Braves Sign Billy Wagner, Sox Nab 20th Pick

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 2, 2009 4:08 AM EST

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Billy Wagner has reached a preliminary agreement to sign with the Braves.

For Sox fans, this is the end of a fairly lengthy drama involving Elias rankings, arbitration, and draft picks. At first it looked like the Sox would have to agree to forgo arbitration and give up the draft picks to finalize the Wagner trade. Then it looked like Wagner might accept arbitration if it was offered.

Things seem to have worked out well for Boston now, though, as Wagner's signing would secure the Sox the Braves' first round pick (number 20) and a supplementary pick between the first 2 rounds. The first rounder is not a sure thing, as the Sox would have to settle for a second rounder if the Braves signed a higher ranked free agent, but they have yet to be linked to any other, bigger names. Essentially, the Sox bought a few late-season innings of Wagner, and turned Chris Carter and Eddie Lora--two prospects entirely unlikely to contribute to the Sox--into first round picks. Not a bad deal.

The Red Sox have acquired quite a bit of talent thanks to compensatory picks over the last 5 years, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, Jed Lowrie, Michael Bowden, and Nick Hagadone.

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Comments

Chris Carter for the 20th overall pick is a damn fine deal

I think only Holliday, Bay, Lackey, Valverde, and Scutaro are ranked higher.

Lackey’s out, Valverde probably is too. Don’t think they have a need for Scutaro, they have their infield set. Bay would still give us that pick anyway. And I don’t think they can afford Holliday.

I think we’re pretty safe.

DFA Beckett

by South Coast Ghost on Dec 2, 2009 4:18 AM EST reply actions

Actually it's Bronson Arroyo for the 20th pick.

Remember the sequence is Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena, Pena for Chris Carter, and Carter for Wagner.

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Dec 2, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

I'll take that too!

I never much cared for Arroyo

by wolf9309 on Dec 2, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions

Arroyo was better than Wily Mo

That trade was one of Theo’s biggest mistakes.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Dec 2, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

It was clearly all part of this long term plan!

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 2, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

With that said

Arroyo wasn’t that great anyway

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Dec 2, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

But, he enabled Slappy Time.

Props for that.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Dec 2, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

Damn straight.

Although it was sorta worth it for the line drive home run he knocked into the Monster Seats that woulda killed someone if it were two feet lower.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

by Bloggy on Dec 2, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

This is a good deal

we have not had a pick as high as 20 since we drafted David Murphy in 2003(17). And look at the quality we had drafted below this in rounds 1 and 2 since 2002-Lester, Buchholz, Bard, Kelly, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Masterson, Hagadone, not to mention the low round guys that now populate the higher end of our prospects list. Theo has been better than 50-50 with 1st and 2nd rounders always picking below 20. Nice.

by Buzzy on Dec 2, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Plus, now we could pick up someone to replace Hagadone.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Dec 2, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Ugh, now we see why Cashman tried to screw this trade up.

Minaya basically traded you two first round picks for Chris freaking Carter. What an idiot.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Dec 2, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions

And a little salary relief.

Yeah, I’ll take it. Suck it, Cashman.

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 2, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't it amazing

when you realize that there are GMs (e.g. Minaya) that you are sure you could do a better job than?

by Buzzy on Dec 2, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

(e.g. Ricciardi)

At least the Mets have made a number of good moves in recent years. They get screwed a lot by injuries.

Not trading Doc last year? Oh WOW!

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 2, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Minaya has made tons of bad moves

and…Ricciardi no longer has a job…;).

by Buzzy on Dec 2, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

I'm trying to think (seriously)

what good moves did the Mets make in recent years? Even Santana has been paid more than he has been worth in his 2 years by Fangraphs value (just a bit) and has a back loaded contract. And that is not taking into account the (minimal) value of the players traded. All of his FA moves have been overpays or worse (resigning Perez at that money? Resigning Perez at all?). His farm is in shambles. He has the second highest payroll in baseball, and the team can’t compete in the NL East. This is without bringing up things like Colon for Sizemore, Lee and Phillips back in the day.

I agree JP did really stupid things (and I don’t think Omar ever signed a Wells-like deal) but at least there was some talent (mostly pitching) coming up through the system.

by Buzzy on Dec 2, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions