--3B Chipper Jones has not swung a bat or thrown a ball for a month, resting his right shoulder in the first step toward healing acute tendinitis. But thanks to his golf swing and playing with the kids, he can tell that the shoulder is improving.
--RHP John Smoltz will officially become a free agent now that the World Series is over. He did have a $12 million option for 2009, but it did not vest due to his shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. --LHP Will Ohman, a free agent, would love to return to the Braves, assuming they offer something close to what other suitors offer. However, Ohman's family remains in Arizona, and that will be a factor.
--CF Jordan Schafer batted .368 in his first nine games in the Mexican Winter League. Schafer missed 50 games of the Class AA season due to a suspension for testing positive for HGH.
--C Tyler Flowers batted .410 -- with five home runs -- in his first 11 games in the Arizona Fall League. With C Brian McCann locked up, the Braves may not need Flowers except as trade material, but it's not likely the organization would let him get away at this point.
BY THE NUMBERS: 90 -- RBIs that general manager Frank Wren thinks the Braves can get from 1B Casey Kotchman.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The only thing right now we have to ascertain is if they're still healthy and if they can still pitch at this level and if their arms rebound, and we're hopeful they will." -- General manager Frank Wren on RHP John Smoltz and LHP Tom Glavine.
