The Atlanta Braves had a promising start to the offseason. It appeared as if they were on track to have one of the team's best offseasons in a while. Atlanta added some great bullpen help, signed Ha-Seong Kim, and traded for Mauricio Dubon. All of these moves fortified the team. Things were looking up, but wouldn't you know it, adversity sprang up and ruined things.
A shocking second straight suspension for Jurickson Profar and multiple injuries to key players like Kim and Spencer Schwellenbach caught everyone off guard. There were also injuries to more pitchers, like Hurston Waldrep and Joey Wentz.
Now, Atlanta is in a tight spot, having to cover their pitching depth as it begins the season with 13 straight games. Dubon is now the Opening Day shortstop, and Atlanta's bench looks much thinner after having to cover the DH spot as well.
Braves' failure to add rotation help or a quality long reliever looks particularly bad now
This has put the team in a rough spot, and it's made the decisions for the Opening Day roster tougher. Atlanta has to consider a long reliever with that many games at the start of the season to avoid putting too much strain on their starters. That leaves them with Jose Suarez, who isn't very dependable, as their long relief option. Wentz could have filled this role, but he is out for the season.
Suarez is out of options, so the Braves really don't have a choice but to use him as a long relief option. This is why Hayden Harris and James Karinchak were reassigned to the minors a few days ago. Despite all of the evidence that Suarez might be a disaster, Atlanta didn't do anything to address the roster depth at long relief other than give Dylan Dodd a long look in camp.
The Braves could employ a six-man rotation during the first few weeks of the season, according to insider Mark Bowman. Outside of Suarez, Martín Pérez, Didier Fuentes, and JR Ritchie are the other potential options to start in the sixth spot if Atlanta goes that route.
It's the front office's own fault for being in this situation. Alex Anthopoulos should have found a way to sign another starter like Chris Bassitt. Yes, they aren't able to control injuries. However, the last two years should have taught them that they can't depend on their internal depth to solve their problems.