"After seeing best-laid plans torpedoed by pitching injuries in his first year as Braves general manager, Frank Wren has a clear objective as he prepares for an important winter.

"Improve our starting pitching - that's our No. 1 priority," Wren said Monday, a day after the fourth-place Braves closed a disappointing season at Houston with their 90th loss

Wren said the Braves' payroll would increase next season, but would not say by how much. It's believed the Braves, with a increase from this year's $92 million payroll to something approaching $100 million, would have between $40-45 million to spend on additions for 2009.

Wren said the Braves plan to acquire two proven starting pitchers - not named John Smoltz, Tom Glavine or Mike Hampton - and a power-hitting outfielder, through free agency and/or trades.

"In the free-agent marketplace, that's really not a lot of money," he said, "when you look at what the top guys go for. But we think we can fill our needs.

"We need to get some veteran starting pitchers, and we're going to use our assets however it takes to get them. I think we're sitting in a pretty good spot, because we've got the financial resources to get players, and prospects to make trades. We can go both ways. Some clubs can't."

It seemed ironic that Hampton, who pitched six innings in Sunday's 3-1 loss, was the only healthy veteran Braves starter for the last two months, after Smoltz, Glavine and Tim Hudson had season-ending arm surgeries.

Smoltz (shoulder surgery) and Glavine (elbow, shoulder surgeries) are still in relatively early stages of comeback attempts this winter. Wren said they would be wanted back once they've proven they can pitch. Hudson isn't expected back before August and could miss the season.

Hampton missed nearly 36 months recovering from elbow surgeries and other ailments. The Braves want to re-sign him now that he's healthy, but Wren said they would still pursue two other reliable, top-of-the-rotation starters.

"We had three older pitchers in our rotation," Wren said, referring to Glavine (42), Smoltz (41) and Hampton (36). "You expect maybe one of them to go down, but not all three of them. That's not something you can guard against."

Wren said the Braves hope to have back Smoltz and Glavine, but neither would likely know until at least mid-winter whether he'll be able to pitch again.

The GM said the Braves would assemble their roster as if Smoltz, Glavine and Hudson, who had elbow surgery in August, aren't going to pitch this season.

"I've talked to both [Smoltz and Glavine]," Wren said. "We have to fill the spots in our rotation, without regard for them. And then if they can come back and pitch, maybe it knocks a young guy back to [Class AAA) Gwinnett. But we can't count on [either of them].""