Atlanta Braves

The Braves want a right-handed power bat, a first baseman and a closer, but they don't need to sign them right this minute. General manager Frank Wren did pretty well reconstructing his rotation last season just as spring training was about to begin, and the team didn't round into form until after the All-Star break.

(That is, until manager Bobby Cox installed Martin Prado at second base and second in the batting order, then moved shortstop Yunel Escobar to a power-hitting position lower in the lineup.)

No team finishes the season with the same personnel that broke camp; injuries and surprisingly good or poor player performances dictate that. Then there are budget considerations.

The Braves, despite their needs, can afford to wait until the season begins -- and even well into it -- to make some moves if Wren doesn't like what he sees on the market. That's because strong starting pitching should keep the Braves near the top of the NL East.

In that time, the Wren and Cox would have a better idea how close their key prospects are to the majors. They don't want to rush outfielder Jason Heyward, but the consensus is that he is the closest to being ready. First baseman Freddie Freeman has an outside shot, too. And don't forget center fielder Jordan Schafer, who opened last season in Atlanta but finished it in the minors.

Wren has some financial flexibility; it wouldn't destroy his plans if, say, first baseman Adam LaRoche, a Type B free agent, returned and received a raise on a one-year contract. The same could be true for left-hander Mike Gonzalez or right-hander Rafael Soriano. It's hefty multiyear contracts Wren doesn't want. He doesn't need them, given the talent at the Class AAA and Class AA levels.

--lhp J

onny Venters, LHP Lee Hyde, LHP Jose Ortegano, RHP Jeff Lyman and RHP Kyle Cofield were added to the Braves' 40-man roster. All are now protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft.

• RHP Tim Hudson's contract extension, announced Nov. 12, was the key to the Braves' offseason moves. GM Frank Wren needed to know how many starters he had under contract so he would know what is possible for trades.

• C Brain McCann's third Silver Slugger award is even sweeter to him after his early-season blurry-vision scare. McCann put off a Lasik adjustment until after the season because the risk of irritation or infection from infield dirt and home-plate collisions.

• RHP Tommy Hanson finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting despite manager Bobby Cox's constant touting of his credentials during the season. But what the team really cares about is that Hanson has firmly established himself as a quality big-league starter.

• RHP Scott Proctor was signed to a one-year minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He missed all of last season rehabbing from elbow ligament transplant surgery, and the Braves had such good luck with other pitchers returning from the Tommy John procedure: RHP Peter Moylan, RHP Tim Hudson and, to a lesser extent, LHP Mike Gonzalez.

• OF Reid Gorecki, a late-season addition to the bench, was allowed to become a free agent—not surprisingly, since he was also not the answer to the Braves' bench needs. That was the team's biggest weakness last season, and general manager Frank Wren is determined not to settle for minor league lifers in the role in 2010.

By The Numbers:

.307—2B Martin Prado's team-leading batting average.

Quote To Note:

"It's going to be a pleasure to watch him get better."

—All-Star C Brian McCann on RHP Tommy Hanson, who finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

The Braves are already excited about next season, thanks to stellar pitching performances by veteran RHP Javier Vazquez, RHP Jair Jurrjens and rookie RHP Tommy Hanson. They're anticipating the return to form of 3B Chipper Jones, and a more consistent year offensively from C Brian McCann, who got off to a slow start after experiencing vision difficulties. GM Frank Wren, however, knows there is a mine field ahead, in the form of the free agency of two key relievers, RHP Rafael Soriano and LHP Mike Gonzalez.

Biggest Needs:

Once RHP Tim Hudson's new deal is finalized, the Braves will be able to make a better determination on the 2010 budget. How much money is available counts even more this offseason, since the Braves' closer tandem of Gonzalez and Soriano are both free agents. The composition of next season's outfield is in flux, and first base may be an open position; late-season addition Adam LaRoche is also a free agent.

Arrival:

RHP Scott Proctor (minor league free agent from Marlins).

Departure:

RHP Buddy Carlyle (released, signed with Japanese team).

Free Agents:

LF Garret Anderson, LHP Mike Gonzalez, 1B Adam LaRoche, INF/OF Greg Norton, RHP Rafael Soriano, RHP Jorge Campillo (released), RHP Vladimir Nunez (released).

Every other move the Braves make in the offseason depends on whether they re-sign Gonzalez, Soriano or both. LaRoche will not be offered a long-term contract. Neither Anderson nor Norton figures to be back.

Arbitration-eligible:

OF Ryan Church, OF Matt Diaz, INF Kelly Johnson, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Peter Moylan.

Moylan pitched in more a team-record 87 games, and he was the team's most effective reliever overall; the Braves won't mind paying for that. Diaz led the majors in August with a .404 average, 1.148 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and a .467 on-base percentage (minimum 50 at-bats). Church, Johnson and Logan are not likely to command high arbitration awards if they even get that far in the process.

In Limbo:

RHP Kenshin Kawakami had a disappointing season, but he had a lot to become accustomed to, including the different heft and covering of the ball, the strike zone, the hitters and the five-man rotation, not to mention food and language. But with the Braves retaining RHP Tim Hudson, he may be the odd man out.

Medical Watch:

CF Jordan Schafer (left wrist surgery in September 2009) will be in a cast until Christmas. Schafer, who showed so much promise in spring training that he skipped Class AAA and went straight to the Braves, making the opening-day roster, struggled at the plate and wound up in the minors after all. He played in 50 games with the Braves before being sent down.