The Atlanta Braves have seven impending free agents after the World Series is over. Here is who I see staying and leaving out of this bunch:

Eric Hinske: 34-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Eric Hinske played in 117 games for the Braves last year and he was 55 for 236 (.233 avg, .713 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 10 homers and 28 RBIs. The Braves have a $1.5 million dollar option on Hinske for 2012 or they can buy him out for $100,000. PREDICTION: STAYING

Alex Gonzalez: 34-year old righty swinging shortstop Alex Gonzalez played in 149 games for the Braves last year and he was 136 of 564 (.241 avg, .642 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 15 homers, 56 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. I look for the Braves to try to upgrade offensively at SS for 2012. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Jack Wilson: 33-year old righty swinging shortstop Jack Wilson played in 17 games for the Braves last year and he was 9 for 41 (.220 avg, .482 OPS) with 3 runs scored. He played in 79 games overall last year for the Mariners and Braves and he was 52 for 214 (.243 avg, .559 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 0 homers, 11 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Nate McLouth: 29-year old lefty swinging CF Nate McLouth played in 81 games for the Braves last year and he was 61 for 267 (.228 avg, .677 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 4 homers, 16 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Braves have a $10.65 million dollar option on McLouth for 2012, but they are going to be buying him out instead for $1.25 million clams. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Kenshin Kawakami: 36-year old righty starter/reliever Kenshin Kawakami pitched in 18 games (7 starts) in Rookie +AA-ball for the Braves last year and he was 2-4 with a 8.86 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. He pitched in 50 games (41 starts) for the Braves in 2009 and 2010 and he was 8-22 with 1 save, a 4.32 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. PREDICTION: LEAVING

Scott Linebrink: 35-year old righty reliever Scott Linebrink pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 4-4 with 1 save, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. PREDICTION: LEAVING

George Sherrill: 35-year old lefty reliever George Sherrill pitched in 51 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He’s priced himself out of Atlanta. PREDICTION: LEAVING

2011 wasn’t all bad for the Braves as they played good baseball from April through the end of August. They finished with a 89-73 record, which was good for second place in the A.L. East, 13 games behind the Phillies. They also lost the Wild Card by 1 game to the Cardinals. Here is a look at the things that stood out to me in 2011:

TEAM MVP: 23-year old righty closer Craig Kimbrel was plain nasty for the Braves in 2011. He pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 4-3 with 46 saves, a 2.10 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Kimbrel only gave up 48 hits in 77 innings last year while whiffing a stunning 127 batters! He did walk 32 batters last year, but that’s nitpicking.

BEST PITCHER: 36-year old righty starting pitcher Tim Hudson was a lifesaver for the Braves’ pitching staff. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Braves in 2011 and he was 16-10 with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He was a horse in the rotation as he constantly was working late in games to save the bullpen a little wear and tear every five days.

PLEASANT SURPRISE: 22-year old lefty swinging rookie 1B Freddie Freeman turned in a very solid year in 2011 for the Braves. He played in 157 games for the Braves in 2011 and he was 161 for 571 (.282 avg, .795 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 21 homers, 76 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: 22-year old lefty swinging RF Jason Heyward put up a very solid rookie year in 2010. They thought he was going to build on that success in 2011, but he went into the tank instead. Heyward played in 128 games for the Braves in 2011 and he was 90 for 396 (.227 avg, .708 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 14 homers, 42 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He is going to have to bounce back in 2012 to restore the organization’s confidence in him.