Welcome Aboard: Javier Vazquez

The latest addition to the 2009 Braves pitching staff is a guy who once pitched for the Montreal Expos if you can remember those days. :) Vazquez comes to Atlanta from the Chicago White Sox in a deal that sent Brent Lillibridge, Tyler Flowers, and lefty Santos Rodriguez. In addition to Vazquez the Braves also received RP Boone Logan.

I think Vazquez will add some stability to the Braves rotation. Javy is a better pitcher in the NL and will collect his share of Ks. I think he suits the Braves better than most of the teams he has played for in the past. He's a solid #3 in the rotation although he might be used as a #2 during the season.

The rotation stands like this as of

-Jurrjens
-Vazquez
-Campillo
-Reyes
-Morton/James/Parr

You will notice that Glavine, Smoltz, and Hudson are not included. The Braves did not offer arbitration to either Glavine or Smoltz. That does not mean they will not return to Atlanta. They are both are currently going through rehab so they can find out if their capable of pitching next season or not. Hudson had TJ surgery and will not be able to return until the latter part of the year (August)? Right now, the rotation does not have much experience when it comes down to it. That is why Atlanta is heavily pursuing Mr. Burnett.

Burnett: A Brave or Not?

The winter meetings are coming to a close and the Braves are in the running for one of this winter's most sought after free agent pitchers; A.J. Burnett. Burnett is looking for a guaranteed 5th year from some team and so far the Yankees have met that demand. The Braves are not giving up as they are also preparing to give Burnett a 5th year. Atlanta has previously made Burnett two offers. The first one was a 'feeler' offer of 4/$64M and the second was 5/$80M. The fifth year offered was a vesting option which according to sources is easily attainable.