by Ken Rosenthal

MLB Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal and our MLB crew have you covered. Check out all the news and notes from the hot stove. Angels sign Abreu to 1-year deal Sources: Nats land Dunn w/2-year deal Updates: Lefty relievers getting offers Wolf, Dodgers agree to $5M deal Sources: Mets ink deal to keep Perez Braves, Kotchman avoid arbitration Sources: Rays, Shouse OK deal Report: Varitek to stay with BoSox Mets, Maine avoid arbitration Pirates sign P Maholm to 3-year deal

The team is less inclined to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar, the centerpiece of their offer for Peavy, after including shortstop Brent Lillibridge in their trade for Javier Vazquez.

Then again, the Braves still could sign free agent Rafael Furcal to play shortstop, allowing them the opportunity to trade Escobar.

Or, they could keep Escobar, sign Furcal to play second base and use Kelly Johnson to fill their void in left field.

To address their pitching, they then could sign a free agent such as left-hander Randy Wolf.