With the new 26 man roster a team is only allowed a maximum of 13 pitchers.
And we’re also entering into the new rule that a pitcher must face at least 3 batters before being pulled. So maybe stocking up on strong bullpen arms isn’t a bad move since we won’t be able to have a true LOOGY anymore.
Your post provoked a series of thoughts which aren't entirely a response to what you have put here, but I'm quoting you anyway.
At the fear of drawing fire for making a list, this still helps me:
1. Soroka
2. Fried
3. Folty
4. SP4
5. SP5
6. Melancon RHP
7. Smith LHP
8. Greene RHP
9. Martin RHP
10. Newcomb LHP
11. Jackson RHP
12. O'Day RHP
13. Long Reliever?
Minors:
Minter LHP, Dayton LHP, Sobotka RHP, Walker RHP, Webb RHP, Pfeiffer LHP
Minor League Starters: Anderson RHP, Wright RHP, Davidson LHP, Wilson RHP, Weigel RHP, De La Cruz RHP, Touissant RHP, Ynoa RHP, Muller LHP.
..........
If Newcomb is in the rotation, that would seem to promote Minter back into the Majors if he looks like he has it in Spring Training. It seems to me that lefties out of the pen that can get right handed hitters out are going to be something of an additional premium with the new three batter rule, which I think maybe makes Smith's signing look even a little better as far as managing loads, if not salary.
I can sort of see why people think Greene will be non-tendered or traded, but I guess I don't quite understand the point of signing Martin to cut Greene. Martin was only slightly better than Green if you could even say that definitively and figures to be about the same price with less commitment. And he didn't end the season on the DL.
But, I would think that a one year commitment of 7m to Greene is a moveable asset. Perhaps one with some value given the Braves did give up something to get him. But I sort of like the depth of this pen and I would think the Braves do too.