Recently, the Braves traded speedy Outfielder Josh Anderson to the
Tigers for right-handed prospect reliever Rudy Darrow. Josh Anderson
was expected to take the Centerfield job once the season was over. Josh
had a decent spring, but posted a .283 on-base percentage in 19
Grapefruit League games. Schafer proved that he deserved it by hitting
.373 and recorded a .403 on-base percentage. Josh Anderson was out of
options, making it a very difficult decision. Wren has not ruled out
Gregor Blanco out of competition for CF, but it seems like Schafer is
the best bet to start the season in the starting line-up.

It seems like this will be the first year of the Schafer Era, which should last for a very, very long time.

The
prospect we got from the Tigers, Rudy Darrow, is suppose to be very
good and almost ready to play in the Majors. This really makes me
wonder why the Tigers would give up a reliever when that is what they
needed and already outfielders Granderson, Ordonez, Sheffield, Thames,
and Guillen. Today though, they released Sheffield, opening a spot for
Anderson to possibly play a bench role. Of course, the Tigers have not
made many good moves in a while, so I am hoping this one is another
that could help the Braves in the future. Other moves that have really
benefited with the Braves were the Smoltz-Alexander trade and the
Renteria-Jurrjens and Hernandez trade. I wonder what Darrow could end
up being like.
Here is what was on Mark Bowman’s blog:

Darrow,
who is expected to begin the season with Double-A Mississippi, went 5-3
with a 2.02 ERA in 47 combined appearances with Class A West Michigan
and Double-A Erie last year. In the process, the 25-year-old
right-hander posted a ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio of 4.8 and limited
right-handed hitters to a .183 batting average.
“He’s a sidearm
right-hander who throws anywhere from 90-94 [mph] with great sink,”
Wren said while comparing the young reliever’s delivery to Peter
Moylan’s.

Sounds pretty good to me. You get an “A” for this one Wren (at least for right now).

Now about Chipper….

Chipper
Jones and the Braves have agreed to a three-year extension worth over
$42MM that includes an option for 2013. Here is the Breakdown according to The Baltimore Sun…

“Due $10 million this season in the option year of a contract that began
in 2006, Jones gets a $3 million signing bonus as part of the new deal,
payable in $1 million installments each Jan. 15 starting next year.


Jones receives annual salaries of $13 million from 2010-12 and can earn
$1.5 million a year in performance bonuses: $750,000 each for 135 and
140 games.

If the vesting option fails to become guaranteed, the club would hold a $7 million option.”

I have been waiting for this on
all Spring and I’m very excited. I like the deal and I think he deserves every penny of it.
Chipper won the Batting Crown last year and hit 19 home runs. Like most seasons in his past, he did spend time on the DL.
Like
Myself, many other Braves fans are excited about this. Hopefully he
gets more ABs next year to help show what he is still capable of doing.

Wren gets an A+ for this one.

Other news…

The
only other battle currently for the Braves in ST is the Bullpen.
Caryle, Bennett, and Campillo are in a battle for long reliever while
Acosta is still looking for a spot somewhere in it. Logan and
O’Flaherty are the Lefties looking for a spot, but if Soriano or Moylan
start the season on the DL, both could earn a spot. As of now, I think
Campillo and/or Carlyle will start the season in Atlanta and Bennett
getting traded. Acosta also looks like a player who might get traded,
but I think it’s unlikely. I’m not too sure about Logan and O’Flaherty
yet, but I’m thinking Soriano starts the season on the DL. I also think
that Blanco gets traded. I can see the White Sox being the biggest
suitors, but other teams might take a look at him because of his great
World Baseball Classic stint. We will soon find out though with only 5
days left until opening night.