ATLANTA -- During a recent casual conversation regarding whether the Twins, given just one choice, should re-sign ace Johan Santana or Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter, one Major League manager said, "Give me Santana and I'll find somebody to catch the ball out there."

All financial aspects aside, this is essentially what the Braves declared when they announced that they were parting ways with Andruw Jones. Well, sort of. If they do indeed add a left-handed former Cy Young Award winner to their rotation, he likely won't be named Santana.

Braves general manager Frank Wren, who assumed this role when John Schuerholz became the team president earlier this month, knows he has to decide who is going to patrol the center field Jones so adeptly covered for the past 10 years. But Wren's current priority is to find a veteran starter to place behind John Smoltz and Tim Hudson in the starting rotation.

"The mind-set is pitching and restoring our pitching to a high level," Wren said. "[Schuerholz] and I have talked about that for years. We hoped it would be at a high level with Mike Hampton healthy this past year, and it wasn't. Hopefully, [Hampton] can go pitch this winter and we can get a level of comfort that he's going to be healthy and maybe also add a guy."

While some have already made the assumption Tom Glavine will end up signing with Atlanta, Wren currently can't even provide indication the Braves are interested in the 41 year-old southpaw, who won his two Cy Young Awards with the Braves in 1991 and 1998.

Glavine remains property of the Mets, and until 10 days following the conclusion of the World Series New York is the only organization that can talk financial specifics with him.

Given that he's already rejected the $13 million option they were obligated to provide him, this is simply a technicality that will delay the revelation of whether or not Glavine is reunited with Smoltz and manager Bobby Cox. The 300-game winner, who pitched in Atlanta from 1987-2002, would likely request a one-year deal that would include a mutual option for the 2009 season.

If the Braves are able to land Glavine at a cost of $7-8 million for the 2008 season, they mind find a bargain. He's logged at least 200 innings in three of the past four seasons and is coming off a season in which he contributed 23 quality starts -- fifth-best in the National League. Among a weak crop of available pitchers on the free-agent market, he appears to be one of the best options.

For now, the Braves plans are to confidently put Smoltz and Hudson back at the front of the rotation and hope that any mix of Hampton, Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James provides some stability in the final two spots of the rotation. The addition of one or two starters this offseason would certainly enhance what already has the makings of a strong rotation.

Hampton update: While some assume Reyes will continue to maturing into a solid big league starter, others hope James' shoulder problems are the reason he experienced so much inconsistency this season.

As for Hampton, nothing can be assumed. The veteran southpaw, who made 12 starts in 2005 and has missed the past two seasons rehabbing from surgical procedures on his left elbow, is currently working out near his home in Arizona, and the Braves are hoping he'll be able to test his arm in some winter league.

"I talked to him about a week ago and he's doing really well," Wren said. "He thinks he will be able to go somewhere and pitch the second half in winter ball. We'll work on finding a spot for him."

Obviously, the Braves could certainly benefit from Hampton making at least 20 starts next year. At the same time, he certainly has reason to continue doing everything in his power to prove he can still pitch. The guaranteed portion of the eight-year, $121 million contract he signed with the Rockies before the start of the 2001 season expires at the end of next season.

Center field candidates: If the Braves are unable to land a veteran outfielder to replace Jones, Jordan Schafer and Brent Lillibridge might enter Spring Training as the top candidates to become Atlanta's starting center fielder. Jeff Francoeur will definitely remain in right field.

"I think we have some internal options," Wren said. "I'm not going to be specific about them, but I think we have some real options that will allow us to go to Spring Training with confidence if we don't acquire anyone. It may not be the preference, but we have some internal options."

Before making him a definite candidate, the Braves are hopeful Lillibridge gets the opportunity to acquaint himself with the center field position that he hasn't played on a consistent basis since his freshman season at the University of Washington.

Lillibridge, who is a 24-year-old shortstop, had been targeted to play some outfield in the Arizona Fall League. But because of tendinitis in his left wrist, he'll now have to wait to do so during the second half of a winter league.

While hitting .310 with one homer and a .412 on-base percentage in 11 games with the Peoria Javelinas, Schafer has impressed scouts covering the AFL. The Braves are very high on the 21-year-old outfielder and don't seem too concerned about the fact that he's never played above the Class A level.

When asked if this was a problem, Wren simply said, "Ask Rafael Furcal." Furcal made the jump from A Ball to the Majors in 2000 and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

"If a player has a lot of ability and is less vulnerable than another one to having weaknesses that another team can figure out, that guy can handle it," Wren said.

Front-office stability: Earlier this week, Wren announced that he's signed a handful of his top aides through the end of the 2009 season. Included in this group are assistant general manager Bruce Manno, director of player development Kurt Kemp, director of scouting Roy Clark and director of Latin American operations Johnny Almaraz.