BRAVES OPENING DAY ROSTER

[rico43]

The most frequently asked question in camp, answered:

rut-skee

from the man's own twitter account.

[clvclv]

Marksberry assigned to Mississippi, Withrow to Gwinnett, and Cervenka to minor league camp (undetermined).

[clvclv]

Striker has it in a separate thread - my bad.

[rico43]

Striker has it in a separate thread - my bad.

This is where it's supposed to go. Thanks.

[striker42]

This is where it's supposed to go. Thanks.

Normally I would leave it here. Just thought Withrow getting sent down was surprising enough to get a thread of its own.

[clvclv]

Going to go out on a limb and guess that Ogando will occupy the slot we expected Withrow to be in to open the season.

[clvclv]

Will also guess that both Beckham and Bonifacio are released prior to this weekend so that we're only responsible for paying them 30 days' salary. In an upset, Swisher's released prior to Opening Day.

1B Options - Freeman/KJ/Garcia
2B Options - Jace/KJ/Castro
SS Options - Aybar/Castro/Jace
3B Options - Garcia/KJ/Castro/Jace

CF Options - Inciarte/Bourn/Jace
RF Options - Markakis/Inciarte
LF Options - Olivera/KJ/Garcia/Jace

[clvclv]

Actually just noticed these on the Transactions Page on the team's site...

03/12 - Optioned Daniel Castro, Danny Burawa, Tyrell Jenkins, and Casey Kelly to Gwinnett. Optioned Mauricio Cabrera to Mississippi.

[rico43]

Rutchkee back to NYY, Sims, Blair, Swanson, Albies, Smith down. Spring just became an ordeal.

[rico43]

Krol, Brignac, Astudillo, Weber all sent down.

O'Flaherty added to 25-man roster.

[Braves1976]

MLBTR has scooped the Braves' beat guys -- again -- with the news that theyhave signed LHP Phil Coke to a minor league deal. No word if he has a camp invite.

Coke, who with a last name like that was destined to pitch in Atlanta, is another guy who had a horrible 2015 season but was effective with the Tigers in 2014. Good ground ball pitcher when effective and obviously takes the place of injured Andrew McKirahan in the overall scheme of things.

It seems Coke is already gone as Braves recently released him along with these other minor league players (per BS):

Dakota Dill
Monte Reese, Jr.
Jacob Lanning
Jordan Lennerton
Jeff Campbell
Tanner Krietemeier
Ian Stiffler
Sean Furney
Phil Coke
Ben Libuda
Ethan Martin
Connor Little
Dylan Manwaring
Seth Webster

[nsacpi]

If Bonifacio doesn't make the team out of spring training, I hope he will accept an assignment to AAA. A player like him is useful to have on the "second bench" in AAA. Among other things he is better than the guy we currently have penciled for third (Chase D'Arnaud) and would also provide another player who can player center behind Mallex Smith.

[praeceps93]

It seems Coke is already gone as Braves recently released him along with these other minor league players (per BS):

Dakota Dill
Monte Reese, Jr.
Jacob Lanning
Jordan Lennerton
Jeff Campbell
Tanner Krietemeier
Ian Stiffler
Sean Furney
Phil Coke
Ben Libuda
Ethan Martin
Connor Little
Dylan Manwaring
Seth Webster

I'm sad we released Webster. I really liked him.

[rico43]

It seems Coke is already gone as Braves recently released him along with these other minor league players (per BS):

Dakota Dill
Monte Reese, Jr.
Jacob Lanning
Jordan Lennerton
Jeff Campbell
Tanner Krietemeier
Ian Stiffler
Sean Furney
Phil Coke
Ben Libuda
Ethan Martin
Connor Little
Dylan Manwaring
Seth Webster

I was thinking Stiffler was pretty high on some watch lists. Other were just roster fillers; this begins to open the door for all those short-season players we've buzzed about..

[rico43]

I'm sad we released Webster. I really liked him.

He was a nice Indy league find. But he also turns 27 this summer.

[clvclv]

Wrong click - sorry.

[clvclv]

I was thinking Stiffler was pretty high on some watch lists. Other were just roster fillers; this begins to open the door for all those short-season players we've buzzed about..

Not really - it was mainly his Mom that everyone was watching!!!

[Enscheff]

Randy Choate and Brian Duensing were both released and could be decent LOOGY options.

[50PoundHead]

I was thinking Stiffler was pretty high on some watch lists. Other were just roster fillers; this begins to open the door for all those short-season players we've buzzed about..

Stiffler was a really odd pick. I subscribe to PG Crosschecker for their draft coverage every year around draft time and he didn't even register on their list. I thought he was a guy they drafted with some projection who would sign for under slot, but I'm pretty sure he signed for just around his slot value. Good luck to him.

[50PoundHead]

Randy Choate and Brian Duensing were both released and could be decent LOOGY options.

With Duensing's departure, it appears Chien-Ming Wang--released by the Braves off the Gwinnett roster last season--is in line for a spot on the Royals' staff.