If Yesco goes, who plays SS?

Two former Braves are free agents: Fukey, injury-prone of late but electric in the postseason, and Edgar, coming off a subpar season in Detroit. 

The demand for Fukey is high, and his price tag is estimated to be 30 mil for two years, a bit rich for the Braves. His skill atop the order would fill two needs. 

Edgar would be much more affordable and is only a year removed from a .332 average. But you can't overlook his declining range. Edgar's only 33 but has 13 big league seasons under his belt. By most accounts he's starting to show his age.

Orlando Cabrera is a year older but a step faster. He won a Gold Glove in '07 while batting .301 with 86 RBI. He struggled a bit in Chicago last year, publicly questioned his teammates and, on a few occasions, the official scorer. As far as I know he had never been considered a malcontent before, and his play down the stretch for the '04 Red Sox was widely hailed. He can bat lead-off, though his OBP is below average. Cabrera's defense remains above par. I expect he'll get 3 years at 10 mil per. 

Before you lobby for Omar Infante, consider that his career fielding percentage at short is .960, well below the league average. I have my doubts about his ability to play every day, though he made a pretty strong case last season. He's still only 27. 

You can't underestimate Yesco's departure. Brent Lillibridge has seemingly turned into Pat Rockett, leaving Brandon Hicks as the only decent SS prospect in the Braves system. Hicks has intriguing power (582 career AB's, 40 doubles, 27 HR, 91 RBI) and good range. The 2007 third-round draft pick is expected to start the 2009 season in Mississippi. 

--CB

Comments

[Viva Rufino Linares!]

Interesting. Thanks, CB.

[CB]

Apparently Greene is not part of the package. Braves don't seem interested.

Yeah, I thought taking Greene was part of the deal for Peavy, because the Padres are looking to offload salary. Greene was awful at the plate last year, but he's still a good fielder. Seems like a decent short-term solution.

[Viva Rufino Linares!]

If the Braves trade for Peavy, does that look like all they will get? Is Greene no longer a part of that package?