The Atlanta Braves will be pursuing starting pitching this summer and their list of potential targets include Zack Greinke of the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs and Edinson Volquez of the San Diego Padres, reports Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
With Tim Hudson and Tommy Hanson currently standing as the only reliable assets in their starting rotation, the Braves will likely make landing a starting pitcher a priority before the Trade Deadline. Greinke, Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster and Edinson Volquez would be among their potential targets.
Bowman believes that if the Braves reach a point where they are committed to landing a starter they will target Greinke. He notes that if the Brewers decide to trade their ace "the Braves’ interest will hinge on being able to lock the former Cy Young Award winner up with a long-term contract." Atlanta is not interested in landing Greinke as a two-month rental, according to Bowman.
Atlanta will have some money to play with as the club has several large salaries, including Chipper Jones ($14 million), Derek Lowe ($15 million) and Michael Bourn ($6.84 million), coming off their payroll at the end of the year. Bowman does note that some of this cash will be needed to either re-sign Bourn or acquire at least one other outfielder.