In this recent flurry of Jake Peavyness we should not forget that just as much as we need another top starting pitcher, so too we need another power bat in the lineup. This power bat should most logically occupy the big gaping void in left field and be able to hit cleanup and protect Chipper Jones. Whether it was because of a lack of protection or just random baseball luck, Chipper hit only four homeruns this year after Mark Teixeira was traded, as opposed to 18 when Teixeira was still hitting behind him.

Beyond just needing a bat behind Chipper, this lineup needs more overall power, and a bat that can be a threat in the middle of the order. Brian McCann hits well in the number-four spot in the lineup -- hitting .309 with six homeruns in the 43 games he started there -- but he won't be in the lineup everyday, and while he does have power and a high average he's not that prototypical cleanup hitter we need back there.

Enter free agents to be Adam Dunn and Pat "the bat" Burrell. They are the primary power bats on the free agent market this winter not named Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez. Now, it would be nice to have a Manny Ramirez on the roster, but for the king's ransom he's sure to command and the daily sideshow he will inevitably bring it's probably not worth it.

With Pat Burrell we would get a .250 career hitter (and he hit exactly .250 last year), 30 homerun, 90-to-100 RBI guy. Oh, and about 140 striekouts to a team that doesn't strike out that much (second-least in the NL).

With Adam Dunn we get a career .250 career hitter, 40 homeurn (and he's hit exactly 40 homeruns each of the last four years), 110 RBI guy, and about 175 strikeouts.

The strikeouts with these guys are an eye-catcher, but with big-time power comes some swings and misses. Both guys also walk about 100 times a year and have great on-base percentages, so they're almost pure three true outcomes hitters -- homerun, walk, or strikeout. To sign these guys it will probably take $14 to $15 million a year for four or five years -- a lot to commit to this type of all-or-nothing hitter (see Beltre, Adrian and Sexson, Richie in the winter of 2004).

Another possibility is that we use our trade chips to go after a power bat instead of a power pitcher. Presumably a power bat would be a cheaper buy than the premium that has been and will be paid for top-line pitching. (Of course, Teixeira certainly cost plenty.) Via Rowland's Office and originally brought up by Ken Rosenthal, the Braves may match up well with the White Sox and Jermaine Dye:

The White Sox also are expected to be in the market for a second baseman, with Alexei Ramirez moving to shortstop and Orlando Cabrera departing as a free agent.

I believe we have a second baseman in Kelly Johnson who is supposed to be our principle trade chip this off-season. Dye is a bit older than either Dunn or Burrell, and while he's not as big of a power threat, he is still a 30-homer 90-RBI guy, and he is more than comfortable hitting cleanup. He's signed for a reasonable $12 million each of the next two season, which means we wouldn't have to enter into a longterm commitment, which could clear the way for a Cody Johnson or Jayson Heyward to take over in 2012.

As much as we want Peavy, the better use of our trade pieces may be for a power bat. We could then turn our free agent money loose on the starting pitching market.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure which option I would prefer. As a fan I don't want to see too many of our prospects traded away, especially guys like Tommy Hanson and Jordan Schafer who should be able to contribute next year. I also don't want the Braves to get stuck with an albatross of a contract. It's going to be a tough winter becuase there seem to be so many holes to fill, but it should be exciting because you know the Braves and Frank Wren are going to get creative in filling them. It's also good to know that there are plenty of options out there; either free agents or trade targets.