Atlanta Braves: what is Brian Snitker worrying about?

As of Today?

Right now, the hard decisions might have to come down something like these:

• ROTATION:  Despite the compelling words from my esteemed colleague from last night, keep Newcomb and Wright for the starting 5.
  • Allow Hernandez the opportunity to latch on with another club.
  • There’s really isn’t a long-term opportunity for him, short of Hamels being out for months or keeping both Wright and Newcomb in the minors.
  • The Braves still might do so, but that may not be in the long-term best interests of the club.
• BULLPEN:  Release Greene and Tomlin.  Retain Weigel and Matzek for the bullpen.  Retain Touki Toussaint as the ‘long man’ and the 8th bullpen man.
  • The Braves would owe Greene a percentage of his arbitration contract, but not the entire sum*.
  • It’s possible that Cole Hamels could be put onto the 60-day IL to avoid having to drop a player … depending on his status.  If not, then a minor trade could free a 40-man slot for Matzek.

* As for Greene.  MLB rules dictate that players on arbitration contracts are owed the following when cut before the season starts:

• 30 days’ termination pay on or before the 15th day of Spring Training (we are beyond that)
• 45 days’ termination pay before ST ends
• Once the Opening Day roster is set and the player is on that roster… the full contract is guaranteed.

There’s still 2½ weeks to go before all these decisions have to be made, but that’s just adding to the importance of each outing from here on.  What are your choices?