The Atlanta Braves are looking for an outfielder, preferably a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Jordan Schafer, Eric Hinske, and Nate McLouth -- all left-handed hitters - were all shuffled in and out of the outfield when Martin Prado was injured. Even though Prado is back from the DL, he's mostly playing third base with Chipper Jones out.
There are cheap fixes -- Josh Willingham, say -- but then there is a chance to go big, as the kids are saying these days. David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks the Braves could be in on the best right-handed outfielder on the market:
Braves have not ruled out making offer for Hunter Pence, contrary to some reports.
With Pence under control for 2012 and 2013, he's a long-term solution as well as a short-term one, but one that will cost a team some serious prospects in trade.
Also, Chipper is returning on Monday, which likely pushes Prado back to the outfield. That would leave Jason Heyward and Prado at the corners, with Schafer and McLouth in center. Do the Braves think that Pence or Heyward could man center field? It's an interesting fit. We'll just have to assume that Heyward's going to Houston in the deal.
The Braves are six games back in the NL East, but they have a healthy four-game lead in the Wild Card standings.