ATLANTA — World Series title commemorative signs are everywhere at the Atlanta Braves’ preseason complex.
A flag flies behind left field at CoolToday Park in Venice, Florida. There are other reminders on the video screen, above the cave, outside the stadium and in the clubhouse.
Kyle Muller likes that.
“Oh yes!” he stated. “When you achieve something like this, you want it to be here…You want it to be everywhere, after you achieved it last year…Anywhere and everywhere.”
The Braves won their fourth straight NL East title and then won the World Series, something they hadn’t done since 1995, beating Houston in Game 6.
The core of the team returns, with one all-too-notorious exception. The Braves were unable to renew the contract with their first baseman Freddie Freeman, the 2020 National League MVP, who left for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta tried to fill the vacancy by trading four prospects who landed in Oakland for Matt Olson, who at 28 is four years younger than Freeman. A day later, the team announced an eight-year, $168 million deal to keep Olson in Atlanta through at least 2029.
It’s the biggest deal in Braves history.
Shortly after losing Freeman, the Braves drafted former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to a one-year deal.
The Braves know they play in a very tough division, with the Mets and Phillies making big additions in the offseason.
Reliever Tyler Matzek warned that those World Series signs will be a motivation for other teams.
“I think this reminds us that catching up will be the goal of many. We are ready to defend the title this year,” Matzek said. “I think we surprised a lot of people last year. I don’t think we surprised ourselves. We’re ready to show this year that it wasn’t a fluke.”
Will Smith was one of the best closers in the majors, with 37 saves last year. However, he agreed to move to setup man to make room for Jansen, who had 38 saves for the Dodgers. Another addition to the bullpen is right-hander Collin McHugh, who can handle late innings or cover multiple innings. Newcomers make the bullpen the strength of this team.
The Braves don’t want to rush the return of outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who missed the second half of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Acuña is expected to return in May. There is a possibility that the Venezuelan could receive permission to serve as designated hitter before playing right field. Other key returns would be those of Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson.
Marcell Ozuna returns, a year after being arrested on charges of aggravated assault against his wife, according to the testimony of some police officers. He was suspended with pay while Major League Baseball investigated the case. The Dominican says that he has completed a pre-trial program as an alternative to having the charges dropped.
Ozuna is expected to play more in left field during the first month of the season, before being designated hitter. He would provide variants in the prairies before the expected return of Acuña.
He hit .338 and led the NL with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. That was his first season with Atlanta.
More title commemorations await the Braves at Truist Park. The commemorative pennant will be unfurled on April 7, when they play their first home game against Cincinnati. Two nights later, the players will receive their championship rings during a ceremony.
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Without Freeman, Braves seek to retain title