Hot Stove: Atlanta Braves.

What would you do if you were Frank Wren this off-season?  The Braves are close (evident by their wild finish in '09), and there is no reason to dismantle the group of great players they have.  So what do you do?

And hold on, Cowboy.  First, you have to think Payroll.  A GM's job is not only to put the best team possible on the field, but also to make money for in this case, Liberty Media (Current Owners of the Braves...Oh, for the days back when it was ole' Ted.).

You need a first baseman.  You need a Outfielder (at least until Heyward is ready).  And you need a Closer.  With the re-signing of Tim Hudson, you have a bit of SP depth (a luxury in today's world).  You have one of the best in the business in McCann behind the plate.  You have a solid keystone combo with Prado and Escobar, and a Hall of Famer in Chipper at third.  You have a former All-Star in McLouth in Center, and Pure Grit with Diaz in Left (and people in the South, love grits).

And on top of everything else, it's Bobby's last year.  You need to send the old man out the right way (which is on top of the baseball world!)

RF:  Although there are attractive RH hitting options out there, (mainly Bay and Holliday) their price tag is "too rich for my blood."  I think the perfect alternative for the Braves would be Xavier Nady.  I think he would add a much needed RH power bat to the middle of the lineup, and I don't know if you remember or not, but when this guy was healthy (he is recovering from Tommy John surgury...Something that won't affect his swing in the least), he had serious thunder in his bat (especially the opposite way!)

1B:  I'm a loyal guy, and I believe the Braves will do the right thing here and re-sign Adam LaRoche.  He did a terrific job for the Braves after coming over from Boston and his improved play was very evident.  Case closed, he deserves to come back.

Closer:  This is very things get sticky.  I don't feel re-signing Gonzalez or Soriano would be good moves.  Letting both go, frees up the necessary money needed for LaRoche and Nady.  So a possible trade could be in the works here.  We do have pitching depth (something other clubs would love to have), so this is where the wheeling and dealing comes into play.  Last year, Wren got Vazquez from the White Sox (and looked like a genius doing it).  Let's see what rabbit he pulls out this year!

Let me know what you think.  What would you do if you were Frank Wren?