Hudson, Millwood--and Sosa--still on Braves' radar

Hudson, Millwood still on Braves' radar

The Braves were part of the rumor mill Sunday at the baseball winter meetings. They were mentioned in talks that ranged from the sensational (Sammy Sosa) to the more practical (Kevin Millwood).

One day after trading for closer Dan Kolb from Milwaukee, the Braves also were said to be back in the trade sweepstakes for Oakland ace Tim Hudson, according to officials with other involved teams.

A Braves official was heard discussing the possibility of a take-it-or-leave-it offer for the former Brave Millwood, possibly a one-year deal for no more than $5 million. Millwood has struggled for most of the past two seasons with Philadelphia. He made $11 million in 2004 and went 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA, but the Braves would like to have him back if he'd take a big pay cut.

Braves general manager John Schuerholz never addresses rumors, and he wasn't about to start Sunday. He met with teams late into the night as the Braves continued to pursue a bat and more pitching.

"We still have the offensive piece to try to strengthen, and we'd like maybe to try to strengthen pitching, too," he said. "We're looking generally at two more circumstances to deal with. Whether we can do both or either [at these meetings] remains to be seen."

How did the Braves, with so little room in their projected $82 million payroll, get thrown into the Sosa circus? Because the Chicago Cubs reportedly would so like to rid themselves of their slugging (but shrinking) right-field distraction, they may be willing to eat a big part of the $17 million he's owed next season.

Still, for the Braves to make Sosa fit into their payroll, the Cubs would have to be willing to pay at least three-fourths of his salary in 2005, and perhaps the $4.5 million buyout of his $18 million option for 2006. Due to the salary considerations, Sosa to Atlanta seems unlikely.

But as two officials with other teams said, they wouldn't put anything past Schuerholz, who received a lifetime achievement award from Baseball America on Saturday.

And why would the Braves get back in the hunt for Hudson, who will make just $6.75 million in 2005 but could command a four-year deal worth at least $50 million next winter?

The Braves could now field a rotation of Smoltz, John Thomson, Mike Hampton, Horacio Ramirez and Juan Cruz or one of the prospects, left-hander Dan Meyer and Kyle Davies.

Schuerholz said in general terms, "If the starting pitching is stronger and better than what we have, then we make ourselves better. . . . We feel we have a solid starting rotation in place. If one of our two young guys or Juan Cruz can step up and fill the fifth spot, we can have a really solid rotation. But if you can improve the pitching staff one way or the other, you try to do it."

There was no word on whether the Braves got a decision from Paul Byrd since making their free-agent pitcher an offer last week. He's known to have interest from San Diego.

It was an otherwise slow day at the meetings, with no major trades or signings, just rumors of pitcher Matt Clement closing in on a deal with Anaheim or Los Angeles, and St. Louis and Boston competing for shortstop Edgar Renteria. Carlos Beltran, the biggest name on the free-agent market, continued discussions with the New York Yankees, according to his agent.

Sosa makes no sense. He's a declining player who is a liability in the field. Getting Milwood back at a relatively low price would be sweet, however.