Atlanta Braves spring training has been boring for a long time.
There aren’t many intriguing questions in February and March for an MLB team that’s a perennial winner — although last year ended their run of National League East Division titles at seven, they did make the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season — and usually fills major holes before camp opens. That’s pretty much the case again this year, though there will be a few issues for the Braves to work through once players report for work Monday in North Port, Florida.
Here are five questions for the Braves as they prepare to begin spring training.
Which pitchers will round out the rotation?
The top three starting spots on the mound look strong even after Max Fried signed with the New York Yankees.
Veteran left-hander Chris Sale, the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner, will top the rotation again. Strikeout machine Spencer Strider will be No. 2 once the young right-hander returns from elbow surgery. Reynaldo Lopez’s conversion from reliever to starter went better than anyone expected for the righty, including Lopez. There are questions beyond those three pitchers after Charlie Morton signed with the Orioles.
Spencer Schwellenbach was good as a rookie, but the Braves have a recent history of young pitchers who couldn’t stay effective after strong debut seasons. If he is the exception and Strider returns with no problems, then the Braves need to worry only about the No. 5 starter. Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson are the best options on the 40-man roster, but look for the Braves to add another veteran to the spring roster for insurance.
Who will be the top setup man?
Atlanta right-hander Joe Jimenez was one of the top setup men in the majors last season, but he likely won’t pitch this year after undergoing knee surgery in October. Jimenez was second to closer Raisel Iglesias among Braves relievers last season in average leverage index, which means they handled the hardest situations. Braves manager Brian Snitker and pitching coach Rick Kranitz can use the spring to sort out which reliever will get first shot to handle those important innings this season.
Right-hander Pierce Johnson and left-hander Aaron Bummer are the leading candidates. Johnson compiled a 3.67 ERA over 58 appearances in 2024 while striking out 28.4% of batters faced. Bummer had a similar strikeout rate (28.3%) with fewer walks issued and home runs allowed. Dylan Lee enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2024, so the lefty might be ready to take on a bigger role this year like he did for the Braves in 2022.
Will prospect Drake Baldwin become the No. 2 catcher?
Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy split duties behind the plate the past two seasons when both were healthy. The Braves declined a team contract option for d’Arnaud, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels. It’s a potentially big loss for Atlanta. D’Arnaud carried the offensive production for his position in 2024 when Murphy couldn’t find his form after returning from the injured list.
Chadwick Tromp is the top candidate to replace d’Arnaud as co-catcher with Murphy, but Baldwin is on the come. Baldwin, who bats left-handed, had an .892 on-base plus slugging percentage in 75 games at Triple-A Gwinnett over the past two seasons with low strikeout and high walk rates. Tromp has posted a .635 OPS in 156 plate appearances in the majors.
Will the Braves stick with Orlando Arcia at shortstop?
Probably, but something general manager Alex Anthopoulos said something during a media conference call might be pertinent here. While explaining why he expects new outfielder Jurickson Profar to improve the lineup depth, the GM said the Braves “went into last season thinking guys like Orlando would hit eight, nine. Now with everyone healthy, you are looking at him in the nine hole.”
Arcia’s good defense in 2024 didn’t come close to making up for his .271 on-base percentage, lowest among MLB shortstops with 300 or more plate appearances last season. The Braves could use more than an offensive afterthought at shortstop, but they don’t appear to have a better option on the 40-man roster or among others invited to spring training.
Arcia is set to make $2 million this season. There were some decent free-agent shortstops still available entering the weekend, including Paul DeJong and Jose Iglesias.
When will injured stars be ready?
Anthopoulos said neither Strider nor right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., the 2023 NL MVP, will be on the roster for opening day against the host San Diego Padres on March 27, but both players will be at camp.
The timeline for their return to action will have a big impact on the season. The Braves made the playoffs with Acuna playing only 49 games and Strider making only two starts, but good health for these two young stars would make a potential World Series run seem like much more of a possibility.
Strider was throwing bullpen sessions in January, so he presumably will be able to work his way up to pitching in Grapefruit League games. Acuna had surgery in June to repair an ACL tear in his left knee. He returned to play nine months after he had ACL surgery on his right knee in 2021 but will take at least 10 months to return this time.
