Another Tough Season Ahead for the Braves

In 2016, the Atlanta Braves struggled through a rebuilding season, and mustered just 68 wins. After back-to-back seasons of 90+ losses, fans are hopeful for any signs of improvement in the coming year.

Unfortunately for the Atlanta faithful, the 2017 roster doesn’t appear to be vastly improved. The club did sign 2^nd baseman Brandon Phillips and starters R.A Dickey and Bartolo Colon, but at this stage of their careers, none of the three should be truly impact players.

The holes in the lineup remain- third base, starter pitching, and bullpen help are all issues the team failed to address in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Nationals and Mets are primed to make a push for the division yet again, leaving the Braves on the outside looking in.

It’s not all bad news, however, as their core players look to make significant contributions. Top prospect Dansby Swanson will be afforded his first full year to man the shortstop position, and veterans Freddie Freeman and Julio Tehran look to build on their solid 2016 campaigns. These pieces could provide a strong building foundation for future Atlanta teams, or they could be dealt as trade chips at the deadline. However the roster shakes up, it’s clear that the “Bravos” will need much more firepower if they look to be competitive this year and in the future. Manager Brian Snitker will work with what he has in his first full season in command of the clubhouse.