How much would you offer to keep Soriano or Gonzalez?

[Devil Wears Prado]

Would you guys want to keep Soriano and/or Gonzalez after this season is over? If so, how much would you want to offer them?

[Lauren T.]

Isn't Soriano signed for next year as well?

[Hobbes]

Isn't Soriano signed for next year as well?
Nope. He's a free agent after this season.

[sdp]

I hadn't been a fan of Soriano's, but he's won me over. The guy is simply dominant. Gonzo, on the other hand, tends to raise my blood pressure and he'd be the one I dangle at the deadline if Wren decides to sell.

Unfortunately, I don't see Soriano back. The Braves don't overpay for relief help and big market teams will be willing to offer Soriano money the Braves won't, unless Soriano wants to stay.

[BarveFanHawaii]

I don't know how much I'd pay, but I can almost assure anyone that their price tags will both be out of Atlanta's current budget. I'm guessing Gonzalez to get anywhere between $6-8M on at least a 2-year deal and Soriano to get around $10M on possibly a 3-year deal.

I'd say Soriano, not considering health, would be worth the money...but giving him that money when we already have trouble making mid-season moves because of money is pretty silly even though the bullpen will be one of our biggest issues next winter.

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I really don't think either will command that much money in this market. I can't see anyone paying Soriano more than 8 Mil. But I think he will get a multi yr deal. If not for his injury past maybe, but he's had so few healthy seasons I can't see anyone commiting that type of money to him. Alot will depend on who's available too though as I'm not sure who his competition will be in FA. Im guessing Gonzalez will get 5 or 6 mil on a 1 or 2 yr deal to be someone's closer. I would hope we would pay 8 mil for Soriano to keep him if possible. What would be the point in adding bats if we're going to offset it by blowing leads =/ I don't see anyone in the farm rdy to help the pen. Maybe Medlen but he's not the type of Power Arm you expect to be a dominant closer. gues we will find out in 6 months or so.

[sdp]

If Soriano's numbers this year continue on the path they're already along, I find it highly likely that he'll command money in the $10-12MM per range. Someone will pay it.

[BarveFanHawaii]

I'm actually salivating at what the Rays might be willing to give up for some established relief help. They are one of the few teams who could make it extremely worthwhile to deal one of our guys if we end up as sellers at month's end.

[hoosjon]

I think that both of them will command more than they are worth. People want/need closers, and I doubt we will pay enough to keep these relief pitchers. I think that Gonzo isn't enough of a stopper to be a true closer, but someone will think enough of him to shove millions at him.

We seem to think that we have Leo Mazzone searching the local Sears for guys selling Lady Kenmores to find the next Kerry Ligtenberg or something. As you can tell, I don't really approve of this "looking for lightning in a bottle method" of selecting a closer.

I don't HAVE to have Sori or Gonzo as our closer. Any talented closer would be worth spending some coin on, IMHO. I just hope we don't go into next season with Moylan as our "closer".

[Wahoo]

The only one I'd consider spending coin on is Soriano. Even last year, he was better than Gonzalez has been this year. Gonzalez, while a solid relief option, is not a closer. He has neither the control or the consistency in his stuff for me to believe he'd make a good closer. He's a decent setup option, but I am not interested in paying him the money he's likely looking for.

[BraveFan]

Here is what I'd be willing to go to if I was Wren and had the Braves money situation.

Soriano- 10M
Gonzalez w/o Soriano signed- 4M
Gonzalez w/Soriano re-signed- 2M

[RiknTN]

I agree with Wahoo and Hoosjon. Closers don't just happen to come along. Jst because someone is a decent relif pitcher doesn't make him a closer. Soriano is as proven as we can even hope to afford. It would e great if we could keep both. But much more realistic to let Gonzo walk and pay what we have to to Soriano to take care of that VERY important 9th inning thing.

[BraveFan]

Their price tags could very well depend on if they are looking to sign some where to be a closer or just go some where for the money. The Yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Angels all have solid closers and the rest of the league may not be willing to pony up the cash that those two maybe looking for. So they will have a choice: Become a really high paid setup man or close for a cheaper salary.

[luvdembravos]

I doubt seriously any team is going to give Soriano ~$10M per year that a few of you have been quoting here.

That kind of money goes to top-shelf closers with a proven track record (e.g. Wagner, Lidge, Hoffman). Soriano has a history of arm trouble, will be 30 years old next year and ONLY has 26 career saves (26/37 conversion rate). That hardly justifies $10M per year.

Sure, Soriano's having a good year but he'll be lucky to get $6-7M per year in a two year deal. Any team performing proper due diligence will realize that recent high dollar closer signings such as Wagner, Lidge and B J Ryan simply weren't worth the money.

Also, I think FA's are going to do worse in 2009-10 than they did last year because the economy will be just as bad or worse.

[Dreamscape]

Again, I'm not so concerned about the money. What we learned from last year's offseason is in this market and these times, all bets are off financially. NBA free agency is also showing us that. My problem is the length of committment that will likely be required. Two years, I'm fine with. A third year club option (not a vesting option, but a true club option). Cool. But after that, I start to really worry about bang for your investment because of Soriano's injury history, the lacking consistency one year-to-the-next of relievers, and the abuse at the hands of a manager who never feels safe.

Though, I do think it's not that hard to imagine Soriano getting $10M. Kerry Wood got $20.5M over two years with an $11M option for a third year. Kerry Wood and his history of injury problems. Maybe less than $10M can be expected, but not $2-$3M less than $10M. A two-year, $18M contract with a third year option sounds about right.

[bravestud]

But after that, I start to really worry about bang for your investment because of Soriano's injury history, the lacking consistency one year-to-the-next of relievers, and the abuse at the hands of a manager who never feels safe.
I wouldn't overpay either of them for all these reasons. I think we're already seeing Gonzalez start to wear down from overuse by Bobby, who is notorious for burning out relievers.

I absolutely love Soriano. As a pitcher, I can't say anything bad about him. But with his injury history, and knowing how Cox handles his bullpen, I just can't see it being a good move to pay him what he's going to command this winter.

[Hobbes]

I truly don't see anybody giving him more than two years guaranteed. I think the Braves can easily match other teams' offers in length of contract. It's the money that might price him out of our range.

Farnsworth took more money to be a setup man elsewhere than be a closer for the Braves, so it certainly happens. Of course, that turned out good for the Braves anyway.

[BigWorm]

Extend Soriano immediately. We got money to throw into the Sea of Japan, then we got money for a hell of a closer.