1999 Roster

[david norman]

Here are the current players in line for the roster for next year.
Players marked with a ** are currently on the 40 man roster so are
more likely to stay than someone not listed.

Starting Pitchers
RH: ** Maddux
** Smoltz
** Millwood
Martinez (FA)
Ratliff (6 year Minor League FA/AAA Richmond 1998)
** Luis Rivera (98 at Macon/A)
Jason Marquis (98 A+)

LH: ** Glavine
** Chen
** Perez (more likely bullpen, but ...)
** Ebert (1998 AAA)
** Bowie (1998 AA)

Relief Pitchers:
RH: ** Ligtenberg
** Springer
** Seanez (my candidate to emulate Bielecki)
Cather (60 day DL recovering from rib/Hudek surgery)
Wohlers (60 day DL)
Villegas (1998 AA - also a starter)
Greg Mix (98/AAA 6yr Minor League FA)
Kevin McGlinchy (98 at A+/AA Starter converting to relief)
David Cortes (98 at AAA -- ?? shoulder injury)
Jason Flach (98 at Danville/A+)
Joe Nelson (98 at AA)
Joe Winklesas (98 A+/AA)
Richard Dishman (98 A/A+)
Paul Wagner (98/AAA)
Adrian Ochoa Manzano (98 AA)
Ruben Quevedo (98 A/A+)
Michael Corey (98 A-/A+)

LH: ** Rocker
** Remlinger
Charlton (FA)
Moss (60 day DL- Tommy John surgery in July/Aug)
Borbon (60day DL recovering from TJ in summer 1996)
Butler (currently on waivers back to RCH, be surprised if
he makes it there).
Antone Brooks (98 at AA)
Ray Beasley (98 A+/AAA)
Scott Radinsky (anyone want to see a FA like this)
Mark Guthrie (FA see above)

C ** Lopez
** Perez
** Matos (AA)
** Lunar (A+)
Mahoney (AAA)
Dax Norris (AA)
Steve Torrealba (A)

1B ** Galarraga
** Simon
Schall (6 yr Mi.L FA, also LF)

2B ** Boone
** Lockhart
** Graffanino
** Malloy
** Glenn Williams (A+)
Marcus Giles (A)

SS ** Weiss
** DeRosa
Guillen (FA)
Belliard (FA)
Magdeleno (AAA)
Steve Goodell (A+/A)
Howard Battle (AA also at 3B and looks like a middle
linebacker)

3B ** Chipper Jones
** Wes Helms
Brian Rust (AA)
Mike Hessman (A+)
Ventura (FA -- Nahhh - wouldn't Finley be better!)

LF ** Klesko
** Bautista
** Gerald Williams
** Lombard
** Pride
Adam Johnson (AA)
Raines/Henderson/Finley (FA)
Berroa (FA)
Mark Whiten (FA)
Whatley (98 AAA)

CF ** Andruw Jones
Ty Pendergrass (A+)

RF ** Jordan
Jerry Salzano (AA, 6yr MiL FA, also 2B/3B)

Always a load of ex-major leaguers and veteran Minor Leaguers like
Andy Tomberlin (spent part of year at Richmond) and Jeff Manto and
ex-Braves like Lemke, Tarasco, Polonia, Devereaux. A personal favorite
of mine is Kevin Grijak who dismantled AA/AAA again last year in the
Pirates organization -- a player who had a super season as high as
AAA at age 24 and got blocked by McGriff, bolted to Mexico and had a
good season, and returned to the Braves still blocked -- not
much defensively, but can hit with some power and has learned to take
a walk occasionally.

I see a few too many OF and 2B on that list on the 40 man roster.
Several of the younger players added to the 40 man roster to avoid
the rule 5 draft last year had disappointing years -- Lunar and Matos
particularly both younger catchers and Glenn Williams at 2B. I would
look for Matos to be dropped from the 40 man roster, but the other 2
guys to be kept since they're still quite young and too heralded to be
dropped yet. Derrin Ebert had a bad year at Richmond and is struggling
in Puerto Rico, but is still just 22/23yo and a LHP so I doubt if he
will be dropped, but he's starting to look more like Woodall.

Assuming no further major changes among the position players, this
leaves a bench looking kind of like this, * are most likely to stay
and figure 6 total:

RH:
* Perez
* Williams
Graff
DeRosa
Helms
Bautista

LH:
* Lockhart
Guillen
Malloy
Pride
Lombard
Simon

Most likely Graffanino will be released or traded, DeRosa and Lombard
(health permitting) will be left to play everyday at Richmond which
makes resigning Guillen a distinct possiblity, and I
suspect Bautista will earn the McMichael Goat/Rail out of Town Award.
Simon seems to have fallen out of favor after his awful 1998 year and
run-in's with the manager while Malloy still seems to be gaining favor
for his grittiness and can fill in marginally at SS and 3B in a pinch.
Helms hinted at playing some OF, so if he can increase his versatility
by playing OF or if he can learn to catch I suspect his longevity may
be enhanced. Not a lot of power/OBP on that bench however particularly
if Perez falls back to expected levels.

I still say trade for Giles, but what do the Braves have that the
Pirates would want if they're not able to afford Klesko? Sign Whiten
and/or Raines (personally I think I'd rather have Raines than Henderson
at this point) for OF/Bench help, sign VanderWal or Eisenreich or
Magadan. Look to the minors for somebody like Lennon or Luis Raven?