LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- If forced to immediately make a decision, the Braves would likely open this season with an eight-man bullpen. But with Opening Day two weeks away, they still have plenty of time to evaluate the wisdom of that plan, which would leave them shorthanded on a potentially weak bench.
"We are trying to upgrade the bench," Braves general manager John Coppolella said. "If we can't upgrade the bench, we'll just go with what we have. But we don't want to limit ourselves. We are always trying to find ways to get better."
Over the next week, the Braves will closely monitor the status of Clint Robinson (Nationals), Daniel Nava (Phillies) and some other veterans who might not be fits for their current teams' Opening Day rosters.