The Braves re-vamped rotation; CHOP news and more
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The Braves re-vamped rotation; CHOP news and more
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies got a taste of Derek Lowe in the playoffs last season. Now, it looks as if they'll see plenty more of him this season as the Atlanta Braves have finalized a four-year, $60 million agreement with the veteran right-hander.
We'll look at the Braves potential rotation down below. First, though, it is now apparent why the Phillies never seemed to be serious players for Lowe, despite their interest in bringing the sinker-baller to the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park. While Ruben Amaro might not be as rigid as his predecessor was when it comes to signing pitchers to long-term deals, Lowe didn't seem like the ideal candidate to break the "Three-years-or-under" philosophy the club has taken since Pat Gillick took the reigns, meaning the Braves will be paying $15 million a year to a pitcher who is close to turning 40.
That said, Lowe has never spent time on the disabled list and has started at least 32 games in each of the last seven seasons. Meanwhile, his ERA has been under 4.00 in each of the last four seasons.
While the Braves will be without some big names this season - Tim Hudson is sidelined with elbow surgery; John Smoltz and Mike Hampton have signed elsewhere - their rotation appears a lot deeper and more dependable this season.
I've got an email in to some people in Atlanta who can speak with more authority on the Braves' potential rotation, but here is one glimpse at home it might look. Obviously, the biggest wild card is Kenshin Kawakami, the Japanese star whom the Braves have agreed to terms with. While he put up some monster numbers in Japan, he has thrown more than 200 innings just once in his 11-year career and last season threw just 117 1/3 innings.
1. Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.25 ERA)
2. Jair Jurrjens (13-10, 3.68 ERA)
3. Javier Vazquez (12-16, 4.67 ERA)
4. Jorge Campillo (8-7, 3.91 ERA)
5. Kenshin Kawakami (9-5, 2.30 ERA)
^
The Phils were reportedly present at a session held by lefthander Eric Milton, who spent the 2004 season with the club. Milton, 33, has not pitched since undergoing Tommy John Surgery during the summer of 2007.
^
Chan Ho Park obviously does not subscribe to the conventional wisdom that he will end up in the Phillies bullpen. The Associated Press is reporting today that Park has resigned from his spot on South Korea's entrant into the World Baseball Classic.
His reasoning?
"As I'm going to the Phillies," Park said, "I will do my best there to achieve my goal of being a starter."
Lowe isn't Jake Peavy, but he is a proven, dependable innings eating starter who has averaged 15 wins since 2002. Lowe will turn 36 on June 1st which will make him 40 during the last 4 months of his 4th season. Kind of funny that Phillies fans are critical about the Braves signing a soon to be 36 year old workhorse, but apparently find no cause for concern about signing a 46 year old to a 2 year contract.— bvillebaron- Eric Milton pitching in CBP? If they give away free hot dogs for every homer he gives up, the whole world will be out of mustard.— old baseball guy
- The Braves rotation does not scare me. Prego614, no way the Jays are trading Halladay after losing Burnett. The only way will be for the Phillies to give them one of their core players (Victorino or Werth) and a combination of minor leaguers (Carrasco, Happ, Marson or Donald), or maybe a deal involving Ryan Howard. But then again, I won't trade a star player or even a very good position player (unless I got somebody already to replace him) for a pitcher that is going to help me only every 5th day. I will go with prospects, but then again, the Jays won't go for it. Also, you don't want to disrupt a nucleus that just won the WS.— EL Zorro
- The Park as a starter situation reminds me of the Ryan Franklin fiasco back in 06. Franklin was a free agent signee with a promise to be given an opportunity to start which he did in Seattle. Instead he was relegated to the bullpen here where he was a disaster and eventually traded in mid season.— Dull
- Derek Lowe can go to Atlanta. He didn't impress me when the series was on the line in LA, and he is too expensive. He's also 35 years old with @ 1500 innings in 7 years. A four year deal at 60 million is tough to accept for those stats, and at the end of the season the Phillies took him out. Atlanta is still a mediocre team.— Bob1
- Lowe as #1 on Braves? He would not have been the #1 on the Phils. Good to see the mets did not get him. Now they will settle for resigning perez or whatever else is out there.— mikemaddog
- Agree on Park. Saito would have been a better choice.— mikemaddog
- Great line, OBG. Eric Milton sucked when he was healthy, why would he be any better post-Tommy John? He has about as much chance of making this club as Milton Berle. And yes, he is dead.— redcans
- I was at the Eric Milton 8 2/3 inning no-hitter in 2004. He didn't even get the win as he gave up a pinch hit single and a 2-run homer. He is awful. I'd rather watch Adam Eaton get beaten up than see Eric Milton back in a Phillies uniform. Or Andy Ashby. Garrett Stephenson? Nelson Figueroa? Mike Grace? Matt Beech? Bubby Munoz? Notice a pattern?— maximusud
- Milton the southpaw has about as much chance of wearing a Phils uniform as Milton Berle, and he's been dead for 10 yrs.— mick314
- every Brave pitcher RH and most of the Philly lineup in LH...hmmm— phairmount
- The Phils wouldn't give a 35 year old pitcher a four year contract but they give a 46 year old pitcher a two year contract. If the Braves sign Dunn they will compete in the East. The Phils are essentially like last season's team. Ibanez and Park are not much of an upgrade. They need a legitimate #2. Myers is certainly not that.— butchcat
- Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.25 ERA), great numbers for Dodger Stadium, eh? Let's see how he does in Hotlanta, a launching pad for sure. I'll take the f...g world champion's pitching staff any day. Park is going to be a great addition. He's determined, healthy and a f...g competitor. Hope he makes the rotation.— brinkmang
- The Braves just wasted $20 Million Dollars. Who else had an offer out to Lowe in the neighborhood of $60M? The Mets gave him a fair 3-year $36M offer. Even that might be too high for a guy who sucked when pitching away from Dodger Stadium. It's amazing players are still getting all these inflated deals despite the economy and despite history proving that giving an aging starter a big contract almost never works out. Nice signing Atlanta, that was money spent very unwisely.— GHOSTPHAYCE
- Can anyone think of a situationwhere the Phillies brought a guy back and it worked out really well for them? Only one I can think of is Milt Thompson. Just a few of the horrendous retreads: Jose Mesa, Adam Eaton, Andy Ashby, Mickey Morandini, Dave Hollins, Mike Jackson...— fiveforone
