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Acquiring starting pitching help is high on the Braves' wish list this offseason, according to general manager Frank Wren -- who said so shortly after the end of the regular season.
But how much are they willing to give up?
Shortly after his team's 90-loss season, Wren said he wouldn't part with the organization's top prospects. On Thursday, after reports of Atlanta being interested in acquiring Padres right-hander Jake Peavy continued to circle, Wren reaffirmed his stance -- even if it involves the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner.
"From our perspective, we still feel the same, and we are looking to the future when that next wave of talent I spoke of arrives in Atlanta," Wren told The Associated Press via e-mail.
One of those heavily talked about prospects the Braves might have to part with is top Minor League pitcher Tommy Hanson, whom The San Diego Union-Tribune reported earlier this week the Padres had three scouts watching pitch in a recent Arizona Fall League game.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander, selected by the Braves in the 22nd round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, posted a 2.41 ERA with 163 strikeouts and just 52 walks in 138 innings at Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Mississippi -- where he also threw a no-hitter.
Wren told the AP that Hanson could make his Major League debut at "some point" in the 2009 season.
As for other reports that suggest the Braves could also throw in outfield prospect Jordan Schafer -- as well as either shortstop Yunel Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson -- in a deal for Peavy, Wren brushed those rumors off as well.
"Many of the trade speculations that have been written over the past few weeks are inaccurate," Wren told the AP. "For the most part, they are simply an outsider speculating what we might do and not what we would do."
Peavy does have a no-trade clause in his three-year, $52 million contract -- signed in December of last year -- but his agent, Barry Axelrod, has said the 27-year-old would approve a move to the Braves, among other teams. Padres general manager Kevin Towers has said he expects young pitchers in return for Peavy.
Pitching was a cause for concern for Atlanta this season, with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine missing significant time because of injuries. As a team, the Braves' starting staff ranked 20th in the Major Leagues with a 4.60 ERA.
With aces like CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett likely to rake in big contracts in the free-agent market, acquiring a pitcher like Peavy via trade may be the most economical way for the Braves to get the quality starting pitching they desire.
And although he may not want to give up too much, Wren still wants to go after hurlers that can solidify the rotation.
"We're going to have to get an established starter or two that can kind of lead the way for our younger pitchers, and we do like our younger pitchers," Wren told the AP about starters like Jair Jurrjens, Jorge Campillo and Charlie Morton. "We think we've got a real good group coming, but we need some veteran stability at the top of the rotation to take some of the pressure off them."
In 2008, Peavy was 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA and was on the disabled list from May 15 to June 12 with a strained right elbow.
But how much are they willing to give up?
Shortly after his team's 90-loss season, Wren said he wouldn't part with the organization's top prospects. On Thursday, after reports of Atlanta being interested in acquiring Padres right-hander Jake Peavy continued to circle, Wren reaffirmed his stance -- even if it involves the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner.
"From our perspective, we still feel the same, and we are looking to the future when that next wave of talent I spoke of arrives in Atlanta," Wren told The Associated Press via e-mail.
One of those heavily talked about prospects the Braves might have to part with is top Minor League pitcher Tommy Hanson, whom The San Diego Union-Tribune reported earlier this week the Padres had three scouts watching pitch in a recent Arizona Fall League game.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander, selected by the Braves in the 22nd round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, posted a 2.41 ERA with 163 strikeouts and just 52 walks in 138 innings at Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Mississippi -- where he also threw a no-hitter.
Wren told the AP that Hanson could make his Major League debut at "some point" in the 2009 season.
As for other reports that suggest the Braves could also throw in outfield prospect Jordan Schafer -- as well as either shortstop Yunel Escobar or second baseman Kelly Johnson -- in a deal for Peavy, Wren brushed those rumors off as well.
"Many of the trade speculations that have been written over the past few weeks are inaccurate," Wren told the AP. "For the most part, they are simply an outsider speculating what we might do and not what we would do."
Peavy does have a no-trade clause in his three-year, $52 million contract -- signed in December of last year -- but his agent, Barry Axelrod, has said the 27-year-old would approve a move to the Braves, among other teams. Padres general manager Kevin Towers has said he expects young pitchers in return for Peavy.
Pitching was a cause for concern for Atlanta this season, with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine missing significant time because of injuries. As a team, the Braves' starting staff ranked 20th in the Major Leagues with a 4.60 ERA.
With aces like CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett likely to rake in big contracts in the free-agent market, acquiring a pitcher like Peavy via trade may be the most economical way for the Braves to get the quality starting pitching they desire.
And although he may not want to give up too much, Wren still wants to go after hurlers that can solidify the rotation.
"We're going to have to get an established starter or two that can kind of lead the way for our younger pitchers, and we do like our younger pitchers," Wren told the AP about starters like Jair Jurrjens, Jorge Campillo and Charlie Morton. "We think we've got a real good group coming, but we need some veteran stability at the top of the rotation to take some of the pressure off them."
In 2008, Peavy was 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA and was on the disabled list from May 15 to June 12 with a strained right elbow.
