2015 Spotlight: Atlanta Braves

The Braves’ offense went through a fairly drastic overhaul this offseason, causing many to believe that the team could go into a full-on rebuild over the next year. Atlanta traded outfielders Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis for prospects and cash. Those three, along with first baseman Freddie Freeman, were the offensive core of the team. Now, Freeman will look to carry the load with a new set of hitters in the lineup. Newly-signed outfielder Nick Markakis, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catching prospect Christian Bethancourt will look to contribute in 2015.

Simmons is known for his elite defensive skills. Will his bat improve in 2015?

The Braves have one of the youngest starting rotations in the game, with 27 year-old Mike Minor being the oldest of the group. He will look to have a bounce-back season after a rough 2014, as will Shelby Miller who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Heyward. If those two stay on track, with Alex Wood and Julio Teheran both taking another step forward, the rotation easily becomes their biggest asset.

Teheran showing off his unorthodox pitching mechanics.

Who to watch: Freeman is an obvious draw, with his prodigious power potential and his consistent run production in the middle of the lineup. For the third consecutive year, the 25 year-old first baseman is a preseason breakout candidate. I am also intrigued by what I have seen from Wood. He shuffled between the bullpen and starting rotation last season while maintaining a 2.78 ERA and a healthy 3.8 strikeout/walk ratio. Now that he is penciled into the rotation to start the season, look for him to find similar success.

Wood was quietly one of the best pitchers in the league last season.

Sleeper: I’m going to go with any of the four former-closers that Atlanta signed over the offseason. This list consists of Jason Grilli, Jose Veras, Jim Johnson and Matt Capps. I think that one or multiple members of this group will stick in the bullpen as serviceable set-up men. None of them are signed to any lofty contracts (Grilli has the biggest salary at $4 million), so these contracts are pretty low-risk, leading many evaluators to overlook their potential.

Kenny Powers, is that you?

Bust: I would say Melvin (formerly B.J.) Upton is bound to struggle, but pretty much everybody is expecting it. Not to mention, he is currently sidelined with an injury so I’m not going to hit him while he’s down. Minor has some pretty heavy expectations on his shoulders after the team released fellow rotation regulars Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, not to mention I don’t see the star potential that many writers seem to find in him. Many see him as the ace of the rotation, but I don’t think he’s cut out for it.

Can Minor rediscover his 2013 form?

Bold prediction: Closer Craig Kimbrel places in the top-three for Cy Young in the NL. He is easily the most dominant closer, if not all-around pitcher, in the game. In the just over four years of service, Kimbrel has notched 476 strikeouts, 289innings pitched and 186 saves to the tune of a sterling 1.43 ERA.

Goosebumps.

 I predict his strikeout rate to go up, his ERA to go down and his award trophy to get a lot heavier after this season.