The Braves have three definite positions that they need to fill for next year in order to contend - two starting pitchers and a power outfield bat. Some of these names are floating around as possible rumors that the Braves will acquire, some are just me thinking outside the box. I listed them according to how much I want them, think they'd help, and the likelihood of the Braves acquiring them.

1. Jake Peavy RHP - San Diego Padres - 4 years/$60 million (~$15 million per year) Jake Peavy has to be number one on the list. However, where he makes up in his team friendly contract, he lacks in the amount of prospects it'll take to acquire him. The Padres aren't necessarily looking to trade him, so they can ask for the moon. The A's recieved 6 prospects for Dan Haren, but Dan Haren doesn't cost nearly that much in salary. I think 5 prospects, centered around Jordan Schafer and Tommy Hanson probably, will likely be the price. Acquiring him will allow us to explore the free agent still, but might cost us the resources to get our left fielder.

2. CC Sabathia LHP - Free Agent - ~6 years/$140 million (~$23 million per year) Another, "who wouldn't want this guy on their team?" pitcher. He's a free agent and our pick is protected next year, so we won't lose any prospects. However, he's going to cost a buttload with a huge commitment. I estimated he'd be looking for at least Johan Santana money. If we somehow win the bidding war, the second starting pitcher to be acquired won't be anything to write home about. However, he's the kind of guy you build a pitching staff around.

3. Ben Sheets RHP - Free Agent - ~5 years/$90 million (~$18 million per year) The talent has always been there, but his constant health concerns will cost him in years and money. However, he's *still* not going to come cheap - I guess that's the case with all the free agents. It might be doubtful he'll reach the free market, some rumors say he wants to stay in Milwaukee. If the Braves make a serious push at Sabathia and lose, I expect them to sign Sheets. He's a little scary to sign, but I think whatever team that signs him will be pleased. Plus, he won't get to strike us out 18 times once a year anymore.

4. Ryan Dempster RHP - Free Agent - ~4 years/$70 million ($17.5 million per year) As with Sheets, the Cubs are making it their biggest priority to resign Dempster. It's unlikely he'll reach the free market, but if he does, I suspect the Braves to make a huge push for him. The only concern I have with him is that other starters on this list have had multiple good years with 200+ innings pitched. This is his first dominant performance, and he timed it well in his walk year. I don't think he's flukey, I'm just not sure how he'll hold up after several years of starting.

5. Matt Cain RHP - San Francisco Giants - 2 years/$6.9 million with $6.25 club option for '11. With the Giants offensive struggles, it could make sense to trade from their starting depth to acquire a package of offensive prospects. They're looking to win in the next year or so, so Jason Heyward probably doesn't make much sense for them. His contract is *very* team friendly, so that might cost us an additional prospect. I'll throw some names out there, something around Schafer/K. Johnson/Lillibridge/Flowers.

6. Derek Lowe RHP - Free Agent - ~4 years/$68 million (~$17 million per year) He seems like the best fit for the Braves. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on him to be in a Braves uniform next year. However, the Braves won't be the only one bidding for his services. He's a little on the old side, but still might require a deal that will bring him to 40. He's also not the most dominant, but still a solid #2 healthy innings eater. He seems like the best bang for your buck, plus allows the Braves to continue shopping in free agency and trades without much restraint.

7. Roy Oswalt RHP - Houston Astros - 3 years/$45 million (~$15 million per year) O'Brien of AJC brought up this rumor. It's an interesting idea, and I'd love to see him in a Braves uniform. However, teams that think they can contend usually don't trade their aces. It'll cost a bounty in prospects to get him if he's even available - I'd rather them spend it on Peavy, but he's still affordable, acelike, and saves some money on the free agency front.

8. Jon Garland RHP - Free Agent - ~4 years/~$56 million (~$14 million per year) A lot of people are scared off by his lack of strikeouts and league average ERA. However, his ERA might decrease with a move to the National League and his lack of strikeouts is a moot point. If he had had only one good year, I'd agree that he's doomed to be unsuccessful, but he's been successful for 8+ years in the Majors without strikeouts. He could potentially be affordable, but several teams will go after him and he's young, so he might require a contract north of 4 years.

