Oh thank God

[Guest bob_barron]

I know this prob should go in the other thread I started about the Braves but Maddux is my favourite player and my favourite Brave AND is a member of the Real Kliq so he gets his own thread.

 

From Yahoo! sports-

 

News

The New York Post is reporting that four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux will accept the Braves' arbitration offer and stay in Atlanta for 2003. The deadline for players offered arbitration is Midnight EST tonight. If Maddux declines arbitration, he remains a free agent and would have until January 8 to work out a deal with the Braves. Even if he accepts the arbitration offer, he could still work out a long-term deal with the Braves.

 

Views

This would be great news for the Braves and those with Maddux in fantasy leagues. If he stays, however, the Braves may be forced to trade away some starting pitching during the season to stay on budget.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

I'm glad to hear this as a Maddux/Braves fan. Maddux, Hampton, Byrd, Ortiz, Millwood with Smoltz as the closer is looking good for next year, and the Braves did it without spending much cash either.

[Guest bob_barron]

Here is the story from Reuters.

 

I'd like to say: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Maddux for staying where he belongs.

 

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux (news) decided Thursday to forego the free agent market and re-sign with the Atlanta Braves (news).

 

Maddux, 36, opted to accept the Braves' arbitration offer for a one-year contract, a deal that the club said could cost it between $15-18 million for the upcoming season.

 

 

"This is something that we've anticipated happening over the last few days," Braves assistant general manager Frank Wren said. "We can go from here."

 

 

The Braves acquired pitchers Russ Ortiz (news) from the San Francisco Giants (news) and Paul Byrd (news) via the free agent market earlier this week.

 

 

Now, with Maddux in the fold, the club has six starters and will more than likely be forced to make a move.

 

 

Byrd will make $3 million next year and Ortiz is set to make $4.6 million. That makes Kevin Millwood (news), who could realize a $7 million pay hike through arbitration, a top candidate to go.

 

 

Maddux, winner of 13 straight Gold Gloves, went 16-6 with a 2.52 ERA last season, joining Young as the only pitchers to have won at least 15 games for 15 straight seasons.

[Guest bravesfan]

Wait for it....wait for it....

 

 

 

 

WHOOOOOOOOOO!

 

 

 

 

Sorry about that.

 

Maddux, Millwood, Hampton, Ortiz, Byrd is a GREAT staff.

 

--Hampton definitely has to prove himself, but if he is anything like his '99 form, Atlanta will be thrilled.

 

--Ortiz and Byrd are solid cogs in the middle, Byrd being a good inning-eater, while Ortiz can give you 6+ strong every five days.

 

--And Millwood proved last year that those 2 previous years were flukes.

[Guest alkeiper]

--And Millwood proved last year that those 2 previous years were flukes.

 

Who's to say last year wasn't the fluke?

[Guest bravesfan]

Well, okay, I'll back down on that statement.

 

 

It's just that it's obvious (to Braves followers, at least) that Millwood has finally shook those control and fatigue problems that had been plaguing him for 2000 and 2001. This season was a sigh of relief to the Braves faithful...

[Guest bob_barron]

Did he get rid of his ugly wife?

 

I took to calling him Mildew but Millwood recovered and totally kicked ass in the playoffs when we needed him unlike a certain fellow currently wearing a Mets uniform

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Hopefully they'll still choke in the first round of the playoffs next year.

 

Dammit, the Yankees are due again.