Atlanta returns the stars list again

On By Littum

Spring training is finally here, and Atlanta Braves is probably done by making major additions or changes to their list. Sure there is a chance that Braves is swinging a spring trade for a guy like Dylan Cease or Michael King, and it is a deadly lock Alex Anthopoulos will add a reliever or three from the on -call list cutting the Recycle Bin, but the odds are that the group Atlanta Brings into the camp will be the one they trust in 2025.

Gone is Max Fried, Charlie Morton, AJ MINTER and others, while Jurickson Profar highlights the new additions to Braves’ list in spring training. As for who has the interior trace of making Atlanta’s 2025 Opening Day ListIt is surprisingly complicated considering how few spots are really ready to grab the camp.

Projecting the Braves’ 2025 opening day list at the start of spring training

Before we get (more) angry e emails/messages, the reason Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. is not listed here because Braves have already said they are not ready for opening day. There is no sense in projecting them here, but both are obviously needed security spaces when they return, which is an important consideration when it comes to building the guard schedule to start the season 2025. This is also just the first version of Our program projection and is very subject to change depending on how spring training goes.

Place players

  • Fangers: Sean Murphy, Drake Baldwin
  • First Base: Matt Olson
  • Second Base: Ozzie Albies
  • ShortStop: Orlando Arcia
  • Third Base: Austin Riley
  • Outfield: Michael Harris II, Jurickson Profar, Bryan de la Cruz, Jarred Kelenic
  • DH: Marcell Ozuna
  • Bench: Christian Cairo, Luke Williams

Most of the Braves’ position group is pretty locked inside. A de la Cruz/Kelenic Platoon makes sense for the third outfield site to start the season, and both players have at least one minor league option back to when Acuna Jr. returning. There is a profit from getting Nick Allen to get a bench spot over Christian Cairo, but Cairo seems to have a little high up on the record and can also play Outfield in a pinch so he gets nodded for now.

At Catcher we went with Drake Baldwin and made the club out of camp, which is likely to get some raised eyebrows. However, Sean Murphy’s matches are very pronounced, and there is some wisdom in bringing up the high ceiling of Baldwin to get significant playing time to preserve Murphy’s body and see if he can play into the lion’s share of the game again. If Murphy is fighting, Baldwin may eventually take over and will have got some reps to help with the transition. If Baldwin fights and/or Murphy excels, the bravge can decide whether Baldwin should be used as a trade chip at the deadline.

Rotation

  • Chris Sale, LHP
  • Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP
  • Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
  • Bryce Elder, RHP
  • Ian Anderson, RHP

Yes, Grant Holmes is a trendy choice here because of Braves’ insistence on him being able to start and the fact that he has no minor league options left. However, we are not on board with that plan and adding older people who can be annoying, but have smaller league settings left, braves a certain flexibility to the guard in the early season if the need arises. Sales, Schwellenbach and Lopez are locks unless they are injured (please no) and Anderson feels like a guy who either needs to make the rotation or move on.

Bullpen

  • Raisel Iglesias, Rhp
  • Pierce Johnson, RHP
  • Aaron Bummer, Lhp
  • Dylan Lee, LHP
  • Daysbel Hernandez, Rhp
  • Angel Perdomo, Lhp
  • Grant Holmes, Rhp
  • Anderson Pillar, RHP

While Braves’ Bullpen has several familiar faces, some important departures plus Joe Jimenez’s damage will force Atlanta to become creative in collecting the Bullpen depth. Iglesias, Johnson, Bummer and Lee are largely sure of things, but there are arguments that need to be made for the other slots to start the camp. Pillar and Perdomo both have big-time strikeout things with dubious track records, but they get nodded for now, especially Pilar, which was a rule 5 choice.

Putting Holmes in the bullp as a long man allows Braves to keep him (which they seem to really want to do), allow starters to limit their laps early by being able to bring him in, and He can still give a stain start here and there if necessary. Hernandez has things to be a very solid reliever, but he will have to stay healthy and reliably find the strike zone.

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