Jason Heyward to Yankees Trade Rumors

The Atlanta Braves suffered an epic collapse down the stretch last season and missed the playoffs by one game, but they haven't made any significant moves in the offseason to upgrade the team.

That may be why the latest rumor making the rounds is such an explosive one. Bleacher Report is suggesting the Braves may trade promising young right-fielder Jason Heyward to the NY Yankees for a group of impact players.

This isn't a trade likely to happen, but there are several reasons the rumor is gaining traction. 

One is the Braves complete collapse in September, exposing them as a team that has solid starting pitching and possibly the major leagues' best shut down bullpen with middle relievers Eric O'Flaherty and Johnny Venters setting the table for closer Craig Kimbrel. The idea that the Braves would want to pick up a couple of reliable bats isn't so crazy.

Braves hand shortstop over to Tyler Pastornicky

Baseball season is right around the corner, and no major leaguer will face any more pressure in spring training than Tyler Pastornicky. The Atlanta Braves are handing the untested rookie the starting job at shortstop on a team that missed the playoffs by only one game last year.

Patornicky's sole experience in the major leagues was a call-up in a game he didn't play-last season's final game versus the Phillies in which the Braves were eliminated from the postseason by the margin of one inning after the team had an epic September collapse. One of the Braves biggest problems was a lack of offense, and weak hitting free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez was not resigned.

Since the Braves made no significant moves to bring anyone else in that means the starting shortstop job for the big league club falls squarely on the shoulders of the talented but untested Pastornicky, a pesky hitter with great speed and a good glove whom scouts seem divided on as to his major league potential.

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Braves Gamble Handing Starting Job to Tyler Pastornicky

Kudos to the Braves farm system

For at least the last two decades, the Atlanta Braves have been known to have a healthy farm system and produce a lot of big league prospects. That's largely how the Braves, as a medium-market franchise, have remained contenders for so long.

With a payroll typically around $90 million, pretty close to the league average, you would expect them to be about an average ball team in the long run.

Kudos to the Braves farm system

Braves try concessions deal to boost attendance

After a year which saw an epic collapse that cost them the postseason, the Atlanta Braves haven’t made any significant changes to their roster. Instead, they have come up with the idea of offering season ticket holders a 33 percent discounts on food and beverages (excluding alcohol) as a way to try and spice up the lackluster attendance figures.

All breaks for Braves fans are welcome, of course, but promoting this discount right after Wren has declared there will be no major offseason addition to the team is poor timing. It is certainly not likely to help attendance figures anywhere near as much as, say, ten more wins a year by the now perennial almost-there Braves.

Braves Try to Boost Attendance Through Concessions Deal Instead of Roster Moves

Brave re-sign Jurrjens, avoid arbitration

The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration entirely for 2012 by signing the last of their eligible players including starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens, which means GM Frank Wren is mostly standing pat by bringing his 2011 squad back for a one year shot at the playoffs before quite a few changes are due.

Jurrjens was brought on board with a $5.5 million deal. The Braves have also reached agreements with centerfielder Michael Bourne and lefty reliever Eric O'Flaherty, and previously came to terms with outfielder/infielder Martin Prado.

Braves Re-signing of Jurrjens indicates they will stand pat for 2012

Braves reach deal with Prado

The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with outfielder Martin Prado, agreeing Friday to a $4.75 million contract for 2012, and also brought back utility infielder Jack Wilson with a scaled-down deal.

Prado, who made $3.1 million last season, is a versatile player who could be the long-term replacement at third base when Chipper Jones retires. He moved to left field in 2011 and slumped a bit, batting .260 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs. Before that, he had three straight years hitting above .300.

Braves reach deal with Prado

Braves interested in Cody Ross?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Atlanta Braves have some interest in Ross but "would want the price to keep coming down." The word from the AJC is that Ross "wants something in the neighborhood of the two-year, $10 million deal that Dave DeJesus got" from the Chicago Cubs. But it's hard to see that happening.