Wren’s Winter Keeps Getting Worse

Frank Wren better hope that Melky Cabrera and Troy Glaus have big years, because the N.L. East just got a lot tougher. It is already an almost guarantee that the Philadelphia Phillies will win the N.L. East now that they replaced Cliff Lee with Roy Halladay.The Florida Marlins always start strong and fall out of the race in August. The Washington Nationals are always an absolute joke, but Atlanta Braves fans need to be very concerned with the New York Mets. They just signed former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay to a four-year deal worth $66 million.

The three-time All-Star hit .267 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs last season for the Red Sox. The Mets were dead last with 95 home runs last season and Bay will be an immediate upgrade. Wren doesn’t have the money that Omar Minaya has in the Big Apple, but Minaya at least attempts to right a wrong. Minaya routinely makes bad decisions, but he is willing to go out and fill a need. Wren always seems to go off his gut instinct and this offseason has been a disaster. Assuming Jose Reyes stays healthy, the Braves will finish no better than third in the division.

The optimistic Braves fan will tell you that Glaus is a bargain and he will stay healthy all season. The same fan will also argue that Cabrera is a versatile outfielder that needed a change of scenery. The Braves will probably add another outfielder with the extra money they saved in the Cabrera trade. The problem is that Wren would rather sign a clearance-rack type of player than a proven outfielder. Ask yourself this question: Where would the Braves be if Wren signed Bobby Abreu last offseason?