Braves preseason capsule: A lot riding on Jurickson Profar, Chris Sale

Atlanta Braves

2024 record: 89-73 (2nd place, NL East).

He gone: RHP Jesse Chavez, OF Adam Duvall, LHP Max Fried, LHP A.J. Minter, RHP Charlie Morton, 3B Gio Urshela, OF/DH Jorge Soler, C Travis d'Arnaud, LHP Tyler Matzek, OF Ramon Laureano.

New faces: OF Jurickson Profar, INF Nick Allen, RHP Enyel De Los Santos, OF Bryan De La Cruz, RHP Hector Neris.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: How do the Braves keep up with the big-spending Phillies and Mets? General manager Alex Anthopoulos has worked his magic in keeping the Braves' core together on below-market deals, but Atlanta lost six players from the 2021 World Series champions over the winter along with Chavez and Duvall, each of whom returned to the club last season. Their lone big addition was Profar, who had his breakout season at age 31. Of course, the Braves didn't miss a beat after bidding adieu to Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson immediately after winning the title and possess the best player development machine in baseball. Still, they are betting big that the resurgences of Profar and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale were the real thing, that Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley can return to their usual form following injury-ruined seasons, and that Spencer Strider will regain his brilliance after a second elbow surgery.

Top prospect: With catcher Sean Murphy likely out for the first couple of weeks, Drake Baldwin -- who had 16 homers and drew 72 walks while striking out 95 times in 551 plate appearances in the minors last season -- will get a chance to earn the time-share Travis d'Arnaud carved out as the No. 1A catcher the last two seasons.

Breakout player: Rookie RHP AJ Smith-Shawver has a 4.50 ERA in four minor league seasons, but that comes with just 165 hits allowed and 306 strikeouts over 228 innings. Sale is the only starter on the roster to qualify for the ERA title since 2020, so there will be opportunity for Smith-Shawver.

2025 outlook: Never bet against the Braves, who should easily make the playoffs again. But their relative fiscal conservatism means their ceiling isn't as high as the Mets, Phillies or Los Angeles Dodgers.

--Field Level Media