Paul Byrd

The Braves have made a "modest" offer to SP Paul Byrd, although he and GM John Schuerholz aren't providing any specifics. Needless to say, it'll be a significant pay cut from the $7 million he earned in 2004. Byrd went 8-7 with a 3.94 ERA in Atlanta this year.

Resigning Byrd to an inexpensive contract makes sense: he's a solid bottom of the rotation guy; nothing spectacular, but he won't embarrass your club, either. If he can return to his pre-surgery form (17 wins with Kansas City in 2002), so much the better. Possible John Smoltz/starting rotation news aside, I'd really like to see the Braves pursue a top-notch ace for the starting rotation. John Thomson, Mike Hampton, and Horacio Ramirez are all under contract through 2005, but none of them really fit the "ace of the staff" mold.