The Braves announced on Tuesday that they would exercise contract options for Tim Hudson, Brian McCann and Paul Maholm for the 2013 season. Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the news on Twitter and commented on the implications for the team’s roster:

#Braves just announced they're picking up all three options on McCann, Hudson and Maholm for 2013. No surprise.—
David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) October 30, 2012

Add the $27.5M commited to those 3 to returners and arb-eligibles, it should leave about $25M to get a CF and LF or 3B—
David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) October 30, 2012

Hudson’s option was worth $9 million, Maholm $6.5 million and McCann’s $12 million, according to the AJC’s Mark Bowman.

While it has long been assumed that Hudson and Maholm would return, there was at least some reason to wonder about McCann, who could miss the first month of next season while recovering from right shoulder surgical procedure he underwent two weeks ago.

McCann certainly did not look like himself as he hit .230 with 20 home runs and a .698 OPS this past season. Still the Braves certainly took notice of the fact that he was able to produce this much power while being limited by constant right shoulder discomfort.

Hudson, who has been with the team since 2005, has indicated that he would like to finish his career in Atlanta. He was 16-7 with a 3.62 ERA last season. Maholm was 4-5 with a 3.54 ERA with the Braves after being traded by the Cubs in July.

Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Tim Hudson will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday, The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David O’Brien reports. Hudson blamed bone chips in his left ankle, but the Braves hope he can start on Wednesday.

#Braves will skip Hudson tomorrow, minor ankle problem. Calling up Teheran for spot start. Hope Hudson can come back Wed vs Yankees

— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) June 9, 2012

#Braves don’t want to take chances with Hudson favoring that ankle when coming off back surgery

— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) June 9, 2012

Hudson said its bone chips in left ankle. Got cortisone shot yesterday. Seeing improvement from that. Said wed a possibility

— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) June 9, 2012

The Braves will call up top pitching prospect Julio Teheran to start in place of Hudson. Teheran was ranked No. 5 in Baseball America’s list of Top 100 prospects before the season. Teheran is 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings this season with Triple-A Gwinnett. He pitched a complete game seven-hitter his last time out.

Teheran was 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in five games — three starts — for the Braves last season.

Hudson, meanwhile, has been the Braves’ third most consistent starter this season behind Brandon Beachy and Tommy Hanson. Hudson is 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts.

Tim Hudson is still on the mend from the back surgery he underwent on Nov. 28, but the veteran hurler is confident he can return to the Atlanta Braves by May.

“Me getting back for the start of the season was never really a possibility, just from a timeline standpoint,” Hudson told MLB.com. “The kind of surgery I had is a three-to-sixth-month deal. Five months puts me at May 1.”

Hudson underwent surgery in Atlanta to fuse the L5/S1 disk in his back. He says he’s now recovering his strength and is able to do some of the simple things that previously pained him, like putting on his shoes.

Hudson’s temporary absence may make room for youngsters Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado to vie for a spot in the Braves’ starting rotation this season.

The 36-year-old righty Hudson went 16-10 with a 3.22 ERA for the Braves last season. He’s entering the final season of a three-year, $28 million contract in Atlanta.