Manager: Bobby Cox
Arrivals: OF Josh Anderson, SP Tom Glavine, IF Omar Infante, SP Jair Jurrjens, OF Mark Kotsay, C Javy Lopez, RP Will Ohman
Departures: SP Lance Cormier, P Joey Devine, RP Octavio Dotel, 1B Julio Franco*, OF Willie Harris, OF Andruw Jones, RP Ron Mahay, IF Pete Orr, RP Chad Paronto, SS Edgar Renteria, RP Oscar Villareal
Offseason grade: B
Starting rotation
With the [re]addition of Tom Glavine, Atlanta's rotation will be formidable in 2008. Tim Hudson and John Smoltz both were excellent in 2007 and there's no reason to think they can't repeat that performance in 2008.
The last two spots in the rotation will go to either Mike Hampton, Chuck James, Jair Jurrjens, Jo-Jo Reyes, Jeff Bennett, or Buddy Carlyle depending on who performs well in Spring Training.
If Hampton is healthy, look for him to take the fourth spot in the rotation. However, Hampton has proved to be about as durable as a piece of cheese cloth in the last five years, which means James, Jurrjens, Reyes, Bennet, and Carlyle all have good chances to crack the rotation.
James is probably the best bet of the group to make Atlanta's starting five after pitching well in both 2006 and 2007, going a combined 22-14 with an ERA hovering around 4. However, Jurrjens comes over from Detroit as the key component in the Edgar Renteria trade and will have every chance to prove he deserves a rotation spot in Spring Training. Both Reyes and Carlyle saw time in Atlanta's rotation in 2007 and also could win the spot out of Spring Training as could Bennett.
No matter what happens, there will be great competition for the final two spots in the Braves' rotation during Spring Training. That can only be a good thing for Atlanta, as they will be able to select the two best starters out of a group of six when they break camp in late March.
Starting rotation grade: A (for those that have been reading my previous previews, I definitely underestimated the Braves' rotation when glancing at the pitching in the NL East.)
Bullpen
After six years in the league, Rafael Soriano finally will get the opportunity to be a team's everyday closer this year with Atlanta. Soriano has a great fastball/slider combination that is perfectly suited for a closer's role, where he should have success this year.
Behind Soriano, the Braves have a few good right-handed arms in Manny Acosta and Peter Moylan, but will have to rely on Will Ohman and/or Royce Ring as a left-handed setup man until Mike Gonzalez returns in June or July.
Watch out for Ring, though. He's bounced around a number of teams since being drafted in the first round by the White Sox in 2002, but has good stuff and could be an effective lefty setup man in lieu of Gonzalez in the first half.
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