The Atlanta Braves have 8 free agents heading into the winter. I think they already have a good idea as far as who they want to bring back. I am going to look into my crystal ball to see who stays and who goes:

Troy Glaus: 34-year old righty swinging 1B Troy Glaus started the season hot and ended it as cold as ice. Glaus played in 128 games for the Braves last season and he was 99 of 412 (.240 avg, .744 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 16 homers and 71 RBIs. VERDICT: I would let him walk.

Derek Lee: 35-year old righty swinging 1B Derek Lee played in 39 games for the Braves after coming over in the deal with the Cubs and he was 37 of 129 (.287 avg, .849 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 3 homers and 24 RBIs. Lee played in 148 games combined last season for the Cubs & Braves and he was 142 of 547 (.260 avg, .775 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 19 homers and 80 RBIs. VERDICT: I think Lee will get more money on the open market then the Braves will feel comfortable paying him. With that in mind I see them letting him walk.

Omar Infante: 28-year old righty swinging infielder Omar Infante had a career year for the Braves last season. He even made the N.L. All-Star team! Infante played in 134 games for the Braves last season and he was 151 of 471 (.321 avg, .775 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 8 homers, 47 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Braves have a $2.5 million dollar option on Infante for 2011 or they can buy him out for $250,000. VERDICT: The Braves will pick up Infante’s option.

Alex Gonzalez: 33-year old righty swinging shortstop Alex Gonzalez played in 72 games for the Braves after coming over in a deal with the Blue Jays and he was 64 for 267 (.240 avg, .677 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 6 homers and 38 RBIs. He played in 157 games overall for the Jays & Braves and he was 149 of 595 (.250 avg, .741 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 23 homers and 88 RBIs. The Braves have a club option for 2011 on Gonzalez valued at $2.5 million bucks. VERDICT: With his great mitt and solid power for a middle infielder I think it’s a no-brainer….the Braves should pick up the option.

David Ross: 33-year old righty swinging catcher David Ross has really played well for the Braves. He played in 59 games for the Braves last season and he was 35 of 121 (.289 avg, .871 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 2 homers and 28 RBIs. VERDICT: The Braves re-signed Ross during the year to a 2-year deal.

Rick Ankiel: 31-year old lefty swinging CF Rick Ankiel played in 47 games for the Braves after coming over in a deal with the Royals and he was 25 of 119 (.210 avg, .652 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 2 homers, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He played in 74 games overall for the Royals & Braves last season and he was 49 for 211 (.232 avg, .710 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 6 homers, 24 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Braves have a $6 million dollar club option on Ankiel or they can buy him out for $500,000 bucks. VERDICT: I see the Braves paying Ankiel $500K to leave.

Eric Hinske: 33-year old lefty swinging LF/RF/1B/3B Eric Hinske played in 131 games for the Braves last season and he was 72 of 281 (.256 avg, .794 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 11 homers and 51 RBIs. VERDICT: The Braves should re-sign Hinske because of his versatility in the field and his power with the bat.

Kyle Farnsworth: 34-year old righty reliever Kyle Farnsworth pitched in 23 games (0 starts) for the Braves after coming over from the Royals. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Royals & Braves last season and he was 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. VERDICT: I would likely let Farnsworth walk.

The Braves have released 30-year old righty swinging catcher J.C. Boscan. Boscan got into the first game of his major league career in September and he was 0 for 0 with a walk and a run scored. Boscan definitely probably savored his first game in the majors after serving 14 years in the minors. He has played in 976 games in his minor league career and he is 712 of 3,134 (.227 avg, .629 OPS) with 303 runs scored, 40 homers, 348 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. The Braves won’t miss him too much in the future, if at all.

UPDATE: (11/29/2010) - The Atlanta Braves have re-signed J.C. Boscan to a minor league deal.

The Braves have released 26-year old switch hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera and 40-year old righty reliever Takashi Saito. Cabrera came over from the Yankees in the Javier Vazquez trade and he pretty much stunk it up for the Braves. Cabrera played in 147 games for the Braves last year and he was 117 of 458 (.255 avg, .671 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 4 homers, 42 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Some team will give Cabrera another chance but the Braves just didn’t like what they saw out of him in 2010. Takashi Saito was likely released only because he couldn’t stay healthy. Saito pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 2-3 with 1 save, a 2.83 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He only gave up 41 hits in 54 innings pitched last season while whiffing 69 batters showing just how effective he was last season. But, the Braves like their young relievers so they think they can’t afford to lose Saito.

The Braves didn’t wait long to ink 46-year old Fredi Gonzalez to replace the retired Bobby Cox as the new manager. He was signed to a 3-year deal with a option for a fourth year. Gonzalez coached under Cox so chances are that he will continue to do some things the same way as his old boss. Gonzalez compiled a 276-279 (49.7%) record in four years with the Florida Marlins which is pretty impressive when you consider that they never spend any cash on player payroll. That won’t be a problem for him with the Braves and I expect that he will do a really good job for them going forward.

Manager Bobby Cox appeared to have left starting pitcher Derek Lowe in just a little too long last night and it hurt the Braves in the end. Lowe was the losing pitcher after having worked the first 6 1/3 innings last night allowing only 2 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), walking 2 batters and whiffing 8. Lefty Jonny Venters gave up the big hit to Cody Ross in the bottom of the 7th on which Buster Posey scored the game winning run. Venters pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings allowing 3 hits and whiffing 2 batters. Rookie Craig Kimbrel worked a scoreless ninth inning giving the Braves a chance to come back in the bottom of the 9th inning but it just didn’t happen. Catcher Brian McCann was the hitting star for the Braves last night as he was 2 for 4 with 1 run scored, a homer and 2 RBIs. Rookie RF Jason Heyward pitched in with the bat as he was 2 for 4. The Braves lose this series 3-1.