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Braves facing big decisions

By Lew Gilliland
The Times-Journal

Published October 31, 2009

According to published reports out of Atlanta, the Braves are close to signing pitcher Tim Hudson to a three-year contract extension.

The deal, if completed, would be the first move in what is going to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Frank Wren.

While Turner Field sits quiet this week, the World Series is unfolding in Philadelphia and New York.

It is Philadelphia that should be of interest to the Braves.

Philadelphia may have the best National League lineup since Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine of the 1970s. The Reds of that era featured power and speed, both of which are prominent parts of the Philadelphia offense.

The Phillies don’t have the strongest pitching staff ever assembled, but it’s good enough.

Why is all this important for the Braves? Because if they want to get back to their winning ways of the 1990s, they must catch and pass fellow NL East member Philadelphia.

Hudson’s signing would give Wren the flexibility to trade Javier Vazquez.

Parting with Vazquez would hurt — he was probably the team’s best pitcher last season — but he’s likely the one major trading chip that A) could bring Atlanta some much-needed power, and B) Wren would be willing to part with.

Trading Vazquez would probably upset some in the Atlanta clubhouse, but a rotation of Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami would still be formidable.

And besides, Atlanta desperately needs to add some power, a need that will become even greater if the Braves don’t resign free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Currently, Atlanta’s two biggest home run threats, assuming LaRoche isn’t resigned, are aging third baseman Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, who like any catcher must be rested at least once a week. That’s not good enough to catch Philadelphia. The lineup must become more formidable. Truthfully, Atlanta needs to add a couple of sluggers, but acquiring at least one is a must.

There’s an issue in the bullpen a well. Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano, the team’s 2009 closers, are both free agents. Wren would be making a mistake if he doesn’t resign at least one of them or bring in a replacement.

For the most part, the bullpen was a strength last summer. Neglecting the situation out there might negate any chance Atlanta has of sending retiring manager Bobby Cox out with a World Series title in 2010.

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