9. Magglio Ordonez OF RH - Detroit Tigers - 1 year/$18 million with club option for '10-'11 at $15 million per year Most of my top guys are pitchers because that's where I think the Braves should put their main focus. They need to acquire at minimum one of those above players. However, if they do acquire an outfielder, I'd want it to be Magglio. He doesn't have the huge power numbers of Dunn or Burrell, but he walks a ton and hits for a high average with consistent 25 home run power. The Tigers are rumored to shed payroll this offseason, and the Braves might be one of the few teams that will take on most of the contract. That said, I don't expect to give up a huge bounty for him and *none* of our top prospects since they're being forced to shed payroll with a very limited market for him. I like the short contract and the price of prospects it could take to acquire him.

10. Manny Rameriz RH OF - Free Agent - ~4 years/$80 million (~$20 million per year) Manny has the production that I'd want out of our leftfielder. He's the definitive power bat that the Braves could use to solidify a potent lineup. However, his contract is not going to be team friendly. He's looking for one last big contract, and he'll likely get it. Bonds signed for 5 years at age 38 - so four years might even be conservative for the 36 year old. As much as I'd love to see him, I don't think the Braves want to spend most of their money on leftfield, nor potentially block some of their outfield prospects. However, if they find two starters relatively cheap and he's looking for a three year deal, I could see it happening.

11. Ian Snell RHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - 2 years/$7.25 with club options for '11-'12 at $6.75 million and $9.25 million respectively Snell did not have the year that many expected. However, I think the potential is still there and the Braves could potentially buy low. He won't cost any of our top prospects, but the Pirates may hold out and wait for him to rebuild his value like they did for Jason Bay. I think he could be a solid number three for the Braves, with potential to be a stud with a change of scenery.

12. Randy Wolf LHP - Free Agent - ~4 years/~$40 million (~$10 million per year) Gone are the days of his cheap one year deals, because he's talking like he wants a big contract. He'd be very affordable and you can reasonably expect league average production out of him. He won't cost us any prospects, probably the cheapest decent free agent starter. I'm still kind of "ehhh" about him, but the Braves might make a big push for him.

13. Pat Burrell OF RH - Free Agent - ~4 years/~$60 million (~$15 million per year year) Along with Manny and Dunn, I don't think we're going to find our leftfielder on the free agent market. I don't think the Braves will have a problem with the amount of money, but the years. They don't want to block Heyward and/or Gorkys. He'd be nice on a 2 or 3 deal, but there should be several teams out there willing to give him 4+.

14. A.J. Burnett RHP - Free Agent - ~6 years/~$110 million (~$18 million per year) I think Burnett scares me the most about which starter the Braves might acquire. I really don't like the idea of signing him to somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 years and $110 million - he just hasn't been consistent and healthy enough for me. It has a serious risk of looking like a terrible contact in possibly the first year.

15. Adam Dunn LH OF - Free Agent - ~4 years/$72 million (~$18 million per year) I have mixed feelings about Dunn. While every fan wants him on their team, it doesn't seem like many teams actually want him. It makes me wonder what they know that we don't - maybe he really doesn't have his heart set on baseball, who knows. If he could be brought down to a 3 year deal - I'd say do it. However, if someone is going to base his contract around the one Carlos Lee received, it could be ~6 years/~$100 million - I just don't think there will be a big enough market for him to do that.

16. Scott Olsen LHP - Florida Marlins - 3 years/Arbitration eligible The Marlins might be looking to shed contract, so Olsen might be available since he's arbitration eligible. I was kind of surprised when I looked up his stats, he had a pretty good year in 2008 and 2006. He'd be cheap and probably wouldn't cost us a top prospect. The Marlins aren't shy about dealing within the division, so I don't think that'd be a problem with them.

