With a mixture of veterans and budding prospects, the Braves should have a very watchable team in 2017, if nothing else. They will no doubt have their shortcomings, but following a team with guys like Matt Kemp, Brandon Phillips, Dansby Swanson, and Freddie Freeman on a nightly basis sounds much better than the Opening Days of the past two seasons. For all the fanfare around this year’s iteration of the Braves’ rebuild, the potential results have a very wide array of possibilities, from contention to the worst record in baseball. Nothing is off the table with this group, and maybe that’s part of the entertainment: truly having no idea what to expect. With that in mind, there are a number of storylines that can be followed throughout the season, and I chose five to highlight as we head into Opening Day of the 2017 season.
1. New stadium
As the Braves prepare to move into their new home in Cobb county, they do so with a revamped roster stocked with veterans. Suntrust Park may not play host a World Series in 2017 but as the front office continues to stockpile talent there is reason to believe that a championship caliber roster is within their grasp in the near future. Regardless of the on-field results this season, fans are no doubt anxious to see the ballpark and all the excitement that comes with opening a new stadium.
2. Brian Snitker's first full season
Whether or not you attribute the braves' improved performance in the second half of 2016 to their managerial change, there is no denying that the on-field product was significantly improved down the stretch. Snitker inherited a team that was 9-28 and showing no signs of improvement, but a spike in offensive production from several key contributors such as newcomers Matt Kemp and Dansby Swanson made the Braves a formidable offensive force, even if it was only primarily for the final two months. If Snitker is able to navigate this team into contention in 2017, with yet another flawed roster, it would go a long way toward securing his future at the helm for the future.
3. Buying/Selling
Speaking of contention, how heavily the Braves play into the playoff picture at mid-season will determine how aggressively they pursue trades in one direction or the other. There are multiple veterans who could be sold for young assets at the deadline in the event of a sub-par beginning to the season, but on the other hand the Braves have ample prospect capital with which to make meaningful additions with an eye toward building a playoff roster. This will be something to keep an eye on throughout the first half, as Coppy has shown little indication to this point that he will simply sit quietly.
4. Breakout candidates
Though many of the Braves' major league spots are currently filled by aging veterans, there are certainly a number of potential breakout candidates on the roster. One popular name with regards to breakout potential in 2017 is right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who has been very impressive this spring with both his performance and his improved demeanor on the mound. While Folty has been impressive on the bump this spring, another prospect has been making waves at third base. Rio Ruiz entered camp as a long shot to make the opening day roster given the presence of Adonis Garcia and the host of question marks surrounding his abilities to improve against lefties, show more consistent, power, and pick it at the hot corner. Ruiz has seemingly answered those questions this spring, showing up to camp in great shape and bringing a revised approach against lefties. Folty and Ruiz currently represent the Braves' most likely breakout candidates, but as the season progresses more prospects like Ozzie Albies, Matt Wisler, and Aaron Blair are likely to be promoted and potentially break out in the own right.
5. Early draft pick/international spending limitations
This June the Braves will once again find themselves picking among the top five in the amateur draft. Last year the front office made good use of a hefty bonus pool allotment, but with that number decreased significantly this season it will be interesting to see how Coppy and company approach the draft. In addition to the intrigue of the draft, the Braves will likely be active in the international market once again, though in a much different situation. Last year Atlanta was among the biggest spenders internationally, bringing in costly talents like Yunior Severino, Abrahan Gutierrez, and of course Kevin Maitan, who received a $4.25 million bonus. Bonuses of that size will not be an option in 2017 as the Braves will be restricted to bonuses of $300,000 or less. That may take them out of contention for the top names on the market this year, but remember that in 2014 the Braves signed Ronald Acuna for just $100,000. Keep an eye on how the Braves approach both the draft and the international market this summer, as we've all seen how creative Coppy can be when it comes to acquiring prospects.
Those are my Top 5 storylines for the Braves in 2017, what are yours?