.If hype matters, those division rivals already passed the Braves. For Atlan

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman believes the Phillies Mark Melancon Jersey , Nationals and Mets made so many moves this offseason because they wanted to catch up to the 2018 NL East champion Bravesta, repeating as division champion may be even more difficult than their surprise title last season.Atlanta faces new challenges from the division’s impressive wave of new talent, led by the Phillies’ Bryce Harper, the Nationals’ Patrick Corbin and the Mets’ Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano. Many preseason projections list the Braves as underdogs in the division.Freeman just wants to remind fans the Braves haven’t gone away.“The East is crazy,” Freeman said. “It’s going to be a fight to the end. A lot of people are talking about everybody else and they forget we won 90 games and got better.”The Braves gave third baseman Josh Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP, a one-year, $23 million deal . Atlanta signed catcher Brian McCann for one year and re-signed right fielder Nick Markakis.The Donaldson signing came soon after the World Series. After that, the Braves were mostly quiet. Impatient fans kept hoping general manager Alex Anthopoulos would make more news.Freeman doesn’t agree with the perception the Braves didn’t do enough to keep pace in the division. He said the perception would be different if the team’s few additions came later in the offseason.Freeman, who finished fourth in the 2018 NL MVP voting, may hit between Donaldson and Ronald Acuna Deion Sanders Jersey , last season’s NL rookie of the year. Manager Brian Snitker has the option of using Acuna as the cleanup or leadoff hitter .The lineup should be strong if Donaldson can remain healthy and Markakis can come close to his 2018 first-half production.Ultimately, the Braves’ hopes may rest on a rotation which has caused concern in spring training.Some other things to know about the Braves’ outlook:FOR OPENERS, IT’S TEHERAN — AGAIN:Atlanta enters the season without All-Star right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who is bothered by a sore elbow. A healthy Foltynewicz would have been the starter for the March 28 opener at Philadelphia. Instead, Snitker announced Julio Teheran will make his sixth straight opening day start. It’s a vindication of sorts for Teheran, who was left off the postseason rotation last year. Foltynewicz may miss at least two weeks .NEW FACES:Atlanta is counting on a bounce-back season from Donaldson, 32, who had shoulder and calf injuries last season and played only a combined 52 games with Toronto and Cleveland. McCann, 35, isn’t really a new face. He played his first nine seasons with the Braves before three seasons with the Yankees and two with Houston. He’ll share the catching job with Tyler Flowers, who similarly split time with Kurt Suzuki the last two years.“What Suk and I had was special, and I think Mac and I have that Alen Hanson Jersey , too,” Flowers said.ROOKIES TO WATCHRight-handers Touki Toussaint or Kyle Wright could make the rotation to open the season. Mike Soroka may have been near the top of the list of rookie candidates to win a starting job before he suffered a shoulder injury. He also had a shoulder problem which ended his 2018 season.CLUBHOUSE CHEMISTRYDonaldson brings more than a powerful right-handed bat. He also brings a reputation for adding energy to a clubhouse, which shortstop Dansby Swanson says the Braves need.“A lot of us are a little narrow, straight edge and he’s not necessarily that way, which is awesome because it provides more diversity, it provides a different perspective,” Swanson said, adding he hopes the new mix allows players to “really push each other in a different way than we have in years past, which is something I’m excited for just in this organization in general.”SUPER UTILITY DUODonaldson adds depth to Atlanta’s bench. John Camargo, last season’s primary third baseman, becomes a super-utility player. Like Charlie Culberson, Camargo can play several positions in the infield and outfield. TAMPA Edgar Martinez Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki took a called third strike in his first simulated game of spring training and followed with a drive down the right-field line that would have been over Yankee Stadium’s right-field wall.“Honestly I feel good, ready to go,” he said. “Just excited to play.”Now 34, the five-time All-Star has not played in the major leagues since July 2017. He is projected to start at shortstop for the New York Yankees while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery.Tulowitzki missed last season because of bone spurs in his right and left heels.“Taking a full year off was tough for me,” he said. “But I think it’s built some character, it’s built some toughness, and it makes you appreciate it that much more being out there. It’s been a long road. It’s took it’s toll but I’m still here standing.”Gregorius is expected to return to the Yankees between June and August. Tulowitzki isn’t expressing worry about his role.“I care about just doing the best job I can to fill in for Didi,” he said. “Things work themselves out.”Tulowitzki topped .300 or better four times from 2010-14 and 90 RBIs from 2009-11, boosted by Colorado’s hitter-friendly Coors Field.He agreed last month to a one-year contract with the Yankees for the major league minimum $555,000. That will be offset against the $20 million he is owed by Toronto, which released him. The Blue Jays also are responsible for $14 million in salary for 2020 plus a $4 million buyout of a 2021 team option.“The question now for him is going to be the ability to bounce back and can he endure the rigors of being a regular,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He looks really good moving around in the field and where he’s at with his swing.”Boone said a plan is in place for Tulowitzki until mid-March and that he will play consecutive days before the team breaks camp.“The idea would be at some point middle of spring that we start to see some bounce back and that will kind of determine if he’s able to really be a regular Ryon Healy Jersey ,” Boone said.Tulowitzki has a no-trade provision in his deal with the Yankees. He hopes to find success in New York.“I’ve done a lot of things in my career,” Tulowitzki said. “The one thing that’s missing, I’ve been close, I haven’t won a ring.”MORE SWINGSGreg Bird, slowed by injuries last year and trying to unseat Luke Voit at first base, also took part in the simulated game. The left-handed hitter had three at-bats, including a walk and pop fly off a southpaw. “I think he’s added some weight in a good way,” Boone said. “I think, clearly, he feels like he’s through some of the physical things that we’re holding him back a little last year.”

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