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| Image source: AtlantaBraves.com The Braves' new 41,500-seat stadium in Cobb County is scheduled to open in 2017. |
If you're an Atlanta Braves fan like me, you may just need to find a new hobby this Spring and Summer. Atlanta has shed much of its star power and is obviously retooling for a move into the new Cobb County stadium in 2017.
I get it. I can be a patient person, but this feels like the first time in about twenty years the Braves enter a season with very little immediate hope.
It is true the Braves keep stockpiling prospects. MLB Prospect Watch says Atlanta has now picked up 6 of their top 10 prospects with recent moves, but we all know those guys will need time to develop.
Meanwhile, the established talent that was on the team has been traded away. Justin Upton to San Diego, Jason Hayward to St. Louis, and Evan Gattis to Houston were the big moves so far. That means the Braves are headed toward at least a couple of seasons of maybe 70-75 wins.
Take a look at the projected 2015 lineup: (via the Braves web site current depth chart)
LF: Zoilo Almonte
CF: B.J. Upton
RF: Nick Markakis
3B: Chris Johnson
SS: Andrelton Simmons
2B: Alberto Callaspo
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Christian Bethancourt
That's not a lineup that will immediately strike fear in the hearts of the NL East.
On a positive note, the starting pitcher staff is young and talented. Julio Tehran, Shelby Miller, Alex Wood, Mike Minor, and David Hale would be coveted by many teams. The Braves have a decent bullpen with Craig Kimbrel on the back end --- so we can hope they at least keep Atlanta competitive while waiting on the position talent to mature.
I suspect more moves are on the horizon. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports MLB coverage says Kimbrel's current value is likely as high as it will ever be. That means John Hart will be tempted to move Kimbrel also, so don't be too surprised if that occurs during the year. After all, who needs one of baseball's top closers if you're only winning 70-75 games?
Enjoy your hobbies.
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