looking forward to seeing the other Anderson and possibily Schafer in the outfield and seeing Brandon Jones have another chance.
In all, I think this is a short-sighted move which only makes sense if Wren doesn't seen any potential (future starter, trade bait, etc.) in some of the folks mentioned or he believes the Braves were one player away from the playoffs. I don't think either are accurate, but perhaps thats why I don't work in baseball.
GO BRAVES!
By Larry on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Well the signing of Anderson pretty much leaves only one outfield spot open. It looks like that will probably go to Anderson seeming hes out of options. The 13 position players are all but set. 12 are for sure so I guess its down to Schaefer and Anderson. This is of course as long as no one gets hurt in Spring Training.
By Kent Covington on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Dan, I'm not exactly sure why you would be disappointed with the front office. Wren and Co. pursued a number of players that didn't work out. Some of those outcomes may have been for the best. For instance, many feel we're better off with Lowe than Burnett. I agree.
But for all the talk of signings/trades that DIDN'T happen, there are plenty of positives. Adding 3 new quality starters to your rotation in one off-season, including a #1 starter, is nothing to sneeze at. In fact it's a helluva feat. To that, they've now added a solid veteran hitter.
And as you pointed out… they did it all WITHOUT diminishing their young talent pool, which Baseball America recently ranked the best in the NL. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you DON'T make. With so much pressure to get things turned around after the first 90 loss season in two decades, it would have been easy for Wren to make foolish short-sighted mistakes. The kind of mistake Detroit made when Wren managed to rape them (if you'll pardon the graphic description) by getting Jurrjens and G.Hernandez for Renteria.
Let's FULLY recognize how impressive and important it was the Wren accomplished all of this without diminishing the farm talent.
Now, as for G.Anderson… I'm not sure I understand your objection. The Braves don't need Anderson to "recapture" his old 30 homerun form. Nor to the Braves expect him to. Atlanta signed him to do exactly what he did last year… .293, 15 HR, 85 RBI. Those are very solid numbers. And at 2.5 mill for one year, he's not really a risk at all. It's all upside.
Also, Anderson, is not really blocking anyone. Anderson will play Left Field, where Schafer (the only significant OF prospect believed to be Major League ready) will battle for the Center Field job. Brandon Jones' star has fallen, and Heyward is at least a year or two away.
All in all, I don't mean to be contrary… but I don't think this front office has been short-sighted at all. Quite the opposite. And Anderson helps this team (at one helluva bargain price).
By Baseball Dude on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
The Braves are soooo much better off with Anderson
By dave on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
I think Anderson from what I have read about him is a good addition. Kent I agree with you on this point, if we had to add someone he may very well be the best choice all along. I would have loved after the Griffey ordeal to have given the young guys a chance. I have come to trust MR. Wren. I think he has made some good moves this winter. Some of them may have been made because of rejection. I think MR. Wren got lucky with Peavy, Furcal. Burnett did us all a big favor, because it freed up money that made some of the moves we made possible. I agree with Dan it will probably mean someone out of options will be gone. The one thing I love thus far we have only lost one prospect. I think Frank Wren is very wise in saying no to trading away our prospects. For this I applaud you. With all the players that's been added I think losing only one prospect is some of MR.Wren's best achievements. I trust Bobby Cox I believe he thought adding Anderson for this year is for the best. Even though I would have loved to see the young guys battle it out, that will come next year. I am looking forward to it.
By josh on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
I think is great. Lets get ready to focus on Baseball with all the BS taken care off now. Chipper signed before opening day I hope. We have game 1 this Wednesday from spring training. ESPN tries to get a couple Braves spring training games on tv every year. So everybody get ready. I can smell baseball in the air. Go Braves!!!!!!!!
By Jack Belcher on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Great pick up for our Bravos! Like I said before, we have to make a move to fill the position in left field. Glad to see the front office felt the same. I think Matt Diaz is a good player but not an everyday player.
With Garret Anderson in left field we now have a true hitter in the four or five hole. He is a great hitter from either side just like Chipper. He does not posses the power Chipper has but he can hit the ball all over the place. I do think it would be a good idea to have some of the young guys around for some experience this year. I just don't think they are ready for big league pressure.
We still have some ways to go to win the division but if the Phillies or the Mets stumble or our boys have a break out year we could win it.
By Kent Covington on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
Jack, I agree with all of your points, save one… I don't think the Braves have a ways to go to win the division. There is only one thing that needs to happen for the Braves to pull even with the Mets and Phillies, and that is for Jeff Francoeur to return to his '07 form. After all the Braves have added, if Frenchy puts last year behind him, the Mets and Phils won't (on paper) have any sort of edge over Atlanta.
Even if Francoeur bounces back, the Phillies still have a better offense, and the Mets MIGHT have a SLIGHTLY better offense… but the Braves now have the edge on those two teams in the pitching dept. So if the Braves have relatively good healthy, and everyone performs to their ability (reasonably speaking), the Braves will have as good a chance as anyone to win this division.
