Braves sign Billy Wagner

[realmofotalk]

Source: Braves, closer Wagner agree to deal - MLB News - FOX Sports on MSN

1 year, $7 million. Braves give up their 20th overall pick, which goes to the Red Sox barring the Braves signing a higher ranking Type A free agent.

[missionhockey21]

I mean, the Braves need talent in the pen to stabilize it... no question, but this is pricey, especially with giving up the pick. I know his K/9 was unreal last season, but it was 14 innings and he is 38. I can't blame the Braves for doing this but they better offer arbitration to Gonzalez (and Soriano) to somewhat recover from the pick they lost.

[Providence A's]

Yeah, I'm surprised to see them give up the pick for this. Perhaps they will sign a higher rated FA to justify it.

[cjkalt]

If they signed Soriano they would lose 2 picks (the 1 from the other team and a sandwich pick) so its better to sign Wagner (lose 1 pick) and let someone else sign Soriano (get 2 picks)

[Impossibles]

Yeah, its basically Soriano and Gonzalez for Wagner and 3 picks (they get 4 but lose 1).

[missionhockey21]

I've been thinking about this deal today and I pretty much decided that it is a deal we will all likely talk about as being genius or boneheaded on the part of Wren. Soriano and Gonzalez are going to get big bucks, somewhere, Wagner came in cheaper than either of them did and they come out on the plus side with picks gained as Impossibles pointed out. Of course he has been injured, has blown some saves in recent memory, and isn't exactly young. If there is one more year left in the tank... it could be a very nice move though.

[Kingdom]

They swapped injury prone relievers, that's all I see it as