Atlanta Braves Wiretap

Braves Going With 'Plan C' At Second Base?

Kelly Johnson, who switched from shortstop to outfield at the behest of the Braves in 2004, is back in the infield, being groomed by Hubbard as the club's preferred replacement for second baseman Marcus Giles.

Martin Prado, Willy Aybar, Pete Orr and Chris Woodward are available to compete at the position, vacated when Giles wasn't offered a contract in December and signed with the San Diego Padres.

But the Braves, barring an unexpected trade, hope Johnson will assert himself at spring training and fill a couple of boxes on the team's checklist ?- second base and leadoff hitter.

"It's open," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said of second base, "but he's regarded as the prime candidate."

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Jones Wants To Finish Career In Atlanta

Andruw Jones says he has spent much of this winter maintaining the mind-set that his sole intention is to spend his entire career in a Braves uniform.

"I know how the market is right now, and I know a lot of teams are paying a lot of money for guys right now," Jones said. "But my heart is in Atlanta. I would love to finish my career in Atlanta.

"I'm not saying I'll play for cheap when the market is so high; I won't do that. But I'm going to do my best to stay here. It's up to the Braves whether they want to keep me or not."

Via MLB.com

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Braves Sign Craig Wilson

The Atlanta Braves today agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder/first baseman Craig Wilson on a one-year contract for the 2007 season. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. Wilson, 30, played his first five Major League seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates before splitting the 2006 campaign between Pittsburgh and the New York Yankees. His combined totals last season included a .251 batting average with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 125 games. Wilson was traded to New York on July 31 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shawn Chacon. The right-handed hitting Wilson owns a .265 career batting average and in his six Major League seasons he has played outfield (314 games), first base (262) and catcher (40). His 12 career pinch-hit home runs (in just 104 pinch at-bats) ranks second to Mark Sweeney (13 pinch homers in 525 at-bats) among all active Major League players.

Via Press Release

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