MLB - Sports Rumors

Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:13 am EST

Atlanta Braves interested in reliever Billy Wagner?

By Mark J. Miller

“Billy
It's looking like the Atlanta Braves are going to need some help at the back end of the bullpen since it appears that relievers Rafael Soriano(notes) and Mike Gonzalez(notes) are going to head out of town via free agency, according to MLB.com.

The man at the top of the list in Atlanta is supposedly Billy Wagner(notes), who finished out last season with the Boston Red Sox after spending most of the year as a full-fledged member of the injured New York Mets contingent.

Talks between the Braves and Wagner's rep have reportedly already taken place. Wagner is a Type A free agent but so are Soriano and Gonzalez so the compensation Atlanta would get from any team those two sign with will offset whatever the Braves need to give up for signing Wagner.

The funny thing is that Soriano and Gonzalez are apparently on the list for the Boston Red Sox so this may end up being a trade of sorts.

If Wagner joins the Braves, it will be the third National League East team that he has played for, since also spent time as the closer for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Source: MLB.comNew Window

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17 Comments

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  1. str A's hooter
    1. Posted by str A's hooter Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:21 am EST

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    Hope the trade works out for both Boston and the Mets. They both need help.
  2. BronxFinest.............
    2. Posted by BronxFinest............. Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:38 am EST

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    A's hooter the probelm is that wagner is horrible
    he should just give it up
  3. Howie from Poughkeepsie
    3. Posted by Howie from Poughkeepsie Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:49 am EST

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    If what the Braves are looking for is a one year answer versus a longer term solution, then Wagner could turn out to be a reasonable answer. Perhaps they can groom Medlen for the role in the future by making him the 8th inning man, like the Yankees did with Rivera in 1996. Providing big contracts to free agent closers is a risky business. I could live with a 'one year fix' if I saw the closer of the future being groomed also.
  4. Drew
    4. Posted by Drew Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:37 am EST

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    The Braves have a lot of live arms in the minors. The best out of all of them is Craig Kimbrel and if he can get his control down he could be a dominant closer for years. So I would think that Wagner would just be a one or two year stint.
  5. fireguy
    5. Posted by fireguy Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:48 am EST

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    I always liked Wagner, he never gave any BS, a straight shooter if you will. I would hate to see him on the Braves, but I think he has a couple a good years left in him. I'm not sure if it's as a closer or setup man, but he still can fire that pill and everyone needs a lefty out of the bullpen, so he can pretty much write his own contract I would guess.
  6. New York King
    6. Posted by New York King Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:58 am EST

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    if the Braves stay healthy they will win the NL east the have a group of strong arms and a group of young hungry hitters....but they need a closer so they should go after Pappelbon or Valverde.....
  7. Howie from Poughkeepsie
    7. Posted by Howie from Poughkeepsie Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:27 am EST

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    Braves will not compete financially for Papelbon - and I doubt they would go for a long term contract for a closer - or else they would try and re-sign Gonzalez. They need to spend significantly for a 2010 first baseman and a 2010 closer and maybe a long term outfielder (unless they decide that Schafer's 2009 poor season was due to his injury, and give that needed OF job to Jordan). The money will come from re-cycled dollars when they trade a starter (I hope that will be Lowe and not Vasquez).
  8. dagoldeneagle
    8. Posted by dagoldeneagle Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:28 am EST

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    billy wagner is one of the best and most consistent closers of the generation along with mariano rivera and trevor hoffman.
    after proving he was healthy and dominant late this season, he deserves to close again.
    btw rafael soriano is a really good closer. i would take him over fernando rodney anyday. rodney is a joke and has disaster written all over him. he is jorge julio in the making.
  9. rudy
    9. Posted by rudy Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:42 am EST

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    First off your an idiot... its not a trade.. and its not between the mets and braves... We need Gonzalez.. Sor and Wag's.. but the money isnt there.. if we want a bat... SS OUT!!
  10. Rattle and Hum
    10. Posted by Rattle and Hum Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:23 am EST

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    Good luck to B-Wags, wherever he lands. He was always a gritty player and we appreciate his years in Queens. I would hate for the Mets to have to face him in a close game, so I'm hoping he stays in Boston. But, if we do face him pitching for an NL East rival, we'll have to knock his a$$ out. "It's not personal. It's strictly business" - Michael Corleone.
  11. Asher
    11. Posted by Asher Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:16 pm EST

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    Personally I'd rather see (and I'm not saying that this is realistic) the Braves bring back Smoltz and make him the closer to finish out his career with the team.
  12. philsphanwest
    12. Posted by philsphanwest Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:40 pm EST

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    As a Phillies fan, I would LOVE for the Braves to sign Billy Wagner to close. He'd be great for team morale. The opposing team's moral.
  13. V
    13. Posted by V Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:48 pm EST

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    To all the people saying Wagner sucks... His 2.39 career ERA and 1.01 WHIP say otherwise.
    Philliesphan, you keep Brad Lidge, the Braves will be happy with Wagner
  14. dembraves2003
    14. Posted by dembraves2003 Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:01 pm EST

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    I have been pushing Wagner for a while now and think he could be great with the Braves. What scares me is the thought of Rodney or Brandon Lyon which I have heard about. If either of those two have great responsibility then write off the year.
  15. philsphanwest
    15. Posted by philsphanwest Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:51 pm EST

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    V #13: Deal. I like Lidge in the even-numbered years. The problem with Wagner isn't so much his raw stats. It's his inability to deliver those numbers in the clutch, and his inability not to stick his feet in his mouth with his teammates. Lidge had his struggles this year for certain, but he stood up and was accountable and said and did all the right things all year.
  16. Marcus T
    16. Posted by Marcus T Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:42 pm EST

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    Make Chipper the closer!
  17. John
    17. Posted by John Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:24 pm EST

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    Have they approached John Smoltz about coming back next year. He would be an asset and cheap too. He could close or be the setup man the braves badly need.

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