17. Josh Willingham RH OF - Florida Marlins - 3 years/Arbitration eligible I was actually surprised when I looked up Willingham's stats, too. He has some good power numbers and could potentially come cheap as well. The Braves could might could pull of a trade for both Olsen and Willingham, but that might cost a top prospect. They'd both be cheap and it could potentially be the same package they'd give up for one elite player. With the savings in prospects and cash, they might could still pull off an additional two starting pitchers and maybe even a legitimate centerfielder (Randy Winn?). However, knowing the Marlins, they'd still ask for the moon. It could be the poor man's six-prospects-for-Cabrera/Willis deal.

18. Ryan Howard LH 1B - Philadelphia Phillies - 3 years/~$50 million (~$16.5 million per year) Okay, here is where I lose credibility. I know, it's a huge outside shot - but hear me out. As Howard goes through arbitration, he's going to earn a ton of money the Phillies are rumored to not want to spend on him. With most big market teams having their first basemen needs already filled, the market for him could be very limited. I'm thinking something along the lines of the Kevin Millwood trade, but I don't think we'd get a huge bargain in terms of prospects like they did - but if the Phillies are serious about trading him - Atlanta could be a fit and willing to take on the payroll. Kotchman could be traded or stuck in left field. Don't bash me for this, it's not to be taken completely serious - just an idea.

19. Matt Kemp RH OF - Los Angelos Dodgers - 4 years/Arbitration eligible Honestly, it doesn't really make much sense. There are a lot of rumors out there, mostly by Yankee fans, that Kemp could be traded. I don't really see it, but if the Dodgers do decide to trade him, I'd hope the Braves would make a push for him. He's under team control for another 4 years, so the Braves could potentially trade him off for a huge bounty a year before he hits free agency and bring up a top prospect (looking at you, Heyward) or just let him walk. He might require a tasty four or five packaged deal, probably centered around Hanson.

20. Andre Ethier LH OF - Los Angelos Dodgers - 4 years/Abitration eligible He's not really a good fit, since the Dodgers don't really have any reason to trade him - contending teams don't usually trade productive cheap players, and he's not a power hitter. However, I'm a big Ethier fan and would love to see him in a Braves uniform. If the Dodgers *were* to clear up their logjam in the outfield, I'd suspect Ethier would be the easiest to trade since many teams would love to have him, he's affordable, and not entirely irreplaceable production-wise. However, he doesn't the power (yet) the Braves want, but he certainly has the average and on-base.

That's my top-20 list. I probably left out a huge obvious name, but oh well. There are a few players I left out on purpose though, Jason Bay and Zach Grienke for instance.  Boston is looking to contend next year and they have the means to resign him to a long-term deal. Grienke is the type of pitcher that teams like the Royals trade for, not trade away. Plus, with his contract only having two more years left, it might not be long enough for the Braves to give up a significant haul of prospects for, again. There are plenty of other options where they could have much longer for the same amount. Oh, and Oliver Perez. Dear God, please don't let the Braves sign Oliver Perez.

In my personal opinion, I think we should stay away from long expensive contracts (Like Sabathia, Burnett, Burrell, Rameriz might require) - it gives us better options down the road if it doesn't work out. Acquiring three star players to fit those three needs will definitely let us contend next year, but that's going be very tricky without having any long and expensive contracts. After the amount of injuries we had, I'd rather go after quantity than rely on just three players. But, with the amount of resources and options, there's almost an infinite amount of combinations that'd I'd be happy with.

Also, I like our chances of acquiring top talent on the free market. I don't think the big market teams are looking for that much starting pitching, or at least to give out huge contracts for those starters. The Red Sox don't seem like they'll be getting in a bidding war, the Yankees are doubtful to give a huge contract to both Teixeira and Sabathia, the Mets have other needs besides starting to fulfill first, the Angels don't need any starting pitching and will be more focused on Teixeira, and not that many other teams are looking to dish out big contracts. I like our position heading into the offseason, it should be an exciting one.