The talk around the Braves was centering on the possibility of acquiring Padres ace Jake Peavy in a trade because, really, what else is there to talk about? Certainly not how cast-off Braves infielder Willy Aybar and right-hander Octavio Dotel are enjoying their World Series turns with the Rays.
But dealing for Peavy would mean trading away some serious prospects, and that's where the scenario hits a wall. General manager Frank Wren said candidly the day after the season ended, "We've got a lot of prospects, but that's a fine line. When you start making multiplayer trades, you start walking that fine line, because we do feel like we're got a real good wave of young talent coming, and we're not going to trade from that wave of talent, I can promise you that.
"That's not how you build a winning club. You can build a winning club for one year, but you can't sustain it."
The Braves have their own recent history in that regard: first baseman Mark Teixeira. They took a leap with that rental, hoping his glove and bat would send them back to the postseason, but multiple pitching injuries ended those hopes.
The Braves can't even think about a rotation with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz until those two veterans take the mound in February, but they are thinking about Mike Hampton, who is a free agent, and a tiny bit about Tim Hudson, who will be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery most of next season.
And then there are the rookies, Jair Jurrjens (great), Jo-Jo Reyes (not so great but not ready to be given up on) and Charlie Morton (ditto).
Wren doesn't want to rush Tommy Hanson to the majors, but as rapidly as he has improved -- he's already been named Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Week -- that will be a tough temptation to resist.
