It’s not easy to come away dissatisfied after a 97-win season, but the 2019 Atlanta Braves managed to pull it off.
Following a heartbreaking Game 5, series-ending loss to the St.Louis Cardinals in the NLDS — complete with a deflating 10-run top of the first for the Cards — Brian Snitker‘s group has regrouped, reloaded with talent, and has plenty of reason to be optimistic heading into 2020.
Though, with the talent well-spread throughout the NL East this season — yes, including the Marlins — replicating 97 wins might be a bit tougher in 2020. Despite a few significant roster departures this winter, they’re still fairly well-prepared for battle.
Subtractions
- Josh Donaldson, 3B
- Dallas Keuchel, SP
- Anthony Swarzak, RP
- Matt Joyce, OF
- Jerry Blevins, RP
- Francisco Cervelli, C
- John Ryan Murphy, C (non-tendered)
- Julio Teheran SP (club option declined)
- Billy Hamilton, OF (mutual option declined)
Additions
- Marcell Ozuna, OF (one year, $18 million)
- Cole Hamels, SP (one year, $18 million)
- Will Smith, RP (three years, $39 million)
- Travis d’Arnaud, C (two years, $16 million)
- Yonder Alonso, 1B*
- Felix Hernandez, SP*
- Chris Rusin, RP*
- Yangervis Solarte, INF*
- Peter O’Brien, OF/1B*
*minor-league contract, invite to major league camp
Outlook
Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, and Dansby Swanson — who finally began to come into his own last season (.251/.325/.422, 92 wRC+) — provides Atlanta with a solid incumbent positional core. Ozuna’s addition should provide value, production, and add a scary dynamic to that lineup.
Right-hander Mike Soroka — sixth-place finisher in last season’s NL Cy Young Award voting after a terrific 2019 (2.68 ERA, 2.11 walks per nine innings over 29 starts) — is pegged to head up a strong rotation with left-hander Max Fried, righty Mike Foltynewicz, and southpaw Sean Newcomb behind him.
Where Hamels fits into the mix should be an interesting storyline this spring, as well as King Felix’s first foray outside of his longtime kingdom in Seattle.
Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, and Chris Martin — all acquired via trades last season — return to the Braves’ bullpen. Adding Smith to that group puts Atlanta’s relievers right up there with the Mets’ as best in the division.
D’Arnaud’s defensive presence and newfound offensive output (.251/.312/.433, 98 wRC+ last season) and Tyler Flowers — another framing savant — give Atlanta one of the best defensive backstop tandems in baseball.
Ender Inciarte, Adam Duvall, Adeiny Hechavarria, and Charlie Culberson — or whoever else sticks with the club out of Spring Training; perhaps Alonso — provide the Braves’ bench with some potent bats and solid defensive skills (Inciarte’s defense in center field is still terrific; +61 OAA from 2016 to 2018; +3 OAA in 65 games last season).
All in all, this is a complete, extremely talented team that made up for losing some key cogs with smart, win-now additions. Gotta tip your cap to that.
The National League East is shaping up to be one of the toughest in baseball this season. The Phillies, Nationals, and Mets are all good ballclubs and Miami — on paper — certainly doesn’t look to be the pushover they were last season.
The path back to an outstanding regular season and a division title likely won’t be an easy one to traverse for the Braves in 2020, but they appear to be prepared for the journey.
