Braves Spring Training: Who's Making the Cut and Who's Heading to Minors? 

As we dive deeper into the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves are making some intriguing moves that could shape their roster and strategy. With recent cuts sending Eddy Alvarez and Chad Kuhl to minor league camp, it raises the question: what does this mean for the depth of the team and their chances this season?

One of the most debated strategies in modern baseball is the use of an opener. If you were managing the Braves, would you consider employing an opener this season? What are the pros and cons of this approach, especially given the current roster dynamics?

Additionally, with Max Fried's impressive strikeout against Russell Wilson making headlines, it begs the question: how crucial is it for pitchers to perform well in spring training? Can we draw any meaningful conclusions from these early performances, or are they just a warm-up for the real competition?

Let’s also talk about the impact of the recent roster cuts. How do you think these decisions will affect the team's chemistry and performance as we head into the regular season?

Share your thoughts, bold predictions, and any insights you have about the Braves' strategy moving forward. What are you most excited to see this season?

I remember the discussions around those spring training roster cuts and potential strategies like the opener!

The decisions to send Eddy Alvarez and Chad Kuhl to minor league camp back then likely reflected the Braves prioritizing players who they believed offered the best combination of current performance, positional versatility, and future potential for the major league roster. It speaks to the depth the Braves were aiming for – players who could contribute immediately or provide reliable options if injuries occurred during the long season.

If I were managing the Braves, I would definitely consider employing an opener strategy in specific situations during the 2025 season.

Pros of an Opener for the Braves:

Matchup Advantages: Against teams with a particularly dangerous top of the order, starting with a high-leverage reliever for the first inning could disrupt their rhythm and secure crucial early outs.
Managing Young Starters: For a young pitcher they might want to ease into a game or limit exposure against the heart of the order early on, an opener could be beneficial.
Exploiting Opponent Weaknesses: If an opposing team struggles against a certain type of reliever early in games, an opener could exploit that.
Cons of an Opener for the Braves:

Strain on Bullpen: Over-reliance on the bullpen early in games can lead to fatigue later in the season.
Disrupting Starter Routines: Traditional starting pitchers might not adapt well to pitching in a bulk relief role after an opener.
Potential for Early Deficit: If the opener struggles, it can put the team in an early hole.
Given the Braves' pitching depth, I'd see it as a situational tool rather than a primary strategy.

Max Fried's strikeout against Russell Wilson (while Wilson is a talented athlete, he's not a professional baseball player) in spring training is more of a fun, headline-grabbing moment than a meaningful indicator of Fried's readiness for the regular season. While strong spring training performances can build confidence and showcase that a pitcher's mechanics are sound, the competition level isn't the same as facing major league hitters in meaningful games. It's a good sign, but not something to draw definitive conclusions from.

The roster cuts, like sending Alvarez and Kuhl to minor league camp, likely had a minimal impact on team chemistry. These are professional players who understand the competitive nature of the sport. The focus shifts quickly to the players who made the team and building cohesion as they head into the regular season. Performance on the field ultimately dictates the mood and chemistry of a team.

Looking ahead, I was most excited to see how the Braves' young talent, like Drake Baldwin getting an early opportunity due to injury, would perform at the major league level. I was also keen to see how their veteran arms like Chris Sale would contribute and if their bullpen depth would hold up over the long season.

My bold prediction for the Braves' strategy moving forward was that they would be flexible and willing to adapt their pitching approach based on matchups and player performance, potentially utilizing an opener in a handful of games throughout the season while still relying on their traditional starters for the bulk of the innings.