Atlanta Braves: How Can They Become Active in the Trade Market?

There has been a lot of criticism focused towards the Atlanta Braves' quiet offseason to date.

Given the strict financial constraints set in place by team ownership, Liberty Media Corporation, the Braves front office recognizes it must build a winner through player development.

During a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Braves CEO Terry McGuirk stated that the team had a $94 million budget for 2012. With just over $90 million already committed, including $10 million still owed Derek Lowe; there is little wiggle room for roster additions.

Led by general manager Frank Wren, the Braves organization must continue to stay the course and not be tempted to make just any deal because sometimes the best trades are the ones not made.

When Atlanta ultimately finds a trade partner, a deep farm system that is embedded with pitching talent will allow the team to deal from the most needed commodity in Major League Baseball: starting pitching.

Keep Prado, Trade Jurrjens

Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens have been the two most discussed names coming out of the Braves camp during trade talks this winter.

Prado’s versatility to move from his starting spot in left field over to third base when Chipper Jones needs a day off or gets injured for a period of time has become invaluable to a club with no other current options at that position.

With the looming promotions of both Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado, the team seems most adapt to part ways with Jurrjens.

The most likely scenario is for Jurrjens to start the season in Atlanta so he can prove his injured right knee is healthy again and can withstand taking the mound every fifth day.

Once he proves healthy, the trade value for a pitcher the caliber of Jurrjens could increase dramatically.

This strategy also allows Tim Hudson the proper recovery time from an offseason back surgery that might limit him early in the season.  Even though Tommy Hanson is expected to be 100 percent for spring training, there is always the possibility of a flareup in his shoulder.

Trading Jurrjens is the best way to fill the left field power void, but waiting until there is stability in the pitching staff is the correct approach to take.

Take Advantage of the Minor League Pitching Pipeline

There is no getting around the fact that the top three pitchers in the rotation have injury concerns. So the possibility of losing Hudson, Hanson or Jurrjens for an extended period of time exists.

If injury occurs, then the option of trading Jurrjens is gone because he will be needed to replace the quality innings lost or would be injured himself.

This is where all is not lost for an organization with a talent rich farm system. The opportunity to fill the power void in the lineup is still there if the front office is willing to deal from the strength of their minor league pitching.

Possible trade targets could include pitchers Sean Gilmartin, Zeke Spruill or J.R. Graham.  J.J. Hoover could be another option if a team wanted to move him back into the starter’s role after he was converted into a reliever last season.  

If Jurrjens becomes unavailable, the number of potential trade partners shrinks and could force the inclusion of Prado in a deal with a minor league arm.

If that is the case, Atlanta must get back an MLB-ready third baseman to replace Chipper Jones on occasion.

Why Not Make Arodys Vizcaino Available?

GM Frank Wren has made it clear he has no intentions of trading any of the "Big Four" pitching prospects, which include Teheran, Delgado, Mike Minor and Arodys Vizcaino.

It’s understandable why they are unwilling to part ways with controllable starting pitchers, but Vizcaino is slowly becoming merely a bullpen piece.

Any non-closer in the bullpen should not be considered untradeable.

There is the argument that he can always be moved back into the rotation, but the pitching depth will remain as long as the Braves don’t include Gilmartin or Spruill in a deal with Vizcaino.

Although Hoover doesn’t have the upside of Vizcaino as a starter, he is close to being MLB-ready in the bullpen. The difference in the two arms out of the bullpen is not enough to keep Atlanta from pulling the trigger on a deal that brings some offensive pop to the lineup.

Vizcaino also has an injury history that should be taken into account when considering whether or not to make him available.

The kind of pitching depth the Braves have affords them the luxury of dealing a talent like Vizcaino, if that’s what it takes to land a position player to infuse what was a lackluster offense in 2011.

Replacing Michael Bourn

With Scott Boras handling the negotiations, it is all but guaranteed that Michael Bourn will test the free-agent market. When that happens, it will be tough for Atlanta to match the excepted offer.

There is no obvious replacement currently in the minors, so the Braves will need to look outside the organization for a center fielder.

One of the road blocks in trade talks with the Colorado Rockies earlier this winter was the inclusion of one of the Rockies young center field prospects in a deal for Prado.

Would the Braves consider offering Vizcaino for Dexter Fowler?

Another offseason trade that could get revisited at some point in the season is the Adam Jones deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

The original asking price was outrageous. If the Braves are willing to include Vizcaino in the deal, it could get talks heated back up.

Jones would fill the hole in left field for the remainder of the 2012 season and move over to center field after that.

The lack of a power bat problem would raise its ugly head again in 2013. If adding Jones this season brings them closer to a division title, that problem can wait another year.

The Rental Player at the Trade Deadline

Last and most likely the least probable option for Atlanta is the rental player at the trade deadline.

Using Cot’s Baseball Contracts list of potential 2013 free agents, the best fit of player and salary seems to be outfielder Carlos Quentin.

After coming to San Diego in a trade with the Chicago White Sox this offseason, Quentin avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract worth $7.025 million.

Odds are against the Padres contending for the National League West title this season, so flipping him for prospects at the trade deadline would be an ideal move.

The catch would be offering San Diego more in return for Quentin than they gave up, which was a pitcher on the verge of becoming a non-prospect (Simon Castro) and a young reliever (Pedro Hernandez).

Quentin would be the power bat in left field that the Braves are in desperate need of. It would also allow Prado to return to the super utility role he is best suited for.

Injury concerns will always follow Quentin, but a midseason trade would allow ample time to evaluate is health for the 2012 season.

Atlanta has options in the trade market this year, but will they take advantage of those opportunities to help their struggling offense? That is a question currently in the minds of Braves fans.

Jim Pratt is a Featured Columnist covering the Atlanta Braves for Bleacher Report, MLB contributor for MLBDepthCharts and BravesWire. Follow Jim on Twitter, @2OutSacBunt