33-year old righty Javier Vazquez finished fourth in the voting for the N.L Cy Young Award. He started 32 games for the Braves last season and he was 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He only allowed 181 hits in 219 1/3 innings while whiffing 238 batters showing just how nasty he was. Vazquez has now pitched in 387 games (385 starts) in his major league career and he is 142-139 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Braves should absolutely not trade Vazquez over the winter as he has really improved with good coaching.

Bobby Cox finished fourth in the voting for the National League Manager of the Year Award in the N.L. He led the Braves to a 86-76 record (53.1%) with a strong surge late in the year that almost got the Braves into the playoffs. Cox has now been the manager of the Braves for 24 seasons now in which he is 2,058-1,638 (55.7%) during the regular season. The Braves were smart to bring Cox back for another year as he still has it as a manager.

23-year old righty starting pitcher Tommy Hanson finished third in the voting for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He would have easily won it if he would have made the pitching staff of the Braves out of spring training. Hanson pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Braves last season and he was 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He only allowed 105 hits in 127 2/3 innings for the Braves last season while whiffing 116 batters which gives you a glimpse of how nasty this guy really is. So what if he didn’t win the Rookie of the Year Award as he will be a frontrunner for the Cy Young Award next season as long as he stays healthy.

The Atlanta Braves have signed 34-year old righty starting pitcher Tim Hudson to a 3-year deal worth $27 million bucks with a option for the 2013 season with a $1 million dollar buyout. Hudson only started 7 games for the Braves last season and he was 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He started the season real late in 2009 as he was rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery but he looked sharp at the end of the season. Hudson has pitched 5 years with the Braves and he has pitched in 128 games (127 starts) in which he is 56-39 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Hudson has now pitched in 311 games (310 starts) in his major league career and he is 148-78 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This was likely a solid move for the Braves as Hudson will be worth more than $9 million bucks a year if he can remain healthy.

The Braves have signed Scott Proctor to a split contract for the 2010 season. He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery but he will be healthy by spring training. Proctor has now pitched in 262 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 16-10 with 1 save, a 4.42 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. This was a good signing for bullpen depth as the Braves need help there.