According to reports, Jacoby Ellsbury has strained his relationship with the Red Sox, who are open to trading the young centerfielder. Along with many other suitors, the Braves are believed to have interest in Ellsbury. But what separates the Braves from other potential trade partners is their tremendous minor league pitching depth; an asset that the Red Sox surely would covet.

The Braves' obvious weakness lies in centerfield. The struggles of Nate McLouth have been well documented, and Ellsbury would be a welcome sight in a Braves uniform. Since the departure of Rafael Furcal, the Braves have lacked a legitimate stolen base threat. McLouth was brought in to be such a weapon, but his dramatic uppercut swing and his unwillingness to run in the past two seasons has been a major disappointment for the Braves.

If the Braves are going to take a legitimate run at Ellsbury, they are going to have to part with at least two of their top prospects. The Red Sox will look to maximize Ellsbury's worth on the trade market, and the beginning bid for his services could be quite substantial.

The Braves organization, and fans alike, would likely balk at the possibility of trading prospects for an individual who has struggled to stay on the field. But if Atlanta wants to be a World Series contender in the coming years, they have to be willing to take such risks. And Ellsbury, who certainly won't break the bank, would be an incredible asset to the Braves lineup.

A superior defensive centerfielder, Ellsbury would be a huge improvement over McLouth. Although his arm is nothing to fear, his career UZR is 15.1, compared to McLouth's -39.3. Beyond that, the insertion of Ellsbury into the top, or even bottom, of the Braves order would make them the best lineup in the National League, and one of the best in baseball. While they might lack elite power, their balance and talent from top to bottom, along with the addition of Ellsbury's speed, would be a force to be reckoned with.

Ellsbury burst on to the scene in 2007, and was given an opportunity to start full-time in both '08 and '09: posting an average slash line of .291/.346/.406. While these numbers aren't overwhelming, they're not bad for a gap-to-gap hitter. But above all else, Ellsbury brings elite speed and an ability to score runs. In '08, Ellsbury had 50 stolen bases and in '09, he had 70 stolen bases. Yes, 70 stolen bases. And in those seasons, he had 98 and 94 runs respectively. Putting that kind of ability in front of the likes of Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Dan Uggla could prove fatal for opposing pitchers.

While I may be getting way too excited a little ahead of myself, I think it's fair to say that Ellsbury would be a great fit and excellent asset for the Braves. The Red Sox may ask for a (great) arm and a leg, but I have a feeling that Frank Wren and company could convince Theo Epstein to lower his price tag. Ellsbury's 2010 injury troubles and his disgruntled relationship with the Red Sox could be beneficial issues for teams looking to buy low on the centerfielder.

In the end though, it will be up to the Braves front office in deciding whether or not they want to acquire Ellsbury. Not only will they have to factor in Ellsbury's injury history, but they also have to weigh their willingness to pay their fourth outfielder (McLouth) $6.5 million for the 2011 season. Also, they must determine if they are willing to part with some of their top prospects. While the Braves could put together the best trade package, their trading of Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz in the Mark Teixeira deal may be a big reason not to rid themselves of talented prospects.

I do not expect the Braves to take such a risk. I'm certain that Wren will consider making such a deal, but the asking price and injury history of Ellsbury would likely be too overwhelming for the Braves. However, this opinion is coming from the guy who completely dismissed any possibility of acquiring Dan Uggla. So if I wake up sometime over the next few months and Ellsbury is Brave, I'll be ecstatic, but not the least bit surprised.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, free agent Eric Hinske has received contract offers from both the Braves and Brewers. On the surface, this would seem to be an easy decision for Hinske. Atlanta would offer the utility player an opportunity to reach the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, while Milwaukee's chances of overtaking both the Cardinals or Reds in the NL Central are minimal.

What Milwaukee does offer is the opportunity to play close to home. A native of Menasha, Wisconsin, Hinske would be playing ball just a two hour drive from his hometown. Playing in front of his closest family and friends is something that Hinske, a veteran of six teams in nine years, has yet to experience.

The factor that separates Hinske's situation from other free agents is that his is not a money issue. The Braves have reportedly offered Hinske a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $1 million and $1.5 million. He has also received a similar offer from the Brewers. The Braves, who greatly value Hinske's bat and defensive versatility, are expected to increase their offer if necessary.

