Keep Husdon ... Trade Kawakami!!!

the yankees do not need him the yanks already have the best starter in baseball with cc. go yanks. also why would anyone want to even think or talk about anything but the great and mighty yankees.

Hope your rumors turn out right, some day, Mark Miller! Do a little research, first. The only reason I respond, here, is because of the numerous fans that know baseball and care.

Seems like a safe decision for both sides. TJ's are pretty reliable in terms of their success rate, so the Braves can probably count on Hudson returning to form. At the same time, Hudson gets more money guaranteed while the Braves can reduce the annual salary. I guess with the McCourt divorce, Hudson decided that the Dodgers wouldn't be wrecklessly throwing money at rehabbing former aces this year. Too bad, they could have used him.

Since he was able to come back and pitch well, can't really argue with this move.
Though will be interesting to see who they move from that rotation.....Lowe makes too much. Vazquez has one year for a lot, but a team that thinks they are one pitcher away could possibly make the move for him. Still think a trade of Jurrjens could make sense for the Braves if they get a nice middle of the order bat for the OF.

Shocked that the Braves would offer a 3 yr deal. Hudson wasn't going to get that on the market so good for him

Derrick Lowe is being shopped. Huddy would take his spot. Kawakami can go too. They need to keep Vasquez. Hudson, Vazquz, Jurjens, Hanson - 4 solid guys.

Hudson would have probably gottten at least a 3 year deal. Not a great pitcher's market and his stuff is the best out there probably. And if it's only $27M? That's less than what Smotlz would have gotten if he hit all his incentives. Hudson is far younger and better now than Smotlz.
Lowe is being shopped....but I'd MUCH rather give a guy like Lackey big bucks, or even one of the other pitchers than take on all that salary owed to Lowe....who will be nearly 40 by the time the Braves are done paying him. You won't get anything for him unless you take on another big contract.
Kawakami could be moved.....but still don't think it's smart to trade a Japanese player 1 year after signing them. Sends a bad message and could hurt if the Braves ever want to sign another. Plus, outside the NL, not sure how good he'd really be. He's a #3 starter at best, and in the AL may only be a 4.

I look at it like this: if Oliver Perez somehow, someway was worth a 3 year, $36 million contract with his resume, Hudson certainly is too. For that reason, wouldn't mind seeing him in a Mets uniform next season, but, call it a hunch, he resigns with the Braves and they either move Kawakami to the bullpen or trade him. Lowe is worth keeping more than Kawakami, and Kawakami would be easier to deal. They'd have to take on a lot of Lowe's remaining contract. Better just to hold onto him for at least another season. His overall season wasn't great this year, but terrible either. They knew they overpaid when they got him, so giving up on him after 1 so/so season makes very little sense.

He should stay in Atlanta, but I don't think he is worth that much either. They could shop any one of those 6 starters and get a good return on it. Nice rotation if it can perform and stay healthy. They should be right up there next year.

Daniel V #10: Good post. Derek Lowe might have been a bit of a disappointment this season, but he was far from bad. The problem with Lowe is his contract, not his pitching. No one but no one is trading for that contract. I really do not see why the Braves would re-sign Hudson. To me, the rotation of Lowe, Vazquez, Jurrjens, Hanson, and Kawakami is already one of the league's best 1-5. The Braves need to spend their limited resources on the back-half of a bullpen and a power bat. Lowe's contract already squeezes the team's ability to spend on these areas of need. Spending on Tim Hudson only exacerbates the problem. To me, I'd rather face Hudson than either Lowe, Vazquez, Hanson or Jurrjens. If the Braves are smart this off-season, they could be very very good next year.

#12,
I agree, the Braves need to focus on the pen and a power bat.....but I do like this Hudson signing as I think it could actually help them in that regard. Unless they thought they had a good shot at landing Holliday or Bay, there's no real OF bat that can help a lot and would cost a ton. So other than maybe losing out on those two, this Hudson signing (if true) doesn't hurt.
I think they can now look at trading Jurrjens for a bat and/or bullpen help. I know a lot of Braves fans will get upset, but a trade around Jurrjens and Choo I think could work out for both teams. Indians could throw in a guy like Joe Smith. He had some health issues this year (but not his arm really) but pitched well when he was in there. He came over from the Mets where he had two solid season, so you know he can handle the NL East ok. Would be a nice 7th inning guy. Choo speaks for himself, great bat and great arm. Would fit perfect in RF along side McLouth with Heyward on his way up (imagine that OF for the next 3 years? yikes).
Would it be VERY tough to give up Jurrjens if you're the Braves? Absolutely....but is he really this good? Most scouts don't think so. Still a heck of a talent though, don't get me wrong. But if they added Choo and Smith.....don't you think the Braves could live with a rotatoin of Hudson, Vazquez, Lowe, Hanson, and Kawakami?

hudson needs to look for more money elsewhere.
he's been underpaid throughout his career.
3 years 39 million is fair based on his solid track record.

#14,
I thought Hudson built a home nearby Atlanta? I think he wants to stay.

The rumor that was reported the other day was Ken Rosenthal talking through his backside. I don't know how he stays employed....

dagoldeneagle - the reality is this a what have you done for me latley sport. Smoltz had a good track record and went down to 5 mil. If Hudson is getting offered 3yr 27-30 mil he better take it b/c its a cold world out there for players coming off injury

I say giveHudson his money's worth And also keep Hanson.
Andrew

Keep Lowe, Hudson, Hanson, Vasquez, Jurrjens, and get rid of Kawakami! The Braves have the best 1-5 in the National league as long as they stay healthy, NL East champs again baby!
#3 No one even mentioned the Spankees, believe it or not the world does not revolve around you! Your statement is dumb, as most are from Spankee fans too! Sabathia is not even the best in the AL, he is comparable to Mark Buehrle but with a few more K's, a top 15 pitcher at best! (compare the career stats)

need to keep kawakami and ditch vasquez. kawakami is basically a hiroki kuroda clone, a solid 4 guy who should be above average for a couple years then let his contract run out. vasquez absolutely needs to be traded now, unless hes a free agent or something i dont know his contract status, but his value will never be higher and he always falls apart in years when his team needs him to contendt. he had a cy young caliber year and somebody should be willing to overpay the braves for him. of course this wouldnt even matter if the braves hadnt gave up andrus, feliz, salty and matt harrison for 3/4 a year of texeira.

But............can we get some bats?
You can have the best rotation in both leagues, but if the offense isn't there it doesn't really matter. Just look at all the games we would have won this past season if we could have just been able to put 3 or 4 runs on the board.
.....................taking a wait & see attitude at this point.

Lowe needs to go and there are plenty of teams that will need a front end of the rotation guy . Angels , Mariners , Mets , Milwaukee , Astro's , Texas . Plenty out there especially if Lackey doesnt resign with Angels .

How the hell he's still worth 30 mil is beyond me.

Probably not the wisest financial decision he will make

Vazquez is the guy to get rid of. He vastly over-performed this season and is a free agent at the end of 2010. His value will never be higher and he should be able to anchor a package for the big bat the Braves need.
Kawakami's contract is a little high, but he was the best #4 starter in baseball this season. His win-loss record doesn't accurately show how he pitched.
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