The Atlanta Braves are less than three weeks away from Spring Training finally beginning. After an injury-plagued 2024 season and a surprisingly quiet offseason, it cannot come soon enough. Braves fans are feeling a bit more optimistic with the recent signing of Jurickson Profar. The outfielder will offer Atlanta a bit of stability until Ronald Acuña Jr. is ready to return.
If there is one remaining concern for the Braves heading into Spring Training, it is the lack of rotation and bullpen depth. While there is still plenty of time to make moves it wouldn't be a surprise to see this roster move into Spring Training as currently constructed. While this does leave some obvious concerns it sets the table for an entertaining spring with a number of position battles up for grabs.
Atlanta's final rotation spot
Chris Sale, Grant Holmes, Reynaldo Lopez, and Spencer Schwellenbach are expected to fill out the first four spots in Atlanta's rotation. Spencer Strider is expected to return at some point in the 2025 season but won't be ready to start this season. Unless the Braves make a surprise trade or signing between now and the start of Spring Training, this opens up by far the most interesting battle on the roster for the final spot in the rotation.
The Braves haven't been shy about using a 6th starter in their recent history to keep their veterans rested. Even if the team makes a move, it is very probable this battle remains entertaining. Bryce Elder had an incredible debut for the Braves making the 2023 All-Star roster and helping carry the rotation. However, Elder would badly fade down the stretch that season and be a complete liability in the 2024 season. Hitters were able to make quick adjustments and as of the most recent results, Elder simply doesn't have a counter.
Ian Anderson has to be considered the favorite to fill the final rotation spot heading into the season. Anderson had two solid seasons before struggling and having his career derailed due to injuries. There is every reason to believe the Braves want to give Anderson the best shot at the final rotation spot having shown the highest upside.
A.J. Smith-Shawver is the other name likely to be in the race for a rotation spot. However, the starter remains a question mark with an awful postseason debut and still struggling to locate consistently. No question, this is going to be the most entertaining battle of Atlanta's Spring Training.
Atlanta's third starting outfield spot
Michael Harris is locked into center field with zero questions about the star defender's value moving forward. Signing Jurickson Profar helped further answer the outfield concerns locking up two starting roles. This leaves one position open until Acuna is able to return. The most likely path forward for the Braves is going to be a platoon.
Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz are the obvious answers to the problem. Kelenic was given a chance to grab a starting role in 2024 but badly faded down the stretch of the season. De La Cruz struggled as well despite managing a career-high 21 homers last season. Both players are on shaky ground and either can grab the starting role with anything close to a capable Spring Training.
Atlanta's final bench spots
Chadwick Tromp is expected to take over the backup catcher role with Travis d'Arnaud leaving for the Angels early in the offseason. A second bench spot will assumably be taken by either Bryan De La Cruz or Jarred Kelenic. This leaves a spot for an infielder and perhaps a wildcard performer in Spring Training. Having Orlando Arcia and Profar on the roster gives the team a lot of flexibility. They won't be locked into a certain combination of players based on the ability of two former utility pieces turned starters.
Eli White, Luke Williams, and Nick Allen all serve as possible bench options. Non-roster pieces that have an outside shot include Garrett Cooper, Jose Devers, and Eddy Alvarez. This speaks to just how wide-open the competition will be if the Braves don't make another move. The battle for the last two spots is anyone's to win.
Atlanta's long relief spot
Jessie Chavez and Josh Tomlin have anchored this spot for so long that it is odd to see it as a question mark. With Strider missing to start the season it will be an even more important piece of the roster with at least two question marks in Atlanta's starting rotation. Who the Braves might turn to in this spot remains a mystery.
Whoever loses out on the final rotation spot is sure to be considered. However, this is a position that ideally has options giving the roster needed flexibility making the decision a bit murkier. Daysbel Hernandez is another likely fit the Braves could consider. Though there is an argument to be made the team's best path is adding to their current rotation and bumping Grant Holmes down into the role.
Shortstop
The Braves have continued to show confidence in Orlando Arcia and made no hint of adding to the position during the offseason. Still, there is one move that wouldl fix two problems for the Braves. If Nacho Alvarez Jr. has a great Spring Training you need to at least have a discussion.
The moment was too big for Alvarez in the 2024 season and the infielder was clearly overmatched. Still, there is so much to love about what Alvarez accomplished at the lower levels in 2024 to at least give him an outside chance of making the roster. If Alvarez can make it a surprise competition you could put Orlando Arcia in a bench role he is far better suited for. Alvarez has a far higher upside hitting last in the lineup and Arcia gives your bench incredible flexibility. An unlikely battle but one that at least deserves a glance in the first weeks of spring.
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