It has also been reported that Hinske would "jump" at the Braves offer if they included a second year, something the Braves are hesitant to do. Personally, I think Hinske has earned a two-year deal, but I understand Atlanta's cautious approach. At 33, Hinske is far removed from his prime. A two-year deal for an aging bench player is a risky venture, but is one that might be necessary if the Braves intend to hang on to their most valuable reserve.

In the end, it's going to come down to what Eric values most: winning or playing close to home. Sure, the Brewers have a shot to make the playoffs, but so does every team this time of year. The Braves are legitimate contenders to be the National League's representative in the World Series, and if Hinske wants another opportunity at a ring, Atlanta will be his choice.

Hinske's decision is supposed to be made in the near future. While I hope that he chooses to remain a Brave, I understand and respect his decision if he chooses Milwaukee. Hinske has paid his dues as a professional and has more than earned the opportunity to choose his destination. If he chooses the Brewers, the Braves would be losing a veteran presence and a powerful bat; two valuable attributes that will be hard to replace. Hopefully, the Braves won't have to deal with such a situation. For now, let's wait and see what happens.

The recent acquisition of Dan Uggla got me thinking about what the Braves lineup might look like for the coming season. Obviously it's a little early to make any surefire predictions, but the possibility of the Braves trading for another big bat is bleak. Frank Wren and company will have to use the remaining funds to fill out the backsides of the bullpen and bench, and not to fill the gaping hole in centerfield that is Nate McLouth.

Via recent interviews, Fredi Gonzalez has indicated that if healthy, Chipper Jones will remain in the three hole. While I feel Chipper could be more productive batting second, I understand his decision. That said, here is my prediction for what Fredi's lineup will usually look like.

LF Martin Prado

RF Jason Heyward

3B Chipper Jones

2B Dan Uggla

C Brian McCann

SS Alex Gonzalez

1B Freddie Freeman

CF Nate McLouth

As much as I like the above lineup, I think it could improve exponentially with a few, simple changes.

My lineup

LF Martin Prado

3B Chipper Jones

RF Jason Heyward

2B Dan Uggla

C Brian McCann

1B Freddie Freeman

SS Alex Gonzalez

CF Nate McLouth

Out of the two hole, Jason Heyward drove in 72 runs in what was a very impressive rookie campaign. While he could certainly improve upon those numbers hitting second in 2011, he has the potential to drive in over 100 runs hitting third. With the on-base skills of Prado (career .356) and Jones (career .405), Heyward could be poised for an incredible year.

I think most fans would agree that Jones' power-hitting days are behind him, but that doesn't mean he can't be a productive hitter. At this stage in his career, it's more important to find the position in the lineup that allows Chipper and the Braves to be most successful, and in my opinion, Jones is better suited as a table setter and not a run producer.

Either way, having Prado, Jones and Heyward in front of Uggla and McCann could make the Braves' first through fifth hitters the most formidable in the NL. Barring injury, the Braves have more than enough hitting to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Only 129 days and counting until Opening Day.

Jeff Schultz over at AJC wrote a great article discussing Frank Wren and his willingness to make changes. While his moves haven't always panned out, most notably the acquisition of Kenshin Kawakami, Wren refuses to sit on his hands. There is no way of knowing whether or not the Uggla trade will work out either, but all Braves fans need to appreciate Wren's eagerness to make the team better.

The Atlanta Braves have reportedly offered free agent utilityman Eric Hinske a one-year deal worth between $1 million and $1.5 million. Hinske hit .256, with 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 2010. Splitting most of his time between left field, first base and pinch hitter, Hinske proved invaluable to the success of the 2010 Braves.

Hinske has proved himself a winner and was instrumental not only in the Braves' early season climb into first place, but also in their late-season push into the playoffs. Among numerous other key plays, his game-changing homer against the Marlins on September 29 propelled the Braves one game closer to a playoff birth, and in Hinske's own words, was the biggest home run he had ever hit.

(As a side note, I think it's fair to say that Hinske's home run in game three against San Francisco was the biggest home run of his career, but it came in a loss. While I will try to forget what took place afterward, I will never forget the rush I felt when that ball slipped just inside the foul-pole for a home run. Someday, I would like to thank Eric for that moment.)

Hinske's abilities as a clutch performer off the bench, and capable defense at two positions, was key to the Braves success. While he is likely to receive numerous offers, I'm going to predict he remains a Brave. Hinske wants to contribute to a winning organization and at this point, it looks like the Braves are destined for a deep playoff run in 2011. While I am deeply disturbed by Hinske's full-back tattoo, I would like nothing more than to have that back covered with a Braves uniform for all of next season.

