Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop 12/15 Hart’s A Heartthrob??

MLB Rumors

Atlanta Braves Rumors

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Tis the season…the MLB silly season is upon us and we still have no idea what the Braves and John Hart plan to make of the 2015 season.  We are all in hopes that 2015 will be a magical ride in Atlanta but with the uncertainty of Justin Upton and Evan Gattis, we have no idea what our roster will look like.  If everything falls through and neither are traded, do we have to start worrying about the locker room and how these guys will take being on the trade block all offseason?

"Figuring out what to do with the Braves is tricky, but it sounds like team president John Hart won’t be sentimental about keeping the team together, judging from his comments to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Let’s be honest: This team finished 29th in offense,” Hart says. “It’s not like I’m breaking up the ’27 Yankees.”Hart’s Braves might not have been in the same trouble the Pirates were when GM Neal Huntington said almost exactly the same thing in 2009, but the Braves have been busy so far this offseason, dealing Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins, and signing Nick Markakis and Jim Johnson. Still, Hart adds, the Braves aren’t going to “throw a hand grenade on the club and blow it up” in preparation for the opening of their new stadium in 2017. Hart adds that he has had discussions with “six to eight” teams about Justin Upton, but none that have resulted in a trade."

Seattle Mariners

Mariners seek creative options for right-field vacancy

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  The free agent pool is getting slim now that Melky Cabrera has signed with the Chicago White Sox for a three-year, $42 million deal.  The way the Mariners have been playing their cards this offseason, it looks like they are going all in for the 2015 World Series.  This has been rumored a destination spot for Upton for months now, this could all play out well for Atlanta.  I think Rios is the last piece for Seattle.  If they can not sign him, they push hard for Upton. 

"The remaining free-agent outfielders include right-handers Alex Rios, Michael Morse, Chris Denorfia, Jonny Gomes and Delmon Young and left-handersNori Aoki, Colby Rasmus, Ichiro Suzuki and Endy Chavez.Morse, Denorfia, Suzuki and Chavez have all been with the Mariners in the past, with Denorfia and Chavez filling the right-field duties much of the second half last season while Saunders was on the disabled list. Chavez has played 177 games for Seattle the past two seasons, both times signing a Minor League deal and then making the squad.The trade route seems an increasingly likely solution, and the Mariners have some young power arms available in return. Justin Upton remains available in Atlanta, though Seattle has balked at any requests for young pitching standoutTaijuan Walker in exchange for a player with just one year left on his contract."

Boston Globe

MLB teams always wonder if they did enough in offseason

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Interesting note here by the Boston Globe…was Dan Uggla go through concussion like symptoms during his last few years in Atlanta?  Rumored with having undetected concussions, Uggla struggled over his last two seasons before being released last year.  He was picked up by the San Francisco Giants but only played in a handful of games (four games, zero hits and two errors). 

"Dan Uggla, 2B, free agent — Uggla’s agent, Terry Bross, was trying to drum up business for an Uggla comeback at the Winter Meetings. A lot of Uggla’s decline may have had to do with an undetected concussion. He hit under .200 in 2013, and for a short time in 2014 before the Braves released him. Uggla is 34."

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