February 15, 2019
Trucks pull up to SunTrust Park, equipment ready, bags packed, and workers loading the trucks ready to head down I-75 south to central Florida to Disney World for Spring Training 2019. Pitchers and catchers report to camp today, and to much to my surprise, the Braves have not made much of a splash this offseason. The one key player that signed elsewhere was C Kurt Suzuki to the Washington Nationals. This was a player I wish the team would have re-signed.
The Braves did sign two key free agents but they are 30 + years old. Does this make a difference, maybe not, but it might towards the end of the season with the wear and tear? Now a familiar name re-signed with the Braves in catcher Brian McCann. He will platoon with fellow catcher Tyler Flowers. Now both players are late in there careers and are still above average players. With the platoon situation maybe both players will not have that wear and tear and hopefully stay away from the injury bug. McCann grew up in Atlanta, was a Braves fan, and played for his hometown team before playing for the NY Yankees and Houston Astros where he won a World Series ring in 2017. My take is he wants to play back in Atlanta and will retire either after this year or take the 2nd year option and retire next year. The 2nd big free agent move the team made was signing 3B Josh Donaldson to a 1-year $23 million contract. Wow… what I would love to do with that type of dough. He has been injury prone the last couple seasons, but he does have ties with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos when both were with the Toronto Blue Jays. Hopefully, Donaldson reverts back to his early playing years where he was belting 30 + home runs a season. The dilemma in signing Donaldson is last years starter at 3rd, Johan Camargo exceeded expectations. Camargo will be the Braves main utility player, and if Donaldson gets injured or just pulls a Dan Uggla, the the backup plan will be either Camargo or upcoming young 3rd baseman Austin Riley who is only one or two years out from being ready for the bigs.
The Braves starting rotation is set, but pitcher Julio Teheran could be trade bait. Spring training will be key for the 5th pitching spot with either Touki Toussaint, Kyle Wright, or Mike Soroka (if healthy). My starting rotation is:
RH Mike Foltynewicz LH Sean NewcombRH Kevin Gausman RH Julio TeheranRH Touki Toussaint, RH Kyle Wright, RH Mike Soroka
But I also feel manager Brian Snitker might have to look at more lefthanders to plug in as starters because out of my list only Newcomb is the south paw.
With the addition of Donaldson, this might possible bring LF Ronald Acuna, Jr down from leadoff to cleanup. Here is my starting lineup:
CF Ender Inciarte3B Josh Donaldson1B Freddie FreemanLF Ronald Acuna, JrC Brian McCann/Tyler Flowers (when Flowers starts he might drop to 6th)RF Nick Markakis2B Ozzie AlbiesSS Dansby SwansonPitcher
The Braves have had two homes in Florida for spring training. On March 24, 2019 they will move to Sarasota to open up their third spring training venue. (pictured below)
Municipal Stadium (Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves shared with Montreal Expos) – West Palm Beach, FL: 1963 – 1997Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, FL: 1997 – 2019CoolToday Park – Sarasota, FL: 2019 – present
Kirkley's Sports Korner 