If I am Frank Wren I wake up today feeling refreshed, relieved and MOTIVATED.  Yes it would have been nice to take Burnett but as the deal went on the cost was getting out of hand for 90% of the teams in baseball.  (I think people are forgetting that he has played about the same number of games over the past few years as Sheets and is asking for a lot of money over a long period of time).  It could have been a great sign or a great bust.  But now the temptation is gone and our risk has been averted.  So now it is time to look at a couple different scenarios and move fast with confidence and direction. If I am Frank Wren waking up on this Saturday morning I see two directions...

If I am Frank Wren I wake up today feeling refreshed, relieved and MOTIVATED.  Yes it would have been nice to take Burnett but as the deal went on the cost was getting out of hand for 90% of the teams in baseball.  (I think people are forgetting that he has played about the same number of games over the past few years as Sheets and is asking for a lot of money over a long period of time).  It could have been a great sign or a great bust.  But now the temptation is gone and our risk has been averted.  So now it is time to look at a couple different scenarios and move fast with confidence and direction. If I am Frank Wren waking up on this Saturday morning I see two directions...

Scenario #1-Trade for Pitching: This is something that we have already done with Vazquez and it has been talked about other places.  Given the lack of quality starting pitching in the FA pool this may be the best way to get a good starter.  Therefore I make three calls,in this order, as part of phase one:

1) Giants: There was talk that they could trade Cain for offensive help. The Giants have an embarrasment of riches with pitching but are running out just an embarrassment on offense.  Their clean up hitter was Molina..not a good sign.  The odds are that the Giants wouldn't be interested in what we would have to offer but you have to ask. I would think that a package of KJ, Kotchman, and a couple propsects would at least keep Sabean on the phone for a couple minutes.  After thinking about it he might see that an up and coming offensive 2B with a decent hitting (with upside) 1B with an excellent glove, could help his team immediately.  If nothing else you could put Rowand #4 and flank him with KJ in the #3 hole and Kotchman in the #5 hole...moving Molina to the #6 hole.  No murders row but it would lengthen and strengthen their line up with some younger players.

If that doesn't produce immediate traction:

2) Call Dayton and tell him it is time to fish or cut bait for Grienke.

If that doesn't produce immediate traction:

3) Call Towers one last time and see if he still wants to sit on Peavy? (Not likely to go anywhere...but you have to ask).

Phase 2-Scenario#1: Offense-FA

1) I sign Wiggington immediately.  Not exactly an offensive stud but he can play a little defense everywhere. By the time the music stops you may need him in LF, RF, 2B or 1B and he is a RH bat with some power.

2) As you are working on Wiggington you at least TALK to Texiera.  You don't contact Boras you have Chipper call Mark and feel him out.  If he is willing to consider an Atlanta discount you seriously press the issue.  If you have a young pitcher under contract from the trade...Tex offers you the cornerstone bat you need and a centerpiece for the Braves when Chipper retires. 

3) Go after Dunn.  (Especially if you trade Kotchman as you can play Dunn at 1B or LF and him being LH isn't as critical with Kotchman gone).

Scenario #2

You can't trade for the pitcher you wanted so now you have to go Free Agent direction:

1a)You offer Sheets a heavy loaded 2 yr contract with heavy and profitable incentives and hope he and Smoltz can together put upr about 1.5-1.75 seasons next year.

1b) Make sure that Smoltz is staying put

2) Go after Derek Lowefor a 3 yr deal...not likely but you have to ask.

3)  Look at Looper for a 2 yr deal.  Nothing fancy but could be a decent #4.

4) At this point just look at a couple upside guys for one year deals: Benson, Penny, Capuano..and how someone pans out.

Phase #2:

Trade for a bat:

1) Sign Wigginton.  See above.

2) Trade for Ankiel to play CF and let Wiggington play LF.  You then let Schafer mature and assuming Franceor hits better then Blanco and/or ANderson then Prado or Johnson hit lead off.