LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Braves still haven’t decided for sure whether they’ll go with an eight-man bullpen or opt for an extra hitter for the bench, a decision that might not be made until after they see who becomes available before a Sunday deadline to set 25-man rosters.
“We’re still talking it through,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Wednesday’s 2-2 tie in a Grapefruit League finale against the Mets, after which the Braves had a team flight to Atlanta.
They have workout Thursday afternoon at SunTrust Park, where the Braves face the New York Yankees in an exhibition game Friday night to open the new ballpark. The Braves are off Saturday before flying to New York and working out there Sunday in preparation for opening day Monday against the Mets.
If the Braves could add a suitable bench player with some power via trade or waiver claim by this weekend, they could do that and go with a seven-man bullpen instead of eight, which shouldn’t be a problem given two days off in the schedule during the first eight days of the season and three days off in the first 11.
“There’s probably a couple of different scenarios we could go, and I don’t know when (it’ll be decided),” Snitker said. “I haven’t really talked (final decisions with general manager John Coppolella). It has to be done by Sunday (at noon). Who knows what might happen on the off day on Saturday? Because a lot of teams are still playing, doing the same thing, cutting guys or trying to pass guys through (waivers).”
After making five roster moves Tuesday, including adding non-roster invitees Emilio Bonifacio for the bench and Eric O’Flaherty for the bullpen, the Braves were basically down to deciding whether to keep one or two additional relievers to go with six who already seem like certainties: Jim Johnson, Arodys Vizcaino, Jose Ramirez, Josh Collmenter and lefties O’Flaherty and Ian Krol.
Candidates for the last bullpen spot or spots include Chaz Roe and lefty Kevin Chapman, who are on the 40-man roster and out of options, and recently arrived right-hander David Hernandez, who signed a minor league deal Sunday and gave up one run, one hit and one walk in his Braves debut Tuesday.
Roe pitched a scoreless though erratic sixth inning Wednesday against the Mets, facing five batters, hitting one with a pitch, walking two and striking out two. Then he pitched a perfect seventh against Mets minor leaguers to lower his spring ERA to single digits (9.35).
