Atlanta Braves 26-man roster projection
The Atlanta Braves are one of the few teams to enter spring with a mostly settled roster - yes there are position battles, namely at shortstop and left field, but the main core of the lineup and defensive alignment is intact and known to the coaching staff and the fans.
(Credit to GM Alex Anthopoulos and now-departed Assistant GM Dana Brown for the timely extensions - The Braves are truly a model franchise in that regard.)
With just over two weeks until Opening Day, let's try and project the roster for that April 6th opener against the Washington Nationals.
UPDATE (3/21): The Braves have made multiple roster moves, including optioning both Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to AAA.
UPDATE (3/26): Kyle Wright will begin the season on the injured list, allowing Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd to both make Opening Week starts, but only Shuster will make the team out of Spring Training.
Infield (7)
Starters
C Sean Murphy
1B Matt Olson
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
SS Vaughn Grissom OR Braden Shewmake. Orlando Arcia
(We still think this is Vaughn Grissom's job to lose, but as our own Jake Mastroianni pointed out the other day, Shewmake is making himself quite the case as a defensively-sound option with enough offense to stick in the lineup. It'll be interesting to see how long Atlanta lets this competition go. I'd expect the loser of this battle to be the everyday starter at AAA Gwinnett, to get everyday reps.)
UPDATE: Orlando Arcia is the starting shortstop after both players were optioned to AAA Gwinnett on Monday
Bench
C Travis D'Arnaud
INF Orlando Arcia. Ehire Adrianza
UPDATE: With both Grissom and Shewmake being optioned, this allows Adrianza to make the Opening Day roster as an utility infielder. As he has ten years of major league service time, there is a clause in his minor league contract that allows him to reject an assignment to the minors and become a free agent. This move allows the Braves to keep him in the organization, as they ended up cycling through five players attempting to replace an injured Ozzie Albies at 2nd last year.
Designated Hitter (1)
Outfield (5)
Starters
CF Michael Harris II
LF Eddie Rosario
Bench
Eli White OR Jordan Luplow OR Kevin Pillar AND Sam Hilliard
Another position battle that we're still waiting for clarity on. There's a lot of factors to weigh here, including contract status (only veteran Kevin Pillar is on a minor-league contract, although when Tyler Matzek and Huascar Ynoa both move to the 60-day IL as they continue their recovery from Tommy John surgery, it'll open two spots on the 40-man roster), number of minor league options remaining (Hilliard has none remaining), and ability to play centerfield (everyone but Luplow can cover innings in centerfield).
It's believed that there will be two spots available here, and competition is tough. Jordan Luplow started behind the ball, as he was out with a strained oblique early in camp and didn't get in games until just this week. Eli White has impressed early, batting .458 with a 1.519 OPS through his first 27 plate appearances. Kevin Pillar has the pedigree, a 10-year veteran that's played for six teams in baseball.
I think in the end, this comes down to options. We know that GM Alex Anthopoulos would rather carry a lesser player if it means that he has more total depth for later in the season. The most strategic usage of the available roster and the minor league options is to begin the season with Pillar and Hilliard in Atlanta, as Hilliard would be exposed to waivers if the Braves wanted to stash him in AAA Gwinnett. Eli White can begin the season in Gwinnett and be called up as needed, as he has two minor league options available.
Jordan Luplow, the victim of a late start due to injury, would appear to be the odd man out unless the Braves decide to move on from DH Marcell Ozuna.
UPDATE: Luplow and White were optioned to AAA on Monday, allowing Pillar and Hilliard to be your backup outfielders on your four-man bench.
Pitching Staff
Rotation (5)
Max Fried
Spencer Strider
Kyle Wright
Charlie Morton
Jared Shuster OR Dylan Dodd
With the surprising DFA of both Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder, the 5th starter job looks to have narrowed down to the lefty prospects Shuster and Dodd. Both have performed admirably and are in line for meaningful starts at the MLB level in 2023, even if it's not necessarily on Opening Day.
UPDATE: Jared Shuster will win the Opening Day roster spot, but both Shuster and Dodd will get starts in the first week of the season after Sunday's news that Kyle Wright will begin the season on the injured list.
Bullpen (8)
CL Raisel Iglesias
LHP AJ Minter
RHP Joe Jimenez
RHP Collin McHugh
LHP Lucas Lutege
LHP Dylan Lee
RHP Kirby Yates
RP Nick Anderson OR Jackson Stephens OR Jesse Chavez
No matter who wins the 8th bullpen job, everyone else will be in the mix. Anderson, attempting to come back from injury and regain the form that made him a force in Miami and Tampa Bay, has minor league options and a split contract that gives the Braves some flexibility with his initial assignment. Chavez provides veteran leadership and extreme versatility, being used in every role from opener long relief to to trade chip in recent seasons. Stephens is a reliable reliever that can take on many roles as well, and being out of options, he may get the initial nod over someone with more flexibility or tenure.
UPDATE: Anderson and Stephens both getting optioned to AAA appears to clear the way for Jesse Chavez to seize the final bullpen spot for the Braves.
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