ATLANTA -- This has been a unique offseason as the Braves have dealt with the fallout from former general manager John Coppolella's ouster and spent all of October evaluating who will now head their baseball operations department.
Once the Braves determine who will be making the ultimate roster-related decisions this winter, they can dive into what could be a very influential Hot Stove season. The team might still be a year away from becoming legitimate postseason contenders. But with a few bullpen upgrades, they may maximize the potential value of a lineup that could use another power bat and a young rotation that could rapidly improve as next summer progresses.