Manager Bobby Cox still thinks the Braves could have been the wild-card team last season, if not the NL East division winners. They were right in it. "Then," he says, "along came Lee." Meaning the Phillies' acquisition of LHP Cliff Lee.

"Well," Cox said brightly, "at least they don't have both of them!"

Lee is gone, but the Phillies now have RHP Roy Halladay.

Cox calls his pitching staff solid, and adds, "We should hit the ball, too." The only decisions, he says, are who will round out the bullpen and whether OF Jason Heyward should make the jump to the majors.

ARRIVALS: LHP Billy Wagner (free agent from Red Sox), RHP Takashi Saito (free agent from Red Sox), OF Melky Cabrera (trade from Yankees) LHP Mike Dunn (trade from Yankees) 1B Troy Glaus (free agent from Cardinals), INF/OF Eric Hinske (free agent from Yankees), RHP Jesse Chavez (trade from Rays), RHP Scott Proctor (minor league free agent from Marlins)

DEPARTURES: RHP Javier Vazquez (trade with Yankees), LHP Boone Logan (trade with Yankees), LHP Mike Gonzalez (free agent, signed with Orioles), RHP Rafael Soriano (traded to Rays), 1B Adam LaRoche (free agent, signed with Diamondbacks), 2B Kelly Johnson (non-tendered, signed with Diamondbacks) , RF Ryan Church (non-tendered, signed with Pirates), OF Brandon Jones (claimed off waivers by Pirates), RHP Jorge Campillo (released, signed minor league deal with Royals), RHP Buddy Carlyle (released, signed with Japanese team), LF Garret Anderson (free agent, signed minor league deal with Dodgers), INF/OF Greg Norton (free agent, unsigned), RHP Vladimir Nunez (free agent, unsigned).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Derek Lowe

2. RHP Jair Jurrjens

3. RHP Tim Hudson

4. RHP Tommy Hanson

5. RHP Kenshin Kawakami

Jurrjens has been the Braves' No. 2 starter since his rookie season two years ago. His stuff and makeup make him the team's de facto No. 1 going into the season, but Lowe will likely be the opening-day starter, to make up for the fact he was shopped around in the offseason. The Braves will keep a close watch on Hudson as he continues his comeback from 2008 Tommy John surgery.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

LHP Billy Wagner (closer)

RHP Takashi Saito

RHP Peter Moylan

RHP Kris Medlen

RHP Jesse Chavez

LHP Eric O'Flaherty

LHP Mike Dunn

Wagner and Saito were signed to be this season's version of last season's interchangeable closers, LHP Mike Gonzalez and RHP Rafael Soriano. Being older, though, and given Cox's penchant for pulling his starters after seven innings, Wagner and Saito cannot be expected to pitch four consecutive days. Consider Moylan the closer-in-waiting.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Nate McLouth

2. 2B Martin Prado

3. 3B Chipper Jones

4. 1B Troy Glaus

5. C Brian McCann

6. SS Yunel Escobar

7. LF Jordan Schafer

8. RF Matt Diaz

Cox could tinker with the leadoff spot, but he probably won't in spring training. If McLouth doesn't work out, the change can take place in May. Inserting Glaus in the cleanup spot allows McCann to drop to fifth, where his scheduled absences will cause less upheaval, and inserts a right-handed bat between McCann and Jones. The Braves' bats alternate left and right from top to bottom.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

INF/OF Omar Infante

INF/OF Eric Hinske

C David Ross

OF Melky Cabrera

OF Jason Heyward

If Schafer has as hot a spring as he did last year, he could make Cabrera, who can play all three outfield positions, the ideal reserve. Not exactly the blockbuster outcome one wanted from trading last year's ace RHP Javier Vazquez. Heyward could well make the opening-day roster. The only question is whether the Braves want to weigh him down with those expectations.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Scott Proctor (Tommy John surgery in May 2009) made his Grapefruit League debut March 19. He could be ready for opening day.

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