[RkTaker]

did anyone see that play that joe mauer made last night

[Dj1223]

I can't believe how badly the Cubs are struggling. They seriously need to add a big bat to that lineup and add some firepower to the bullpen. Hopefully, they can trade for Peavy, sending Heilman and Guzman to the Padres and moving Marshall and Wells to the bullpen. And maybe pull off a trade sending Aaron Miles somewhere for a big bat to play second or move Soriano to second for a big bat to play left. I would go with Micah, but I don't think that's enough.

[Daddy]

With the way the Cubs offense has been struggling all year I am embarrassed to be a Cub fan right now. And the bullpen is god awful terrible. I about threw the remote through the TV today watching that sad excuse for a game. WTF is up with Heilman? They trade for him knowing he only had one good year out of 7 and act shocked he isn't doing better!

[Dj1223]

I'm sure the Padres would take him since he's cheap and it's such a pitcher's park that he might actually do well there. He definitely needs to go though. IDK what the hell they were thinking this offseason. trade/release Heilman and promote Samardzija or put Wells/Marshall in his spot. It's the best move they can make right now.

[Toaster Oven]

Soriano at 2nd again would be luls, his VORP drops like a brick at second.

[Necro]

Tom Glavine Released By Braves

Tom Glavine's return to the Atlanta Braves will not have a storybook ending.

The surefire Hall of Famer was released by the team on Wednesday, the team announced. The move was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Glavine, 43, spent the first 16 seasons of his career in Atlanta and was brought back last season. Injuries limited him to only 13 starts and he has yet to pitch for the Braves this season. He underwent elbow and shoulder surgery, then had complications in April while preparing to rejoin Atlanta.

The winner of 305 career games had thrown 11 scoreless innings in his last two rehabilitation starts, however.

Glavine was due a $1 million bonus if the Braves added him to the active roster, another $1.25 after 30 days of being with the Braves and then $1.25 million more after 90 days.

The left-hander is not happy about the Braves' decision.

"He wants to pitch. He feels great," his agent, Gregg Clifton, told Olney. "He's still shocked about being released by a team he's been a member of, and he's not prepared to retire. He looks forward to pitching again in 2009."

Glavine met with Braves general manager Frank Wren, John Schuerholz, and manager Bobby Cox. Glavine was told his velocity is down, and the executives suggested to Glavine that he could retire. But Glavine intends to pitch again.

In a statement announcing Glavine's release, the Braves thanked the pitcher.

"We appreciate and respect everything Tom has done for and brought to the Atlanta Braves organization and our fans," Wren said in the statement. "His accomplishments for our club during his Hall of Fame career is a measure of his dedication that we will always respect and admire. We wish him nothing but the very best."

At a time when the Braves are looking for offensive help, it appears that this was a move made for economic reasons. They had a need for outfield help and then got some later on Wednesday, acquiring Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Charlie Morton and two minor leaguers.

McLouth signed a three-year extension that will pay him $15.75 million in February.

The Braves also made a couple of pitching moves on Wednesday. They put Jorge Campillo on the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis and announced that prospect Tommy Hanson will be called up to pitch on Saturday.

Clifton said: "Tom is extremely disappointed. He agreed to return to the Atlanta Braves at a drastic discount, and assume all the risk for his 2009 contract, except for a base salary. He has fulfilled his obligations and rehabbed diligently to return to the Braves staff, and to not have that opportunity at this time is extremely disappointing for a Hall of Fame player like Tom Glavine."

The Braves closed the clubhouse before their game against the Chicago Cubs. When team spokesman Brad Hainje finally poked his head out less than hour before the first pitch, he said Glavine had already left Turner Field after meeting with team officials.

Hainje said manager Bobby Cox and the players would not comment until after the game.

Glavine won two Cy Young Awards with the Braves and is a 10-time National League All-Star. He has won 20 games five times in his career on the way to a 305-203 mark, with 224 of those wins coming with the Braves. He owns a 3.54 career ERA in 682 games, all starts.

The formidable Braves rotation that included Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz took Atlanta to five World Series appearances in the 1990s. Glavine was named MVP of the Series in 1995 when the Braves won their only title.

Two teams that have been looking for pitching and might be a good fit for Glavine are the Dodgers and Phillies. But a source told Olney that the Dodgers, who own the best record in the league, are a "longshot."

Damn surprising move.

[Nick Malone]

So you're more surprised that an over-the-hill pitcher like Glavine who is a HOF got dumped rather than a 5-tool allstar like Nate McLouth gets dealt to Atlanta?

[Necro]

Originally Posted by yankeesman77
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So you're more surprised that an over-the-hill pitcher like Glavine who is a HOF got dumped rather than a 5-tool allstar like Nate McLouth gets dealt to Atlanta?

Considering on ESPN they said all of baseball was pretty shocked, than ya I'm a bit surprised. Pretty bullshit move considering all Glavine did for the team.

[Nick Malone]

In a "What-have-you-done-for-me-now" like business, Atlanta was looking to cash in on what little starts they could get from Glavine and his veteran leadership qualities in the dugout but he simply hadn't done anything of merit to warrant Atlanta enough to keep him around. I wouldn't be surprised though if he winds up in Philly or Florida.

[Freak]

Originally Posted by yankeesman77
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So you're more surprised that an over-the-hill pitcher like Glavine who is a HOF got dumped rather than a 5-tool allstar like Nate McLouth gets dealt to Atlanta?

Necro never said anything about McLouth, and it's not exactly his responsibility to post every major news story that comes across the wire...

Anyway, the McLouth trade is a bigger deal in baseball terms, but both stories seemed to come out of nowhere... though I guess Pirates fans are used to this kind of thing. It must totally suck the life out of a fanbase to see deals like this and the Bay trade last year (not that I think losing McLouth makes them a worse team this year, really -- I could see McCutcheon replacing McLouth's production pretty easily).