John Kruk attempts to reason why you don't want your best pitcher in the game at the most crucial time...

Ozzie Guillen is an idiot. He sticks his foot in his mouth more than any politician.

His most recent stroke of genius? Admiring Fidel Castro.

I found his apology particularly entertaining:

"I will apologize if I hurt somebody's feelings, or I hurt somebody's thought,"

Ozzie, I'm not sure how you hurt one's thought, but thanks for the conditional apology. Apparently, you don't think you did anything wrong, but you want to apologize for people thinking you did.

The SF Giants have just signed Matt Cain to a 5 year deal with $112.5M guaranteed.

I think this pretty much puts Hanson out of reach for us. Thanks, San Fran...

I was all for trading Prado during the off-season, but right now, I'm not sure I like this move.

We get a decent haul back in prospects (from what I've read about them), but unless FW has something bigger lined up, I'm not a fan of this move.

Details on the prospects in the link.

This is why we chop in Braves' country!

ESPN's MLB front page currently has 3 stories and a video about Jason Heyward.

The link above is about how Greg Walker needs to fix Heyward.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/20907/whats-next-for-jason-heyward

This one attempts to explain why Heyward was bad last season

http://insider.espn.go.com/fantasy/blog/_/name/karabell_eric_baseball/id/7578328/atlanta-braves-jason-heyward-poised-bounce-back-injury-plagued-2011-season

And the last on is a fantasy spin on Heyward.

I really wish ESPN would stop ignoring the Braves!

The Cubs have traded Big Z to the Marlins.

I love this. I can't wait to see the Braves hitters light him up over and over again. Maybe instead of knocking him out of the rest of the season they can knock him out of baseball permanently.

Oh, the Marlins gave up Volstad for him...seems like they lose this deal in a big way to me - although, they are only paying $2.5M of Z's $18M salary...

Gregg Maddux is joining his brother in Texas. Dang-it, I was hoping his next stop would be in Atlanta.

Moylan is interviewed by ESPN's Steve Berthiaume.

Here's a teaser:

SB: Let's get right to it with the most critical question: How long have you been dressing in women's clothes?
PM: I'd be lying if I said that was a first. I did it once before for a laugh. I can say that this time got a little more attn.
SB: Ha! What as the other time?
PM: It was actually for my clubs presentation night back home in Australia. About 13 years ago. FYI I looked better this time
SB: Your fiancée got a lot of attention, too! How is she handling it?
PM: shes a woman. Is there such a thing as to much attention? She loved it. It just proved what I have been telling her for eva
SB: What have you been telling her?
PM: that she is smokin!!!

It's sad, but at least he is still alive. I hope Heap doesn't dwell on this for too long.

Wagner told the press on Saturday that he is indeed retiring, although, he didn't address why he hasn't filed his paperwork, or why he is still on the Brave's 40-man roster.

This is getting a bit weirder now - he insists he is retiring, he isn't at the Spring Training site, and yet, the paperwork is not filed and he is still taking up a roster spot...

This probably belongs in the Rosterbation thread, but I figured I'd stick it here since nobody reads Fanshots anyway.

I like very much the idea of Michael Young being traded to us. He would provide depth for the IF and can play SS in a pinch - I would like him to be on the team more than some of our other B/U IF options, but I highly doubt he would be accepting of a bench role.

Although, odds are he would start a fair amount of games at 3B...

What do you all think?

"Left-handed closer Billy Wagner planned to retire after the 2010 season, and apparently still intends to do so. But Ken Rosenthal reports that the 39-year-old has yet to send in his retirement paperwork to the league.

Wagner remains on the Braves' 40-man roster, too, and if he decided to pitch for one more year, the Braves hold a $6.5 million option on him. Wagner would join a young bullpen led by Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters, and would team up with fellow southpaws Eric O'Flaherty and George Sherrill in what could turn out to be among the league's stingiest bullpens.

Wagner, however, could be bought out for just $250,000, which would allow him to shop his services to the highest bidder. Free agency could land him somewhere closer to where he grew up in Virginia, such as the Washington Nationals or Baltimore Orioles.

Most signs still point to retirement, but like our mantra here at Rumor Central states, until it's confirmed, it's just a rumor. Stay tuned."

This may just be February baseball rumorville as usual, but it is indeed interesting that Wags hasn't dropped the paperwork yet. FW is smart to keep him on the 40-man...you know, just in case....

Here's a quote:

What I hear is the Mets are trying to locate a pitcher (probably a reliever) who is overpriced and not having a particularly strong season, but who their scouts like and pluck him for little to no prospect in return.

I love Omar Minaya.

You'd better be able to knock Frank Wren's socks off if you want any of our young stud pitchers. Wren said "there are some guys that we are just not going to trade."

Teams have been calling, but Wren has been denying.

And we think Minor is too much to give up...the Brewers have asked the Giants for either Bumgarner or Jonathan Sanchez.

If that is the asking price, Minor probably wouldn't be enough by himself to land Hart.

"Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward has decided not to play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.

Heyward

Heyward has been hampered by a deep bone bruise on his left thumb for nearly two months.

Heyward, who was voted to start for the National League by fans, had a cast removed from his hand on July 4 and said he had hoped to participate in the Midsummer Classic.

That came less than a week after Heyward admitted he wouldn't try to play in the game.

Heyward joins Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau as the latest to drop out of next week's interleague showdown.

Buster Olney is a senior MLB writer for ESPN The Magazine. The Associated Press contributed to this report."

In my opinion, this is a good thing! Heyward needs to take his time with this. We don't need him on the field right away, and I would rather him not come back until his body is fully and completely ready. Rushing back just to participate in the AS Game should have never even been an option.