By Kent Covington on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
YUP!!! ESPN will air Thursday's game (1pm Eastern). Scheduled to pitch: Jorge Campillo… and someone named Tommy Hanson.
Can't wait!!!
By Tim on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
I was the one that suggested the "why not Anderson" article. So I am am very happy with this move. Much more than I had it been Griffey. The Braves may not catch the Phillies to win the division but I think they do no worst than winning the Wild Card. The Braves will be in the playoffs again come 2009. GO BRAVOS! Oh yeah. Can't wait till Thursday. Tommy Hanson is pitching!
By dave on Feb 23, 2009 | Reply
I believe we are right there with talent level in every aspect of the game. I believe we can compete with any team in our division. I believe we will not only be competitive, but we will win our division. We did for 14 years with great pitching, and we have not only excellent starters, but a good bullpen too. We have great defense, and enough offense to match any other club in the league.We have Chipper Brian,and Jeff as our big bats, and I think we have we have a bunch of players capable of hitting for average and 15 to 20 homeruns each, be it by platoon or individuals. I believe everything is in place for a return to greatness. SO GO BRAVES!!!
By Kent Covington on Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
Something else to think about… is the next great Braves rotation on the horizon?
I think we have two young guys, Jurrjens and Hanson, who are more likely than not to become #1 starters in the big leagues.
Obviously, Jurrjens is already a quality starter, but could take another step forward this year to become an ace. This is a kid with 4 quality pitches, including a fastball he can run into the mid-90's, and an excellent changeup. Baseball America called him the best control pitcher in the Tigers organization a couple years ago, which tells you something about his command… and everyone raves about his maturity and approach to pitching.
And Tommy Hanson? Well, I've never heard a kid talked about the way he is talked about. Granted, I don't remember what kinds of things were said about Smoltz… but this is the first time I've seen a kid come through that everyone raves about to this level. Chipper Jones, always reserved with his praise, said Hanson WILL be a #1 starter in the big leagues very soon.
If Jurrjens takes that step forward this year, and Hanson joins the rotation next year along with the return of Hudson, and then either Vazquez or Kawakami in the 5-slot… wow. Could be very reminiscent of the Braves' 98 rotation.
Oh… and it looks do be a darn good rotation THIS year too.
By Andrew on Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
Wren dropped the ball by not scooping up Dunn or Abreu while they were still on the market. I'm not a big fan of the Anderson signing, as I don't think he's a big upgrade over our in-house talent in his age 37 season. Abreu went for a measly one-year $5 mil contract, and we go for a guy with a lifetime .327 OBP who hasn't hit more than 17 HR in 6 years? Awful.
By Kent Covington on Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
Andrew, Dunn signed for 10 million dollars a year. 10 MILLION A YEAR!!!! That's WAY out of the price range of the Braves, who blew their wad on pitching (the appropriate first priority). He was out of the question.
As for Abreu, while more of a bargain… he was also out of the Braves price range, at 5 mill, given their remaining spending money. The Braves tried to get him, but couldn't offer more than a few million. It's also unclear whether Abreu was willing to move from RF to LF.
As for G.Anderson, it's true that he doesn’t post a great OBP, and he’s not the 20-30 homerun guy he used to be. But since when is .293, 15 HR, 85 anything to sneeze at? And he’s clutch, hitting .338 with runners in scoring position last year.
If the Braves platoon Anderson and Diaz, as expected, consider the following. If you take Diaz’s production over the past 2 seasons vs. lefties… then take G.Anderson’s production against righties last year… and then average that production out over 570 at-bats, you will have the following:
.313, 21 homers, 85 RBI
Doesn’t sound like a half bad two-headed monster, does it?
And… HE WAS A STEAL at 2.5 million. That’s the kind of money utility players have been making in the big leagues over the past few years.
The Braves got the best player they could afford for the money they had, and they were pretty damned lucky to get find someone this accomplished for this kind of money.
By Kent Covington on Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
I forgot to mention… Anderson's 85 RBI last year came hitting (I'm pretty sure) at the back of the Angel's lineup. I think you can reasonably look for him (or a Diaz/Anderson platoon) to top 90 RBI this year.
That platoon can probably be looked at to produce something close to .300, 20 HR, 90 RBI.
That compared pretty favorably to what Abreu could have brought to the table… at half the price.
By Jonathan on Feb 24, 2009 | Reply
Well it's officially official. Anderson passed his physical and has been announced by the Braves.
By Andrew on Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
I thought I read that the Braves had $6-7 mil dollars left to play with before the Glavine signing. Forgetting for a second that Dunn would basically pay the difference even at ~$10 mil, giving us a lot better chance at the post-season than we have now, meaning higher attendance figures and the standard post-season windfall, how was that not enough to lure Abreu? It could be that Wren was simply out-pitched by Anaheim, but there's also the possibility that they were skimping so they could afford Glavine. That's just inept, if that's the case. I would be surprised if Glavine provides anything but negative value to this team.
By Andrew on Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
I'm not sure that an Anderson-Diaz platoon is a sure thing. Can you think of another instance where a major league team platooned their clean-up hitter? I honestly have no idea, but it seems like a weird thing to do.