MLB Free Agency: Jason Kubel and 5 Players Atlanta Braves Should Target

After a terrible September collapse, the Atlanta Braves will be looking to tweak their roster to get back to the playoffs. Due to salary and roster constraints, don't expect the Braves to be in on any big names.

The Braves do have some holes to fill, though. Shortstop, outfield depth, and bullpen depth are all issues. Braves GM Frank Wren has work to be done if the Braves are to avoid a similar fate as last season. 

Let's look at Jason Kubel and five players the Braves should target in free agency. 

Kerry Wood

If the Braves bullpen had a weakness last season, it was the lack of depth past the big three. The Braves particularly needed another right-handed arm, with Peter Moylan and Kris Medlen both hurt.

Both these players could return to the bullpen this season, but the Braves should still look to add a veteran arm. Wood has been solid since converting to a reliever and had a 3.35 ERA last year. 

Darren Oliver

Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty get so much time as the seventh- and eighth-inning men that the burden of left-handed specialist often falls to the third-best Braves lefty.

George Sherrill surprised many last season but actually surrendered a higher batting average to left-handers than right-handers.

Oliver may be 41, but he has had an ERA under 3.00 for four straight seasons. He could be just the player the Braves need to add depth to their bullpen. 

Ramon Santiago

Santiago could serve a role for the Braves as a utility infielder. With shortstop unsettled and Chipper needing a solid backup at third base, the Braves could be looking for a player of Santiago’s skill set.

His natural position is second base, but he can play both shortstop and third base capably. Santiago is probably not an option as a full-time shortstop. 

Wilson Betemit

If the Braves want to keep Martin Prado from shifting back and forth between left field and third base, a solid backup to Chipper Jones would be a good decision.

Betemit, who started in the Braves organization, hit .285 with decent power in 2011. He is affordable and would be a solid piece to the lineup when Chipper is out. 

Alex Gonzalez

As much as Braves fans don’t want to hear it, the free-agent shortstop they should be targeting is Alex Gonzalez. Fans have grown tired of his struggles at the plate, but he plays good defense and Atlanta won’t be in on the bidding for Jose Reyes.

The Braves see their future at the shortstop position in either Tyler Pastornicky or Andrelton Simmons. Whoever they sign will simply be a stop-gap and there is no better option than simply re-signing Gonzalez. 

Jason Kubel

The Braves are set in center field this season with Michael Bourn. Corner outfield might be a different story. With the struggles of Jason Heyward and with Martin Prado being forced to play third on occasion, the Braves could use a corner outfielder with some pop.

Kubel was very productive in 2009, posting a .908 OPS. His last two seasons have been less productive, partly due to injury. Because of this, Kubel could come at a bargain.

He could provide great depth at either corner outfield spot or potentially start, depending on how the Braves handle Heyward and Prado.