Braves News World

The Braves did not tender contracts to Mark DeRosa or Mike Hessman before Monday’s deadline. Both players are now free agents. The Braves have offered DeRosa a smaller contract (he made $725,000 last year) to stay with the major league club. DeRosa ended his dreadful 2004 season when he tore his right ACL. With cheaper prospects like Nick Green and Wilson Betemit waiting in the wings, the Braves decided not to bring back DeRosa at the same price tag.

Since Mike Hessman was on the Braves’ 40-man roster they needed to non-tender him in order to send him back to the minors. He has been offered a minor league contract by the Braves. After a solid season at Richmond, Hessman batted only .130 in 69 at-bats with the major league club.

I don’t imagine many tears will be shed by Braves management (moreso over Hessman) if they are not re-signed. However, I’m sure there would be many female Braves fans distraught over the loss of DeRosa.

Scrappy former Braves utility infielder (and outfielder on occasion) Mike Mordecai has been named the manager of the Marlins’ short-season Class A team, the Jamestown Jammers. Since the team’s season ends well before the Marlins’ season does, the Marlins gave notice that he will likely be called up to play for the Marlins one more time at the end of the 2005 season. A few more days in the majors would qualify Mordecai for a bigger pension (based on 10 years of service time). Well-respected around the league for his knowledge of the game, many expect Mordecai to soon manage higher-level minor league teams and, eventually, major league teams. Best of luck Mike!