Braves News World

Various reports have the Braves setting their sights on Tim Hudson (yet again) and Kevin Millwood to complete the starting rotation. The Braves reportedly offered Millwood a one-year deal worth $3 - $4 million. That would be quite a pay cut from the $11 million he made with the Phillies last year. The Braves hope to get him for cheap and see if Leo Mazzone can rehabilitate him (he went 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA last year).

Another rumor has A’s general manager Billy Beane pushing a Tim Hudson trade that might include Dan Meyer, Nick Green (apparently he’s finally got it through his thick skull Giles is off limits ), and Kyle Davies. Schuerholz wisely drew the line at Kyle Davies. That’s a lot of prospects for a one-year rental of Hudson.

I’d rather just settle for Byrd (who’s been rumored to be attracting interest from the Padres) and concentrate on trading for a good right fielder. There has been chatter that the Braves discussed a trade for Sammy Sosa but don’t pop those corks just yet (sorry, couldn’t resist!). Word is they’ll likely be content to resolve the right field situation internally with either Eli Marrero or Ryan Langerhans (and continue platooning Marrero with Charles Thomas in left field). It’s time that Marrero got a chance to prove he can be an everyday player but I still wish the Braves would stop worrying about the rotation (now that Smoltz headlines a solid foursome) and get a big bat! It’s scary to imagine how badly the Braves’ offense would have fallen apart without J.D. Drew last year.

Braves officials were no doubt relieved to lose only Adam Stern in the Major League portion of Monday’s Rule 5 draft. Stern batted .322 with 8 home runs and 47 RBIs with AA Greenville in 2004. He was chosen by the Red Sox with the 11th pick in the first round. He may still return to the Braves if the Sox don’t keep him on their active 25-man roster throughout the whole 2005 season.

It was pretty much a foregone conclusion Stern would be chosen. The Braves had feared other unprotected prospects like Zach Miner, James Jurries, Kevin Barry, and Bryan Digby might have been selected as well.

The Braves lost Aaron Herr, the son of former Major League Tommy Herr, to the Mariners in the minor league portion of the draft. He hit .272 with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs at Greenville last season.

After receiving an early Christmas gift of his own on Saturday, John Smoltz will be helping to distribute gifts to some neighborhood families on Tuesday 12/14/04 at the Georgia Avenue Community Ministry (645 Grant Street) from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. The gifts and funds were contributed by Atlanta Braves front office departments and individuals to support the “Adopt-A-Family” project.

“Alec who?” That’s what relieved Braves fans are saying to themselves today. Luckily, the Braves gave up no one significant (no offense Alec) as the “player to be named later” in the Danny Kolb-Jose Capellan trade. Zumwalt went 3-7 with 5.09 ERA as a reliever in 46 games for the AA Greenville Braves last season.