After one of the busiest offseasons any team’s had in many years, the Braves report to spring training — pitchers and catchers Friday, position players next week — with a revamped 40-man roster, improved depth in their minor league system and a whole lot of decisions to make before opening day.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who’ll conduct the first workout for pitchers and catchers Saturday and the first full-squad workout Thursday.
The Braves’ future looks brighter than it did a few months ago, but there are reduced expectations from industry insiders for this year’s team. The Braves added one accomplished lineup regular (Nick Markakis) and traded three of its top four (Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, Jason Heyward) from the majors’ second-worst offense. They got prospects back in most trades.
The Braves think they can surprise people. They say their goal is a postseason berth, despite being picked by pundits to lose some 90 games. It all starts with seven weeks of spring training, and more position battles and compelling storylines to follow than in any Braves spring in recent memory. Here’s a preview of the main ones:
Who'll be the fifth starter? There are options young and old to fill the final spot in the rotation behind Julio Teheran, Shelby Miller and left-handers Alex Wood and Mike Minor, assuming Minor is over the shoulder woes that plagued him in a career-worst 2014 season. Leading candidates for the fifth spot: prospects Michael Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos and veterans Eric Stults and Wandy Rodriguez.
Hard-throwing Foltynewicz came from the Astros in the Gattis trade, and Banuelos from the Yankees in exchange for relievers David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve. Stults, who had a 4.10 ERA in 65 starts (379 2/3 innings) for the Padres the past two seasons, and Rodriguez, limited to 18 starts in that period because of injuries, signed minor league contracts.
If Minor, or any other among the four locks for the rotation, has health issues, the Braves should have enough depth without scrambling to sign another starter as they did last year, when three were hurt during camp.
How will the bullpen shake out? Closer Craig Kimbrel and lefty James Russell are the only returners from last season who seem assured of making the opening-day bullpen. Former All-Star closers Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson were signed to be setup men, and Josh Outman, who held left-handed batters to a .169 average last season with the Yankees and Indians, joins Russell to give the Braves a pair of quality lefties.
That would leave only two openings, and at least four candidates: hard-throwing former Braves prospect Arodys Vizcaino, reacquired from the Cubs; non-roster invitees Jose Veras and Michael Kohn, who both are hard-throwing proven commodities, and incumbent lefty Luis Avilan, coming off a disappointing season in which he got sent to the minors.
What's the ETA for Peraza? The question is not if Jose Peraza will be the Braves' future second baseman and leadoff hitter, it's when? The Braves' top-rated prospect hit .339 with 11 triples and 60 stolen bases in 110 games last season. But he's 20 and has made only 195 plate appearances above Single-A. The Braves say they won't rush him, and they don't have to after signing versatile veteran Alberto Callaspo, who could be the primary second baseman in 2015. It must be noted: Gonzalez has said more than once that Peraza will play extensively this spring and have every chance to convince Braves officials that he's ready. Still, it seems more likely he'll spend at least 2-3 months in the minors.
So, Callaspo at 2B to start out? He's the most-likely candidate, but the Braves also have incumbent utility man Phil Gosselin, trade acquisition Jace Peterson (from the Padres) and non-roster invitee Kelly Johnson as options. One of them could see plenty of action at second base if the Braves decide to have Callaspo share third-base duties with Chris Johnson, who struggled against righties in 2014.
Platoons figure to be utilized far more extensively by the Braves than in recent years. They’ll have a platoon in left and potentially at second and third. Also, they could go with platoons to varying degrees at two other positions, if rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt or center fielder B.J. Upton struggles. Veteran A.J. Pierzynski was signed as a backup and mentor to Bethancourt, but the Braves will use Pierzynski or another veteran catcher more, if necessary.
How long will Braves stick with B.J. Upton? Excoriated for his dismal performance in the first two years of a five-year, $75.25 million contract, Upton must improve if he's to stay in the lineup this season. The Braves couldn't trade him because of the more than $46 million he's owed, but that doesn't mean Gonzalez has to play him. Not anymore. He'll surely be the opening-day center fielder and will get another chance to show he can turn things around after working with new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. But the word is that Upton must show significant improvement or could be yanked from the lineup well before the All-Star break. Among the Braves' center-field options: non-roster invitee Eury Perez, 24, who hit .310 with a .371 OBP and 26 steals for Nationals minor league affiliates last season; ex-Yankee prospect Zoilo Almonte, non-roster invitee Eric Young Jr., and minor leaguer Todd Cunningham.
What about the outfield corners? J-Up and J-Hey were traded, and the Braves signed a pair of veterans to help fill their shoes: right fielder Markakis and left fielder Jonny Gomes. Markakis is recovering from December neck surgery for a ruptured disk and is expected to ease into spring training and be at full strength before opening day. He had 700 or more plate appearances each of the past two seasons and has played at least 155 games in seven of eight seasons. Gomes' power has declined, but he remains a proficient hitter against lefties. He'll platoon in left, likely with Almonte, who blistered right-handed pitching in the Dominican winter league, or ex-Met Young. The Braves like the idea of Young in the lineup because he's a speedy leadoff hitter and would allow Markakis to move down in the order, at least vs. righties.
Who protects Freeman in lineup? Gonzalez has said that Gomes or Johnson could bat fourth behind Freeman when the Braves face a lefty. It's "more challenging" to figure out who protects the All-Star first baseman when the Braves are facing a lefty, but Gonzalez said he might move Freeman to cleanup.
How's the clubhouse? Team chemistry is dismissed by some, notably those who espouse sabermetrics and analytics above all else. But most players, coaches and managers agree that chemistry often is a significant factor in a baseball season, perhaps more than in other sports because of the length of time players spend with each other and the numerous highs and lows of a 162-game seson. Last year's Braves lacked good chemistry and leadership, deficiencies that became glaring after the team's 17-7 start receded and the Braves endured slumps that became protracted. Braves officials considered that this winter, bringing in veterans known for being leaders by example (Markakis) or outspoken types such as Gomes, Pierzynski and Grilli. Spring training is where the foundation for team chemistry is established.
