Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Manager Bobby Cox walked through the Braves clubhouse Thursday glanced at names on lockers. Tom Glavine next to John Smoltz and Chipper Jones, just like in 2002.

"Seems like he never left," Cox said of Glavine, back with the Braves after five seasons with the New York Mets. "Weird. Strange. And Javy is just across the room."

Catcher Javy Lopez is in the same corner he last occupied five years before — only this time he's not a marquee slugger, he's a non-roster invitee trying to revive his career and win a backup job.

There was a tone of clean-slate optimism Thursday morning as Braves players arrived for pitchers and catchers reporting day. Some, including Glavine, reported by phone, but his presence still was noted.

He's not the ace he was when last with the Braves, nor is Glavine expected to be: The Braves brought back the soon-to-be 42-year-old to serve as a 200-inning middle-rotation starter. He can take pressure off aces Smoltz and Tim Hudson and ease the burden on a bullpen that got worn down at times in 2007.

The Braves traded for veteran left-hander Will Ohman to round out a bullpen led by returners Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan, Tyler Yates and Manny Acosta, and hopefuls including lefty Royce Ring, Blaine Boyer, Phil Stockman and offseason acquisitions Chris Resop and lefty Jeff Ridgeway.

Lefty Mike Gonzalez, a former elite Pittsburgh Pirates closer, is expected back in June or July after missing most of his first Braves season recovering from ligament-replacement elbow surgery. If Gonzalez regains his form, the Braves could have him and Moylan setting up closer Soriano.

"I think the potential is unbelievable," Yates said. "If Moylan puts up any kind of year like he did last year, then Acosta and Soriano — those three guys are studs. Then if Gonzo gets back ..."

Yates said if Ohman can neutralize some potent left-handed hitters in the NL East, the Braves' bullpen will be more formidable.

The unit ranked second in the NL with a 3.54 relief ERA in 2007, and only three league teams had more relief innings — San Diego, which had the league's best bullpen, and Washington and Florida, both beset by injuries to starting pitchers, as were the Braves.

Atlanta is counting on two over-40 starters, Smoltz and Glavine, and hoping for some contribution from Mike Hampton, who has missed the past two entire seasons for elbow surgeries. So it's hardly a sure thing. But unlike last season, the Braves are confident now in the depth of their starters.

They have a handful of pitchers competing for one or two rotation spots, led by returning lefty Chuck James, promising rookies Jair Jurrjens (acquired from Detroit) and Jo-Jo Reyes, and September surprise Jeff Bennett, who is just about salivating over the chance to compete.

"The way he threw last year, you've got to consider him [for the rotation]," Cox said of Bennett, who was 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in three postseason starts for Class AAA Richmond, then 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three games (two starts) for Atlanta in a September callup.

He was impressive in the Venezuelan Winter League, where a chicken-and-rice diet helped Bennett continue a six-month fitness binge that's seen him shed more than 50 pounds, down to 210.

"My wife said I was fat," he said of his motivation to slim down.

Bennett said he's noticed how much easier it is to pitch with his improved physique, but said he's glad he got plump for a period, because the girth forced him to shorten his delivery.

"I was too long in my mechanics before when I was skinny," said the right-hander, who's maintained his new delivery while losing weight.

"I'm gonna try my best to get that starting spot," Bennett said. "But whatever Bobby needs me to do, I'm gonna do it, without any questions. There's definitely a [rotation] spot open, though."