ATLANTA BRAVES (68-93), 5TH, NL EAST
uSeason snapshot: A rebuilding season was never going to be judged completely on wins and losses, but an improved record over the final two months left the Braves with a better feeling coming out of 2016. A 9-28 start cost Fredi Gonzalez his job as manager, but a strong finish made interim manager a candidate to stay on full time. Whoever manages the Braves as they move into their new ballpark next April will be happy to have
Like the team as a whole, Freeman overcame an awful start to make something of 2016, and he finished with some of the best numbers of his career. Freeman was helped by the July 30 trade for their presence in the middle of the order changed the Braves from the lowest-scoring team in baseball in the first half to one of the highest scoring in the second half. acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter, overcame an early injury to perform well as the center fielder and leadoff man.
uWhat now: The Braves will need to decide on a manager and on how fast to push the rebuilding project as they open the new ballpark. Should they move past the complete sell mode that characterized the last two offseasons? If so, how much do they buy? At some point, they will need to stabilize a rotation so unsettled that they used 16 different starters, the most in the major leagues. The Braves resisted trade inquiries about ace at midseason, and they’ll likely resist even more of them this winter, opting instead to try to build a rotation around him.
uFree who had an outstanding season as the closer, is the most significant free agent. Starter
acquired from the Chicago Cubs in September, and outfielder
are also eligible for free agency. The Braves wouldn’t figure to chase any of the biggest names on the market, but they do figure to seek starting pitching.
uProspects to watch: The Braves brought 22-year-old shortstop
to the major leagues in August, and with the way he played there’s little question he’ll be in the lineup from opening day in 2017. The bigger question is whether 19-year-old second baseman will join him. Albies was a shortstop himself until the Braves got Swanson in last winter’s Shelby Miller trade. He and Swanson played together as the double-play combination for Class AA (Pearl) Mississippi before Swanson’s Aug. 17 promotion to the Braves.
Danny Knobler