Braves shuffle executives in front office

McGuirk: Moves are result of ‘growth and progress.’

The Braves announced a series of front-office changes Thursday, including the elevation of Derek Schiller and Mike Plant to CEO positions and the hiring of a new chief financial officer.

Schiller, who had been the team’s president of business, will get a new title of president and chief executive officer of the Braves, with responsibility for the day-to-day oversight of all business functions of the team. Plant, who had been president of development, will become president and CEO of Braves Development Co., with day-to-day oversight of all business functions of the organization’s development arm, which includes The Battery Atlanta.

Terry McGuirk will remain chairman of the Braves and Braves Development. Schiller and Plant will continue to report to McGuirk, who previously also held the CEO title.

The Braves described the responsibilities of Schiller and Plant as “slightly redefined” by the changes.

“As a function of our growth and progress, I felt it was deserving to add chief executive officer to each of our presidents’ respective titles and at the same time redefine each of their roles to separate our businesses,” McGuirk said in a statement. “Both Derek and Mike are proven executive leaders who have helped guide our organization to new levels of business and operational success, and I have the utmost confidence in their vision to continue to point the way to a promising and prosperous future for the Braves organization and The Battery Atlanta.”

In addition, McGuirk announced the hiring of Jill Robinson as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Braves Holdings, with financial oversight for both the Braves and Braves Development. She joins the organization after 15 years in financial executive positions with McKesson Corp.

Kazmir eyed as fifth starter: There are indications that veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir will open the season as a long reliever and move into the Braves’ rotation when the team needs a fifth starter for the first time, which could be as late as April 10, their 11th game.

“That’s what we’ve talked about, about aiming for that,” Kazmir said. “Everything can change obviously, but as of right now they were talking about (April) 8th or the 10th, would need the fifth starter. Not sure how everything’s going to play out, but those two dates are in mind.”

If the Braves used a fifth starter April 8, it would give No. 1 starter Julio Teheran an extra day of rest between his second and third starts — which would then be April 3 and April 9 — and also permit the Braves to keep their first four starters in the order as they’ll begin the season: Teheran followed by Mike Foltynewicz, Brandon McCarthy and left-hander Sean Newcomb.

If they wait and use a fifth starter for the first time April 10, that pitcher would fall in the No. 3 slot between Foltynewicz and McCarthy.

Hard-throwing rookie lefty Luiz Gohara, who was penciled into the opening-day rotation before injuring a groin and then spraining a knee in the first weeks of camp, has been throwing and is beginning to ramp up his activities. Braves manager Brian Snitker thinks Gohara could be back by the beginning of May, so a fifth starter might get as few as three or four starts before Gohara is ready.

Kazmir, 34, has not done much to impress this spring, posting a 4.66 ERA and .303 opponents’ average in four starts while throwing his fastball in the 86-88 mph range most of the time. But two important factors to consider: The three-time former All-Star is healthy, after missing all of 2017 with the Dodgers for injuries including a balky hip, and he’s owed $16 million by the Braves, who almost certainly will give him an opportunity to earn that money.

Sims still struggling: Lucas Sims’ bid for one of the final spots in the Braves’ opening-day bullpen was diminished after his past two appearances including Thursday, when he had one of the roughest outings of this spring training.

Sims started a Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals and was rocked for four hits, eight runs (six earned), four walks and two homers in just three innings of an 8-2 loss at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

This after he gave up five hits and four runs in three innings Saturday against the Phillies. A 2012 first-round draft pick from Brookwood High School, Sims has a 10.13 ERA in six games, including two starts.

“You give guys opportunities, and you want them to run with them,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Sometimes they do; sometimes they don’t.”

The Braves will open the season with an eight-man bullpen, and six pitchers appear to be certainties: Arodys Vizcaino, Jose Ramirez, Peter Moylan, left-handers A.J. Minter and Sam Freeman, and Dan Winkler, who needs to spend about the first two weeks on the 25-man roster to fulfill Rule 5 Draft requirements.

That would leave two spots up for grabs, with Kazmir expected to have one of them as a long reliever before moving into the rotation as a fifth starter by April 10 and possibly staying in the rotation at least until Gohara returns, which could be by early May.

Others competing for a long-relief/spot starter job include recently signed veteran Anibal Sanchez, who was impressive in his first outing and will pitch again today; and former starting-pitcher prospects Aaron Blair, who has been pretty good all spring after reporting in much better condition, and Matt Wisler, who has been solid in most of his spring outings.