Atlanta Braves

Atlanta is at it again.

Just a day after acquiring Billy Wagner to serve as the club’s new closer, the Braves have reportedly signed free agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal.

The young offseason has come to quite a start for the Atlanta Braves.

With Braves closers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano hitting the market, Frank Wren looked like he would have quite a task on his hand to secure the back of the 'pen.

Nope.

Within a couple of days after teams made their decisions on arbitration-eligible players, the Braves General Manager succeeded in his task to complete the bullpen.

Here is the Braves' four main men in relieving next year:

Peter Moylan: 2.84 ERA

Eric O'Flaherty: 3.04 ERA

Takashi Saito: 2.43 ERA

Winning is a risky business. It's much easier to lose.

But the Atlanta Braves are determined to win in 2010. Not 2011. Not 2012. In 2010.

The problem is Atlanta can't simply hope for the best in 2010. The Yankees can hope for the best. The Phillies can hope for the best.

Those clubs have the answers. There might be a few additions and subtractions here and there, but the gist of a winning franchise is already in place.

When compared to Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, George Sisler, Hank Greenberg, and Bill Terry, Fred McGriff is not a Hall of Famer. But when compared to Tony Perez, Orlando Cepeda, Eddie Murray, and Harmon Killebrew, Fred McGriff is a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Fred McGriff Compared to the Greatest First Basemen

Fred McGriff's offensive production pales in comparison to the first group's offensive production, but it holds its own against that of the second group.

For those of you who have actually looked over my profile, you know that Carl Crawford listed first on my Short List under "Favorite Athletes."

To expand on that positioning, Carl Crawford is my favorite baseball player/athlete/celebrity/everything.

Speed, defense, average, a little pop, and hustle.

What's not to love?

Whether you've heard of him or not, Jason Heyward is good. Really good.

I suppose those of you who are still uninformed need an explanation.

Heyward, age 21, was born in McDonough, Georgia, also the hometown of outfielder Matt Murton. As the crow flies, The Geranium City, as McDonough is known, is just 27 miles away from Atlanta, home of the Braves.

With Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez's departures nearly a given in Atlanta, the Braves have to look towards the Free Agent market for their closer.

(Well, they don't have to, but who is going to trade away a legitimate closer this offseason?)

Names that jump out include Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, and Jose Valverde.

But combinations of ability and contractual issues make these guys relatively poor fits.

One name that has been established through various media outlets for the Braves, though, is Billy Wagner.