Kuzul

The Atlanta Braves are teeming with pitching options.

Both Chipper Jones and I have said it in the recent past—the Braves have an embarrassment of riches on the mound.

Chipper took it a step further and even suggested that the Braves had more pitching than they know what to do with, and he has a valid point.

On top of that, Bleacher Repot reader Lee Killian also recently left a question in one of my articles’ comment sections regarding this depth.  

With a rotation that is filled to the brim with proven major league pitching, four big time pitching prospects knocking on the door and a bullpen overflowing with quality arms both in Atlanta and Gwinnett, the Braves are in a very enviable position not only at the present moment, but heading into 2012. 

In the following slides, I will state the 12 pitchers will likely likely consist the most ideal pitching staff in relation to other potential offseason moves the Braves may be making several months from now. 

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Nate McLouth‘s frustrating tenure with the Atlanta Braves may finally be over.

On the disabled list since July 29, McLouth underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia he had been playing through for most of the season. 

According to Mark Bowman, McLouth will miss at least six weeks—which projects him for a return in mid-September.

However, Bowman also goes on to suggest that the team will likely prepare with the assumption that Nate will not be back with the team.

In the following slides, I’ll go over three different situations that may come as a result of McLouth’s time on the disabled list and how it will impact the team down the stretch.  

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The offseason trade for Dan Uggla created a hole on the Braves roster. Okay, maybe it created two holes considering how poorly he has hit thus far, but the hole I was referring to was the departure of utility man Omar Infante.

When the trade was official, I applauded Wren for nabbing a slugger for the mere price of a super utility player and a lefty specialist. Yet, there was a small piece of me who cringed thinking perhaps the bench’s most important spot, it’s utility infielder, would be left in the unsure hands of rookies or minor league journeymen. 

During the 2011 season, the Braves have given chances to Brandon Hicks, Diory Hernandez and now Julio Lugo. While the jury is still out on Lugo, there isn’t much to hope for considering he is a 35-year-old who left his best days back in Tampa Bay in 2006.

With that in mind, the Braves may be seeking utility players at the trade deadline, preferably a right handed hitting one. Following are the top three which I would personally target if I were in Frank Wren’s shoes.

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