Former Georgia Tech left-hander Lee Hyde and four other minor-league pitchers were added to the Braves' 40-man roster Friday, protecting them from being poached by other teams in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.Also added were right-handers Kyle Cofield and Jeff Lyman and lefties Jose Ortegano and Jonny Venters, leaving the Braves with two roster openings.

Former Braves right-hander Jorge Campillo has signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, the team announced on its Web site.Campillo, along with pitchers Buddy Carlyle and Vladimir Nunez were removed from the Braves' 40-man roster last month and became free agents.

Braves' starting pitcher, who went 11-4, 2.89 ERA in 21 starts, got two first-place votes.

Would the Braves be willing to give up a first-round compensatory pick to sign Billy Wagner?

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron will receive an award from the makers of the bats that he used to hit more than 700 home runs.The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory will present Aaron with its 2009 Living Legend Award on Friday night.

Braves player recognized as NL's top hitting catcher for third time in four seasons.

Now that the Braves' starting rotation and Tim Hudson's surgically repaired arm both appear stronger than they've been in several years, Hudson hoped to stick around to see how far they could take things.The former 20-game winner got his wish Thursday after completing a three-year, $28 million extension that includes a fourth-year option for 2013.

It's official – the Braves finalized a three-year contract extension with pitcher Tim Hudson, a deal that includes a fourth-year club option for 2013.  The contract is believed to be worth close to $9 million per season.Hudson, 34, went 2-1 with a 3.

GM meets with teams interested in some of Braves' older pitchers.

All 27 active judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may take the unprecedented step of rehearing the baseball drug list case, which could delay a final resolution until at least 2011 and possibly later.In a one-sentence order last Wednesday, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski asked lawyers to submit briefs by Nov.

Left-handed pitcher says he's up to prove he was worthy of No. 7 overall pick.

Atlanta could likely try to trade starter Lowe (above), Vazquez or Kawakami.

Veteran reliever Scott Proctor has signed a one-year minor league contract with the Braves, who will invite him to spring training with the hope that he can return to form following ligament-transplant elbow surgery in May 2009.The contract will pay a prorated portion of a $750,000 salary for any time Proctor spends on the major league roster, and $12,000 per month while he's in the minors.

Left-handed pitcher Mike Minor, the Braves' first-round draft choice in 2009 out of Vanderbilt, is scheduled to start Saturday night in the Arizona Fall League's  Rising Stars Game. First pitch is set for 8:15 p.m., and the game is to be shown on the MLB Network.

Reliever Mike Gonzalez among the Atlanta players who filed on first day possible; Smoltz does too.

The 79 players who filed for free agency Thursday. Eligible players may file through Nov. 19:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Gwinnett County, which had predicted $200,000 in revenue from Gwinnett Braves parking proceeds this year, received a check for $9,188 to cover parking from May-September.

Being home with his wife and children during baseball season is nice, but Tim Hudson said he never would have agreed to a three-year extension with the Braves if that were the only attraction."It's convenient from the family standpoint," the veteran pitcher said Thursday.

The Braves have signed veteran reliever Scott Proctor to a one-year contract,  according to his agent.  The team hopes he can overcome two recent elbow  surgeries and regain something akin to his form.The right-hander missed the entire 2009 season with the Florida Marlins while recovering from ligament-transplant elbow  surgery in May, after flexor-tendon surgery  in October 2008.

Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur has undergone thumb surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training.The Mets said the operation on Francoeur's torn ligament in his left thumb took place in Atlanta on Monday.The former Atlanta Brave Francoeur was injured while making a diving catch against Philadelphia on July 23.

Heyward may be out, but six other Braves prospects are seeing action in Fall League.

At halftime of a football game that it trailed 28-0, Duluth High found a reason for celebration Friday night in two famous alumni.Braves catcher Brian McCann and Red Sox shortstop Nick Green had their baseball jerseys retired in a midfield ceremony. McCann (No.

Bruce Baldwin steps down after 23 years with the Braves' Class AAA franchise.

Pitcher Tim Hudson is expected to sign a three-year contract extension with the Braves by early next week, a person familiar with negotiations said.The Braves and Hudson's representative have made rapid progress in negotiations on a deal, which could be completed as early as Friday.

A lower-back strain for Braves outfield prospect Jason Heyward has ended his Arizona Fall League season after just four games.Heyward, 20, was examined Tuesday by Dr. Marvin Royster, who diagnosed back inflammation that was radiating to Heyward's  gluteus.