Atlanta Braves: Winter meetings primer, what to expect

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: The grounds crew pulls the tarp over the infield prior to a rain delay in the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 17: The grounds crew pulls the tarp over the infield prior to a rain delay in the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 17: The grounds crew pulls the tarp over the infield prior to a rain delay in the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at SunTrust Park on July 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves are making the trip to Orlando for the winter meetings. What can fans expect?

The Atlanta Braves are headed to the winter meetings in the community where they’ve been preparing to start the season the last few seasons in their spring training home on the Disney World complex. While the setting may be familiar, the environment for the team will be new for the organization, certainly much different than experienced for a number of years.

What will the Braves be doing to prepare for the long-term future and for the 2018 season specifically?

Atlanta Braves offseason thus far

The Braves have been well-known for striking before the winter meetings on deals in the past, and in fact, they often have a major deal or two done before Thanksgiving comes around. This season was much different throughout baseball, but certainly for the Braves.

Because of the sanctions the Braves were handed on what has become known among Braves fans as Black Tuesday, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and the preceding investigation into misdeeds in the international dealings of the organization in the last few seasons by Major League Baseball, the Braves have been fairly inactive thus far in the offseason.

The biggest move of the offseason to this point was actually disposing of a player, trading away Jim Johnson to the Los Angeles Angels along with some international signing funds for a low-level pitching prospect. The Braves also made notable non-tender moves, choosing not to offer a contract to Matt Adams, Danny Santana, and Jace Peterson.

On the acquisition side, the Braves have struck for relief arms on the cheap, claiming RHP Chase Whitley and LHP Grant Dayton off waivers and trading for RHP Josh Ravin. They also signed infielder Christian Colon to a minor league deal.

So what does the team need on the roster going into the season?

Next: Current holes