I've been keeping up with the majority of the diaries lately, and everyone is obviously concerned with our starting rotation next season, and rightfully so. Our pitching will definitely need some sort of upgrade, but I'm not here to suggest who, or whether we should trade Renteria or Escobar to get it. My post deals with what will become a glaring hole in centerfield once Andruw Jones becomes a free agent.

Andruw, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, has been my favorite player since he exploded onto the scene becoming the youngest player to homer in a World Series game. However, it has been well chronicled how utterly inept Mr. Jones has been this season. Yet, because Scott Boras is his agent and teams are throwing around money like they're betting on dog fights, Andruw is still expected to receive a contract averaging at least $18 million a year. Despite the team's sale to Liberty Media and the encouraging trade for Mark Teixeira, I'm skeptical that Atlanta has that type of cash to spend.

So the question is, who will don a Braves uniform in center next year? Someone will have to replace Andruw's Gold Glove defense at Turner Field, and contribute enough offensively to make us forget about Andruw's horrific 2007 statistics.

I've never followed our minor league system as closely as others on this site have, but I do recognize how much the Teixeira deal depleted our depth, despite Gondeee's attempts to the contrary. Brandon Jones is one of our few top prospects left, and several people claim he will be ready for the big leagues in 2008. Filling Andruw's shoes will be a daunting task for a rookie, and I'm not sure we can afford to have an inexperienced kid holding down such a pivotal position if we are to seriously compete next season.

Much has been made of the possiblity of Mike Cameron coming home to play for Atlanta. Granted, he plays stellar defense and is a hometown guy who might give us a discount, but if you feel Andruw's bat left something to be desired this season, Cameron will provoke sick feelings of deja vu if he signs with the Braves. His career .252 avg and the fact that he averages 155 Ks a season don't give me the warm fuzzies at night. In addition, Cameron will be 35 on Opening Day, and will still demand at least a three year contract.

With Ichiro re-signing with Seattle for a pretty penny, that leaves Minnesota's Torii Hunter as THE premier centerfielder on the open market. Hunter possesses an equally, if not better, glove on defense compared to Andruw and is putting his potent offensive skills on display again this season. Once again however, I doubt Schuerholz will be allowed to pony up the dough necessary to get Torii to come to Atlanta.

This leaves one option that I have become partial to, that I haven't heard mentioned anywhere for some reason. Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand will be a free agent this winter, and I believe he would fit in perfectly with the Braves plans. He's about to turn 30 years old, and even though his offensive surge has come in a contract year, I think he might be within Atlanta's price range. His career line is .285/.343/.459; numbers that don't blow you away, but are serviceable, especially in the #2 hole that might be vacant if Edgar Renteria is indeed traded as most of you suspect will happen. On defense, Rowand doesn't possess the range and skills that Hunter has, but he's no slouch either, as evidenced by his willingness to plow through walls. That display also characterizes Aaron's personality, an ideal fit for Bobby's clubhouse, in my opinion.

These are just the thoughts of a concerned fan, who is also a realist. If the Braves truly "intend to contend" in 2008, they will need a centerfielder with a knack for defense and a lively bat at the plate, who won't "break the bank". I believe Rowand is that guy for Atlanta.