In a move that should come as no surprise, the Braves have traded 2006 first-round pick Cody Johnson to the Yankees for cash considerations. A player of tremendous power potential, Johnson's incredible strikeout rate and unwillingness to make adjustments led the Braves to make this move.

Striking out an amazing 629 times in 1813 minor league plate appearances, it is clear that Johnson has a serious obstacle to overcome: his own stubbornness. It's easy to look too deeply into statistics, but when an individual is striking out in over a third of his plate appearances, it's obvious that he had no intention of changing his hitting philosophy. For Johnson, it was all or nothing.

Hopefully, this trade will come as a wake-up call for Johnson. While still young, Johnson has an opportunity to change his outlook in the batter's box. With that, I want to wish Cody good luck in those horrid Yankee pinstripes. Maybe someday he'll realize baseball isn't all about home runs.

A great story by AJC's David O'Brien on the response to the Uggla trade.

As he pointed out earlier today on XM Radio, Dan Uggla is happy with yesterday's trade. While he won't be able to wear his usual #6 jersey, Uggla sees a future in Atlanta.

"It's definitely a spot where I could see myself playing out the rest of my career."

As long as Uggla continues producing like he has the previous five years, most fans will be satisfied seeing him in a Braves uniform for at least the next five years.

In what has to be considered one of Bobby Cox's finest managerial jobs, the 2010 Braves overcame injury after injury to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005. However, this was not enough for Cox to earn a 5th Manager of the Year Award. Instead, that award was given to the Padres' Bud Black.

The Padres most certainly overachieved throughout the year, but their complete collapse in the last month of the season should have put Black out of the running for this award. Apparently not.

Receiving only one first-place vote, Cox finished behind the aforementioned Black (16 1st place votes), Cincinnati’s Dusty Baker (13 1st place votes), and San Francisco’s Bruce Bochy (one 1st place vote), respectively. While each was deserving, it would have been nice to send Cox off to retirement with more than just a playoff appearance.

As Braves fans moved on from a disappointing postseason experience, it was clear that GM Frank Wren had some work to do. Besides the inability to stay healthy, the Braves lacked the pieces to make a serious run to the World Series. Today, Wren shored up one of the Braves deepest needs: a right-handed power bat.

With the acquisition of Dan Uggla, the Braves not only increased their power potential, but also became more versatile. Martin Prado, arguably the Braves MVP for 2010, will now be free roam the field at a variety of positions. While I would like to see Prado in left field for the entire 2011 campaign, a position he has played in winter leagues, his skills in the infield will allow manager Fredi Gonzalez to shuffle him all over the diamond.

Prado will be a much-needed insurance policy both for rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman and a recovering Chipper Jones. While Freeman's rookie season will hopefully mirror that of his good friend Jason Heyward, Prado will likely spell him from time-to-time against lefties. And, as we all know, even a healthy Chipper Jones needs plenty of rest. Prado's abilities at that position will not only allow Chipper to take a breather when necessary, but he will be a more-than-capable replacement if Chipper were to sustain yet another injury.

But lets get back to Uggla.

At first glance, Uggla’s acquisition almost seemed too good to be true. And on further review, it is. In a pitcher-friendly park, Uggla hit a career best .287, hit 33 HRs and had 105 RBI. While he did strikeout an alarming 149 times, a problem that plagued many Braves hitters, Uggla still managed to walk 78 times while maintaining a .369 OBP. Had he posted these stats as a Brave in 2010, Uggla would have led the team in runs, homeruns, RBI, SLG% and OPS. Not too shabby.

Heavy on lefties, the Braves order was in dire need of a righty to plug into the middle of the order. With the addition of Freeman to the lineup, the Atlanta will likely start four lefties and one switch hitter; most of whom sit between the 2 and 6 positions in the order. But with the addition of Uggla, Gonzalez will be able to split up the likes of Brian McCann, Heyward and Jones; a certain advantage in the lefty-heavy NL East.

Assuming Uggla stays healthy, an uncertainty that most Atlanta fans are accustomed to, the Braves have acquired an all-star second baseman, who, while coming up on a contract year, is in the prime of his career: a combination that could mean trouble for the rest of the National League. At this point, this has to go down as Frank Wren’s best move as general manager; not only for who he acquired, but for what he gave up in exchange for Uggla. Well done Frank.