8 Free agents for the Braves to watch

Here is a list of FAs (some might have signed extensions since the list I looked at was last updated) I think the Braves should look at after this year. Followed is a max (in millions) I'd pay if I were Frank Wren.

1) Mark Teixeira. Yes, the Braves would love to have him, but so would the Yankees and Mets (and to a lesser extent Red Sox, Orioles, Mariners and Angels). I'd go up to 23 mill for Tex at 6 years max. I think he goes 27 mill for 6.

2) C.C. Sabbathia. His struggles so far this year might drop his salary some, but he'll still get at least 4 years and 20 million. I don't see the Mets going for him, paying 50 Mill combined for two left handed SPs in two long term deals locks them up a lot. The Yankess could be desperate for him, especially with their young pitchers struggling and a lot of their older pitchers fading. I'd go 20 Mill 4 years max. I think he goes 22 mill 5 years.

3) Jim Thome. He hasn't played first in a while and wasn't that good when he did play there. But he's an OPS machine you can almost put in stone for .950 OPS. He'd bring power and also get on base for Francouer, McCann and the rest of the bottom of the lineup. 12-15 mill in a 3 year deal, depending on his season this year. I think he goes for around that price, problem might be him wanting a 4th or 5th year, which at his age is questionable.

4) Adam Dunn. Underrated because his BA is low, but he does two things, hit for power and walk. He'd essentially be Andruw when Andruw was in his offensive prime and that formula scored a lot of runs. Don't know what he would be like at 1B, but he's played over 100 games there. I'd look for his HR to drop (bigger pitcher's park) but his RBIs and Runs to jump dramatically (much better lineup). 12 mill 4 year.

5) Jeff Kent. Don't know how willing he'd be to move to 1B, but he'd likely go from a below average defensive 2B to an above average defensive 1B. He's played over 100 games at 1B, although in many of those he came in as a PH and stayed in at 1B in a double switch. He's still a productive bat and he has experience protecting big time OPS guys. 10 mill 2 years. 8 mill 3 years

6) Pat Burrell. Gets a lot of flack, but he's a productive bat. He could have a huge year that would likely put what he would get in the FA market out of whack with his real value. Played 58 games in 2000 at 1B. 12 mill 4 years

7) Frank Thomas. He's getting up there in years, but could serve as a productive bridge to the Braves prospects if he could be had for a short term contract. it will be interesting to see how his being cut from the Blue Jays plays out. 8-10 Mill in a one year contract.

8) Oliver Perez. I think he's turned the corner, although he'll always be prone to bouts of occasional wildness. I don't see the mets letting him go though. 15 mill 4 years.


I'd really look to target one of Thome, Dunn and Kent. I think CC and Tex will get the two big bidders off the table and open up the Braves, who get the big contracts of Hampton, Glavine and Teixiera off the books. I don't like the looks of the SP FA market this year, although there are some intriguing names. I look for the Braves to possibly address the rotation via trade.