Braves OF Update

Hey folks! 

Here's a quick review of what outfielders signed this week: Bobby Abreu signed a 1-year deal with the Angels for $5 million; incentives could raise the deal above $6 million. Adam Dunn reached a 2-year $20 million agreement with the Washington Nationals (yes, thats the same team that finished dead last in the league last year). Ken Griffey Jr. is on the verge of signing with his former team, the Seattle Mariners. 

So this leaves the Braves with some pretty schlumpy free-agent OF's to choose from. Fox Sport's Ken Rosenthal says the Braves are looking into Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds and Luis Gonzalez. None of these guys will knock the ball out of the park or serve as a cleanup hitter for the Bravos. Garret Anderson will put up solid stats (15 HR's, 70-80 RBI's and .280-.290 avg.), but nothing that will blow you out of the water. Jim Edmonds who rotated between the Cubs 5,6 and 7 slots last season hit 20 long-balls but only brought in 55 runners, while tallying a near Mendoza-line average. Luis Gonzalez is probably the worst fit of the three. If the Braves need power, they should avoid Gonzalez who has only hit more than 30 HR's twice in his career. 

Rosenthal also mentioned that the Braves have not shot down the idea of trading some prospects for Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady. Swisher is an interesting candidate. He has a long-term contract and currently make $5.3 million. However, Swisher is inconsistent and I wouldn't be willing to part with any of the Braves "Top Prospects" for a player of his stature. Nady is probably the best fit for the Bravos. He shocked a lot of fans with his numbers last year. However, he was never really given a 'fair chance' in Pittsburgh until last season and was then approached by the Braves at the trade-deadline, but wound up with the Yankees. The only issue with Nady is that he becomes a free-agent after the '09 season and he is a client of (you guessed it!) Scott Boras....