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Braves Notes: Bourn, McCann, Jurrjens, Prado

Here's the latest on the Atlanta nine...

• In a Q & A with Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Michael Bourn reiterated that the Braves haven't approached him about a contract extension, and said that he doesn't want to get into negotiations during the season.  Re-signing with Atlanta is "always a possibility," Bourn said. "I like playing where I’m wanted. That’s one thing that I always say."
• Braves GM Frank Wren is also quoted in Vivlamore's piece, describing Bourn as "the perfect fit for us" and stating that the team wants to retain him beyond 2012.  "Our basic philosophy is we have expressed that we would like to retain Michael and then, from there, we go silent," Wren said. "When we approach him, before or after the season, those are things we prefer not to talk about."
• MLB.com's Mark Bowman doesn't think Bourn will re-sign with the Braves, believing that the team won't give a five-year deal "to a speed guy who will be 30 years old at the start of the contract."  Looking at Bourn as an extension candidate in January, MLBTR's Mike Axisa postulated that a five-year, $50MM contract would be fair for both sides.
• Also from Bowman's online chat with fans, he thinks "at least one of" Jair Jurrjens or Martin Prado will be traded before Opening Day 2013 and that Brian McCann won't sign an extension with the Braves this year now that Yadier Molina's new deal with the Cardinals has changed the market for catchers.  Bowman isn't sure Atlanta will be able to afford a new deal for McCann, especially since AL teams can offer McCann the luxury of the DH spot in the latter years of a contract.
• Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports takes a somewhat pessimistic view of the Braves' 2011 season and their late-season collapse, wondering "what if last year’s first half was the aberration?"

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