Pre-Spring Training Atlanta Braves Roster Predictions, part 1
By Ryan Cothran
If Atlanta Braves are Continuing to Rebuild
If the Braves sole focus of the 2015 season is to rebuild, the roster will be chock-full of veterans that will likely have value at the trade deadline, and the Braves have signed a small army of those guys this offseason. In my opinion, this type of roster would be the smart way to build for 2015 from a personnel perspective, but from a business standpoint will be brutal for attendance and general interest of the team. What’s more important? Pretty hard to say, as this will obviously make the team better in the future but the buts are BIG…and I cannot lie! You other brothers can’t deny. End Sir Mix-a-lot reference. Regardless, here’s how the team will likely be built in 2015 should the Braves still be in rebuild mode (and, personally, I think this is the most likely roster scenario we will see in 2015):
Starting Pitchers
2. Alex Wood
4. Mike Minor
5. Eric Stults
Eric Stults- Early leaks have he and Mike Foltynewicz as the primary battle for the 5th spot in the rotation, however Stultz is on a 1-year Minor League deal and is the kind of pitcher that could fit in the back end of many rotations at the trade deadline. Look for the Braves to slot Stults into the 5th spot in the rotation and if he proves successful, flip him at the deadline for a prospect or 2.
Mike Minor- The Braves and Mike Minor seem to butt heads quite often and Mike is starting to get expensive. With the pipeline at AAA filling up again, look for the Braves to sell-high on Minor should he prove his 2014 was an injury-plagued fluke.