Fansided

Each MLB team’s season success or failure?

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Braves

May 17, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

67-95, 4th in NL East

After finishing below .500 in 2014, Atlanta decided to blow things up in an effort to be back in contention by 2017 when its new stadium opens up. Making the postseason was never a realistic expectation, and the only real question was how bad things would get.

Atlanta was indeed terrible in 2015, losing 19 of 20 at one point and struggling in just about every aspect. However, the record doesn’t tell the whole story for the Braves, and new general manager John Hart made some nice long-term moves in a year where Atlanta wasn’t going to compete anyway.

The Braves went to their old formula of success of stocking up on young pitching, starting with the offseason acquisition of Shelby Miller in exchange for pending free agent Jason Heyward. Despite a poor record, Miller flashed some ace potential at times, posting a 3.02 ERA (3.45 FIP) per FanGraphs.

Atlanta also got a nice haul for Craig Kimbrel, acquired a young high-upside pitcher in Touki Toussaint for almost nothing, and shed some salary for 2017 and beyond. The massive deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline did seem to ago against the Braves’ philosophy, but it appears they may have dumped the struggling Alex Wood at the right time.

Overall, Atlanta is better positioned for 2017 than it was entering last offseason, which is all the club could have hoped for in what was never going to be a good year on the field. Things will probably be bad again in 2016, but the Braves should be in good shape after that.

Success. As crazy as it sounds with that record, the Braves did well to improve long-term in what was clearly a rebuilding year.

Next: Baltimore Orioles

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