January 30, 2010
Mark DeRosa was wearing a big smile when he met with reporters this morning. Who wouldn't be smiling if they had just signed a contract for $19,190,000?
"Even above that," said DeRosa, "it's good to be back in Atlanta."
DeRosa, 34, who started his GABA days in Atlanta in 1998, agreed to a three year contract with the Braves and all sides seem to be delighted.
"It's so great to get Mark back with us," commented Braves' skipper Bobby Cox. "Not only does he bring a really fine bat with him, he brings a fine mind. He's knows how the game is played. We expect that he, along with our other veterans like Chipper, McDonald, Lowe, will help our younger guys with their knowledge of the game. And he'll fit in very well at second base for us."
The Braves, who traded away 2B Kelly Johnson, have wanted DeRosa from the get-go to fill the lineup spot at second. Even though he is about seven years older than Johnson, DeRosa is a better fit for Atlanta at this time, according to Braves GM Jobo Foster.
"We knew we had to make some financial changes in our organization to be able to bolster our bullpen," said Foster. "Moving Johnson was the first of our moves in order to accomplish that. We didn't want to lose Kelly, but in DeRosa we have a comparable performer at bat and in the field for a considerable savings that we could invest elsewhere in our roster."
"And on top of all that," Foster continued, "Mark is so versatile, playing first, second, third, left, right...almost anywhere in the lineup...that he gives many extra options to deal with injuries or any other changes that come up."
DeRosa kept on grinning. "I wish we were starting tomorrow."
Hang on, Mark. Spring training is only a couple of weeks away.
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