Team-by-team outlooks

This spring will be a first time in a long time situation for the Braves. After their 14-year division-title run was snapped last season, they won't have the canned phrase at their disposal:

"We're the favorite until someone beats us."

Now, it's more of a rebuilding franchise, but without all the hot prospects ready to compete for Rookie of the Year honors. Years have taken a toll on the organization, but burgeoning superstars Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur are preparing to take over as the faces of the franchise.

Two faces of the franchise for the past decade, John Smoltz and Andruw Jones, will be motivated to snag a huge contract in a market that has been jacked up all over again. While Smoltz is further from his prime, it's a great time to have the powerful Jones on your Fantasy team as a big-time free-agent-to-be.

Spring position battles

Second base -- Kelly Johnson vs. Willy Aybar, Martin Prado, Pete Orr

This is not really a battle as much as an assessment of Johnson's health (Tommy John surgery last spring) and ability to transition back into the infield after playing the outfield in the big leagues in a surprising 2005. Johnson has 20-homer potential and the Braves are looking forward to him establishing himself as their leadoff man. He has solid OPS potential even for smaller mixed leagues. Aybar, Prado or Orr are nothing more than utility man types. Consider them in deeper NL-only leagues as reserves.

First base -- Scott Thorman vs. Craig A. Wilson

The Braves dealt Adam LaRoche in part to help their bullpen, part to clear the way for Thorman. He has 20-plus homer potential as a poor man's LaRoche. Consider him in deeper leagues. Wilson was once a 30-homer man, but he's a free swinger and his work with the glove is not pretty. Only consider Wilson in deeper mixed leagues if he finds his way into full-time at-bats.

Left field -- Wilson vs. Matt Diaz, Ryan Langerhans

If the Braves want power, they go with Wilson. Defense, they go with Langerhans. Diaz is the middle way, but he's not as good as he showed last year and is better suited to be a platoon option. We don't think anyone clearly wins this battle and the Braves go with the hot hand or the matchups during the season. That means these guys are nothing more than NL-only options.

No. 5 starter -- Kyle Davies vs. Anthony Lerew, Lance Cormier

These options are not Fantasy-league intriguing, but Davies and Lerew were top prospects before they hit the skids in 2006. Cormier is more of a middle reliever who moonlights as a starter, so ignore him. Davies has more big league innings and is likely the first choice, but consider him a risky ex-prospect for deeper NL-only leagues on Draft Day.

Atlanta Braves Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Kelly Johnson 2B 1 John Smoltz RH
2 Edgar Renteria SS 2 Tim Hudson RH
3 Chipper Jones 3B 3 Chuck James LH
4 Andruw Jones CF 4 Mike Hampton LH
5 Brian McCann C 5 Kyle Davies RH
6 Jeff Francoeur RF Alt Anthony Lerew RH
7 Craig A. Wilson LF Top bullpen arms
8 Scott Thorman 1B CL Bob Wickman RH
Top bench options SU Rafael Soriano RH
R Matt Diaz OF RP Mike Gonzalez LH
R Ryan Langerhans OF RP Oscar Villarreal RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination
1 Jarrod Saltalamacchia 21 C Double-A Double-A
McCann's development blocks perhaps minors' top C prospect
2 Anthony Lerew 24 RH SP Majors Triple-A
Move in and out of bullpen ruined his '06, but might surprise
3 Joey Devine 23 RH RP Majors Majors
No longer the next-in-line closer with this winter's additions
4 Eric Campbell 21 3B/2B Class A Class A
Might move to second, which could accelerate his arrival
5 Van Pope 23 3B Class A Double-A
Possibly call-up and surprise if -- when -- Chipper goes on DL
Best of the rest: LHP Matt Harrison, 21; OF Brandon Jones, 23; SS Elvis Andrus, 18; LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, 22; SS Yunel Escobar, 24; LHP Dan Smith, 23; C Brayan Pena, 25; SS Brent Lillibridge, 23.

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