Comments on: Brian McCann unlikely to get an extension this season

By: bravojawja

bravojawja — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:35:49 +0000

There’s no reason for either side to do anything right now anyway. On the business side, nobody has any leverage – McCann had a bad, injury-plagued year; the Braves have no one ready to jump in for another couple of years at least (unless they trust Gattis back there, but they’ve put him in LF in the minors and winter ball).

Mac has been the face of the franchise, right behind Chipper, who is now gone. He’s the veteran leadership on the team, which is weird since it seems like he showed up to play yesterday. God, I’m old. In any event, it’s always hard to dump a player as well loved as Mac, but the Braves have done it before. I’m not sure my grandmother ever forgave them for not re-signing Javy Lopez, but she remained a fan of the team anyway.

By: louhudson23

louhudson23 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:32:35 +0000

Reality is that he could easily be finished. While he could just as easily bounce completely back,there is a very real concern that his type of injury and his playing position will not allow that to happen. There is simply no reason to spend the money on this big of a question mark.

By: Walk

Walk — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:46:54 +0000

The problem with the braves is their budget. When a big free agent hits the market they might make an offer but they have small chance of landing them. I fear mac if he hits free agency is going to command a salary the braves will not pay. At best we get a draft pick. If the team that signs him has a protected pick it is a worse situation. Compound that with the fact that the braves have to make a qualifying offer and the situation is murky at best. If they can extend him now for a few years i am all for it but i think they missed the chance for mac to command the highest value he would have had in a trade by not moving him when there was a full season on his contract.

By: mrqwag

mrqwag — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:30:39 +0000

Why extend an injury prone veteran when you have a stud catcher like Christian Bethancourt in your minor league system?

By: mrwillie

mrwillie — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:20:58 +0000

Bethancourt? He’s still 21 with a long ways to go with his bat. Defensively he’s probably big league ready, but his bat has not caught up. He still looks like he’s a few years away from being called up, and he should be. He’s got plenty of time.

By: Walk

Walk — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:41:14 +0000

Sorry i meant to put left or center not and center. I figure prado moves into the infield. I am not sold on uggla at second either. I think he might end up at third before his current contract is up.

By: cowboysoldiertx

cowboysoldiertx — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:32:47 +0000

They have a CF named Upton…

By: Walk

Walk — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:22:35 +0000

I love mac but the braves got a decent catcher waiting in the minors that i hope to see in september. I know this is unpopular but i was hoping they would have traded mac last year prior to the surgery. Mac would have had a full year plus which could have added to his value. The braves have bigger holes than catcher. Most teams only have catchers that are useful for defense and calling a game. Trading mac to fill holes in the outfield, namely left and center and getting a leadoff hitter i consider higher priority than maintaining a great hitting catcher. Macs defense is going to be suspect after the shoulder surgery, i hope he recovers fully, but he may end up being best used on an american league team as a back up catcher and full time dh.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:03:02 +0000

You know, you can have more than 140 characters on here, Larry.

By: innout10

innout10 — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 18:58:01 +0000

Lock in hey, Prad and med first.. Bmac won’t leave at end of season and will bounce back this year. Future looks good