Predictions for Each Top Offseason Acquisition's Career with Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves will feature many new faces to begin the 2015 season.

No longer will Jason Heyward and Justin Upton be trotting out to man the outfield in Atlanta. Evan Gattis will not be behind the plate come Opening Day.

While general manager John Hart's main goal this offseason has been to get younger and build toward the future, he did acquire some players who will be with Atlanta on Opening Day.

This offseason's success or failure will be determined by the performance of the minor league prospects, who won't show up on this list.

However, the players on this list will have an impact on this season and the years to come.

Predicting a player's career in Atlanta isn't an exact science, but we'll give it a shot as we look at the future of this offseason's acquisitions.

A.J. Pierzynski

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The Braves signed A.J. Pierzynski to serve primarily as the backup to the up-and-coming Christian Bethancourt.

Pierzynski has played for six teams in both leagues during his 17-year career. The 38-year-old catcher should be a welcome presence in the Braves' clubhouse, as he brings a fiery demeanor and winning attitude.

The Braves don't expect All-Star numbers from Pierzynski, but they need someone to handle a staff and provide a couple starts each week.

His average and OBP were well below his career numbers in 2014 with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.

In Pierzynski, I look for a .260 average and .300 OBP in likely just one season with the Braves.

Alberto Callaspo

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Braves added Alberto Callaspo this offseason to add versatility and contact to their lineup. Callaspo will play third base and second base in Atlanta and will put the ball in play, as evidenced by his 59 strikeouts being a career high for a season (2012).

The 31-year-old is coming off a dreadful season in Oakland in which he hit just .223 with a .580 OPS in 127 games. However, I think Callaspo will have a rebound season in the National League with the Braves, as he's signed for just one year.

I'd look for Callaspo to hit .250 with a .310 OBP and .680 OPS in 100 games for the Braves as he looks to prove last season was a fluke. I'd also expect this to be his only season with the Braves, as top prospect Jose Peraza is knocking on the door.

Jace Peterson

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The Braves acquired Jace Peterson in the Justin Upton deal, and he'll be the only player in that deal to be in Atlanta in 2015.

Peterson is a 24-year-old infielder who saw 27 games with the San Diego Padres in 2014. He is the hardest player to project for his career on this list, as there are many unknowns surrounding him.

In the minors, Peterson hit .287 with a .790 OPS for his career, but he struggled with the Padres last season, as he hit just .113.

Then there's the question about his position, as second base looks to be the future home for Jose Peraza. He could become a starter at third base, but the Braves acquired two third baseman prospects this offseason whom they will surely take a look at.

The earliest Peterson can become a free agent is 2021, so the Braves will have him under control for a while.

I envision Peterson being a .250-.270 hitter who serves primarily as a utility guy in Atlanta. When he becomes eligible for arbitration (2018), I'd expect him to try and find a starting spot elsewhere.

Shelby Miller

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

It's easy to see why the Braves would be interested in Shelby Miller.

A former first-round pick and top prospect in the Cardinals organization, Miller has the stuff to be a consistent and effective MLB pitcher. According to FanGraphs, Miller averages 93 on his fastball and mixes in a cutter and curveball (he threw a changeup just 2.4 percent of the time in 2014).

The 24-year-old struggled to begin 2014 but found his rhythm down the stretch to post a respectable 10-9 record and 3.74 ERA. That is one season removed from a 15-win campaign and 3.06 ERA that helped him place third in Rookie of the Year voting.

The other benefit to Miller is that he is under the Braves' control for the next four seasons.

The Braves' history with pitchers leads me to believe Miller will be a 2-3 pitcher in Atlanta and consistently post a 3.00 ERA. The offense will directly impact how many wins that leads to, but I don't see why Miller won't be a 15-game winner with the Braves.

Nick Markakis

David Goldman/Associated Press

Perhaps the most surprising acquisition of the offseason was Nick Markakis. Not that Markakis isn't a good player; rather, it is surprising that the Braves committed four years and $48 million to him, as the team clearly is in rebuilding mode.

I believe Hart feels that the 31-year-old will be a consistent player throughout his four years in Atlanta, making him a valuable player as the team goes into the new ballpark.

Markakis is coming off a Gold Glove season and will be able to fill in defensively in right field without a huge drop-off from Heyward.

At the plate, look for Markakis to compile around a .270 average, .330 OBP and hit eight to 12 home runs a year during his time in Atlanta. Markakis has been a steady player during his career, and these numbers would project lower than his career averages (.290/.358/17). 

I expect Markakis to be a solid player in Atlanta, but will he be worth the $12 million a season at the end of the deal when he's 35 years old?